The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-04 00:00:00

CITY OF LONDON COMMISSION-(THIS DAY.

The Commissioners resumed their inquiry this morn-
ing in the chambers of the Judicial Committee of the
Privy Council.
Mr. Acland said he wished to correct the statement
which he made at the former sitting with regard to the
money expended by the corporation in the purchase of
newspapers. He was in error in supposing that the
Common Council had voted 1,0001. a year, during the
last four years, for the purpose of subsidising the press,
as, in point of fact, no such vote had ever been come
to ; but, in 1849, the consolidated committee made a
report recommending that steps should be taken
to obtain better reports in the newspapers of the proceed-
ings of the council, and the report was remitted back to
the committee, with power to make the necessary
arrangements for carrying out the recommendation.
The task of doing this was confided by the consolidated
committee to a sub-committee, consisting of three mem-
bers, and although there was no absolute vote upon the
subject, there was yet a tacit understanding between the
council and the consolidated committee that the latter
should, at their discretion, expend not more than 1,0001.
a-year in the purchase of newspapers. He knew this of
his own knowledge, but he could not state from what
source he obtained the information without being guilty
of a breach of confidence. He found, however, that in
the published accounts of the corporation there was
a "conglomerated" item of a 1,0001. a year charged to
the hall keeper, which included newspapers and adver-
tisements. He had no reason actually to doubt the
statement a Mr. Wood, that during the last four years
no more than 1501. a year had been spent in the pur-
chase of newspapers ; but the corporation accounts con-
tained no entry whatever of even that payment, while
he knew of his own knowledge that the consolidated
committee had expended a large sum of money in at-
tempting to establish a newspaper of their own, called
The Citizen.

Mr. Acland then proceeded to state his views with
regard to the civil and criminal courts of the city.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

QUEEN'S BENCH.
FALSE IMPRISONMENT.-GREENFIELD V. SYKES.

This was an action for false imprisonment, to which
the defendant had pleaded simply not guilty. The plain-
tiff was a tradesman, and the defendant a publican in
Liverpool ; and some time ago one of the defendant's
windows was broken and a bottle of spirits stolen in the
night. Suspicion fell upon the plaintiff, and the next
morning he was apprehended; but on being taken before
the police magistrate there was not sufficient evidence
to justify his conviction. Subsequently he brought the
present action, and at the trial the defendant was de-
sirous of calling evidence to show that there was reason-
able ground for believing that the plaintiff was the party
who broke the window. The Court, however, ruled that
such evidence could not be received under a plea of not
guilty. It ought to have been specially pleaded. Mr.
Millward now moved for a rule to show cause why a
new trial should not be had, on the ground that the
evidence was improperly rejected. Application granted.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

INFRINGEMENT OF A PATENT.-PALMER V. COOPER.

This was an action for infringing a patent for making
candles. By the 15th and 16th of Victoria, the defend-
ant was bound to deliver the alleged infringement
with his plea, but this was not done in the present in-
stance, and at the trial the Lord Chief Justice Baron
allowed the omission to be supplied by the admission of
evidence, which induced a verdict for the defendant.
Sir F. Thesiger now moved for a rule nisi, to show
cause why a new trial should not be had, on the ground
that the evidence was improperly admitted.
Application granted.

SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before R. Gurney, Esq.)

IMPORTANT QUESTION UNDER THE INSOLVENT LAW.-

KENDALL V. PATTIE.

This was an action to recover the sum of 41. 10s. for
work done for the defendant.

Mr. W. B. Davies on the part of the defendant,
said that this court had no jurisdiction, as the defend-
ant had been imprisoned and petitioned the In-
solvent Court and obtained his discharge. In some
cases under very special circumstances, it had been held
that when fraud had been committed, and when no
notice had been given to the creditor, the court had
jurisdiction where the case had been heard under the
Protection Act, as then the insolvent need only file his
schedule, give up his property and obtain immediate
protection.
His Honour examined the plaintiff, and said that there
did not appear the slightest evidence of fraud, and,
therefore, the case was at end on that point ; and it was
very seldom the court interfered when a person had been
in prison and had passed the Insolvent Court.
Plaintiff was nonsuited.

The Duke of Newcastle returns to town to-day, from
a visit to her Majesty, at Windsor Castle. The
youth-
ful branches of the family will arrive at Portman-square
on Saturday. The Noble Duke and his colleagues in
office will meet in Downing-street, on Monday.
ROYAL FAMILY BIRTHDAYS IN NOVEMBER.—Yester-
day being the 3rd of November was the birthday of her
Royal Highness the Princess Sophia. On the 9th (Lord
Mayor's day) will be the birthday of the Prince of
has
been
_ _ ales, 1841, and that of the Princess Royal on the 21st,
1840. Also,Ma-
jesty
in the month of November, 1558, her ,
TrafEal
. Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne of England.
REOPENING OP THE NATIONAL
wObALiebLERT .—The
National Gallery,
closed beyond
to the usual recess, to enable the committee
carry out the new alterations and repairs, which have
been going on f
to the public
cnoithe last two months., will be re-opened
and on Mondays, Monday_ next, the 7th instant, gratis,
days, as usual. ocTiiirrsdays, Wednesdays, and Thurs.
CLOSING THE idays, only for the pupils.
HOUSE.—
Notice was '
TRANSFER BOOKS AT THE EAST INDIA
House that the issued
yesterday at the East India
be shut from Tuesday, transfer books for East India stock will
three p.m., until ythe 6th of December next, at
and that the warrants Tuesday,for thei 17th of January, 1854,
stock, payable on Friday, thee dividends on the said
under the 11th section of the a 6th of January, 1854,
IV., cap. 85, will be ready to beetdsed and 4th William
delivered to the public
on that day. The interest on the company's bonds is
now raised from 21. 10s. to 3/. ss,
THE VACANT SCOTCH JUDGESHIP.—It t,e cent. per annum.
has been stated
in the London and several of the Scotch journals,
Mr. Inglis. Dean of Faculty, would be the successor
that
cscessor of
Lord Anderson. This report is erroneous, we are
enabled to state that the Dean of Faculty li a
as respect.
fully declined the vacant seat on the bench. The pro-
bability therefore now is, that the high office will be
offered to Mr. Handyside, the Solicitor-General.—
Caledonian Mercury.
THE LATE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR CHAS. NAPIER.
—A paragraph having lately appeared in some of the
papers, to the effect that Sir Charles Napier's will had
been proved, and the personal estate sworn "under
200,0001.," it may be right to state that probate was
only taken out on Friday last, by Lieut.-Col. John Pitt
Kennedy, joint trustee under the will with Lady apser,
and that, instead of 200,0001,, the amount an
under 20,0001.