The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-08 00:00:00

DARTMOUTH.

The committee to inquire into the petitions, four in
number, against the return of the sitting members for
Dartmouth, sat this morning at one o'clock; Mr. Miles,
chairman.

The counsel for the petitioners were Mr. Serjeant
Kinglake, Mr. Edwin James ; for the sitting members
Mr. Kenneth Macaulay and Mr. Bodkin.

TAUNTON.

This committee sat this morning for the first time at
one o'clock ; chairman Sir George Grey.
The counsel for the petitioners were Mr. Serjeant
Kinglake and Mr. Edwin James ; for the sitting members
Mr. Kenneth Macaulay and Mr. Montague Smith.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY).

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Erie.)
THE REGENT'S CANAL MURDER.

The trial of Thomas Mackett, indicted for the murder
of Elizabeth Lea, by drowning her in the Regent's
Canal, was this morning postponed until the next ses-
sions. It will be seen from another part of our paper
that the prisoner was put on his trial yesterday, but the
jury were discharged at nine o'clock last night, being
unable to come to a verdict.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)

William Griffiths, 45, maltster, a man of very respect-
able appearance, was indicted for stealing 101 lbs. of
sewing silk, valued at 1401., the property of Andrew
Jukes Worthington.
Mr. Lilley defended the prisoner.

It appeared that the prisoner, was formerly in a
large way of business, and possessed of large property,
which he had lost in railway speculations, and since then
had been getting his living by dealing in Manchester
goods. The prosecutors are large sewing silk makers in
Staffordshire, having a place of business in King-street,
Cheapside. The prisoner was in the habit of visiting
Messrs. Russell and Taylor, the agents who managed
the business in King-street, vho had befriended him in
his difficulties. The prisoner used generally to call
when the premises were about to be closed, and often
had a mackintosh under his arm. Some short time since
the prosecutor taking stock missed a great deal of stock,
and ultimate inquiry proved that the prisoner had sold
the silk in question forming part of the stock, and about
the identity of which there was no doubt, at several
houses in the trade for less than its actual value, stating
that he had taken it for a bad debt.

The jury found him guilty.
There was another indictment against him for stealing
linens from other places where he was in the habit of
going, and which were found at his lodgings by the
police. Upon this he was acquitted.
The prisoner said he was innocent, and that for thirty-
five years had honourably carried on business without a
blemish on his character. _ _

The Recorder said there could be no doubt about his
guilt, and it was a bad case. He waa sentenced to 12
months and hard labour.

Francis Lucy, 28, sailor, was indicted for slaying
Rahmel Allen upon the high seas.

Mr. Carter prosecuted, and Mr. Ballantine and Mr.
Sleigh defended.
The case, which has been very recently reported from
the Thames Police, was proceeding when we went to
press, and will occupy the whole day.

COMPANY OF COPPER MINERS.—The first ordinary
general meeting of Company of Copper Miners in Eng-
land since the resumption of the works took place yes-
terday, when dividends were declared at the rate of 71
per cent. on the preference shares, and of 2 per cent.
per annum on the united stock of the company. The
statement by the chairman (Sir I. D. Paul) showed that
the progress of operations had been satisfactory, and
that the profits for the year between the 6th of March,
1852 (the date when possession was given by the Bank
of England), and the sth of March, 1853, had amounted
to 20,718/. The position of the particular branches of
trade with which the company's works are connected
gave the directors reason to anticipate favourable results
under the existing improved management. With re-
gard to the arrangements with the Bank, the whole
had been successfully concluded, and minor details alone
remained to be settled. The bill brought before Parlia-
ment with the sanction of the shareholders had been
petitioned against by Mr. Lord, whose claims in dispute
with the directors have been submitted to arbitration ;
but it was questioned whether he possessed a locus standi.
Mr. Lord appeared in person at the meeting,dpro-
tested that the proceedings were illegal. The dividends
were, however, carried unanimously, and 2,0001. per
annum was fixed as the allowance for the board.
2RESENT PRICES OF WHEAT, FLOUR, AND BREAD IN
LONDON AND PARlS._Anneked is a comparison of the
present prices of wheat, flour, and bread in London and
Paris :—" The highest quotation of wheat of the first
quality in Paris is 29f. 50c. per 1A hectolitres,
highest price of
which is
equal to 459. Bd. per quarter London
; and
white wheat of the first quality in being 508. per
quarter, it follows that wheat is nearly 91 per cent.
dearer in London than in Paris. The highest quota-
tion of flour of the first quality in Paris is 36f. 25c. the
100 kilogrammes, which is equal to 365. 9d. per sack of
2801 b.. English ; and the highest quotation of flour in the
London market being 465. the sack, it follows that flour
is ra'sher more than 25 per cent. dearer in London than
in Paris. The price of bread of the first quality in Paris
is 31c. per kilogramme, which is equal to rather more
than Sad. the 41b. loaf; English weight ; and the
price
of bread in London at the full-priced shops being
7d.
the 41b. loaf, it follows that bread is about 39,
P
er cet t
dearer in London than in Paris. The second *
quality of
bread
in Paris is quoted at 24c. per kilogramme,
which
ir3 equivalent to rather more than 4id. per
41b. loaf."
CLOSING OF METROPOLITAN GRAVEYARDS.—Notices
have been received by the authorities of the various
parishes from the Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment to the effect that, on and after the sth of May
ensuing, the under-mentioned places of interment will be
closed :—St, Margaret's, Lothbv.ry ; St. Christopher-le-
Stocks ; St. Bartholomew, 'Change ; St. Edmund the
King with St. Nicholas Acons ; Allhallows the Great ;
Allhallows the Less ; St. Lawrence, Jewry ; St. Mary
Magdalen ; and St. Mary, Ilaggerstone, in the parish
of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch.