The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 10, 1847.

'4let"-:-."----------
it_ looking at the arguments by which the
w7e..Gentlernan supported his motion, and the object
if? 1,1! he had in view, namly, the abolition of capital
'o'4oll braent, he felt it his citify to object to the introduc-
aeauiedf,the Bill on the same principle on which he
of„, have objected to the resolution to which he had
it ;red,- if the Hon. Gentleman had brought it forward.
as true he had If thenot entered into a theological view
14., Auestion, and he (Sir George Grey) considered
4:d.tie had adopted a wise course in having so
es,ti Re dealt solely with the argument that tho
~
therefore
of the punishment was injurious to society,
414_ he sought leave to introduce this Bill. He
`e° them s
Or 14„ , so agree to the proposition, that in all cases
dutteruer, of treason, involving perhaps the most
llio fells consequences to the nation, involving
Ve loss of life, perhaps to a great extent,
It:1,0111d safely dispose of the punishment of death.
pro_e",eonfessed he could not agree in such a sweeping
wuieetsuton as this. He based his argument principally on
dealt lea,, and the lion. Gentleman who followed him
isierittuso with his argument, that in proportion as the
Pied, Yof punishment had been diminished—in pro-
the ~,_n to the decrease of capital punishment—that in
11, "G‘e proportion crime had diminished. He (Sir
we. rey) agreed with him that statistics were "good
if hirans of Party warfare," but he would not say, that
eautimised taken some other parts of the years he had
tecitoin.""k, he would have met with different results,
*641,1 was not prepared to deny that the mitigation
todi,,,"ll° taken place in punishment had done good ;
117 tiwas sure no Hon. Gentleman would get up and
tille iesit they ought to retrace their steps in
the „Pec, t• With respect to those crimes for which
hekt4hMent of death had been abolished- (Hear,
Pole of wiltiAnsent was not inflicted for the mere pur-
411d lar.,"Pg pain, but for the protection of the interests
Preri..o,;Y. of society; its legitimate object being the
hiell "en of crime, and the protection of those interests
et tho wass_ . the bounden duty of the Government and
that tfl Legislature. His Hon. Friend was of opinion
from the Punishment of death was not sufficient to deter
I,ettadixil crime of murder. But that view of his was not
16104 r ,t_)11 the statistics of crime as applied .to
ekeitai'„uttt was derived from the crimes for which
tellsrd ruaLshMents had been abandoned. But with
tte• to the latter crimes the reason why capital
Merits in regard to them had been abandoned, was
tee Public opinion was against it. It was impossible
4,1.
tete) sYJoGovernment to inflict a penalty to which the
:If es i 6 ethe People was opposed, and, therefore, the
nte t 41,- "Innerly stood tended more to encourage crime
flail repress it. Let them take forgery for instance.
kg bYtrerson, would not prosecute fur this offence, involv-
te the t,ePeenniary loss, because the conviction would lead
kid ~enedding of blood. These facts were well known,
to ae"trey,ented the application of the punishment ; for
Kw ei Parliament could last long and run counter to
uar °l4,llioll. But what was the present state of the
teeish,„'"lce 1841, though the law provided capital
%I htirents for several offences, 'not a single execution
thot th taken Place but for murder. He therefore thought
%ale; had advanced as far as it was prudent. But
kieht be abolished still further, what they had now to
)Isee;ll7 Was not the degree to which this should take
lot, antdlt its total abolition as applied to murder, tree-
tzteetaii,„the most atrocious offences. Since 1841 no
rath' had taken place but for murder, but so far
thwre hecritne of murder having increased, on the contrary
tjtllee ad been a regular decrease. Taking the average
Feinleraos l years the following would show the results :
hewer to 1815 there had been one commitment for
to 132,000 inhabitants ; from 1815 to 1825, one
19a4Y 172,000 ; from 1825 to 1835, one to each
tret,7 , and in 1845 and 1846 the average was one to
Sit 241,000 of the population. This was the
Ler „„regarding murder, while the commitments
tie ~,r4er crimes had increased 233 per cent.
tier taware, from the increase of population. a supe-
thottuce, and the establishment of a detective force,
%Ito e,,aPearent increase of crime might easily be ac-
ef ex for. But this went to show that the certainty
of eetition went very far to prevent the commission
there', He was quite impressed with the belief that
Igird was 110 punishment to which offenders looked for-
ted . ha so much horror as the punishment of death,
14,4e11,1.ad unquestionably been greatly instrumental in
Pre,,,,,,,""g the crime of murder. He was quite im-
re'' with the belief that, as respected the crime of
Leber' public opinion was not, by any means, in favour
0)4._19 abolition of capital punishment, but that, on the
sli rarY, it was quite the other way, in favour of it. It
euld be
for , recollected that this punishment was instituted
the
protection of life, and he believed that the public
to-lestl.tred such a safeguard as that which capital punish-
-4441 threw about life ; and it should be further re-
tieuzilbered that juries had never evinced any indisposi-
. to do their duty in cases of murder, when they be-
lived the prisoner to be guilty. Nor had their been
unwillinpess on the part of prosecutors to come
~ forward to bring the crime home, although the result
4.7 g
ht be the extinction of life, and there was a cer-
‘l„ nty of the punishment following conviction. His
gen:Friend seemed to think that the evil was increased
the shockingness of public executions, and had
511 ed that the repetition of them tended to harden
ale public character, and that ultimately the effect was
itroyed. But did they not know that the effect
`he public mind was not wrought upon by the exe-
"ola only, for did not they read of the trial, of the im-
ulille terms in which thejudges passed sentence, and of
%the solemn accompaniments of a criminal conviction?
exeellther believed that the persons who visited these
tujoilticsus Were so tainted by crimes that no further
ktet/ could be anticipated to their moral character.
haft e lion. Gentleman himself did not appear to think
hii,e the abolition of the punishment of death would
Plusiaiti,4 effect of removing the crimes for which this
Re-X1 was sought to be a remedy. T Hon. Gen.
Idea, of 1" hat the criminal jurors would revolt at the
blaitoentraoreaoinlyvicting a person, even though they believed
guilty, rather than that the capital punish-
*fir should be inflicted ; but he believed that this un-
inane
oporptoh:
tphrsisso convict arose only where doubts existed
prisoner sanity. For these reasons he should
petal Ron. Gentleman's resolution, he hought that
t vezttPunishment could not with safety bete estricted to
the crier degree than it was, and although for some time
tkeiohar of murder was the only one which had been
sitylo eu,_ with death, he (Sir George Grey) was far from
to that teat the capital
punishment should be confined
high t crime, he thought for instance that the crime of
goo.lie"011 should be capitally punished. The Right
tliridiu aronet concluded by expressing his intention of
14. fryagainst the Hon. Member for Dumfries.
his speed
thought that the Right Hon. Barone.t bad
"q ae„„aais own argument in the very beginning of
etpitti"'e, because he admitted that the diminution of
t'eets Punishments had been attended with the happiest
001. lac thought that the speech of the Right Hon.
Atm ~`` contained the same arguments in favour of ca-
4Piternlishment as had been used years since, when
14 pre Punishment was much more frequent than
thy 8,71: lie (Mr. Hume) contended that the taking
'tare life rendered life less valuable, and destroyed
'tub for its possession. The effect of it might be
'eltesre fully upon persons in the army, ,who had
. rsoo, soda great deal of the shedding of blood. Such
Peo,-...,Pf°uld always be found regardless of their own
Was fel,. Nhen, therefore, a disregard for human life
tuish,",llY Persons, it could not be supposed that capital.
ees,-ent would deter from the commission of crimes.
Pertoi,-,B'dered that his Honourable Friend should be
aelPit j'ed to introduce his Bill. Since the' abolition of
s'eUbtitelnuishments in certain crimes, it was an un.
$' act, `4,0. tact. that more crimes had diminished. The.
helie-e"-,,,nn• Baronet admitted the fact himself. He did
litvanish they had not the power to continue such a
ils li -'Olll, and he therefore did hope that the Bill of
Aueneurable Friend would be introduced.
eri„.GLION BY said that the Right Hon, Baronet
itm u-tstnformed when he said that public opinion was
the e„lt the Bill. As far as ho could see, it was quite
441. -11trarY• He would support the introduction of the
1 Sir
Iltib„ ROBERT INGLIS considered that human legis-
Peoii,would not be sanctioned in the abolition of the
Utitte",4ll3ent of death for wilful murder, they had the
11,rer-X,tY of the word of God for its infliction, ' Whose-
Ilhed 7,',"111 the blood of man, by man let his blood be
40e'th he would oppose the introduction of the Bill
al -Dealegical grounds.
I,listrea.."-",OTHERTON said that when the slave trade
Vestim tuere were persons ready to justify it by scrip-
but nicle4reoitaytions. The words did not convey a precept,
f ,I, Pointed out the law of retribution, the words
Irorsl3 "n
win e same character as these, " He who loves
The
-Ouse
perish bit."
-°u:a then divided, when there appeared—
.1-1. the motion 4l
against it Bl
0 the ,„ 'Majority —4o
motion Was lost.
b Lord a 1, GREECE.
-Ilociii J. MANNERS said that in consequence of the
for pl-able absence of the Noble Lord the Secretary
liktan°,ieign Affairs that evening, he vas compelled, re-
Preoew"l, to Postpone his motion on the subject of the
COLt,condition of Greece to Thursday, the 18th inst.
r4CTION OF AGRICULTURAL STA-
, kr, es„ TISTICS.
i`rod,„74-eNER GIBSON, in moving for leave to in-
-1.4 teanill for the collection of. agricultural statistics
-'l7 toes-' and Wales, said that it would not be neces-
Which trouble the House at any length upon a Bill of
NV every
510 a -_ one must see the -utility. England and
tfrieto w.177e divided into superintendant registrarsoo_
obtain
Itu'i:'egistrars districts. It was proposed to b
111 es tech registrar's districts through England and
called • e returns required, by appointing a person to be
Would Ltll4- agricultural enumerator, and upon whom
f„ „,0 ~, _ .
eurru, t,, swiaced the duty of leaving with every farmer a
ea - -- ue fin d
ker, it e up, and then, having taken. it from the
Istror ,Would be forwarded to the superintendent re. -
44°, nd, r,' w,.".° would forward it to the registrar-general in
*0 th Ls: "Y whom the document would be transmitted
be e: Board of Trade. Theoperation of that Bill would
desi;ll6,lled t ss
-(;) -4°land Wales, but if it were thought
Untls-4-10 to extend
bitsaoperation to Ireland, a plan was
lbo uesration, by which thewhich executive could obtain
0 'eeessar n' yys • kit necessary to
well u y returns. Lie did not thin _
the o Pe° the imortance of obtaining a knowledge of
clia gneultural produce of the United Kingdom, and he
the,llltted to effect plan which had-
-111:'It thlnk any been proposed better
burl 4°ollll k that object. It was important tha,
rle ' know the number of acres sown with wheat,
fore t'Yh'„e•nd oats. He would, however, lay the Bill be-
of the 'lll, and then they would be better able to judge
1,,, mac and
by which it was worked.
tri""IIIME did ' about , 1 not agree with the principle of the
Ule utxtiuu to be introduced. Under the present Com-
Tithes Act, the acre and their produce were
alatiaollkeleurated to a square yard and a bashel. It would be
occupy
00,5 w 68 expenditure of the public money, and the pro-
reti„ould
until the day of judgment before the
as'" could he
eAr HENLEY
made.
th • saENLEy made.
quentit said that unless they took a return of
4014 n, tbr‘ Y produced, as well as the number of acres
(111autit"Y would be very little nearer ascertaining the
444 ilff°°d„_ produced.
5,,„,,
"*" hen give nto bring in the Bill.

Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN moved for a return of the number t
of persons who have, died in each parish in Ireland,
during each month, since the let day of November, 1846,
in so tar as the same can be ascertained by information
derived from the inquiries of the constabulary, and from
the officiating clergymen of the several religious denomi
nations, specifying the number who have died from star-
vation or disease consequent upon insufficiency of food,
with a summary for the whole of Ireland.
Several Hon. Members successively objected to the
return, on the ground of theimpossibility of obtaining it
correctly. There could be no proof that the statement
as to the causes of the deaths were correct.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that there could be no cer-
tainty of the accuracy of such returns. The Govern-
ment could have no objection to their production, but
he would suggest to the lion. Member not to press them.
He had proposed some years since to bring in a Bill for
the registration of these births and deaths, but so strong
an objection existed that he was compelled to give it up.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN said that he did not wish to
press for these returns if they were not likely to be con.
rect. He believed that it was still in the power of this
country to prevent the death of any single individual by
famine in Ireland. He had endeavoured by moving for
these returns, and by every other means to call the at-
tention of the civilised world to the fact that his coun-
trymen were allowed to perish like vermin. It was
with such a view that he had asked the Government for
these returns.
Mr. HUME said that the Hon. Member had made a
very strange assertion. He had inferred that it this
country had done its duty, not one single individual
would have perished. He (Mr. Hume) thought that so
far from any charge being brought against the huma-
inanity of this country, it ought to be considered as
having exceeded in that quality. lie hoped the Go-
vernment would not allow these returns, for if they were
to be used, the Hon. Member would have to show that
the cause of each death had been correctly stated by a
properly authorised party, and without such proof there
would be a fallacy and a delusion, and he called upon
the Hon. Member to show that the charges he had mada
against his country were correct.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN said that he had endeavoured from
the beginning of the session to show that food and em-
ployment ought to have been supplied to the people.
These returns ought to be allowed by the Government.
Mr. HENLEY hoped that after the speech of the
Hon. Member near him, the Government would not
allow these returns, for there could be no means of pro-
ving their accuracy and by errors in the descriptions of
the causes of death, a case might be made out unjust in
itself, and yet impossible to answer.—The returns were
then granted.
Sir HENRY SALFORD moved for a Committee of
the whole House, to take into consideration the Bth and
9th Vic., c. 77, being "An Act to make further regu-
lations respecting the tickets of work to be delivered to
persons employed in the manufacture of hosiery in cer-
tain cases." He anticipated no opposition at present to
the Bill, and he was willing that in its future stages it
hould undergo a thorough consideration and discussion.
The Hon. Member then moved for leave to bring in the

Bill.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON said, though he had no ob-
jection to the introduction of the Bill, he must inform
the Hon. Member that he had no faith in legislation of
this kind, and that he would be prepared to state what
objections he might have to the Bill in some of its future

stages.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
Mr. C. O'BRIEN moved the following resolution,
which was agreed to:—Returns of the number of extra-
ordinary sessions held in each barony in the county of
Clare, under the Act 9 and 10 Viet., c. 107 ; the sum
presented at each; distinguishing the sums granted for
completing unfinished works from those granted for new
works, and the gross amount thereof ; specifying the
several works as described in the schedules for each
parish in each barony; the amount granted for each
work at each special sessions, distinguishing the sums
expended for labour, implements, overseers, stewards,
pay clerks, and check clerks, in respect to each work;
also, the amount deducted from each of the sums granted
under the head of contingencies, with a statement show-
ing whether the sum still in hand, in respect to each
work, be or be not sufficient to complete the same ;
specifying the respective sums granted for works in each
barony and parish which have not yet commenced, and
the gross amount thereof.
SPANISH BONDHOLDERS.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK moved, as preliminary
to his motion on this subject, that the petition from the
Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of the Spanish Bond-
holders, praying the assistance of the House in obtain-
ing redress from the Spanish Crown, in the matter of a
debt of upwards of 71,000,0002. sterling, alleged by them
to be due from the Spanish Government, principally to
British subjects (presented Bth March), be printed with
the votes.
SITES FOR SCOTCH CHURCHES.
Mr. BOUVERIE moved the following Members on
the Select Committee on Sites for Churcs in
he Scot-
land :—Mr. Bouverie, Sir James Graham, Sir John
Pakiogton, Mr. Secretary at War, Lord Dalmeny, Mr.
Baine, Viscount Morpeth, Mr. Morgan John O'Connell,
Mr. Brotherton, Sir Edward Colebrooke, Mr. George
William Hope, Mr. Deedes, Mr. Stafford O'Brien, Mr.
Wilson Patten, and Mr. Henry Baillie.—Agreed to.
LOAN BILL. _

The Report of this 8111 was received, and the Bill
ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.
The Committee on this Bill was postponed till the
14th of April.
SPANISH BONDHOLDERS.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK gave notice, that on
that day fortnight, he would bring before the House the
claims of the holders of Spanish bonds in this country ;
also, that he would move for a return of all the deaths
in Ireland from September Ist to the Ist of March last,
with the number of deaths in the corresponding periods
of the three previous years.
RAILWAYS FOR IRELAND.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK presented several peti-
tions from Westmeath, Kilkenny, Carlow, and other
Irish counties, in favour of a system of railways for
Ireland, and deprecating the unproductive works hitherto
carried on by the Government.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of,
and the Reuse adjourned at a Quarter to Eight o'elock.

sion and Amendment) petition, the standing orders ought
to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to
proceed with their Bill.
7. That in the case of the York and Newcastle Railway
(Main Line Improvement, &c.) petition, the standing
orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be
permitted to proceed with their Bill.
First, second, fourth, fifth, sixth. and seventh resolutions
agreed to.—Report to lie on the table.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Lucia de Lammermoor was performed here last even •
ing, for the rentree of Madame Castellan, and the debut
of Signor Fraschini. Signor Fraschini, who was the
Edgardo, is the greatest tenor who has appeared since
the days of Donzelli, whom he greatly resembles.
He is a well formed, manly-looking man, with
handsome features, and most expressive eyes.
As an actor, he is full of power and energy ;: as
a singer he is the first of strong tenors. He is what
Moriani was five years since, what Duprez was ten
years since. His voice is a pure voce di petto of im-
mense power, and of great compass. He sung the
whole of the music of Edgardo, without once intro-
ducing a single falsetto note. His voice completely
fills the immense area of her Majesty's Theatre ;
and we wanted not the suffrages of the au-
dience of the Opera of Vienna (perhaps the
most learned musical audience in the world) to
convince us that Fraschini is a most accomplished musi-
cian. Edgard() does not appear until nearly the close of
the first act, and from the moment that Fraschini en-
tered, it was evident that he was determined to do great
things. He had not been on the stage three minutes be-
fore the audience felt that they had a great musieian, and
also a most impassioned actor before them. His manner
of giving the words—
" Qui di aposa sterna fede,
Qui nil giura,"
was superb, and the concluding duet with Castellan—
" Verranno a to still aura,"
at once secured to him his position. The audience
listened in breathless silence to the conclusion, and then
there was a burst of enthusiastic applause, which was
repeated again and again, and at the fall of the curtain
there were loud cries for Fraschini, who appeared, lead-
ing on Madame Castellan. The only scene in the
second act in which Edgardo appears is the last, and in
this scene, Fraschini achieved a perfect triumph. as a
singer, equal to any as an actor, surpassing all his pre-
decessors. Never has the trio

"Che rittiene in mio furore"
been more effectively given than it was last night by
Coletti Fraschini and Madame Castellan. It created a
degree of excitement quite unusual within the precincts
of Her Majesty's Theatre, and was most deservedly
rewarded with an encore. While, however, as faithful
reporters, we record the fact that the excitement created
was unusual, we are also bound in justice to add, that
never has this trio, as a whole, been so admirably
performed, and never has such cause been
given for excitement. It was a spontaneous
and almost involuntary homage paid to transcendent
genius. Then fellowed a magnificent histrionic effort
on the part of Fraschini. Our readers will remember
the scene in which Edgardo curses the moment that he
loved Lucia—
" Maledetto sia l'istante,
Che di to mi rese amante."
N

i wv eans
lastwith
nightsuc hg pv
eonw
be ry,
such,evepr
ahthaoss,thanisd psuaseshageffect
eans
igt
Fraschini. It was absolute thrilling, and the only thing
on the Italian stage that can, for a moment be com-
pared to it, is Lablache's celebrated curse in Otello.
The last scene however was the great triumph of
Fraschini. There was not, as we have observed,
in many of his predecessors, any screwing up
of power to produce an effect in the last scene—(on the
contrary, Fraschini threw his soul into every scene, and
made of Edgardo what we have never before seen made of
the character—a perfect whole, but because the last
scene is by far the most effective in the opera. Nothing
could exceed the mournful pathos of his tones as he
sighed forth.
" Tombe degli avi miei l'ultimo avanzo,
D'una stirpe infelice
Deh 1 raccoglete voi."
They
pwaetrheosthwehaciech he
intsoffaused intotterhisdespair,d
and the deli-
ciousying
address to
the soul of Lucia. " Ter the a Diu Spilgaste
l' Ali," was quite heart-rending. It was
impossible not to feel tbr him and with him. Never has
this scene been more perfectly given than it was last
night by Fraschini. Rubini, who equalled treat in pathos
was deficient in power. .Nloriani, who had. gr power
than Rubini, was not equal to Fraschini in pathos. Take
him for all in all, be is the greatest of modern tenors
He was called for at the conclusion of each act, and
twice at the fall of the curtain, an honour that, as far as
our recollection serves us, has never before been
conferred upon any singer in England. Ma-
dame Castellan, who was the Lucia, was in ex•
callent voice, and sang and acted beautifully.
She is par excellence the Lucia of the day. Equal to
any of her competitors in voice, in musical acquirements,
in histrionic accomplishments she has a great advantage
over all of them—an advantage for which nothing
else can compensate youth. We could as easily
tolerate an ancient Juliet as en aged Lucie.
Coletti first acquired his fame in England, as Enrico,
and he fully sustained his reputation last evening. Ilis
" Cruda funes'a smania," was magnificettly given, and
nothing could exceed his intensity in the celebrated
" Se tradirnia to petrel," in the second act, with Cas •
tellan. The billet of Coralia, which increases in at-
traction every night that it is repeated, concluded the
evening's entertainments. The house was crowded.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME ClRCUlT.—Chelmsfo•d, March 9.

The Commission for the County of Essex was opened yes-
terday, and this morning business was proceeded with in
both Courts. The Lord Chief Justice presiding on the
Crown side, and Sir T. Wilde at nisi prius. There are four-
teen causes entered, only one of which is a special jury case.
The criminal business is heavy, there being sixty-four per-
sons for trial, and there are several charges of poisoning,
which appeared to create a good deal of interest in the
county,

CROWN SIDE.
(Before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.
LORDSHIP in charging the grand jury observed in re-
.'erence to the cases of poisoning, that there was not sufficient
care or caution adopted by chemists in dispensing poisons,
or else this crime would not be of such frequent occurrence.
He likewise considered that there must be a want of care
in the parish authorities, or of the medical officers in investi-
gating the causes of the deaths of persons who died under
suspicious circumstances, for, if they did make proper inquiry,
it did not seem probable that the offenee of poisoning would
be attempted. His Lordship then briefly alluded to some of
the cases, and the grand jury retired.
The business on the Civil Side was deemed of no interest.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—Oxford, March 9.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Sergeant Gazat.xE.)
Aden Hayfield was indicted for having, in company with two
other persons, entered into a wood belonging to the Duke of
Marlborough, tsr the purpose of poaching. It was proved
that two of the prisoner's accomplices were seen in the
wood, and that the prisoner was seen a few yards outside it,
acting in concert with them.
The prisoner was undefended.
Mr. COOKE, who appeared for the prosecution, cited some
decisions to show that it was not necessary under the statute
that all the three men should have been bodily in the wood,
and asked his Lordship, who expressed an 'ntention to rule
otherwise, at least to reserve the point for the fifteen judges,
as there were conflicting decisions upon it.
His LORDSHIP said, however, as he had no doubt whatever
on the point, he would not reserve it ; and then told the
jury that he was of opinion that all the three men must
have been bodily present in the wood, in order to satisfy the
statute, which was a highly penal one, and therefore should
not be strained against the prisoner.
The jury thereupon Acquitted the prisoner.

NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Aylesbury, March 9.
This circuit commenced yesterday, the commission for the
county of Bucks having been opened at three o'clock by the
Chief Baron of the Exchequer. His Lordship was met out-
side this town by the elegant cortege of the Baron Meyer
Amschel de Rothschild, by whom the office of high sheriff
has been entered upon with a degree of magnificence com-
mensurate with the dignity of the law and the well-known
liberality of the occupier, and unprecedented in these parts.
This county, which has been characterised at agricultural
meetings as one which was .4 from end to end pre-eminently
Conservative," has hitherto earned that title in one sense by
niggardly manner in which the shrievalty has been dis-
charged by its squires, and it has been reserved to the Baron
de Rothschild to rescue his adopted county from this oppro-
brium. It is said that the present assizes will be signalised
by a series of magnificent entertainments, to which the bar,
as well as the magistracy and clergy of the county, have been
invited, a circumstance which has only once before occurred
within our recollection on this circuit, when the office of high
sheriff for Norfolk was filled by Sir James Flower, some years
since.
The Civil Court was opened this morning, at ten o'clock,
by Mr. Justice Coleridge, there being an entry of seven
causes, ene of which is for trial by a special jury. His Lord-
' ship was mainly cccupied during the day by an uninteresting
action of ejectment, wherein the. title to a certain " sterile
dell" was in issue.

On the Crown side the calendar is lighter in quality than
that which this county generally furnishes at the spring
assizes; but it contains the names of nearly 70 prisoners; of
these there are upwards of 50 charged with ordinary
larcenies, one with arson, two with cutting and wounding,
three with burglary, the like number with manslaughter,
two with horse-stealing, four with night poaching, two with
sheep-stealing, and two with felonious assaults.
CROWN COURT.—( Before the CHIEF BARox.)
The proceedings of the day in the criminal court were
not of a very interesting description. The following may be
selected as a fair sample.
James Jackernan, aged 48, and Thomas Blake, aged 24,
were respectively indicted for stealing and receiving two
sacks and a quantity of peas and beans, mixed, on the Ist
of January last.
Mr. Wells appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Prender-
gast defended the prisoners.
The prosecutor is an extensive farmer, living on the bor-
ders of Oxfordshire, and occupying a farm in this county,
where, during the last season, he grew a large quantity of
peas and beans in one field. On the Ist of January last orders
were given to the bailiff to send off 24 sacks of these articles
to Oxford market, and they were accordingly loaded in a
waggon one night. The farm being remote from the high
road, the waggon and its contents were left standing in the
road opposite the barn, the intention being to start at three
o'clock in the morning. At that hour the carter discovered
that two of the sacks had been abstracted, and a vigorous
search was instituted after the lost property. In the course
of Monday, the 4th, the house of Jackernan, the village con-
stable, was searched, but nothing was found in it, though a
new sack, marked with the prosecutor's name and containing
two peas corresponding in quality and character with those
in question, was discovered lying on the top of an oven which
was outside the house and exposed to public view. Soon
after this suspicion fell on the prisoner; for the house of one
Sawyer being searched, and the missing quantity of peas and
beans being found, and shown to have been there carried by
Blake, it was ascertained that he had fully admitted his
guilty participation in the transaction, concerning which he
gave a long account.
His LORDSHIP having left the case to the jury, they ac-
quitted Jackernan, but convicted Blake.
Sentence deferred.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—Lincoln, March 9.
CROWN COURT.—( Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.)
Yesterday, Samuel Kinder and Thomas Frudd were
charged with being armed in the night of the 30th of
October last, at Fillingham, in this county, and, together
with other persons, entering certain lands in the occupation
of William Glover, for the purpose of taking game.
Mr. Wildman conducted the prosecution, and Mr. W. 11.

Adams defended the prisoners. -
The circumstances of the case'were fully detailed in The
Sun at the period when they occurred. It appeared that
four persons, of whom the prisoners were two, were met
by a keeper •n the estate of Mr. Dalton, of Fillingham-
hall, and, on the watcher asking them their business, one
of them struck at him with the butt end of a gun. The
consequence was that the piece exploded, the contents en-
tered the body of the assailant (the muzzle of the gun being
presented in the direction of his belly), and he died on the
spat. A coroner's inquest was held upon the body of the
deceased, and the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental
death." The two prisoners were apprehended, but the third

man escaped.
The charge to-day was proved by the evidence already
published, and
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.
Sentence deferred.
CHARGE OF ATTEMPT TO MURDER.
James Brunt, who was represented to be a common beg;ar.
but who had the appearance, when placed in the box, of
being a working mechanic, was indicted for stabbing James
Ely, with intent to murder him. There were other counts,
charging the prisoner with cutting with an intention to maim,
to disable, or to do some grievous bodily harm.
Mr. WILDMAN, without any opening observations, pro-
ceeded to call witnesses in support of the prosecution. The
prisoner was undefended.
Betsy Jeffery deposed that she was the daughter of
Thomas Jeffery, a farmer, residing at Tumby, near Horn-
castle. She saw the prisoner coming to the door of her
father's house some day in the month of October last. He
asked for alms, but she refused to give him anything, be-
cause, as she stated to him, he came so very often. The
prisoner replied, " I hope Almighty God will set a curse
upon the house," and added, " I will serve you out before I
have done."

By the prisoner—Had seen him at the door often, but she
would not say 100 times.

By Mr. Justice l'ArrEsoN—The time of which she spoke
was a few days betore the boy Ely was injured. It might be
10 days before.
Susan Addison being sworn, stated that she had known
the prisoner for many years. On Sunday, the Ist of Novem-
ber, she saw him about a mile and a half from Mr. Jeffery's
house, going in that direction. Witness said to him,
"Jemmy," hut he would not speak. She continued "What!
not speak, Jemmy, to an old neighbour ?" He still re-
mained silent, but took something out of his coat pocket and
passed on. This was about half-past four o'clock on the
Sunday afternoon.
Prisoner—That is false. I was in bed at the time. (The
prisoner spoke in a wild and heated manner.)
Mr. Justice PATTF.SON—Prisoner, you stand there charged
with a crime which affects your life. Pray be calm and quiet,
and, if you have any questions to put to the witness, put
them properly.
Prisoner7l say it is all false.

James Ely, a sharp and-intelligent lad, deposed that he
was in the service of Mr. Jeffery, of Tumby. On Sunday,
the Ist of November last, he obtained permission from his
master to go and see his mother. He came back about a
quarter past six o'clock, and on going along the close he saw,
as he thought, a beast getting up from under a thorn bush,
but on going " gainer, he saw it was a man. The man
walked on the faster. Seeing that he (witness) was observ-
ing him, the man called out and told him to stop. At the
time he did not know who the man was. When he came up
. -

to witness the man laid his hand h'right shoulder and
said.
]fir." Lad,
Justice
p whereAr arrEeso)N.o t_r_cg oainn gy u
tell me who the man
was? Witness—" Yes, theprisoner, James Brunt" Wit-
ness, pointing to his master's house, replied that he wa
ron
going there. The prisoner then said, " You are just the lad
I want." Witness rejoined, " Oh, am I ? Then I think you
won't have me, though." Prisoner instantly pulled a knif •
out of his coat pocket, and struck him on the hat and head,e
and then pulled it back again. He gave him another job on
the head, and the , hat fell off. While this was going for-
ward the prisoner exclaimed, " The people at the farm-
house would not give me anything; have you got any
money in your pocket?" Witness replied, "No ; if I had a
halfpenny, I would give it to you." He then said he would
murder witness. He threw him up by the heels on the
ground, and got his hands on his throat. Witness saw him
when in that position reaching out for his knife, which was
stuck in his (witness's) hat at some distance, but it was too
far cff, and he could not obtain it without getting up. They
got up together, when the prisoner caught hold of the knife
and passed it round witness's throat. He marked his throat
under the chin with the sharp point of the knife. Witness
made his escape over a dike, but whether he jumped over it
or not he could not tell. He saw the prisoner stretch out his
hand to lay hold of his " smock." Witness never stopped
running and crying out " Murder " until he got home, when
he told his master of what had occurred. They went out
together in search of the prisoner, but could not find him. '
When on the ground he recollected having his hands on the
prisoner's face., but did not know whethr or not he had
scratched him. He observed some slits in his hat, and also
felt slits in the back of his coat. Witness saw the prisoner
next day. His face was scratched. The constable, Thomas
Copperthwaite, took possession of witness's hat and frock.
Cross-examined by the prisoner—When did you see me?
Witness—I saw you first on the Sunday morning, soon after
nine o'clock. You said to me, "Good morning ;" and I said
to you, " Good morning" again, and then went on.
Mr. Thomas Jeffery, farmer, of Tumby, being sworn, stated
that the last witness came home between six
mber, and
cryingseven
o'clock on the night of Sunday, the ove
out " Murder!" and described the manner in which he had
been assaulted. They went out in search of the assailant,
but could not find him. They found, however, the boy's hat
and bundle. When he came in he was bleeding profusely
from the head. The skin of the head was divided half an
inch wide in two places. Witness at first thought the boy
much more injured than he really was. Could not. swear
positively that he had ever seen the prisoner begging.
The prisoner—l am innocent of it ; and, if ever I get
clear of it, 1 will go to the Queen and make you (witness)
pay for it.
Thomas Copperthwaite apprehended the prisoner, and
took the knife he now produced from hie possession. The

wound on the boy's head seemed to have been produced
by such an instrument. The prisoner, when apprehended,
had a small scratch on his face. Witness also produced the
prosecutor's hat. It presented two cuts, effected by some
sharp instrument.

The prisoner—That man has got'money to come and swear
anything. lie has got a sovereign and a shilling. I saw it.
I am as innocent as a baby unborn.
This was the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Justice PATrzsox—Now, prisoner, is the time for you
to say anything in your defence, if you choose.
The prisoner—l don't know the boy; bat will you allow
me to be sworn.

Mr. Justice PArrEsoN—No, I can't allow you to be sworn,
but you may say anything you like.
The prisoner repeated that he was quite ignorant of the
whole affair; he knew nothing of the prcsecutor.
Mr. Justice PArrEsoN here inquired how the prisoner
got his living? when the witness Addison said it was by
begging.
The gaoler of Louth prison, in answer to questions from
the judge, deposed that the prisoner was sometimes not in a
rational state of mind, and when in his custody he had been
very violent.
Mr. Collison, the Clerk of the Arraigns, observed that one
of the jurymen knew the prisoner, and could speak to the
state of his mind.
Mr. Justice PATTEsow—Well, I see no reason why a jury-

man should not give his evidence upon such a question.
Mr. Dean, a tradesman of Louth (one of the jury), then
deposed, that he had known the prisoner for many years, and
that he was generally considered by the inhabitants not to
p.,ssess his proper reason. Sometimes he was known to eat
putrid matter which fell from the butchers' shambles. In his
opinion, at times, he did not know right from wrong; the
present was the first time he had ever known him guilty of

act of violence.
Mr. Justice PArrEso,r, in summing up the case to the

jury, observed that the charge a,:minst-the prisoner was, ac-
cording to the evidence adduced, for stabbing with an intent
to commit murder, or do some bodily harm. It was one
or the other of these; the other counts in the indictment
ought not, therefore, to be taken at all into their considera-
tion. The jury would then have to consider whether at the
time he committed the offence the prisoner was possessed of
his proper reason—not whether or not, when he committed
the assault he knew the murder was contrary to the law of
God and man. If they believed that he did not, then they
would acquit him on the ground of insanity; if they be-
lieved that he did, then they would find him guilty of stab-
bing with the intent to murder or do some grievous bodily
harm.
The jury Acquitted the prisoner on the ground of insanity,
and he was ordered to be detained to await her Majesty's
pleasure.
The Court this morning was occupied with the trial of
two cases, one an attempt to commit a nameless offence, in
which the prisoner was convicted and sentenced to twelve
months' imprisonment and hard labour; the other a charge
of a rape against an Irishman named William Daley. There
was a second count, charging the prisoner with the assault
with intent to commit. The jury had not returned a verdict
when our parcel left.
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Baron PARKE.)
MELVILLE AND ANOTHER V. CHRISTIHAND ANOTHER.

This was an action upon the case.
Mr. Humfrey, Q.C., and Mr. Waddington appeared as
counsel for the plaintiffs; Mr. Whitehurst, Q.C., for the de-
fendants.
The action was brought to recover the sum of 2704 being
the value of a vessel called the Ino, under the following
circumstances :—The plaintiffs represent at Boston a branch
of the National and Provincial Bank of England. The de-
fendants were the official and trade assignees Of a person of
the name of Carroll. The amount in dispute was admitted.
The question, whether the plaintiffs were entitled to recover,
depended upon two points • first, was an act of bankruptcy
committed by Carroll on the 2d of January? and, if so, se-
condly, had the bank notice of that act of bankruptcy before
the transfer of the Ino to them ? The negativing those
questions would establish the plaintiff's rights. It appeared
Carroll was a person interested in certain vessels and cargoes,
and, among others, in a vessel called the Ino and its cargo,
consisting of from 25 to 30 tons of carrots. Carroll lodged
in the house of a widow named Harrison, and there appeared
to be no doubt that being in difficulties in December, and
having a bill becoming due on the 2d of January, that he
quitted Boston for Sheffield by coach on the morning of that
day, the object of his going, as was now alleged, being to ex-
pedite the sale of the cargo of the Ino, in order to enable
him to meet and satisfy his pecuniary engagements. At
the time Carroll quitted Boston he did not discharge his
lodgings which he held as a weekly tenant, but contented
himself by saying to Mrs. Harrison, that he was going into
Yorkshire, and might be absent a week, a fortnight, or a
month ;" but it also appeared that the day after he quitted
Boston he wrote from Sheffield to a friend of his, of the name of
Green, stating where he was, and giving his address at " The
Lincolnshire Potato Warehouse, Sheffield." It seems that ru-
mours had been afloat that Carroll had left Boston to delay, if not
defeat, his creditors; and upon that rumour coining to the
knowledge of the bank, steps were taken to seize the Ino.
Upon this becoming known to Green, the friend of Carroll,
he wrote to the latter, who, thereupon came to Boston, and
ultimately got the vessel released upon payment of SOL down,
and agreeing to pay 71. or Si. per month, or more if he could,
until the claim of the bank was satisfied. In the meanwhile
a conveyance of the Ino having been made to the bank as a
collateral security, a fiat in bankruptcy was issued out
against Carroll by the holder of a dishonoured bill, and the
present defendants were appointed assignees. By their
direction the Ino was sold, and the proceeds formed the sub-
ject of contention on the present occasion. There was evi-
dence that he had been denied by young Harrison, who re-
fused to give his address to one of the creditors ; and in reply
to a letter written to Carroll by Harrison, mentioning what
he had done, and asking whether he had done right, the
answer of Carroll was, that he had done quite right. Ulti-
mately the questions submitted to the jury were, the two
already mentioned; namely, had Carroll committed an act
of bankruptcy? and, if so, was it brought under the notice
of the trustees of the bank before the transfer of the Ino took
place?
The jury answered both questions in the affirmative, and
consequently a verdict passed for the defendants.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Salisbury, March 8.
NISI PRIUS COURT.

Mr. Justice Williams, having disposed of all the eivi
cases, took prisoners.
Anna Maria Sampson was indicted for stealing, on the 9th
of January, silver teaspoons and other property belonging to
Issac New. her master.
Mr. Slade conducted the case for the prosecution.
From the evidence these very extraordinary facts were
elicited :—Mr. and Mrs. New, with their three children, lived
in Castle-street, Salisbury, and the prisoner had lived
two years and a half with them, during some part of that
time as their only servant. She had been considered trust-
worthy. On the evening of the 30th of December. Mr. and
Mrs. New were from home. On their return in the evening
they found they could not open the door with the latch-key,
as they had been in the habit of doing. Having tried to
open the door, they heard an upstairs window open, and in
a short time the prisoner opened the door. She was iu
considerable alarm, and she then told them a most extraor-
dinary story. She said that about ten o'clock she had heard
the front door open very gently, she went into the passage
and she saw a man there who had on worsted slippers; he
asked her if her master was at home? She replied that he
was, but was engaged. Ile then walked into the parlour,
and she followed him. He then pulled out a pistol, and
threatened to blow her brains out if she did not tell him
where the plate was. She said " You wouldn't do that,"
and retiring before him towards the fire-place, a thought
occurred to her about the bell, and she said, " My master is
engaged with two gentlenien up stairs, I will ring the bell,"
The man then struck her with a bunch of keys on her head,
and immediately retreated. The next day Mr. and Mrs.
New were again out, but Mrs. New was spending the even-
.ing in the neighbourhood, when a most extraordinary kind of
I letter was brought to her, and which was in the prisoner's
handwriting; it was to this effect:—

"My dear Madam,—l was in the nursery' about nine
o'clock, grating up the bread for the hare. I heard the bell
ring gently ; I went to the door, and there was the man who
came last night. He said he had a note, and asked me to
give it to my master. I did not take it. I have written this
that Mr. Felford may speak to Mr. Blake about it, as I am
certain he was the same man. He had a boy with him.
The man went one way and the boy another. lam afraid
you will hardly be able to read this. I tremble so much I
can't write better.—Your obedient servant,

" MARY."
This letter, of course, occasioned Mrs. New considerable ap-
prehension; she returned home immediately, and the pri-
soner gave her the same account as she had given in the
letter. Not only Mr. and Mrs. New, but almost all the in-
habitants of the town became in great alarm, for the account
given by the girl spread all over the city. The servant had
lived two years and a half with Mr. and Mrs. New, and
therefore not the slightest suspicion was created as to her
veracity. Nothing further, however, took place till the 9th
of January, when about two o'clock in the morning Mr. and
Mrs. New were awoke by a great noise outside the bed-room
door, and they heard the prisoner crying out, ",There's a man
in the house—there's a man in the house." Mr. New opened
his door, and found the prisoner standing there with a light
in her hand. She said, " There's a man in the house, he has
just run down stairs ;" and she then said, " Sir, look here,
he has done this ;" and Mr. New then saw a carving-knife
apparently sticking in her body. Mr. New's first act was to
take the knife out, which turned out only to have been in
her dress, for no blood came, and she complained of no plan.
Mr. New then went down stairs, and the girl followed him.
He found the front door was safe. The parlour door, which
had been locked the night before, was open. They went
into
the parlour ; there was a bundle of things on the table. A
cupboard in the parlour had been broken open, and three
silver teaspoons and other things had been taken away. He
then went into the passage, and on the passage floor he found
a pair of silver sugar tongs. The passage-door, against
which a chair had been placed the previous evening, was
wide open, and the chair had been put back against the wall.
The back door was open. The prisoner pointed out to him
that the upper bolt had been withdrawn, and she suggested
that it must have been done by a man putting his arm
through a hole at the top of the door, which was left open
at night as a kind of air-hole to the larder. The staple of
the lower bolt had been drawn out, but the wood there was
so rotten that a child might have done it. Mr. New then
went to the nursery, and saw a missionary-box on the table,
which had been broken, and the money taken away. He
then went into a pantry that was in the nursery, and the
prisoner then said to him that the knives were gone. There
were not any knives there then. About this time Mrs.
New went to the study window and gave an alarm. The
police came, and Mr. New opened the door and let them in,
together with one ontwo other persos. They made a search
in the house and in the back garden, n
but could not find any
one, nor could they see any marks to lead them ton
suppose that any one had got over the wall. Upo
examining the bundle which was found on the parlour
table, they discovered many things belonging to Mr. and
Mrs. New; still no suspicion was entertained of the pri-
soner. About noon, however, Mr. Hill, who was the attor-
ney for the prosecution, asked the prisoner to show him
what had occurred in the night, and she took him to the
different rooms, and to the back door, and poin!ed out
where the party must have put in his hand to have undone
the bolt ; she also took him to the bottom of the garden,
and showed him the spot where she said the thief had got
over the wall. Mr. Hill narrowly looked at the wall, but
could not discover any marks whatever. He then wont
into the house with the prisoner; they went into the pantry
and the nursery. She took from the shelf a lot of knives,
and said that bundle had been retied and left in the parlour.
Mr. Hill asked her if she was certain the carver had been in
the bundle ; she said she was, because she had put it in the
bundle herself. He askedler how the parlour door had been
opened, and she said some one had said that it had been
opened with a key; that she had locked it herself the night
before, and had taken the key up into her own room. She
said the only doors that had been broken open were the back
door and the cupboard door. Mr. Hill said none of the doors
of which she had (the keys had been forced ; and she said
they had not. In about half-an-hour after this, Mr. Hill
charged her with having concocted all the proceedings .of the
night with the intention of robbing her master. She said,
" Oh, don't say so." He said the things had been found in
her box. She said she would nt believe it until she had
seen them, and if there were any things in her box they must
have been put there to injure h
done it herself, it must have beenerewtancteefie; or,4:d ifnosthznhoawd