The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING-, JUNE 28, 1847.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
11. CFIA.PfER OF AMERICAN RAILWAY
ACCIDENTS.
We cannot better follow up our sketch of trartsatlantic
railway progress than with some samples of
_the accidents on
American lines. In these accident epidemic d
rs ays at home
oue, catas-
they will be read with interest, though,
trophes are only a tithe of what occur oover thevast extent
of reilin the new world, where they do not. at presentappear
to be familiar with official returns of killed or wounded,
or the forms of judicial inquiry by coroners and Govern-
ment Commissioners. The information wwever,
suffice for any one who may be bent on the ill, ho
ious dis-
covery as to " whether they do these things better in
the Slates." The first en:ample will readily be recog-
nised by the terrible resemblance that it bears to the
late lamentable accident on the bridge over the I)ee.
On Sunday night week, when the mail train on the
Petersburgh Railroad was within a mile and a half of
Weldom, N.C., some of the props of a bridge over which
it was passing gave way. The engine and tender cleared
the bridge, but the mail and passenger cars went down,
and were much injured. The passengers themselves re-
ceived no material injury.
The second we have to give is the first to our know-
ledge yet occasioned by the electric telegraph,, and is
altogether of a most extaordinary turn. The telegraph
wire at the Western Railway Depot at Charlton blew
down last night where it crosses the track, and the 'wire
caught on the engine of the down freight train, pews;
over one of the posts, and sweeping from the train three
brakemen. One was killed, one had his leg broken, but
the other was not injured. No damage was done to the
train.—Boston Trans.
As the Philadelphia train was entering Elizabetht oven
last evening, at half past eight o'clock, a light co' creel
waggon, containing Gideon Allen, of Scotch Ptalus,
and Ephraim Ryno, of Short Hills, on their way to
Elizabeth Port, was run down by the locomotive,. Me.
Allen was killed immediately, and Mr. Ryno ss ne. taken
off the cow-catcher, when the cars were stowed, in
about the distance of the length of the trz :in.
bell was rung before the waggon was perceived, The
and
the steam whistle was sounded in full force immediately
after, but the persons in the waggon did not t,ke
it for warning of the approach of cars, not knowing that
they were ran or. Sunday. Mr. Ryno insisted on being
taken home last evening, and, together with the corpse
of his companion, was sent back. The deceased. -was an
industrious man, a carpenter by trade, and was about
sixty ytcrs of age. He was a widower, and leaves
several eaildren. Mr. Ryno, although considerably
bruised, is not dangerously injured. One of the 'horses
was killed, and the waggon broke into fragments.
The passenger train of cars from Boston ran into se,
freight train that was waiting at Schodack for the pre,_
senger train from Albany to pass, last evening, deeng
considerable damage to the engine, and smashing one of
the freight ears. The fireman, in jumping from the en-
gine, struck upon his head and was seriously injurenn
A melancholy accident happened as the train e-A• ears
for Baltimore was turning the corner at Bread and
Market-streets. A worthy man, named Joho M'Peck,
attempted to get up-as the train, intending to proceed to
New Castle, when he slipped and fell between the
wheels, and was dragged some distance before the
train could be stopped. He was dreadfully smashed,
causing his death half an hour after being removed
to the hospital. He was about 48 years of age, and
has left a wife and six children at New Castle where he
resided.
AN INFAMOUS OUTRAGE.—Some miscreant opened
the switch of the A. and R. Railroad, srtuatecl about
five miles etst of Canandaigua, on Wednesday night,
and
.fastened it open. On one side wns an embank-
ment of about thirty feet in height, and it was no
doubt the design of the scoundrel to throw the entire
train down this precipice. As the night train from the
west approached, the engine and tender ran off at the
end of the se, iteh, ploughing its way into the ground and
completely burying the wheels on one side. But for the
softness of the ground, the engine, tender and men upon
them, must inevitably have been precipitated down the
bank ! By promptly stropping the lower side of the
engine it was prevented, and the engine was got np m
the track again on Thursday afternoon.
Dr. flitcncock. of Middieboroueb, Mass., and Mr.
APli.ennison, were 'ti severely injured by collision en
the Fall River Railroad at Randolph depot, that both
died this evening. Mr. George H. Haven, conductor,
Worcester-roa,l, was run over by the engine last evening,
and died to-day.
The Houratonic railroad train for Albany, on Wednes-
day, was run into near Great Barrington, by a freight
train. A car of the passenger train got off the trick,
and while they were endeavouring to replace it, the
freight train came up. A boy, belonging to Great
Barrington, who was standing in front of the car which
was off the track, was thrown down by the collision of
the two trains, and so badly hurt that he died instantly.
No other persons were hurt. Two of the passenger
cars were somewhat damaged.
An engine on the Old Colony Railroad ran off the
track at South Hanson on Friday, and a man connected
with the road had his face badly scalded. On Frid ty
afternoon, as the train for Danvers from Salem was
backing up to that place, it ran off the track on the
causeway of the North river. Fortunately, the baggage
crate, being in the rear, fell over the bank bottom up,
and the passenger train ran partly off but rested on the
top of the crate. The train was full cf passengers, and
it was a fortunate escape. The accident was caused by
a stone being on the track.
THE ACCIDENT COMPENSATION PRINCIPLE OBTAINS
IN BOSTON DAMAGES FOR THE DEATH OF A PASSENGER.
—Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, of Ashby, brother of the late
Dr. Henry D. Hitchcock, of Middleboroueh, who was
killed on the eed of February last, by a collision of cars
on the Fall River Railroad, has made an adjustment of
the claims of the widow and heirs against said company,
The company through their treasurer, David Anthony,
Esq., of Fall River, have paid to the legal claimants the
sum of F.,!4,500, and have received a discharge from any
further liability.
EXTRA STEAM.—Some weeke since, a western cor-
respondent, discussing the probable causes of several
recent disastrous railroad collisions, stated that a con-
ductor on the Tonawanda Railroad was accustomed to
stop at a place between Attica and Buffalo and fire up
his own eneine with a tumbler of brandy. It is not ne-
cessary to inform readers in the vicinity that the Tona-
wanda Railroad only extends from Rochester to Attica,
and consequently that our correspondent's remark could
not have justly applied to aey of its conductors, who, of
course, stand fully vindicated in the premises. There is
special reason why men employed on railroads and
steamboats, but especially engineers and conductors,
should never taste intoxicating liquors, and we are gla
to hear that those on the Tonawanda resent the imputa-
tion that they have done so while on duty.
ENGINE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.—A short time since
an engine attached to a passenger train on the railroad
from Augusta to Atalanta, was struck by lightning.
The fluid passed along the cars and gave the passengers
a shock, but did no further mischief.
John Driscoll, an engineer on the Norwich railroad,
was killed at Grenville by the collision of two engines.
FOUR MILES OF FOREST FIRED BY A RAILWAY.—
The woods, about four miles on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, were on tire on Tuesday evening when the
Washington cars arrived, supposed to be fired by a spark,
and were burning before the stormy wind which was
blowing with great fierceness. It is apprehended much
damage may be done.
NEWCASTLE AND BERWICK —Yesterday, the anni-
versary of the battle of Waterloo, was appointed for the
opening;of this great national undertaking—now the last
connecting link in railway communication between the
metropolis of England and of Scotland. Since the open •
ing day was fixed, the directors have deemed it expe-
dient to defer it for a short period, and we understand
no public demonstration suited to the occasion will take
place until the whole of the magnificent viaducts now in
progress of construction are completed.—Newcastle
Guardian.
MR. BAIN'S NEW SYSTEM OF TELEGRA.PDIC COM-
3111NICATION.—Mr. Bain states that his present improve-
ments have for their first and main object to obviate the
waste of time which now attends the making and break.
ing of contact by means of electro-magnets, and the em-
ployment of needles to indicate the letters of the alphabet,
figures, &c. He describes various arrangements by which
this maybe effected, but they are all nearly similar in their
general features, at least so far as respects their elementary
principles, and the effects produced by them. To give a
distinct and clear view, however, of this specification,
we are forced to depart somewhat from the order in
which the various parts, &c., are described in the
original. Each complete system of arrangements con-
sists, of course, of a transmitting apparatus at one end of
a line, and a recipient apparatus at the other, with a con-
necting wire, or wires, between them. From the descrip •
Lion given of Mr. Bain's invention, it will be seen that,
the rapidity of communication by it is limited by two cir-
cumstances only—first, the time required to punch out the
holes in the roll of paper of the transmitting apparatus
before committing it to (may we not say?) the press;
and, second, the number of intermissions of the
electric current which can be effected in any given
Lime—one intermission being requisite for every letter,
or sign. Now, the time required for the first part of
the process must depend on the number of letters or
signs which it is in the physical power of a clever
hand to punch out in a given time, which can scarcely
exceed, on the average, 100 a minute ; but the
Passage of the electric fluid is so instantaneous (faster
than lightning) that we make no doubt from 500 to
4,000 intermissions in a minute may be readily effected
in the way proposed by Mr. Bain. Supposing, there-
fore, a copzurnticoabtion to be once pursued out in paper.
and the
in
releuiertetrnbruitted to the transmitting ap-
paratus, it w
distance,
a few minutes to convey that
communication to any ce,ahowever great, and that,
too, in as complete a irate
pa Any
conveyed
practicability
teiediTirtiynbtoedi swaths.
dispatch,ly
circular, or pamphlet, is now
post. We foresee the perfect
way of all the leading articles of the thbiys
news-
paper, (ex. gr.) being reprinted and republisBhedii
Liverpool, or Edinburgh, simultaneously with their
publication in London ! It would only be necessary,
in order to effect this incomparable desideratum, that
there should be placed by the side of each compositor a
man with a set of punches and a roll of paper, to punch as
fast as the ethsr composed, and that when a column was
completed, it should be sent off to the Electric Telegraph
office, to be transmitted to Liverpool, Glasgow, or Edin-
burgh, there to he rendered from the telegraphic charac-
ters into the ordinary characters of our mother tongue,
reprinted and republished. Has any other plan of aloe- I
tro-telegraphic communication yet proposed offered ad-
vautages eqn•l to this? We believe not. Suggestions,
pointing to seea a plan, have, we are aware, been thrown
out before now; but Mr. Bain has at all events, the un-
questionable merit of being the first to turn to practical
account a principle which all other able men occupied
with the same subject have practically neglected.—
Mechanics' .11agazine.
TYE ITINERARIITM, OR RAILWAY COMPASS. —The
object of this invention is.to insure more punctuality on
railways. It will at all times show to the engineer the ;
speed of the engine, the distance to the next station, and
the enact position on the line, which will be useful at

night, or in foggy weather. There is a chrono-
meter, which will, of course, show the railway
time. It will also register on 'paper a description
of the journey, that is, the time occupied at each
station and during the journey, and the exact
speed travelled during every mile. This paper may
be taken off at the end of each journey, the date and
number of engine marked en, and filed in the railway
office. The apparatus he.s a dial, the circumference of
which is divided into the number of miles on the railway,
and all the stations are correctly marked down at the pro-
per distances from oach terminus. A finger or indicated-
points to that place on the dial occupied by the engine on
the line of railway. There is a small finger, whicki re-
volves once hi two miles, by which the engine.er can
ascertain his speed. There is also another small finger,
which revolves once in sixty journeys, or about 10,000
miles. by means of which it can be ascertained
what distance the engine has performed during a
considerable period, say ten weeks ; and as many
engineers are paid by mileage, it would settle all
disputes as to the distance run during the week or
fortnight for which they receive their wages. Within
the apparatus the speed and distance is registered. A
long strip of paper is previously marked with per-
pendicular lines, which represent lines, and with hori-
zontal lines, which represent minutes; and it is so
arranged that one division of the perpendicular lines is
wound on a cyli-ader when the engiue has advanced
one mile. Connected with the chronometer is an ap-
paratus moving a pencil, which marks the paper cross
one division line in one minute of time ; by this
means (according to the perpendicular or diagonal
mark on the paper) the stoppage and velocity of
the engine can be precisely ascertained. The itine-
rsrium is moved by means of a separate wheel running
on the rail, and is not affected by breaks or slipping, &c. ;
it is placed in a convenient place, so that the engineer
may readily see it, and at night it is illuminated. The
Manchester and Leeds Railway Company have allowed
the inventor to test the experiment on one of their en-
gines, and several trips have been made with the appa-
ratus, which fully realised the expectations formed con-
cerning it.—Manchester Express.

EXECUTION of the CRIMINAL LAW
The following are extracts from the Second Report
(just issued by order of the House of Lords) from the
Lords' Select Committee to inquire into the Execution
of the Criminal Law, especially respecting Juvenile
Offer.ders and Transportation:—
A great number of persons have been exa mined.
Borders of cities and boroughs, judges of local jos' „die_
tion, magistrates, governors and chaplains of Pi.ols and
penitentiaries, prison inspectors, and others l ,a,„ing the
care of convicts at home and in the pe',sal, colonies.
Answers to the questions circulated have likewise been
obtained from thirty-three learned judges, of the United
Kingdom exercising criminal juris%,:iction namely,
fourteen of the judges of England (tine fifteenth having
I only recently been appointed), tb'e rwelve judges of Ire-
' land, and the seven of the Hia;ix Court of Justiciary in
Scotland, and the late Lord VTesident Hope, formerly
Lord Justice Clerk. The Committee have likewise ob-
tained valuable information from foreign countries, and
especially by correspe.ndence with the Ministers and
judicial officers of France. The whole body of this evi-
dence and information. they have reported to the House,
and they now be',.; leave to preface it with the following
statement touching its import, aad some suggestions
arising from. the consideration of it.
In the first place, nearly all are agreed that the
punishment of transportation cannot safely be aban-
doned; that it has terrors for offenders generally which
none other short of death possesses; that no such fear
attends imprisonment, especially for hardened offenders;
that no hone exists of imprisonment being so far ren-
dered more formidable as to supply in all respects the
place of transportation.
Upon the subject of transportation nearly all the
learned judges are clearly and strongly of the same
opinion; they consider that it would be extremely un-
wise to abandon it.
Secondly—That imprisonment, as usually practised,
is not an efficacious punishment, though accompanied
with hard labour, and with separation or with silence,
as it is in some prisons, is likewise the result of the
evidence. Only those who undergo it for the first time
appear to feel it much: this suffering soon wears off. A
second commitment finds the criminal by no means un-
prepared to undergo it, and it ever after ceases to exer-
cise a deterring effect. The number of times that young
offenders have been committed, some of them twelve or
fifteen times within a few years, seems strongly illus-
trative of this position; whereas convicts returned from
transportation, either by escape or by expiration of their
sentences, regard with the utmost terror the repetition of
that punishment.
How far imprisonment can be so far altered as to be
efficacious, either as preparatory to transportation or as
a punishment by itself, is a question of difficulty, upon
which little evidence could be given, inasmuch as no
sufficient experience has yet been had of the improved
systems which are now in partial operation.
Thirdly--The evidence all tends to show the great
importance of our prison discipline. Solitary confine-
ment ought on no account to be inflicted beyond a very
short time, as three or four weeks, with a considerable
interval after each week, and only two or at most three
weeks during a period of eighteen months or two years.
Its effects on both the bodily and mental health are such
as plainly to prescribe these limits.
The separate system, where it has been fairly tried,
seems to supply exactly what is needed, forcing the mind
to self-communion, and allowing this to be broken only
by communication with those morally the superiors of
the convict. Nor does this system, on the balance of
the evidence, appear to the Committee to be inconsistent
with the health of the prisoners in body or mind,
although on this last point there is a difference of opi-
nion, some witnesses regarding this discipline as hurtful,
not indeed to the structure and functions of the under-
standing, but to the energies of the will. On this subject
the Committee would recommend, first, that great care
be taken in administering the system of separate confine-
ment with labour; and, secondly, that the number of
prisons adapted to the practice of it be multiplied.
Fourthly—The evidence throws some light upon the
treatment of young offenders. That the contamination
of a gaol, as gaols are usually managed, may often prove
fatal, and must always be hurtful to boys committed for
a first offence, and that thus for a very trifling act they
may become trained to the worst of crimes, is clear
enough. But the evidence gives a frightful picture of
the effects which are thus produced. In Liverpool, of
fourteen cases selected at random by the magistrates,
there were several of the boys under twelve who in the
space of three or four years had been above fifteen times
committed, and the average of the whole fourteen was
no less than nine times.
Without going beyond the principle which should be
followed on this question, the Committee are disposed to
recommend the adoption, by way of trial, of reformatory
asylums, combined with a moderate use of corporal
punishment. The Committee also recommend tho trial
of a suggestion made by witnesses who have given much
attention to this subject, that, wherever it is possible,
part of the cost attending the conviction and punish.
ment of juvenile offenders should be legally chargeable
upon their parents.
Fifthly—The working of convicts exposed to public
view is condemned by most of those who have been
consulted or examined as a practice tending to harden
the offender, as revolting to the feelings of the commu-
nity, and even as calculated to excite a feeling in the
convict's favour.
The objections, however, to this practice are mate-
rially diminished if the convicts be employed in remote
and comparatively unpeopled " districts," such as mayoe
be found in some of the colonial possessions of the
Crown, or in other situations, where the labour of con-
victs may be employed without all the evils attendant
upon working under the public gaze.
Sixthly—Witnesses of the most competent authority
from Ireland are of opinion that the system of employ-
ing large bodies of convicts together in the public view
could not be adopted with safety in that country, where
the sympathy of the mass of the people would be in
favour of the criminal, especially in all cases of agrarian
crimes, and that it would be consequently necessary to
transfer to England all Irish criminals destined to be
employed on public works, in case this mode of punish-
ment were adopted.
Seventhly—There is almost entire unanimity in
opinion against imprisonment for short terms. There is
no prospect of the reformation of any class by such
punishments, while their tendency is certain to accustom
young offenders to the infliction, and thereby to lessen its
deterring effects. If, however, it is found in the admi-
nistration of the criminal law that short imprisonments
must still be inflicted, the Committee see no reason why
solitary confinement should] not form part of such sen-
tences, subject to the formerly stated limitation in re-
spect of time.
Eighthly--The evidence both from France and else-
where of the evil effects produced by the liberation of
many convicts yearly, as their terms of imprisonment
expire, would seem strongly to inculcate the necessity
of obviating the great inconvenience of setting at liberty
in this country, on the expiration of their sentence,
those who had once been convicted of serious crimes.
Looking to facts, the committee are of opinion that
the punishment of transportation should be retained for
serious offences ; that such punishment should in some
eases be carried into effect immediately, in others at a
later period ; that the first stages of the punishment,
whether carried into effect in this country or in the
colonies, should be of a reformatory as well as of a penal
character, and that the later stages at all events should
home
it: rthpiloi
be carried into effect in the colonies, the convict being
for that purpose retained under that unqualified restraint
to which, under the existing system of transportation,
men holding tickets of leave or c4ditional pardon are
subjected.
The committee must not be supposed to have either
overlooked or underrated tho alarming state of crime
and depravity which appears to have arisen in parts of
the Australian colonies, but they think that these evils
might be remedied by alterations in the police, the penal,
the religious, and the moral system to which the con-
victs after undergoing reformatory discipline, either at
theaßil colonies, are subjected, together with such
rneeasures as would remedy the existing disproportion of
the sexes in the coloniesespecting .
the expediency of abolishing
capital
of punishments, the Committee found scarcely any
difference
authorities agree Almost all witnesses and all
eo Committee deterri
opinion that for offences of the
punish
gravest kind the
mni-letr4
findorcoectitsiodferpaubnleishdiniffeenr;
ernetcaeinoefd.opißniuotntuhp
generally. But it is remarkable that those who have
actual intercourse with convicts are they who feel the
least sanguine as to this deterring or exemplary effect of
penal infliction, and who lean the most to make trial of
punishment as affording the means of reformation. The
experiment that has been tried at Stretton on Dunsmore,
in Warwickshire, for ahovr twenty-eight years, and
similar experiments at Horn, near Hamburgh, and at
Mettray, in France, and eleven other establishments in
imitation, during the last eight years, afford a highly

gratifying view of the efficacy of reformatory discipline,
espee ally upon young offenders.
La: itly—Upon one subject the whole of the evidence
and 1 11 the opinions aro quite unanimous—the gocd that
may be hoped from education, meaning thereby a sound
more .1 and reli,gi'ius training, commencing in infant
sicho Jls, and followed up in schools for older pupils; to
then- a, where it is practicable, industrial training should
be -I .tided. There seems in the general opinion to be no
X .er means that afford even a chance of lessening
t b a number of offenders, and diminishing the atrocity of
• eir crimes.
The Committee, therefore, deem that they should not
be discharging their duty if they did not earnestly press
these momentous subjects upon the attention of the
Legislature, 'Without raising any speculative
question upon the right to punish those whom
the State has left in ignorance, it may safely
be affirmed that the duty of all rulers is both to prevent,
as far as may be possible, the necessity of punishing,
-slid when they do inflict punishment to attempt reform-
ttion. The Committee, therefore, strongly recommend
the adortion of effectual measures for diffusing generally,
and by permanent provisions, the inestimable benefits of
good training and of sound moral and religious instruc-
tion ; while they also urge the duty of improving exten-
sively the discipline of the gaols and other places of
:onfinernent.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.
OXFORD, JUNE 23.
The city has been rapidly filling during the morning,
km 1 everything portends an interesting meeting.
lmongst the earliest arrivals at the reception room
We' :e—Lucien Bonaparte, Prince of Canino ; the Chev-
te i er Bunsen, the Prussian Ambassador ; the Hon. Mr.
kincroft, the American Minister ; Count Rosen, from
S "weden, deputed especially from that country by the
.!rown Prince in order to exhibit some very remarkable
zaps of his execution, representing the productions of
'ire la and wood, and the relative altitudes of the kingdom;
th e Marquis of Northampton; Sir T. I). Acland, Bart.,
'ALP.; Sir C. Lemon, Sir R. Murchison, Mr. Snow
Harris, Mr. Henry Delabeche, the Dean of West-
aninster. Sze.
For the first time in its erratic meetings, the Associa-
tion has been placed under the surveillance of the metro-
laolitan police; those two intelligent officers of the de-
tective police, Inspector Haynes and Langley, having
arrived yesterday. Amongst the fresh announcement of
visitors, is M. Le Verrier, the discoverer of the last planet
added to the solar system; and Professor Ehrenberg,
from Berlin, who was announced by the Chevalier Bun-
sen, the Prussian Minister, this afternoon, not only had
permission from the King of Prussia to attend, but also
all his expenses paid.
The first meeting of the general committee was held
at one o'clock in the council chamber at the Town-hall.
The chsir was taken by Sir R. Murchison, the President
et Southampton. A lengthy and verbose discussion took
place on a resolution to reunite the mechanical along
with the mathematical section with which it was for-
merly connected. Amongst the speakers on the subject
were Sir John F. W. Herschel, Professors Eaton Hodg-
ltinson and Baden Powell, Professor John Scott Russell,
&c.; but, in being put to the vote, the num-
bers appearing equal, the mechanical section was per-
mitted to have existence for at least the present session.
A satisfactory report was read of the accommodation
which could be offered for the next meeting at Swansea.
From the arrangements which had been made it appeared
that the town:was capable of affording accommodation to
1,000 visitors, whilst the meeting-rooms were equally
commodious. Cheltenham, Edinburgh, and Norwich have
each sent deputations to the 'present meeting, but it is
anticipated that the decision, which will be mae on Sa-
turday, will be in favour of Swansea. Amongst other
circumstances to induce the visit to that locality, it was
stated that a Royal Institution for South Wales had
lately been established there.
The applications made by the Association to public
bodies appeared by the report to be unsatisfactory.
Among otters, was an application to Lieutenant-Colonel
Coleby for an alteration in the system of Ordnance sur-
veys in Ireland, and which it was represented would in-
terfere with the public service and requirements.
Mr. J. TAYLOR, the treasurer next read the report of
the finances of the past year, which made the total re-
ceipts 1,1671. 6s. 101 Among them was the donation of
100/. subscribed by Prince Alpert at the last meeting at
Southampton, whilst the incidental receipts from the
contributions of members and associates made up the
remainder of the sum. The money expended in grants
for the execution of scientific objects and researches
was very small, for out of 4101. voted at Southampton
only 2801. ss. 4d. was paid, a remarkable deficiency to
the expenditure of former years. The treasurer further
announced that the commencement of the present meeting
was very encouraging, as already 569 tickets had been
issued.
The meeting, which was more numerously attended
than on any previous occasion, was then adjourned till
Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. Great interest was ex-
cited by the presence of the Prince of Canino (Lucien
Bonaparte), with the Prussian and American Ministers.
INTRODUCTORY GENERAL MEETING.
The theatre was in the afternoon filled with members
and ladies to attend the preliminary proceedings and
the opening of the business of the Association. The
chair was taken by Sir R. I. Murchison, F.R.S., who was
abundantly decorated with the orders bestowed upon
him by the Emperor of Russia, the King of Sweden,
and other northern potentates, to whose districts his
geological inquiries had carried him. He was supported
by the Marquis of Northampton, the President of the
Royal Society, the Prussian and American Ministers,
Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart., M.P., the Earl of Ennis-
killen, Sir John Herschel, Bart., Sir John Richardson,
Sir James Ross, Dr. Faraday, Professor Owen, and
many other of the leading members.
Sir R. I. MURCHISON, in opening the business of the
meeting, said that there was a very fair matter of con-
gratulation in the proceedings of the Association during
the past year, accompanied as they were, likewise, with
the reminiscences of its first visit to Oxford. He was
glad to be enabled to recognise in the room the presence
of representatives of the science of Russia, Prussia,
Sweden, Norway, Holland, and France. Amongst the
latter he could not but feel satisfaction in announcing the
name of M. Le Verrier, whose astronomical reputation
was European. After a year of very satisfactory inte-
rest, he had great pleasure in resigning his seat to his
successor, Sir Robert H. Inglis, Bart., M.P.
Sir R. H. Nous, the president elect, who was attired
in his robes as Doctor of Civil Laws of this university,
delivered the preliminary address, which occupied about
two hours. He commenced by alluding to the progress
which had been made in the different branches of scien-
tific inquiry since the last meeting. At the head of
these was an important discovery in astronomy, the
result of pure intellect. In this, human intellect had but
tracked a path in the highways of the universe which had
been arranged millions of years before by the Great
Creator. He would not presume to dispute upon the rivalry
or merits of Le Verrier and Adams, but it was certain
that one had found by midnight watchings what the
other had predicted by the results of calculation. It was
indeed a glorious triumph of the intellect that it was
not necessary to sit down with Alexander the Great,
and say that there were no new worlds to conquer, for
there were many new worlds to be discovered. In al-
lusion to the astronomical exertions of the Earl of Rosse,
one of the vice-presidents of the present meeting, he
must state that his telescope was the greatest contri-
bution
anegl
eyn
ui
int
yi. t
Tchormobeignhattihoen
moef
ancsheomf
bution that ever wealth had made to science, particu-
icthael l
association,nd mechanical
and
the exertions of Colonel Sabine from meteorological
tidal movements: tphr: ve d that
the air was affected by
observations made at St. Helena, it was 1
me as
water ; that, in fact, astronomical observations of
great
importance could now be made by the barometer. In
chemistry discoveries of great importance had been
made, particularly in the discovery of electrical currents
produced from the muscular contractions of the living
body, and which ceased sooner in warm than in cold-
blooded animals. This, which had been introduced by Pro-
fessor Matucci, had been confirmed by the observations
of Dr. Faraday, who would lay before them some of the
results of his experience and observation. Since the last
meeting many important and interesting researches had
been made in the insect creation, as the results of the mi-
croscopical exhibition to be held in the ensuing week
would doubtlessly prove. One of the latest disco-
veries of the microscope was by the circulation of the
blood from the arteries to the veins, a matter propounded
by llarvey, but never before demonstrated. In natu-
ral history, and particularly in botany, the most im-
portant practical developments were being made. Vast
numbers of plants had the last two or three years been
introduced into the botanic gardens at Kew from Austra-
lia and China, the result of which had been a very great
increased interest in that establishment, as shown in the
additional number of visitors who had frequented
it. Electricity was working wonders for the
benefit and comforts of mankind. In the United
States of America there was an instantaneous com-
munication of 1,300 miles; and when the Hibernia
steamer lately carried out the intelligence of the dearth
of corn in this country to Boston, it was instantane-
ously conveyed to New York, the streets of which were
the next day filled with carts from neighbouring
farmers laden with the produce of the country, and
for English use. It must be recollected that to the
United States we were first indebted for the intro-
duction and exercise of the electric telegraph. Much
as benefits had been conferred upon this country by
distinguished individuals, intellect had undoubtedly
thrown more reputation upon it than had arms; the
name of Newton had a supremacy to that of Marl.
borough. Sir Robert Inglis concluded his very able
address by impressing upon the meeting that an im-
proved knowledge of science advanced our knowledge of
God, and that new developments were productive of
moral improvement.
The Marquis of NORTHAMPTON, proposed and the
Chevalier BUNSEN seconded, a motion of thanks to Sir
H. Inglis, for his address, which was carried by accla-
mation. The latter announced his receipt of intelligence
of the restoration to a state of convalescence of Baron
Humboldt, of whose recovery to health some doubts
were lately entertained.
The meeting adjourned to Wednesday.
The ordinary was held at the Star hotel, in the even-
ing, when Sir R. Murchison, F.R.S., presided.

_
The changes consequent upon the death of Mr.
Charles Sheridan, who was first paid Attach 6 to the
British Embassy at Paris will be as follow :—The Hon.
Richard Edwards, first paid Attaché at St. Petersburgh,
is to be first paid Attache at Paris. The lion. Henry
Elliott, second paid Attach 6 at St. Petersburgh, is to be
first ; and will be succeeded by Mr. Wombwell, who is
now unpaid Attaché. Mr. Corbett is to be unpaid At-
taché at Paris, and Mr. Joseph Hume Burnley will
occupy a similar position at Madrid.—Observer.
Mr. Chilton, Q.C., of the South Wales Circuit,
will succeed the late Mr. Daniel Leahy as Judge of the
Lambeth and Greenwich District County Court,—
Observer.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
VIOE-CHANCELLORS' COURT, June 26.
(Before Sir J. K. BRUCE.)
HOGGART V. THE CROYDON CANAL COMPANY.

This bill was filed for the purpose of obtaining a dis-
tribution of the residue of a sum of money paid for the
purchase of a canal by the Croydon Railway Company.
The original sum contracted to be paid by the company
was 40,2501., which was to be applied, first, in paying
off the liabilities of the Canal Company, and then the
residue to be paid to the shareholders. This bill was
filed to have the distribution effected.
The COURT decided that there must be a reference to
the Master, to ascertain what liabilities of the company
were unpaid previous to a distribution of the surplus.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, June 26.
POTEZ V. GLOSSOP.

This was an action by the endorser of two bills of
exchange against the acceptor, to recover the sum of
5001.

Sir Frederick Thesiger, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Muller,
and Mr. George Pollock were counsel for the plaintiff ;
and Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Humphrey, and Sir John Bay-
ley for the defendant.
It appeared that the defendant is a clergyman of the
Church of England, and holds the living of West Dean,
Salisbury. Having occasion several months ago for
pecuniary assistance, he referred to the advertisements
in the daily papers, in August, 1846, and found the fol-
lowine in the Morning Herald :
" PERSONAL SECURITY.—A sum exceeding 10,0001.
is ready immediately to be advareetl in sums of not less
than 100/., nor more than 2,0001. to one individual. The
borrower must be of known consequence and solidity,
and no personal application can be noticed. Communi-
cations to be made, in writing only, in the first instance,
to J. R., 300, Oxford-street.
He immediately answered the advertisement, stating the
circumstances which induced him to ask for a loan, and
a correspondence ensued between the parties, the letters
to the defendent being signed "J. P. Gardiner." The
result of the correspondence was the defendant's going
to London and having an interview with Gardiner.
Preliminaries being then finally arranged, the defendant
gave Gardiner two acceptance, amounting to 500/., pay-
able at four months after date, in order that Gardiner
might get them discounted for him. Gardiner, in ex-
change for the bills, gave the defendant his receipt for
them, which stated that he held them for the purpose of
obtaining a discount upon them. The defendant then
went away, in full expectation of having his money
on the following day, when Gardiner would have pro-
cured it from his bankers. For that purpose he called
upon Gardiner, at his office in Fludyer-street,West-
minster, but his visit ended in disappointment, which
G..rdiner made up for by saying that he intended, in a
few days, going down to Southampton, when he would
bring the amount with him. With that assurance
the defendant left town, and according to pre-
vious arrangement, sent his carriage to meet Gar-
diner at Southampton on the appointed day. In the
meantime, however, he received a letter from that per-
son, saying that he had been prevented from leaving
town, but would beg to appoint the following Saturday.
In the meantime two other letters reached the defendant's
house, one of which was from Gardiner, desiring him
to answer in the affirmative any gentleman writing from
his bankers to ascertain the authenticity of the accept•
ances he had given. The other was from a person
named Gadderer, of 23, Craven•street, Strand, who now
for the first time appeared in the transaction, and re-
quested the information alluded to in Gardiner's letter.
Wben the letters arrived the defendant was from home,
but Mrs. Glossop opened them, and wrote to Gadderer,
stating the bills had been left pith Gardner to be dis-
counted, but as yet not one shilling had been received
for them. This reply was employed by Gardiner, in a
subsequent letter, that of the sth of September, to ac-
count for his not going to Southampton as he promised,
as well as for his having failed to procure the advances on
the bills. Gardiner said also, that his bankers in refusing
to discount defendant's bills, had observed that they
had 13,000/. worth of similar bills already in their
hands. Although Gardiner made a point of swear-
ing that the bills had not been out of his hands,
it would seem that he and Gadderer had been
in close communication upon the subject of this business.
On the 17th the defendant came to London, and asked
Gardiner for his bills or for the money, when the latter
said he he was going into the City to have them cashed,
and that if he would meet him at Garraway's, at half-
past three o'clock, he would hand him over the proceeds.
The defendant kept his appointment; but Gardiner, as
might have been expected, did not make his appearance.
He next called in Craven-street upon Gadderer, whom
he did re t see, and by whom he was requested to call
by-and•by for the money. He called, but never again
saw him. Gardiner he happened to meet, who told him
that he had been disappointed in his expectations of dis-
counting the bills, but that he would once more try what
could be done by applying to a friend of his, a banker
in Leeds. This resource also failing, the defendant
instructed his attorneys, who inserted au advertisement,
cautioning the public against the bills he had given, which
he described as having been obtained by fraud from the
Rev. Mr. Glossop, and referring all applications
relative to them to Messrs. Bush and Mullins, of St.
Mildred's-court. Gardiner then wrote to the de-
fendant, to say, that he, too, should put the matter
into the hands of his attorneys. Neither the bills
nor the money ever made their appearance. On Sep-
tember 30th, a letter was received from Messrs. Tucker
and Co., solicitors, complaining on behalf of the plaintiff,
(whom they called Potosi) of the publication of the cau-
tion. Messrs. Bush and Mullins wrote back for the
address of this lady, which they then heard was at 23,
Craven-street. They afterwards discovered that she
kept a lodging-house, and that Gadderer was one of her
lodgers. Upon the bills arriving at maturity, it turned
out that they were not in the hands of the plaintiff at all,
but in those of a party whose name appeared as an
endorsee, but the name of the plaintiff did not appear
upon them. They were endorsed by Gardiner, Gad-
derer, and Lawrence Levy. One bill had got into the
hands of a person named Jones, who was said to be the
father of the attorney for the plaintiff in this action.
Levy had endorsed one of the bills to Jones,
and he held the other. He had a brother an at-
torney, named Lewis, and when the bill became
due, Levy's was presented by Lewis for payment.
Young and Valings were refused permission to see the
bill, and declined to pay it; the other bill was also re-
fused, and hence the present action. Gardiner at length
handed the bills to one T. Holbrook Coyle, a person well
known in bill transactions, and from him they passed to
Gadderer, who ultimately obtained their discount by
Levy. When they were discounted by Levy not a word
was said about the plaintiff, for then he would have
taken care that her name was attached to them, as she
was represented to have a considerable sum in the funds,
and a house full of furniture. Before the bills became
due, Gardiner wrote to defendant to remind him of the
fact, and begged him to say whether he would be able to
meet them, as it might be necessary to arrange for their
renewal. The question upon that state of facts would
be, whether Gadderer was not the sole party to this
transaction, and that the plaintiff was in no way con-
cerned. After the dishonour of the bills, Levy went to
Gadderer and said that he did not choose to be mixed
up in the affair by bringing an action upon them, as he
was led to suppose that there might be proceedings taken,
charging a conspiracy, and therefore he must have the
money returned. Gadderer, upon the representation,
found the sum, and gave it to Levy. The Learned
Counsel for the defendant, in adverting to the evidence
which would be given by Mr. Deane, a solicitor, with a
view to show that, in point of fact, the plaintiff was not
concerned, said that Gadderer would be shown to be the
real principal in the business. The defendant had not
had a single shilling, and could not, therefore, be called
upon to pay the amount of the bills. The evidence of
Deane certainly did go to that extent, but the defend-
ant's case had been but part heard when the Court rose,
and adjourned the further hearing till this day.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

In consequence of the exciting presentments recently
made by Dr. Lynch, and the inquest of the ward of
Farringdon Without, to the Lord Mayor, and also to
the Common Council, respecting the dangerously foul
state of the cesspools, and the accumulations of filth in
the cellars of many houses in that ward, the Commis-
sioners of Sewers have bestirred themselves, and com-
menced proceedings against some of the landlords. The
houses are found to be generally those which are wholly'
let out in separate rooms to different families, the land-
lord living elsewhere, determined to get the greatest
possible rent with the least possible expenditure, and
utterly regardless of the sickness and distress suffered
by the residents in the house in consequence of the
exhalations from the overflowing or uncovered filth.
Mr. Tyrrell, the Remembrancer, appeared on behalf
of the Commissioners of Sewers, and Mr. Attwood
Smith for the inquest.
Mr. Tyrrell stated that the Commissioners had insti-
tuted these proceedings under the Cholera Act, 9 Vic.,
cap. 96, which empowered them, upon receiving the
certificate of two medical gentlemen that there was in
any house or other place an accumulation of noxious
palny aint to the magistrate, and cause the owner
kind, or any foul privy or cesspool, to
ommfaatkthteeerehooomfuse to be summoned, and an order made that
he should abate the nuisance within forty-eight hours.
In default of his obeying this direction, the order re•
quired the Commissioners to enter the premises and
abate the nuisance at the charge of the landlord. A Mr.
Gower had been summoned in respect to some foul
privies in his houses in Harp-alley, and in Churchyard-
court,
speedily
r as
Harp-alley.
,He had promised to remove the evil
a
spracticable, and as the parochial authori-
ties,e
presented by Mr. Smith, were content, he had
assented to the summons being adjourned for a fortnight.
a
Mr. Alderman MUSGROVE assented.
Mr.
pawnbrocker, in Brick.lane, Old-
s t rtKirkwood,
appeared on his summons for permitting an
accumulation of noxious matters to remain in the cellar
of his house, No. 10, Crown- court, Fleet-street, and
also for suffering the cesspool to overflow and become
foul.
then

-- - Mr. Kirkwood said he had very recently purchased
the freehold. He had not seen the state of the place,
and would readily remove all ground of complaint if time
were given.

Mr. Tyrrell said as Mr. Kirkwood met the complaint
in this way he had no objection to allow him the same
time as Mr. Gower.
Mr. Alderman MUSGROVE said he would take that
of saying a few words, as the rate-payers
charged with shamefully disregarding the
sanatory condition
oteruyencito)dition of. the'poor. As the chairman of the
Commission of Sewers for the Tower Hamlets, and a
commissioner of the Holborn and Finsbury divi-
sion, he had a practical knowledge of the sub-
ject, and he would affirm that if the Legisla-
ture would intrust the Commissioners of Sewers
with the authority to compel the owners of
houses to make underground drains to the great sewers
constructed by the Commissioners, the grievance might
be entirely removed without the interference of Govern-

ment or any of the Government Commissioners. He
could vouch that, particularly within the last three
years, the most anxious attention and vast sums of
money had been devoted to making proper sewers in the
thoroughfares, but they could not persuade or compel
the owners of houses to open a communication with those
sewers at their own expense, and particularly the owners
of houses in courts. The public local burdens were
quite heavy enough without adding charges that clearly
belonged to private individuals. In Whitechapel there
were a vast number of instances of residents along the
great outlets refusing to incur the expense of milking a
communication to the sewer, but they expected their
property to be improved at the expense of the public.
Mr. Edwards, of Vauxhall-walk, was then called.
He had been summoned for suffering foul cesspools to
exist in his three houses, Nos. 26, 27, and 2S, Poppin's-
court, Fleet-street. These are let out to separate
lodgers.
Mr. Tyrell said there was now a sewer down the
centre of the court, but some of the landlords would not
incur the expense of opening a communication with it.
He produced the certificate of Dr. Lynch and Mr. Day,
that there were foul cesspools in these houses which were
dangerous to the public health.
Mr. Edwards did not appear.
Ree, the City officer, proved the service of three sum-
monses on Mr. Edwards, who said he should not attend,
and that he should commence actions of trespass against
those who had taken the liberty of entering his house.
Mr. Hutchinson, of Farringdon-street, a surgeon, said
this gentleman had threatened to turn out any lodger
who dared to make the least complaint about the stench
from the cesspools to the parochiel authorities.
Mr. Alderman Muscnovn sail that was in keeping
with what he said to the officer. He was sa'lsfied with
the evidence, and made an order for the cleansing of the
cesspools within twenty-four hours.

For Periods varying from One Day to One Month—
' John Henry Edmunds, David Heaton, James Fawns alias
Harris, James Adams, Bridget Carleton, Cornelius Par,
George Newton (and to be whipped twice) ; Andrew
Bode, George Burnage, George Deacon (and to be twice
whipped); John Sullivan, William Neighbour, William
Graves (and to be twice whipped) ; William Hunt,
Henry Sida, Margaret Hanegan, and Johanna Hanegan.
i —Total 17.

Prisoners Acquitted by the Petit Jury—Robert Har-
rison, Isaac Elken, Evata Davis, Thomas Fitzgibbons,
William Belcher, William Langford, Emanuel Fonseco,
John Williams, Mary Smith, Jane Rose, Mary Mac.
intosh, John M‘.Night, Henry Brady. Daniel Brent,
Thomas Marlin, William Perrin, Ann M'Carthy, Edwin
Mahon, Antonio Larbar, William Kynaston, Frederi k
Miller, James Pagan, George Shaw, Sarah Hudson,
Robert Clark, Edward Thomas, Thomas Montague,
Mary Murphy, Anne Cleveland, John Hill alias Dolly,
William Witham, Eli Trivett, William Edwards, Selina
Allen, John Jenkins, Rosina Munroe, Thomas Cole,
Robert Pile (detained), Elizabeth Howard (detained),
William George Ford, William George Prowse, Fre-
derick Johnson, Ishmael Israel, John Dingwall, John
Jenner, Daniel Conley, James Cockling, Mary Holliday,
James Cook, Mary Ann Smith, Henry Smyrke, James
Collins alias Haysman, and Ellen Taylor.—Total 54.
Persons against whom the Bills were Ignored by the
Grand Jury—Eliza Evans, Henry Payne, Catharine
Chandler, John Rowen, Patrick Driscoll, William Pearce,
James Smith, Thomas Bernard, Thomas Brown, Mary
Smith, John Albert, William Johnson, Thomas Mugger-
idge, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, James Cousens, Samuel
Madden, John Canterbury, Catherine Kirk, John
Boyd, Hannah Davis, Matilda Butcher, Ann Draycott,
Sarah Martin, Eliza Gray, Mary Wilson, Mary Ann
Daniels, James Daniels, and Mary Ann Alderson.—
Total 28.

Prisoners remanded by the Court—William Farmery,
Mary Ann Hunt, William Watson, Christopher Wrcn,
and Ellender Wren.

Prisoners upon whom Judgment is Respited—Horatio
Nelson West, Thomas Truman, Morris Freyer, Mark
Cundall, Thomas Sykes, Henry Stevens, Henry Farr,
and Charles Farr.

Sentenced to be Imprisoned during her Majesty's
Pleasure on the Ground of Insanity.—James Loftus
Brock.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES,

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(SATURDAY.)
Room A.