The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-07 00:00:00

PILOTAGE CHARGES.

Mr. HOME moved for copies of Schedule List of the
several rates of pilotage charged by the pilots under the
Trinity-house, Deptford Strond, and the pilots under the
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports ; together with the
existing regulations and orders, by each of these depart-
ments, for the instruction and information of the ship-
owners.

Agreed to.
ACCOUCHEMENT OF HER MAJESTY.

Lord J. RUSSELL said, before they proceeded to
the ordinary business of the day, he was sure the house
would be anxious to congratulate her Majesty upon the
birth of another Prince. Relying upon the feelings of
loyalty and attachment which the house had always
evinced towards the throne it would be unnecs-
sary for him to preface the motion he was about
to make with any remarks, and therefore without further
comment he would at once move that an humble address
be presented to her Majesty, congratulating her Majesty
upon the birth of another Prince, and assuring her Ma-
jesty that it always afforded the greatest satisfaction to
the house to see her Majesty's domestic happiness pro-
moted.

Mr. DISRAELI had great pleasure in seconding the
motion. The feellings of loyalty and attachment which
the house felt for the Crown rendered the motion almost
one as a matter of course. These feelings were also
participated in by the country and they arise from a
feeling that with the royal house of these realms were
associated the best interests of the land. (Cheers.)

The motion was then carried amidst loud cheers.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Lord J. RUSSELL brought in the Government
Education Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered
to be read a second time to-morrow fortnight.

CAMBRIDGE ELECTION.

Mr. V. SMITH moved an address to the Crown for a
commission to inquire into corrupt practices at elections
at Cambridge :—Graham Wilmore, Esq., Q.C., George
Boden, Esq., and Thomas Tower, Esq., Commissioners.
The hon. member details the heads o the evidence of
bribery as it came out before the committee, and ex-
plained that the principal agents employed in the acts
of bribery belonged to the fair sex. (A laugh.) There
could be no doubt that a reckless system of corruption
prevailed at the last election for Cambridge. The
bribery which took place was not only systetnafic but
also extensive, and it would seem that the only value
which the freemen and male electors of Cambridge at-
tached to the franchise, was the amount of money which
their votes would bring them, and nothing like prin-
ciple or party was ever thought of. He therefore felt
bound, as chairman of the committee, to move for
this commission and he hoped the house would expe-
rience no difficulty in agreeing to it. At the same time,
however, he ought to state his opinion that the law of
agency required extensive alterations and amendments,
and he thought it would shortly be the duty of the house
to take that question into its most serious consideration.
The motion was agreed to without discussion.
CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIES.

Mr. MOORE then rose to move, that in the opinion
of this house, it is the duty of her Majesty's Govern-
ment forthwith to take into consideration the Irish Con-
solidated Annuities, in order to effect a more equitable
settlement of the claims for which those annuities were
granted, by remitting the amount charged on account of
the Labour Rate Acts, 9 and 10 Vic., c. 107, and 10
and 11 Vic., 87, whilst the repayment of the workhouse
loans, the advances for temporary relief, Act 10 Vic., c.
7, the advances for public works, under the Acts 1 Vic.,
c. 21, and 9 Vic., c. 1, and for the aid of the distressed
districts, under the Act 13 Vic., c. 14, are fully pro-
vided for. He came before the hou-e to ask them to
consider a question which deeply affected the whole people
of Ireland. This was entirely a matter of facts and details
not of principle, and it would be for the house to decide
whether it was not due to Ireland that these anomalies
should be remitted as an act of justice: He did not ask
for it on any other ground, and he trusted, therefore,
that both sides of the house, and members of all parties,
were ready to give the question a fair and impartial con-
sideration. It had been once investigated by a commit-
tee of the house, composed of all shades of opinion, and
the unanimous recommendation of that was to abolish
this objectionable tax. The committee thoroughly
stud;ed the whole subject, they took evidence upon
it collected from all part of Ireland, and given
by persons who were entitled to confidence and respect,
and the unanimous resolution which they arrived at was
that which he had just stated. Nothing was left undone,
nor was any point withheld from the committee which
could have induced the committee to come to a
different conclusion. (Hear, hear.) He should be
sorry to argue that the house ought to be bound
by the decision of any committee ; but this was an ex-
ceptional ease to the ordinary rule. The country went
with the committee in their recommendation, and since
this tax was grossly unjust, besides being highly ob-
noxious to the feelings of Ireland, it was the duty of
the house to adopt it. Common sense and sound
policy were like in favour of the remission of the tax,
and he hoped the house would have no hesitation in
passing the motion. Ireland had never refused to dis-
charge her just debts or to repay advances that had been
made to her as:grants ; but she had no right to pay this
tax, and it would be an act of policy as well as gene-
rosity to relieve her from it.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT (THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Erle.)
MURDER.

Thomas Mackett, 30, described as a labourer, who was
remanded from the last sessions, was indioted for the
wilful murder of Eliza Lee.

Mr. Bodkin conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Parry
appeared for the prisoner.
The facts of the case are already familiar to the public.
The prisoner is by business a mason, and it appeared
that he and the young woman with whose murder he
was accused, had lived together as man and wife. He
subsequently married another woman, and seemed anxi-
ous to break off the first connection he had formed. The
murder of the deceased was said to have been caused by
his thrusting her into the Regent's Canal at a late hour
on the night of the 31st of January last. The prisoner
is a strongly-built man, of rather tall stature. He was
dressed in a white flannel jacket, and listened to the
opening address of counsel and the evidence with great
attention, exhibiting every now and then considerable
restless anxiety.
Mr. Bodkin, having stated at some length the facts of
the case, proceeded to call the following evidence.
Wm. Lee, a labouring man, said he was the father of
Eliza Lee, the deceased. He last saw her alive on
Monday, the 31st of January, at half-past seven in the-
morning. He knew the prisoner well. He and his
daughter had lived on intimate terms, but they had been
separated five or six months. He saw the body of his
daughter about half-past twelve on Monday night. On
the Monday and the Sunday she was in her best health
and spirits.

Cross-examined by Mr. Parry. She was a girl who
enjoyed a good flow:of spirits. She used to come and
dine with him every Sunday. Witness's wife gave her
on Monday morning a half-sovereign to get some things
out of pawn which had been pledged by her and the de-
ceased in the Tottenham-court-road. He could not say
that his daughter had ever been tipsy ; she used some-
times to take a little when she went out marketing.
Eliza Lee, the mother, (aid the deceased and the pri-
soner have lived together five or six years. She slept
at my house on Sunday night, and I last saw her on
Monday morning at half-past nine, when she left my
house. I gave her the half-sovereign to redeem some
blue merino and to buy some lining and trimming, in
order to make it up for my youngest child. I never saw
her alive again. I saw her dead body at St. Pancras
workhouse. She got her living by going out to work
and by ironing. The article produced is similar to that
which was pledged ; it had been in pawn about eleven
months.

Cross-examined—l have never seen my daughter in-
toxicated. She was very spirited, and was subject to
hysterics ; they were crying hysterics. She was full of
spirits and life. She was always happy, poor thing.
When she left she said she would be back in half-an-
hour, if she was not detained in the shop.
Re-examined—The merino was pawned for 3s.
Sarah Hermitage examined—My husband is a labourer;
he is an acquaintance of the prisoner. The prisoner
is a mason's labourer. I knew him when he
and the deceased lived together. I saw the deceased
last on Monday, the 31st January, in the Hampstead.
road about half-past 11 in the morning. She was alone
and carried a parcel. She showed me the contents of
the parcel. In consequence of something she said to
me about the prisoner, I went with her to Kensington.
We did not see him there ; we then went to Margaret-
street, Oxford•street, where he was at work. We then
saw him. Some conversation passed between him and
the deceased ; but I did not hear it. He then came out
with a basket under his arm, and went with us to a
public-house close by. He called for a pint of beer.
At that house he told Eliza that he was married. She
said she did not believe it. He said, " I am, so help
me God." She observed she would not believe it unless
he showed her the certificate. We then proceeded to
another public-house in the New-road. We had there
another pint of porter, for which the deceased
paid. We next went to the Southampton Arms
in the same road, and had some gin. We left there

at half-past seven, and went to my lodgings in Pratt-
street. My husband came in about ten minutes past
nine. We there had some bear and tea. The deceased
was very cheerful throughout the whole day. I did not
notice any change in her manner after he told her he was
married. At my lodgings the deceased said, " Let ug
have a song." My husband objected as it was getting
late, but she said she would sing, and she did so. They
left my house about a quarter past ten. She took the
parcel with her. The prisoner also carried away his
basket.

Cross-examined—They were on the best terms when
they went away at a quarter past ten. I had known
the prisoner and the deceased six or seven years. The
song she sang at my lodgings was a sentimental one—
"As I Wandered by the Brook." It was a foggy dark
night when they left—you could hardly see your hand
before you. Knew the deceased occasionally got intoxi-
cated.

Henry Kempson examined—My father keeps the Vic-
toria public-house in the Mornington-road, Cambden-
' town. I recollect seeing the prisoner and a female com-
ing to the bar, and having a quartern of gin to drink
about half-past 10 on the Monday night. I had seen
both the women and the prisoner before. I believe they
were sober. On the same night between 12 and 1, I
saw the dead body of a female at the Regalia public-
house. I believe it was the body of the woman
whom I had seen shortly before at our bar.
Henry Wilson, pianoforte maker, said he lived on the
banks of the canal, and that, on the night in question,
he had occasion to go into the garden, at the bottom of
which the canal was, about 11 o'clock. He there heard
a kind of gurgling sound, as if some one was in the
water, and immediately afterwards the feet of a man
coming rapidly up the passage which led down to
the canal. He appeared to be running fast. The
man bad on a flannel jacket and trousers, and had a
basket with him. He appeared to be about 5 feet 8
inches. The man said, I think there is a woman thrown
herself into the water. Mr. Woolf, the landlord of the
Regalia public-house came up and asked the man to go
and assist. He said he would, and afterwards witness
heard a noise as of several splashes in the water. Mr.
Woolf went for a light, and witnei.s waited at the water's
edge. The man, who he believed to be the prisoner, did
not return with Mr. Woolf, and from something he said
he went in search of the prisoner, and followed him down
Augusta-street, towards Cumberland-market, where he
met a police constable, and they both returned together
to the canal, and soon after the body of the deceased
was taken out, on the opposite side of the canal by means
of a rope with a stone fastened to it, the body was then
taken to the Regalia public-house.
Samuel Robert Woolf, the landlord of the Regalia,
corroborated the last witness as to the finding of the
body of the deceased, and to meeting the prisoner in the
passage leading from the canal.
Police-constable Percival, 116 S, deposed to seeing a
man, which he believed to be the prisoner, passing
him at the corner of Augusta-street, about 11 o'clock of
the night of the 31st of January. The man was dresied
in a flannel jacket and trousers, and was coming from
the direction of the canal.

Charles Bow, 383 S, deposed that in consequence of
information he received he went to Eccleston-buildings
on the Tuesday morning, where he found the prisoner
living ; a woman was sitting in the room with him,
whom he represented to witness as his wife, to whom he
had been married about a week before. Witness asked
him if he knew and had been with a girl named Lee the
night before, when the prisoner admitted he had, and
asked where she was. Witness said she is now in St.
Pancras Workhouse and dead, and you are charged
with causing her death by throwing her into the
canal. When he told the prisoner the woman was dead
the prisoner dropped his head and appeared desponding,
and after taking him into custody the prisoner bristled
up,Eand said he would soon be able to clear himself.
Cross-examined- —There was no difficulty in finding
the prisoner. Did not tell him the charge against him
when he first spoke to him, but told him he was wanted
to erect a scaffold for Mr. Norris, his master. A duplicate
was afterwards found of a dress being pawned in East-
street, Marylebone.
Alfred George Gunn, pawnbroker's assistant, proved
the pawning of the dress and other articles produced by
the female whom the prisoner had stated to be his wife,
and which had been identified by the previous wit-
nesses as being the same dress which the deceased
was sent by her mother to take out of pledge on the
Monday morning, and the same as shown by the deceased
to the witness Hermitage, who accompanied her to find
the prisoner on the Monday.
Mr. Johnson, surgeon, deposed to being called in to
to see the deceased on the night of the 31st of January.
She was quite dead at the time he made an examination
of her person, but found no appearance of bruises. The
post mortem examination did not account for death ex-
cept from drowning.
Several other witnesses were called. At the close of
the case for the prosecution,
Mr. Parry addressed the jury for the prisoner.
The case was proceeding when our report left.

NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON

RAILWAYS.

It appears from a return just-issued that the number
of persons employed on railways in England and Wales
at the end of June, 1852, on 5,4331 miles open for traf-
fic, having 1,790 stations, was 55,331 ; and for the cor-
responding period of 1851, on 5,200 miles of railway,
having 1,669 stations, was 51,979 persons, showing an
increase of 3,352 persons, 233 miles, and 171 stations.
The number of persons employed on railways in Scot-
land at the above date on 961/ miles of railways
open for traffic, having 311 stations, was 8,271 ; and
in June, 1851, on 9601 miles of railway, having 304
stations, 8,107, showing an increase of 164 persons and
7 stations. The number of persons employed on rail-
ways open for traffic in Ireland at the end of June 1852,
on 6808 miles of railway, having 152 stations, was 3,999;
and at the same period in 1851, on 5374 miles of railway
and 134 stations, was 3,477, showing an increase of 522
persons, 43 miles, and 18 stations. The total number
of persons employed on 7,075/ miles of railway, open
for traffic in the United Kingdom, having 2,253 sta-
tions, was 67,601 ; and in June, 1851, on 6,6981 miles
of railway, and 2,107 stations, was 63,563, showing
an increase of 2,778 miles in the length open, 146 in
the number of stations, and 4,038 in number of per-
sons employed. At the end of June, 1852, the number
of secretaries, or managers, employed on railways
open for traffic was 176, of treasurers 30, engineers
138, superintendents 317, storekeepers 131, accountants
of cashiers 146, inspectors or timekeeper 654, station.
masters 1,704, draughtsmen 119, clerks 5,418, foremen
865, engine-drivers 2,397, assistant engine-driver or
firemen 2,460, guards or breaksmen 2,257, artificers
13,878, switchmen 1,605, gatekeepers 2,088, policemen
or watchmen 1,567, porters or messengers 10,434, plate-
laters 4,909, labourers 13,682, miscellaneous employment
2,626-total, as above, 67,601. The average number
of persons employed per mile was 9.55, and per station
30. The number of persons employed on railways not
open for traffic in England and Wales at the end
of June, 1852, was 25,393, the length of line in
course of construction was 575 miles, and neither open
nor in course of construction 2,7021 miles, making the
length of line authorised but not open at the end of
June, 1852, 3,2771 miles. The number of persons em-
ployed on railways in Scotland not open at that date
was 128, the length of line in course of construction 231
miles, and neither open nor in course of construction
6961 miles, making the total length authorised but not
open 7204 miles. The number of persons employed on
railways not open in Ireland was 10,414, the length of
line in course of construction was 1394 miles, and
neither open nor in course of construction 6711 miles,
making the length authorised but not open 8101 miles.
The total number of persons employed on railways
not open in the United Kingdom at the end of June,
1852, was 35,935, being 7,003 less than at the end of
June, 1851 ; length of line in course of construction
7384 miles, and neither open nor in course of construc-
tion 4,0701, making the total length authorised but not
open at the end of June, 1852, 4,8081 miles, being 4511
miles less than in June, 1851. The total number of per-
sons employed on 8,6471 miles of railway authorised in
England and Wales at the end of June, 1852, was
80,724, being 112 persons more than at the end of
June, 1851. The number of persons employed on
1,6811 miles of railway authorised in Scotland was
8,399, being 403 persons less than at the end of June,
1851. The number of persons employed on 1,491
miles of railway in Ireland was 14,413, being 2,674 per-
sons less than at the end of June, 1851. The total num-
ber of persons employed on 11,821 miles of railway at
the end of June, 1852, authorised in the United
Kingdom, was 103,536, and at the end of June, 1851
106,501, showing a decrease in the number of persons
employed of 2,965. The length of line authorised at the
end of June, 1851, was 11,959 miles, and at the end of
June, 1852, 11,821 miles, showing that the powers for-
merly granted for the construction of lines had been re-
pealed so as to reduce by 138 miles the aggregate length
of railway authorised in the United Kingdom. At the
end of June, 1852, 7,0754 miles were open for traffic,
738 miles in course of construction, and 4,007 miles in
abeyance, making the total authorised as above, 11,826
miles.

VSITDDEN DEATH OF DR. RICHARD CHAMBERS.—Yes-
terday morning Dr. Richard Chambers was found dead
in bed at half-past eight o'clock. Feeling slightly indis-
posed on Tuesday night, he had desired that his patients
should not be allowed to see him until half-past twelve
of the following morning. The deceased, who was in
his sixty-third year, was physician to the Royal Free
Hospital, the Cancer Hospital, the Dispensary for Con-
sumption and Diseases of the Chest, and the Blenheim-
street Dispensary.
RAILROADS IN SWITZERLAND.—It has been stated by
electric telegraph from Berlin, tharthe King of Prussia
had caused a note to be communicated to the Federal
Council of Switzerland, relative to railroads in the
canton of Neufchatel. We now give the note tex-
tually :—" Up to the present time the establishment
of railroads- in the principality of Neufchatel has
been abandoned to private enterprise. But if the
demand for a public guarantee which has been
made should be renewed, it would be very important
to the parties interested to know what is the opinion of
the Royal Government on this subject. The opinion is
governed by circumstances. The Royal Government
does not intend at this moment to explain itself as to
the advantages to be obtained from a railroad running
through the principality, either as regards the choice of
the direction, or as regards railroads in general. But as
the Royal Government does not recognise in the men
who have now the power de facto in the principality -of
Neufchatel, the right of burdening the country with
guarantees of interest, or other obligations of that na-
ture, the resolution of his Majesty the King, after the
re-establishment of legal order, will not depend on what
the present Government of Neufchatel may have done
or ordained without right on this subject, but solely on
considerations of general interest,"—aglignani.