The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-28 00:00:00

THE NEW JUDGE.

Yesterday the ceremony was witnessed of Mr..
Vaughan Williams, the new judge, taking leave of the-
Society of Lincoln's Inn, of which he was a member.
At ten o'clock there was a large assemblage of benchers,
barristers, and students, in the NeW-hall, when the ex-
pectant Justice of the Common Pleas was introduced
with great solemnity, and was thus addressed by Lord
Campbell :
" Mr. Vaughan' Williams,—On account of the absence
of the treasurer, I am unexpectedly called upon, as the
senior bencher present, to address you on your taking
leave of this society, with the view of your being created
ajudge. The task is easy and agreeable, for I have
marked your career from your early youth, and I am
wellacquainted with your extraordinary merit. Having
received a sound classical education, which ought al-
ways to be the foundation of professional emi-
nence, you began the study of the law, and
you pursued it diligently, liberally, and syste-
matically, having before your eyes the example
of your revered father, who was one of the most
deeply learned common lawyers of modern
times ; and who, if it had- pleased Providence
to prolong his life, must have reached the highest pro-
fessional honours. Soon after -you were called to the
bar you afforded proofs of your proficiency, by giving
to the world—along with an associate who was worthy
to joie you in such an undertaking, and who has long
adorned the judgment-seat (Mr. Justice Patteson)—an
edition of your father's works, enriching and elucidating
them with annotations of the highest value. You after-
wards published a work of your own; upon a very im-
portant branch of the law, most scientifically arranged,
and distinguished by such accuracy; that not only prac-
titioners, but judges, are ready to appeal to its autho-
rity. Your progress at the bar has been most creditable.
Despising the arts by which some seek to force them-
selves into notoriety, you have only striven to qualify
yourself as an advocate, and zealously and honourably
to conduct the causes of the clients who have solicited
your patronage. Thus you have gradually risen to be
the head of your circuit, and to occupy an enviable
position in Westminster Hall. For some time every
men there has been of opinion that, next to him-
self, you were the fittest person to be raised to
the bench duly estimating your integrity, your
temper, and your manners, as well as your
learning and ability. On this ground you have been
selected on the vacancy caused by the death of
my lamented frierd, Mr. Justice Williams. I have the
means of knowing that the Lord Chancellor, the consti-
tutional adviser of the Crown on such an occasion, un-
influenced by any party or personal considerations, was
only solicitous to find the man who, from his accom-
plishments and his character, was best qualified to per-
form the duties of the office, and that he acted upon the
maxim Detur digniori. lam confident, like all who hear
me, that his anticipations will be fulfilled, and that here-
after you will be classed with Hale, and other great
judges, who have reflected so much lustre on this society.
I must say that we do not take leave of you with regret,
since such is your destiny. I have now only, according
to ancient usage, to present to you a purse containing
ten guineas, as a retaining fee to plead for us during the
fleeting moments that you are supposed to practise as a
sergeant-at- law, and earnestly to wish that you may
long, in health and happiness, enjoy the high office of a
judge, to which we know you will be an ornament."
The bell was then tolled, Mr. Vaughan Williams was
warmly congratulated on his elevation, and the company
dispersed.

DEATH FROM POISON ADMINISTERED BY Afp..
TAKE.—SUNDERLAND, OCT. 26.—A painful sensation
has been occasioned in this town by the death of a young
woman named Mary Elizabeth Liddell, 25 years of age,
who resided in West-street, under the following circum-
stances :—lt appears that the deceased, being unwell, on
Thursday evening, sent the daughter of a neighbour to
the shop of Mr. Meldrum, a chemist, for some tincture
of rhubarb. It was dark at the time, and the drug was
supplied by a young man, about seventeen years of age,
Mr. Meidrum's apprentice. Immediately after Miss
Liddell had swallowed what was brought she was taken
ill, and died on the following morning from the effects of
poison—it being then ascertained that laudanum had
by mistake been substituted for the rhubarb. On Sa-
turday the inquest was held before Mr. Maynard, and
the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death," at
the same time severely censuring the young man (Mr.
Meldrum's apprentice) for the negligence which he had
manifested.

FOG SIGNALS.—The signals which have hitherto
been used on the lines of railroad in foggy weather, it is
well known have proved very inefficient, and conse-
quently frequent complaints have been made by those
entrusted with the management of this important de-
partment. It is with great satisfaction, therefore, we
announce that a new invention has been introduced,
well adapted to supply a deficiency which has long
proved a great evil—we allude to a simple apparatus, de-
nominated " Cowper's Fog Signal." It consists of de-
tonating powder made up in a circu!ar form, firmly se-
cured by tin plates. Being about three inches in
diameter, it is placed on the rail, two strips of lead
being employed to keep it firm in its position. In night
or day travelling, when the weather is foggy and the
ordinary signals are not to be discerned, this fog signal
is placed on the rail. The moment the forewheel of the
engine presses it, an explosion takes place as loud as a
small cannon. The great value of this signal consists in
its extreme simplicity and in its unerring principle ; for
no sooner is the report heard by the engine driver, than
he applies the breaks and the train is stopped. The
signal has been introduced by Mr. Martin on the Eastern
Union line.—Essex Herald.

INSURANCE ON THE GREAT BRITAIN.—A private
meeting of some of the propriotOrs of the Great Western
Steam-ship Company was held in Bristol, on Monday
week, for the purpose of taking into consideration the
course adopted by the directors of the company in not
insuring the vessel. It appears that at a late meeting of
the company, at their offices, in Princess street, and be-
fore the Great Britain left Liverpool, a question was
put to the chairman as to whether the ship was fully in-
sured or not. The `chairman, in reply, stated it was not,
beyond the sum of 18,000/., to secure Mr. Miles's mort-
gage to that amount on the vessel, as there was some
difficulty or difference as to effecting the insurance.
One of the proprietors then observed, that if the in-
surance should not be effected before the ship started
from America, the proprietors ought to be informed of
it, that each, by a separate insurance, might secure him-
self to the extent of his share from loss. The chairma n
concurred at once in :the propriety of this course, an d
sail that a minute should be made to that effect, and the
proprie • tors furnished with the necessary information in
good time. They received no intimation, however ; and
the vessel, at the time she got agrouiid, was only in-
sured in the extent we have stated, 18,000/. Under
these circumstances, some of the proprietors conceive
that they may hold the chairman or directors responsible
for their loss ; and we have heard that high legal opinion
is about to be procured on the point. On the merits of
the case we do not presume to decide, but we believe
we are pretty accurate in the general statement.—Bristol
Journal.

THE RECENT ROBBERY AND ATTEMPT AT MUR-
DER IN CHESHIRE —The officer, Mr. Irwin, special high
constable of Knutsford, and Bohanna, one of his assist-
ants, in the further prosecution of their inquiries, found,
late on Saturday night, at the house of a person named
Holland, at Northwich, a top coat, which has been iden-
tified as the one morn by the prisoner, John Wright,
when he committed the murderous attack. It was found
to be, in parts, very bloody, particularly about the left
arm and breast. On searching it, a book was found in
201.thLneadn,dwatswpoalld
tneomtes,G.
iiTi
0171
e note, pocket,it hcaosn containing n
gascaert2aoi
the morning of the occurrence, by Mrs. Fowls, of the
Roebuck, in whose house he had stopped for the night.
The remaining 201. note has been treed to a air.
Stephen Massey, to whom it had been paid by the pri-
soner on Friday afternoon, soon after the occurrence
took place. These several sums, with the gold and
silver found upon the prisoner when apprehended, make
up the whole sum of which M‘Gill was robbed. On
Saturday the depositions of M‘Gill mere taken at Man-
chester, in the presence of Mr. J. F. Foster, a county
magistrate, after which the prisoner was remanded until
Tuesday week, by which time the probability or not of
poor M‘Gill's recovery might more certainly be ascer-
tained.
RICK BURNING IN HAMPSIIIRE.—SOUTHAMPTON,
TUESDAY.—At an early hour this morning, messedieris
arrived here bearing the intelligence that an incendiary
of
property, was raging atFisher's-ppod,
about eight
miles from this town, and about - from Winchester.
immense 3;
fire, threatening destruction to an amount
of Mr.
Mr. Wm. Lanhaws,
The farm was in the occupation
a butcher, in an extensive way of business in South-
.ton On arriving at the scene of devastation, the
reporter found that t
amp two ricks of hay, of about fifty tons
which
had
been fired, were nearly consumed, and
each,
hers,
to
.which the fire had been communicated,
etw•eoreln a state of rapid combustion. Strenuous exer-
tions made to save five other equally valuable
which were in dangerous proximity with the fire,
so as they would in all probability have been
s of communicating the flames to the adjacent
cattle sheds, containing much stock, and thence to the
trtt
hhii oee ekn
ss ,
eo
m m
means
ne
farm dwellings. Notwithstanding the prompt and
vigorous efforts which were afforded by nearly all pre-
sent, the flames suctieflty burst from a fifth stack, far
removed from the great body of fire, indicating (were
other proof wanting) the cause of the calamity. This,
as well as the other tour stacks, were entirely consume&
Tne other property was saved. The damage sustained
by the fire is understood to be upwards of 1,0001., and
Mr. Lan haws is either wholly uninsured, or insured for a
very trifling sum.
The Epoque, in announcing the death of M. Ouv-
rard, says :—" Julien Ouvrard was a grocer at Nantes,
when the revolution of 1789 broke out. Being a good
calculator, and very bold in his speculations, he suc-
ceeded in less than 15 years in placing himself at the
summit of fortune. He was successively fournisseur in
1 chef of the French armies, a secret negotiator in. Eng?
land, the intimate friend of Fouche, a prhoner of state
i under the empire, mutionnair general of the foreign ar-
nlic,i of the invasion, and of the French army in Spain,
in 1523, and prisoner fur debt at Ste-Poiagie. He has"
died, after having written a work on finances and volu-
minous memoirs." .