The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 24, 1849:

THE DEATHS FROM CHOLERA

AT TOOTING.
VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER.
Yesterday morning Mr. Wakley resumed, at the Globe
Tavern, Gray's Inn-road, the inquest which has beet).
continued by adjournment since Monday se'nnight on
the bodies of four children chargeable to the Holborn
Poor-law Union. who died at the Royal Free Hospital,
Gray's Inn-road, soon after their removal from Mr.
Drouet's establishment for pauper children at Tooting
of.
r. Ballantine, the barrister, was present on behalf
Tr. Droller..
After the Court had been opened,
Mr. Ballantine said he held in his band a letter from
Mr. Baker, who was coroner for some portion of Mid-
-.

&hex.
The CORONER--Hc is one of the coroners for the
minty; he acts for the eastern division.
Mr. Ballantine--Mr. Baker states that he is holding
an inquest on the bodies of three• or four persons who
have been in the establishment of Mr. Drouet, and that
he gives Mr. Drouet notice of the circumstance to afford
him an opportunity of attending the inquiry if be chooses
to do so. The inquest is held at one o'clock to-day; but,
as Mr. Drouet has been attending this inquiry, and as
everything connected it ith his establishment has been
investigated to the fullest possible extent before this
jury, I think it advisable that he remain here. I wished
to make this statement publicly that it may not be sup-
posed that Mr. Drouet is absenting himself from another
inquiry which some persons might think he ought to
attend.
At the suggestion of the Foreman, after some conver-
sation between the coroner and jury,
Joseph Saunders, an inmate of the Holborn Union
Workhouse, was called in and sworn. He stated, that
on Friday last he had charge of the children who were
brought to the jury-room for elimination from the
Royal Free Hospital. He placed them in the taproom
below. At the conclusion of the sitting Mr. Drouet en-
tered
that room. It was a public room. Mr. Drouet
said to Henry Hartshorn, one of the children who had
been examined, "As to you, you lying young scoun-
drel, mark my words; you will be taken ill before the
night's over." Witness did not interfere, because Mr.
Drouet went away directly.
The CORONER observed, that he had considered it
right to inquire into this matter, for it the boy to whom
Mr. Drouet had spoken had not been examined Mr.
Drouet's conduct might have been construed into a
contempt of court. The observation of Mr. Drouet
could produce no effect on the evidence of the boy to
whom it was addressed, as he had already been exa-
• mined, and he (the Coroner) was not aware that any
other child who was present on the occasion would be
called as a witness. He must say, however, that Mr.
Drouet's conduct had been as improper and reprehen-
sible as it was impolitic.
The Foreman was glad an inquiry had been instituted
into the transaction, as very exaggerated reports had
been circulated on the subject in the neighbourhood.
Mr. Ballantine considered that the jury had acted
with great kindness to Mr. Drouet—whose conduct had
certainly been most improper—in ascertaining the real

facts. -
Sarah Sellers was then called, and deposed—l am an
inntate of the Holborn Union Workhouse. I went to
Mr. Dronet's establishment to attend to the children on
Friday, the sth of January. I arrived there about mid-
night. I was employed in the boys' sick ward. There
were, I think, 30 beds in the wird; there was only one
child in each bed. I saw the greatest attention shown
while I was there, both with regard to medical attend-
ance and nurses. I was there ten days. Two of the
nurses belonging to the establishment were taken ill
while I was there.
Mr. Popham—She does not state she was herself ill.
Witness--I was attacked with purging and vomiting.
Elizabeth Elliott, another nurse, remained up with me
five nights and five days. We were obliged to be up,
because there was no other assistance. I had not my
clothes off for five nights. I never went to bed, or got
any rest whatever. - The ward was very dirty and dusty
when I went into it. We cleaned the rooms. We had
two little boys belonging to the house to assist us in
carrying away the slops.
Mary Ann Keith, widow, an inmate of St. Pancras
Workhouse, deposed—l attended the children from St.
Pancras parish in Mr. Drouet's establishment as nurse.
I went to Tooting last Friday fortnight, and arrived at
Mr. Drouet's between eleven and twelve at night. I was
in Nurse Green's ward. I remained there till the next
morning. The ward was c'ean. There were three chil-
dren in one bed, but they did not remain long. I had 19
children to attend, and for the first two days there was
no one but myself. I at first carried down the slops
myself, but after the first two days I got a little girl as
a helper. I was up three nights without going to bed. I
did not go to bed in the daytime.
Thomas Lovick, assistant-surveyor to the Metropo-
litan Commissioners of Sewers—l surveyed the vicinity
of Mr. Drouet's premises by direction of the Board of
Health, mainly with regard to the ditches. That exa-
mination was made on the 6th of January. (A plan was
handed to the witness.) The plan of the premises pro-
duced is generally correct. I did not examine the
buildings, with the exception of one of the dormitories,
besides what is called the farm-yard. I observed that
one portion of the drains at the end of Mr. Drouet's pre-
mises had been cleaned out, and I was informed it had
been done recently.
Mr. Kite, in answer to the Coroner, said the ditch in
question had been cleaned out twice within the two
months he had been at Mr. Drouet's. _ _

Mt% Whitfield, surgeon to the Holborn Union, ob-
served that one of the ditches was not a stagnant ditch,
but a clear running stream.
Mr. Lorick was understood to say that in some of the
ditches the water was stagnant.
. . .

The Foreman asked whether the boys were employed
in cleaning out the ditch.
Mr. Kite said he believed not; the cleansing took
place under the direction of the local sanitary com-
mittee.

Mr. Loviek, in reply to the Coroner, said he certainly
considered that the effluvia from the ditches would have
a prejudicial effect upon the health of the inmates of
Mr. Drouet's establishment.
Mr. Erasmus Gilbert Livesay, proprietor of a board-
ing-school at Tooting, and a member of the committee
of health for that place, observed, that about the 6th or
7th of December men were employed in cleaning out the
ditches near the new range of buildings in Mr. Drouet's
establishment. Most of the ditches were thoroughly
cleaned, but it was impossible in. some parts of the
ditches to prevent an accumulation of offensive matter.
One of these ditches was in such a bad condition that
witness pointed it out to the committee as the cesspool
of Tooting. Witness had not noticed that any case of
illnefss or fever bad resulted from the condition of the
ditches. Witness might observe that he had formerly
resided at Guildford, and that since he had lived at
Tooting, three years and a half, his medical bills had
been much less in proportion to the number of his pupils
than at the former place.
William Porter—l have been master shoemaker at
Mr. Drouet's establishment for ten years. I also drill
the boys and attend at their meals. I assisted in serv-
ing out the food to the children. The pottage for break-
fast was made of milk, flour, and arrow-root, and was of
the substance of ordinary gruel. The meat for dinner
was weighed ;it was entirely without bone. Mutton
was supplied to the young children only. The children
had the same allowance for supper as fur breakfast. The
bigger boys had four or five ounces of bread each. A
41b, loaf was cut into about thirteen pieces. I never saw
a loaf cut into sixteen pieces. The bread was not weighed
for each child. Sometimes a boy has come and told me '
'that from the manner in which the bread had been cut
he had got too small a piece, and I would then give him
another. The children seemed satisfied. None of the
children ever spoke to me on the subject of their
shoes being too small, and hurting them. I
should say that the boys could always get
water when they wanted it. There is no water in the
boys' yard, but I have always considered that there was
fa sufficient supply in the children's dining-room. I bad
half-a-crown a week to distribute among the boys who
were engaged in my workshop in making and mending
shoes.

.A juryman stated, that when the jury visited Mr.
Dr ouet's establishment they saw seven or eight children
sitting round the fire, whu said they were waiting till
shoes were provided for them, or their shoes were
mended.
The witness said, they might have been waiting till
the matron could get them shoes from the store-room.
The juryman observed that the children stated that
some of them had been waiting for shoes for a day or two.
Mr. W. B. Whitfield, surgeon, sw or9._ and examined
—I am medical offiver of the Holborn Union- In con-
sequence of art order of the board of guardians, which
I received about nine in the evening of the 3d of January,
I went down to Tooting at ten o clock in the morning of
the 4th, to examine the state of
account of the great of the Holborn children
there, and report thereupon•
number constantly being brought into the sick ward, I
found considerable confusion prevailing. There were
not attendants enough. In a case of this kind every
three or four children would require a separate attend-
ant. But I do not blame Mr. Drouet on this account, be-
cause confusion was inevitable from the sudden and violent
nature of the disease. Mr. Dreamt requested me to
make any suggestions I could, and promised to adopt
them. I a.pordingly made an entry in his book, re-
commending the use of flannel as an under-garment,
four blankets to each bed, and an alteration in the diet.
I returned to town in the evening, and the guardians
met early nett morning, and heard my account, and on
the same day 156 of our children were removed by me
in vans, to title Free Hospital, Gray's Inn-road. Seven-
teen of the diet at Tooting, and tour at the Free Hos-
pital. I saw tile deceased, Andrews, the day after he
arrived at the hospital, about four hours before his death.
His diseaseappeared completely similar to what I had
seen -14 'Thoting. I have do doubt Asiatic cholera was
the cease of his death. I say the same of the girl
Johnson. The children generally were looking pale,
with the exception of the younger girls. Tho abdomen
was tumid in many of them. A great many of the young
children were very thin. A number of them had the
itch arid various forms of cutaneous eruptions, enlarged
glands, sores in some places, scrofula, and impetigo.
We always flied these most among the poor; it is partly
fropi the want of proper cleanliness and diet. I believe
that Andrews and Johnson had the seeds of the disease
of which they died in them when they started from
Tocitilig. I believe cholera to be infectious under par-
ticular circumstances; where a number of persons, have
ilrg rE ceived the atmospheric poison, are confined toge-
ther in a small place, or place not well ventilated, the
ex halations of the bodies of the diseased are capable
of communicating the disease to others, but in large
apartments, in which there are but few cases, I think
there is little chance of infection. I attribute this
outbreak of cholera to a poison which then and Brill
exists in the atmosphere through the whole of this
co.antry, and in various parts of Europe. I attri-
bute the spread and great prevalence of. the disease
in this case to several causes. -First, the excessive
cold; And the imperfect manner in which the children

were protected from it; next, the want of proper venti-
lation throughout the establishment, and the overcrowd-
ing; and I think, from the fact of the children's abdo-
mens being tumid and the extremities not so stout as
they should be, that • the food may not have been suffi-
cient to keep them in that vigour of health which would
enable them to resist the evil influences I have men-
tioned.
Mr. Withall, registrar of births and deaths, in Toot-
ing, was next called—He had no deaths from cholera re-
gistered except those registered from Mr. Drouet's es-
tablishment; these were about 150 in all. The popula-
tion of the pariah is above 3,000; the deaths registered
are about 50 a year.
Dr. T. B. Peacock—ln my opinion Johnson and Har-
per died of Asiatic cholera. Harper, within half an hour
of his seizure, was entirely pulseless at his wrists; the
hands and feet were deep blue ; the skin cold. :A
thermometer placed under the tongue showed only 84
degrees. There was vomiting and purging, very slow
breathing, and rapid collapse. The children, generally,
were not so robust as in our charitable asylums.
Eighteen of the 71 girls who were not confined to bed
had cutaneous eruptions—either itch or eruptions cha-
racterising children not in good health, four had scrofu-
lous sores chiefly about the neck, three had ophthalmia,
and one chilblains. In those who died from cholera at
the hospital I believe the system (tke blood) was im-
pregnated with cholera before they left Tooting. I
think, being in a low state of health, they more readily
suffered from the epidemic influence prevailing in this
country at present. Mr. Drouet's situation is not very
healthy, and there is very defective ventilation. The
girls who came under my charge in the hospital had not
been sufficiently clothed. The children did not appear
to me to have been well nourished. I should say that
the establishment could not safely accommodate the
number of children it contained.
Mr. T. C. Jackson, resident surgeon of the Free Hos-
pital—Eighty out of the 155 children who came to the
hospital were attacked by " the Tooting disease," and
four died. Others in the hospital, who had not been at
Tooting, were also attacked with the disease; one, a
nurse, died: and so, I believe, did a man whe had been
backwards and forwards between the hospital and the
Holborn Workhouse. [Mr. Wakley—" And two took
the disease who slept at the workhouse in beds opposite
to or adjoining his."] I attended Quin. I have no
doubt she died from malignant cholera. When the
children came to the Free Hospital they were not in a
healthy condition. A great number of the boys had the
big belly so characteristic of scrofulous children. Their
muscles were generally lax; a vast number had erup-
tions, and some had sore feet. A great portion of the
eruptions were scabies or itch, and others were
of a class indicating a very low condition of
the system. I refer the outbreak to epidemic in-
fluence, which always makes its greatest ravages
among the ill-fed and ill-clothed. There was not
a particle of flannel about any of these boys when
they came to us. [Dr. Peacock, in answer to a ques-
tion—" Nor the girls, except two or three that were ill.]
The children presented the appearance of having bad a
deficiency of animal food, and a large proportion of ve-
getable. Children require material for growth as well
as for nutrition.
Dr. W. Marsden, one of the surgeons to the Royal
Free Hospital—l do not consider that the disease was
Asiatic or malignant cholera, but a species of asphyxia.
I observe, first, that the locality of the Tooting estab-
lishment is low and damp. Next, a north-easterly wind
there contains a London atmosphere. [Mr. Wakley—
"We live in that."] It is not so bad to live in it.—(A
laugh.) The residence altogether is inadequate for the
number received—the diet included too little solid mat-
ter, and far too much fluid. I examined the boys when
brought to the Free Hospital, and found the abdomen
large, limbs spare, complexion pale and sallow. I com-
pared 25 of them, taken indiscriminately, with 25 boys of
the same age at the Welsh School, and found the following
results : —The 25 Welsh boys weighed 1,5161 b. 12 oz.
—the 25 Tooting, 1,3321 b. 8 oz.; measure of the thick
pert of the arm in the Welsh boys, 1791 inches—in the
Tooting, 1614; round the abdomen. the Welsh children,
5671 inches—the Tooting, 595. This would indicate
that the Tooting children had been living too much on
fluids rather than solids. I have ascertained that the
total atmospheric contents of the 44 dormitories at Toot-
amount to 196,705 cubic feet; deducting 1-20th for
bedsteads and the children, there would be nor quite 136
cubic feet of respirable air for each child, or an amount
equal to what would be contained in a box 5 feet 2 inches
every way. This quantity, with doors and windows
closed, would not support life for more than eight hours,
because every expiration yields 4 per cent. of carbonic
acid. In the boys' schoolroom, occupied for three hours
twice a day, there would be 37 feet to each boy. There
would be no sufficient ventilation unless there was some-
thing to establish a current; and carbonic acid gas
would produce precisely the same external appearances
as cholera. In this way cattle brought over from
Holland in the hold of a vessel suffer. Two children-
died lately who hid themselves in a corn-bin; and men
who have gone down into deep vats have also perished.
A great mortality in the Matesnity Hospital at Dublin,
some years since, and another at Norwood Charity
School, were found to be owing to the want of proper
ventilation. The witness proceeded to say that the prin-
cipal symptoms of Asiatic cholera were incessant vomit-
ing, purging, and extreme thirst. Of forty cases which
he had seen among those children in the Free Hospital,
there had been vomiting in four cases, and only one of
those cases had been fatal. In these cases stimulants and
food had been given to the patients, while in cases of
Asiatic cholera it was useless to attempt to give food; the
stomach would at once reject it. Witness also considered
that this disease was not Asiatic cholera, because not one
case had been reported at Tooting out of Mr. Drouet's
establishment, and the average number of cases reported
in London during the last two months, among one
million of inhabitants, was only two a day. He had, in-
deed, great doubt whether any cases of real Asiatic
cholera had occurred in London, for he
.believed that
cases where severe diarrhoea had existed had frequently
been reported as cases of cholera. He might observe
that in the Royal Free Hospital, where many patients
who were most likely subjects for cholera were admitted,
not a single case of that disease had occurred. Only four
of the children removed to the Free Hospital from Toot-
ing had died, and those had died within forty-eight hours
after they were brought to the hospital. He did not
believe the disease of which the children died at the Free
Hospital was communicable.
The CORONER—How do you account for the nurses
dying? Witness—l can only say that the nurses who were
sent to the Royal Free Hospital were a very bad set.
I was obliged, on the first night of their arrival, to send
one of them, away drunk, and if she had been attacked
with diarrhoea it is very probable she would not have
recovered. Witness considered the predisposing cause.
of the disease to have been improper and insufficient
clothing, low temperature, and the humid state of the
atmosphere; and the immediate cause, the defective con-
dition—or want of vital principle—of the atmosphere in
which the children were living He thought it was as
well that the children had.not been allowed to have as
much water to drink as they wished, for lie believed that
had that been the case they would have been in an in-
finitely worse condition.
Dr. Garrod, assistant physician to University College
Hospital, deposed that he had made a post mestere ex-,
amination of the bodies of Andrews and Harper, and
read a statement detailing the appearances presented by
the bodies. He had no doubt, from his examination,
that the cause of cliith was cholera. The witness pro-
ceeded to state, that to establish more clearly the nature
of the disease, he made a minute chymical analysis of
the blood, the result of which he detailed to the jury.
He thought there was no doubt that what might be
called the " cholera influence" was now prevalent in
this country. In ordinary cases it bad very little power
on healthy individuals, who were able to resist it; but
persons who were in an ill-conditioned state of body,
either from previous disease or from insufficient diet
especially when they were exposed to the influence of
malaria arising from the decomposition of animal or ve-
getable matter, were very likely to be affected by its
agency. He thought overcrowding, especially during
the hours of sleep, would be one predisposing cause of
cholera. He should think the immediate cause of cho-
lera at Tooting was the overcrowding, but at the same
time he believed that the same causes would not have
produced the same disease the previous year. From
what he had heard the witnesses say of the food at
Tooting it appeared to have been a poor diet, but it must
be remembered that the quantities of food given were
not mentioned.

The minute book kept at Mr. Drouet's establishment
for the. entry of remarks by the visiting guardians was
then put in evidence, and numerous entries made in it
since-January, 1848, and signed by guardians of the
Holborn Union, were read by Mr. James, clerk to the
board of guardians. The general effect of these minutes
was that the guardians, having inspected the establish-
ment, sere perfectly satisfied with the general condi-
tion of the children. In some cases the visitors ex-
pressed their "unqualified approbation " of the general
management of the establishment.
Mr. Ballantine said it might be satisfactory to the
jury to know that Mr. Drouet's establishment was visited
not only by the guardians of the
.Holborn Union, but
by the guardians of all other unions which had children
there. The consequence was that the establishment was
visited by the guardians of some parish every two or
throe days. _

Mrs. Dimond, matron of the Holborn Union
house, who wsa recalled, stated that when th childrenWork-
were brought to the Royal Free Hospital most of
were in a very bad state; they had sores on the feet—
about ct— h
about the toes and heels, which did not appear to haye
been dressed. Witness did not know to what the sores
were attributable; it might be to chilblains. Witness
thought if some of the children had continued in the
same state much longer their toes would have dropped
off. Many of them were very pale and thin. They had
had very good diet since their return—mutton for din-
ner, beef-tea for supper, and for some days they had a
glass of mulled wine after dinner. The children had
now half a pint of porter after dinner.
Mr. Grainger wished to observe, with reference to a
statement made on a former occasion as to the number of
children in whom premonitory symptoms of diarrhoea had
beenhad
discovered at Mr. Drouet's establishmenr, that he
received the information embodied in his report
from Mr. Kite, and had now the statement in his posses-
sion signed by Mr. Kite.
Mr. Kite explainedorder
t that
discoverhe h a
premonitory
d not examined
symptoms,
the chi l
dren himselr
, in
otim the eo g
andwa thes
obtainedinfur information Liehnatdlemfuernn furnished
made
oade Mr.t hGereazianingeir.
Cations

Mr. Grainger then stated, that in coraliany with Dr.
Farre, he had examined 554 children belonging to the
Holborn, the St. Pancras and the Strand Unions, who
had been at Mr. Drouet's Establishment, and of that
number 239 laboured under various affections, princi-
pally cutaneous. while 315 were healthy. Among
the children affected with the itch, many had
the disease in the most severe pustular form. Dr.
Farre and himself had also visited Mr. Aubyn's
establishment at Norwood, where there were now 1,114
children. The medical officer of that institution told

them that there was not a case of sorelettil in the house.
Dr. Sarre and himself were so much surprised at this
statement that they examined 530 of the children, and
in that number they did not discover a single case of itch
or sore head. This circumstance was so creditable to
Mr. Aubyn that he considered:it right to mentiou it. In
Mr. Aubyn'sestablishment the chaplain was paid from
public funds; 6001. or 7001. a year (as we understood)
was contributed from the same source for the payment
of schoolmasters; the house had been visited by Dr.
Arnott with a view to its ventilation, and it might there-
fore be regarded in a great measure as a quasi-public
establishment. _ _ _ _ _ _ _

In reply to the CORONER, Mr. Grainger stated that he
still adhered to the opinion he expressed in the report he
had read on Friday week, that the predisposing causes
of the cholera in Mr. Drouet's establishment were over-
crowding and insufficient food and clothing, combined
with the noxious effluvium arising from the drains in
the neighbourhood of the house.
The evidence being now concluded, the proceedings
were at five o'clock adjourned to seven in the evening.
Mr. WAILLEY then proceeded to sum up. The de-
ceased children, the jury would remember, were under
the care and legal guardianship of the authorities of the
Holborn Union; and the guardians, finding that their
own establishment,was unsuited to the accommodation of
the inmates, considered it prudent to send a portion of
them to some country asylum. They were rather to be
praised than blamed for that. The confined space at
command in London was not calculated for recreation or
proper education or discipline; but whether they made a
judicious selection in sending the children to this parti-
cular establishment was another question. The guar-
dians stood, in fact, as the legal parents of these unfor •
tunate children; and the letters which passed between
the guardians and Mr. Drouet, the resolutions of the
board communicated to him, and conversations which
passed between him and the representative of the
board, constituted a contract which bound Mr. Drouet
to maintain the children sent to him from the Hol-
born Union at 4s. 6d. a head. The sum, under the
circumstances, was adequate and liberal; but, liberal
or not, Mr. Drouet had no business to undertake the
charge unless he was prepared to do his duty. The
guardians having entered into this arrangement with
him, monthly visits were paid to his establishment to
see in what manner he was performing his duty to their
wards; and the reports on these occasions expressed ap-
probation. It was, however, strongly to be deprecated
that the very natural course was not adopted by the
visiting guardians of calling the children aside, and
asking them, where no official connected with the esta-
blishment could hear, whether they were properly
treated. The visitors appeared indeed to have executed
their duty in a very slovenly, inefficient, and negligent
manner; if it had been performed with energy, and as
as to enable the children to state the naked truth, it was
his (Mr. Wakley'a) conviction that the jury would not
have been sitting on this occasion.—(Hear, hear.) Now,
it was only by a verdict of murder or manslaughter that
the jury could make any person legally responsible for
the deaths of these children, supposing the deaths to have
occurred through some culpable neglect or misconduct;
and the question was, whether any one was so respon-
sible. In his (kr. Wakley's) judgment, the guardians
were not; for they paid an adequate sum for the chil-
dren's maintenance, and appointed visitors to examine
them, and as soon as they knew of the outbreak of
disease they spared no cost to place the children in se-
curity instantly. Next, with regard. to the Poor-law
Commissioners, they were empowered by the Act of
1834, " as often as they should see occasion," to issue
regulations for the government of establishments in which
pauper children should be at school or located, and to
annul any contract entered into with persons keeping
such establishments ; but the Commissioners had not
"seen occasion" to issue such rules, and Mr Drouet's
establishment had not really been under their superin-
tendence and control ; they were therefore absolved
from legal responsibility. The next party was Mr.
Hall, the Poor-law Inspector, he acted under the autho-
rity of the Commissioners, and if the master was re-
lieved from responsibility it would not be fair to visit it
upon the agent. But it was very unfortunate for the
children that there should be this loose, inefficient, and
ill defined arrangement with regard to carrying the law
into effect. It was well for them that inquiries of this
kind should occasionally arise, when the ser-
pentine windings and intricacies of the system
were disclosed and brought down public con•
tempt, disgust, and reprehension. He held that Mr.
Hall was absolved from legal responsibility, but he
was bound to say that he did not think that gen-
tleman could be complimented fur the manner in which
he had discharged his duties. They must next consider
the case of Mr. Kite the surgeon to Mr. Drouet's
establishment. Mr. Kite had not been consulted as to
the construction of the building, or with regard to the
diet and clothing of the children, or as to whether the
establishment was fitted to receive an additional number
of children. It would be difficult, indeed, from Mr.
Kite's evidence, to imagine any person holding so appa-
rentl3 important au office who seemed to possess so little
real power; but it was his conviction that Mr. Kite was
not legally responsible for the deaths which had occurred
at Tooting. The only other person who could be held
responsible in connexion with this matter was Mr.
Drouet. That gentleman had voluntarily entered into
an engagement with the board of guardians to feed,
clothe, and lodge the children they sent down to his es-
tablishment. lie (the Coroner) considered that,
although there was no written contract in terms be-
tween the board of guardians and Mr. Drouet, the
word " maintenance," which occurred in the first ac-
count furnished by Mr. Drouet to the board, sufficiently
showed what the nature of the contract was. The
guardians had fulfilled their part of the agreement by
paying the 4s. 6d. a week which they had agreed to
pay for each child; and it was for the jury to con-
sider whether Mr. Drouet had performed his part of the
engagement. He (the coroner) held that, if it should
appear to the jury that the death of these children was
attributable to any culpable negligence iu the establish-
ment of Mr. Drouet, the proprietor of that establishment
was responsible in law. Mr. Drouet was bound by his
engagement to provide adequate food, clothing, and
lodging for the children committed to his care. A dietary
table had been submitted by Mr. Drouet to the Holborn
board of guardians, which, it appeared, had been ap-
proved by Mr. White, their medical officer. He (the
coroner) must say that he considered the plan of limit-
ing the poor to a supply of victuals of prescribed weight
was a shocking, an odious, and an abominable system.
Why, when a man put out an animal to feed, he did
not bargain that it should have so many pounds of hay
or of grass; and he considered it an abomination that
such a system should exist with regard to human beings.
The object of the plan might be economy; but when
they considered how much disease was engendered by
this system,—disease of the lungs, of the mesentric
glands, of the joints,— when they considered that it
created a ricketty and scrofulous population, he
would ask, where was its economy? In addition to the
human misery created by this system, it must be remem-
bered that it imposed lasting burtlens upon the parishes.
The question for the jury to consider was, whether the
children had been adequately fed, clothed, and housed ;
if not, whether the disease of Which they had died had
resulted from a defective carrying out of the conditions
:implied in the engagement with Mr. Drouet and who
was the party responsible for such defect? With regard
to the cause of death, the great question was, whether it
was owing to something over which Mr. Drouet and
those whom he employed had no control? Much had
been said about drains, but there was really a good deal
of cant upon that subject; a farmer, with his dunghill
close to his house, had his children healthy enough. As
to exhalations from the ditches, the moderate mortality
of Tooting seemed to show that there could be but little
set down to any such exciting cause in the atmosphere
compared with a predisposing cause, which the wit-
nesses found in insufficient nourishment and overcrowd-
ing. Few things were more dangerous to life than
placing a large number of persons in an ill-ventilated
room: they actually poisoned one another. It seemed
difficult to understand how there could be two opinions
on the question whether these children were sufficiently
fed, and clothed, and lodged; and, whatever the visiting
guardians might see or not see. Mr. Drouet must have
known it. Why, too, should the cholera have prevailed
for four or five days before information of it was sent to
the guardians? It was just possible that the lives of
these children might have been saved if they bad been
removed earlier. Out of 156, no case of collapse had
occurred in the Free Hospital after the fourth day from
their removal to it. The first death from cholera oc-
curred on the 30th of December; but no official notice
of the disease was given to the guardians till the 3d of
January. That fact ought to have been explained by
Mr. Drouet, for these children were entitled to the same
consideration, on such occasions, as the children oi gen-
tlemen or tradespeople. The jury must consider the
reports of the visiting guardians expressing satisfac-
tion, and the fact that the children might have
given their evidence under the impression that
some wrong had been done them; but certainly
they seemed to speak the truth, and their statement was
uniform as to insufficiency of diet. The sores and erup-
tions were signs of gross and reprehensible neglect
somewhere; and to whom were the guardians to look but
to the head of the establishment? If, in the opinion of
the jury, these children lost their lives in consequence of
neglect oi inattention in that establishment, Mr. Drouet,
and no one else, was responsible. The law had held it
manslaughter where parochial officers had removed a
pauper under improper circumstances, or where insuffi-
cient food had been afforded. The jury must not fasten
upon an individual what belonged to a barbarous, and
cold-blooded, and mercenary system; they must fairly
consider under what obligations Mr. Drouet had come,
and what was the cause of this outbreak of disease. If
it was atmospheric poison, their verdict must be " Na-
tural death;" if they believed it to be owing to defective
arrangements in Mr. Drouet's establishment, and cul-
pable neglect on his part as proprietor of it, they must
be equally firm in a different decison.

The jury
t retired at a quarter to ten o'clock, and re-
mained in consultation for an hour, wheney expressed
a wish to see the Coroner. Atte; a few minutes con
versation with Mr. Wukley, the jury returned into the
inquest-room at ten minutes to eleven o'clock and del'
vared their verdict :—" We, the jury inspanei ledto
James
it
" that Andrews,
1 a uani-
mouslyy touching
e to thethe
followingdea t h of v
mew Peter Drouet is Guilty of Manslaughter."
(This announcement was received with some manifes-
tations of applause by the spectators assembled in the
room.)
The jury added to their verdict the following observ-
ations :—" In announcing this verdict we cannot refrain
from expressing our opinion that the guard
in guardians of the
Holborn Union have acted most negligently in their en-
gagements with Mr. Drouet, and also their visits to
his establishment. We regret that the Poor-law Act is
quite insufficient for the purposes for which it was in-
tended; and we hope that the time is not far distant
when the necessity for such establishments as Mr.
Drones will entirely cease."
The CORONER then inquired whether Mr. Drouet was
present, and, being answered in the negative, be di-

rected a warrant to be made out immediately for his ap-
prehension.
The CORONER said he thought that, in a case of
this kind, he should flinch from his duty if he wore
to refrain from expressing his opinion that the verdict
of the jury was strictly' just, and that if he had been a
juryman he should have given the same verdict.
The Foreman wished to observe, that the jury consi-
dered Mr. Winch, one of the guardians of the Holborn
Union, was entitled to great credit for having brought
this case under the notice of the Coroner.
A similar verdict to the above was returned in the case
of each of the other deceased children—Johnson, Quin,
and Harper.
The proceedings did not terminate until midnight.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Jan. 23.
GRIM. CON.-PRATT V. FLETCHER.

This was an action to recover in damages from de-
fendant for an alleged criminal conversation with plain-
tiff's wife. It WtlF tried at) the last sittings after term,
when a verdict was found for the plaintiff, for 8001.
The defendant was a surgeon, practising in the neigh-
bourhood of Hackney, and the acquaintance which led
to the criminal intercourse sprang up whilst defendant
was attending plaintiff's wife in his professional capacity.
Last term a rule was obtained for a new trial, which
came on for argument to-day.
Mr. Sergeant SHEE was heard against the rule. Ile
said there were a great number of details in the
affidavits on the other side, but the substance of them
was this—that the plaintiff, then being twenty-five years
of age, first suet the young woman who afterwards be
came his wife, and was then seventeen years old, at a
house of ill fame.
__ _

Mr. HIIHFREY—No, he drat met her in the streets.
Mr. Sergeant SHEE—The present motion called upon
the Court to decide the amount of immorality in the
husband and wife previous to their marriage; but he
apprehended, looking to the nature of the affidavit,
that the husband was entitled to protection. The
Learned Sergeant having stated that many of
the persons making those affidavits were per-
sons of improper character, proceeded : —What
he wished the Court to consider was, the extraor-
dinary hardship of the plaintiff's position in one
respect. No doubt he was guilty of immorality,
and of gross imprudence in marrying a person of
this kind; but they agreed to marry, to abandon
all immoral conduct for the future, and he gradually
introduced her into respectable society, and also to his
own friends and relations, and for two years afterwards
they lived perfectly happy and with perfEct propriety.
CHIEF Baum—For anything that appears to the
contrary.

Mr. Baron ALDERSON—Her sisters were the proper
witnesses to call respecting her previous conduct. Why
were they not called ?

CHIEF BaitoN•Lit is impossible to disguise the fact
that the plaintiff has obtained the verdict under false
pretences. He stated by counsel,
which counsel believed
to be true, that which he knew was untrue, to obtain
commensurate damages for an injury which he did not sus-
tain. If this action, instead of being one for damages,
had been an action for a debt, the plaintiff would have
been guilty, I think, of a crime.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON-,lt is clear, upon the affidavits,
that there has been adultery on the part of the de..
fendant.

Mr. HIIMPREY, on the part of the defendant, said he
would admit that.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—Then, as that is the case, the
parties had better make some arrangement, to save the
expense of a new trial. It would be better for the parties
to reduce the damages very much below 800/.
Mr. HUMFREY-1 should think so, my Lord. 80)/.
indeed tor this woman!—(Laughter.)
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—If the jury thought the plain-
tiff married an innocent woman, all I can say is, that
they were very much mistaken.—(Hear.)
The parties not being able to come to terms the ru'e
was ma ie absolute, on the understanding that the trial
should take place in the
Queen's Bench, that the adul-
tery should be admitted, and that the costs rhould abide
the event of the plaintiff obtaining the costs of a new
trial.—Rule absolute.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
WESTMINSTER.

THE LATE DISTRESSING CASE IN YORE-STREET,
WESTMINATER.—Yesterday, Mr. Levis, the eminent
surgeon of Great George-street, Westminster, who has
been in attendance upon the widow of the late Henry
Williams, the deplorable condition of whose family has
created so much public sympathy, came to this court to
report the state of the poor woman. He said that she
was improved in health, but in a very feeble condition.
On his visit to her that day she appeared much depressed
with respect to some disclosures connected with the
former history of her family, the truth of which she
admitted, adding that her two children had been
punished ; but the boy who had been committed,
and who was at present in the refuge, had by his
good conduct there been made a monitor. She
expressed her willingness and desire to give every
mormation upon the subject of her melancholy history
that might be required by the authorities, and declared
that they were in great distress at the time the children
committed the offence. Mr. Levis showed Mr. Tabor,
the chief clerk (to whom, owing to the absence of Mr.
Broderip yesterday, the above communication was made),
a portfolio of drawings, and some exquisite specimens of
penmanship, executed by the late unfortunate man, which
exhibited considerable talent.

The following additional subscriptions have been re-
ceived for the family:—E. S. (Pegwell Bay), 54.; 31,367,
the remaining belt of a 51. note of that number; L K.,
103.; Delta, 11 103.; T. S., 55.; D. E., 55.; A little girl,
eight years of age, 55.; C. W. M. R. W, 1/.; a Lady, the
remaining halt of a 51. note, 40,654 (the latter being for
the poor-box); an Artist, 55.; a Lady at Dover, 55.; J.
11. C. W., 5/; M. C., 10s.; East, 10s.; C. C., 51. for the
poor-box.
THAMES.

Henry Hamer, master of the Sea Bird, appeared to his
recognizsnces, and Launcelot Wilson, his chief officer,
was brought up on remand under the following circum-
stances:—At the opening of the court on Saturday, Mr.
Vessey, solicitor, accompanied by a man of colour named
Hughes. and Fraser, No. 93 of the river police, applied
to Mr. Yardley, requesting that warrants should be is-
sued for the immediate apprehension of Mr. Henry
Hamer, master, and Launcelot Wilson, chief officer of
the barque Sea Bird, which arrived in St. Katherine's
Dock from the river Gambia on the previous day.
Hughes, who seemed very faint, made such a statement
as induced the magistrate to issue warrants for their
immediate apprehension, which were put into the hands
of Fraser with instructions for their instant execution.
Shortly after two o'clock the prisoners were placed at
the bar. Mr. Pelham appeared for the defence.
John Hughes, the complainant, who stated himself to
be a native of New Orleans, said be joined the Sea Bird
as able seaman in the Gambia. On the 11th inst., the
vessel being then at sea, the mate came to his berth
about twelve o'clock at night and ordered him on deck.
Complainant, who had been worn out by ten hours' la-
bour, and whose clothes were wringing wet, replied,
" Very well, sir; I am getting ready." The mate at
once exclaimed, " I'll wait no longer," and began to cut
at him with a cutlass. The pain of his wounds made
him jump up, and he ran on deck, the mate still pur-
suing him with the cutlass. Complainant held for a
the galley door, and then crept into
but was immediately followed by the
the
eile gafiblery, by
mate, accompanied by the captain. The latter seized
him by the hair of the head, and kicked him, whilst the
mate still continued to cut at him with the sabre, wound-
ing him in several places. He was then sent to work
at the pump, where he continued for ten minutes, but
being faint, from loss of blood, he returned to the fore-
castle. The mate again followed him there, but, seeing
he was bleeding, said "Go to bed, I won't hurry you
any more."
In his cross-examination by Mr. Pelham, who was
prepared to show that the complainant was dogged, lazy,
turbulent, and refused duty when the vessel was in im-
minent danger, the complainant admitted that he was in
gaol at Gambia, but not for attempting to gouge a
former captain. He had never threatened Capt. Hamer
with a knife, He bad no knife in his hand on the night
when he was stabbed. There was a heavy gale, but he
had worked very hard that day,
Capt. Hamer—So had I. I was several hours at the
pump, and the vessel was in the utmost danger.
At this stage of the proceedings Mr. Yardley ad-
journed the case until to-day, admitting the captain to
bail, himself in 1004, and solvent surety to the same
amount. When the case came on fur hearing to-day,
Fraser, the constable, who had taken the complainant
on Saturday evening to the Dreadnought hospital ship,
handed in a certificate from the surgeon of that establish-
ment, to the effect that he was, at present, too ill to at-
tend at the court.

The further hearing of the case was adjourned until
Tuesday next.

FURTHER EXAMINATION AND COM-
MITTAL OF MESSRS. WARREN AND
FULLER OF BATH.
BATU, TUESDAY.—After the dispatch of the parcel
last night, the examination of Mr. Horatio Warren and
Mr. Samuel Fuller, the extensive silversmiths of West-
gate-street, in this city, was continued.
Thomas Mitchell deposed that he had worked for
the prisoner Warren a great number of years, and for
the firm of Warren and Fuller ever since the partner
ship was formed. They had an extensive business. In
the month of October, 1847, witness received orders—
ho believed from Mr. Fuller, but was not sure—to ham-
mer out a piece of silver to a pattern. It was not
stated what it was for, but witness's impression was,
that it was for the bowl of a spoon. Ham-
mered it out and sent it to Messrs. Warren
and Fuller. Shortly afterwards received an order
to hammer out another a little thicker than the
other, which was not thick enough. Hammered out
one accordingly, and sent it to them. This was about
the 13th or 14th of October, 1847. Was directed
by Mr. Fuller to charge it to Mr. Cousins, who is a
working jeweller of Bath. This instruction was an un-
usual one, and out of the regular course of business, but
witness charged it to Mr. Cousins, and he afterwards
paid it. Afterwards received the service-spoon pro-
duce d and a fellow from a young man whom he believed
to be in the employ of Messrs. Warren and Fuller.
This was about a fortnight or three weeks after he made
the bowl, but he was not certain as to the time.
Thought that the bowls produced were the same
he made, but was not certain. Received
orders to gild the spoons. The order was sent
down as usual by Messrs. Warren and Fuller's boy.
Gilded the spoons and sent them home to the prisoners.
" About three weeks bioce," continued the witness, " Mr.
Warren came to
me, and I thought he seemed excited.
I believe he asked me if Mr. Tnompson had been down
to me, and I said yes:
He then asked me if I had
any of the old Patterns by me that I made some years
ago, and I said 'Yes, I bad,'
Ile then said the Gold-

smiths' Company were down here, and I bad better put
them all out of the way. I thereupon hid them. I
buried them in the garden. The same day Mr. Warren
came back to me, and said he thought they hail better
be reeked, as there might be some among them like
those in stock. They were then melted by me—they
were the slam patterns that I had buried in the garden.
Mr. Warren then said it would be well to put away the
books; that I had better fold them up and seal them,
and give them to a friend to keep, or else let him hold
them for me. I sealed up four of my modern books, and
gave them to him, and some old books, which were of
no use. 1 burnt. I was shortly afterwards sent for to
Mr. Warren's house, and was asked into his sitting-
room, where I saw him alone. He then said, respecting
the spoons, that they were the only things he cared about.
He also asked me if I remembered the spoons that I
hammered out the bowls for. I told him that I did, and
he said those were the only things that there would be
any trouble about, or words to that effect. I then said
if they were shown to ree I could not say but that I had
seen them before. He then said they were drawing up
a memorial to the board to try to get the fines cased, and
in the course of the conversation he said that there was
an old hall mark on the spoon.
Upon cross•examieatiou the witness said he could not
say positively whether the bowl produced was that ham-
mered by him or not. It was on the Bth or 9th that
Mr. Warren called on him.

Herbert Sawyer Cousins, the elder, working silver-
smith, of Bath, deposed that he had worked for the pri-
soners in their business for six or seven years. Received
from one or the other of them, but he could not say
which, an order to make a service spoon similar to that
produced. No spoon was brought but two silver skewers
were brought, and at the same time, or about the same
time, he received two small figures of apostles. The
figure on the head of the spoon produced was one of
them, or at least was very like it, only that it was not
then gilt. Did not make the bowls, they were brought
to him by a man since dead, named Merrifield. The
skewer had the hall mark on it. When the spoons were
completed witness sent them home to Messrs.
Warren and Fuller's. About ten days ago
Mr. Warren came to him and asked him if he
had the patterns then in his possession, but did not
say what patterns. Witness replied that he bad, upon
which Mr. Warren said the gentleman had been down
and had taken some things away, and he had better
destroy them. Mr. Warren then asked if he had any
books of account, and, upon his replying " yes," said
" Then you had better put them out of the way." In
consequence of this witness melted the patterns and burnt
his books.

Tho witness was cross-examined by Mr. Stone, but
nothing materially bearing on the case was elicited.
This being the whole of the evidence, Mr. Prideaux,
for the Goldsmiths' Company, submitted that he bad
made out a charge of felony, and called upon the magis-
trate to commit.

Mr. Stone, for the defence, insisted that there had
n no felony within the statute made out.
The Magistrates, after a short deliberation, committed
both prisoners, and refused•to receive bail for their ap-
pearance. _

The streets around the Guildhall remained crowded
fur a long time. and a great excitement prevailed.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE

OF TUESDAY.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, JAN. 23, 1849.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Ron.
George Sulyarde Stafford Jerningham, now Secretary to
her Majesty's Legation at Madrid, to be Secretary to her
Majesty's Embassy to the Ottoman Porte.
DOWNING-STREET, JAN. 23.

The Queen has been pleased to appoint Daniel Blair,
Esq., Doctor of Medicine, to be Surgeon• General for
the colony of British Guiana.
Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint George
March, Esq., to be Resident Magistrate at Mossel Bay,
in the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER.
HILARY TERM, 12 VIC.--JAN. 23.

This Court will hold sittings on Monday and
Tuesday, the sth and 6th days of February next,
and also on Thursday, the Bth day of the same
month, and on every succeeding day (Sundays
excepted), until and including Wednesday, the
28th day of the same month ; and will at such
sittings proceed in disposing of the business then pending
in the Paper of New Trials, in the Paper of Demurrers,
in the Paper of Special Cases, and motions appointed to
be brought on with any case in the New Trial Paper or
Demurrer Paper, and also in giving judgment in all
matters then standing for judgment.

F. J. PoLLocit.
J. PARKE.
E. H. ALDERSON.
Read in open court, T. J. PLATT.
E. BENNETT.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
HILARY TERM, 12 VIC.—JAN. 22.
This Court will, on Thursday the Ist, Friday the 2d,
Thursday the Bth, Friday the 9th, Saturday the 10th,
and Monday the 12th days of February next, hold sit-
tings, and will proceed in disposing of the business in
the Crown Paper, Special Paper, and New Trial Paper;
and will also hold a sitting, on Thursday the Ist day
of March next, and give judgment in cases previously
argued. By the Court.

the hours of ten and one, at the office of Mr. Hobson,
Manchester.

J. Strange, Abingdon, Berkshire, wine merchant, 75.,
on Thursday, Jan. 2.5, and three following Thursdays,
between the hours of twelve and three, at the office of
Mr. Stansfeld, Basinghall-street.
R. Stephenson, Lo,nbard•street, banker, 3 2.3/d., on
Thursday, Jan. 25, and three following Thursdays, be-
tween the hours of twelve and three, at the office of Mr.
St ansfeld, Basinghall-street.
H. Mawhood, High Holborn, dealer in lace, 3s. 4d.,
on any Wednesday, between the hours of twelve and
three, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sambrook-court,
Basinghall-street.

E. Smith, Brentwood, Essex, cheesemonger, 10d,, on
any Saturday, between the hours of eleven and two, at
the office of Mr. Green, Guildhall•chambers, Basinghall-
street.

H. Turtill, High Holborn, saddler, 4s. 7d., on any
Saturday, between the hours of eleven and two, at the
office of Mr. Green, Guildhall-chambers, Basinghall-
street.

R. Knight, Lewes, Sussex, butcher, and Barcombe,
Sussex, lamer, Bs. 9d., on any Saturday, between the
hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Green,
Guildhall-chambers, Basinghall- street.
Olive Ginder, Canterbury, licensed victualler, 6d.,
on Wednesday, Jan. 24, and three following Wednes-
days, between the hours of ten and two, at the office of
Mr. Turquand, Guildhall-chambers, Basinghall-street.
T. K. Thompson, Great Tower-street, wholesale
dealer, 5d., on 's\ ednesday, Jan. 24, and three following
Wednesdays, between the flours of ten end two, at the
office of Mr. Turquand, Guildhall-chambers, Basinghall-
street.

F. E. Morrish, Leicester-square, draper, second divi-
dend, 7d., on Wednesday, Jan. 24, and three following
Wednesdays, between the hours of ten and two, at the
office of Mr. Turquand, Guildhall-chambers, Basinghall-
street.

W. Cooper, C. Wilson, and G. Black, Aldermanbury,
straw hat manufacturers and furriers, second dividend,
6d., on Wednesday, Jan. 24, and three subsequent Wed-
nesdays, between the hours of ten and two, at the office
of Mr. Turquand, Guildhall-chambers, Basinghall-
..
street.

C. Robson, Newcastle.-upon-Tyne, grocer and tea
dealer, 9d., on Saturday, Feb. 3, or any subsequent
Saturday, between the hours of ten and three, at the
office of Mr. Baker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
W. Smith, jun., Stockton-upon-Tees, earthenware
manufacturer, 45., on Saturday, Feb. 3, or any subse-
quent Saturday, between the hours of ten and three, at
the office of Mr. Baker, Newcastle-upon. Tyne.
NOTICES OF CERTIFICATES.
At the Court, Basinghall-street.
-_ _ _

J. T. Harrison, Haydon-street, Minories, cooper, Feb.
16, at twelve—C. Abbott, Lower Edmonton, market
gardener, Feb. 16, at one—A. Butterfield, Hitchin, Hert
fordshire, builder, Feb. 15, at eleven—G. Benda, Camo-
mile•street, City, importer of foreign goods. Feb. 16, at
eleven—J. Lockyer, St. James's-walk, 'Clerkenwell,
metal tool, steel, and wire merchant, Feb. 14, at twelve.
In the Country.
J. B. Amey, Liverpool, ship broker, Feb. 14, at eleven,
at the Court, Liverpool—R. Hutton, Liverpool, painter,
Feb. 14, at eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—H. Pinhey,
Plymouth, grocer, Feb. 15, at one, at the Court, Exeter
—J. Roles, Maiden Newton, Dorsetshire, linendraper,
Feb. 15, at one, at the Court, Exeter—J. P. Durant,
Plymouth, chemist and druggist, Feb. 15, at one, at the
Court, Exeter—W. Stephens, Leigh, Worcestershire,
blacksmith, Feb. 17, at twelve, at the Court, Birming-
ham—W. Wall, Bridenbury, Herefordshire, cattle dealer,
Feb. 17, at twelve, at the Court, Birmingham.

At the Court of Review, Feb.l3.
J. Clarkson, Charlton, builder—C. D. Smith, Batter-
sea, florist—A. Turnbull, Blue Anchor-rcad, tanner—
W. Farlar, Brompton-square, builder—R. W. Nl'Donnell,
Bitten. Gloucestershire, paper manufacturer—E. Gart-
side, Preston, draper—W. Chambers, Blackman-street,
carpenter and undertaker—R. L. Evans, Liverpool,
butcher—T. Jones, Old Swineford, Worcestrr.hire,
grocer—W. Watson, Golilen Valley, Derbyshire, inn-
keeper—J. Vaile, High Holborn, auctioneer—J. R-.es,
Stourbridge, Worcestershire, woollen draper—W. Hall,
Kington, Herefordshire, miller—J. Petty, Gsrgrave,
Yorkshire, farmer.
PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.

J. Lidgett and J. Shepherd, Billiter-street, City, ship
brokers—W. Whitehouse, J. Whitehouse, and J. White-
house, Dudley, Worcestershire; Tipton, Staffordshire;
Birmingham, and City-road-basin, &c., canal carriers—
T. Taplin and H. Freeman, Stanley- place, Paddington,
auctioneers—J. A. Bartlett, T. Ashworth, and S. Roun-
thwaite, Liverpool and Litherland, Lancashire, and
Glasgow, asphalte manufacturers (so far as regards the
said J. A. Bartlett)—E. Ord and T. Humphrey, Sunder-
land, linen drapers—J. W. Lawson, and W. M. An-
derson, Lime• street, City, merchants—B. Sewell, B.
Sewell, jun., and C. Sewell, Chatham-place, City, mer-
chants—T. C. Jackson and J.H. Jackson, Little Bolton,
Lancashire, engineers—Mary Okey and W. J. Okey,
Turnrnill-street, Clerkenwell, glass stainers—W. Wil-
kinson and J. Hall, Bradford, Yorkshire, cotton warp
dressers—H. Shaw and J. Shaw, Stalybridge, Cheshire,
woollen manufacturers—T. Waddington and G. Wad-
dington, Beverly, Yorkshire, fellmongers—H. W. Woods
and F. Bauer, Great Russell-street, lithographic printers
Mary Ann Blackit and Sarah Rennoldson, Sunder-
land, dress makers—C. Marshall and T. Wright, Slidfieldhawnbrokers—J.D.Grayson and C. Grayson, Liver-
pool, shipbuilders—R. Carbines and J. Sallip, Great
Guildford-street, Southwark, ironfounders—G. R. Min-
nikin, J. Lancaster, R. Crosswaite, and J. Crosswaite,
Keswick, Cumberland, black lead pencil manufacturers—
J. Redfern and W. Owston, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leices-
tershire, chemists—E. Lane and C. Lane, Bahia— J.
Carlton, G. Walker, and D. Lewis, Manchester, ware-
housemen.
INSOLVENT PETITIONERS.

Henry Stephen Reynold, Stamford, Lincolnshire, hotel
keeper.
Samuel Hartridge Tyler, Sutton Valence, Kent, painter,
plumber, and glazier.
William verest Toys-hill, Brasted, Kent, farmer.

Joseph Driver, Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, book
seller, stationer, druggist, cooper, and patten maker.
Thomas Cole, Cheltenham, beer house keeper.
William Wakefield, Cheltenham, trunk and stay- maker.
John Charles Banks, Lymington, Southampton, painter
and plumber.
Thomas Daraton Millner, Leeds, student in civil law.
Thomas Bowman, Kirkdale, Lancashire.

Thomas Barber, Liverpool, wharfinger.
Owen Griffiths, Liverpool, licensed victualler and en-

gineer.
James Towers, Liverpool, shoemaker.

John Parry, Liverpool, bout and shoemaker.
Matthew Henry Lister, jun., Petworth gaol.
Charles Smith, Northampton, jobbing butcher.
William Holland, Wednesbary, Staffordshire, stamper at
a glass tube factors.
John Ward, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, coach maker.
James Mitchell, Blackburn, Lancashire.

Thomas Carlyle, Blackburn, Lancashire, draper's as-
sistant.
Henry Bramley, Leeds, dealer in periodicals.
SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.
D. Ross, New Wynd, Glasgow, joiner and cabinet
maker, to meet within the Black Bull Hotel, Glasgow,
Jan. 29 and Feb. 26, at two.
W. Todd, Glasgow, warehouseman, to meet within the
Buck's Head Hotel, Glasgow, Jan. 20 and Feb. 19, at
twelve.

A. Marshall, Edinburgh, accountant and commission
agent, to meet within the Paxton's Coffee-house, Edin-
burgh, Jan. 24 and Feb. 21, at twelve.
W. Steedman, Guirney-bridge, Kinross, farmer, cattle
dealer and grazier, to meet within Kirkland's Inn and
Hotel, Kinross, Jan. 26 and Feb. 19, at twelve.
N. Scouller and Co., Glasgow, warehousemen, to meet
within the Buck's Head Hotel, Glasgow, Jan. 26 and
Feb. 16, at one.

THE COUNTRY MARKETS.
HULL, JAN. 23.

Messrs. Taylor and Bright's circular states that during
the past week firmness has been the characteristic of the
trade, with a very limited business doing; buyers were
ready enough to give late rates, but the great bulk of the
recent arrivals being landed, importers were unwilling
to sell without as advance. The supply of wheat from
our own farmers at this day's market was somewhat less
than usual, with little inclination evinced to give way in
price, and good dry parcels were readily taken off at full
lust wet k's rates. A small show of foreign, with a good
deal of inquiry for best runs deliverable duty free on the
Ist of February; such are held at 44s to 46s 601 b, with
buyers at is to 2s under those rates. The barley mar-
ket is firmer; more inquiry after best descriptions of
malting, and no more grinding to be had on late low
rate=. Beans of all sorts have been better sale during
the week, without actual advance being quoted. The
bulk of the peas being lauded, prices are stiffer; indeed,
for some sorts is to 2s more money is paid during the
week. Nothing doing in foreign oats, and English are
only saleable on low terms. Nut much business passing
in linseed, with only a moderate import; prices are well
supported. The mild weather, and the low value of other
articles of feed, interferes much with the consumption of
linseed cakes, which aro now, both English and foreign,
to be procured on easy terms. The little rapeseed here
is hardly on the market, or some advance on previous
sales would be obtained. Very little doing in rape cakes.
Bones fully support our quotations.

The following are the present prices of grain :
s. s. Linseed cakes, English, per
Wheat, red
I.)o. new do .. . 40 44,D0. foreign, do 7l to 810 s
Do. white 44 46,Rape cakes, do B7s 6d
Do. new do 4`, 44Boues, do .85s Od tO 9's Od
Do. Dantzic ... - ... 48 50 Guano 41 to 91 5s
Do. Lower Baltic & FOREIGN GRAIN IN BOND.
Hamburgh . 44 46 The free prices less current
Barley,malting 26 —3l duty.
Do. grinding 2l 24 Wheat, Dantzic & Konigsberg
Oats... l4 16 Do. Lower Baltic & Ham burgh
Do. Dani5h.......... , 12 14 Do. Archangel & Petersburgh
Do.Friesland l6 18 Barley, Saal and Magdeburg
Do. Russian
Beans 3O 33 Oats, Russian
Do. foreign 2B 34 Do. Danish and Pomeranian—,
Peas
Linseed. crushing 34 38 40 Do. do. feed
Do. feeding
Rapeseed, per 10 qrs. 241 to 271 Peas

HULL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN OF THE
WEEK ENDING JANUARY 16.
Wheat. I Barley. I
Oats.

......... .
1,094 Qrs,. at 43s 3d 327 at 28s Od 96 at 13s 3d
Rye. Beans. Peas.
0 Qrs at Os Od 0 at Os Od 0 at Os Od
LIVERPOOL, JAN. 23.—At this day's market there
was a slender attendance of dealers, and the busiuess
transacted was on a limit, d seMle. There was no change
in the prices of tree wheat; and bonded samples, without
much inquiry, suppixted the advance of Friday. Oats,
bi ing less plentitul, were fully as dear; the sale, how-
ever, was slow; and ()atm, al, being still neglected. was
6d per load cheaper. Barley, beaus, and peas were only
saleable by retail, and at barely previous rates. Indian
corn was in less active request than At the close of the

week, yet good sound yellow brought 30s 6d to 31s per
4801bs. Indi,in corn meal held far 6d per barrel ad-
vance. Free flour was 6d per barrel lower, and bonded
6d per barrel higher. 253 6d be:fig paid for Baltimore.

IPSWICH, J. 23.
We had a good attendance of farmers at market to-
day. Wheat was a ;.low sale, and prices scarcely so
good as last wetk Alalting barley was in fair request,
at steady prices; other qualities were dull. Oats, beans,
and peas are a shade lower. Malt not much in request.
Flour steady.

PER QUARTER. PER QUARTER.
Wheat 403 to 503 Beans 2ss to 32s
Barley - 26s to 34s
Oats
Rye..
....... ..

AVERAGES FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 20.
Wheat 1,389 quarters at 44s sd.
Barley
Oats ... 117 ~ ' I9s 2d.
Beans ... 162 /7 29s 2d.
Peas 197 „ 328 ld.
LEEDS, JAN. 23.—There is a pretty good arrival of
grain here to-day. Wheat has met a moderate con-
sumptive demand at rather under last week's prices.
The quantity or barley offering is very small, and is
taken off in some instances at is per quarter advance.
Oats and beans maintain last week's rates.

PETERBOROUGH. JAN. 20.—We have a large supply
of wheat at this day's market, and there is also a fair
quantity of barley, be:tns, and oats offering. The trade
continues in the same dull state that we have bad to note
it for several K eeki past,: he millers only taking the best
qualHes at late rates, whilst the inferior sorts are is
cheaper tha❑ last week. Barley, beans, and oats, are not
cheaper, but the demand for each is very limited. Cur-
rency to the growers :—W heat, new, 38s to 425; fine, 44s
to 465; old, 42s to 465; fine, 48s to 00s. Barley, 26s to
28s; fine, 30s; malting, 00s to 00s. Oats, new, 14s to 16s;
fine, 18s to 21s; old, 20s to 00s.; fine, 26s Beans, 38s
to 40s; new, 00s to 00s per qr. Inspector's corn return
for week ending Jan. 20—Wheat, 760 qrs. 4 bu. 42s 71c1;
barley, 343 qrs. 3 bu. 27s WI oats, 250 qrs. 4 bush,
13s 64d; beans, 20 qrs. 0 bu, 37s Od; peas, 0 qrs. 0 bu.,
00s Od per qr.

HERTFORD, JAN. 20.—Averages—Wheat, 2ls Od to
33s Od, 429 qrs., 5 bu, 46, 3d; barley, 24s Od to 32s
6d, 2,086 qrs., 4 bu, 293 sd; oats, 00s, 8 qrs, 0 bu, 18s.
HAVERHILL, JAN 21.—A fair attendance at market
last Friday, but business was very dull, at still lower
rates. A short supply of stock. Wheat, 101 to 101 10s
rer load; barley, 28s to 30s per qr; peas, 40s; beans,
365;:: oats, 18s to 20s; hay, 70s per ton; flour, 37s 6d to
403 per ;sack.
DALKEITH MEAL MARKET, JAN. 22.—There were
123 bags of oatmeal, and 18 of barloym,eal at this day's
market; sales ready; oatmeal obtained the currencies of
last week; barley meal brought is 3d to 2s per bag over
the prices quoit d on that day fortnight.
Oatmeal, per sack, of 280 lbs. First Second Third
imperial ... 27s Od 26s 6d 26s Od
Barleymeal, per ditto ... 22s 3d 22s Od 21s 6d
Peasemeal —s Od —s Od —s Od
Flour ... —s Od —s Od —s Od
Pot barley ... —s 6d —8 Od —s Od

lIAMBURGH MAIL.
HAMBURGII, JAN. 17.—The Elbe is again very:inse.
cure, and bscomes increasingly so from the c.ontinued
thaw. Scarcely any sledges venture upon the river, and
the country people from Harbourg cross at Wilhelm-
burg, where the ice is thinner. In several places, at
Stade and Cuxhaven for instance, the river is free, and
no more driit ice is to be seen.
lIAMBURGH FUNDS, JAN. 17.
13111 s. „lionev.
Hanoverian New Loan,s per Cent. •• 103% 10334
Ditto, 3% per Cent. ...... _ 9134
Prussian 5 per Cent. ••• • • I,ON 10034
Russian Certificate., •• • . •• •• •• •• 964 96
Angio-Russian Loan •• .••••• •• 993 99
Ditto, Certificate ••..• • •• 9138
Russian 4 per Cent. ••.•• • • • 81
New 5 per Cent., Hope and Co. ...• - -
Ditto Stleglitz .. • . ........ .........
Belgian Loan .• ••••• • • • • • 413 y
Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per Cent ...• • • 65
Ditto, in 100/. saares • • ......
Anglo-Swedish Loan .. •• •• • • ••
Ditto, Transport Loan
Norwegian Loan, 1848 ......... 95 9,
Spanish New 5 per Cent-- ••• • •• 9% 9%
Ditto 3 per Cent •••• •• • 19% 193(
Ditto, 1816.... ••••• • •
Anglo-Portuguese Loan, 2% per Cent •
Dutch Actual Debt, 23% per Cent.
Ditto 3 per Cent. .............. -
National Bank Shares
American, 6 per Cent. .......• .. •• • • 100% 100%
RAILWAYS

80%

6436

96 96

Hamb. Bergd.
Ditto, Priority Shares ...
Berlin and Hamburg .........
DittO, Priority Sharei ........
Cologne and Minden
Ditto, Priority Shares ••••• • • .. 92%
Mecklenburg...—. ..... ....... ••.. • • 36
Altona and Kiel ........ ...... .•• .. 89
Gluckstadt ........ • •
Rendsburg. . . ..
Hanseatic Steam Company

98%
60A

35%
88)4

RAILWAY I-IA ILE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, JAN. 23.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Aberdeen, 21—,
Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe, and West Yorkshire,Prefer-
ence, guaranteed 6 per cent. (B), 2014—Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Junction (late C. and B. 27/. 10s. Shares),
15N —Caledonian, 2611 A—Ditto, Preference, 114 p.—East
Lancashire, Quarters, 51. Is. 3d.—Lancashire and Yorkshire
(late Manchester and Leeds), I,ifths, 31A dis. c.--Ditto, 101.
Preference, 1% p. ex int, itto, Halves (late Hull and
Sheffield), 13 dis. ex int.— Ditto, Halves (late Liverpool and
Bury), 131,2 dis.—London and North. Western, 132—Ditto,
New Quarters, 4144 p.—Ditto, Quarters (C), 314 p.--
Manchester, ;lieffield, and Lincoln (late Sheffield and Lin-
coln), Eighths, 53/4 dis.— Ditto, 10/. Preference, 1134—Ditto,
20/. shares, 10 dis.—Ditto (Docks), 12 dis.—Midland Stock;
92Ih— Ditto, New Ilalves, 51,, dis.—North Staffordshire, 3
dis.—t'cottish Central, 26—Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and
Chester, 4 dis.—Shrewsbury and Chester (late N. W. M.),
101. Preference, guaranteed 8 per cent., 14%—South-Eastern
and Dover, No. 4, Thirds, 734 ex int.—York, Newcastle, and
Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 3/4 p,
MANCHESTER, JAN. 23.
STOCK EXCHANOM—The sales are—ShreWsbury and
Chester, Preference, 9314 Caledonian, Preference, p.—
Leeds, Fifths, 3 15-16 dis.—West Riding Union, 4 9-16
Sheffieo .land Lincoln, 1214 dis.—South-Eastern and Dover,
No. 4 , 7514—Sheffield, Eighths, 534 dis.—Wharfdales, 445.
6d. dis.—East Lancashire, Preference, 71A—Clitheroa, Pre-
ference, 20 dis.— Old Grimsby, 25W, c. dis.—North Stafford-
shire, dis.

BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 23.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was firm, and very little
stock was flared. The sales are—London and North-
Western, 131 Midland, 6 per cent., 126—North Stafford-
shire, 2/. 16s. 3d. die. Shrewsbury and Birmingham, Prefer-
ence, 114 p.—South Staffordshire, 3 dis.
YORK, JAN. 22.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The business transacted to-day was
as follows :—Great Northern, 8/. 16s. 3d. ex int.—York,
Newcastle, and Berwick (Original Newcastle and Berwick),
271/s—Ditto (Extension), No. 1, 201. 13s. 9d.—Ditto, No. 2
(late New Berwicks), 20%—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 81.
Bs. 9d.

HULL, JAN. 23.
STOCK EXCHANGE —The sales are—Blackburn, Damen,
and llolton, 61% Caledonian, 26 %--East Anglian ( ly and
Huntingdon), 3—Hull and Selby, Halves, .503/4 —Leeds and
Thirsk, Preference, 35:,.—North British, Quarters, 735.--
-Ditto, 'lints, 925.
NEW CAsTL E-UPON-TY NE, JAN. 23.
STOCK EXCHANGE - The sales are—Caledonian, Quarters,
61/g dis.—Great Northern, 10A dis.—Newcastle and Car-
lisle, 107.

GLASGOW, JAN. 22.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Edinburgh and Glas-
gow, 82:—Edinburgh and Northern, 111/2—a.inburgh and
Newport,7—Glasgow General Terminus, 11 Glasgow, Dum-
fries, and Carlisle, s—Glasgow and Greenock, Halves, 7
Scottish Central, 26.

[ADvEnnsEmErir.]—A IteTeeted Member of the
Society of Fricods Cured of a Cough and Asthma, by
Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Extract of a letter from
Mr. Benjamin Mackie, to Professor Holloway, dated
Creenagh, near Loughall, September 11, 1848:-6. Re-
spected Friend, I feel it only an act of justice to thyself,
to state that 1 have prrsonally experienced the benefit
of thy excellent Pills aid Ointment, in the cure of an
inveterate C.ugh aid Asthma, which afflicted me for
three years to such an exreot, that I was obliged to
walk about my ri orn at night, afraid of suffocation if I
went to bed. I then tried thy invaluable medicines
which, I am pli ased to s iy, have perfectly cured me."--"'
Sold by all vendors of Mr dicine throughout the globe,
and at Pro:essor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand,
London.

CHEAP WATER AND GAS.—Last night a numerous
meeting of the 1-JAL-payers of Lambeth was held at the
Vestry-room, to take into consideration the best means
of obtaining a chin per, purer, and more abundant sup-
ply of watt r and gas, Charles Pearson, Esq., M.P., in
the chair, at winch it was agreed to petition Hamel:it
upon the subject.

BIRTIIB.
On the 11th inst.. at Einsworth, Hants, the lady of CaPt•
E. 11. Beauchamp, 1.1 N , of a daughter.
On the 17,11 inst , at iloltnwood Parsonage, Surrey, the
wife of the Rev. J. S. Utterton, of a daughter.
On the 21st inst., at Sh,rrolds, North end, Fulham, Mrs.
W. fi. Lammin, of a daughter.
On the 2lst inst., at Coln Rogers Rectory, Gloucestershire,
the wife of the 11ev. H. B. Forster, of a daughter.
On the 21st inst., at Coston Rectory, near Melton Bloc"'
bray, the lady of the lion. and Rev. J. Sandilands, of a son.
On the 21st inst., Mrs. Timothy White, of Landport, of a
daughter.

07, the 22d inst., at Radnor-place, llyde•park, the wife of
W. G. Taunton, E,q., of a i!an,..;hter.

I,4RRIED

On the 20th inst., at Heston ULurch, Middlesex, Frederick
E. Trimmer, Esq , to Adelaide, daughter of the Rev. L•
Withers, of stittou, in the same parish.
On the 22d at St. George's Church, Hanover-square,
Florence Fox, son of W. J. Fox, M.P., to Caroline Phoebe
Caulfield, youngest chughter of the late J. Caulfield, Esq.