The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-20 00:00:00

posed of members of opposite opinions, can the

evils of the slave system be brought into a form,
authenticated by the Legislature, before the pub-
lic. Our very Parliamentary Reports and collected
statistics, on which they profess to found their re-
criminatory statements, bear witness to the fact
that we are not quite unwilling. to " see ourselves as
others see us." They taunt our ladies with taking
their views of the evils of Slavery from works of
fiction (alluding, of course, to Mrs. STowE's too
truthful fiction), and boast that they found theirs
upon our own Parliamentary documents. We are sure
that the Stafford-house ladies will rejoin, though
in their own well-bred tone, "Sisters, get your
husbands and brothers to originate similar legisla-
tive statistics, and we will dismiss even fictions
founded on facts, accept your Congressional Blue
Books,' and regard them as the dawn of negro
liberty." Another thing which strikes us, is,
that the evils so ably laid to our charge, are evils
which we are openly and actively striving to IT-
dress. Ireland, with which the list begins,—
with all our neglects, what have we not done for
it ? and how much are we still doing for it ? We
have been ready to vote enormous sums of money,
equal to the whole revenue of the United. States,
for relief to bodily necessities, and we have pro-
vided ample means of education there, at least,
for all classes. Then, as to our land be-
ing " filled with slaves to ignorance, penury,
and vice," and our comparatively small votes
for National Education. What is more noto-
rious than the enormous voluntary tax raised
throughout the country for educational purposes,

and the efforts made to fill the ample school I
accommodation provided, at least in such towns
as Manchester and Leeds ? National Education
is, and long has been, a prominent public object,
the chief difficulty being how to make it work
with the vast amount of voluntary agency already
in existence. We accept, however, on the part
of our countrywomen the advice tendered us in
the peroration of the long American Address ; we
acknowledge that our more impoverished and
ignorant classes claim at our hands all the edu-
cation, guidance, and means of employment with
which we can furnish them. We are willing to
be stimulated to far greater zeal in our charitable
efforts than we have yet shown. Still we must
remind our Transatlantic sisters of the broad dis-
tinction between all these evils and Slavery, as it
is in America. Females are not here, by law, at
the mercy of their purchasers, nor can husbands,
wives, and children be sold apart, or sold at
all. The MONARCH herself cannot beat her
servant at will ; no penalties prohibit the
education of the meanest, no prison awaits the
coloured freeman who visits our shores. In a
word, no law here converts three millions of our
population into the mere goods and chattels of the
rich. Our American ladies must not, therefore,
affect to forget that " ignorance, penury, and
vice" is compulsory with them in some sixteen of
their States, and that the other half are now
compelled to catch the fugitives from these evils,
and to return them to their hopeless bondage.
We trust, however, that when our American
female friends come to consider the matter calmly,
they will do full justice, both to the spirit of the
English Address and to the difference between the
evils noticed by them and by us. That they will
see and feel that we do not cherish " ignorance,
penury, and vice" as a " domestic institution,"
do not plead for it from Seiipture, do not enforce
it by our legislation ; and, above all, do not shrink
from thoroughly investigating the evils amongst
us, or sensitively resent their being laid honestly
before us. We have confidence in the women of
America generally; Mrs. SrowE, the admired one
of England, is no less admired in the United
States, and we perceive with pleasure that she
is about to add to her painfully interesting, yet
bewitching fiction, a book of the facts on which
it is founded—" A key to Uncle Tom's Cabin."
We are confident it will be as truthful as our
" Blue Books," and far more readable ; and we
hope that next time we hear from our " American
• sisters," they will be able to send us some appro-
priate quotations from it.
Ly

MR. DISRAELI.— We have authority for stating that
there is no truth whatever in the report that Mr. Dis-
raeli is about to go abroad for two years. The right
hon. gentleman was never in better health, and had
never less intention of absenting himself from his Parlia-
mentary duties.—Times.
The Duke of Buccleuch, whose Crown lease of Mon-
tagu-house, Whitehall-gardens, has just expired, has,
after some negotiations with the Commissioners of
Woods and Forests, renewed it for another 99 years.
The edifice, which is a very ancient mansion, will be
rebuilt at the expense of the noble Duke, on precisely
the same site.
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALlA.—Notwith-
standing the large number of emigrants that were sent
out to our Australian colonies during the last year from
Gravesend, Plymouth, Liverpool, &c., under the Go-
vernment regulations, amounting to upwards of 45,000,
the applications at the chief office, in Park-street, West-
minster, continue unabated daily, from all parts of the
country, so much so, that her Majesty's Colonial Land
and Emigration Commissioners, so as to comply with a
portion of the applicants whose names had been down
upon the books for some months, who could not be sent
out last year, feel themselves compelled to recommence
the tide of emigration earlier than they intended this
year, for which purpose they have given notice that on
Saturday next, the 22d inst., they will be ready to re-
ceive tenders for three ships (not to be lower than the
red dipthong at Lloyd's) to carry emigrants to Western
Australia, New South Wales, and to Victoria.

FATAL OCCURRENCE AT THE NEW RECORDS-OFFICE.—
A frightful occurrence took place yesterday at the New
Records-office, now in course of construction on a part
scwphahohogroomivi
osseref
profusely
assistance,ri
mmefshaeoeseiel
of the Rolls estate, Chancery-lane, by which John Rowe,
btbna3s
oeiBaosftinitofeistonemason,
eeemert
Somers-town,
hcswuwoenfnaneunedsdili
mefbro
reeuwodnkgadbesaynshhits
met gashes on
nion ensterrificerrub-
bish. precipitatedhsbie
bcraleshandhabstlee
head. He was then, with all possible speed, removed
to King's College Hospital, where he was at once ad-
n
mitted, and it was ascertained by Mr. G. Lawson, the
snqyd uneaebldafsqesrtniuhcontaamiieglpntffi
ympbaoa
srnell
ioDeiadasdufvrrs r umse
adttmhhi Drummond-crescent, that thefnod footing,
tc
iurnnegsf ,
elevationoc er nt
anduot ,f_
house-surgeon, that his skull was extensively fractured,
several ribs broken, besides sustaining serious internal
injuries. The poor man never rallied, and expired in a
few hours ;he has left a widow and family. Informa-
tion has been forwarded to Mr. Bedford, coroner for
Westminster, who has not as yet fixed the time for the
inquest.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT MESSRS. BRADBURY AND EVANS'S
PRINTING-OFFICE.—Mr. Bedford, the coroner for West-
minster, held an inquest yesterday-at the Plough Tavern,
Carey-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, touching the death
of John Lawrence, aged 22, a young man in the employ
of Messrs. Bradbury and Evans, the extensive printers,
of Red Lion-court, Fleet-street, who died in King's
College Hospital, from the effects of injuries received
whilst at work, by the falling of an iron slab which he
was engaged in removing. The jury returned a verdict 1
of "Accidental death."
THE METROPOLITAN DISPENSARY AND CHARITABLE
FUND.—The triennial dinner of this institution took
place yesterday evening at the London Tavern, Bishops-
gate-street. The chair was taken by the Right Hon.
the Lord Mayor, who was supported by Sheriff Croll,
Mr. J. Dillon, Mr. C. Pearson, the Venerable Arch-
deacon Hale, the Rev. T. Jackson, and other active
friends of the charity. After the preliminary toasts,
including that of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex,
the chairman proposed "Prosperity to the Institution."
In doing so, he took occasion to observe that
indiscriminate charity was, in his opinion, more likely
to injure than to benefit the community at large, but
that on the other hand no country was safe where
the masses were neglected and their misfortunes
unrelieved. This institution brought under their notice
not the idle and profligate but the industrious and the
deserving—those who, before requiring. aid, had gained
the esteem and confidence of their employers by their
truthfulness and integrity. their
e sick and diseased
procured all the assistance that science could bestow, and
the limited funds of the society were applied on their be-
half in the most useful and beneficial manner. During
the past year more than seven thousand cases had been
cured or relieved, and upwards of four thousand visits had
been paid to patients at their own habitations ; yet the
ordinary income from all sources scarcely exceeded 350/.
There was an idea abroad that the benefits of the charity
were confined to the city. That was not the fact ; the
whole metropolis might participate in the advantages
which it held out, and all that was needed to insure ex-
tended usefulness was an augmentation of funds. A cor-
dial response was given to the toast, which was succeeded
by several others, including the health of the Lord Mayor.
Among the subscriptions announced in the course of the
evening were the following :—The Lord Mayor, ten gui-
neas ; Sheriff Croll, five guineas ; Messrs. Morrison,
Dollon, and Co., five guineas ; Mr. J. Dillon, five gui-
neas ; Mr. C. Pearson, three guineas ; Baron Rothschild,
ten guineas ; Mr, Herbert Lloyd. ten guineas ; Mr. H.
Smith, five guineas ; Messrs. Whitbread and Co., twenty
guineas ; Mr. R Chapman, ten guineas ; Miss Waller,
ten guineas ; Mr: Beaumont, five guineas ; the Rev. F.
J. Blomfield, two guineas. The total amount subscribed
was nearly 300/.
The works beneath the railway arch in the West-
minster-road, which, it will be remembered, sank some
time. since in consequence of the recent heavy rains,
were yesterday finished, the bottom of the arch having
been completely rebuilt, and, although all the scaffolding
is not yet removed, it is now perfectly safe.
fellow-workmen
wyr amongstnt
oswetg.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, Two o'CLocl.

The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 8,000 bales, of which 2,000 American
were taken on speculation. The market closed
firmly. The sales comprised 7,000 American, 250
Pernam and Maranham at 6d. to 'al, 170 Bahia
at 6d., 250 Egyptian at 6id. to is. 3d., 400 Surat
at 3d. to 4d., and 50 Sea Island at ls. Bd. to
Is. 10W. per lb. Railway Shares were dull and
inactive.

The six weeks' average price of wheat is 455.
per quarter, and the last week's sales were 111,555
quarters.
The following is the report made this day at the
meeting of the London Joint Stock Bank pro-
prietors :
" The Directors have the satisfaction of laying before
the Shareholders the annexed Accounts, showing that
the net Profits for the six months ending the 31st De-
cember last, added to 10,132/. 18s 4d, brought forward
from the previous half-year, place at their disposal the
sum of 40,0061, 2s 4d.
" This result enables the Directors to declare a divi-
dend at the usual rate of 61. per cent. per annum, with
a bonus of 7s per share, both free from income tax, and
to add 1,006/. 2s 4d to the Guarantee Fund, which now
amounts to 146,6131. 8s 2d.
" The seats in the Direction which become vacant on
this occasion are those of William Miller Christy, Esq.,
Francis Bennett Goldney, Esq., William Ormsby Gore,
Esq., M.P., Henry Grace, Esq., and Sir Richard Jen-
kins, G.C.B. ; all of whom offer themselves for re-elec-
tion.

"The dividend and bonus will be payable on and after
Friday, the 28th inst.

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF THE LONDON JOINT
STOCK BANK FOR THE HALF-YEAR ENDING 31ST
DECEMBER, 1852.
Dr.

To current expenses, proportion of
building expenses, directors' remune-
ration, bad debts, income-tax, &c.
To amount carried to profit and loss,
new account, being rebate cf interest
on bills discounted not yet due -
To amount transferred to the credit of
the " guarantee fund," in addition to
the above amount of 145,607/. ss. 10d.
To dividend account for the payment of
half-a-year's dividend, at the rate of
61. per centum per annum, upon
600,0001. amount of paid-up capital
upon 60,000 shares
To ditto, for the payment of a bonus of
7s. per share

d

20,524 6

7,483 12 6

1,006 2 4

18,000 0 0

21,000 0 0

£68,014 0 11
Cr. s. d.
By balance brought down 57,881 2 7
By undivided profit brought forward
from the last half-year 10,132 18 4

£68,014 0

The Bank of England, much to the relief of the
mercantile community, has this morning advanced
the minimum rate of discount to 3 per Cent., and
it is hoped this will restore public confidence, keep
out foreign borrowers, because it will serve as a
hint of what more may be done, and turn the
exchanges. The panic on the Paris Bourse will
give a salutary lesson also.
The English Funds have been fluctuating this
morning, having opened at an improvement for the
Account, Consols being 99# to #. Subsequently a
little reaction occurred, Money Stock being of-
fered - and Consols, which were 991 early in the
day, have been done at 99k. The adVance in the
Bank ,rate of discount, just made known, has
caused a decline to 99i for Transfer, and
to 99+ # for Account ; Bank Stock is firm at 226 ;
but East India Stock, after being 273, has receded
to 270 ; the New n per Cents. have been 1031 to
; and the Reduced. 3 per Cents. 100 to f ; South
Sea Stock has been quoted 111; Exchequer Bills
are 60s. to 645. premium, a further decline.
The Spanish Certificate is again in favour, hav-
ing been done as high as 5. The Three per Cent.
Stock, on the other hand has declined to 45i I,
and the Deferred to 22k, being pressed for sale on
foreign account. Mexican Bonds have been steady
at 23k, and Grenada at 12. Brazilian New Five
per Cents. have been 1021. Portuguese Four per
Cents. have been firm at 40, and Venezuela heavy
at 381 to 39. Russian Bonds have been marked
118 to 119. The Turkish Loan is at par. Dutch
Two-and-a-Half per Cents. are at 66, and Russian
at 118 to 119.

The Railway Share market has been variable.
Brighton have been a shade better, and also Cale-
donian. Midland have been steady.! Not much
has been done. The quotations now are generally
flatter. The French lines have given way. The
The Northern, 2/. ; the Rouen, 1/. to 1/. 10s. ; the
Lyons, 1/. 10s. ; and others, generally in propor-
tion.

The last week's Rrilway receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under :

1853. 1852.
17,938 13,906

Great Western.

North 'Western

44,127 39,203

South Western

9;634 8,468

Brighton
Midland.

8,500 7:409
22,191 19,910

South Eastern
Caledonian
Lancashire and Yorkshire
York and North Midland
Great Northern

.. 13,751 10,732
.. 9,145 6,949
• 16,568 15,315
.. 7,383 6,623
• 12,507 9,744

The Gold Mines were rather looking up, but
have received a check since the Bank advanced its
rate.

South Australian Land have been firm, and
Agricultural about the same.

BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DAY

(From, the Official List.)
Business done.
Bank Stock
3 pez Cent. Reduced Annuities... .......
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 33. per Cent. Annuities........ - i
India Stock
SontlitSea Stock
Consols for Account 10th February 99i I '2 $
Exchequer Bills lid. March. June.
£lOOO 6l 460
£5OO 6l 4 60
Small 6l 4 60
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto New Bonds, 1829 & 39, 5 per Cent IO2A
Ditto for the Account, log
Grenada Bonds, Deferred,
Mexican 3 per Cent
Ditto for the Account
Portuguese 4 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. ............ ......
Ditto for the Account 93
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent
Ditto for the Account
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent - 22
Spanish Passive (Converted) si
Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 par
Venezuela Bonds 3i per Cent.
Dutch Exchange 21 per Cent 66
HALL-PAST TWO,
Consols
Ditto February Account

23i
40
118 19

ERRATA.—In our second leading article of yesterday,
"la peur pour la'pean" was obviously a misprint for
" la peur pour la peau :" and General Kmety's name
should have been so spelt throughout.

HIGH SHRIFF OF BOMBAY.—Mr. Leeke, son of Com-
modore Sir Henry Leeke, K.H., Commander-in-Chief
of the Hon. East India Company's navy, has been ap-
pointed High Sheriff of Bombay. The salary is about
1,0001. per annum.
DRURY LANE THEATRE.--The notion of playing the
pantomime in the afternoon to suit a juvenile audience
has proved eminently successful. A swarm of juveniles
honoured the performance with their presence yesterday,
and the house was crowded in every part. Among the
rest were the children of the Duke of York's school,
who attended with their band.

Mr. Allcroft has put forth his programme for his
sixteenth annual concert, at Exeter Hall, on Monday
next ; and, as usual, he seems to have collected all the
talent in London, and there can be no doubt lie will
have a full and fashionable audience.
HOUSE-WARMING AT BENACRE HALL.—Benacre Hall
was last week the scene of extraordinary festivity. Sir
Edward and Lady Gooch entertained a numerous
which
the county of Suffolk had not witnessed during the pre-
sent century. Everything that money, the true ,Ala d
din's lamp, could procure was served up in Gunters best
style. The supper was of the most recherche description
—nothing that could increase the splendour of the recep-
tion, or the comfort of the guests, was omitted. More
than 300 invitations were issued, and the fortunate reci-
pients began to arrive even before nine o'clock, and the
tide continued to flow in for several hours until nearly
midnight. The visitors passed through the spacious hall,
beautifully carpeted, in which a roaring fire of Britis
" heart of oak" betokened the warmth of the welcome they 7
were to receive, into the gorgeous reception-room where this
popular host and hostess greeted their friends. At ten.
the spacious saloon was thrown open, and dancing was:
commenced and continued with great spirit until the' ,
announcement of supper, at a quarter past one o'clock.
At two the votaries of Terpsichore resumed their de-
lightful occupation, which was kept up with unabated
vigour until morning called the humbler classes to their
daily labours. Nothing could exceed the satisfaction.
and delight expressed by all at the splendid hospitality-
so liberally exhibited. Nothing was left undone that
could have contributed to the gratification of those
assembled. The three magnificent chandeliers attracted
universal attention. The sparkling gems and brilliant
eyes gave a character to the scene such as has not.
often been equalled on English ground. Amongst.
the guests we noticed the following, 'viz. The:
Earl of Stradbroke, the Lady Francis Hotham, the
Hon. Mrs. Wm. Rous and Miss Rous, Sir Edward
and Lady Bowater, Sir Edward and Lady
Lacon,the
Misses Strickland, C. Cobbold and family, Capt. Go och;
R.N., Mrs. and Miss .Fonnereau,- Mr. Joliffe, the Rev.
Richard Gooch, Mr. Foley, Colonel and. Mrs. Bence,.
Mr. Richard Lambert, Lady King and the Misses King,
Miss Hope Vere, &c.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF CHANCERY.

'Before the Lord Chancellor and the Lords Justices.)

BRENAN V. PRESTON-APPEAL MOTION.

The question was whether the defendants were legally
dismissed as ship's husbands, and whether a receiver
should be appointed, and whether the defendants should
be restrained by injunction from proceeding in an action
at law before the suit in this court was determined.

Their lordships adhered to the order of the Vice-
Chancellor, and dismissed the appeal with costs, the
plaintiffs undertaking to abide by any order that this
court might make upon any judgments obtained by the

defendants in a court of law, or any order of this court.
The plaintiffs were beyond the jurisdiction of this court
The defendants claimed 1,500/. damages.

QUEEN'S BENCH.
THE QUEEN (ON THE PROSECUTION OF DR. ACHILLI) v.

NE WMAN.

This cause celebre came before the Court to-day upon
a rule which had been obtained by Sir A. E. Cockburn
for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict was
against the bulk of evidence adduced at the trial.

It is almost unnecessary to state that the verdict
passed for the plaintiff, Dr. A chilli, who was formerly
a Roman Catholic priest, but now a clergyman of the
Protestant Church, in respect of certain libels affecting
his moral character, which were published by the de-
fendant, Dr. Newman, also a religious convert, but from
Protestantism to Romanism.

The Judges on the bench were Lord Campbell, who
presided at the trial, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Mr. Justice
Wightman, and, Mr. Justice Erle. The court was very
much crowded both by the bar and the public. '
Sir Fi ederick Thesiger, who appeared on behalf of Dr.
Achilli, showed cause against the rule. Having re-
marked that Lord Campbell expressed no dissatisfaction
with the result of the trial when the verdict was given
by the jury, he went on to observe that Dr. Achilli was
called upon to answer charges which extended over no
less than twenty-six years, and had reference to
offences the majority of which were alleged to have
been committed at various places in Italy, yet
no facilities were given to him by the prosecution for
the purpose of ascertaining important information to
assist him in his defence. If the advantages possessed
by Dr. Newman were contrasted with the position of
Dr. Achilli, no one could doubt that the latter went to

the trial of the case under most unfavourable and dis-
advantageous circumstances. It was ostentatiously
paraded that he had large funds at command, and was
backed by influential parties ; but there was, in reality,
no foundation for the statement. The plea of Dr. New-
man contained no less than 27 or 28 different charges,
extending from 1826 to 1850, but no attempt was made
to establish the great portion of them, and it was some-
what extraordinary to apply for the present rule, not
with the view of setting aside the verdict—which, it
must be admitted, could only be found for the plaintiff—
but to enable the defendant to enter into the unproved
charges, no doubt with the intention of inducing the
Court to diminish the punishment which would have to
be inflicted. That being so, would the Court say that
the whole case should be gone into again afresh ? would

it treat the plaintiff with such cruel injustice as
to compel him to go to the enormous expense
of preparing another defence, accompanied as it
would be by great harass and annoyance to himself, and
undertaken under the most adverse circumstances ?

At the trial Dr. Achilli was placed in a very unjust and

unprecedented situation ; he was ordered to withdraw
from the court, and being thus deprived of his undoubted
right to hear the charges of his accusers, he found him-
self, when he was called upon to give evidence in an-
swer to the testimony of other witnesses, in circum-
stances of great difficulty and embarrassment. It had
been observed by Sir A. E. Cockburn that, because so
many charges had been brought against Dr. Achilli,
therefore it must be presumed that he was guilty of
some of the alleged offences. He had too much reliance
on the judgment of the court to suppose it would take
so prejudiced or vulgar a view, because it a principle of
that kind were laid down, it would only be necessary to
bring together a great number of disreputable witnesses
to prove certain offences against a man in order to ob-
tain a verdict against him. The 4th charge was, that
Dr. Achilli, in 1826, committed an offence at Viterbo,
for which he was deprived of his faculty to lecture, by
Belzie, the superior of St. Dominic, the nature of
the offence being concealed ; and the 4th charge was an alle-
gation that in 1827 he had earned the reputation of being
a scandalous friar. No attempt was made to prove these,
and under the commonest principles of justice he was
right in assuming that they were totally devoid of truth ;
in fact, it was shown that Dr. Achilli only obtained his
professorship in 1827, and kept it until the year 1833.
He was_next accused of debauching Rosa Di-allessandris,
a virgin 28 years old, in the sacristy of the church of
Gradi, at Viterbo, for which he was punished by his
bishop ; and it was said likewise that he had to bribe
her father in order to silence him. To prove this serious
offence no evidence was called by the defendant.
Lord Campbell—A reason was given for the non-at-
tendance of the woman ; it was stated that she refused
to come to England.
Sir F. Thesiger readily admitted that was so, but st

. _
the accusation gad fallen to the ground. In the ninth charge
the plaintiff was stated to have been punished by the
Holy Inquisition for other grave offences of the
same kind ; but at the very time they were said to be com-
mitted, he was preaching with honour and credit at Rome.
The 6th charge was for debauching a servant named
Valenti, who lived with the family of Gentilli, at Viterbo.
The woman was called herself, and she said Achilli had
intercourse with her on four different occasions ; she
added that she told her confessor, who requested her to
thati
A chi l
a t gesartovwhree
sorry
rhng
idedwsrr
hsssaaheoitnemd
bhte ithee
gesw aaGanu lefts se a gntvi
mot
iieptuseoi
haver,
sasbsnio hdi)
say nothing about it, as he was an ecclesiastic
that
couldl
a sAca Achilli 1
hltiialdeveetni
de-
bauchedimede
aloeaNnu handkerchief,shoaeeff7e
otaffection
fiandru
andt h the charge, was
she specified he was on an autumnal visit to a family
called Christophili. This Sir A. E. Cockburn said was
a miserable subterfuge and equivocation to destroy the
credibility of Valenti, founding his •
assertion on the fact
which afterwards transpired, that the Christophili's name
was originally Gentilli. Now Achilli never disputed
that, but he positively declared, when confronted with
the woman, that he had not only not deflowered her, but
never saw her before. It was also to be remarked, that
she never told her mother or any other person except her
priest how she had been treated. Then Dr. Achilli was ac-
cused of debauching Principe, a girl aged 15, in the
sacristy of the church at Naples, where she had gone to
give some alms to a rehgious institution. She said she
became in the family way, and that her mother stopped
Dr. Achilli while in a procession in the streets, and
taxed him with being the author of the child's guilt,
and afterwards preferred a charge against him before
the police. It transpired that, though the girl said she
had repeated intercourse with Dr. she never
acquainted her mother with her criminality until her
pregnancy became apparent. There were two circum-
stances which tended to throw doubt around the evidence
of these witnesses. The mother gave a contradictory
account to that of her daughter, denying especially that
she gave Dr. Achilli into custody ; and the date of the,
alleged intercourse, and the birth of the child, showed
a serious discrepancy. The learned counsel then
adverted to the document drawn up by a notary
at Rome, containing the judgment delivered against
Dr. Achilli by the Holy Inquisition, in which it was set
out that he had confessed to certain of the offences
alleged against him, and said that little weight could be
e persons spoken of were not men-
attached to it, as th
tioned by name. If proceedings were instituted against
him for immoralities, surely there existed in the archives
of the Inquisition some documents containing the names
of the women with whom he was alleged to have had
intercourse. The evidence of having criminal connection
at Corfu
with the'wife of Garramoni was also unsatis-
factory
; all that was proved being that Dr. Achilli was
seen
talking to the woman at the door of her house, and,
on noticing her husband, that he ran off. The wife was,
however, called, and her explanation was, that on seeing
Dr. Achilli pass along the street she called him aside to
ask him a question, and that her husband appeared a
moment afterwards. His learned friend surely would
not contend that evidence like that would have sup-
ported an action for adultery.
At the suggestion of Lord Campbell, the Court here
adjourned for a few minutes, to enable the learned
counsel to have some refreshments.
The arguments of Sir Frederick Thesiger promised to
occupy the court until its rising.