The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, 18,54.

with his innocence," as asserted by the Procureur,
it goes far to establish that innocence—to show
that the person who was in the street when the
deceased bolted the door after the witness could
not have been the murderer. It was argued that a
forcible entry was not achieved, and therefore that
the door must have been opened by Mrs. SAUJON
for the admittance of the murderer. But how was
that established ?—which of her neighbours heard
the knocking at the door, or its opening by her ? If
it occurred at that late hour it would have been
remarked, and, considering the extraordinary indus-
try displayed in collecting the materials of the pro-
secution, would certainly have been brought for-
ward. But there was nothing of the kind. An
explanation has, however, been given. Miss DE
JERSEY distinctly declared, that during the even-
ing, while at Mrs. SAUJON'S, she heard a noise as
of some person opening and shutting the door.
The Procureur argued that " the presumption
was that the prisoner looked in that moment, and
hearing voices, withdrew." Now this appears a
very far-fetched conclusion ; it seems far more
probable that the murderer then entered and con-
cealed himself in the bed-room. This would fully
account for the absence of a forcible entry, and
would establish beyond the possibility of doubt
the innocence of TAPNER if he were the person
seen by the witnesses.
Next, as to the turpentine bottle, on which so
much stress was laid, and on which several of the
Jurats justified their decision against the pri-
soner. How was it attempted to be shown
that the bottle even belonged to TAPNER. First,
that a label from the shop of a druggist named
" CUMBER" was on the bottle, and also another
label from the shop of a Mr. BENISFORD, that
CUMBER'S label had on it " the gargle to be
used frequently," and BENISFORD'S, " GODFREY'S
Cordial," and that Mrs. TAPNER had had a gargle
from Mrs. CUMBER'S many months ago, and
about nine or ten months previously a penny
worth of GODFREY'S Cordial from BENISFORD'S.
But even if both were clearly proved, and the
latter was not 'by any means so, how could it
establish that it was TAPNER'S bottle ? A lady
lodging at Mrs. SeuJoN's had a gargle from
CUMBER'S 12 months before, which would have a
similar label, and surely she might have had a
little of GODFREY'S Cordial in the bottle subse-
quently, or, even if it were TAPNER'S, it might
have been left in the house when he was lodging
there in July. On this point it is sufficient to
say, that the Bailiff, in his able charge,
declared that " the evidence, although it amounted
to a very strong probability, fell short of certainty,
and yet the majority of the jurats, in the judg-
ments which they had carefully written out, with-
out waiting to hear the charge of the Bailiff, relied
on the ownership of the bottle as bringing the
crime home to the prisoner. The proof most un-
questionably " fell short of certainty r Ho w,
then, can the decision be justified ?
The last point relied on by the Procureur as of
importance was the possession of money by the
prisoner, the day afterthe murder, when, as alleged,
he had none previously. It was shown that he paid
131. on that day. Now, in the beginning of Sep-
tember he applied to the witness BLAKEMORE to
get him 201. or 301. in gold and notes. This Was
more than a month before the murder, and before
the receipt of his salary. It was proved that, on
the Ist October, he had 81. ; on that day he re-
ceived
301: in round terms for his salary ; he also
borrowed 7/. from ELLEN GARAGAN, and MARGA-
RET swore that she returned him Si. which he
had previously given her. Here, then, was within
a few shillings of 501., while all that he was shown
to have paid was 391., and 31. in his possession
when arrested, making a total of 421. Nor was
it proved that Mrs. SAUJON had any money in her
house on the night of the murder. True, she
had three months previously received 501. and
some odd shillings, but she was in debt at the
time. She owed eight quarters on her house,
which was to be paid out of this 501., and she
might have lent or otherwise disposed of the
balance. It was argued that she ought to have
381. remaining, but it was just as probable that
she had only the 1/. found in her drawer after
her death. There was really no evidence that she
had been robbed of money. If the argument of
the Procureur were good for anything, it would
prove that TAPNER should have had 381. after the
murder, whereas he was only shown to have had
131. We cannot conclude this part of the case
without referring to the opinion of Sir MATHEW
HALE, to the effect that unless it could be shown
that the money hadactually been robbed from some
body, its possession by TAPNER, although unex-
plained, could raise no presumption against him.
That Learned Judge lays it down as a rule " most
prudent and necessary to be observed " in the ad-
mission of circumstantial evidence, (2 HALE,
290), "never to convict a man for stealing the
goods of a person unknown, merely because he
will give no account how he came by them 1"
And yet the possession of money not proved to
have been stolen is sufficient to justify the convic-
tion, and possibly the execution, of one of her
MAJESTY'S subjects, a well-educated young man,
who had previously maintained a respectable cha-
racter
We have thus examined the chief points relied
on by the Procureur. No real weight could be
given to the discovery of some stolen goods con-
cealed in a field—several hundred yards from the
prisoner's residence ; and the Procureur himself
admitted that all the others, " although not alto-
gether immaterial, although they might raise sus-
picions and support presumptions, were not suffi-
cient to convict." There were but four points on
which he relied, and these were-
-Ist. The supposed presence of the prisoner in
the Canichers at the time of the murder.
2nd. The finding of the turpentine bottle, sup-
posed to belong to him (but which the Bailiff said
was not proved) under Mrs. SAUJON'S bed.
3d. His possession of 131., unaccounted for
after the murder, but which was not proved to
have been stolen from any one.
4th, The finding of a barometer and other
things, taken from Mrs. SA 'JON'S house, con-
cealed in a field 400 yards from the prisoner's
residence.

And is it on such grounds that the ignominious
death—we had almost called it the legal murder
—of one of her MAJESTY'S subjects is to be jus-
tified ? We cannot believe it possible that Lord
PALMERSTON will suffer the sentence to be exe-
cuted. We have, from our necessarily limited
space, been unable to enumerate the points at any
length ; but let any unprejudiced person, who
retains a doubt, peruse attentively the powerful
and convincing argument of Mr. FALLA, and we
venture to say that he will arrive at the same
conclusion as ourselves, that the guilt of the pri-
soner was by no means established, and that the
sentence couldnot be carried out without greatdan-
ger of sacrificing an innocent man—of destroying
that protection to her MAJESTY'S subjects which
it is the sole object of penal laws to afford.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.—The Royal Mail Company's
steam ship
afternoon from St. Thomas, which port she left on the
Medway, Captain Baynton, arrived this
7th inst. The Midway has been absent from England
about 18th months,
doing duty on the inter-colonial
station. She has returned for the purpose of under-
going a thorough repair. On her voyage to Eng-
land she spoke the brigantine Othello, off St. John's,
New Brunswick, on the 9th January, bound to Jamaica ;
and on the same day a Norwegian ship. Yellow fever
is reported to have recommenced at St. Thomas, and
cholera had to a fearful extent raged in that and adjoin-
ing islands. The American ship Hermann, Captain
Skinner, from Callao, bound to Baltimore, with a icargo
of guano, put into St. Thomas on the sth inst. n an
almost sinking state. The Hermann sprung a leak three
days before making that port, and encountered severe
stress of weather. Considering the nature of the ship's
cargo, the authorities prudently objected to the same
being landed in the port, in consequence of the un-
healthy condition of the island at present ; she there-
fore Proceeded to Water Island, and ran into shoal
water. Another vessel (a barque) has gone to relieve
her of her cargo, after which she will most likely return
to port to be surveyed.
TEE VACANT OFFICE OF BRIDGEMASTER.—The Lord
Mayor has ordered the'notice for a common ball, for the
election of bridgemaster, in the room of Mr. David
Gibbs, deceased, to be postponed until the decision of
the Corporation is taken as to the desirability of filling
up the office. It is also said that a similar course will
be adopted in the instance of the vacant comptrollership.
CUSTOMS.—The principal officers of the Customs at
the several ports throughout the United Kingdom have
received directions from the commissioners to transmit
to the Comptroller-General with all practicable despatch
the account of charges of management paid out of the
Customs revenue in the quarter ended the sth inst.

MONEY MARKE

AND
COIIIM.E.RCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 1,000 were
taken for export and on speculation. The demand
was moderate, and was freely met at per lb. de-
cline. Railway Shares were steady.
The opinion of the Russian merchants here is
exemplified in the following remarks of Messrs.
Smith and Charles :

" Generally, our market has been quiet with a
drooping tendency all this week. The present price
depending on the issue of political events, operators
are moved by the reports circulated from day to day in
the public newspapers, and our market fluctuates ac-
cordingly. Holders, however, are very firm, and in
most cases, regarding war as imminent, are not disposed
to offer tallow for sale until more positive information is
received."

In the weekly return of the Bank of England
made up to the 21st inst., the changes are not so
numerous as previously. The loans and discounts
were further reduced, and the deposit accounts
were smaller. The bullion shows a slight increase
only. Compared with the previous week, the
changes are as follows

Active circulation £22,271,495
Increase 330,670
Bullion
Increase 27,134
3,333,780
37,967
2,646,783

Rest

Increase
Public Deposits

Decrease
Other Deposits
Decrease
Seven-Day and other Bills

567,210
13,894,599
245,893
1,232,096

Decrease ...............
Government Securities......
Decrea5e...............
Other Securities ...........
Decrease ............
Notes unemployed......_„
Decrease ...............

233
13,537,638
106,387
14,297,849
365,446
7,135,195
307,820

The weekly circulation of all the private banks
in England up to the 7th inst., was 3,911,4151.,
against 3,833,5001. in the previous week, and
of the Joint Stock Banks 3,061,0331. against
3,036,367.
Bills of exchange were yesterday afternoon nego-
tiated at barely the rates of the previous post-day.
At 90 days, Paris was done at 25, 271 to 32i ; Am-
sterdam at 11,
154- to ; Hamburgh at 13, 4i to ;
and Trieste at 12, 35 to 54.
Temporarily, the demand for gold to be sent to
Paris has subsided and most of that brought by
the Roxburgh Castle, from Austra]ia, has been
paid in. Messrs. Haggard and Pixley report, how-
ever, an active inquiry for silver.
The shipments of specie direct from London
during the week ending the 26th inst. were very
large, viz., 2501., and 353,800 ounces of silver coin,
and 284,500 ounces in bars. Gold was exported
to the extent of 4,031 ounces. All this went to
the Continent.
The Undaunted, which left Geelong, Sept. 30,
has arrived with 35,000 ounces of gold. The dates
are old.
BRITISH MrNEs.—The following is the report of
Mr. J. S. Lane :—There is an extremely inactive
market to-day, and prices are nominally without
alteration. East Russells, 61 ; Alfred Consols, 26;
Great Tregune Consols, ai ; Hugos, 1/. ; West
Sortridge Consols, ss. ; Sortridge Consols, 265. 6d.,
255.; Poltimores, 1 ; Tremollett, ; Molland,
The English Funds have been rather buoyant
' again, with a fair business doing. Consols, which
' opened this morning at 90k have since been done
at 90/ and 91. The New 3/ per Cents. have
realised 914, and since 92 and 92k. The Three per
Cents. have been 90k to 91±. Bank Stock is firm
at 21.7. Exchequer Bills are maintained at 9s. to

12s. premium.
Foreign Securities are rallying. Russian Five
per Cents. have been done at 105 i. and 1061, and
the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 89 and 89k.
Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. have been quoted
60i to ' 611 A Spanish Deferred have been quoted
19. Mex]can are steady at 23, and Grenada De-
ferred have been done at R. .

---- --•-: -- The Railway Market is about to A per cent.
better for a few of the English lines, but there is
scarcely anything doing. French shares are rather
heavy and cheaper.
The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not
officially quoted, are as follows :—Jamaica, par to
premium ; Metcalfe, to premium ; Sue River,
discount to par ; Port Royal, to .1 premium.
The Gold Mine Shares have been dull, the Aus-
tralian Banks at about former rates, and the Land
Companies' fluctuating.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK
( Prom the Official List. )
Business done.
Bank Stock ........... ............. 217
per Cent. Reducsd Annuities 9l 90i 14
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9OB 1 901
New 31 per Cent. Annuities 9l 2.1 2a
India Bonds, £lOOO . .
Ditto, under £lOOO par
Console for Account 15th Feb. 9og 1 90i
Exchequer Bills, ld.
£lOOO
$12500
Small

9 12
9 12
9 12

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent BO
Grenada Bonds, Deferred
Mexican 3 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 1822, sper Cent. £St 106,i 5i
Ditto 4i per Cent B9

Ditto Sinall
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent... B6i
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent l9

Dividends on the above payable in London.

Dutch Exchange, 2b per Cent. 12 Guil 614 60i
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieates ...

TWO O'CLOCK.

Consols
Ditto February Account

90$ i
90i i

PRINCE ALBERT.

We must apologise to our readers for troubling them
with another word upon the odious calumnies which
have been lately set on foot with regard to the Prince
Consort. One of these precious inventions— it was
just as good as any of thern—was, that Prince Albert
was in intimate correspondence with our Ambassador
at Vienna, Lord Westmorland. However the Fo-
reign-office might seem to manage the business of
the nation in external matters, it was,
in point of
fact, the Prince Consort who really pulled the
strings at Vienna—or elsewhere—and all for the
interest of the House of Coburg With regard
to Vienna, the accusation was a special one, and has
called forth a special reply from Lord Westmorland
himself. One of our contemporaries, which has earned
an unenviable notoriety by disseminating this scandal,
asserted that if Lord Westmorland would speak out, he
could a tale unfold. He has done so, and here is the
result :—" I have not had any communication, directly
o.t indirectly, with the illustrious
personage alluded to
since I came to Vienna. I never received a letter from
the Prince containing one word upon politics, publicmen, or public affairs. The only letters with which his
Royal Highness
has honoured me have related to
matters of art and benevolence."—Times.

LOSS OF THE BRAZIL SCREW STEAM-
SHIP OLINDA.

Scarcely had the excitement caused by the loss of the
ill fated Tayleur subsided, when the inhabitants of Liver-
pool have been startled by the announcement that the
South American and General Steam Navigation Com-
pany's screw steam ship Olinda had been driven on shore
and was likely to become a wreck.
The Olinda, sailed from Liverpool on Thursday morn-
ing, having been delayed from Tuesday, for the Brazils
and the River Plate, with a very valuable cargo, and
several mail bags. Yesterday morning, at an early hour,
she was driven on a ledge 6f rocks known by the name
of " Harry Furlongs." A despatch from Holyhead to
the agents, Messrs. Millers and Thompson, received
yesterday from Captain Hirsk, states that yesterday
morning, at 4.40, an officer, with Lloyd's agent, called
upon him and informed him of the Olinda, being up-
on the rocks in question. He immediately started in
the Chester and Holyhead Railway boat Cambria to the
Olinda, and found her up to between decks in water,
with seven of the crew on board, the remaining portion
having left the vessel. Having taken charge of and
landed the mail bags, he despatched the boat for the
remainder of the crew, but they had left her in the
meantime, but the steamer picked them up in the Molfie
life-boat, and towed them into Cemeas Bay, where they
landed. When the steamer left there was a heavy sea
on the rocks. At the time she went ashore, it was blow-
ing a very severe gale from the S.W., with very thick
weather.

The Olinda had about 20 passengers, and a crew num-
bering 40, who we are happy to say have all been landed
in safety. She had also on board small quantities of
specie and jewellery. It is expected she will become a
total wreck. Her loss, it is stated, is fully covered by
insurance.

Immediately on receipt of the news in Liverpool, the
agents despatched the steam-tug Dreadnought, with
Captain Green, of the Braziliera (s.s.) on board, to ren-
der every assistance, and subsequently sent the Consti-
tution (tug), with 30 lumpers in tow, for the purpose of
taking out the goods and lightening her.

GREAT CONFLAGRATION AT BANKSTDE.

This morning, at half-past 4 o'clock, and for several
hours, a most destructive fire raged on the bank of the
Thames, Southwark, causing very great destruction of
property. The discovery was made on bond the Lon-
don Fire Steam Float, which was lying nearly opposite
the premises attacked by the fire—viz., those of Messrs.
Jones, Sills, and Co., coal merchants, No. 54, 55, and
56, Bankside. Only a few minutes elapsed before the
building, which was composed chiefly of wood, was in
one sheet of fire. The reflection brought most of the
Metropolitan Fire Brigade engines to the spot ; but, as
usual, a very short supply of water could be obtained
from the mains of the Southwark Water Company. The
large floating steam-engine from Southwark-bridge was
brought from the station, and proved very efficient.
The destructive element spread to the house of Messrs.
Farmers, grocers, No. 53, Bankside, destroying several
houses in rear of Messrs. Jones's premises, occupied by
poor persons, who have lost a large portion of their fur-
niture by removal and breakage. By dint of great exer-
tion on the part of the fireman, under the direction of
Mr. James Braidwood. The flames were subdued by
9 o'clock.

The following is Mr. James Braidwood's official re-
port :—Called at half-past 4 o'clock to the premises of
Messrs. Jones, Sells, and Co., coal merchants, 54, 55,
and 56, Bankside. Building and contents destroyed ;
very short of water ' • cause unknown ; premises insured.
Ditto No. 53, Mrs. Farmers, grocer. Building and
contents burned ; insurance unknown.

Crown-court, i3ankside, 1 to 5, let out in tenements.
Seriously damaged, roofs burned off, and furniture da-
maged by removal.

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. -- We regret to learn that
his Grace the Duke of Norfolk's health is in an unsatis-
factory state, and excites the uneasiness of his family and
friends. To this cause is to be ascribed the resignation
of his high office of Lord Steward of her Majesty's
Household.—Sheffleld Independent.
NEW METROPOLITAN CATTLE M.ARKET.—Yesterday a
deputation, composed of Mr. R. Hewitt, of Dodford ;
Mr. R. Sheppard, of Stowe, near Weedon ; and Mr.
W. Shaw, of Cotton End, near Northampton, extensive
graziers, and Mr. W. Gray, agent of Sir C. Wake, of
Courtenhall, near the last-named town, waited upon the
Lord Mayor, to present a memorial, praying for an
alteration of the Monday market to Tuesday. The
Lord Mayor promised to take care that the memorial
should be laid before the next Court of Common Coun-
cil, with an earnest recommendation on his part that its
prayer should be taken into consideration at a very early
period. The deputation having thanked his lordship for
the kind and courteous manner in which he had re-
ceived them, and for the expression of his views in con-
nection with the subject which they had brought under
his notice, withdrew.
THE CONTINENT.—The mercantile letters from Paris
and other parts of the continent express a more confi-
dent feeling, but without assigning the slightest reason
for it beyond the fresh pretexts for delay employed by
the Emperor of Russia. From the French provsncial
towns the accounts of the state of trade are bad, and
several failures have taken place at Lille and Miilhouse.
ST. PETERSBURG.—Letters from St. Petersburg of
the 19th inst. confirm the recent statement regarding
the issue of a large amount of additional paper money,
and mention also an increase of Treasury bonds. These
measures had not yet produced any unfavourable alte-
ration of the rate of exchange, owing to the heavy ex-
ports going on from Odessa.
AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY.—The meeting
of the Australian Agricultural Company was held yes-
terday. J. H. Ravenshaw, Esq., took the chair. After
the report was read, the chairman made some observa-
tions, to the effect that the coal of the company was now
selling at 18s., whilst in 1852 it only fetched 103. 6d. Mr.
Odenheimer had been sent out to make a thorough sur-
vey of the company's property, and till the report on
that subject had arrived, the directors would cease to
sell the lands of the company. Out of the surplus re-
venue for the year 1852, of 23,3141., a dividend of 1/. ls.
per share was agreed to, and the report was adopted
unanimously.
ObEsso..—The accounts are to the 16th, and by tele-
graph to the 20th, at which latter date freights had sud-
denly renewed their firmness, and, after having a short
time previously been at 85s. per ton, had advanced to
105 s. The news from London and Paris had created
great apprehensions that war with the allied Powers
could no longer be evaded, and business had experienced
a decided check. The annual statement of the ship-
ments from the ports had just been completed, and
showed that the exports of wheat during the past year
were of unprecedented amount, the total being 2,327,000
quarters, or about 360,000 quarters more than in the
famine year of 1847. In addition, there were exported
about 250,000 quarters of Indian corn, 185,000 of rye,
and 150,000 of linseed.

B
s
otdAuhßtaiDee
hwoeFel-n
hithertoe Ie ne s
sary
occurredte
separate consequence
in the
tt
hh ee
foundTRADE.
ich ha
v
-
eand mercantile marine departments of the Board
ro increasing TTlaaßyd
r
several branches pertaining to the above establishment,
and to direct their operations to distinct public offices.
The statistical department, which it may be recollected
was first instituted at the suggestion of its late secre-
tary, Mr. 0-. R. Porter, is to be under the management
of Mr. A. Fonblanque, assisted by Mr. W. Drummond
Oswald ; and the duties of that branch of the establish-
ment will be removed, in the course of the present week,
to No. 2, 'Parliament-street. The averages of corn
and wheat, as well as all exportations and importations
between this and foreign countries, are registered in
this office. The Board of Trade at present compre-
hends the general, statistical, mercantile, marine, rail-
way, and the arts and sciences departments, the offices
for conducting which latter establishment are situated
at Marlborough-house, Pall-mall.
THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 27.—The Penin-
sular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Iberia, com-
manded by Captain Bradshaw, left this afternoon with
the usual Peninsular mails. She took out 3501. in
specie for Gibraltar, and 20 boxes ditto for Lisbon, of
the value of 13,5001., and a general cargo. The Penin-
sular and Oriental Company's steam-ship (screw) Rajah,
Captain Cooke, which has been lately built for the above
company by Messrs. Mare and Co., of Blackwall, and
which has hitherto been employed in conveying coals
from Cardiff to this port, for consumption by the com-
pany, also left this afternoon for Constantinople. She
took out specie to the value of 3,8581. for Constanti-
nople, 6,0001. for Malta, and a small quantity of jewellery
for Smyrna. Amongst the cargo were some stores for
the Naval Hospital at Malta, and thirty guns (twenty-
four pounders) consigned by the Ottoman consul in
London to the Turkish-Government.

FIRE IN CLERKENWELL.—Yesterday morning a fire
broke out in the premises of Mr. Loveday, a beer-shop
keeper, situated in Exmouth-street, Clerkenwell, but
from what cause is at present unknown. A police-con-
stable of the G division discovered the fire, and having
aroused the inmates, sent off for the Royal Society's es-
capes and the engines. The escape was soon in front of
the burning premises, and several engines of the Brigade
and that of the West of England Office followed. The
firemen then found that the whole of the lower part of
the premises was wrapped in a broad sheet of fire. An
abundant supply of water was procured, from which the
firemen set their engines to play, but the flames could
not be conquered until the bar and parlours were burned
out, and the upper part of the building damaged by fire
and smoke. The property of Mr. G. Hendley is also
damaged by heat and smoke. Mr. Loveday was insured
in the Guardian and Mr. Hendley in the Sun Offices.
FIRE AT THE TURKISH EMBASSY.—Yesterday after-
noon, between the hours of four and five o'clock, con-
siderable alarm was caused in the immediate neighbour-
hood of Bryanston•square, in consequence of a fire break-
ing out in the extensive mansion, known as the Turkish
Embassy, situate at No. 1 in the above-named square.
The discovery was made by one of the inmates by seeing
smoke pouring through the apertures in the second floor.
An alarm was instantly raised, and information was
despatched for proper assistance, and in the course of a
few minutes the brigade and parish engines attended,
when the firemen went to work, and with the aid of
several sweeps succeeded in arresting the progress of
the fire, but not until the girders, joistings, floorings,
and buttons were burned on the second floor, and con-
siderable damage done by water, &c. It was exceed;
ingly fortunate that the outbreak did not take place in
the dead of night, for if it had the results might have
been most disastrous. The origin of the fire has been
traced to a foul flue. The premises were insured in the
Globe and other offices.
ERRATUBI.—In the second leading article of Wednes-
day last there was a misprint. In the last paragraph,
commencing The boroughs, read Ten boroughs. The
Yorkshire boroughs return 31 members, and are 18 in
number..

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

Papers from Bombay to the 29th Dec., and from
Hong Kong to the 11th Dec. have reached London
to-day by the Overland Mail.

INDIA.

(From the Bombay Times of Dec. 29.)

Our advices from Burmah are up to the 3d inst.
For some days previous rumours were afloat of a
conspiracy having been detected at Rangoon. I t
was, from all we can learn, determined that at the
full of the moon (22d ultimo) 500 men armed with
knives were to mix with the large mass of worship-
pers who at that period visit the Pagoda, which, in
our possession, serves the double purpose of a for-
tress and place of worship. They were to seize upon
the fortress, overcome the garrison, and fire a gun as
the signal of success, upon which their fellow-conspi-
rators were to fire the commissariat godown, and
taking advantage of the confusion the conflagration
would cause, massacre the troops, and plunder the
city ; but information was given to the authorities,
and on the date of the expected outbreak 50 men of
H.M. 80th Regiment, and a company of the 9th
Madras Native Infantry, embarked on board the
Nemesis steamer, with the avowed intention of at-
tacking some dacoits, but as soon as darkness came
on they disembarked, and proceeded quietly to oc-
cupy the commissariat godown. The different
guards were all doubled, artillery was posted, a
double supply of ammunition was served out, the
muskets of all the soldiers were loaded, and every-
thing put in readiness ; but these preparations
seem to have alarmed the conspirators, for the ex-
pected outbreak did not occur., The next morning,
80 men of the 80th marched to Kemmendine, and
took seven prisoners and some stands of arms.
It is said that a governer for Rangoon, in case
of the success of the outbreak, had been sent
from Ava, but that he decamped on hearing
of the plot being detected, and that his robe 3
of office were found in the bazaar. Some people
appear to despise this conspiracy, but the ex-
tensive preparations which the Government made
for the occasion tend to prove that there was cause
for alarm. The Governor-General left Calcutta for
Pegu on the 9th inst., intending to return about
the 18th proximo. The formation of a bullion de-
pot has been ordered at Pegu, and Ass.-Surg. Boy-
cott, Deputy Assay Master of the Calcutta Mint,
has proceeded to that city to carry out the inten-
tions of Government. We regret to state that
the health of Sir John Cheape, who commands
the forces in Burmah, is very precarious ; while
suffering from illness he fell from a window
and fractured his collar-bone, and it is expected
he will in consequence be obliged to vacate
his command. Intelligence from the north-
west is not very important ; no news of the
further operations, of the Russian army, which
we mentioned in our last summary had reached
Khiva, has been received, but accounts have
reached us of the murder of Naib Mahomed
Hoosen, for many years the confidential adviser
of Nusseer Khan, Meer of Khelat. The Naib was
in his fifty-eighth year, and his murder is imputed
to the machinations of a Sirdar named Moola,
Ahmed. It is also alleged that Dost Mahomed of
Kabul is encamped at Candahar with a large army.
It is not known for what purpose he has left the
seat of his government, but the probability is that

it is merely to pass the winter season. We regret
to state that Lieutenant Godby of the Guide corps
was severely wounded on the 2d inst., at Murdan,
near Peshawur, by an Afredee under his command,
who stabbed him with a sword. The cause of the
attack is not stated, but the would-be assassin was
cut to pieces on the spot by the native officers and
men who happened to be present at the time. The
latest accounts represent Lieut. Godby as out of
danger. A large body of Persian troops have
marched from Shiraz to Bushire, which port has
been blockaded by the Hon. Company's sloop
Clive. The schooner Constance and steam-frigate
Auckland have been despatched from Bombay to
the Persian Gulf. From Peshawur we learn
that the Afreedees have given in, the blockade
of the Kohat pass having starved them into
submission. The construction of the fort at
Bazeed Khel proceeds briskly, and by the latest
accounts all was peaceable. In the action of the
29th ult., the Boree tribe had suffered severely,
and it has been ascertained that they lost four of
their most powerful chiefs, besides other of lesser
note. The Punjab remains quiet. We regret to
announce that the news from Madras still gives
sad accounts of the famine which prevails in the
northern districts of that presidency, consequent
on the scantiness of the recent monsoon. The fol-
lowing is from the Madras Atheneum of the 20th
inst. :—" We have just had intelligence of one of
the most important events that have happened for
years in this presidency. The Rajah of Nagpore
died on the 11th inst., without natural. heirs ; and
as the British Government had steadily refused to
allow him to adopt a successor, the whole of the
magnificent valley of Berar lapses into the pos-
session of the paramount authority. The Nag-
pore State is half the area of the Madras Presi-
dency, and is perhaps without exception the finest
country in the world. Immediately on the death
of the Rajah, five companies of the 10th N. 1.,
and a detachment of artillery, were marched into
the city, where all was peaceful on the follow-
ing day, when our advices left. The body of the
late Sovereign was burnt with the usual ceremonies
on the 12th instant." The ship Alfred, with pas-
sengers and troops bound for Calcutta, touched at
Vizapagatam for fresh provisions and water, and
on the 4th inst. put to sea again ; she was seen to
the eastward on the following morning, but un-
fortunately struck on a reef about 30 miles north of
Bimlipatam. She was got off, and her commander
let her drift down opposite Bimlipatam, the troops
and passengers were all disembarked ; the vessel
had been beached, and two steam tugs had left Cal-
cutta to tow the ship to that port. During the
absence of Lord Dalhousie in Burmah, the
Honourable Joseph Alexander Dorin, first ordi-
nary member of the Council of India, has been
nominated President of the Council, and Governor
of Bengal. We are happy to state that Colonel
Outram, C. 8., has been appointed an ordinary.
Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General. The Mar-
quis of Dalhousie has published selections from the
records of Government relating to the resignation
of his office of Commander-in-Chief by the late Sir
Charles Napier. The work in question must con-
vince the warmest admirers of the late Sir Charles
Napier, that in his dispute with the Governor-
General he was most decidedly and unquestionably
in the wrong. The establishment for the electric
telegraphs has received the sanction of Government.
Dr. O'Shaughnessy to be superintendent on a
salary of 2,000 rs. per mensem, and 10 rs. per
diem travelling allowance ; there are to be four in-
spectors first class, twenty of the second class and
a like number of the third class. Of local matters
the most important is the arrival of Lord Elphin-
stone, our new Governor, who reached our shores
on the evening of the 25th, and assumed the reins
of office the next day. The ex-Governor Lord
Falkland, returns home by the present mail.
Mr. Knight, the aeronaut, the uncertainty of
whose fate we announced in our last, has, we
are glad to say, been saved. The steamer Lowjee
Family was on her way to Surat at the time of his
descent, and her captain, observing the balloon fall
into the sea, took the bearings of the spot and
picked Mr. Knight up at about ten o'clock at
night ; he conveyed him to Surat, and hence arose
the uncertainty and unpleasant surmises which we
published. Her Majesty's frigate Fox, bearing the
flag of Commodore Lambert, sprung a leak while
in Ceylon, and has just come to this port to get
repaired. The Army of Exercise assembled at
Poona has broken up, and his Excellency, Lord
Frederick Fitzclarence, has issued a very compli-
mentary order on the occasion, expressing his
entire approbation of the perfect acquaintance
with their field and other duties evinced both by
the officers and soldiers. His L'ordship, it is said,
proceeds almost immediately to Scinde, to in-
spect the troops, arc., in that province. In our
summary of the 11th September, we published
a copy of the report called for by the Go-
vernment from the judges of the Sudder Adaw-
hit, as to the accuracy of the statements
made. on the subject of the administration of jus-
tice in the Company's Courts by the Bombay
Association. In our present issue we insert the
reply of the Association to the report ; it contains
a complete refutation of the statements made by
the Sudder Adawlut to Government. Even the
enemies of the Bombay Association have been
compelled to praise, in very high and flattering
terms the letter we are noticing, and to censure
the conduct of the judges of the Sudder Adawlut
in attempting to mislead the public, and in sup-
pressing the truth in the manner in which they
have done. Thsre is no change in the money mar-
ket, and trade in general is dull.