The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-22 00:00:00

THE BANK OF FRANCE.

The report of the operations of the Bank of France
during the year 1846, read by Count d'Argout, the
Regent, at the late annual meeting of the shareholders,
has just been published. The extreme importance con-
nected at the present momen'with all that relates to this
establishment, induces us to give textually the principal
portions of the document. We commence with the
statement of the circumstances which led to the loan
incurred in England, and the advance in the rate of
discount p— _ _

" Two principal facts first of all attract attention.
Never did the discounts attain the same amount ; and
next, an extraordinary diminution in the reserve has
taken place during the last months of the past year.
In 1839, 1840, and 1545, the operations of the
Bank and its branch establishments reached the
vast sum of 1,500,000,000 f. ; but in 1846 this
milliard and a half were again exceeded by 226 millions.
The mass of business was more considerable at the be-
ginning of the year than at the end. In fact the dis-
counts of the first half year of 1846 reached the sum of
818,000,000 f., whilst during the last six months they
amounted only to 800,000,000 f. During the first half
year the reserves of the Bank and the branch establish-
ments increased from 205,000,000 f. to 252,000,0001.,
whilst a contrary movement took place from the month
of July. Each year, during the summer and autumn,
from 50,000,000 f. to 60,000,000 f. in specie are drawn
from the Bank and dispersed in the provinces, to pay
for large purchases of silk, woollens, wines, and other
produce. About the end of November and the begin-
ning of December they return to Paris, and again find
their way to our cellars. For a great number of years
this movement has taken place with the greatest regu-
larity. In 1846, the withdrawal of money commenced
as usual, and continued, with more or less rapidity, and
and without interruption, up to January 15, 1847. The
following is an account of the sums drawn out from the
month of July, 1848:
_ _

July
August 2,901,000
September
October
November
December
January 14
The causes of this movement are numerous and various,
and it would be impossible for us to assign to each its
just share of influence. The most active of all is, with-
out contradiction, the scarcity of food. This cause has
acted in a double way on us ; for specie has been ex-
ported to the countries which sold us the surplus of their
harvest, and to the countries which, being deficient
alike in corn and money, are provided with funds at
Paris, either by the aid of credit, or by the with.
drawal of investments previously effected in Prance.
The arrival of the precious metals, sent by Mexico
to England, and thence dispersed over the Conti-
nent, has diminished in importance. From that circum-
stance it has been inferred, on the one hand, that the
metallic circulation, exposed besides to permanent causes
of reduction, had fallen off in a considerable por-
tion of Europe. On the other hand, it has been
maintained that this circulation, without falling off,
had ceased to be sufficient for the greater amount of
transactions and new calls on it. However this may be,
the increased demands for money is a fact which cannot
be contested. What then has taken place ? From all
quarters applications were made to the Bank, the great
storehouse of specie, considered inexhaustible, and not
long since deemed excessive in its magnitude. The
interest rose in several places, and as the Bank continued
to discount on the same conditions as before, the demands
were redoubled. Thus, for four consecutive months, we
beheld day by day millions issuing from our cellars, and
either in the shape of ingots or 51. pieces, proceeding to
Russia, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switaerland, and
even Spain. As to the specie thus removed from Paris,
and retained in the departments, they could not return.
to the Bank, as, when provisions become dear a .largesk:'
amount of money is required, to pay for the clalll.ptir-
chases. This situation called for restrictive measures
on the part of the Bank. In a neighbouring country,
no hesitation is ever felt in such a case. A more severe
legislation than ours imposes this painful duty on most
institutions of credit. The Bank of Prance made it a
point of honour to postpone for the time every decision
of this kind until the end of the year—the period when
accounts are settled, and when, in consequence, money
is much required. In acting so se think that it rendered
a great service to business. The bank had even indulged
in the hope of being able to pass through that difficult
period without changing its rate of discount. It neglected
no means, spared no sacrifice to arrest the diminution of
its reserves. It purchased from the Bank, and had ex•
traded the silver contained in 5,000,000 of pieces that had
been called in. It procured in Paris, and in the pro-
vinces, four or five millions' worth of gold and silver
articles, and it borrowed from the English capitalists
25,000,000 of francs. The produce of that loan
it employed in purchasing in London gold bullion
and piastres, which are being at present coined in Paris.
At last, the moment arrived when it was no longer
allowable to put off taking a decisive step ; and on the
14th of January a decision of the Council raised the
rate of discount on bills and advances to five per cent.
Of all the measures that the Bank could adopt it was
the least prejudicial which it had constantly supported
with all its might. Will this measure suffice ? We
hope so, but we dare not affirm it. Time will decide.
Since the lath the reserves have ceased diminishing ;
the securities in our portfolio remain at the same
amount ; the average of -the length of the hills dis-
counted does not exceed 53 days. This is all that we
can announce at present."
The following shows the amount of discount operations
during the past year 1,--
" The increase in the discount of commercial paper
has been 187,000,000 E, which divi,tes itself into two
.very unequal parts; that of the first six months, amount-
ing to 72,000,000 E; and that of the second to only
15,000,0001. It is the same for the branch banks; their
discounts in 1846 show an increase of 34,000,0001,
which was almost entirely for the first six months, being
for that period 31,148,000 E; whilst for the second six
months it was only 2,928,000 f. The discounts of the Bank
and the branches amounted together to 1.618,000,000 E •
Theexceeding a thoseaverage
of
theof tahmeootpmuosrne7l4tc:472eoodBfdB, aisnEgya
securitiesy e r
ti22t
the
Central
000 ,OO
Bank rose also from 124,369,0001. tsnodT7.
Ihsei 10,
theirpt7 he4sar7iv,
otOeodOr
ao4gfse,
they
value
daalu
aehiyn (gesi
an increase of upwards of 27.000,000 f. The Bank has
discounted at Paris 868,922 bills in 1845, and 926,390 in
thloBa 4d r
u 6
risen. Thev arfired
from
n increaseonlywfras
1,155 f.
n
9-10ths."
The part referring to the running accounts and circu-
lation of notes is thus conceived:—
" The different running accounts offered in 1845 a
-
maximum of 121,000,000 E, and a minimum of
42.000,000 E; in 1846 the maximum was 108,000,000 f;
and the minimum 45,000,000 E In 1845 the running ac-
count of the Treasury varied from a minimum of
90,000,000 f. to a maximum of 164,000,00 a; in 1846 the
maximum was ;38,000,000f. at the date of the 18th of
March, and the minimum 34,000,0001. on the sth of
December. This running account was at present
46,000,000 f. The whole amount of running accounts of
every nature can be called for at any time. The
3101n,000 the contrary,I.ltwas to be remarked
had risen from
800
minimum of the circulation of the central bank's notes
had undergone little change in the last two years. From
247,000 0001. the minimum had fallen to 243,000,000 f.
The 9 m 0
that the discounts, which are effected the last
day but one of every month, temporarily aug-
ment the circulation by about 20,000,0001. The notes
t'iat form that excess re-enter the bank the day
2,aoxoiOulf. u tm o'
after by the lodgments of the 30th and 31st. The best
estimate the real importance way to
•
its annual average, not by a maximum indicating only
an accidental state. The average 0f1845 was 259,000,0001.,
and that of 1846, 261,000,000 E The difference of the
two averages was only 1,500,0001."
The following refers to the general business of the
bank:—
, "The average of the reserve of the Central Bank in
1845 was 236,000,000 E ; in 1846 the average fell to
171,000,0001., being a reduction of 65,000,000 E This
is explained
by the extensive exportation of specie pre-
viously referred to,
which took place at the end of the
year. The general movement of specie, of notes, and
of transfers has been red,' ce-a from 15,096,000,000 f. to
14,868,0,0001• ,00 • the diminution being 228,000,000 f.
The movement of notes and specie has increased the
former by 259,000,000 E, the latter by 44.000,000 f.; but
the mass of transfers has declined by 532,000,0001. The
amount of bills not met was 94,0001., compensated for,
however, to the amount of 47,000 f. by different sums
afterwards recovered. The credit balance, which at the
commencement of 1846 amounted to 37,576 f., was now
50,635 E"
the branch banks are thus re-
The operations of
ferred to :
" The branch banks together discounted, in 1846,
229,806 bills, of an average value of 1,862 E, and an
average period to run of twenty-six days. The amount
of the bills from branch bank on branch bank had in-
creased from 8,800,000 f. to 12,600,000 E, an augmenta-
tion equal to 40 per cent. - We see with pleasure the
progress of these discounts, as they rendered easier the
commercial relations between town and town, and de-
partment and department. The general average of the
values held by the branch banls have risen from
54,000,000 f. to 68,000,000 E The sums in hand showed
on an average the sum of 42.000.0001. The amount had
varied from 59,000,000 E to 23,000,000 E The reserves
of the branch bank are always very inferior to the sums
that have to be paid on demand."
The document concludes as follows
Such, gentlemen, have been the principal events of
the last year. The bank kas had
to struggle against
events of an extraordinary character, which it was im-
possible to withstand, and which have not occurred for
the last twenty-eight years. It has made numerous
efforts to resist the consequences of the insufficiency of
the harvest, and of the exportation of specie. It has
spared no pains to supply all wants,
and it will always
seek to conciliate the interests of commerce with tho
prudence commanded by the rules of its institution.

most severely w
DEATHbeea
net d
the IN
w'T I:
17 SIO
countryle
felt in the vicinity of Bath ann. Bristol, which is composed of
lw
n.—earrhlre, h sbeen
of a hilly country, and in which ueighbourhoods the snow-
drifts have in many places been very deep and extensive. In
snowstormeb which c 4
many parts the drifts have been more than five or six feet in
depth. On Thursday, as some persons were passing tii,
Brentree hill, in the neighbourhood of Westbury-on-Tryni,
and within two wiles of the city of Bristol, they discovered
the body of an aged man, an agricultural labourer residing
in the neighbourhood, nearly buried in the snow. The body
was quite cold and stiff, and he had evidently been dead 16r
some hours. A loaf of bread was found under his arm, from
which it is conjectured that on the previous night he must
have been making his way up the hill, and having been pro-
bably overcome with fatigue, and lost his way, the unfortu-
nate man sank in the snow, and perished from the inclemency,
of the weather.—Bristol paper.
FOREIGN WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, FEB. 19.—We have
had rather a quiet market for foreign wools during the past
week. The London sales commenced last evening with
a large attendance of buyers, and at full totem

WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICK.
LOW, AND DUBLIN RAILWAY.
The adjourned meeting of the shareholders of this com-
pany was held on Saturday, at the offices, 449, West Stand,
Lord Courtoun in the shah.

The CHAIRMA.N announced the result of the polling last
evening for and against the report of the directors, which
was, _ _

For the report 28,018 shares, being 5,944 votes.
For fhe amendment, 12,477 „ ~

44.4,
Majority for the}
original motion 15511
The CHAIRMAN moved that the snm of 1,0007. beaked as
the yearly allowance of the directors.
After some observations from Messrs. PARRY and Bot*
and other gentlemen, the resolution was put and carried.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the salary of the secretary
should be fixed at 1,000/. a year.
After observations Isom Mr. RIIYNOND and Mr. DICKSON,
_ _

Dr. GRA" said he differed from those who wished to cut
down the secretary's remuneration. He had found through-
out his experience of an establishment of which he had the
control, that good and sufficient salaries were in the end the
best way to economy; for the well-paid servant tooth gave
better services, and effected a saving to his employer, much
exceeding the amount of his salary.
the resolution was put and carried.
Messrs. Slade and Codd were then appointed the auditors
of the company at a salary of 2171.
The cordial thanks of the meeting to the Right Hon.
Chairman, were moved by Mr. SLAVS, and seconded by Mr.
RBISIDLD, and carried with acclamation.

The Earl of Commit( courteously replied, and
The meeting adjourned.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Feb. 20.

BARKER C. TRAOUE.
In this case Mr. Martin and Mr. Willis appeared for the
plaintiff; Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Rowe for the defendant.
This was action brought by the plaintiff, an advertising
agent in the City, to recover from the defendant, a merchant,
carrying on business at Penryn in Cornwall, the sum of
1,2001. for advertisements, inserted in several London and
provincial journals, for the Falmouth, Helston, and Pen-
zance Railway, of which the defendant was a member of the
provisional committee. On the part of the plaintiff, it was
contended that the defendant had rendered himself liable by
expressing his consent to have his name placed on the pro-
visional committee, and also, by altering one or more of the
resolutions proposed at a meeting held in Penryn, and pro-
posed by Mr. Nash, the secretary to the company.
For the defence it was contended, that the defendant did
not attend the meeting.of the company as a provisional corn-
-mitteeman, but is a member of the Town Council and Cor-
poration of Penryn, for the purpose of watching over the in-
terests of the town of Penryn in connexion with the proposed
railway. -
It appeared, however, upon the evidence, that there was
no authority Whatever given on the part of the defendant
to incur any expenses, and also at the time of
the expenses having been incurred the detendant
had not consented to act upon the committee.
Another ;Ant also came •ut upon evidence, which was that
the name of the defendant appeared first on the list of the
general committee, but had afterwards been removed from
the list, and placed among that of the local committee without
his knowledge.
Under these circumstances, the LORD CHIEF BARON ruled
that there was no evidence to go to the jury.
The jury, by the direction of the Lord Chief Baron, ac-
cordingly returned a verdict for the defendant.
Mr. MAIISIN then tendered a bill of exceptions to his Lord-
ship's ruling.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Feb. 20.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Gonuntitx).

NOVEL CASE.-BE THE BIRMINGHAM AND BOSTON DIRECT

RAILWAY.

On Saturday afternoon Mr. Ashurat, the eminent
practitioner in bankruptcy, attended before the above
Learned Commissioner for the purpose of opening a fiat
in bankruptcy under the following novel circumstances:—
It appeared that an undertaking, called the Birming-
ham and Boston Direct Railway Company, had been
started ))37 Lork,lkleOd_chiehester, as chairman, and
ieeectyltiote , priAracca4l.,, committee-men. An ad-
vertiaing agent had been-engaged, whose debt amounted
to Above 700 L, but no allotment of shares had taken
place, and he therefore now appeared in the character of
petitiOning creditor. The circumstance, however, of no
shares having been taken led to a meeting of the direc-
tors, who, for, the pnrpose of compelling contributions
by all parties I,F*liad applied as allottees, and with the
e lo view of diViding sass in equitable and equal propor-
tionss, declared themselves bankrupts under the 7th and
Bth Victoria, cap. 111., intituled " An Act for facilitat-
ing and winding up the affairs of Joint-Stock Compa-
nies unable to meet their pecuniary engagements."
The Learned COMMISSIONER having heard Mr. Ash-
urst at some length, adjudged the company to be bank-
rupts, and warrants of possession were forthwith issued,
and placed in the hands of Mr. Blandell, the messenger.'

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,
GUILDHALL.

George Smith, otherwise Jardine, was brought up
before Sir Chapman Marshall and air. Alderman Fare-
brother, charged with stealing a cash box, containing
501., from the bar of the Plough. public-house, in Fore-
street, on the 2d of September, 1845.
Mr. Robinson attended on behalf of the prisoner.
It appeared that four men, on the day in question,
drew up in a light cart, and called for some refreshment
at the bar. While two of them kept the landlord in
conversation, the other two walked up and down a passage
leading to the kitchen, and-one of them stepped in behind
the landlord and stole the cash-box. He was seen to
leave with something concealed under his coat, and the
other three left directly afterwards in the cart. One of
the men who was speaking with the landlord was cap-
tured next day, but was discharged, no proof being given
that he either came or went away in the cart. The
prisoner was looked after, but he went to Scotland, and
was taken on his return recently, by Trew, a city-
policeman.
Mr. Middleton, the landlord, who now keeps a public-
house in Soho, did not identify the prisoner, neither did
the barmaid recollect him with certainty.
On Robert Coutts, the potman—who deposed in Sep-
tember, in 1845, that he knew the man who left the
house with something under his coat, but not his name
—being called forward as a witness, Mr. Robinson pri-
vately handed to Mr. Teague, the chief clerk, a paper,
purporting to be signed by Coutts, by which he agreed
he would not appear, or give evidence in respect of the
robbery. Mr. Teague showed it to the magistrate, and
returned it to Mr. Robinson.
Coutts then deposed that he was groom to a gentle-
, man at Dalston. He lived with Mr. Middleton in Sep.
tember, 1845, but could not tell the contents of the
cash-box, or who stole it. He certainly saw a man go
out with something under his coat. The witness, in
answer to questions by the magistrate, denied that he
had seen an.) body, or signed anything, about the rob-
bery.
Sir CHAPMAN MARSHALL then called for the produc-
tion of the paper, but Mr. Robinson declined to produce
it while his client was in jeopardy, as he was bound to
keep his secrets. and his position' would not be altered
by his showing it to the clerk in confidence.
Sir C. MAIM:TALL agreed that Mr. Robinson ought
not to bo prejudiced, but neither should a respectable
solicitor be a party to defeating the ends of justice.
Mr. Robinson said he had no wish to do so, but his
hands were tied till his client was discharged.
Mr. Alderman FAREBROTHER remarked that if he
were discharged then for want of evidence, he might be
re-apprehended when proof could be given.
The prisoner was then discharged.
Coutts called on Mr. Robinson to prove the paper
was in his handwriting, and in answer to questions by
Mr. Robinson, who tore the signature off before he
he showed Coutts the paper, said it was in his hand-
writing, and admitted most reluctantly that he had been
to the prisoner's house, but not twenty times. He fur-
ther said the paper might have been read over to him
beforeshe signed it, but he did not know. He had been
imposed upon by that document.
Sir C. MARSHALL called for the production of the
other part of the paper.
Mr. Robinson claimed time to consider.
Mr. Middleton said he did not believe the potman had
been tampered with, a:though the man previously in
custody had offered him 201.10 refrain from prosecution
which he did not accept.
The Magistrates consulted, and were of opinion that
Coutts could not be efficiently prosecuted on the evidence
obtainable there ; but Mr. Middleton might take pro-
ceedings hereafter if he found himself in a better position,
The parties then retired.
CITY POLICE COMMITTEE.

A 'busman in the service of a Mr. Birch, in Horse•
ferry-road, was fined 55., and costs, for loitering.
Defendant said he could not pay•the fine. He had
for some time paid a penny a day to his master's fund
for the purpose of paying fines ; but having been dis-
charged he was unable to get the amount levied on him.
The unlucky fellow here introduced a printed copy of
the rules regulating the fund, and which states that, for
the security of the master, as well as the protection of
the men, the latter shall pay a penny to his employer, in
addition to his day's work, for the purpose- of paying
fines and other charges that might be made against
them.

Mr. Alderman Ginn thanked the defendant for the
bill. They had often heard of such funds, but they
never got any legal proof of their existence; this bill,
however, had cleared up the doubt. Greater penalties'
could now be made, and, if those failed, imprisonment
must be resorted to.
The bill was impounded by the police authorities.
BOW -STREET.
Mr. Edward Whistler, a pawnbroker in the Strand,
was summonei to show cause why he detained a gold
, hunting watch, the property of the Hon. Robert Arthur
Arundell, which was pledged at his shop by a man
named Alexander, who obtained it from the owner for
the purpose of repairing it.
Mr. Whistler admitted the possession of the watch,
which he produced.
Mr. Arundell stated that he resided at No. 17, Dover-
Street. He identified the watch, which he valued at 301.
He left it with a watchmaker named Alexander, in Par-
liament-street, about July last year, to be regulated. He
applied for it several times, but never succeeded in ob
taining possession of it. He never gave any one autho-
rity to pledge it. He ase,ertained from policeman Cooper
about a week ago, that it was at Whistler's.
An attorney who appeared for Mr. Whistler, took
several objections to the jurisdiction of the Court; but,
those were overruled by
Mr. HENnito who added, that if Mr. Arundell had
brought an action -of mover, which was the only other
course open, it would have been much more expensive to
Mr. Whistler, and the complainant would certainly have
recovered his property. -
The Attorney-then said that magistrates had the
power by Act of, Parliament to award compensation to
parties who were compelled to deliver up property un-
lawfully pawned with-them. In this case there was not
the slightest imputation on Mr. Whistler, for the watch
was pawned by a person having a shop and carrying on
business as a watchmaker, and therefore it was very
im-
probable that he should suspect that the property was
illegally obtained.

Mr. HENRY said, had it been proved that Mr. Arun-
dell had been guilty of any negligence in the matter, he
might have been induced to award part of the money fur
which the watch had been pledged (101.) to Mr. Whistler,
but that gentleman had edited day after day at A'ex-
ander's shop, and had lane his utmost to recover his pro-
perty. The loss to Mr Whistler was one which was in
cidental to his trade, which was very precarious. His
principle had always been that when the complainant had
beer. guilty of any lashes or neglig,ences be must bear
either a whole or a part of the sum ; but where there was
no negligence he thought it very unjust that he should
be a loser. He, therefore, order€ d that the watch should
be delivered up, free of any expense, to its original
owner.

Mr. Arundell said there was also a chain and s(sp
which were not mentioned in tly

:e summons. mamma
Mr. HENRY offered to grant a fresh summons, but
Mr. Whistler said, as the decision would no doubt be
the same in that case, he would give up the chain at once.
The parties then left the Court.
MARYLEBONE.
OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT ON A CAN-DRYTER.—James
Fairchild, a cab•driver, was summoned by Charles
Blount, Esq., 29, Albany-street, for furious driving,
using abusive language, and not wearing his ba, dg e
It appeared from the evidence, that Mr. Blount hired
the defendant's cab i*Oxford street, to convey a lady
and himself to his residence. He drove regular enough
until he passed a particular omnibus, when he coin-
menced crossing the omnibus, and driving from one side
of the street to the other, until the cab came in contact
with the omnibus horses, and drove them on the foot-
way. The lady in the cab became seriously alarmed,
and insisted on getting out; and though he (Mr. Blount)
frequently called to the defendant to desist, he would
not. The lady got out while the cab was in motion, and
with great difficulty Mr. Blount prevented her from
falling. The defendant demanded his fare, which Mr.
Blount declined paying. He then followed him to his
residence in Albany-street, and used very abusive
language.

Mr. LONG said it was one of the worst eases ever
brought before him. He fined the defendant 31., and in
default of payment he was to be committed for two
months to the House of Correction.

DEATH by POISONOUS MEDICINE.
On Friday Mr. Wakley resumed the adjourned inquest
on the body of Miss Sarah Ellen Collier. It appeared
that the deceased died a few minutes after swallowing some
medicine, and the proceedings were adjourned for a post mortem
examination on Thursday.
Mr. James Pound was examined. He said, deceased was
his cousin, and they resided at the same house. She died on
Monday evening last, about twenty or twenty-five minutes
after she had taken part of a mixture prescribed for her by
Dr. Cronin. She took less than two table spoonsful. She
had taken some medicine before that Dr. Cronin's assistant
had prepared from the same prescription. That medicine did
not seem so strong as this, which he believed had been pre-
pared from the same prescription by Mr. Corfield, chemist, of
47, High-street, Camden town. As soon as she had taken
the medicine she said, " How queer I feel !" she then walked
out of the room, and he, seeing that something was the matter
with her, followed her. When she got to the back garden
door she fell. Mr. Corfield was sent for, who fetched Mr.
Weathers, a neighbouring surgeon. She died about twenty
minutes after his arrival. Deceased WAS not subject to
tits; she was lively and cheerful just before she took the
medicine.

Mr. John Weathers, surgeon, of 41, High-street, said
that when he was called in he found dec -a-•ed perfectly in-
sensible. The pulse was exceedingly tremulous, and she
laboured under symptoms of having taken prussic acid.
Finding the pulse rapidly sinking, he administered stimu-
lants internally and externally. He was assisted by Mr.
funally, a surgeon, but their efforts were of no avail. The
young lady died in about a quarter of an hour He did not
use the stomach pump because he saw that the poison was
making such rapid strides, and thought stimulants the only
chance of saving her. He considered the case hopeless from
the first.. The witness proceeded to state the results of the
pest mortem examination, which had not left the slightest
doubt on his mind but that prussic acid was the cause of
death. The bitter almond water, which formed the chief in-
gredient of the mixture deceased had taken, was also tested,
and found to contain a large quantity of prussic acid.
Mr. Johnson, of 48, St. Martin's-lane, a friend of deceased,
proved getting the medicine from Mr. Corfield. The pre-
scription had been sent to Mr. Corfield's about seven o'clock
on Monday evening, but not dispensed till about nine o'clock.
He said also that the quantity of the mixture taken by de •
ceased was a little more than one table spoonful, and the
spoon being measured, was found to held hclf an ounce. The
deceased, therefore, had taken more—probably three-quar-
ters of an ounce of the mixture.

By direction of the Coroner, Mr. Corfield, the chemist, read
the prescription, which Dr. Cronin acknowledged he had
written. It was as follows :—" Compound spirits of am-
monia, two drachms ; tincture of opium, sixteen drops ;
prussic acid, Scheele's strength, four drops ; compound
strychnia powder, two grains; bitter almond water six oz.,
of which make a mixture, and take two spoonful three times
a day."
By the Coßorryt—There is no mark to signify whether the
spoon is to be a large or a small one.
Mr. Corfield said, that having never seen either of the
medicines ordered, the compound powder of strychnia or
bitter almond water, and knowing no formula for them in
the Pharmacopeia, he sent his boy to Mr. Bell, of Oxford-
street, where he obtained the almond water, twelve ounces of
it, for which he had sent in writing. The powder was not
obtained, but Mr. Bell sent a private form for making it,
and a message that he had not got it prepared. Witness
dispensed the medicine according to the prescription, but
without the powder, and put in nearly six ounces of the
almond water. He gave this mixture to Mr. Johnson, who
called first, but did not give. him any directions about it,
nor tell him that it was deleterious. He followed the di-
rections for taking it that were on the prescription, and
wrote them on the)able.
By the CORONZII—I. do not find these medicines in either
the London, Dublin, or Edinburgh Pharmacopeias.
Dr. Cronin observed that there were two sorts of bitter
almond water, one concentrated, the other diluted, of which
any one may drink a pint with impunity. He had pre-
scribed the latter for Miss Collier. When made up at his
house she had taken it with beneficial effect, and so had
many of his other patients. The mixture produced was not
of the same colour with those he dispensed from similar
prescriptions.
Mr. Bell, chemist, of Oxford street, said the almond
water had been supplied to Mr. Corfield, because the latter
,ent for it with a written label and his own name and pro-
fession on it. The water is a saturated solution of bitter
almonds.

The CORONER—What quantity of it would it be safe to
take? Mr. Bell—That is very difficult for me to say. A
few drops, perhaps half a drachm. I would rather not give
a positive opinion on the question. If such a prescription
had been sent to my house, and I had seen it, 1 should have
waited on the physician who had prescribed it, to know if
he was aware of the strength of the ingredients.
Dr. Cronin said the prescription in question, as dispensed
by Mr. Corfield, was not his, for the strychnia had been left
out. The iron in that powder would have counteracted or
decomposed the other ingredients.
The CORONER said, as there was no doubt as to the quantity
of prussic acid dispensed by Mr. Corfield, and as Dr. Cronin
seemed to raise that doubt, he should adjourn the inquiry to
Wednesday next, that the mixture and the almond water
should be analysed in order to prove the relative quantities
of prussic acid they contained.