The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-26 00:00:00

LIABILITIES.

capital • £67,900,000 00
Ditto of the Branch Banks • ▪ 23,350,000 00
••
Reserve fund ... 10,000,000 00
Ditto of the branch banks 2 980 750 00
Reserve-immobiliere
• 4,000,000 00
Notes to bearer, in circulation ... 403,336,500 00
Ditto of the branch banks
~ 21,059,100 00
Ditto to order (post-bills) •
881,758 20
Account-current with Treasury creditor 51,925,827 8
Various accounts current
... 81,503,702 63
Ditto in branches
25,762,991 00
Bills payable at sight
Ditto at branches ▪ 4,837,300 00
•-• ... 695,895 00
Bills of the branch banks payable by
the Bank ... 5,908,810 61
Ditto of the Bank payable by branches.. 2,807,632 00
Dividends payable
•336,949 25
Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 216,189 4
Discounts, interest, and expenses 1,024,070 32
• 1,128,997 00
months ... 246,109 85
460,661 00
Miscellaneous ... 109,Ditt0424
Re-discountsbranchin
thebankslast
13

f. 710,470,667 11

THE WEATHER.—Dr. Forster's statement to the
Royal Astronomical Society will, we suspect, go
for nothing. Dr. Forster says that, according to
observations extending oves the time since 1767,
whenever the new moon fell on a Saturday, the
following twenty days were wet and windy. What
is there in a Saturday to influence the weather? It
is simply a day so named, causing in the minds of men,
in consequence of the peculiarities which custom has al-
lotted to it, certain associations, as the last business day
of the week, the day preceding Sunday, the market-
day, &c.: but it is neither a solstice, nor an equinox,
nor a division of any particular season, so that it
can have no influence over the moon, neither can the
moon have any over it, or in conjunction with it. Well,
there was a new moon on Saturday, and, to I ever since
then the weather has been dry and calm, and, if we
may juddge by the barometer, is likely to continue
so. Throughout the past week the wind has been
very inconstant. It has visited in succession every
point of the compass, and the atmosphere has
been correspondingly unsettled, the northerly and
easterly winds bringing cold airs, the west fresh and
pleasant breezes, and the south fog and rain. On several
of the nights and mornings last week dense fogs hung
over the town and river, and in some cases there was not
a little danger to the vessels plying to and fro, as will be
seen by a paragraph in another column. Yesterday the
wind was from due north, and the aid cold and bracing,
The day was, however, somewhat gloomy.—Liverpoo
Albion of this day.
SUICIDE OP COLONEL C. BIRD.—On Saturday,
Mr. A. H. English, the Coroner at Bath, resumed an
adjourned inquiry respecting the death of Colonel Charles
Bird, aged 55, of the Hon. East India Company's ser-
vice, who committed suicide in the following manner.
The inquiry was commenced on Friday night, and ad •
journed till next day for further evidence. Ann Doren,
housemaid to the deceased, said that on Thursday,
about one o'clock, the deceased rang the bell, and on her
going to answer it, he requested her to take a note to
Colonel Palmer, at No. 7, Sion-place, which she did,
and returned in about twenty minutes, when she asked the
ladies where the Colonel was? They told her that he
was in the parlour, but on going there she could not
find him. She afterwards went to the back drawing-
room, at the door of which she knocked, but got
no answer. Whilst at the door Colonel Budd arrived,
and having made known her suspicions to him he had a
ladder brought, and the Colonel entered at the window
and opened the door for witness, and when she entered
she found her master sitting in his chair covered with
blood. Two pistols were on the floor, and a razor was
on the chair at his side. His left arm was cut, and he
seemed quite dead. Deceased bad seemed very low-
spirited lately, especially during the last two or three
days. Colonel Budd corroborated the evidence of the
previous witness. Colonel Palmer said deceased had
been greatly depressed lately. He received a letter from
him the day before his death, in which he said, " I don't
think I shall ever know happiness again." He believed
his depression arose from being separated from his wife.
Dr. Harvey proved being sent for to see the deceased,
when he found him dead. Other evidence having been
given, the jury were considering their verdict when the
rep, rter was obliged to dispatch his parcel to meet the
train.

The purchase-money paid by the Central German
Government for the American steam-ship United States,
now a member of their navy, was 265,000 dollars, or,
in sterling, 53,0001. The ship cost originally 270,000
dollars; and ran her proprietor considerably into debt
during her short career. The United States is now be-
ing fitted out as a war steamer by one of the first ship.
builders of the Hudson River.
Amongst the acts of the late United States Congress
is one authorising a coinage of 20 and of 1 dollar gold
pieces. '

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT CF CILINCERY, March 24.
COOPER V. EARL POWIS.
In this case, which had not concluded when our repor

The LORD CHANCELLOR affirmed the order of the
Court below, and stated that the principle to govern such
cases had been laid down by him in " Foss and Har-
bottle," and other decisions.
Appeal dismissed with costs.

VICE CHANCERY COURT, March 24.
(Before Sir J. K. BRUCE.)
HAYWARD V. PURSSEY.
In this case the arguments were again adjourned, and
stand for Monday, after the bankrupt petitions.

PREROGATIVE COURT, March 24,
(Before Sir H. JENNER FUST.);
LEECH V. BATES.

The arguments in this case having been concluded
to-day,
Sir H. J. FUST gave judgment.—Mr. Edmund Bates,
late of Kettering, died last year, after having executed a
will and two codicils, which latter were now disputed.
The two witnesses to these papers would not speak to
their having been duly executed. The first codicil was
attested by Thomas Messenger and his mother, but it
was said they were not present at the time when the de-
ceased executed it. On the second were Thomas Mes-
senger and John Bates. The latter witness said he at-
tested the instrument before it was signed by the de-
ceased. A further question was, which of the two codi-
cils was executed first. The Learned Judge referred to
the case of " Falls v. Jackson," where the will was at-
tested by the witnesses at different times, which was the
case in this instance. He could not depend upon the
want of memory on the part of the witnesses. Looking
at this infirmity, he could not decide against these in-
struments. He considered they were duly executed by
the deceased at the dates they bore, and would, there-
fore, grant probate to the will and codicils. The costs
to be paid out of the estate.

MATSON V. MAGRATII.

Sir H. JENNER FusT gave judgment in this case. The
deceased, a Lieutenant Melville Gore Matson, of the
59th Regiment, made a will on the 14th of March, 1833,
at which period he was taken seriously ill, when he be-
queathed a life interest in his property to his mother,
and after her death to a Miss Charlotte Butler, of Ennis-
killen, a lady whom be was under an engagement to
marry, saying, " if he died he could wish to provide for
her," but recovering, he married the lady, and four chil-
dren were the result of that marriage, and who now ap-
peared before the Court, by their guardian, to dispute
this will, and call upon the Court to make some provi-
sion for them, the testator not having made any testa-
mentary disposition of his property since his marriage.
The questio❑ was, is the will revoked by this marriage?
He (the Learned Judge) then referred to and commented
on the case of Fox and Bastard, also Israel and Roden,
and others, in reference to the revocation of a will. At
the present moment, by the new Wills Ant, a marriage
would revoke any will made previously, but this bore
date before that Act came into operation. He felt be
must decide for the revocation of the will, as there were
children by this marriage who must be provided for.
The law would not allow the widow to have any control
over it, though the will was no doubt made to provide
for her at the time the testator executed it. The will
was accordingly revoked. The costs to be paid out of
the estate.

JONES V. ADAMS AND HENSECAW.
The testatrix in this case was a Mrs. Mary Anne G ar-
ratt, late of Newington, who executed a will dated the
16th of June, 1848, which was now disputed by two of
her cousins. The will was made by Mr. Watts, and the
bulk of her property was left by her to her medical at-
tendant, a Mr. Jones, she having left only 191. 19s. to
each of her cousins, who contended that she was not in
a correct state of mind when she made her will. She
would frequently mistake one person for another.
Dr. HAGGARD now appeared before the Court, asking
it to grant probate, and contending that she was com-
petent for executing her will.
Pr. BAYIORD opposed the will. He stated that a will
had been previously made, giving her property to her
two cousins, who were not uow mentioned in the will.
It was clear her mind had been impaired by her excesses,
and that she was incompetent to do such an act. She was
subject to delusions, and said she had the battle of the
Jews at the back of her house. He (Dr. Bayford) con-
tended that there wes much suspicion in the manner in
which the will was drawn up, as the deceased had al-
ways expressed an affection for her relatives, and that,
therefore, the Court would r efuse to grant probate.
The Learned JUDGE, in giving his decision, said,
that though the testatrix was in the habit of indulging
in intemperance, there did not appear to be sufficient
evidence before the Court that could induce it to believe
that she was an incompetent person at the time of making
her will,nor that any influence had been used by Mr.,,Jones
to obtain this bequest. He (the Learned Judge) always
looked with suspicion when medical men became lega-
tees under wills of persons whom they were in the habit
of visiting as medical attendants, owing to the influence
they might be supposed to possess. The amount involved
was about 5001., and although there was apparently
some confusion in the mind of the testatrix, the Court
must be bound by the evidence, and accordingly would
grant probate to Mr. Jones, the estate meeting the costs.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
WESTERN CIRCUIT.—Exeter, March 23.
(Before Lord DENMAN and a Jury of the city of Exeter.)
TRE ROBBERY Or THE MAIL ON THE GREAT WESTERN
RAILWAY.

After the conclusion of the evidence in this case on
Friday, Mr. COCKBURN addressed the jury on behalf of
the prisoners. This was a strong case of suspicion, he
must admit, but if men were to be condemned upon
suspicion only, then he might at once resign the prisoners
into their bands; but suck was not the case. That the
bags were safe at Bristol he did not deny, nor that the
prisoners went by a first-class carriage from Bristol;
but he contended there were other persons in the train
who had been allowed to depart without any search or
inquiry. As to what had been termed masks, they were
merely two pieces of crape, and they were not found
upon the prisoners, but only in the pocket of the carriage.
He could not understand for what purpose it could
be suggested those pieces of crape were to be used;
they were mere fragments of a woman's veil. The
whole evidence was circumstantial, and the books teemed
with instances where, on too many occasions, too late
discoveries had been made which proved the innocence
of the party who had been sacrificed. There was
nothing to show but that the string which adhered to
the foot of Poole had become attached as he walked
along the platform, or it might have been carried into
the carriage by the guards when they went in to search,
and left there, and then when Poole stood up it might
have adhered to his foot. He could not say what weight
was to be given to the false moustache. It was merely
something thrown into the scale. If the jury were not
satisfied that the tender was robbed during the time of
the journey, there was nothing whatever against the
prisoners ; but it was alleged that when the train was
proceeding at a velocity of from twenty to fifty miles
an hour these men had got out out of the window of
their own carriage, had then passed the windows of
three compartments, and then had got upon the buffers of
the two carriages, had proceeded from one carriage to
another, and, having only the shelving roof of the
carriage to hold on by, they had only the ledge of the
panel on which to step for six feet three inches. Why a
cat could not have done it. The only evidence produced
upon the subject was that it had been done; but it had
been done when the carriages were standing still. But
let any of the railway men do it between Bristol and
Bridgewater and he would resign the prisoners to their
tender mercies. Why, there was not a man to be found
who would attempt it for all the gold which it was fancied
would come from California. It was too absurd to sup-
pose possible. it If a man had had the courage to make
the attempt he must have been dashed to atoms against
some of the numerous tunnels and bridges which existed
upon this line. No man dared to encounter perils so nu-
merous and so dreadful. Therefore, he must suggest that
the robbery could not have been effected during the jour-
ney, and the prisoners were accounted for as regarded
every other moment. The matter must have been con-
trived when the train was at the points in the dark, a
quarter of a mile from the station at Bristol, and at that
time the prisoners were seen in the station. What was to
have prevented a person from getting into the tender at
those points, and there remaining till the train slackened
speed, on approaching Bridgewater, and then getting
out of the window of the tender opposite the platform,
before Barrett could give any alarm? The bundle of
letters found in the first-class carriage might have been
put there by some second-class passenger. But why
had not tliese experienced persons looked under the
seats at Bridgewater? The jury had a balance of im-
probabilities—he could not throw light to elucidate the
ease. His hypothesis was no more in doubt and difficulty
than was the case for the prosecution.

Saturday, March 24.
Lord DENMAN having this morning summed up in
the case of Henry Poole and Edward Nightingale,
The Jury hesitated for about half an hour, and then
returned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners.
Lord DENMAN then addressed them:—You have been
found guilty by the jury of the offence with which you
were charged, and upon such evidence
.that I think it
would have been a most unfortunate verdict and a great
public calamity if the jury had said you were not
guilty, because to me the evidence is so strong
and overpowering that to have said you were not
guilty would have been inviting all others to commit
similar crimes. Ido not believe there is a greater mis-
fortune, except a wrong verdict of guilty, than where a
verdict is pronounced that all the bystanders feel to be per-
fectly incorrect and false. What can one think when a
discharged guard, who comes to Exeter with no appa-
rent motive, meet another man with no honest calling,
goes to Starcross and starts for Bristol, returns by the
next train, comes and conceals himself, and tells a false
story? The mere fact of your being present with all
that knowledge and so conducting yourself, and the dis-
appearance of the letters, would be strong to show that
you two were the men, and you, Poole, with your evi-
dent activity and skill, concealment, disguise, and false-
hood, bear the strongest evidence of guilt ; you must be
transported for 15 years.
There was a greet sensation in the court, in which
were many of Poole's friends. It is clear that these two
men robbed the up. mail that night, stayed in Bristol
about an hour and a- half, and then returned and robbed
the down mail. Another strange circumstance has
come to light, that 22 years ego Nightingale's father
was prosecuted for robbing the bags of the Dover mail,
but was acquitted. The present case shows more daring
and courage than can be imagined, because. by the
slightest slip, the men must have been dashed to atoms,
as, that part of the line being exceedingly level, the
trains always go at a great velocity.
The case did net conclude till ten at night.
CROWN COURT.—( Before Air. Justice WiLmAsts.)
James Landia and James Mills were indicted for the
wilful murder of Grace Holman, at Tedburn St. Mary,
on the 2d of December last.