The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-30 00:00:00

A BOOK OF STORIES.

The name of this little volume is surely a sufficient
advertisement for youth'ul readers. " A Book of
Stories'—what an attractive title ! And fully do
its contents realise the favourable anticipations which
its title is likely to excite. The six " stories " here
assembled are all charming, and all interesting. Two
of them are from the pen of Mrs. S. C. Hall —that
pen which infuses actuality and vivacity into the
merest sketch ; two are by Mary Howitt, full of
simple patties and exquisite naturalness; and of the
remaining two, one is a fairy tale—" The Princess
Narina, and her Silver-feathered Shoes," and the
other an illustration of the happy effects of " Perse-
verance," by Mrs. Cowden Clarke. The little volume
is elegantly bound, and daintily embellished with
many attractive pictures. As the love of all children
for a " story " is proverbial, the " Book of Stories",
will undoubtedly be a favourite.

THE GIRL'S OWN BOOK. By Mrs Child.

Fourteenth Edition.

Is it necessary to criticise a work which has
reached a fourteenth edition ? So great a popu-
larity is a sure evidence of merit ; we have,
consequently, only to recommend " The Girl's
own Book" as a most useful Christmas gift to such
persons as may chance not to have met with it al-
ready. Although one hundred and sixty-seven pages
of this volume are entirely devoted to " Games," con-
sisting chiefly of those appropriate to the fireside,
and although nearly sixty pages besides are filled with
various "Enigmas" and "Charades," yet useful in-
struction is not omitted. The fair damsel may here
be initiated into the ♦arious mysteries of " fancy
needlewo!k," and even learn how to mend stockings.
In her preface, Mrs. Child makes the following very
judicious observations respecting the object for which
she compiled the various materials of her book :

"In this land of precarious fortunes, every girl should
learn how to be useful ; amid the universal dissemina-
tion of knowledge, every mind should seek to improve
itself to the utmost ; and in this land of freedom as
much time should be devoted to elegant accomplish-
ments, refined taste, and gracefulness of manner, as can
possibly be spared from holier and more important
duties ; and in all countries it is peculiarly necessary
that daughters should be so educated as to enable them
to fulfil the duties of a humble station, or to dignify and
adorn the highest. This is the reason why I have
mingled a little of everything in ' The Girl's Own
Book."

The work is embellished with numerous engravings.

THE THREE PATHS. By Julia Kavanagh.
This is a most beautiful little tale of exceeding
simplicity of design, but natural and interesting
throughout. It relates to the early adventures of
three youths of the same age, but of different ranks
and different characters—Frederick, Marquis of St.
Gildas ; Eugene Vermont, a doctor's son; and Louis
Mathurin, a gipsy child, adopted by a peasant. At
an early part of the tale a fable is narrated, which
demonstrates the purport of the three paths.
We aro told that a king, who had three
sons, declared that the one who should first
arrive at a distant castle and bring him back a
crown that was kept there, should be his successor.
The three brothers set out together, and remained in
company till they came to three diverging paths;
here they parted. " The elder brother, who was very
bold, and loved danger, took the first path ; it lay
through rocks and precipices, but beyond these the
castle could be clearly discerned. The second brother,
who was of a contrary disposition, chose another
path : though rather crooked, it was both broad and
easy, and he calculated that the smoothness of
the road would make up for its tortuous-
ness."ll But the third and youngest brother,
who cared not for unnecessary danger, and yet did
not wish to delay, took the path that remained, for,
though very narrow and steep, it was also straight and
open." Such are the " three paths," emblematic of
the paths of life, as chosen by the rash and ambitious,
by the cunning and crafty, and by the straightfor-
ward and persevering. The three youths meet with
many strange adventures, which are narrated in the
most pleasing and natural manner possible. The
young peasant's " pursuit of knowledge under diffi-
culties" is both interesting and worthy of imitation.
It is hardly necessary to say that the volume is ele-
gantly bound and abundantly illustrated, for such
qualifications appear inseparable from a Christmas
book.

?HE STORY WITHOUT AN END, from the
German of Carove. Bu Mrs. Austen.
Tnis little work is so universally known, and so
universally admired, that it seems hardly necessary
to do more than announce a new edition, which
makes its appearance with the Chrismas books.
" The Story without an End," simple and unpre-
tending as it appears, is one of those books—so rare
among the millions published—which fix themselves
tenaciously upon the memory, and which are so pecu-
liarly fascinating to childhood. As regards this in-
dividual work these effects are easily accounted for
by analysing its character—it is natural, it is poetical,
and it is German. Such a combination cannot fail to
charm, for nature is ever pleasing, and poetry united
with it enhances its attractions, and when both nature
and poetry become enveloped in the mystery and
allegory so peculiarly conspicuous in German litera-
ture (but which is only attractive when, as here, it is
founded on truth), the effect is irresistible. Nothing
could be more simple than the theme of this " story,"
—a child, for by that name alone is the hero desig
nated, in all the unconscious innocence of his age,
wanders amid the scenes of Nature, conversing with
birds and flowers, finding "sermons in stones, and
good in everything." how beautiful is the following
description of morning :
" Softly and soundly ho slept till the rosy morning
clouds stood upon the mountain, and announced the
coming of their lord, the sun. But as soon as the tidings
spread over field arid wood, the thousand-voiced echo
awoke, and sleep was no more to be thought of. And
soon did the royal su❑ himself arise; at first his dazzling
diadem alone appeared above the mountains; at length
he stood upon their summit in the full majesty of his
beauty, in all the charms of eternal youth, bright and
glorious, his kindly glance embracing every creature of
earth, from the stately oak to the blade of grass bend-
ing under the foot of the wayfaring man.
`• Then arose from every breast, from every throat,
the joyous song of praise; and it was as if the whole
plain and wood were become a temple, whose roof was
heaven, whose altar the mountain, whose congregation
all creatures, whose priest the sun.
" But the child walked forth, and was glad, for the
birds sang sweetly, and it seemed to him as if every-
thing sported and danced out of mere joy to be alive.
Hero flew two finches through the thicket, and, twitter-
ing, pursued each other; there, the young buds burst
asunder, and the tender leaves peeped out and expanded
themselves i❑ the warm sun, as if they would abide in
his glance for ever; hero, a dewdrop trembled,
sparkling and twinkling, on a blade of grass, and knew
not that beneath him stood a little moss, who was
thirsting after him; there, troops of flies flew aloft, as
if they would soar far, far over the wood; and so all
was life and motion, and the child's heart joyed to
see it."

An idea somewhat similar to the above, which likens
the rising sun to a priest, the earth to a temple, and
all creatures, animate and inanimate, to a congrega-
tion of glad worshippers, is beautifully expressed in
the " New Timon :-"
" Behold the Sun! how stately from the east,
Bright from God's presence comes the glorious priest,
Deck'd as beseems the mighty one to whom
Heaven gives the charge to hallow and illume!
How, as he comes, through the great temple, earth,
Peals the rich jubilee of grateful mirth!"

LITTLE POEMS for LITTLE PEOPLE. By
M. S. C.
The "Nursery Rhymes" of Miss Jane Taylor
and her sisters have long enjoyed a universal celebrity
in the nursery. " Little Poems for Little People "
now aspires to share their honours, and if not quite so
meritorious as those inimitable little poems, it is well
worthy of the consideration of the " Little People "
for whom it is designed. The versification is, of
course, exceedingly simple, and the subjects are those
most appropriate for juvenile readers—" The Bees,"
" The Baby," " The Robins," &c. Occasion is
taken to introduce moral and religious sentiments in
a way most likely to impress, without wearying, the
childish mind. Some of the illustrations, that of
birds building their nests and others,_are exceedingly
well done.

CHARLES BONER'S BOOK. lllustratcd by
Count Pocci.
Charles Boner is already familiar to us as the
translator of " Andersen's Danish Tales ;" he now,
however, appears in the more ambitious character of
an original author. His "Book," we are told on the
,title•page, is intended—

THE PLAYMATE.

Though we have placeditcsi,;;:ehe Plasma' e" is
certainly not the least among the juvenile Christmas
books. What child is not glad to have a playmate ?
and this " Playmate" need make no exception to the
rule. It has all the requisites a child's book should
have, containing numerous amusing and interesting
stories, several old ballads, always attractive to per-
sons of every age, sundry enigmas and charades, with
other articles of a more useful character. One very
interesting little tale, the " Madonna della Sedia,"
contains an account of the supposed origin of
Raphael's celebrated picture. This volume is, of
course, profusely embellished with illustrations.

"For those who're young and those who loco i DERBYSHIRE, STAFFORDSHIRE,
What's natural and truthful, ' AND WORCESTERSHIRE JUNCTION RAIL.
If old in years, yet young in heart, WAY.
'Tis that which must be youthful." The first general meeting of the proprietors of the
The latter class—namely, those who are young in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire June-
heart though not in years, will find subjects of inte- tion Railway was held yesterday, at the offices of the
rest in a tale of Heligoland, called " Trine," and in a company in Cornhill ; Mr. J. Mee Mathew, chair-
very beautiful, but simple and pathetic sketch, en- man of the board of directors, in the chair.
titled "The Most Difficult Path." In this little tale The SECRETARY (Dr. R. S. Mackenzie) read the
is narrated how a hardy mountaineer, equalling the advertisement convening the meeting.
chamois in his climbing capacities, happened to have The CHAIRMAN then intimated that they would in
his hut in an almost inaccessible acclivity. Leading the usual manner proceed to affix the seal to the
to this hut were several paths, all difficult to others, register of shareholders.
but comparatively easy to him. A wandering visitor Mr. WINTER HARRIS said that before the seal was
inquired of him which path he found the " most affixed he would ask one question. Was the Chair-
difficult ?" and then, with all the exquisite pathos of man satisfied that every entry in the register of share-
' nature is told how the mountaineer related that once holders was correct ? He objected to the shareholders
he had been to the valley to have a child buried, and, being called upon to affix their names, or rather give
returning from the funeral and going home to his their sanction to a document they knew nothing
silent hearth and weeping wife, he had found climb- about. The motive he had for putting the question
log up the mountain that day " the most difficult was a desire to be satisfied that the calls had been
path." Youngerreaders will hardly find so much duly paid up, and that the transfers had been regu-
amusement in this as in the other Christmas books. larly completed up to Friday night.
The first article, "The Merry Wedding," gives an The CIIAIRMAN, in reply to questions, stated that
amusing criticism of " Cock Robin's Funeral," and the number of the shares of the company was 20,000
contains a somewhat similar piece—similar in style at 201. each; 115,100 of the shares were disposed of to
though not in subject—namely, "the merry wed- 327 shareholders, whose names appeared on the re-
ding. " The Malcontents" is an interesting sketch, gistry. The bcok was perfectly correct.
in which the toes, or, as the French call them, the A long desultory conversation then ensued as to
doigts du pied (fingers of the feet), complain bitterly whether call letters had been refused to several parties,
because they are treated with so much less respect the secretary insisting that he had never refused a
than the fingers of the hand. call letter to any party entitled to it, while others
maintained that he had. In explanation, the secre-
tary informed the meeting that the board had allowed
several members to pay calls on a portion of their
shares, the calls on the remainder being allowed to
stand over.

The CHAIRMAN said that with reference to the book
he was willing to go through it with any shareholder,
in order to test its correctness, but he begged to re-
mind the meeting that the secretary, who had that
book in his possession, and under his control, was re-
sponsible for its accuracy.
Mr. W. HARRIS then said that he had seen the
shareholders' address book on Friday last, at half-past
three o'clock, and he did not then see the name of a
single director; and yet now he was told the names
of the directors were in that book. He was afraid there
was something wrong either in the office, or with the
board, about that book, and he would ask whether
the name of Robert Shelton Mackenzie appeared in it?
The CHAIRMAN replied in the affirmative.
Mr. HARRIS wished to know when the name had
been inserted, for it was not there on Friday; and
an Hon. Proprietor, Mr. Pettley, did not see it on
-Monday last.
The question gave rise to an angry . discussion,
which lasted for upwards of two hours, when it was
ultimately decided that Dr. Mackenzie had that
morning been entered upon the books of the society
as a member holding one share, to enable him to use
proxies which had been sent to him.
Several proprietors, including Mr. Harris, Mr. H.
Brown, M.P. for Tewksbury, Mr. Sydney, Mr.
Fearon, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Alston, contended that
the placing of Dr. Mackenzie on the register was an ,
illegal act, and that being such, his name had no right
to remain there. Ultimately, after an exceedingly
noisy and irregular conversation, in which many
strong personalities were banded about,
Mr. H. BROWN moved a resolution, that the name
of Robert Shelton Mackenzie should be expunged
from the list of shareholders.
Mr. YOUNG seconded the proposition.
The CHAIRMAN doubted the power of the meeting
to expunge the name of any member from the list.
The resolution was put to the meetiag and carried
by a large majority, only two hands being held up
against it.
The CHAIRMAN, after considerable hesitation, ex-
punged the name, under a protest that he did so in
obedience to the resolution ; but entertaining doubts
as to the legality of the proceeding, he had consented
to strike the name out under that protest, which he
entered upon the books of the company.
The SECRETARY also tendered his protest, and said
that he held the proxies of the owners of 1,198 shares,
giving 493 votes, and that he considered they had
been deprived by an unlawful act of their privileges
as members of that company.
Mr. BROWN, M.P., wished to know whether the
amount of 21. 2s 6d. (the deposit) was paid upon all
the shares held by the board.
The SECRETARY stated that every one of the par-
ties who signed the original deed had paid the deposit,
and that the majority of the board had paid up the
call upon a portion of the shares which they held.
Mr. BROWN, M.P., insisted upon knowing in what
manner the call of 11 had been paid upon the shares
by the directors, to qualify them for their office.
A DIRECTOR said that the directors would not be
excluded from sitting at the board in consequence of
their not paying the call.
Mr. WINTER HARRIS said that by one of the
clauses of the Act no person who had not paid up
his call was entitled to vote. He also wished to
know from the secretary how many of the fifty
original shares had been disposed of by the secretary,
and by what means he had become possessed of the
one shate for which lie was registered that morning,
in order to use proxies ? After some discussion,
The common seal of the company was affixed
to the register.
The CHAIRMAN then read . the report of the
directors, which stated that, after considerable diffi-
culty, the Act had been obtained in July, 1847, and
that the funds having become exhausted the directors
had made a call of 11. per share, which had not been
responded to, and measures would be taken to have
the payment enforced. The outstanding claims against
the company were large, but the bills of the solicitors
and others were being taxed, and considerable reduc-
tions were anticipated. The balance sheet, which had
been published for some time, showed that 39,7141.
15s. 7d. was tlac gross amount received, and that the
balance in band and some debts amounted in the whole
to 6371. 17s. 6d.
In answer to several questions it was explained that
there was due on calls about 9,0001., and the claims
were near 16,0001.
Mr. BROWN said that 20,0001. bad been peculiarly
expended by the directors; might he inquire how it
had been disposed of ?
The SECRETARY— In shares purchased for rigging
the market, as it was called, before the present
directors had anything to do with the company.
Mr. BROWN—One-third of our capital expended in
that manner.—(Cries of " Shame.")
It was elicited that a director had appropriated
2001. and upwards to his own purposes, out of a sum
he had been commissioned to procure for the com-
pany.
The CHAIRMAN said, that -after the discovery of
the circumstance the defaulter never attended the
meetings of the board, and he (the chairman) had
insisted that he should not.
The report and accounts were, after some few
further remarks, ordered, by a resolution carried
unanimously, to be referred to the auditors, to be
examined and reported upon at a special meeting to
called for the purpose.
A resolution was then passed limiting the number
of directors to six, and the following gentlemen were
unanimously appointed to be directors : John
Mee Mathew, Esq., W. Harris, Esq.; Thomas
Brooks, Esq., of Tewsbury ; li. Brown, Esq., M.P.;
Robert Alston, Esq. ; and Edward Crook Bond,
Esq.
The above board, with the exception of the chair-
man, to whom a compliment was paid, is an entirely
new one. Messrs. Hampton and Fearon were
elected auditors, and the question of remuneration
both to directors and auditors ordered to be taken
into consideration at a future meeting. The secre-
tary's salary was fixed at 2001., and after the general
half yearly meetings had been fixed upon for June
and December in each year, a rote of thanks was
passed to the chairman, and the meeting separated,
after a very protracted sitting.

TRH REV. J. P. WALSII.—We have received a -
letter from the Rev. J. P. Walsh, dated Dec. 24, 1847,
complaining of the inaecuracy of a report which appeared
in The Sun of Dec. 6, under the head of " Marlborough-
street." That report states that Spencer. Walsh was
brought before Mr. Hardwick, charged with " having
committed a dreadful assault with a poker on William
Prentice, green-grocer." In the course of the report it
is stated that the lather of the defendant, the Rev. J. P.
Walsh, called out " Go it, boys, go and get the poker;"
and it is further stated that the father positively denied
that the son had a poker at all, but afterwards admitted
that his son had a poker in his hand, but it was only a
very little one. This account was copied by us from a
morning contemporary. We are assured, how.
ever, that it is incorrect in every particular, so far
as the Rev. J. P. Walsh is concerned, and that minutes
of the evidence, as taken by the clerk, show that the words
attributed to the Rev. Gentleman were never uttered by
him ; and that so far from denying his son had a poker,
he distinctly swore that he had one, and that the whole
affair had caused him, as a Christian minister, the greatest
grief. It was also stated by the complainant that the
servant told him that so many persons had called for
debts that she was ashamed to go to him (Rev. J. P.
Walsh) for money. The Reverend Gentleman
states that " during the two months that he resided
in Arundel-street, with his family of eight persons,
his dealings were almost exclusively for ready money,
and that for six months the demands upon him for
tradesmen for the necessaries of life for eight persons
did net exceed .131." flaying, by com ing the report
from a morning paper, given it circulation in The Sun,
we feel bound, in justice to the Rev. Gentleman, to
publish these contradictions, and regret that we should
inadvertently have given circulation to a statement cal
culated to wound his feelings.
_
COURT MARTIAL AT DEVONPORT.—A court mar-
tial took place at Devonport, on board the San Josef,
flag-ship of the Port Admiral, on Monday, to try a
seaman of the Columbia steam-vessel, for desertion, and
entering on board an American merchant sehooner. The
proceedings commenced at ten, and the case closed at
two, when the prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced
to be imprisoned three calendar months, and forfeit all
, arrears of pay.

A TALE OF THE TEMPEST.
The following ncrrative regards the brig Halifax,
of Newhaven, SusEex, which was wrecked near
Cockenzie, in the fearful hurricane of Monday, the
6th instant, and the preservation of the crew, con-
sisting of seven persons, after the terrors of death had
long impended over them. It is given by Captain
Coppar, an intelligent and experienced officer
" We sailed from Montrose on the Ist instant,
in ballast, for Sunderland, but, in conseqence
of the prevalence of contrary winds, we had
been beat about so much that on the morning of
Monday, the 6th, the ship was off St. Abb's Head.
The wind coming from the south, we drove back to the
Frith, and found shelter in Aberlady Bay, in which
we dropped anchor at noon. There was then very
little wind and the weather being fine, I amused my-
self fishing, and of the 16 fish which I caught in a
very short time we cooked some for tea. At five
o'clock a fresh breeze blew from the south, and an
hour after the ship was suddenly caught by a terrible
gale, and struck at the same moment by a tre-
mendous sea, and both with such violence
that the vessel heaved as if lifted into the air and
let fall. At eight we let go a second an-
chor, which held the ship firm till ten, when the
gale having increased, she parted her small
bower anchor. As the sea washed over the deck, and
the ship, besides rolling heavily, was driving near the
land, I went about midnight to the cabin, and brought
a sharp axe, which I had ready for the purpose, and
commenced to cut the mainmast. After two or three
strokes it was wrenched by the storm, and fell over-
board. I soon cleared it away, and the ship was
eased greatly. It was now two o'clock, the tempest
raged with awful fury, and the sea making a com-
plete breach over us had swept away everything from
the deck, the single anchor had been dragged two
miles, while there we stood benumbed with cold,
which was intense, and torrents of rain, which were
incessant—utterly helpless and terror-stricken, ex-
pecting every moment would be our last. I saw
that there was no chance of saving our lives ex-
cept by running for the main. I seized a rope, tied
part of it round my waist, and ordering the men to
follow my example, I slipped the cable and betook my-
self to the rigging. To it all seven lashed ourselves
as firmly as we could with the ropes. The scene
had become so dreadful that, though I had been
thrice wrecked before, I never saw anything like it.
The wind tore and howled fearfully, thick dark-
ness brooded over the roaring deep, the vivid
flashes of lightning rent the air, the ship, now be-
come the sport of the enraged elements, creaked and
staggered, and the heavy huge waves broke upon our
backs as, clinging to the remaining rigging, we
rocked from side to side, and gasped for breath be-
tween each succeeding wave. As each sea en-
gulphed us, and then rolled past, leaving a yawning
chasm in its stead, I looked anxiously to see, if pos-
sible, in the murky darkness, whether any of my
crew had been swallowed up in it, my quailing heart
expecting the next wave would prove my own watery
tomb. A kind Providence, however, stood by us,
and after being three - hours lashed to the
tempest-tossed wreck, our crazy ship was carried
over a reef of rocks, and floated between two high
rocks close to the shore, at Cockenzie, where we
stuck fast about five o'clock. Had we been
two hours later the tide would have been such that,
assuredly, the ship would haie been dashed to pieces
on the first ledge of rocks, and all have perished.
The same sad result would have followed had the
ship been driven a little either E. or W., as the
rocks between which we were so mercifully cast
were not above twenty yards distant. Soon after we
ran ashore a gentleman came through the surge to
us on horseback, who proved to be Mr. Cadell, of
Cockenzie. He said he would give every assistance
in his power, and in a short time be brought a body
of his men, who were of great serviee to us in re-
moving a few things from the ship. He also took
us to his bouse, where he liberally regaled us, and
did everything to render us comfortable. When the
hurricane commenced I saw the schooner Napier, of
Sunderland, above us, and the Halifax had not been
on the main above five minutes when she was also
cast ashore. In the forenoon we visited our ship, and
found her a desolate wreck. However, we succeeded
in saving some of the materials on board, and among
other things, some of the fish which I caught in Aber
lady Bay, which we cooked for dinner. As we sat
down to eat them the mate said to me, ' Oh, Sir, did
you ever suffer so much in your life as since you
caught these ?' The mate's remark filled our hearts
so much with gratitude to God for preserving us,
that for some time we could not partake of the food
before us, and I hope I will never forget His mercy
in saving me four times from the terrors of the deep.

~~

The Journal de Liege, in a letter from Brussels,
says that the Russian Government has just re-esta-
blished the old duty on the oils of our country, a
duty which it had diminished very considerably for
some time.

ST. PETSRSBUEGIL—The Emperor has issued An
ukase, forbidding journeymen, workmen, and artizans
from foreign countries to enter the empire. Manu-
facturers and master workmen who wish to have in-
dividuals from foreign countries who are comprised
in other categories are obliged to make a previous
request to this effect to the chief of the local police.
—Brunets Papers, Dec. 29.
DUTCH FUNDS.—AusrmuLtst, Dix. 28.
Money.
Actual Debt, 2% per Cent.. • • •••• •• , 64%
Ditto, 3 per Cent •.••••• • • • • • 66%
Ditto, 4 per Cent.........
Amort Syndic, 3% per Cent..........
Commercial Company, 4% per Cent .. 163
East India Loan, 4 per Cent ..........
Exchange on London, at sight ••• • • • 12
Two months. •• • • ••• • • • 12
On Hambargh, at sight • • 35
Two months... • ••• • • • 34
On Paris • • ...
Two months.

Bins

I 6 3 1,,i

A FEMALE BURKE.

Rose Theyre, a native of Saint Victor (Ardeche),
was, a few days ago, brought to trial before the Court
of Assizes of Nimes on the charge of having been
guilty of not fewer than seven murders, or attempts
to murder, by means of poison. This second Brin-
villiers is thirty-seven years old, but, notwithstanding
she has greatly suffered of late, does not appear
more than thirty. Her manners are becoming,
her dress decent, her face not unprepossessing,
and her voice sweet. For two days before her
trial she had taken no nourishment, and she was so
feeble that she had to be led into court. In
1831 she went to reside at Tournon, where she mar-
ried Joseph Theyre, by whom she had a boy and
girl. The latter died at the age of eighteen months.
Her marriage was not a happy one, the prisoner hay-
ing taken a great aversion to her husband, though he
gave her no real cause of complaint. On the 20th
March, 1840, he was suddenly seized with violent
sickness, and the next day died in the midst
of cruel sufferings. On being attacked, he stated
to one of his friends, that his wife had given
him something to drink which burned his 'en-
trails. After the death of her husband she attended
on sick persons, and by her attention and appa-
rent affection induced them to make wills in her
favour. They then died suddenly, or were attacked
in the same way as her husband had been. Thus, on
the 28th of November, 1840, her sister Marianne
died in her house ; on the 24th of August, 1842, a
female named Robert, on whom she attended, died
suddenly ; an old maiden lady, named Prat, who went
to live with her in 1844, died a few weeks after, each
leaving her some property. All three, it is supposed,
died of poison, but it was only the two former who
were affected with violent pains in the bowels; the
latter being plunged into stupour on partaking of
drinks prepared by the prisoner. In 1845 a boy
named Gamondes, an apprentice at Tournon, was sent
to live with her. Though her son was a fine boy, and
possessed most excellent qualities, the prisoner con-
ceived a most violent and most extraordinary affection
for Gamondes, the consequence of which was, that
she took a dislike to her own child, and this dislike
was increased by his complaining of her conduct.
After stopping some time with her, the boy Gamondes
was sent home to his parents. About a fortnight
after this the prisoner's son Joseph fell sudenly ill. He
vomited violently, his lips became covered with a
greenish foam, and he writhed about in his bed, owing
to dreadful sufferings in his bowels. After four or five
days' suffering of this agony he died. In March,
1846, the prisoner went to live in a family named
Boutaud, and succeeded in worming herself into the
favour of the chief of it, an old man. She then began
quarrelling with a servant named Marie, and it was
proven made repeated attempts to poison her, by
' putting poison in her soup and in her drink. She
also attempted to poison Mme. Boutaud, and suc-
ceeded in bringing her to the brink of the grave. It
having been observed that Mme. Boutaud and the
servant Marie were always ill after taking anything
prepared by the prisoner, whilst similar things pre-
pared by other persons did them good, a medical man
analysed what Mme. Boutaud and Marie had thrown
up after taking one of the prisoner's concoctions, and
a considerable quantity of arsenic was then discovered.
On this it was determined to have examination made
of the remains of persons who had died suddenly
whilst in communication with the prisoner.
The bodies of her husband and her son were
found to contain large quantities of arsenic, especially
the latter; the bo.iy of Prat contained none; and
the place of burial of Marianne and Robert could not
be ascertained. The guilt of the prisoner was, in ad-
dition to these circumstances, established by the fact
that she had frequently procured poison. The jury
declared her guilty, and the Court condemned her to
death. To show the extraordinary insensibility of
this horrible woman, it may be mentioned that a few
hours after her son died she was found by a neigh-
bour, who had called on her to offer consolation, fast
asleep near the body !

10:446)1 ' rA •
CATirto 3I! Ott it

WO RSHIP-STREET.—(THIS DAY.)
A tall stout elderly man, of respectable exterior,
named Thomas Cullum, was charged with committing
a robbery at the terminus of the Eastern Counties
Rail way, Shoreditch.

Patrick Hall, in the employ of the company, stated
that he was on duty upon the platfor:n of the ter-
minus, at about half-past seven o'clock last evening,
when he perceived the prisoner lurking and looking
suspiciously about. Witness watched him unper-
ceived, and presently he espied him pop into the
first-al-55 wai ing-room, from which he quickly
emerged, and darted into the second-class ditto. From
the latter he again also made a .quick exit, and with
the agility of a youth entered the office of Mr. Grim-
shaw, the superintendent.'.Here be stayed about three
minutes, and, on his re-appearance, witness perceived
that he had a bundle under his arm, with which he
was making a precipitate retreat, but halted, under
the impression, as witness imagined, that he was
being watched, and made towards the water-closet,
which he entered and fastened himself in by the bolt
of the door. Witness waited, and in a short time he
came cut and proceeded towards the street in Shore-
ditch,,but without. the bundle. Witness now took
him into custody, and accompanied him to the water-
closet, and upon looking through a window therein
he perceived the bundle upon the parapet of a wall
underneath. The prisoner said he knew nothing
whatever of the bundle, but acknowledged having
gone into Mr. Grimshaw's office for the purpose, he
said, of ascertaining what it was o'clock. The bundle
now produced was a feather pillow, tied up in a cot-
ton handkerchief, which witness had previously seen
in the prisoner's possession.

Mr. -Grirnshaw said that the pillow in question had
been lent to an invalid lady, who had come up by the
train, by one of the officials at one of the terminus.
lie had seen the prisoner before the present time.
The prisoner stoutly denied the charge imputed to
him, and assured the Magistrate that he was a most
respectable man, but

Alderman, one of the officers of the court, claimed
him as an old acquaintance, and added, that notwith-
standing his plausible manner, it was not 12 months
since that he was convicted of felony.
Mr. HAMMILL said he should remand the prisoner
in order to give time for the production of the neces-
sary witnesses.

TIIE VERNON GALLERY.—The trustees of the
National Gallery have made their selection from the
gallery of Robert Vernon, Esq., and have accepted for
the nation one hundred and sixty pictures. The deed
conferring this magnificent gift upon the British people
has been executed; and it now only remains for the na-
tion to erect a structure fitted to receive the collection.
Until this is done we believe the pictures will not be
removed from the house of the donor, in Pall-mall.
Among the one hundred and sixty pictures, are four of
the finest works of Turner; of examples of Etty, there
are six; of Eastlake, two; of Maclise, two; of Mulready,
three, of Uwins, two; of Landseer, six; of Briggs, two;
of Stanfield, four; of Collins, three; of Chalon, one; of
Leslie, three; of Webster, two; of Callcott, seven; of
Wilkie, three; of Jones, two; of Lance, three; of E. M.
Ward, three; of Sydney Cooper, two; of F. Goodall,
two; of Sir Joshua, one; of Gainsborough, two. It is
unnecessary to state, that these aro not only examples of
the best masters of our school; they are, with scarcJy
an exception, the best productions of the several artists
—the works of their best time—Selected with the nicest
judgment and the keenest appreciation of excellence.
The trustees were empowered by Mr. Vernon to take
the whole collection, or to reject such as they pleased;
they rejected but few, and these were chiefly small
and subordinate works or sketches.—Art. Union Journal
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.—The following papers
were issued yesterday, pursuant to order of the house of
Commons :—Rsja. of Sattara : Copies of documents re-
ferred to by Major Carpenter, in his letter of the 2d of
July, 1846, to the Secretary of the Governor-General.
Copies of all orders, &c., by the Court of Directors of the
East India Company to the Governments of India, relat-
ing to the transmission of memorials, &c. Copy of a
treaty between the East India Company and the Raja
of Setters, dated 25th of September, 1819 ; also, copies
of correspondence between Rungee Bapojee, the India,
Board, and the Court of Directors of the East India
Company. Account of the number of quarters of foreign
wheat and other foreign grain imported into the United
Kingdom since the passing of the Act 9 and 10 Vic.,
cap. 22, to sth November, 1847. An account showing
the sales of Bank Stock, effected on account of the trus-
tees of savings' banks, from 16th June, 1847, to 9th De-
cember, 1847, both inclusive.

His Excellency the Duke de Broglie left the French
embassy ?esterday forenoon for Paris, and proceeded by
railway to Folkestone, where he was to embark by the
three o'clock boat for Boulogne, and there pass the night,
and resume his journey to the French capital this morn-
ing. The Noble Duke was accompanied by the Marquis
d'Harcourt, who bad been staying a few days in London
on private business. We have reason to believe that
his Excellency will not return to this country before
April next.
RECRUITING.— Recruiting has latterly fallen off
most considerably in the country districts, owing, no
doubt, in a great measure to.the rise in the standard of
height by half an inch. Parties requiring but twentybe
men had some difficulty in making up their numbers.
'
It is expected that the intended increase in the military
ethe
force will give rise -to a variety of changes in

SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. GEO.

DEMPSTER.

It is with extreme regret that we announce the
death of Mr. George Dempster, solicitor, of this
town, which took place suddenly on Christmas-ere.
He had attended the County Court in the day, and
appeared in his usual health and spirits. He dined
at home with his family at five o'clock, and then com-
plained of spasms in the stomach. He afterwards
took tea, and about half-past eight, as was his custom,
went out to smoke a cigar. He returned home at
ten minutes to eleven, again complained of spasms,
and ordered the servant to light a fire in his bedroom,
and get him some hot water to put his feet in. While
she was lighting the fire he complained of sickness,
and took a little brandy and water to keep it off. The
servant had gone out of the room to fetch something,
and in the meanwhile Mr. Joseph Dempster, de-
ceased's brother, came into the house, and hearing a
moan, went into his brother's room, and found him
lying on his face on the floor, with his head near the
basin, as if he had fallen beside it while attempting
to vomit. Mr. Joseph Dempster immediately called
the servant, and then ran for Dr. Plummer, his
usual medical attendant, calling on his way on Mr.
Harrison, of the Gun Hotel, who ran to the house
and assisted the servant in raising her master and
chafing his hands. Dr. Plummer arrived at ten mi-
nutes past eleven, and opened a vein, but blood would
not flow. Mr. Rugg, surgeon, who had been like-
wise sent for, but was not in at the moment, also came
and gave his assistance. Artificial respiration and
other means were resorted to to restore animation,
but in vain; life was extinct; and from a post mortem
examination, subsequently made by Mr. Lawrence
and Mr. Rugg, it appears that death was caused by
congestive apoplexy. There was an enormous con-
gestion of blood on the brain ; in other respects, the
body was in a healthy state. Deceased had been
attended by Dr. Plummer about a week previous to
his death, in consequence of a slight bilious attack.
He was in his 37th year, a widower, and has left two
sons to deplore his premature death. Mr. Dempster
was a rising man in his profession. He has for some
lears taken a prominent part in the political and
ocal affairs of the town, and was highly esteemed by
a wide circle of friends and acquaintance, amongst
whom the intelligence of his sudden decease created
great sorrow, and turned a day usually spent in hila-
rity and festivity into one of grief and mourning.—.
Brighton Guardian.

SEASONABLE BENEVOLENCE.—ParIiament has- ad-
journed till the 3d of February neft. We can conceive
nothing more likely to promote a Merry Chriitmas
and a Happy New Year."--Punch.

heTOCoM.B.gi
htttSeeloilfmtlhNo
INEricToELRETRAAIINNAIE.EITT
CColtPlAeßwraOFiPieß)ipbtnch of the Ulster Tenant-Right
Associa-
tion have determined to invite Mr. Sharman
to a public entertainment in that ancient and
public-
spirited town, and are now actively enCrawford
gaged in making
the preliminary arrangements that are suited to the oc-
casion. The time fixed fotf
ir this grand demonstration, oix
the part of the friends tenant-right in Coleraine, is
of January Tuesday, the 25th next.
ANOTHER OUTRAGE
AT LIVERPOOL.—LIVER..
POOL, WEDNESDAY.
.We regret to state that, as Mr. J.
B. Neilson was returning last night to his residence in.
Falkin-square, he was attacked by two ruffians, who, no
doubt, intended to rob him.
Mr. Neilson happened to
have a sword-stick with him, and, being rather an athle-
tic man, he inflicted severe punishment on his assailants,
and it is said broke one of their arms and wounded the
head of the other. Mr. Neilson, we are happy to say,
escaped without receiving any serious injury.
DISTRESS IN SCOTLAND.— trade in the manufac-
turing districts of the west still continues deplorably de.
pressed. At Kilbarchan, says the Glasgow Post, there
are as near as may be, two-thirds of the working popu-
lation out of employment. Some rartial subscriptions
have been raised over the parish for their relief, but all
that has been raised is utterly inadequate. One instance
has been communicated to us, where a nursing mother,
with twins at her breast, was two entire days without
food of any kind. One of the children died.
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY EVSNING.—We are givers
to understand, that in consequence of the numerous
outrages and robberies recently committed in this neigh-
bourhood, the borough magistrates have been to-day
discussing the expediency of having an armed and
mounted police, for the purpose of effectually putting 6
stop to such crimes, The meeting was private,

~\

FLANDERS MA ---:s,--illt.---------4 i-- NA
-
THE GALICIAN FRONTIEE..-Thl i .'1 .7149a, 1
.
says—" By the energetic represeptiitietpt.f.the '4l
Governor, Count Stadion, the Goverfap iikt - 47.,=4,,f..y!
made so thoroughly acquainted witivtik, ,
• __:_. --:.
distress, that it has voted one million Oki ' r ,, •
relief of the needy."
Q. , s.# '7l-"' '
~.,,...., irvA ,
The Francfort Gazette says, from 1-84VW1846,
the Zollverein made importations to the amount'of
287,993,216 f., and exportations to the amount of
287,102,906 f. In raw materials, cotton, and silk, the
importations were 198,907,473 f., and the exportations
110,196,968 f.

THE ZOLLVEREIN —PROTEC-
TION vEnscs FREE TRADE.
The following is a report of a committee of the
Senate of Hamburgh, on the subject of the Naviga-
tion League and Trade Union proposed by Prussia to
several of the North Sea States of Germany. It has
been presented to the House of Commons by com-
mand of her Majesty :
PRUSSIAN PROPOSAL.
CL. 1.

The states of the German Zollverein on the one
part, and the other states of the German Confedera-
tion on the other part, shall form a union for naviga-
tion and trade.