The Sun.
London, England, 1840-07-22 00:00:00

P.A.RLIAMENTAI4,/ DIVISION.

(From the rotes and Proceedings of the House of Conzmost.)
TUESDAY, JULY 21. •
POOR LAW COMMISSION BILL.
Order read for resuming adjourned Debate on Question
[l7th July], " That the Bill be now read the third time :"-
Question again proposed :-Debate resumed :- Amendment
proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of
the Question to add the words "upon this day three months :"
-Question pot, " That word ' now ' stand part of the ques-
tion ; "—The House divided:—
MAJORITY—AYES, 74.
Adam, Rear-Adm. Sir C.-Clack-'Langdale, Hon. C.-Knaresbo.
inanhan rough
Ainsworth, P.-Bolton ,Morrison, Junes-Inv2rness
Alston, Itcwland-Hertfordshire I Muskett, George A.-St. Alban',
Archbold, Robert-Kildare Norreys, Sir Denham-Mallow
Baines, Edward--Leeds Paget, Frederick-Beaumaris
Sannerman, A.-Aberdeen Palmerston, Viscount-Tiverton
Baring. F. T.- Portsmouth ' Parnell, Sir H.- Dundee
Barrington, Lord-Berkshire Philips, Mark-Manchester
Ralph-Rochester Pigot, David Richard-Clonmell
Bridgeman, Hewitt-Ennis I Protheroe, Edward-Halifax
Buck, L W.-North Devonshi.-O Pryme, George-Cambridge
E -North Staftbrdshire Pusey, Philip-Berkshire
!hiller, Sir J. de -Devonshirt Rawdon John Dawson-Armagh
Byng, George-Middlesex Rice, Edward Royd -Dover
• michester, J. P. 8.-Barnstaple Roche, William-Limcrick
hiller.;, John W.-3lalton Russell, Lord John-Stroud
Cowper, Hon. W. F.-Hertford Russell, Lord C. J. F.-Bedfordsh
aruy, George-East Sussex ialwey, Lieut.-Col.-Ludlow
Elliot, llon.P. E.-Roxburghshirt Sanford, E. A.-Somersetshire
Euston, Earl-Thetford Scrope, Poulett-Stroud
Evans, George-Dublin Co. Seymour, Lord-Totness
Ewart, Shell, Richard Lalor-Tipperary
Ferguson,Sir It. A.-Londonderrt Taney, It. A.-Shrewsbury
Finch, Fraucis-W“Isall Sin th, H. V. -Northampton
Gladstone, W. E.-Newark-on- -illlO, Sir Charles-Scarborough
Trent rhoreely,Thos.-Wolverhamptor
Gordon, Robert-Windsor I.9wnley, 1.. G -Cambridgeshire
Grey, Sir Charles Edward-Tyne. rroubridge, Sir E. T.-Sandwich
mouth fufatll, Henry-Devonnort
,irey, sir George-Devonport Vigors, N. A.-Carlow Co.
Hawes, B. -Lambeth alajor Cmarles-Bodmin
Hobhouse, T. Benj.-Rochester Vivian, Sir It. 11.-East Cornwall
:lodges, 'l'. L.-West Kent Ward, H. G.-Sheffield
Hodgson, ltd.-Berwick-on-Tweet Wyse, Thomas-Waterford
florsinan, Edward-Cockermoutl Yates, J. Ashton -Carlow
Howard, Hon. E. G.-Morpeth Young, John-Cavan Co.
Ingham, Hobert -South Shields
Inglis, Sir R. H.-ox. Universit
Knight, H. G.-Nottinghamshir
Morpeth, Lord-Yorkshire

TELLERS.
Hon. Fox—Elgin Burghb
l'arker, John—Shetlield

MINORITY
Attwood, M.—Whiteliaven
Bainbridge, E. T.—Taunton
,irotherton, J.—Salford
Collins, \V.—Warwick
Dougl.s Sir C. E.—Warwick
Duncombe, 'l'. S --Finsbury
Fielden, John—Oldham
Gore, 0. J. It.—Carnarvonshire
Grant, Sir A. C.—Cambridge
Hindley, Charles—i.shton

--NOES, 16. •
n, Samuel—Cumberland
Johnson, W. Augustus—Oldham
Muntz, G. F.—lininingham
Parker, R. T.—Preston
ISibthorp, Colonel—Lincoln
IWilliams, William—Coventry

TELLERS.
Atwood, \V.—Greenwich
Grirnsditch, T.—Macclesfield

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT—YORK JULY 20.
(Before Mr. Baron RoLes.)
Ann Gilmore, aged 36, was indicted for the wilful mur-
der of her child, Margaret Gilmore, an infant of the age
of about eighteen months, by administering to it a quantity
of oil of vitriol. Mr. Baines and Mr. Bain conducted the
prosecution; the prisoner was defended by Mr. Murphy.
Ann Gummee, wife of a chemist in Hull, stated that tilt
prisoner had been in the habit of coming to her husband's
shop occasionally for " white mixture," a soothing syrup
for infante, and sometimes halfpennyworths of laudanum.
On the morning of the day on which the child died the
prisoner came with a cup for some laudanum. She asked
also for a halfpennyworth of oil of vitriol, which she re-
ceived in a phial, to secure the return of which she de-
posited a penny.
Mr. John Fulham, surgeon, WES at the house of the
Wogans, a little before three o'clock on the day in ques-
tion. He found the child's chin burnt and brown, as if
,orne corrosive substance had been applied to it. The
body was subsequently delivered to him for the purpose of
a post mortem examination. The witness then proceeded
to state the analysis by which he came to the conclusion
Oat sulphuric acid was present in the contents of the
stomach; In this he was corroborated by Mr. Davis, of
the Dispensary.
Ellen Gilmore, the daughter of the prisoner, a child or
eight years of age, was the next witness called. She
seemed a smart clever child, and gave her answers
with great readiness and precision. She stated
that she slept with her sister the night before
her death, and dressed her when she got up in
the morning. She was then in her usual health,
and when taken into Mrs. Wogan's room laughed. She
took the child subsequently into the kitchen, and while
there her mother came in. She herself went for a little
into the back yard, leaving her mother and the child to-
gether. On her return there was a table-spoon lying on
the table beside them. The baby seemed very poorly. It
could not sit up, and was lying on its mother's knee vo-
mitting. Its lips and tongue were white. Her mother
took the baby up stairs. In the evening she was sent by
her mother with a bottle to Mrs. Gummee's, which she
left, and got a penny in return. At night when they went
to bed her mother told 'her not to tell any one about the
bottle. She said she had only given the baby a little lau-
danum. To the constable at the station-house she said
she had only given the child a little port wine, and accord-
ing to the evidence of the constable who took her into
custody, she asked him, while on her way to the lock-up,
if be thought they could hurt her, as no one had seen her
give the child anything. When he was taking her before
the Magistrates she asked him if it would be better for
her to plead guilty before the gentlemen. She said she
had due it. It was her poverty had made her do it.
The prisoner here exclaimed vehemently, " Take care
what you say. There is a Judge in heaven as well as a
judge on earth. He knows the secrets of the heart."
His Lordship summed up with great minuteness, and the
jury pronounced their verdict—" but we strongly
r;commend her to mercy."
His Lcrdship then put on the black cap. The wretched
prisoner instantly fell on her knees, exclaiming, " Lord
have mercy upon me." She continued during the time of
passing sentence in the same position, ber hands faintly
wandering over the bars in front of the dock, as she mur-
mured in a low tone, " Mercy, my Lord." Oa the gaolers
removing her she exclaimed, " Oh, my poor fatherless
children, my poor fatherless children : my blood is on the
head of the villains uho came against me this day." His
Lordship said he could not hold out to her the smallest
hope of the recommendation of the jury being attended to.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY UPON
ADMIRAL SIR ROSS DONNELLY, K.C.B.
-(THIS DAY.)

This morning at eleven o'clock, a Commission of Lu-
nacy was opened at the Gray's Inn Coffee House, before
E. WINSLOW, C. K. MURRAY, and M. J. WEST, Esqrs.,
Commissioners .of Lunacy to inquire into the state of
mind of Admiral Sir Ross Donelly, K. C. 8., of No. 80,
Harley-street, and if insane, from what period.
The Jury was composed of 16 Magistrates of the connty,
who chose Richard Carpenter, Esq., as their foreman.
Mr. SPENCE and Mr. COLVILLE appeared as Counsel for
the Commission, which was unopposed.
The Commission having been read,
Mr Cummiisioner WINSLOW in an able speech, ex-
plained to the Jury their duties.
In consequence of no party appearing on behalf of the
Admiral, before going into the case, Dr. Chalmers was
called, who deposed that he had a conversation on the 16th
of the present month respecting the present inquiry, and
fully explained its nature, and asked the Admiral if be
would like to have counsel employed on his behalf. The
Admiral appeared perfectly to understand witness, and re-
plied in a most distinct mariner that it was not his wish to
have an advocate to oppose the wishes of his family.
Mr. SPENCE addressed the Court at some length, in

support of the Commission, which ho said had been issued
at the instance of Captain Donnelly, one of the sons of the
Admiral, on behalf of his family. The Learned Commis-
sioner had so fully explained the nature of the inquiry it
the Jury, that it was unnecessary for him to say
much upon that subject. The Admiral was now
in his seventy-seventh }car, and afflicted with many bodily
infirmities,but these ailings did notcome within the definition
of insanity. He (the Learned Counsel) would beyond that
call evidence to show particular delusions on the part of
the Admiral, as well as extraordinary conduct. The Ad-
miral, who had entered the navy at a very early age, had
. .

in many instances distinguished himself for hii gallantry
and bravery. In 1794 he was promoted to the rank of
Captain, and was in the glorious victory on the Ist of
June under Lord Howe. His late Majesty William the
Fourth rewarded him for his bravery with his present title.
The Admiral's family consisted of six children—the
Dowager Lady Orger, Miss Anne Donnelly, Mr. Ross
Donnelly, a banister, now practising at Sydney, Captain
Donnelly of the 9th regi.oent, Miss Sarah Dannelly, and
Mrs. Brownlow, the lady of a barrister. The Captain an-
Miss Anne Donnelly have continued to reside with the
Admiral at No. 80, Harley-street. In October last, being
then in his 76th year, he was seized with a fit of a:
very dangerous description. He remained in that state for
two months in comparative helplessness, and then reco-
vered so far as to be able to go about, but his mind had
become seri, usly impaired. The Admiral appeared par.
tially conscious of his infirmities, and in November last h,
gave up to his son, Captain Donnelly, the management 0:
his affairs. Tien Admiral would frequently discharge hi,
servants for not attending to orders which he had never
given. He discharged his coachman for not bringing his
carriage to the door at certain hours in the night, but the
family retained the coachman, and kept him out of sight
for two months, and then introduced him as a new ser-
vant, under an assumed name, and the Admiral became
perfectly temneiled to him. Similar instances occurreo
with the butler and nurse. The Learned Counsel
concluded by observing that among the witnesses he should
call would be Drs. M.Wright, Chalmer, and Munro, vsei,
known in their profession, all of whom had been rctainec
to attend the Admiral, and watch his state of mind.
Joseph Stevenson deposed that he had been in the Ad.
miral's service three years and six months, as coachman.
In October, 1839, the Admiral was:attacked with a fit
witness assisted him, and fetched Dr. Al' Wright. wit.
Tress considered from that time isis mind was seriousl)
Effected.
(The case was proceeding when we went to press.)

EVENING ED i`ION.

COURT CIRCULAR.

Viscount Melbourne had an audienco of her Majesty,
yesterday.
The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the
Duke and Duchess de Nemours honoured the Italian
Opera with their presence last evening. Tl,c Royal Suite
consisted of the Countess of Mount Edgcumbe, lion. Miss
Anson, Hon. Miss Paget, Countess d'Oraison, Lord
Byron, Earl of Surrey, Mr. Rich, Hon. Colonel Caven-
dish, Colonel Bouverie and General Colbert.
The Countess of Mount Edgcumbe has succeeded Lady
Barham as the Lady in Waiting on the Queen, and Lora
Byron has succeeded the Earl of Listowel as the Lord in
Waiting on her Majesty.
The Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Cam—
bridge, and the Princess Augusta of Cambridge, re-
mained at the Queen's State Ball until half-past two yes-
terday morning. Sir James Duke, M. P., and W. Ewart,
Esq., M. P., were among the visitors at her Majesty's Bail.
Prince Albert and the Duke de Nemours, attended by
the Hon. Colonel Cavendish, Colonel Buuv-rie, Colonel
~Vylde and General Co'bert, left town at half-past Ilia,'
o'clock yesterday morning for Wimbledon Common, and
inspected the 2d Life Guards, the Royal Horse Guards,
and the 12th Lancers. The Royal Party returned to Buck-
ingham Palace in two carriages and four.
The Duchess of Kent and the Duchess of Gloucester
visited the Princess Augusta yesterday.
The Duchess of Kent vistted the Duchess de Nemours
yesterday at Buckingham Palace.
Lady Charlotte Dundas has succeeded Lady Anne
Maria Dawson, as the Lady in Waiting, on the Duchess

Of Kent.
. A deputation consisting of Mr. Hastie, M.P., Mr.
Oswald, M. P., Mr. Barr, (Paisley), Mr. Henning (Lou-
don), Mr. Simpson, (London), Mr. Crawford (Paisley),
and Mr. Ward, M. P., had an interview with Lord Sohn
Russell yesterday, at the Colonial Office.
A deputation consisting of Mr. J. Bishop (Mile End),
Mr. Strong( Ratcliffe), Mr. Larchin (Ratcliffe), Mr. Pear-
aall Mr. Hawkins (King-street, Borough),
Mr. Prosser (Comincrcial•road), Mr. Curwood ( White-
chapel), Mr. Kynneisley (Borough). Mr. Sefton (Stock
port), Mr. Farren (London-road), Mr. Hallwood (New
Dover-road), Mr. Dyke (Mile End), and Mr, Gordon
(Sowers Town), had an interview with Viscount Mel-
bourne on Monday, in Dawning-street.
The Earl of Warwick, Mr. Crawford, and Mr. Charles
Forrester, had interviews with the Marquis of Normanby
yesterday, at the Home Office.
The Prussian Minister and Earl Granville transacted
business yesterday, at the Foreign Office.
Sir William Clayton had an interview with Viscount
Melbourne yesterday, in Downing-street.

LITERATURE.

THE QUAD R 0 ONE. 3 V,'LI
Bentley, London, 1840.

Anything more unlike real life than the personages
and incidents—of which last there is a wondrous pro-
fusion—described in this romance, we cannot well
imagine. The author, throughout his work, labours
under the very common error of mistaking exaggeration
for strength, as in his conception and execution of the
characters of the mysterious sorceress, who is a sort of
transatlantic Meg Merrilies ; and, more particularly, of
the Spanish Count of Osma, who is ono of those sub.
lime, romantic villains, now rarely to be met with, save in
the pages of novels of the Minerva Library school. Yet,
we doubt not, there arc numbers of readers who will be
pleased with the " Quadroons," for, among its dramatis
persona', are to be found sons who scoop their mother's
eyes out, and then strangle her in a Court of Justice ;
brothers who murder, or strive to murder; each other,
and, when detected, commit suicide ; and startling sur-
prises, and adventures quite as high-wrought and
unnatural as any recorded in the " Mysteries
of Udolpho." We would advise the author, should lie
attempt another work of fiction, to take nature and
probability as his guides, and not outrage both with
the cool assurance of a melodrama-monger for a minor
theatre.

THE PENDING PROJECT FOR
CHANCERY REFORM.

The Lord Chancellor's Bill " for facilitating the Ad-
ministration of Justice" has passed the Lords, and is to
be read a second time in the House of Commons on
Thursday next. This Bill, so far as it provides for an
increase in the judicial power of the Court, appears to
be efficient, and provided that the two new Judges
should be men well conversant with Equity business,
and of acknowledged competency, the Bill will no
doubt be productive of very great benefit to the suitors.
On the subject of who should be appointed, a commu-
nication in the last number of the Jurist leads us to
hope that the selection may be such as will satisfy the
public and the profession. Without pledging ourselves
as to the propriety of selecting the individuals named,
we give the concluding passage of the communication
referred to : _ _ _

" The Lord Chancellor is, therefore, in a condition to
select from amongst the leaders of the Chancery Bar,
as the colleague of Mr. Baron Rolfe, the person best
qualified to perform the duties of a Judge, without regard
to political considerations. No one can doubt that the
Lord Chancellor is, of all persons, the best qualified to
form a judgment as to what are the qualifications re-
quisite for a Judge. If either of the two eminent per-
sons, namely, Mr. Pemberton or Mr. Jacob, to whom
all eyes are directed, should be appointed, together with
Mr- Baron Rolfe, it would, I am certain, give general
satisfaction to the profession, and ensure the success of
the measure ; whereas, the appointment of a common
law Judge would, I have no doubt, as effectually defeat
it. There never was an occasion on which professional
men of all parties appeared to be so anxious to see po-
litical and personal considerations set aside for securing
the paramount interest of the suitors ; and, unless I
mistake the character of the Lord Chancellor, he is the
person of all others to form so laudable a desire."
But we have a word or two to say as to the delays
and abuses of the Court, which we have adverted to in
former numbers of our Journal, but of which, from
anything that appears in the Bill or the reports of
the discussions in the House of Lords, the law Lords
as well as the lay Lords, appear yet to have to be
informed.

First, as to the Six Clerks office.—About this time
last year, in reviewing one of Mr. Spence's addresses,
we stated shortly the nature of this office. Amongst
lbe duties performed in this office is the taxing of So-
icitors' Bills, that is, taking off their over-charges.
We then took occasion to draw the attention of the
public to the expense which the suitors incur for having
this watchful care over their interests extended to them,
and we noticed one instance, namely in the cause of
Stubbs v Sargon, where it had cost the parties Font
HUNDRED POUNDS to take off One Hundred and
Eighty-eight pounds from the Solicitor's Bills. The
44th clause in the Lord Chancellor's Bill, introduced
by Lord Brougham, very kindly authorizes and requires
the Lord Chancellor and Vice-Chancellors at any
time within five years, to make such regulations as
they may think fit, as to the payment of costs, but
not one word is there about the mode of taxation.
Again, on the 4th of the present month, we drew the
attention of the public and the Members of the Legisla-
ture to the following facts, deduced from the returns
obtained by Mr. Aglionby, viz.:—
That each of the five remaining Six Clerks receives
annually 1,702/., besides about 490/. every sixth year,
for about two months' attendance in Chancery-lane, to
sign his name and perform some other formal acts.
That one of the sworn clerks (subordinate officer to
alb Six Clerks) returned as the amount of his gross
receipts, in 1839, 10,8791. 3s. 10d., and, deducting
2,769/. 1 ls., ttv- amount of his payments and expenses,
leaves 8,110/. 2s. 11 d., as the net income of such
sworn clerk, derived from fees paid by the suitors ;
thus leaving Clerk in Court, No. 3, a larger amount of
income than the Lord Chief Justice of Erg!and re-
ceives ; and this at a time when the future Vice-Chan-
cellors are to-be cut down to 5,0001. a-year !!
The Bill professes to authorize and require the Lord
Chancellor and Vice-Chancellors, within the same five
y ars, to make such regulations as they mly think fit
as to the form and mode of transacting the business
done in the Six Clerks'-office ; but so long as the Six
Clerks and clerks in Court have a personal interest in
the fees collected in this office, we strongly suspect
the Judges will find that the authority given to them
by this Act is wholly inadequate to the introduction of
any effectual Reform. Indeed there is serious reason
.o apprehend that the introduction of this wholly inefik

cient clause will drive off until the expiration qf this
five years, so cleverly introduced, if that were the ob-
ject, any effectual Reform of the abuses which we have
endeavoured to expose.
Within this same five years also the Judges are au-
thorized and required to make such alterations as they
may think fit, in the form and mode of proceeding
before THE MASTERS. We learn from the Jurist of
the 4th instant, that the Liverpool solicitors, a most
intelligent body of men, have recorded their opinions,
" That increased dispatch of businesss by the
Judges of the Court would be rather PREJUDICIAL,
than advantageous to the general suitors, by still
further crowding and embarassing the Masters'
offices, unless a correspondinj, acceleration of business
AT THE SAME TIME be effected."
If the Liverpool solicitors—and who can be bettor able
to form an opinion ?—be right, and the facts stated in the
same number of the Jurist, which are partly taken from
the returns of the Masters obtained by Mr. Blake, lead
to the same conclusion, the beneficial purposes of the
Bill will be utterly defeated unless some new
regulations be immediately introduced into the Masters'
offices. We will notice one tact only, taken from the
same publication, which is alone sufficient to show the
necessity for this interference ; it appears that with ten
Masters for two Vice-Chancellors adverse proceedings
are, according to the existing system, delayed before the
Masters from two to six years ; what will be the delay
when there arefour Vice-Chancellors for eleven Masters?
We have thrown out these remarks for the considera-
tion of the Members of the House of Commons Oa
be read a second time.
RaiNssVpi eni
cCTrO
eit
adNrtsda
but
Thursday next, when the Lord Chancellor's Bill is to
gfthreeaft;ideueltayl more
oonf tthhies
Asupbpj
AaTiEs w
JURISDICTION,
we forbear. We shall anxiously watchut tohre ptproceedings
in the House of Commons, and, if necessary, take ea
[ early opportunity 01 recurring to these important topics.