The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-06 00:00:00

LONDON_ M'ON_DAY EVITNING, DECRMIIP.ft 6, 11117.

oillY after the testator's death the corporation 9'
heading received the legacy, and proceeded to apply it
tontormity with the injunctions of the will. An infor-
atton was, however, in the reign of Charles 1 , filed a.
instigation of Archbishop Laud in the Court o
xebequer for the management of the charity ; and th.,
ceeree of that Court, after reciting that a literal comph
'nee with the testator's wishes in the application of the
money in manufactures mentioned, had hat the effect i
reductng the condition of the general body of the poorer
clarifies of the town, and was calculated to drive them
out of their trades to the detriment of the revenues of his
Majesty, ordered that the 7,5001. should be laid out tr,
the purchase of lands, and that the rents should from
time to time be lent to poor clothiers on good security.
or to other poor tradesmen, and the rest em
ployed in apprenticing poor children, marrying poor
Maids of honest conversation, and in other 'similar
purposes ; and it provided that if the corporation shoe],
neglect to perform the premises according to the
decree
the money should go to Christ's Hospital.
1838, the Charity Commissioners examined into the
state of this charity, and reported that its property had
been altogether diverted from its original destination
ninformation was therefore filed, for the purpose of
having a scheme settled for the future management of
Its. funds, when the corporation of London set up a
claim to the property under that provision, both in the
Will of the testator and in the decree of the Court of
Exoequer, which decreed that the 7,5001. should be
handed to them if the ccrporation of Reading neglected
the duties imposed upon them, and commenced this suit.
In the course of last term Mr. Stuart, Mr. J. l'arker,
Ind Mr. Freeling were heard on behalf of the informa-
tion, and
Mr. Bethel], Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Selwyn appeared
as counsel for:the defendants, who are the trustees of the
charity appointed under the Municipal Corporation
Contending that the directions contained both in the will
and the decree for the transfer of the propert)! to
Christs' Hospital, in case of default en the part of the
corporation of' Reading, was repugnant and void; and
that it was the duty of the Court to direct that the
funds should be applied to the relief of the poor of
Reading.
Mr. STUART replied to these arguments to day at
Considerable length.

His HONOUR postponed giving judgment, observing
that in so important a case he must read over carefully all
the documents.—Judgment postponed.

EXCHEQUER.—(THIS DAY.)
The case of Captain Denman, which was appointed
for today as a trial at bar, was postponed until to-
morrow, in consequence of there not being a sufficient
Lumber of jurors in attendance.
(Sittings in Banco after term, before Mr. Baron PARSE,
Mr. Baron ALDERSON, Mr. Baron ROLFE, and Mr.
Baron PUTT.)
The Court sat in Banco, and took the demurrer paper,
the arguments in the cases which were disposed of did
not, however, involve any point of importance except to
the parties immediately concerned.

BANKRUPTCY.—(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Commissioner SIIEPISERD.)
IN RE SOUTIIGATE AND ROBERTSON.
These bankrupts formerly carried on business as book
auctioneers. The fiat was issued several years ago,
and directed to the late Commissioner Sir Frederick
ST Illiams,
Mr. WILKINSON, solicitor to the assignees, now applied,
(erre
t° Honour, to whom the commission had been trans-
(l, to sign the examinations of Mr. Southgate, taken
Itbout fotir years ago.
DEvEv, on behalf of Mr. Southgate, objected
that the documents were not examinations, but founded
°4 short-hand notes of the evidence. Mr. Southgate
was Dot sworn at the time, and although he had read
ine examinations through, and made alteratiors con-
sistent with his present belief of what be formerly
stated, he would not undertake to swear that, they were
the answers given by him at the time.
Mr. WILKINSON insisted that Mr. Southgate was
pound to swear to the transcript.
His HONOUR said that he did not agree with Mr. Wil-
kinson's argurnent4besides which he could not sign the
depositions, as having been made before him. Au oath
Was required then, but now a declaration sufficed.
Mr. Southgate said his memory had been failing for
691111 e time, and he could not conscientiously swear or
declare to express words used ten years ago, but he was
'willing to be re-examined.
Ilia HONOUR said that no oath or declaration of the
foregoing would be available in a court of law or
•equilY, Mr. Southgate not feeling himself competent to
speak as to his former evidence; the short-hand writer
might be called, and. Mr. Southgate examined de novo.
This latter course was agreed to.

• - CLERKENWELL.—(THIS DAY).
genteel-looking youth, named George Frederick
`"iddlebrook, an apprentice to Mr. Henry Ainford, of
bayhere-street, St. Luke's, was charged with robbing
s master of 151., and subsequently setting fire to the
Preaaises.
of erappeared that yesterday evening Mr. Amford,locking his cash•box in another metal box,
and locking both in the cupboard, went to chapel,
buthadbeen there only about half an hour when
lAMessage was sent to him that his house was on
fir
He immediately proceeded home as speedily as
Poavible, when he found that the fire had been extin-
guished by the efforts of the police and firemen. He
found that the cupboard had been broken open. the
Metal box taken out and broken open, and the lock of
the cash-box forced, and a 101. note and five sovereigns,
Which were safe on the preceding Saturday, taken away,
The curtains were burnt to a considerable extent, as
Were some papers in the cupboard, which smelt very
strongly of turpentine. A large portion of the bed-cur-
tains and some of the bed-clothes were saturated with
turpentine, and several documents which had been
placed by Mr. Amford in the cash box had also been
steeped in it. The prisoner was the only person left
in the house after Mr. An:ford went to chapel, and
upon some questions being put to him, his answers were
to unsatisfactory that he was given into custody.
He was remanded.

• „ SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
EPSOM COURSING MEETING, DEC. 3.
The Derby Stakes of 5 sovs. each (6 Subs.) were won
by Mr. Burford's Tombay; Mr. Bothwell's Buffalo Girl
ran up.
The Oaks Stakes of 5 sovs. each (4 Subs.) were won
,•. .13Y Mr. Burford's Fly ; Mr. Bothwell's Buffalo Gill
(. tan up,
t• • • The Woodcote Stakes of 2 sovs. each wers divided by
Mr. Bennett's George Baker and Mr. a Powell's
-• Jollity.
The Craven Stakes of 2 sovs. each were won by Mr.
Bothwell's Oakley; Mr. R. Powell's Jenny Wren
tan up,

COURT CIRCULAR.
Viscount Palmerston arrived at Osborne on Satur-
day afternoon, on a visit to the Queen. His Excel-
*"V the Chevalier Bunsen also arrived at Osborne
c? Saturday evening from town, on a visit to her
Majesty.
The royal dinner party at Osborne on Saturday
iling included his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen,
Viscount Palmerston, and Sir James Clark.
Yesterday morning the Queen and Prince Albert
Look their usual early walk.
Upon The Royal Children took airings yesterday fore-
,
' Her Majesty sad Prince Albert, and the Ladies
Icd Gentlemen of the royal suite attended Divine
urvice yesterday morning in Osborne. The Hon.
' and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated.
, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge
visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester,
Yesterday, at Gloucester House.
A. Cabinet Council was held at three o'clock on
aitteriay, at Lansdowne House, Berkeley-square.
The Ministers present were—Lord John Russell,
• '!,le Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir George Grey, Earl
(
rey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Earl
cf. Auckland, Lord Campbell, the Marquis of Clan-
ticarde, Viscount Morpeth, the Right Hon. T. B. Ma-
caulay, and the Right Hon. H. Labouchere.
A deputation, including Mr. Henry Toots],
Walkinshaw, and Mr. James Wheeler, had an
'uterview with the Right Hon. Edward Strutt, on
. •
.1 Saturday, at the office of the Commissioners of
Sir John Pelly had an interview with Earl Grey
. On Saturday, at the Colonial-office.
The Chairman of the East India Company, and the
Puty-Chairman had an interview on Saturday,
71111 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at his official
residence in Downing-street.
Majesty's
Palmerston left town on Saturday, for her
.'"•aiesty's marine residence, Osborne, Isle of Wight.

SACILED HARMONIC SOCIETY. The customary
annual performance of Handel's Messiah is announced
to take place on Friday next.
lIIIERICANE IN THE METROPOLIS.—Yesterday
between three and four o'clock, the metropolis
/Lilted with a violent storm of wind, bail, and rain,
that Continued with unabated fury for full 30 minutes.
ee wind, which during the day had been from S.W.,
ted towards the north-west, blowing with terrific
4(l'letice, the rain descending in a perfect cataract, ac-
t ClaPallied with hailstones of an extraordinary size. The
mere of the Thames were lashed into fury, a number of
boats and barges got adrift and sustained considerable
`larnaga.
- We are very happy to learn from Malta, by the
• arrivalof theaVanguard at that island rom the squadron
uudor 'Vice-Admiral i William nrker, that the men
Y of an act of insubordination (n board the Superb
will !'rg been drafted into other ships, where their conduct
be under 'surveillance. This is by far the most dis-
creet
course which could have been adopted under the
ireumstances,—United Ser ice Gazette.
EXnEMPTION FROM SERVICE ON ELECTION COM-
% .1""E8--The ;list of Members above sixty years of
eg," who claim to be exempt from serving on election
ouratemittees will be read by the clerk to the House of
e`;°c_To.ns on Wednesday next. A Member may to be
his by declaring in his place, •r in writing under
h.and, to be delivered to the clerk at the table, that
be Is more than sixty years old.
beet e Rev- Dr. Spry, rector of Marylebone, has
teth
ur a
ynointed vice-dean of the cathedral church of CFI-
THE
NYLUENZA.—During the past week this
rnlll epidemic has been at full work; nearly half the clerks
edaseF,ons employed in public and private establish-
were have been laid up by it. On one day alone there
owLa_ 180 clerks and others absent from the rost-office
Lag to it.

THE NATIONAL DEFENCES.

The following interesting letter :Ipprared a few
days since in the columns of a morning contein-
purity :
" Sir,—There is now in eirculalon among a very
row, and almost by stealth, a letter of indescribable
importance by a warrior, who, almost forty ye r
ago, then wrote as well as he fought—' ita scripsis.s.e
at bclasse'—and now, in his 77th year, writes even
better than he did then.

" His theme is the condition of this country as
regards invasion, and his statements may make the
stoutest heart tremble. He enters into every detail
—he names, from personal observation, the most
likely place for debarkation—he proves the ease with
which it might be effected—he displays the nullity of
)ur means of defence. We have no militia, very few
and very distant regulars—from 9,000 to 10,000
alone available at home—little artillery, no arms in
store. He says, with infinite pathos, have now
lived seventy-seven years, and lived in honour ; God
grant I may not live to see the consequences of re-
musing the plans of defence which I have in vain sub-
mitted to three Ministers.'

" He afterwards proceeds to demand means, the
most moderate, and with them he undertakes to se-
cure us. His terms are, 150,000 militia, and some
10,000 or 12,000 additional soldiers of the line.

In all these disclosures there is no sec. et but to
ourselves. Our enemy knows the weakness of every
company, squadron and battery, the distant stati.ais
(extra Garamantas and Indos) of every battalion, as
well as they are known at the llorse Guards. With
an Ambassador in the capital, and a Consul in every
port, there can be nothing hid. We are no longer
"gainst invasion and the a hand of war safe.' Ihe
country, moreover, requires to be told that it is no
longer insular, that it is connected with the Continent
by a causeway of steam; that it contains, perhaps,
the least warlike population of any in Europe, un-
trained and untaught in arms, and slow to learn their
use. It should also remember that almost all manly
sports, and boxing in particular, has been put down
by Act of Parliament, and with it much of the na-
tional spirit ; that athletic games are discouraged by
the Puritan, and falling daily into disuse. That the
Ilindoo dexterity of our fingers has been bought at
the expense of our strength and muscles, and that
the want of the warmth of our factories would send
ten thousand artisans from their first bivouac in the
field, on a rainy night, to the hospital.
" Let us then contract these fruits of a thirty-two
years peace with the state of the invaders. His Afri-
can campaigns have been made by every regiment of
his 350,000 men in rotation. These have been inured
to every danger as to every privation, and they have
contracted habits of bloodshed and devastation quite
unknown in Europe for centuries. This formidable
force is supported by a militia of 800,000 men, many
of whom, on the coast at least, would be tempted to
follow the regular army to share in the spoil of the
richest prey that ever yet offered itself to the cupidity
and revenge of an enemy. That such passions pre-
vail on the opposite coast, not only in the breast of its
grenadiers, but among its statesmen, philosophers,
and poets, is proved too fully in the works of Lacre-
telle and Thiers, and even De Tocqueville himself,
who, in his recent work (Louis XV.), displays an
animosity to this country most lamentable on the. part
of so, great a writer. He dwells upon their fabled
naval triumphs, and gravely says that a French
frigate of 30 guns took an English 64. I pass over
the implacable animosity of that press which now
writes as angrily as if the last war was still raging.
It can neither forgive nor forget our successes by sea
and land, and though they themselves, over other
nations, obtained still greater triumphs, yet an expia-
tion on our part seems demanded, and this, at the first
cannon shot, will be sought in Kent or Sussex.
" There is in this country no spirit at all corre-
sponding to that of France—no rancour, no malevo-
lence. We love peace, and we shut our eyes to every
provocation. We are content with a state of insecu •
rity unknown to any other people in the world, nor
do we believe that an unappeased enemy is ever on
the watch for an occasion to pour his legions amongst
us, and to strike us, not at Calcutta nor Jamaica, but
in London or Dublin.

" The great Duke, conversant with this, and well
marking the course of things, alone raises a prophet's
voice, He in vain calls upon this and two other
Governments to take the most ordinary precautions
No minister has yet had the hardihood to come to the
House with this document in his hand, and throw
himself upon the country, imploring it to make pro..
vision against a hurricane that may break over us in
an hour, whilst our squadrons are at Lisbon or at
Malta. All that would be required would be an in-
surance of some two or three per cent. upon the
greatest accumulations of wealth ever yet heaped up
by man. It is indeed too true that the appeal, unless
the French admiral was on the sea, would be un-
heeded ; that the nation is so besotted in the gather-
ing of riches that it cannot avert its eye from them,
nor consider how much without defence these trea-
sures lie in every quarter; yet every hope of prolonged
peace hangs on the thread of one life, and chance, or
sickness, or the dagger, may sever it at any mo-
ment. A declaration of war and a project of invading
England would make any succeeding Government
popular. The garrison of Paris alone, 50,000 strong,
would furnish immediate means. Two railroads have
been opened to Havre and Boulogne within a week:,
besides the one through Lisle and Arras. An em-
bargo at Havre would obtain transport for as many
men as would shake England to its centre, and in
sixty hours they might be landed at Southampton and
Portsmouth ; 4,000 guards in London and three block
ships in the ports would be our defence, but had we
even time and warning, we could only assemble the
imposing strength of from 3to 10,000 men of the
line.'
" Non meus Mc sermo. This is the estimate of the
wisest and the bravest, of the foremost man of this
age. He, who, of all other commanders, has best
shown his abilities for defensive war, and through
them laid the foundation of the world's liberty. If
he is wrong on this subject, who presumes to be
right ? If he calls for a defensive armour, shall we be
deaf as adders, intent upon our pelf, our speculations,
our investments, which are destined perhaps to pay a
war contribution. Can such a man be supposed to
urge precaution without good reason ? His life has
been passed in the service of his country, and it has
been long and observant. If all that he in his great
moderation asks for the public security was granted,
we should then possess just one-tenth of the means
which our formidable neighbour thinks indispensable
for his safety.
" There are many, however, who, in spite of this
authority, will deem all this a chimera • men so puffed
by the victories of the last war, that they have for-
gotten its reverses till the hour that Wellington took
the command ; men who scarcely recollect the con-
vention of North Holland, the disastrous retreat from
Dunkirk to Westphalia, the disgraces of Pulteney,
Whitlock, and Prevost. They will scarcely admit
that if this country breeds a noble race of soldiery,
she does not rear great generals. Cumberland and
Closter Severn exist not for them, nor Cornwallis nor
Burgoyne. They remain as confident as if the per-
fect machine ' that marched from Lisbon to Tholouse
was still embodied, and they exclaim, We have al-
ways beaten the French, and always shall.' Let us,
then, take no precaution, prepare no arms, foresee
no danger ; above all, train no militia, add nothing
to our weak artillery ; keep the navy low, fir it is
chargeable ; let us fill our coffers full, make our ex-
changes, game in railroads, and sing of Indian battles
and past victories, foretelling future ones—for we hold
ourselves invincible, though unarmed and unprepared.
Let us spare our purses, till the French army is
heard of at Havre. We may then believe the danger,
imminent, and will permit a tax to be raised while
the fleet is coming from the Mediterranean. Give us
but a little time, and you will see how we shall ac-
quit ourselves. Vittoria and Waterloo (their very
names) will deter, and we have meantime quite
enough to do to pay our calls.' But, gentlemen, you
may have neither tune nor tide, and the very battles
you invoke are burning in the breasts of your ene-
mies, are the very incentives to their invasion. It
is to cancel them that they are come. It is
to efface them by bringing indelible disgrace on your-
selves that they invade you. Be provident, be wise,
fore-armed, and safe. Give five per cent. of your vast
profits—above all, turn not from the counsel of the
great warrior, grown grey in serving you at home
and abroad, in peace as in war. He now seeks to
render you a greater service than any other that a
long life of glory has enabled him to confer. He
asks as ever, nothing for himself, he only desires the
security of his country. Deny him not his last re-
quest and pious prayer.
" Your obedient servant, gg p.
" The letter of which I have only given a few of
the heads is long, and goes into every part of the
subject.
Quod nescire malum, et quod maxime pertinet
ad nos.
" It is addressed to Sir John Burgoyne."

TELEGRAPH MUSICAL ORGANS.—A letter from
Mr. llyde Clark, in this day's Mechanics' Magazine,
suggests the application of the electric telegraph to
musical purposes! lie says that if a sufficient number
of wires were used, a set of chimes might be as easily
rung as two bells—indeed the chimes in York Minster,
if there are any, might be rung from London as well a;
York. Where bells are placed in a high tower, as some
of the carillons or chimes in Flanders, they might by
telegraph or electric wires be played with much more
convenience from the bottom of the tower. By a proper
application of wires, two organs or two apollonicona
might be played at any distance apart by one performer,
thus realising by the electric telegraph what I believe
Professor Wheatstone contemplates in the acoustic tele-
graph, conveying musical sounds and compositions. We
may yet have electrical organs in our churches as well
at: electrical clocks in our houses, and worked almost as
cheaply.
Mr. Gibson Craig had an interriew, on Saturday,
with the Right Hon. Edward Strutt.

MAGAZINES, &e.--(CONTINUED.)

HOOD'S MAG.IZINE.

With several laulable contributions, such as the
" Peeps into Shalispere," Hood contains not a few of
very indifferent merit. We are gratified to see that.
the editor purposes, on the commencement of the
new year, to begin a serial novel, which will bring him
forward in its pages more prominently than here-
tofore.

THE METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE.
After an elaborate notice of the " Biography of
Mary the Second," recently penned by Miss Strick-
land, comes the continuation of " Wharfiale." Mrs.
Abdy, Mrs. Crawford, and Mrs. Tinsley are among
the poetical contributors ; the latter has a rather
prolonged piece of versification called " The Pahner's
Tale." Besides these there are several other articles
of a lighter character.

CHAMBERS'S EDINBURGH JOURNAL.
One of our.best favourites, and worthy of continu•
ing so. The contents, both prose and rhythmical, are
of various merit, and never so indifferent as not to
deserve perusal. There is one exquisite poem on
" Autumn," in the Spenserian stanza, by W. Moy
Thomas. But for its length and our own stint as to
space, we should transfer it to our columns entire.
It breathes all the dainty sweetness of the sylvan
verses of Bryant.

BANKRUPTCY a►i(f iNSOLVENCY

LAWS.

TO THE HONORARY SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY FOR
EFFECTING AN AME•NDM'ENT IN THE LAWS RELATING
TO BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY.

SlR,—Having read the proceedings of the meeting
of your society, lately held at the London Tavern,
I presume you are not unwilling to afford the expla-
nations which many parts of your report require. ,
In the seventh paragraph you say, " the recom-
mendation contained in the report of your committee
of February, 1846, for the removal of insolvency
cases from the Court of Bankruptcy has been effected
by an Act of last session, by which the Insolvent
Debtors' Court has now jurisdiction over all applica-
tions within the London district, while those from
other parts are assigned to the judges of the new
county courts. This has but very recently come
into operation." You take credit, and justly, if you
were 'instrumental in carrying this Act through Par-
liament, as it will confer much benefit on the trading
and non-trading classes when fully in operation ; it has
brought every part of England within the jurisdic-
tion of sth and 6th Victoria, c. 116, and 7th and
Bth Victoria, c. 96 ; these Acts admittedly are
.of
eminent service, as they give a right to petition for
protection from arrest without passing through the
degrading ordeal of a prison, and the conditions on
which protection is granted are even more than any
creditors ought to require, i.e., vesting the present and
future propel ig of the petitioner in an assignee for
their benefit. Were section 19 of 5 and 6 Viet., c.
116, repealed, the interest of creditors would be as
effectually protected as it' it continued in force; it
enacts in substance if, after making the final order,
the petitioner neglects to give notice to the assignees
of any property acquired by him, his protection may
be withdrawn, and his liability to arrest revived for
ever. These Acts, in this instance, are framed with
unnecessary severity; there is no hope left for the
debtor, the protection from arrest is his sentence to
perpetual labour, even without taxing the creditor for
his maintenance. -

10 and 11 Vict., c. 102, giving; to clerks of county
courts the rights and powers which the official as-
signee had in bankruptcy before the jurisdiction was
transferred cannot be overestimated, as a clerk armed
with such authority residing within a small district
cannot but collect the entire of an insolvent's estate.

In the 9th paragraph you assert that "the only
attempt made by the Government to improve these
laws during the last session was the introduction by
the Lord Chancellor of a Bill to consolidate the exist-
ing Acts relating to bankruptcy, to abolish the Court
of Review, transferring its jurisdiction to the Court
of Chancery, and to reduce the number of the com-
missioners of the court. Some of the provisions of
the Bill of your :committee were introduced, but
others, which they considered of the greatest import-
ance, were omitted. With the above exceptions the
proposed measure was little more than a consolidation
and re-enactment of the present laws. The mere
consolidation, however, would be a measure of great
value, although alone quite inadequate to the wants
of the commercial classes.'
"Would you name the Bill to which allusion is
made? Paragraph 11 also requires some explanation ; it
states that " No further steps were taken last session
by the Government with the Lord Chancellor's Bill ;
Lord Brougham succeeded in carrying a short but
questionable Act for the abolition of the Court of
Review, transferring its jurisdiction to the Court of
Chancery, and also for the removal of the insolvency
cases from the Court of Chancery.

I cannot reconcile these contradictory paragraphs.
By the 7th a Bill was brought in upon your recom-
mendation. The inference to be drawn from the 9th
is that the Lord Chancellor brought in a Bill, but I
cannot collect whether it became an Act ; and the
11th affirms that the Government took no steps with
the Lord Chancellor's Bill, but that Lord Brougham
brought in a short but questionable Act. Those un-
acquainted with what took place in the last session of
Parliament on reading your report must come to the
Conclusion that three Acts were passed.

It is, therefore, desirable that you should give the
titles of the Acts Which have been passed, as I cannot
find the one introduced by the Lord Chancellor, nor
the short but questionable Act which you say Lord
Brougham succeedel in carrying.
Dec. 6. IL B.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, Drc. 3. A convocation was holden this
afternoon, for taking into consideration a proposition
to affix the University seal to petitions to the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal, and to the Commons of the
United Kingdom of Great -Britain and Ireland,
"against the admission of persons professing the
Jewish religion to seats in the Legislature." The
Rev. Baden Powell, Professor of Astronomy, opposed
the measure, which after some little discussion was
carried ; there being—Placets, 53 ; Non-placets, 10.
Yesterday Mr. Philip Bowden Smith, Commoner
of University College, was elected to a Mathematical
Exhibition of that society.
- PIiINCIPAI, OF ST. MARY lIALL.—The names of the
Rev. Dr. Bliss, Rev. R. Greswell, Rev. E. M. Goul-
burn, Rev. R. Hussey, and Rev. R. Walker, have
been mentioned as likely to succeed Dr. Hampden
as Principal of St. Mary Hall. The headship is in
the gift of the Duke of Wellington, as Chancellor of
the University.

REPRESENTATION OF SUNDER-

LAND.

SUNDERLAND, DEC. s.—The canvass on behalf of
Sir H. Williamson and - Mr. W. H. Wilkinson has
been vigorously conducted, er.rly and late eachday, by
the friends of both gentlemen ; but there was a ge-
nerally prevailing belief last evening (Saturday)
that,-notwithstanding their warlike pt.( parations, Mr.
Wilkinson will be electcd without a contest.

Thera certainly ought no; not to be any contest
fur this borough. The constituency is decidedly
Liberal, end Mr. Wilkinson has been secured a ma
jority of that party so overwhelming, that his quasi-
Liberal opp,Aient is driven to rely almost entirely on
the Tory ranks fin. support. All the more respectable
members of the Conservative party, however, have
determined on remaining neuter ; and as the Liberal
electors are to a man quite enthusiastic in his cause,
and fully resolved to triumph over all factious oppo•
sition, Mr. Wilkinson's election may be considered
safe. The result of the late general election gave
Mr. Wilkinson 569 votes (330 being plumpers), a
number nearly equal to a moiety of the largest num-
ber of electors (1322) that ever polled at any
former election ; and that, too, in the teeth of the
prejudice created by his avowed advocacy of an alter-
ation of the navigation-laws. It seems to be felt that
the gallant manner in which Mr. W. maintained the
contest op that occasion ought to have secured him
from any vexatious opposition on this, from parties
professing themselves supporters of the present Go-
vernment, especially as a modification of the naviga-
tion-laws has since been made a Government qnestion-
Mr. Wilkinson's return for Sunderland will afford a
striking proof of the soundness of the views of those
who advised her Majesty to recommend a revision of
those laws. It is expected that the writ will be issued
early next week.

BANK OF ENGLAND.
RETURNS OF NOVEMBER 20 AND 27 COM-

PARED.

TOTAL ASSETS. TOTAL LIABILITIES.
X. X.
54,011,347 Nov. 27 Nov. 27...35,828,780
53,441,681 Nov. 20 Nov. 20...35,265,358

569,666 Incr. Nov. 27 Incr. Nov. 27... 563,422
The operation of the above balances shown as below :

ASSETS BALANCES.
Incr. Government Securities 312,987
Ditto, Bullion 515,986

828,973
Decrease, other Securities

Balance Increase—Assets
LIABILITIES BALANCES.
Incr. Public Deposits 509,770
Ditto, Private Deposits 372,072
Ditto, Seven Day and other
Bills
-- 891,597
Decrease, Notes from circulation (de-
duct) ... '328,175
Balance Increase—Liabilities 563,422

ACTION FOR SEDUCTION -IN
FRANCE.

Actions for damages for seduclion- are rare in
France. One was, however, brought on Friday, be-
fore the Civil Tribunal of the Seine, by the heirs of a
young girl named Francine, to obtain 10,0001. from
a M. Capron, who occupies a responsible situation in
an hotel in the Rue de Rivoli, for having seduced her.
According to the statement of the Learned Counsel
for the plaintiffs, Francine was the daughter of
honest country-people, and had been brought
up with strictly moral and religious princi-
ples. Though of great beauty, she had re-
mained pure and spotless for four years amidst all
the temptations of Paris. During all that time she
had lived with a married sister end the sister's hus-
band ; and she was as remarkable for her great in-
dustry, as for her exemplary conduct. In the month
of June, 1546, she unfortunately made the acquaint-
ance of a girl of indifferent character, named
Fanny Cortey. One Sunday in July this
Fanny persuaded her to accompany her for
a walk ; but Francine did nut consent to
go until she had asked the permission of her
brother-in-law, which was only given on the condition
that she would return at a certain hour. The girl Cortey
led her innocent companion to the Jardin
and begged her to enter. Francine hesitated for a
long time, but at length the gay music, the lights
glittering among the trees and flowers, and the
joyous and elegant company, excited a cutio!;ity
'which overpowered her scruples, and she went in.
Hardly had she taken a glance of the brilliant
scene, which to her was perfectly novel, when she and
her companion were accosted by two young men,
who turned out to be Capron and a friend of his
named Dagoumet. Capron had often seen Francine
at the hotel, where she had frequently been on
business, and, said the advocate, had persuaded
Fanny Cortey to find the means of placing her in
his power. lie paid great attention to Francine during
the evening, and detained her in the gardens, on one
pretence or another, in spite of her reiterated desires
to return home. At eleven o'clock, he and his com-
panion and the girl Corey entered a cabriolet, and
induced Francine to go with them, on the promise
that they would conduct her to her residence. Instead
of that, however, they went to a restaurant, and partly
by entreaties, partly by force, compelled Francine
to sup with them. The supper ended, they promised
to drive her home, but, instead cf that, conducted her
to the lodgings of Dagoumet. The poor girl, on seeing
where she was, wept and cried; but, worn out with
fatigue she consented to remain, on the promise that
she and the girl Cortey should be placed in a chamber
by themselves. After a time, however, Capron
entered the room, and a scene took place between
him and her which cannot be described. Suffice it
to say, that she was dishonoured. The next morn-
ing,
on returning home, she was dreadfully pale and
agitated ; but feeling herself borne down by shame,
she determined to abandon her relatives. Capron
then took an apartment for her, and promised her
marriage, but at the end of six weeks he basely
abandoned her. After his visits ceased Fran-
cine wrote to him, but he vouchsafed no reply.
This drove her to despair, and she resolved to die.
She accordingly drank a glassful of vitriol, but the
poison did not cause immediate death, and for 39 days
she lingered in dreadful agony. Before she died she
stated how she had been treated, and declared that
she had committed suicide because she could not bear
the thought of her dishonour. In consequence of her
declarations the girl Cortey was condemned to two
years' imprisonment for what is called " exciting a
minor to debauchery" (the unfortunate Francine was
only 19 years of age); but as Capron had not been guilty
of actual violence in the seduction he could not be
punished criminally. The President of the Correctional
Tribunal, however, said to him on the trial of Fanny
Cortey, " Justice cannot reach you at present, but
you must be cruelly punished by remorse !" To this
he replied, "My conscience reproaches me with
nothing ;" whereupon the President observed, " I re-
gret it for your own sake, for that proves your con-
science to be hardened !" The advocate for the
plaintiffs concluded by calling for an indemnity
to the family of Francine proportioned to the
grief and agony which they and she had suffered.
'The advocate of Capron maintained that the case
was not of such an atrocious character as had been
represented—that Francine had loved Capron
—that no violence had been employed by him on
the night of the seduction. He dwelt on the fact
that she had gone to live under his protection, and
stated that Capron was not responsible for her
suicide, for that he bad not abandoned her, she having
been taken away from him by her brother-in-law.
The Avocat du Roi contended that an indemnity was
due to the relatives of the deceased, though, per-
haps, the amount demanded was too much. He in-
sisted that if Capron had replied to the letter of the
poor girl, she would probably not have committed
self-destruction. The Tribunal postponed the case
for a week to have time to deliberate on its judg-
ment.—Galignani.