The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-16 00:00:00

LAMBETH.

On Saturday Mr. Samuel Henry Powell, a gentleman
residing at North Brixton, appeared before Mr. Norton
to answer to an information laid against him under the
7 and 8 Vic., commonly called the Joint Stock Compa-
nies' Act, by Mr. White, a surveyor, residing at Missen-
den, in Buckinghamshire, for an alleged offence under
that Act, by which he was liable to a penalty of 201.
The plaintiff conducted his own case, and Mr. George
Sn.:ith, of 24, Golden- square, attended on the part of Mr.
v,,wej, and to watch the proceedings.
It
.`appeared that the complainant, Mr. White. had been
ena by the Messrs. Dempsey, surveyors of the
G
junoion Great Western and South Western Rail-
way Junction :o survey a portion of the line, but they
becoming embar;assed were unable to pay him 280/.
due to him for the survey which he had made. The
Messrs. Dempsey stated that they were unable to pay,
in consequence of the coropany refusing to pay them the
amount of their hill, which amounted to nearly 3,0001.
Mr. White, finding that he ovoid not get his money,
wrote to the clerk of the solicitors; in which he threatened
to call a public meeting of the credits of Nlessrs Demp-
sey, and hinted that such an exposure of the affairs of the
company would not be very serviceable to t:le promoters of
the project. The communication not producing any
effect, Mr. White went to the Registry Office, Sergeant's
Inn, Fleet-street, and there discovered such omissions in
the registry of the company as induced him to adopt the
present proceedings. Before doing so, however, he, as a
necessary preliminary, obtained the sanction of the At-
torney-General, and he now sued in the name of that
learned functionary.
It was admitted on the part of the defendant that a
prospectus put in had been printed by directions of the
managing committee ; that it had not been registered ;
that the name of Mr. George Smith had not been re-
gistered as its solicitor, nor had its place of business in
Charlotte-place, Mansion-house, been registered.
Mr. Smith denied that the complainant had any claim
whatever on the company, as he bad never been em-
ployed by them ; and as to the Messrs. Dempsey, they
had been paid from time to time 1,5001. for surveying
the line, and, although they had undertaken to have the
plans, &c., ready by the 30th of November, they failed
in carrying out their contract, and the consequence was
that the company were obliged to give up the project.
Mr. Powell, the defendant, assured the magistrate that
he himself, and the committee of management, had done
everything in their power to satisfy every one who had
a just claim on the late company, and the best proof
that they had succeeded in their object was evidenced
by the fact that, though Mr. White had thought proper
to institute a similar proceeding at the Mansion-house,
and though the proceedings there had been protracted
from day to day, not a single individual was found to
come forward to make a complaint. An irregular,
lengthy, and somewhat pt'ssonal discussion followed,
which Mr. Norton at length pui; an end to, declaring his
opinion to be that the case was 01Ply proved against
the defendant. He convicted him in tLp full penalty of
20/. and expenses.
Mr. Smith gave notice of appeal against the decision.

.CLERICAL PUNISHMENT IN THE MIDDLE AGES.—A
curious discovery was made more than a cartury ago, during
some excavations near the chapter-house, uljoining Thorn-
ton Abbey, Lincolnshire. It was first mentioned Thatt upuke-
ley, who visited the ruins in 1772. He says, " on
taking down the old wall there, they found a
to mahave n with
been
candlestick, table, and book, who was suppo sal
immured." Tradition has always asserted thtt it was an ab-
bot who suffered this punishment. The skeletal
am of a man thus
immured was found some years ago at Coldingh Abbey.
Another instance was recently discovered at lemple-Bruer,
Lincolnshire.—The Builder.
THE POTATO DISEASE..—Within the . lag few days
the disease has developed itself much more strongly amongst
the potatoes in the London markets, and none which are at
all suitable for tho table can be purchased at retail shops for
less than one penny p.t. pound, whilst the price. is daily
expected to rise. To add to the effects cf the disease the
almost spontaneous growth of the old stock has considerably
deteriorated those which are in store. Thy supply of Spital-
fields Market last w as so deteriorated-, that many tons
were thrown away. The'isease is developed in the now po-
luced into the London markets.
tatoes, which have been intr.
THE FISHERY.—During t,,, past woek the fisherman
of Penzance, Ne"1):11, and M°Ior•ole, have had some good
atches of cod and ling. On Saturn.,.
afrei noon and even-
; MA
ICe IM
lig our market was ablndantly su
dy sale at fair prices. Lwith fish, which met
izette.

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