The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-17 00:00:00

111.A.NSLAUGHTER—DREADFUL
CRUELTY 10 A PAUPER LUNATIC.
Two powerful mc.n, named :Sasnu,l tt and ,flmei
DoNnes, late keepers t the Grove hall Lunatic Asylum,
Bow, Middlesex, were brought before Mr. Yardley on
retnaed, at the Thames Police Court a few days ago,
charged wish having caused the death of a lunatic
pauper, rp.thed Willitm Rank, under cireumstaLces of
an extraordinary nature aidetailf d in the evidence given
below.

portico having perforated the pleura. The sixth and
seventh ribs were transversely fractured about en inch
further hackwatals .-ban 'he fracture of the fifth rib.
The eighth and ninth ribs wete also transvcr,ely frac-
tured about an inch still further backwards. The broken
ends of the sixth, sevtntb, eighth, and ninth ribs
were in apposition, and the surrounding textures
not torn. The witness, after describing the appearances
at great length, said death was caused trom effusion into
the chest resulting from inflammation of the pleura, in-
duced by the perforation of the fractured end of the fifth
rib. He thought the ribs might have been fractured by
pressure or severe blows, or by pressure of the knee. He
afterwards examined the head, and found nothing to
alter his opinion as to the cause of death.
After a long conversation between the Learned Coun-
sel and Mr. Pelham,
Mr. YARDLEY said he should commit the prisoners for
trial for manslaughter.
Mr. Pelham made an energetic appeal to the Bench
in applying to the magistrate to accept bail.
Mr. YARDLEY said he could not think of taking bail
in a case of this serious nature, and committed the pri-
soners to Newgate for trial.
The deceased was fifty-eight years of age.

Mr. Clarkson, harriser, and Mr. Law, solicitor, prose-
cuted en behelf of the commissioners of lunacy. Garrett
was defended by Mr. Pelham, and a gentleman from the
office of Mr. Veen. solicitor, appeared for Downes.
Mr. Clerkeon, in stating the case for the prosecution,
said the commissioners of lunacy, for whom he appeared,
charged the prisoners with the manslaughter of a poor
lunatic, who was under their charge. They bad no
desire to excite any prejudice against the men at the bar,
but to put them fairly on their trial for the manslaughter
of the deceased. He proposed, in addition to the evi-
dence given on a former occasion, to call a convalescent
patient who saw the violence committed on the deceased,
and who was in a fit state to give evidence. He should
also produce other persons, whom the legal gentlemen
engaged for the prisoners might call if they pleased.
One of those persons had assisted in securing and be at-
ing the deceased, but he did not feel justified in charging
him with the prisoners.
Mr. Pelham said be might see the necessity to ask
some questions of the party mentioned.
Mr. Clarkson said he was in the Court, and that the
commissioners would keep 'aeck nothing.
Mr. Yardley should like to hear the opinion of the
medical superintendent of the asylum as to whether the
convalescent patient could be examined with sefety.
Dr. Palmer, the gentleman appealed to, said the pa-
tient was quite free from excitement, and that he was to
be discharge d from the asylum to-morrow.
Mr. Clarkson said the commissioners were called upon
in performance of a most important public duty, to pro-
te ct the most helpless and unfortunate of our fellow.
creatures, and felt strongly that this was a case in which
they were imperatively called upon to prosecute the men
at the bar for the cruelty they were alleged to have
committed. There was no law to authorise acts of
violence towards a lunatic, but he would say, as a lawyer
and a man, that it would be lawful to resort to violence
to preserve life an'l limb, and the question in this case
was, whether there had been en excess of violence.
Mr. Yardley—The power of the keepers is preventive,
nothing more. It is very desirable, indeed, that an in-
vestigation should take place whenever any harshness or
cruelty is exercised towurds lunatics.
William Pride was the first witness—He stated that
he was an assistant to Mr. Byers at the Grove-hall
Asylum, and had been so three months. He was
engaged in No. 3 ward. The prisoners were em-
ployed as assistants in No. 1 ward. On Satur-
day, the 27th of March, the deceased, Rank, was a
pstier.t in No. 1 ward. 01 that day he heard a noise in
No. 1 ward, which acs next' to the One where he was.
lie heard the prisoner Gal rett ordering Rank to put
his clothe s on, and eaw Rank standing on the floor
in a tottering manner. Beth pt isoners were standing
about three yards from him, and one of them had a
straight jacket in his hand. They appeared to be fright
cued of Rank, and s ood aloof '..roin him. IVitriess seized
Rank, whose back was towards the door as he entered
the ward. The blood was running down Rank's cheeks
in a stream. Garrett immediately placed a handker-
chief round the deceased's neck, and threw him on a
bed. Garrett then pressed his knees on the lunatic's
chest, and Downes at the same time commence beat-
ing the deceased in a savage manner, and struck him
ten or twelve blows with his clenched fists on the left
sine of his head. While Dowtips was beating Rank as
hard as he could, Garrett stoodelep with one foot on the
floor, and his other knee upon Rank. It appeared to
witness that the whole weight of Garrett's body was
upon Rank, while Downes was inflicting the blows
with merciless severity. Garrett called out, " Give it to
him, serve out the old -- ." Witness repeatedly
begged of them to desist, but they continued their ill
treatment, and struck him and kicked him again. Wit-
nees said drop it. At that time Rank was getting nearly
exhausted, and could not make any noise. The hand-
kerchief was held tight round the man's neck by Garrett,
and he could not breathe. The poor man foamed
at the mouth, and the blood was flowiug co-
piously frern Isis mouth. The prisoner then
dragged Rank off the bed on to the floor and
put the straight jacket upon him. Rank never spoke
after the sleeves of the jacket were tied or crossed be-
hind him. Garrett was unable to fasten the tape of the
straight jacket between the arm and the belly, and he
took Rank by the shoulders and struck him four or five
times with his knee in the right grain. Rank sighed
and groaned heavily ; he leaned forward and the blood
gushed from his mouth and nostrils. Garrett then gave
orders for the patient to be taken down stairs and locked
up in the cell.
In answer to questions by the magistrate, the witness
said that when Garrett forced his knee against the
deceased, he said, " keep in your belly you old —."
lie
never saw Rank alive after lie was licked up in the cell.
He saw the body sfier the coroner's inquest. There
were marks on the left side of his chest, were he was
struck. They were black marks. He saw no violence
on the part of Rank, nor any marks of violence on the
persons of either of the prisoners.
In cross. examination by Mr. Pelham, Pride said that
Rank was struggling at the time he was lying on his
back, but he did not see him kick or bite either of the
prisoners. Rank was always a violent man, but he was
not in the refractory ward.
Walter Mecklenburgh, a convalescent patient of Grove
Hall Asylum, gave his evidence in a very precise and
collected manner. He stated that he slept in the ward
No 1, and that the prisoner and deceased also slept there.
At daybreak on the 27th of March, Garrett called to him
for assistance, and he got out of bed, and found Rank ate
tempting to strangle the keeper. One hand was grasping
the keeper's throat, and with the other he was putting a
strap over Garrett's head. Witness immediately seized him
by his arms, pinioned him, and pulled him into the middle
of the room. A struggle took place, and they both fell
They soon got up again, and Rank then recognised wit-
ness, and said, " Oh, it is you, the last person I should
have expected." Garrett then call( d for another keeper
named Chumley, who slept in the next ward. Rank fell
on his right side, with the arm of witness underneath.
Chumley pulled the deceased back, threw him down, and
.struck him with great violence. Chumley got the de-
ceased down on the floor by kicking his legs from under
him. Garrett had previously gone down stairs for a
strait jacket, and when he returned, he struck the de-
ceased on the mouth and caused the blood to flow.
Downes came into the ward at the same time, and at•
tempted to put the jacket en Rank, who resisted.
Garrett asked for a scarf or handkerchief, and one
was thrown to him, which lie made fast round deceased's
neck, and held him down with his knees on his body till
the jacket was put over him. Rank became quite black
in the face, his tongue protruded, and his eyes glared.
It was such an appearance as a man would present who
was being strangled. Rank struggled for a time, but
the handkerchief round his neck was too murk for
him, he was overpowered and became quiet. The
jacket was then made fast over him, and he was
dragged to his bed. He was sure Rank became
exhausted by the violent means used to subdue' him.
Garrett put his knees upon Rank, but not with
any degree of violencee. Downes struck the deceased
several times while he was down, about the body and
side. Rank was striving to get away at the time Gar-
rett said to Downes, " Gently, that will do." He did
not sec Rank kick either of the prisoners. The deceased
was fastened to his bed, and was not released until the
other patients had breakfasted. The straight jacket
was then Ink( n off, and he became as violent as ever.
He struck at Downes, but the blew did not take effect.
Downes then struck him a violent blow on the side and
knocked him down. Garrett went to the assistance of
Downes and held Rank down, and pressed his head
against the floor to prevent his rising. He did not see
Pride offer any violence to the deceased.
The witness underwent a long cross-examination by
Mr. Pelham, from which it appeared Chumley was in
the ward at the first commencement of the affray, and
that Garrett would certainly have been strangled in his
bed if the witness had not gone to his assistance.
Thomas Lynch, an assistant keeper, was sworn, and
answered a few unimportant questions.
Mr. Edward Palmer, the medical superintendent of
Grove House Asylum, stated that he was called to see the
deceased on Saturday, the 27th of March. He was then
in a state of seclusion, and confined. The straight
waistcoat was upon him in a proper manner, and his
arms in front. The patient was in a very excited state.
Garrett had reported that Rank was violent, and accom-
panied him to the cell. The deceased began to threaten
Garrett. He observed the mats's left eye was contused,
but saw no other mark of violence at that time. He
gave orders for the, patient to be kept in a state of
seclusion, and prescribed medicine and a poorer diet for
him. In the evening he found the patient in bed tran-
quil but very sullen. He complained of pain all over.
Witness asked Garrett how the contusion on Rank's
eye was produced, to which he replied that Rank
had attempted to strangle him ; that with the
assistance of other keepers and Mecklenburgh, he
had put a straight jacket upon him and confined him
to the bed, and that when he went to get him up
at breakfast time he was very violent, and he put him in
seclusion. Garrett also stated that the black eye was
produced in the struggle, but in which way he could not
exectly say. On the same evening he again examined
Rank, and found several contusions upon the lett side
just• over the ribs, and a contusion on the chest, which
might have been produced by pressure. He passed
his hand caret ally over the man's ribs. They might have
be n fractured without his making the discovery then.
The marks were those of recent bruises. He believed
he did inquire of Garrett how the bruise s were occa-
sioned, and he answered by a general statement, that
the diseased was exceedingly violent. On' the fol-
lowing morning the deceased complained of severe
pains sad giddiness in the head. The patient died on
the Ist of April. On the morning after the occurrence
in the ward, there was considerable reaction, anti
he bled the patient. The symptoms gradually became
worse till the evening of the 31st, when he discovered
that an effusion had taken place into the left pima.
From this period exhaustion progressed rapidly,
and he died on the following day. The deceased
had been under treatment for a disease of the heart
while in the asylum, and he showed great mental
eA:vierteietremdeenatthw,hen the action of the heart was increased.
communicatedin nse
cotOquen
him bey!
Groner,da
neccieaas eld had
e verdict icdt
an been
was
snq
urceerstultier,
n!
ayesd ootfhertht
urrudmdar death
patients,a:e touttArhhsai
tr that
hltt
hha3eeat,
,ht re
elda t(eattributingS he w
e
disease of the heart. In consequence of the evidence of
Pride, given on the inquest, he made a post mortrm exa-
mination of the body, and found contusions
of the chest and in the left groin Thi t, ofnilthebleft sine
left aide was obliquely fractured at about three' on t
incites
f; ono its cartilage, the breiten end of the anterior

THE LATE MURDER NEAR SHEF-
FIELD.-APPREHENSION OF THREE MEN,
AND CONFESSION OF THE ROBBERY BY
ONE OF THEM.

The mystery which has for the past three months
shrouded the death of this ill-fated man, is at length un-
ravelled, sad the perpetrators of the murder are in the
hands of the law. It will be remembt red that on the
evening of Monday, the 11th of January, Mr. Riley
had been at the New Market Inn, in the Cattle Market,
where he remained until nearly mit'night, and then pro-
ceeded towards home, on foot, along the Grimesthorpe
road.

The particulars of this murder hare already appeared
in The Sun.

In the absence of official information on the subject,
we lay before our readers the following facts, which may
be relied upon fur their accuracy, although from motives
which the public will discere, we refrain from giving all
the information which has come to our knowledge. The
cause of the apprehension of the prisoners was from the
circumstance of one of them, James Bradley, having
al plied to a publican or beershop keeper, in Water-lane,
to sell a watch for him. The publican accordingly took
him to another man residing on Furnace-hill, and to
whom the aforesaid watch was sold fur seventeen shil-
lings. After the sale of the watch the three parties con-
cerned retired to the " All Nations," another public-
house in Water-lane, and there while under the influence
of liquor, the prisoner, James Bradley, made such
admissions es left no doubt in the minds of his hearers
that the watch which had beet: sold belonged to the late
Mr. Riley. He also described the share which he had
taken in the attack upon Mr. Riley, and told his auditors
on what parts of the unfortunate man's body he had
struck the blows, After this disclosure had been made,
it would seem that the man who had purchased the
watch did not feel himself exactly at case in having ac-
quired the watch of a murdered man, end accordingly in
the course of the Sunday night, after Mr. Riley died,
this man made his way to Grinwstborpe-lane, and depo-
sited the watch upon the grass plot, where it was ft.und
by the undertaker's assistant, wrapped up in some black
cloth or linen. James Bradley, it appears, in making
the above disclosures, has also given information that he
obtained the watch of his brother, and in consequence of
the information so given, his brother George Bradley,
also residing at Grimesthorpe, was taken into custody on
Monday last. The evidence against the prisoners is said
to be substantially the same as a great portion which
was adduced before the coroner, strengthened in many
particulars by new facts which have since come to light.
The prisoners were altogether drinking at the White
Lion, in the Wicker, and other places, and were subse-
quently seen in company together going in the direction
of the Grimesthorpe-road. From that time nothing
transpired of a tangible shape, either with regard to the
murder or the robbery. Having given James Bradley's
version of the affair, the statements made by the other
prisoners may also be taken for what they are worth.
Challoner, it seems, has intimated that James Bradley
could exonerate him from the charge if ho thought
proper, but on this point we have not heard what he
says, or whether he says anything. George Bradley's
version of the part he took in the affair appears to he,
that on the night of the attack on Mr. Riley, he left the
Fleur de Lie, in Angel-street, late at night, and went
home along the Grimesthorpe-road ; that on arriving at
the gates of Mr. S. Bailey's residence he saw a man
drunk with his head against the wall, that he tried
to assist the drunken man up, but that his assistance was
refused, and that the drunken man d—d him, and told him
that he could do without him. However, when the man
was asleep again, prisoner admits having rubbed him of
his watch and about lie. 6d. in money, and that after he
had given the watch to his brother, James Bradley, he
never spoke to him on the subject afterwards. - So far
goes the information gleaned upon this melancholy sub-
ject. The case is said to be a very intricate one, and as
the evidence on oath will so soon be laid before the
public, we can only hope that it may be of so conclusive
a character as to bring the perpetrators of this cold-
blooded and diabolical murder to justice and punishment.
SHEFFIELD, FRIDAY MORNING. Yesterday after-
noon,.. about two o'clock, the three prisoners, Ih/ham
Challoner, and George and James Bradley, were brought
into the dock, in the Quarter Sessions Court, and placed
before Mr. Overend and the Mayor. The court, together
with the two galleries, was crowded to excess. Mr.
Eyre conducted the case for the prosecution, and
Mr. A. C. Branson defended Challoner. The other
prisoners, George and James Bradley, were undefended.
Mr. Eyre then went through the details of the case,
and afterwards called the attention of the Court to the
contradictory statements made by the two Bradleys.
The case ter the prosecution being closed, James
Bradley's statement was then read, and stated that,
having been charged with killing and robbing Mr.
Riley, he said—" Well, gentlemen, I and Challoner
went home together, and on Spital-hill we saw the
watchman, and bid him good night. We then went
home together. I went home and got my supper.
and soon afterwards my brother came home too, but 1
don't
sgiadNe e omf ke:faor w.
watch,Rai at what,anwhod s
awti iadms
teh; whenat
laying
he he
ohnadt m h
efcorauona came home hi oHmb
He
at
lhhe
s he
showed me 10s. or 125., and amongst it there was four or
five fourpenny bits ; when he gave me the watch, he
said I was to sell it for not less than 155., and that I was
to have all I got above for myself. I deny telling Sayler
that I knocked Mr. Riley down, and have had nothing
more to do with it than that my brother gave me the
watch. Mr. Riley told me he had fallen down three times
that I will take my oath of. W.Challoner's statement was
that he went home with James Bradley about a quarter
before twelve, and met the watchman on Spital-hill, and
they met no other man else. Mr. A. C. Branson was
about to adds ess the Bench for Challoner, when Mr.
Overend said that there was less evidence against Chal-
loner than against the other men, but as the Bench in-
tended to adjourn the case, in order that the depositions,
which were very long, might be copied out, they would
in the meantime, consider Challoner's case, and, if they
hitmhethperibseonn;first
os af wianytht. ing in
Under
ivaell
thheissefacviorucur,msss•toaunledesg,
would be remanded. The Court adjourned about nine
o'clock.

BANK OF ENGLAND.

(From last nig
&n Account, pursuant to the Act 7
the Week ending ou Saturday,

ISSUE DTP
X.
Notes issued.• • ....• 23,236,340

;hts Gazette.)
7th and 11th of Victoria, cap. 32, for
the 10th day of Apr 11,1847.
.111.TMEI, T.

Government debt •• 11,015,100
Other securities •• • • 2,984,900
Gold coin and bullion 7,795,644
Silver bullioa ••• • • • 1.410,694

£23,236,340

Dated the 15th day of April. 18

X 23,936,340
11. IVARSIIA.LL, Chief Cashier.

BANKING D
Proprietors' capital.. 14,553,000
Hest .• .. ••• • • - 3.391.768
Public deposits (in-
cluding Exchequer,
Commissioners of
National Debt, gar-

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(YESTERDAY.)

rTOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP I.
The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of
the schemes comprised in this group re-assembled at the
usual hour this morning in Room 30. Mr. W. 0. Stanley, in
the absence of Lord Granville z•omerset, in the chair.
THE 7317.1GE3T0N VIED KENT scizErma.
_ _

Farnbo-
rough ; Lord Stanhope,
i
Mr. Ward, a landholder near Bromley, Sir John Lubbock,
who is the proprietor of an extensive estate near Farnbo-
neighbourhood ; and Colonel Austen, M.P. for the Southern
Division of Kent, gave general evidence in favour of this
scheme, and proved that the majority of the inhabitantsins
whose country residence in the
their respective neighbourhoods preferred the Brighton to the
youth-Eastern scheme.
Mr. John Thorp, silk -merchant of Bromley ; the Rev.
Thomas Curtis, incumbent of Sevenoaks; Mr. Atkins, High
Sheriff of Kent ; Mr. Glendenning, of Ash-grove, Seven-
oaks ; Capt. Horthev, of Sevenoaks ; Mr. Burton, builder, of
Sevenoaks; Mr. John Sewell, manufacturer, of Sevenoaks;
Mr. Bonjamin Parley, innkeeper of Sevenoaks; Mr. John
Howard, miller and corn dealer, of Westerham, and others,
gave corroborative testimony.
The Committee then adjourned till Monday.

GROUT VI.
SOUTH-WESTERN AND GREAT WESTERN

SCHEMES.
The Committee, consisting of Mr. Deedes (Chairman), Mr.
Wrightson, Mr. C. G. Round, Sir S. Glynne, and Colonel Fer-
guson, met for the first time this morning, in Room 21, at
twelve o'clock.

The Bills contained in this group are the following:—
Bristol and Exeter (Branch from Bleadon to Wells and Glas-
tonbury).
Bristol and Exeter (Taunton and Castle Cary Branch).
Great Western (Extension of the Berks and Hants Railway,
&c.)
Yeovil, Bridport, and Exeter, with Branches.
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Amendment (No. 1.)
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Amendment (No. 2.)
Chard Canal and Railway Company.
Southampton and Dorchester (Blandford Branch).
Salisbury and Yeovil.
Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway and Branches.
Exeter and Exmouth Railway Act Amendment.
Blandford and Bruton.
Great Western (Amendment and Extension).
There was a most formidable array of counsel present, in-
cluding, besides those who were retained by the promoters of
the Bills in this group last session, a considerable number of
fresh juniors. The outer room was also crowded to excess by
strangers.
The usual formal requirements having been complied with,
The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had received the
report of the Commissioners upon six only of the Bills com-
prised in the group. Those Bills were, the
Chard Canal and Railway.
Salisbury and Yeovil Railway.
Southampton and Dorchester (Blandford Branch).
Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway.
Exeter and Exmouth Railway; and the
Blandford and Bruton Railway.
The Committee could not enter into the consideration of the
other Bills until the report upon them was received from the
Railway Commissioners, and the Committee would have to
decide which of those six Bills should be proceeded with.
Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE said, that he appeared for the
Bristol and Exeter Railway, and hoped that the Committee
would allow him to have precedence of the other schemes
when the report of the Commissioners should have been re-
ceived by the Committee.
Committee under circumstances that
Mr. TALBOT, Q.C., on the part of the Great Western Com-
pany, opposed the application. Ile thought that the Com-
mittee)ig l mightupon a subject which
would prevent the Committee from fulfilling that pledge.
come
defnoroet
thegive any
Mr. COCKBURN, Q C , said that on the part of the South-
Western Company, whose Bills had been reported on by the
Railway Commissioners, he was quite prepared to proceed
with his case, should the Committee so decide.
The room was then ordered to be cleared. Upon our
re-admission,

.AZTIIEN T.

The CHAIi3LAN said that with respect to the subject pro-
posed by Mr. Sergeant Kinglake the Committee had come
to the conclusion to decline giving any pledges as to the
precedence of any Bills until such time as those Bills came
before them in their regular coarse. The Committee had
also agreed to act upon the principle adopted in other
Committees, viz., that of not allowing any counsel to cross-
examine a witness who was not present at the examination
in chief. The Chairman also said that the Committee had
resolved to bear Mr. Cockburn on behalf of those Bills
which had been reported upon, and for which he appeared,
and called upon that gentleman to select any of those Bills
which he thought best.

Mr. COCKBURN proposed that the same course should be
adopted with respect to the schemes of the South-Western
Railway as was adopted last session, and allow the two
Bills—the Salisbury and Yeovil and the Yeovil and Exeter
Railways—to be treated as one integral scheme.
After a few words from Mr. Slade, the Committee de-
cided on the adoption of that course.
SALISBURY AND YEOVIL.

Government securi-
ties (including Dead
Weight Annuity) 13,574,444
Other securities . . 18,136,377
Notes
Gold and silver coin 630,713

ings-banks, and Di-
vidend accounts) .. 4,984,375
Other deposits • • • • 11,257,744
Seven day and other
1)111S ••••• • • • • •• • • 987,562

X 55,174,419

£35.174,449
MARSHALL, Chief Cashier.

YEOVIL, EXETER, AND DORCHESTER..
Mr. COCKBURN then proceeded to state that the two Bills
now before the Committee were brought forward for the pur-
pose of completing• the line of connexion between Salisbury
and Exeter. They had arisen out of a very strongly ex-
pressed feeling in their favour by persons in the West of
England. The railway connexion between the city of
Exeter and the metropolis was at present a very circuitous
one, being as much as 21 miles in length more than the old
coach road between those two termini. Thd consequence of
the construction of this railway was, that some of the most
populous towns and the most fertile districts of Devon and
Dorset were now left without any means of communication,
the coaches having been taken off the roads some time since.
The Learned Gentleman then went at considerable length
into the details of the rise and progress of these schemes,
commencing with the year 1844, down to the present time.
The Bill had passed successfully through the House of Com-
mons, but was thrown out in the Committee of the Lords, in
consequence of several defects in the plan ; bnt Lord Beau-
mont, who was the Chairman of that Committee, stated in
the House of Lords, in answer to a question put to him by
the Marquis of Westminster, that the Committee had refused
their sanction to the scheme on those grounds alone; and he
stated that, in the next session of Parliament, when the com-
pany should come forward with improved plans in these re-
spects, that their Lordships would feel disposed to give their
sanction to the measure. The proposed line would leave
Salisbury, and proceed by Wilton and Gillingham, and con-
vect Shaftesbury by a branch. The rival scheme of the Great
Western proposed to go to ShafLesbury from Salisbury, but he
contended that the South-Western had adopted the better
course, by taking in the town of Gillingham, which was a
rising town, and contained upwards of 3,600 inhabitants,
whereas the population of Shaftesbury was only 3,100. By
going to Gillingham the company also saved a distance of
two miles, accommodated a more fertile district, the vale of
Blackmoor, and did less residential injury than the rival
scheme, which was strongly opposed by the Marquis of
Westminster. The two lines then united at or near to Sher-
borne, and diverged near Yeovil, by which divergence the
Great Western schemes lost at least three miles of distance.
The Great Western, however, contended that they would, by
adopting this course, give better accommodation to the town
of Ye. evil by placing it upon the main line. This, however,
he denied, for by the present schemes accommodation
would be afforded to Yeovil of a much better cha-
racter than that afforded by the Great Western scheme. The
branch which would connect Yeovil with the main line was
about one mile and a half in length, and the competition
which would exist between the two companies would effec-
tually prevent the occurrences of any of the evils which arose
from placing large towns upon branch lines. From Yeovil
running down to the sea coast, giving
the line proceeded to the towns of Crewkerne and of Chard,
near which two branches were thrown oft' to the, east and
to thewest,l3Fidport and Leigh communication with the main line.
The western branch was about fourteen miles in
length, and the eastern one about six miles. From
Crewkerne there was also a branch
going northward to
llniinster, and along the whole of these branches the Great
Western Company ran side by side. From Chard the line
proceeded to Axminster, near which, by a bend to the south,
they avoided a tunnel of 1,000 yards in length, through
which their rivals proposed to run, at an expense of not less
then 75,0001. From Axminster the line proceeded to Iloniton,
near which a branch was thrown off accommodating the port
of Sidmouth. From Honiton the line would proceed to Exeter
by means of a line for which a Bill had been obtained in the
last session, but was• at present in abeyance in conse-
quence of one of the provisions of the Act, that the
line should not be made until a through line from Exeter to
the metropolis was obtained. From the eastern part of
Exeter a branch connected the main line with the important
ports of Topsham and Exmouth. Then, with respect to
Exeter, the South-Western scheme provided a most
excellent station in Queen-street in that city in
the most eligible situation. Then with respect
to the station in the metropolis, the South-Western scheme
provided much better accommodation than could be given by
the Great Western Company, at their station at Paddington,
for an Act had been obtained last session for extending the
South-Western Railway from Nine Elms to Hungerford,
Waterloo, and London Bridges, the works of which were in a
considerable degree of forwardness. The South- Western
scheme was looked upon with the greatest favour by the In-
habitants of Exeter, and of all—the. towns which tite
railway proposed to accommodate. 'rho South-Western
Company also proposed eitenskins of the line from Exeter
through the county of Cornwall, and accommodating the
towns of Plymouth, Falmouth, and Penzance. The north
of Devon would also be accommodated by means of the con-
nexion of the Taw Vale Railway with the proposed Corn-
wall and Devon Central Railway. The construction of these
railways would also give the means of direct communication
with the whole of the district between Exeter and Basing-
stoke, by means of the proposed Reading, Guildford, and
Reigate Railway with the county of Kent, and the various ports
on the South-Eastern coasts of that county. The continuation
of these lines would also afford an unbroken line of commu-
nication by means of the proposed Manchester and South-
ampton Railway, which would leave the South-Western
line at Andover, between the western districts and the whole
between the tmh
manufacturing districts of the north of England. It was
also
ose highly schemes should be constructed, affording, as they did,
oenopolise the whole
by a continuity of the same gauge, an un-
brokenports and Then it was
ar-
senals of the country.desirable that a com-
petition should exist, andll that the Great Western
such as the
traffic of the west; and that competition could only be
cooipany
South-Western, between which and the Great Western
e would not the slightest chance or possi-
bility about by means of a narrow gauge line,
Company there would
of interests. With •
bility of an amalgamation h respect to the
notbe a
broad ever
alleged superiority of the the narrow gauge, it was
communications
ld
a notorious fact that the average speed of the South-Western
was considerably higher than that of the Great Western ; and,
what was of still greater importance, the fares werelconsiderably
lower. In the west the broad gauge railway had been de-
nominated the " rich inan.s railway," and the narrow gauge
the " poor man's railway. '
nee of an application of Mr.
In consequence COCKBURN, the
Committee then adjourned till Monday next.

Dated the 15th clay of April, 184'

RAILWAY IN AUSTRALIA.—The wooden railway
at Port Arthur is thus described in the Geelong Adver-
tiser :—" This railway, or rather tramway, is formed
from the hard wood of the country, and passes over a
space of five miles, thereby affording a rapid and easy
means of transit between the heads of Norfolk and Lor g
Bays, the latter of which leads directly to Port Arthur.
This tramway, the projection of Capt. Booth, has proved
to be a work of the utmost utility; shortening the distance
betwixt Hobart Town and Port Arthur, and ensuring
a rapid and certain communication at times when the
long sea-passage might be impracticable. Like many
men of superior intellect, it was the fortune of
Captain Booth to encounter the sneer of the common
herd, who, in their narrowmindedness, predicted nought
but failure to his enterprise. Nothing daunted, and
possessing the confidence of the Governor, Captain
Booth toiled on till they that came to jeer went back to
I admire. No horse, no ox, no fixed or locomotive engine
traverses its course, or assists in the work of conveyance;
the waggons are propelled by felons—three men being
generally allotted to do the work of each waggon, which
is capable of conveying half a ton of goods at each tran-
sit. Upon emergency, the BRIM gang have made their
three journeys and back, thirty miles a day, conveying
thus half a tow per wan either way.
RIFLE BRIGADE —The Colonelcy of the 2d bat-
talion of the Rifle Brigade, vacant by the recent demise os
Lieutenant-General Sir David Gilmour, will, it is reported,
Canal (Lease to the Loudon
be conferred either on Major-General Brown, Deputy - ________
______
Adjutant-General, or upon an officer formerly of the regi- GROUP XXI.
ment. The 2d battalion is at present in Canada. We have
The Committee to whom the following Bills have been re-
to record the demise of Major Henry R. Capel, also of the
ferred met this day, shortly afterdilialf-past twelve o'clock :
corps, who expired on the 13th, at the Vicarage, Watford, an
in his forty-second year. He was second son of the Hon.
and Rev. W. Capel (ureic to the Earl of Essex), Vicar of
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley (No. 1).
Watford, and Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen. He was
London and Sorth-Viestern (Bescot and Wolverhampton).
connected with the service for twenty-one years, and ob-
tained his majority by purchase in Octoter, 1820.
A LARMING FIRE AT 14.:Tox.—Yesterday Mornin London and North-Western (Portobello and. Nolverhamp-
Welverhampton,_ and Dudley Act (Stour-
ton, Branch, Br.c. ).
SharnodpaNhiorrethUAiNioesutletrte.ray
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley (No. 2).
between twelve and one o'clock, a fire broke out in the lower
part of the house of Mr. Body, in Eton
in-square, aashert dis• ,
ranee from the College, which, in consequence of the timely '
arrival of the Windsor and other engines,
supply of water from a branch of the river Thames, was tor- ' bridge and West Bromwich, tc..).
Birmingham,
plentiful Branches.
and Biruung am Railway Act Amendment and
Branches.
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton (No. 2).
tunately confined to the lower part of the premises, in which I The following is a list of the Committee :—Sir J. Graham,
the furniture was entirely consumed. Two children, who
Chairman; Earl of Arundel,t Lord C. Hamilton, Mr.
slept on the first floor, were rescued with considerable diffi-
'ld•Carthy, and Mr. Pluinpre.
culty, after a portion of the staircase was in flames. The pro
I Immediately after the assembling of the members, the
1
, petty is insured. . . Chairman ordered the roes to be cleared.

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 17, 1847.

On the admission of strangers,
The CHAIRMAN intimated that the Committee bad come to
the following resolution : —That no counsel who shall not
have been present at the examination in chief of a witness
shall be allowed to cross-examine him, except under special
circumstances, and by the express permission of the Com-
mittee. The Right Hon. Baronet also intimated that the
SHREWSBURY AND isnunlNGllll.ltt RAIL.
WAY ACT AMENDMENT AND nreitzrcnEs
would be first taken by the Committee, that being the only
Bill on which the Standing Orders' Committee bad reported
with respect to the capital of the company. The others
must, therefore, stand over until the reports with respect to
their capital bad been received.
The appearances with respect to the other lines were then
entered.

Mr. RICHARDS said there had been two petitions against
the preamble, and one against the clauses, and he believed
the opposition to the preamble had been withdrawn, and that
the Bill was unopposed.
The CHAIRMAN said, under these circumstances, they
would not trouble him to enter into a statement of the ob-
jects of the Bill. It would be sufficient, perhaps, if he were
to call one or two material witnesses.
Mr. Baker, the engineer, was then called and examined by
Mr. RICHARDS—He stated that he was an assistant engineer
to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company, under Mr.
Robert Stephenson, and that he had laid out the proposed
branches from the main line,—one to Madeley, four
miles and a half in length, to cost 90,0001., and
the other to Colebrook Dale and Ironbridge, a mile
and a half in length, and to cost 65,0001. Both
branches traversed important manufacturing and mineral
districts, and would be of the greatest advantage to them, as
they would give communication in an easterly direction
with Wolverhampton and Birmingham, besides their other
advantages. The Shropshire iron was mixed with that of
South Staffordshire, and, by the aid of these branches, the
iron of Shropshire would be transmitted to South Stafford-
shire by a short route. In fact, they would furnish
the only cheap short route for the transmission of the pro-
duce of those districts to South Staffordshire and other parts
where there was a demand for them. One of the branches
would cross the Severn, on the south side of which a station,
at a convenient spot, would be ejected.
No other witnesses were examined.

The CHAIRMAN then declared the preamble proved.
A clause was proposed on behalf of the Shropshire Canal
Company, but, after a short discussion, the whole of the
clauses were postponed until the next meeting of the Com-
mittee.

The Committee then adjourned till Tuesday, when it is
expected one of the North-Western Bills will be proceeded
with.

The Committee sat in No. 22 Committee-room.

GROUP XLVII.

This Committee met to-day for the first time, in Room 28,
New Houses of Parliament. Members present—The Hon.
E. T. Yorke, Chairman ; Mr. Puke, Mr. Gill, Mr. G. C.
Legh, and Mr. Trelawny.
The following are the Bills referred -to this Committee :
Wishaw and Coltness (Branches to Auchinheath and Can-
derside).
Airdrie and Bathgate Junction (Amendment and Deviation).
Caledonian (Branches from the Clydesdale Junction to the
Douglass and Lesinagow Mineral Fields and to Strath-

aveti).
Caledonian (Extension of Motherwell Branch of Clydesdale
Junction Railway, &c., to the Wishaw and Coltness Rail-
way, Szc.).
Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness (Branches to Benbar

Coalworka, &e. ).
Edinburgh and Batligate (Deviation and Amendment).
Caledonian (Branches to Wilsontown, to Fauldhouse, and to
Biggar and Broughton).
The u,ual preliminaries having been disposed of, the Com-
mittee proceeded with the

Vs7XLSONTOWN, WIORNINGSIDE, and COLT-
NESS (BRANCHES TO BENHAR) RAIL-
WAY.

After some preliminary conversation, the list of Bills was
read, with appearances, from which it appeared that the
Wishaw and Coltness Branches Bill and the three Caledonian
Bills were unopposed; the other three were opposed by
several road trustees and landed proprietors.
The CHAIRMAN said that the only Bill they could proceed
with was the first in the list, as being the only one on which
the Railway Commissioners had as yet reported. The report
on the others would not be received till Wednesday.
It was then agreed to adjourn till Monday, on which day
the Wishaw and Coltness (Branches to Auchinheath and
Canderside) will be taken.
The Committee immediately afterwards adjourned.

STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.)
THE GLASGOW, DUMFRIES, AND CARLISLE EX-

TENSIONS INTO LANARKSHIRE.
It may be in the recollection of our readers that this Bill
was thrown out upon the standing orders. The promoters,
however, to-day petitioned to be allowed to re-introduce
their Bill, in order to be heard against the Caledonian (Les-
mahagow Extension ), in Group 47, but the Committee refused
to entertain the petition.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
FRIDAY, APRIL 16.

LOSS OF THE TWEED STEAMER.—The inhabitants of
Cowes, in order to testify their high sense of the brave
and disinterested conduct of the noble Spaniard in
saving the lives of so many of the unfortunates who were,
shipwrecked in the Royal Mail steamer Tweed, have at
a meeting resolved that a public subscription should be
entered into for the purpose of presenting a suitable
testimonial to Captain Bernardino Camp, of the Spanish
brig Emilio, expressive of their high admiration of his
intrepidity and humanity. subscription lists have been
opened at the different banks. Southampton and other
towns we hear propose doing the same.
The Isle of Wight Steeplechase came off on Wednes-
day, and proved a most disastrous affair. Nine horses
entered, seven started, six threw their riders, two of
them into► brooks, one almost smothered in Blackwater
mud ; one horse was killed. Eventually Birmingham
came in first, attended by Lara ; the rest reached the
starting•post after many mishaps in the course of the
afternoon.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, April 16.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.
Several Bills were brought up from the Commons and
read a first time.
GOVERNMENT EDUCATION SCHEME.
The Earl of CLARENDON presented a petition from
Bury St. Edmunds in favour of the plan.
Lord DEN MAN presented a petition against it.
EMIGRATION OF IRISH POOR.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
Corporation of Glasgow, complaining of the burdens
which were inflicted by the irruption of Irish poor.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
The NOBLE LORD said he had another petition
t) present from Liverpool, and another from Preston,
and all these petitions were addressed to the same
important subject, and all made the same statement
of facts, and all claimed the same relief. The
petitions stated that the Acts passed for abolishing im-
prisonment for debt gave the power of imprisoning for
debt in one instance, and that was when a
debtor was about to leave the country. The
imprisonment however could only be effected
throtrzh the medium of an application to a judge in
Westminster Hall, and the petitioners complained that
the mode of proceeding was inconvenient and expensive,
and prayed their Lordships to vest the power of hearing
such applications in local authorities.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS.
Mr. Hume, Mr. Wak ley, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Pattison,
and other Hon. Members of the House of Commons,
brought up a message from that House, requesting their
Lordships to furnish them with a copy of the minutes of
the evidence taken before a Committee, appointed by
their Lordships, to inquire into the charitable trusts of
England and Wales. The deputation then withdrew.
IRISH MAGISTRATES.
Earl FORTESCUE presented a petition from two
magistrates of the county of Down, in Ireland, com-
plaining of the great costs to which they had been
subjected in consequence of proceedings taken against
them by a person whom they had convicted in the
penalty of five pounds,- and they prayed their Lordships
so to alter or amend the present laws as to afford them
adequate protection in the performance of their duties.
The Earl of ZETLAND presented several petitions
against the Government scheme of education.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table
several returns, connected (as we understood) with the
public works in Ireland.

The NnnLE LORD also presented several petitions on
the subject of the Government scheme of education from
Liverpool, Leeds,Westminster, London, and other places,
against—and from a place in Hants, St. Michael's, Leeds,
St. Michaers,Winchester, and other places, in favour of it.