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

•ease
, looking at the arguments by which the
elshGeotleina. n supported his moti,m, and the object
• he had in vie w, namely, the abolition of capital
itZt:lfeleet, he felt it hia duty to objt.ct to the introduc•
, the Bill on the same principle on which he
rtfeutt aVC objected to the resolution to which he had
It ,it the lion. Gentleman had brought it forward.
Os true he had not entered into a theological view
tt:t4e question, and he (Sir George Grey) considered
ket(thelad adopted a wise course in having so
eetin "e deult solely with the argument that the
tzti
tielation of the punishment was injurious to society,
eafrefore he sought leave to introduce this Bill. He
ric ,hete
" rauree to agree to the proposition, that in all cases
r, of treason, involving perhaps the most.
the ie°ll4 consequences to the nation, involving
ons,‘,3 of life, perhaps to a great extent,
Areeeh-'1 Safely dispose' of the punishment of death.
confessed he could not agree in such
.a sweeping.
tettlsrstl as this. Ile based his argument principally m
desk leis, and the Hon. Gentleman who followed him
Iseerita's° with his argument, that in proportion as the
Peek" punishment had been diminished—in pro-
the
411 to the decrease of capital punishment—that in
Ps, Garlue:\ Proportion crime hat diminished. He (Sir
b,,telni,,agreed with him that statistics were "good
4he h of Party warfare," but he would not say, that
hlaieeau taken some other parts of the years he had
tail:to, he
e would have met with differ rest results,
etiu. was not prepared to deny that the mitigation
144 he 4'l taken place in punishment had done good ;
sty
was sure no Hon. Gentleman would get up and.
it atilt 4, • •
r a sure
ought to retrace their steps .in
the e-13,ect• IVith respect to those crimes for v,-lach
hart;.sts"husent Of death had heed abolished-(Hear,
tear ofPeni,hrnent was not infiictsti for the mere pur-
-144 e sgiviug pain, but for the protection of the interests
aes,,,,,SetY of society; its legitimate object being the
elliehetion of
crone, and the protection of those interests
tuts
the Was the bounden duty of the Government. and
f"st tts
aglslature. Hie Hon. Friend was of opinion
45a th' Vunishment of death was not sufficient to deter
foatet ae crime of murder. But that view of his was sot
4144; the statistics of crime as applied to
41)44' but was derived from the crimes for which
agoi Punishments had been abandoned. But with
11t.telieh 4) the latter crimes the reason why capital
ateetnents in regard to them had been abandoned, was
for Pa"hie opinion was against
penalty it. It was impossible
tens kloerninent to inflict a to which the
lea 11` the People was opposed, and, therefore, the
than tlt formerly stood tended more to encourage crime
Many ° rePress it. Let them take forgery for instance.
lagsstleterso,„ would , w not prosecute fur this offence, involv-
ts the "Pecuniary loss, because the conviction would lead
Slid shedding of blood. These facts were well known,
eeptrevented the application of the punishment ; for
pshlie uf Parliament could last long and run counter to
• ? ulli,111°o• But what was the present state of the
punish s "ince 1841, though the law provided capital
had truents for several offences, not a single execution
that then Place but for murder. He therefore thought
tileezhY had advanced as far as it was prudent. But
411'411)4 Might be argued that capital punishments
dee „ie, abolished still further, what they had now to
Pike was not the degree to which this should take
act, 'alt its total abolition as applied to murder, tree-
tilebel?" the most atrocious offences. Since 1841 no
f„ execution k_
.‘°rElth '.",xl taken place but for murder, but so far
there aecritue of murder having increased, on the contrary
i'iro3ebltesaadi been a regular decrease. Taking the average
1, Years the following would show the results :
keel "°5 to 1815 there had been one commitment for
ts :r to 132,000 inhabitants ; from 1815 to 1825, one
193e,eZY 172,000 ; from 1825 to 1835, one to each
ever ; and in 1845 and 1846 the average was one
the
tettift 241,000 of the
population. This was
era. earegarding murder, while the commitments
‘,"'uer crimes had increased 233 per cent.
riot as aware, from the increase of population. a
force,
at and the establishment of a detective
aPearent increase of crime might easily be. ac-
°f ,ted f
4x °r• But this went to show that the certainty
.-'elltion went very far to prevent the commission
the-rrierulve• He was quite impressed with the belief that
waslpard no punishment to which offenders looked for-
ts('an se much horror as the punishment of death,
Pree tialltd unquestionably been greatly instrumental in
Preys the crime of murder. lie was quite im.
read- with the belief that, as respected the crime of
ti'lr, public opinion was not, by any means, in favour
teats° abolition of capital punishment, but that, on the
th ‘aq, it was quite the other way, in favour of it. It
tot otlla
th tecollected that this punishment was instituted
aes• e Protection of life, and lie believed that the public
bleaselree
t such a safeguard as that which capital punish-
teeee threw about life ; and it should be further re-
tiooered that juries had never evinced any indisposi-
liet,rkg' t° do their duty in cases of murder, when they be-
-11:4 the prisoner to be guilty. Nor had their been
1 unwillingness on the part of prosecutors to come
.Ward to bring the crime home, although the result
out be the extinction of life, and there was a cer-
Itluty of the punishment following conviction. Ilis
'itt, Friend seemed to think that the evil was increased
the shockingnese of public executions, and had
Fined that the repetition of them tended to harden
de Public character, and that ultimately the effect was
Ntroyed. But did they nut know that the effect
411at,he public mind was not wrought upon by the exe-
u-'ll only for did not they read of the trial, of the im-
iessive terms in which the judges passed sentence, and of
the solemn accompaniments of a criminal conviction?
terather believed that the persons who visited these
jotbons were so tainted by crimes that no further
1141 could be anticipated to their moral character.
that he Bon. Gentleman himself did net appear to think
hese "se abolition of the punishment of death would
1)114istlle effect of removing the crimes or which this
Itelte `nent was sought to be a remedy. The lion. Gen.
Idesn said that the criminal jurors would revolt at the
hits ute convicting a person, even though they believed
I,4ntlnortilly pel.
rather than that the capital punish-
Willies-4)14d be inflicted ; but he believed that this un-
ttf thiness to convict arose only where doubts existed
d
tPeoe,Perisoner's sanity. Fur these reasons he ghoul
he
Gentleman's resolution, he thought that
g,cePl:ti Penishosent could not with safety be restricted to
the vea!er degree than it was, and although for some time
Patiisrlit„,tue of murder was the only one which had been
s,4Yies,7,with death, he (Sir George Grey) was far from
I,`c tatil-%':lt the capital punishment should be confined
th t cr'ule• he thought for instance that the crime. of
Jasse. Ileasoll should be capitally punished. The Right
ttmoct concluded by expressing his intention of
Ifir,ar,ainst the Hon. Member for Dumfries.
I,SllaWe ,„tuallß thought that the Right Hon. Baronet had
"L% spree his own argument in the very beginning of
tapitr:,ech, because he admitted that the diminution of
rffeet Punishments had been attended with the happiest.
Ilarees., Ile thought that the speech of the Right Peon,
titer e‘ contained the same arguments in favour of ca-
41)ttarilishnient as had beets used years wince, when
Phaishrnent was much more frequent than
awayaent• Ile (Mr. Ilume) contends; that the taking
reg,re;d‘ life rendered life less vBl :able, and destroyed
8%4 u' for its possession. The! effect of it might be
kttlle
Inlschre fully upon perstees in the army, who had
l'•ersob"u great deal of the shedding of blood. Such
14es, 3 WOuld always 'oe found regardless of their own
10,NV44 felt then, therefore, a disregard for human . life
Vish ;.7,PerSans, it could not be supposed that ca.pital
.
e csien3.-1.4 Would deter from the commission of crimes,
Ilsrulitt"etiel'ed that his Honourable Friend s 91!
of
estPitta e- to introduce his Bill. Since the abolition
itkeeliie:hhi4ttleiellatPhlis.:uetitst,hhinethyeanttsmionrecertain crimes, it was an un•
crimes had diminished. The
"lie, `'l). Baronet admitted the fact himself. He did
had not the power to continue such a
linnaett) land he therefore did hope that the Bill of
aliallsrable Priced would be introduced.
"14 at; GLIONBY said that the Right Hon. Baronet
egain'luformed when he said that public opinion was
tohe e3h,the Bill. As far as he could see, it was quite
4411. Q-rarY• Ile would support the introduction of the
„
-ERT INGLIS considered that human legis-
Panis-is't4'hWuuld not be sanctioned in the abolition of the
411thopttuent of death for wilful murder, they had the
e,er si.;t3:, of the word of God for its infliction, " Whose-
tlqcl 7,(''18 the blood of man, by man let his blood b. e
11Pceel, " would oppose the introduction of the Bill
teoogical grounds.
btutirat
cdi4ithtsetrieons
sXistre. '4OTHERI'ON said that when the slave trade
Nveern,,erety were persons ready to justify it by scrip-
Te words did not convey a precept,s
pointed out the law of retribution, thei wsotrde
4wore till same character as these, " lie who loves
ire Perish by
ue
"'s then-divided, when there appeared—
Fosr the motion 4l
41gainst it .. 81
Ro the e, Ifajority —4o
a -c4lon• Was lost.
&eed GREECE.
sea,3
11111
—•
MANNERS said that in consequence of the
13er P07,14,..,1„e absence of the
.Noble Lord the Secretary
talath," Affairs that evening, he was compelled, re-
'reset t° Postpone his motion on the subject of the
Cott,pconditton of Greece to Thursday, the 18th inst.
-4C
Tl°lg OF AGRICULTURAL STA-
, keAIL TISTICS.
NER GIBSON, in moving for leave to in-
itit-e(' a Bill for the collection of agricultural statistics
ugland
"rY and Wales, said that it would not be neces-
Ivai trouble the House at any length upon a Bill of
dal every
es es one must see the utility. England and
trriet:
44 ere divided into superintendent registrars dis-
soih ea'elfcgistrars districts. It was proposed to obtain
registrar's district., through England and
tAiltre3-te retcu,rrn
veouT the re wired, by districts through
a person to be
f dbe piaacedlcultural enumerat ~ and upon whom
.13rtia, to e the duty of leaving with every farmer a
14.ttheruit7filled up. and then, having taken it from the
tstrat.' would be forwarded to the superintendentir!-
,sohdo,' who would forward it to the registrar-genera in
a) the -se 'V whom the document would be transmitted
..;e c)--e67eadr`lt,o)fETrad operation of that Bill would
LO extend its
and Wales, if it were thought
andtithe ereecoostissni_de.rateinon by which the executive. could obtain
ope.ratiotng'to Ireland, a plan was
tiaileaurigo_rtiethueiLtri.yattrieturns. lie (lid not think it necessary U,
the upon the importance of obtaining a knowledge of
produce of the United Kingdom, and he
ettileulat `fit any plan which had been proposed better
the e" to effect that object. It was important that
barluttunicid know the number of acres sown with wheat,
some the oa,e• lie would, however, lay the Bill be-
th,
tiT, and then they would be better able to judge
aehinery by which it was worked.
Lill ttioielllNlE did not agree with the principle of the
tout • Itt to be introduced. Under the present Com-
ateert .
r of Tithes Act, the acre and their produce were
a us'oe_
sated to a square yard and a bushel. It would be
taeosi‘wai:ri:,,eot.eetellixtdypebnedmitaudree.of the public money, and the pro-
retuest occupy until the day of judgment before the
the ~,,,tijNLEY said that unless they took a return of
produced, as well as the number of acres
quantity /yould be very little nearer ascertaining the
have
of food produced.
4ttl was then given to bring in the Bill.

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, ece.) 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.

Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN moved for a return of the number
of persons who have died in each parish in Ireland,
during each month, since the Ist day of November, 1846,
in so far as the same can be ascertained by information
derived from the inquiries of the constabulary, and from
the officiating clergymen of the several n ligious denomi
nations, specifying the number who have died from star-
vation or disease mist quent upon insufficiency of food,
with a summary for the whole of Ireland.
Several Hun. Members successivoly objected to the
return, on the ground of the impossibility 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, hut 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 it they were not likely to be con-
reel. lie 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 m,ving for
these returns, and by every other means to cad the at-
tention of the civilised world to the fact that his coun-
trymen wire allowed to perish like vermin. It was
with such a view that he had ask d the Government for
these returns.
Mr. HUME said that the lion. Member had imide a
very strange assertion. He had inferred that if this
country had done its duty, not one single individual
would have perished. lie (Mr. Hume) thought that so
far from any charge being brought against the hurna-
tnanity of this country, it ougl.t to be considered as
having exceeded in that quality. He 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 made
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 cut unjust in
itself, and yet impossible to answer.—The returns were
then granted.
Sir HENRY HALFORD moved for a Committee of
the whole House, to take into consideration the Bth and
9th Vie., c. 77, being An Act to make further regu-
lations respecting the ticket, 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
should 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;
al.o, 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 71,000,0001. 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 Churches in Scot-
land Bouverie, Sir James Graham, Sir John
Paltiegton, 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.

eveniß

The Report of this Bill was received, and the BI
ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL. _

The Committee on this Bill was postponed till the
14th of April.
SPANISII BONDHOLDERS.
Lord GEORGE 1114',NTINCIii 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 fur
Ireland, and deprecating the unproductive works hitherto
carried on by the Government.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at a Quarter to Eight o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)
TUESDAY, MARCH 9.
PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
Motion made, and Question put, " That leave be given to
bring in a Bill for the total repeal of the Punishment of
Death." The House divided :
MINORITY—AYES, 41.
Aglionby, 11. A. Escott, Blckliam I'echell, Captain
Balite, Walter Fielden, John Strickland, Sir G.
Barclay, David Hamner, Sir John Tancred, 11. W.
Barnard, E. G. Dindley, C. Thornely, T.
Bewring, Dr. Hutt, William Trelawny, J. S.
Brotherton, Joseph Kelly, Sir Fitzroy Turner, Edmund
Brown, W. Lawless, Cecil Walker, Richard
Castlereagh, 'Vise. Mackinnon, W. 'Warburton, 11.
Christie, W. D. M`Carthy, Alex. Williams, W.
Crawford, W. S. Milnes, It Monckton Yorke, Henry R.
Currie, R. Morison, General
Dennistoun, J• Muntz, G. F. TELLERS.
D'Eyncourt, C. T• O'Brien, C. Ewart, William
Duncan, George O'Cennell,•John Hume, Joseph
Ellis, Wynn Pattison, James

THE SUN, LONDON, 'WEDNESDAY, EVENING, IviARCH- to, 1847.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE•

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME ClRCUlT—Chelmsbrd, March 9.
The Commission for the County of Essex was npened 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-fimr per-.
sons for trial, and there are several charges of poisoning,
which appeared to create a good deal of interest in the
county.

Lucia dc 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 I)onzelli, 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 Dupree was ten
years since. His voice is a pure voce di pato of im
mense power, and of great compass. He sung the
whole of the music of Edgard()' 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. Edgardo 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. Ile had not been on the stage three minutes be-
fore the audience felt that they had a great musician, and
also a most impassioned actor before them. His mariner
of giving the words—
" Qui di sposa sterna fede,
Qui nii giura,"
was superb, and the concluding dust with Castellan—
" Verranno a te sull aura,"
at once secured to him his position. The audience
listened in breathless silence to the conclusion, an l then
there was a burst of enthusiastic applause, which was
repeated again and again, and at the full Gf 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. \Vnile, however, as faithful
reporters, we record the fact tnat 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 transcendant
genius. Then fellowed a magnificent histrionic effort
on the part of Fraschini. Our readers will remamber
the scene in which Edgard() curses the moment that he
loved Lucia—
" Maledetto sia l'istante,
Che di te nii rese amante."
Never has this passage been given with such power,
such pathos, and such effect as it was last night given by
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.
" Tombs degli avi miei l'ultimo avanzo,
D'una stirpe infelice
Deh I raccoglete voi."
They were the accents of utter despair, and the deli-
cious pathos which he infused into hisa
dying address
aste
to
the soul of Lucia. " Ter che Dio Spilg
Asi," was quite heart-rending. It was
impossible not to feel for him and, with him.
it Never
lasthas
this scene been more perfectly given, than was
night by Fraschini. Rubini, who
wh equalled him in pathos
giver
was deficient in power. :loriani, o had greater po
than Rubini, was not equal to Fraschini in pathos. Take
him for all in all, he is the greatest of modern tenors
He was called for at the conclusion of each act, and
twice at the fall of the curtain, au honour that, as far
been
as
our recollection serves us, has never before
singer in England. Ma-
conferred upon any
dame Castellan, who was the Lucia, was in ex•
cellent voice, and sang and acted beautifully.
She is par excellence the Lucia of the day. Equal to
in histrionic accomplishments :he has a great advantage
over all of them—an advantage for which nothing
any of her competitors in voice, in musical acquirements,
else can compensate youth. We could as easily
tolerate an ancient Juliet as an aged Lucie.
Coletti first acquired his lame in England, as Enrico,
and he fully sustained his" repu magnificently givlast eveningen, an. llid
s
" Cruda funesta stnania, g
nothing conid exceed his intensity in the celebrated
was
" Se tradirnia to putrid," in the second act, with Cas •
tellan. The ballet of .Coralia, which increases in at-
xaction every night that it is repeated, concluded the
entertainments. The house was crowded.

CROWN SIDE.
(Before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.
His LORDSHIP in charging the grand jury observed in re-
ference 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 b, a want of care
in the parish authorities, or of the medical ffieers iu 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 offence 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 GIRL' ti T.-o.2ford, ALtrelt 9.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Sergeant GAZELRE.)
Aden Holafielti was indicted for having, in company with two
other persons, entered into a wood belonging to the Duke of
Marlborough, tpr the purpose of poaching. It was proved
that two of the pi isouer'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. CoottE, who appeared for the prosecution, cited some
decisions to show that it was not necessary under the statue
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 Lonnsna. 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 CIRCUI I.—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 ..legant coWge 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 -' from end to end pre-eminently
Conservative," has hitherto earned that title in one sense by
the 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 tnagistracy 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 fur 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 au entry of seven
causes, ene of which is for trial by a special jury. His Lord-
ship was mainlycccupied 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 BARON.)
The proceedings of the day hi the criminal court were
not of a very interesting description. The following may be
selected as a fair sample.
James Jackernax, 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.
Ilia LoaDsitir having left the case to the jury, they ac-
quitted Jackernan, but convicted Blake.
Sentence deferr4d.

THE PRESENT STOCK OF FOOD
IN THIS COUNTRY.
We perceive in the Gardeners' Chronicle returns from
various parts of the country of the stock of food at pre-
sent in the hands of farmers, as compared with the
quantity usually held at this season of the year. The
returns from this county are from six different districts,
and they have been furnished by practical men, who, it
is stated, in most cases also consulted with their neigh-
bours before sending their reports. The return for the
district around Launceston was prepared by Mr. J.
Wills, who gives the quantity of wheat at present on
hand at about an average for the season ; barley, not
two•thirds of the usual stock ; oats, little more than
seed on hand ; potatoes, none ; turnips and other roots,
rotting ; hay, in great abundance ; the extent of when
sown ho states is above the average, but in appear.
anFe the late sown is sickly. For the district about
Saint Germans the return is by Mr. R. Polgre",
who states the stock of wheat and barley on hand
to be about the average ; of oats, the usual quan-
tity ; potatoes. bad and scarce ; turnips and other
roots, in some places rotting ; hay, plenty and good.;
the wheat sown he gives as about the average, and
at
rpi pc
te atrhaenrceet
return
t isrn svhe
yr y
)fir.thin.
J.
Froorl
strhde, NX. a
Clappd eb ridegr,e Who-
states the quantity of wheat on hand to be an average ;
barley, not quite an average stock ; oats, about as usua.l;
a great scarcity of potatoes ; turnips and other roots in
ex-
fair proportion ; hay, above the average stock ; the
tent of wheat sown is about as usual, and the early
sown wheat looks well. Mr. J. Roberts, of St. Austell,
reports an average stock of wheat on hand in that dis-
trict ; the stock of barley and oats is short ; there are
scarcely. any potatoes ; the stock of turnips and other
roots is small, owing to root ; hay is plentiful ; the ex-
tent of wheat sown is above an average, and in appea.r-
ance the plant is backward but healthy. For the district
around Truro the return is furnished by Mr. W. F.
Karkeek, who sates that there is at present an
average stock of wheat in the hands of farmers ; of
barley and oats less than the usual stock; potatoes, very
few; turnips and other roots are one-half rotten ; of hay
there is a large stock ; the usual extent of wheat has
been sown, and in appearance it is thin but healthy. Mr.
J. Peters, of Tehidy, reports an average stock f
ot wheat
on hand in that district, two-thirds the usual stock o
ure
barley, and a deficiency of oats ; of potatoes
rotting ; the
none for sale ; turnips and other roots are
hay is good ; the usual extent of wheat
llhas ?een
onclusown,
and its appearance is healthy.—The foowing c-
sions are deduced from the returns from different part
is
of the kingdom :—That the present stock of wheat
probably one-fifth or one-sixth less than usual, and ghat
probably appearances are against an early barvesht ; that
there is very little more barley in the country t an v.7:11
suffice for seed ; that the stock of oats, beans_anc.l peas
in the country for seed only, because no one
.eshirest
.o
are unusually short ; that there are enoug
plant the usual quantity ; that turnips are
dveis or in
quantity, and much injured by the frost, an thus a very
h of potatoes
large stock of hay is at present held. It appears thatd
Scotland is as yet below an average, owing to the !eve-
the extent of wheat sown in the north 9f England an
rity of the winter, which has delayed all field operations;
but a full average has been got in over most of England,
and there can be no doubt that an unusual extent will
be sown.

MI DL AA' D C 1 BC Ul T. —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 Fillingliam, 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 on the estate of Mr. Dalton, of Fillinghern-
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
spot. 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 WILDER.
James Brunt, who was represented to he a common beg2,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. file
prisoner was undefended.
g
ing
efTuaaphtsohot Betsynreer at,sahs
sehs
JJsoihelheuoett. fersueusessrar
etyysv
ra,oe
dtdaaheenefptdaaooarpsaymerhdideiisdnnroe:ntd: lerhi,reaeh,stc,
imise
conNI wasstoetame stiono,uvoenyttethe:b:reeyoybieddroonoaureu,
tliaarge
rsnbht.eoth.
flfoor
nitoeeferl
asked for alms, but she refused to give him anything, be-
cause,ill
re
prisoner replied, " I hope Almighty God will set a curse
have done."

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

By Mr. Justice ra'rrEsoN—The time of which she spoke
was afebwefdadryeis.
Susan
before the boy Ely was injured. It might be
prisoners
e sawfe
daysl:e
h Ado on being sworn, stated that she had known
t
. r many years. On Sunday, the Ist of Novem-
ber,him about a mile and a half from. Mr. Jeffery'e
house, going in that direction. Witness
in
said to him,
" Jemmy," but he would not speak. She
.s.tWillhat!
not speak,
Jemmy,
to an old noighbouer ?n'
re-
mained silent, but took something -out of hiso
c,toaute
lie
pdocket 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 PATTESON prison
with a crime which affects your .'
you stand there charged
life. Pray be calm and quiet,
and, if you have any questions to put to the witness, put
them properly.
I'risoner-1 say it is all false.
James El)', a sharp and intelligent
f lad, deposed that he
was in the service of Mr. Jeffery,
the Ist of November last, he obtained
Tumby. On Sunday,
nepermission from his
master to go and see his mother came back about a
quarter past six o'clock, and on going, along the close he saw,
as he thought, a beast getting from under a thorn bush,
but on going "gainer," he saw it
w was a man. The man
walked on the faster. Seeing that he (witness) was obse -
ir.g him, the man called out and told him to stop. At r‘
- the
time he did not know who the man was. When he came up
to witness the man laid his hand his right
on shoulder and
said. " Lad, where are you going?"
Mr. Justica PArrEs .
oN—Can you tell me who the man
was? Witness—" Yes, the prisoner, James Brunt."
Wit-
ness, pointing to his master's house, replied that
_. he was
" 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 knife-
out of his coat pocket, and struck him on the hat and head,
and then pulled it back again. He gave him another job on
the head, and the hat tell 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
fox off, 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 witk 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 pound he recollected having his hands on the
prisoner's face, but did not know whethr or not he had
scratched him. lie 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-1 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 and seven
clock on ibe night of Sunday, the Ist of November, crying
out " Murder!" and described the manner in which lie 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 lie came
the head in he waswas bleedidivn ided g pro
half an
fusely
from the head. The skin of
inch wide in two places. Witness at first thought the boy
much more injured than he really was. Could not swear
i ositivelv that he had ever seen the prisoner begging.
*I The prisoner —I am innocent of it ; and, if ever I get
c4ear 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 hi 3 possession. The

---- -
At a certain German town, last autumn, there was atrernen-
dons furor about Jenny Lind, who, after driving the whole,,
•it her travels early one morning. Ihe
place mad, lett on
GEMNY.—JENNY LIND AND THE STUDENTS.—
who had escorted it, ru,bed ack to the inn,
demandedant students,
to be shown Jenny's bedroom, and swept like a
wirlwind up stairs into the room indicated to them, tore
ram-
moment her carriage was outside
.the gate_s,ba pack of
up the sheets, and wore them in strips as decorations. An
hour or two afterwards a bald old gentleman, of amiable
an Englishman, who was staying in the hotel,
appearance,tobakfast at the table- d'hOte, and was observed to
came
be much disturbed in his mind, i and to show great terror
whenever a student came near him. At last he said, in
a low voice, to some who came near him at table " You are
English gentlemen, I observe? Most extraordinary people
these German students; as a body, raving teed gentlemen." '
"Oh no," said somebody, ',',0n,1,y excitable, but very good
fellows, and very sensible. By heavens, Sir !" returned
the old gentleman, still moredisturbed," then there's some-
thing nolitical in it, and I am a marked man. I went out
Jerrold's Weekly
for a little walk this morning, after shaving, and while 1
was
'Tglahse parish of gone,"—he fell into a terrible perspiration as he told it—
into the greatest con.
,i they burst into my bedrooni, tore up my sheets, and
are now patrolling the town in all directions with bits of
'em tone their button-holes."—ln tillii,eigeTnrafrunslioern.
From what
had
‘ ared j
Marl-
ton,'
sternation, in consequence of the mysterious disappearance
, igsi
oyn as
tp,ri
ei
Eir this
R. into
county,
ut
rt
nhs
teyc, WI
Rhr
coa is: gm r os
been Toni k 11.--cr
thrown
we can learn respecting the affair, Mr. Serjeant was pro-
ceeding home from Cambridge market, ou Saturday, the
13th instant, and being a person much given to drink, he
of Mr. Page Serjeant, of that v
called at the White Horse at Barton, which place he left at
about twelve o'clock at night, in a state of intoxication, and
has not since that time been seen or heard of. Mr. Serjeant
mostly took sums of money home with him, and it is teared
that he must have been met by some person who knew his
habits, and robbed or perhaps murdered him. His rela-
tions have caused every possible search to be made for him,
but without success; and on Sunday last nearly sixty per-
sons were engaged the whole day in searching every hedge
and building, and dragging every broak between Newnham
ane Harlton, but no trace of the poor manhas yet been di •
s-
covered.—Curnbridge Adveritser.
RETIREMENT OF MR. VALE FROM THE STAGE.—
Vale, the veteran comedian, to whom we have all been
indebted for many a hearty laugh, takes his farewell
at the Surrey, on Wednesday, the 17th • inst. We all owe
Vale a debt of gratitude. As boys, we looked forward to
seeing Vale as one of the greatest treats of the holidays.
As men, he has beguiled for us many an hour which would
otherwise have hung heavy on our hands. Vale is now about
to say va!e; and as an honest, worthy fellow, and the best
of choice spirits, the least his admirers can do for him '
is to
give him " a bumper at parting."

wound on the boy's head seemed to have been produced
by such an instrument. The proner, when apprehended,
had a small scratch his face. Witness also produced the
vos,Tutpr's bat. It prcsented two cuts, effected by some
sharp instrument.

Th.? prisoner—That roan has got money to come and swear
anything. Ile has got a sovereign and a shilling. I saw it.
lain as innocent as a baby unborn.
This was the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Justice PATTESON—Now, prisoner, is the time for you
to say a ,ythiag in your defence, if you choc s
The prisoner—l don't know the boy; but will you allow
me to be sworn.

air. Justice-Parrasolt—No, I can't allow you to be sworn,
but you may say anything you like.
The prisoner repeated that he was (trite ignorant of the
whole affair; he knew nothing of the pra sec ,tor.
11-. Justice ParrEsux here inquired h w the prisoner
got his living? when the Witt ess Adciisun said it was by
begging.
The gaoler of Louth prison, in answer to questions from
the judge, deposnd that the prisoner was sometimes not in a
ratio ail state of mind, and when in his custody he had been
very viols n'.
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 Parrasow—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), thus
&reed, that he had known the prisoner far many years, and
that he was generally considered by the inhabitants not to
passess 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
au act of violence.
Mr. Justice PATTESON, in summing up the case to the
jury, observed that the charge against the prisoner was, ac-
cording to the evidence adduced, fur 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 ho committed
the assault he knew the murder was contrary to the law of
Gad 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 witk 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.)

MELVTILLE ♦ND ANOTHER V. CHRISTLE AND 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 270/, 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.
Tne 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 coming 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 301. down,
and agreeing to pay 7/ or 81. per month, or more if lie 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 I'RIUS COURT.
Mr. Justice Williams, having disposed of all the cis,
cases, took prisoners.
Anna Maria Sampson was indicted fur stealing, on the 9th
of January, silver teaspoons and other property belonging to
Isaac 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 in
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 it her master was at borne? She replied that he
was, but was engaged. He 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 gentlemen 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
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 luxe. 1 heard the bell
ring gently ; I went to the door, and there was the man wh
carne 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
t hat Mr. Falford may speak to Mr. Blake about it, as I a:n
cettain 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
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 pain.
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 open,
in the parlour had been broken and three
silver teaspoons and other things had been taken away. He
then went into the passage, and on the passage door 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. Abohis ti
me m Mrs.
New went to the study window and gave ut t
an ala The
police came, and Mr. New opened the door and let them in,
together with one or two other persons. They made a search
in the house and in the back garden, but could not find any
one, nor could they see any marks to lead them to
suppose that any one had got over the wall. Upon
examining the bundle which
.was found
.on the parlour
table, they discovered many things belonging the p an.d
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
d ffcrent rooms, and to the back door, and p in,ed out
where the party mikt have put in his hand to have undon;
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 went
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. lle asked her haw the parlour door had been
opened, and she said some one had said that it hai been
opened with a key; that she had locked it herself the nighl
before, and had taken the key up into her own ro,to
said the only doors that had been broken open were tt;e back
door and the cupboard door. Mr. Hill said none of the doors
of which she had the keys had been forced ;a.nd 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 masterthed said,
" Oh, don't say so." Ile said the things had be entound in
her box. She sail she would not believe it until she had
seen them, and if there were any things in her box they must
have been put there to injure her character; or, if she had
done it herself, it must have been when she did not know