The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDC) THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 3, 1846.

traced from the chimney among the woods. It was I
white, and very pungent, producing coughing, and
causing the eyes to smart. They imputed the decay
which was visible among the trees on Sir John Gerard's
estate and the neighbourhood solely to its influence.
Mr. Thomas Green—Resided at Arvistock, in Den-
bighshire, and had followed the business of a timber
surveyor nearly fifty years. Was called upon in the
year 1840 to survey the damage done to the trees on Sir
John Gerard's property, and again at Midsummer last. ,
The trees were very considerably more injured than in
1840. He believed the soil was favourable to the growth
of timber. Had observed the position of Mr.'Musprates,
chimney; the trees most exposed to it were the traost
damaged. A great 'amber of them were absolute:ty
killed. The heel was also much injured. The 'were
many thousanzls of the trees affected. He hay; Ira doubt
the injury was done by the vapour from the works.
The trees, that showed the effects of it now
arould die in
a few s.", ears if the cause continued. Hen
of t'ae injury done. The injury act Aide a valuation
r
Ally done to the
present time amounted to 5,8251. 12s-, without including
ssny prospective damage at all. 14..43 'had no doubt that if
the works remained every tree wor
Ald be destroyed. Had
made the valuation in comr4n-, with Mr. Whalley; it
occupied him four weeks.
The witness stated, the2s in forming this estimate ho
had taken every tree et)'.;ich seemed to him to be damaged.
Mr. Joseph Whr;tley confirmed the evidence of the
preced:ng witnees.,
Mr. Adolettus Manbert, land agent to Sir John Gerard,
gave similar: testimony as to the decay of the plantations.
William Reynolds, Esq., M.D., examined by Mr.
MARTIN—Was a lecturer on chemistry, and had be-
stowed a great deal of attention to the study of che-
mistry. Was generally acquainted with the nature of
the articles manufactured by Mr. Muspratt. There was
undoubtedly a noxious vapour arose from the manufac-
ture of alkali, but when the apparatus was carefully
constructed, the escape of vapour was to some extent
prevented. The gas emitted was muriatic acid gas,
which had a strong affinity to water or damp. On issuing
from a chiramey such as Mr. Muspratt's, it would have,
in damp weather, the appearance of thin white smoke.
It wo'ald depend in a great measure upon the state of
the atmosphere as to whether it would fall at a short
-7,istance or be conveyed to a greater distance. In a dry
atmosphere it would perhaps float a distance of four or
five miles before falling near to the earth. The moisture
given out in the manufacture of the material was un
doubtedly noxious and injurious to vegetation. It had
a strong pungent smell, and made the eyes smart. It
likewise affected respiration a little. Its effects upon
the leaves of trees would be, when weak, to turn them
brown, and when strong, to curl them up and make
them crimp. Leaves were certainly essential to the
health of trees; without them they would soon die. He
had been over the plantations of Sir John Gerard's
estate. There were a vast number of trees injured to a
great extent. He could suggest no other cause for the
injury they had sustained than the gas emitted from the
manufactories of alkali in the neighbourhood.
Cross examined by Mr. Sergeant MURPHY—The
effects he had seen were only to be attributed to the
noxious gas from the alkali works. It was not possible
for him to assign any other cause. If the quantity of
gas evolved from the chimney were only as one cubic
foot to 10,000 cubic feet of air, he did not think it would
have any effect upon vegetation at all. He could not
say to what extent the gas would be diminished in its
passage through a flue of 500 feet in length, and a
chimney of 300 feet in height, having also to pass
through a descending current of water. He did not
know whether, after floating through the air for two
miles and a half, its strength would be decreased or ren-
dered innocuous; it depended, no doubt, to a great ex-
tent, upon the state of the atmosphere at the time. He
thought grass was less susceptible of its influence than
the leaves of trees, as the former was always growing.
He should think it probable that, if a strong volume of
the gas was to pass over a field of grass its effects might
be visible; but of course it depended, in a great mea-
sure, upon its strength, and the length of time it re-
mained. Did not think that plants were quite so sus-
ceptible as trees, the latter being much higher. The
flowers might be affected, and yet the plant not be in-
jured.
By Mr. MARTIN—Was aware that means bad been
tried to condense this gas, and prevent its escape alto-
gether, but he believed they were ineffectual as to the
entire prevention. The body of gas was too powerful
to be overcome by the water through which it was
caused to pass in its passage up the chimney. As far as
his experience went, he had never known any means
effectual in preventing the escape of muriatic gas.
John Lindley, Esq., examined by Mr. MARTIN—Was
a professor of botany in the University College of Lon-
don, and vice-secretary of the Horticultural Society ;
had devoted a considerable number of years to the study
of botany. Had examined the timber on the estate of
Sir John Gerard. Had found a great number of trees
dead. Had examined the soil in places, and found it
very good land ; had done so in places where there were
trees actually dead and dying. Trees seffering from
damp exhibited an entirely different appearance. Their
leaves and bark were preyed upon by numbers of insects.
He had examined several of the trees carefully, but they
bore no evidence of having been injured in that manner.
The injury at its outset was most apparent at the extre-
mities of the upper branches. He had observed in
many instances that that side of a tree which was pre-
sented towards the alkali works was more injured than
the opposite side. The alkali works of Mr. Crossfield
as well as those of Mr. Muspratt had been pointed out to
him. Ho had also particularly noticed six Scotch fir
trees, which, from their age, must have been at one time
very healthy. They were planted on a hill in the
form of a lozenge. The one immediately fronting to-
wards Mr. Muspratt's works was quite dead. The two
behind it were dying ' • and the other three, which had
in some measure been protected by them, were
comparatively uninjured. This had struck him
as a remarkable case, and he had, therefore,
particularly noticed them. The muriatic acid
gas emitted from the manufacture of alkali was
well known to be injurious to trees and vegetation
generally. The trees he saw had undoubtedly been
affected by it. He had no doubt the appearances he had
witnessed amongst Sir John Gerard's woods were solely
to be attributed to the noxious vapours in the atmos-
phere, and not to any natural causes. Wherever the
trees had been protected, by being in hollows or other-
wise, they were at present uninjured ; but if the
alkali works were continued to be carried on, he
had no doubt all the trees on the estate would be even-
tually destroyed.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant MURPHY—The
stag-headed appearance of some of the trees, such as
had been described, might sometimes be caused by
defects at the roots. It was a common result in bad
soils. Could not say whether apple trees were very
susceptible of injury from the effects of the vapour.
He had noticed that oak and ash trees were affected
soonest. If flowers were subjected to the vapour they
would doubtless be destroyed, although the plant
might not be injured. If the vapour that passed
over a clover field in bloom was sufficiently strong,
it would no doubt destroy it. It was not possible
to say what strength would be necessary unless by actual
experiment.
By Mr. MARTIN—He had seen no appearance of bad
soil on Sir John Gerard's estates that would cause
the stag-headed appearance to trees which had been
spoken of.
By the JUDGE—Had seen no natural causes which
could account for the injury done to the bark of many
trees ho had examined. Had
,particularly noticed a
beech tree that was somewhat exposed towards Mr.
Crossfield's chimney. On the side which faced it the
bark was rendered quite hard, and very difficult to be
peeled off, while on the opposite side of the tree there
was no apparent injury done. There might have been
some very few instances of a tree being diseased, when
the others around it were in a comparatively healthy
state, but it generally happened that three or four trees
near together were all alike affected.
Mr. Sergeant Munrisy then proceeded to address the
jury, and went through the evidence adduced in sup-
port of the plaintiff's case, contending that the suppo-
sition that this injury had been caused by the vapour
from the defendant's chimney was inconsistent with the
fact of the flowers and grass remaining uninjured, and
isolated trees being affected, not whole clumps, as might
be expected if the plaintiffs case were true. The neigh-
bourhood, too, was full of chimneys, some of them on
the plaintiff's own estate, which were always pouring
forth gases, which more or less might affect vegetation.
It would be shown by a great mass of evidence that
farms more exposed to these vapours than Sir John Ge-
rard's estate were wholly uninjured ; that the decay of
the woods on that estate was referable to peculiarities of
soil, to bad draining, and neglect, and by the evidence of
scientific men, that the vapours emitted from the de-
fendant's chimney were incapable of producing the effects
alleged.
Thomas Tebay—l have for several years been the
steward and agent of Mr. Bacgs, at IN instanley, ad-
joining Sir John's. I was requested to make an ex-
amination of Sir John's Woods and plantations in
August last. I made it. It lasted three days, and was
a very minute survey. At Smithy-wood there are ex-
tensive plantations. The oak, ash, elm, beech, and
other forest trees there are healthy and well managed.
The trees in the other part of the park are withered at
the top from injuries from storms and effects of wet soil.
There was no appearance of external causes having
produced this effect. [A report made by the witness of
the state of the other woods was put in and read. The
purport of it was to show that the trees were generally
healthy and foliage luxuriant.] Where trees had been
affected they consisted chiefly of single trees amongst
others. I think there was not a tree upon the estate
the decay of which might not be attributed to natural
causes.
thaltt atwppeelraeredo,ro
fourteen the
years
ago cross-examinationheaot
attended
n thisded
w iats t h n es
se'
representative of Mr. Beggs at a meeting held at New-
ton, the object of which was to indict
Mr. Muspratt for
a nuisance.
Jonathan Binns—l live at Lancaster, and am a sur-
veyor and valuator. I have been conversantwith timber for
years. I surveyed Sir John Gerard's estate in company
with the last witness, and have embodied the resultof
my observations in a report. [Report put in and read.
This report also represented the trees to be healthy and
luxuriant. He attributed the decay ofof
some the trees
to the want of thinning and draining.)
John Shaw--I am a landscape gardener, and made the
survey of Sir John's estate in company
with
the last two
witnesses. Dampness of the
soil, I consider, has affected
the ash and oak trees. The lower
in point of drainage in manyparts, ground is defective
duce unhealthiness in woods. The and that would pro-
north-west winds were very much dead; the trees treesonlea
exposed to the
the opposite side were heal hi er. Natural ing from bad management, have causes, aris-
decay. produced much of the
Cross-examined by Mr. MARTIN—The appearan
moss and lichen is not an inlication always of
th ce
of
un-
soundness of a tree caused by a wet soil.
uror e
survey
lasted three days. The first was wetin the
mnin.
She nocond flee; iliad the thirdYerY Wet towardg

Wet. There are
estate, which have
wassaead wiith y
treiveneoncingaluym. PnbsTeeohnfe treessr ial on the Now saturated
nal
transplanted, tuplanted, and t
.fle are dead and
dying. The ash are the most n•
..thealthy trees, gene-
rally speaking, on the estate.
a'hey are generally in-
jured, The oaks at'e .sielely, b
,at not to the extent of a
quarter.
survMer- William
y Ilenders':a and Mr. Henry White, land
0r5,..4-ve 5.01- ; ;
esel.4r testimony
At th,e 'concluslen of their testimony the Court ad-
iQurasta till this morning.
tit the sitting of the Court, the first witness examined
'was Mr. Samuel Curtis, who said that he had been en-
gaged in the nursery business for fifty years, during a
great portion of which time he had been with the Duke
of Newcastle. He had near 4,000 acres of wood land
under his management, and about 20,000 acres altogether
of meadow, arable, and wood land. Was at present in
the employment of the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, engaged in laying out the Victoria Park, in
London. Had had considerable experience in the plant-
ing of trees. Surveyed the woods of Sir John Gerard
last week, and took particular notice of the different
plantations. Went through the Haydock boundary
plantation. The surface of that part towards Mr. Mus-
pratt's works was very healthy. Went into New Hall
wood. Saw the butt-end of a large beech tree that had
been cut down near to the boundary wall. It was in a
direction facing Mr. Muspratt's works. The general
appearance of the woods in the neighbourhood of New
Hall show of good health. The foliage on either side
of the canal was very good. Saw a few trees which
were rather bare at the roots, which could not be ex-
pected to look healthy: they were a few which had
formerly stood upon banks. Examined the garden,
and thought the appearance of it very flourishing, but
only obserVed it from the terrace. Many of the woods
were deficient in drainage. A hole which had been
previously dug was full of water, although it was a
dry season. There was also a good deal of dry land,
where the trees did not flourish in conseqta nee of
the strong and rubbly nature of the soil. The root
had penetrated as far as the soil was good, and
when they had decayed for want of sustenance,
the trees became stag-headed. Generally speaking, the
woods looked well. Thought the causes of such decay
as he observed were quite natural. Had noticed the
effect of the wind upon the trees. The whole of the
trees of that part of the country have an inclination in
one direction. Saw trees on the New Hall estate which
were inclined from the northwest towards Mr. Mus-
pratt's works. The luxuriant foliage of these trees was_
invariably on the side facing the works. In the butt of
the large beech tree that was mentioned, there was
evidence of decay from natural causes. The tree was
ripe. Observed several others along the boundary wall
that would never be much better. They were ripe and
full grown. The leaves generally were full grown. The
insects which were upon the leaves of the oak gave them
an olive-green colour. Sycamore leaves, generally in
the autumn, have a blotched appearance. Extreme
drought wculd bring on a premature autumn. Walked
through a clover field outside the boundary wall. The
vapour from Muspratt's chimney would pass over it
bAore reaching the plantations. It locked very well,
and had no appearance of ill-health. The more recent
plantations have all been made when the trees have been
too advanced in growth. The young plantations were
very foul. There was no appearance of any tool having
been applied amongst them. Saw a good deal of game.
The country had the appearance of being preserved.
Hares and rabbits damaged young plantations very much.
Did not see that any care had been taken of the planta-
tion. The Scotch firs in the plantation generally are
doing well. On the average of the last six years should
think that they had grown a foot each, and in some
instances two feet.
Cross-examined by Mr. MARTIN—The fir trees I ob-
served in the Haydock boundary plantation. Went over
the New Hall property twice, once on the 25th, and
again on the 29th. Was accompanied by Mr. Johnson,
an attorney. Supposed he was sent for through Messrs.
Lowndes. Met Mr. Johnson in Liverpool, he believes
at Messrs. Lowndes' office. He accompanied me merely
to point out the different plantations. Did not see much
injury that had been done by the hares and rabbits.
Should think the clover he saw was a second crop. The
first crop might have been grazed, and then laid up. It
might have got into the state in which he saw it in six
weeks afterwards. Did not think it was a rich country.
It was principally coal. There were some very fine
trees where the soil was deep enough for them. There
were large beech trees in the Haydock boundary planta-
tion. There was a large oak. There might have been
other kinds of trees, but could not say positively. Did
not inquire whether the beech, the stump of which he
saw, had been blown down or not. There were a great
number; if ash trees in the plantations. Did not think
that one-half of them were dead or injured. Did not
inquire as to the age of the trees when planted out, but,
from his long experience as a planter, should think they
had been planted when nine or ten years old.
A number of witnesses, resident in the neighbour.
hood, were called, whose testimony went to show that
their premises were exposed to the action of the vapour,
and that notwithstanding no injurious effects resulted.
Mr. William Adel Miller, M.D., professor of chemistry
at King's College, London, stated that he had, in con-
junction with Dr. Brett and Sir Robert Kane, of Dublin.
conducted a series of experiments at Mr. Muspratt's
works the greater part of one day. Muriatic gas is un-
doubtedly evolved. Part of it is condensed, and part of
it escapes into the air. The gas arising from the de-
composing chamber passes through a flue separate from
the smoke flue into a tower, filled, as he was informed,
with coke, through which a stream of water was flowing
Water was admitted from the top of the tower from
a cistern placed there for the purpose. The gas ascend-
ing would meet the water and be absorbed and diluted.
The gas which was conveyed into the tower was evolved
from six reverbatory furnaces—an older method—these
opened to the works through doors, through which the
materials were stirred up from time to time. A strong
current of air passed through the doors in consequence
of the flues being connected with a long horizontal main
flue opening into the high chimney at its base. A stream
of water was flowing through the flue which wouldcondense
aconsiderable portion of the gas. Had no means of know-
ing how much escaped, but he analysed the air as it
passed from the main flue into the chimney at different
periods of the day. He found the quantity of gas dif-
fered at the two different periods, which must necessarily
be the case, because the evolution of gas is greatest soon
after the charge is first introduced. At that period there
is a larger quantity of gas given off. The furnaces were
all in active operation. The muriatic acid gas, when in
the largest quantity was in the proportion of one part to
1,866 parts of atmospheric air. On the second experi-
ment it was one part in 6,500. The vapour has the
greatest tendency to fall in damp weather.
By the JUDGE—No gas escaped from the top of the
tower connected with the decomposing furnace. Ile put
his nose to it to ascertain the fact.
Examination continued—The vapour was carried to a
greater distance in dry weather. The manner in which
the fume entered the air was in a constant revolving
motion. In that manner a large surface was exposed
for gaseous diffusion. As it went along, the quantity of
gas in the column was diminished. That was one of the
causes of the dilution of the gas as it passed the country.
In his judgment the gas would not travel two miles in
damp weather. Evaporation took place to a greater
extent in dry weather, and when evaporated the gas
could descend. The gravity of water was some hundred
times greater than that of air. He was of opinion that
the gas would be diluted to the extent of fifty times in
half a mile. Did not think the gas would be appreciabe
at a distance of two miles.
Cross-examined by Mr. MARTIN—If the eyes of per-
sons were affected at the distance of two miles or two
miles and a half from the works, the gas was certainly
appreciable. There was other vapour besides that from
the chimney which would affect the smell and the eyes ;
it was sulphuric acid gas. Both 'eases fio Ned from Mr.
Muspratt's works. Was engaged last Friday in making
his examination. Came down last Wednesday according
to appointment. The specific gravity of the vapour is
greater than common air.
Re-examined by Mr. BRANDT—It may be smelt when
its quantity is extremely minute : it is the most pungent
gas in existence. It might also affect the eyes when in
a very diluted state. Sulphureous acid was produced to
some extent by the burning of coal.
By the JUDGE—His experience of alkali works was
chiefly derived from the examination he made last week.
White vapour might arise from steam ; it was no posi-
tive indication of the presence of muriatic gas. Steam
would disperse after flowing a moderate distance, perhaps
one hundred or two hundred yards.
Dr. Brett, examined, gave similar testimony.
Mr. MARTIN replied ; and his Lordship having
summed up, the jury, after being in consultation about
two hours, returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages
1,0004

OLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
FORGERY.—A young man, named James Hyde, was
brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with having
committed forgery upon the banking-house of Messrs.
Smith, Payne, and Smith.
Mr. Thomas Evison, cashier at the banking-house,
stated that on that morning the prisoner presented a
cheque fur 321. 12s. 6d. at the counter. Witness asked
him how he would have it, and he said in two 5/. notes,
:Ind the rest in gold. Witness suspected the genuine-
ness of the signature, and referred to the book, having
cancelled the cheque before he had arty suspicion of it.
lie found the signature differed from that in the book,
and he wrote across the cheque the words, " Signature
differs." lie was directed to send the prisoner round to
Mr. Fowler, and the prisoner went and was detained.
The prisoner said to that gentleman that his name was
Williams, and that he lived at No. 32, Weymouth-place,
[hackney-road.
Mr. Bushe, of the firm of Bushe and Mullins, so-
icitors to the Committee of Bankers for Protection
against Forgery and Fraud, conducted the prosecution,
and here produced a cheque f0r5145.6d., and the witness
said he had paid that cheque, which
was also a forgery,
to some person, but to whom he did not recollect.
The prisoner said, " I confess it."
Mr. Henry Pedley, solicitor, of No. 59, Fenchurch-
street, stated that he kept an account at Messrs.
Smith, Payne, and Smith's bank, and that the
prisoner had been a messenger in his office for some
months. He did not send the prisoner tea the banking-
house that morning. The cheque produced was nut in
his handwriting, but he believed it to be in the prisoner's.
It was forged, and had not been done with his authority.
tie believed the cheque produced by Mr. Bushe, for 51.
4s. Gd., purporting to besigned by him, to be in the hand-
writing of the prisoner. He kept his cheque book in a
drawer locked in his office, and that morning he tried
in vain to unlock his drawer, and he found there had
been a small portion of the wood -work taken away, so
that the drawer would open with the lock shot, and he
saw ttvo small pieces of iron upon the desk. He had
left his drawer safe on Tuesday afternoon when he left
town. put of his cheque book he missed some cheques,
numbered e 5399, being the same number as that upon

each of the cheques produced. He paid the prisoner
six shillings a week regularly, and the last cheque he
drew was for 71. to a Mr. Vincent, on the 31st of August,
and he sent the prisoner with it to the bankers' to get it
changed, and on that day Mr. Vincent went out of town.
The cheque produced for 361, 10s. 6d., purporting to be
drawn by witness, and bearing. the same number, viz.,
5399, was a forgery.
Alexander Scott, one of the Mansion-house officers,
stated that he was sent for to the banking-house, at
half-past eleven o'clock on that day, and he apprehended
the prisoner there on the charge of forgery. The pri-
soner at witness's request emptied his pockets, and
handed to witness the cheque for 361. 10s. 6d., and the
piece of paper, on which was written "22 in gold, and
two five-pound notes," a duplicate, and twopence.
The prisoner was remanded till Friday next.
A strapping woman, named Mary Wilson, appeared
to complain against her husband for having refused to
support her and her children, who thus became charge-
able to the parish of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate.
The woman said that she had been married to the
defendant about 13 or 14 years ago at the Church of St.
George, Bloomsbury, and he deserted her in Church-
row, Bethnal-green.
Mr. Child (solicitor for the defendant)—Whose child
is that you have in your arms ? Complainant—Whose
child ? It's the child of a man of the name of Osborne
who used to work with my husband.
Mr. Child—l believe you are in the family way now?
Complainant—l am.
Mr. Child—And whose child is that ? Complainant—
Why, that's Osborne's too, and no mistake.
The parish officer—ls your husband in work and
able to support you ? Complainant—Fie is able to sup-
port me and the family. He has from 30s. to 403. a
week, and I have been obliged to get relief from the
parish.
The LORD MAYOR—And you want your unfortunate
husband to support you and the children which are not
his? Complainant—Osborne used to help me to sup-
port the children, but he has left me for another woman,
that he has married. I can't support the family, and
what can I do if I get more babies?
Mr. Child—But is not a third child you have, who is
older than the child you say is Osborne's, also his?
Complainant—No. I had two by my husband, and the
one I carry will be two by Bill Osborne. He has de-
serted inc as well as my husband. If I get ch ldren in
this way its not to be expected that I can keep them.
The fathers ought to keep them.
An officer from Worship•street, who utt,,,da at the
police, court, said that he was present when the woman
stated to the magistrate that two of her children, as well
as the child she was great with, were Osborne's babies,
and the oldest alone was her husband's. Ile bel'eved
that Osborne was willing to support his own children,
but the woman was such a diabolical wretch that it was
quite impossible to regard her in the light of a human
being.
The LORD MAYOR—It is quite impossible that I can
think of compelling the pour man to support such a
wretch. The children must be pie tested. I shall there-
fore postpone the case for a week, and think of some
remedy in the meantime.
WORSHIP-STREET.
Mr. Edward Honeyball, the well known brewer of
Stamford•hill, was placed at the bar before Mr. Green-
wood, charged with having feloniously received a stolen
gelding, the property of Mr. Thomas Colson, an ex-
tensive brickmaker, residing at Mercer's-terrace, Upper
Holloway.
Mr. Robinson appeared for the prosecutor, who stated
that he bought the horse in August, 1845 ; it was stolen
on the 21st of September. On Monday last he found it
in the possession of the defendant, who said it had
strayed into his field, and insisted on detaining it till he
was paid 211. for its keep and other expenses. He said
he had advertised the horse in three papers, but ad-
mitted having failed to do so until six months after it
had been lost. - The prosecutor added that he was at a
loss to conceive how the horse could have strayed into
the defendant's field, which was more than six miles dis-
tant from the paddock whence it had been stolen.
James Foddy, the prosecutor's foreman, also posi-
tively identified the horse, and stated that it must have
been stolen, as the paddock was securely fenced, and
there was no aperture to admit of its passage.
In answer to the charge, Mr. H ,bier emphatically
denied that there were the slightest grounds for such an
accusation against his client, who was a person of the
highest respectability, and said that the prosecutor and
his witness were evidently mistaken in the identity of
the animal, as he had abunctint evidence to prove that
it had actually strayed into the defendant's field a month
before it was alleged to have been stolen, and he should
also prove that the horse had been extensively adver-
tised in the ensuing March, and that every effort was
made to trace its owner, but without success.
Mr. Robinson said, that several other servants of the
prosecutor, and alsti the original owner of the horse,
were present to prove its identity; but
Mr. GREENWOOD considered the evidence wholly in-
sufficient to substantiate a charge of felony, however
successfully it might be advanced in support of an action
of trover, and he should, therefore discharge the defend-
ant, with the assurance that nothing had transpired in
that Court to militate azainst his character.
THAMES.
Richard Ronan, a boy about 14 years of age, the son
of respectable parents, who was for some time employed
as collector of tolls in the Commercial-road East, sus..
rendered on bail before Mr. Brederip to answer a charge
of defrauding the trustees of the road.
The lad was collector of tolls at one of the numerous
side bars on the road, where his labours ceased at nine
o'clock every night, and he had no right to collect any
toll after that hour. During the last fortnight, however,
he had gone to another side bar after that hour, and col-
lected toll there.
Mr. BRODERIP, when he consented to take bail for
the appearance of the prisoner, made some observations
on the irregularities which prevailed in collecting toll on
the Commercial-road. It appeared that a number of
boys were employed for this purpose at the side streets,
where there were no.tollhouses or gates, and he had when
riding been run after himself by lads who ran from the
side streets and demanded toll. Travellers, who were
strangers on the road, hardly knew what such a practice
meant. The system ought to be altered.
On the prisoner surrendering himself, Mr. W.
Baker, jun., clerk of the trust, said that the trustees had
taken into consideration the extreme youth of the pri-
soner and his contrition, and did not intend to prosecute
him. They, however, wished it to be distinctly under-
stood that if any person offended in like manner here-
after, the trustees would suffer the law to take its course.
Mr. BRODERIP said the conduct of the trustees was
highly creditable to them. He would not stand in the
way of mercy, but allow the prisoner to depart.
Mary Ann Irwin and Frances Lowrey, women of the
town, were brought before Mr. Broderip, charged with
violently assaulting and robbing Michael Ostrowski, an
old man, a Polish refugee.
The complainant stated that ho obtained his living as
a shoemaker, and lived at No. 7, Devonshire-street,
Commercial-road. On Tuesday morning he was coming
out of a public-house, when he met with Irwin, of whom
he bad some previous knowledge. She asked him to
give her something to drink, and he did so. She then
asked him to go home with her. He foolishly accepted
the invitation, and when he reached her lodgings, he took
a shilling out of a handkerchief, which contained a so-
vereign and eighteen shillings more, and asked the wo-
man to procure more liquor. She immediately made a
snatch at the handkerchief, and took it away from him,
money and all. A signal was given, and the other
woman, Lowrey, came in. The handkerchief and money
were thrown to her by Irwin, and she ran away with
them. Irwin also tried to escape, but he prevented her,
and seized her by the waist, on which she beat him in a
savage manner, and rendered him nearly insensible. He
was covered with blood, and wita difficulty escaped from
the house, and gave informittion to the police.—The pri-
soners were committed for trial.
LAMBETH.
Louisa Arney, Julia Arney, Charlotte Arney, Emma
Arney, and Henry Arney, were placed at the bar for re-
examination on a charge of felony.
Mr. Clarkson appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
sßei pbpuol
knyf oars tthoe
rpe 14
us oi
rnee ras . a T.g
eh e v
apar opfeerr tiyt
ai ne
eqeuyees;iaonne
ew at
es
thet office.
appeared that the prosecutor, Mr. Thomas Blaydes,
was a retired banker, having estates in Yorkshire, and a
mansion at Englefield-green, near Egham, Surrey. The
elder prisoner, Louisa Arney, entered his service as
housekeeper in November, 1843, at a salary of 401. per
annum, and a system of plundering by wholesale must
have been shortly after begun, and carried out up to the
period of her arrest on the 9th of August. At the time
of her engagement with Mr. Blaydes she represented
rself as a widow without family, the fact being that
she had four daughters and a son living at No. 17, Hart-
ford-place, %Valworth. Mr. Blaydes having on the Bth
of August last got certain information as to the removal
of property from his house, applied at this office, and
went with Sergeant Morton of the police force to the
house in Walworth,' where the four daughters of the
prisoner were residing, and found in their possession
such a quantity of his property as justified him in giving
the three elder girls into custody, as guilty receivers of
the property stolen. Nothing appeared to be too large
or too small for the housekeeper's notice. The goods
displayed for identification included every variety of
article in domestic use up to a mattress and a feather
bed, with bed linen, bed curtains, window curtains, car-
pets, stair carpeting, blankets, counterpanes, decanters,
sugar basins, wine glasses, looking glasses, wine and
brandy, and, in fact, the table of the police-office gave
the court the appearance of a miscellaneous sale room.
The defence attempted for the female prisoners was,
that the elder prisoner was entitled to take the articles
as perquisites.
Mr. ELLIOTT committed the female prisoners for trial
and allowed the son to be at large on his own recogn'
zences, to appear if called upon.

WESTIIIINSPPR.
Biehard March, William Biter, and James Clarh, thret
privates in the Scots Fusilier Guards wore Ohaited
with the following outrage, and
.etto,a; d Stockwell and
Alfred Withers, civilians, were charged, the former with
assaulting the police, and the latter with inciting the
populace to rescue the other prisoners.
Biter, who was drunk, sallied with his two military
companions out of a beer-shop in Great Chapel-street,
on the previous evening, with an evident determination
to amuse themselves by insulting and ill-treating any
person who had the misfortune to cross their path.
Biter commenced operations in Orchard-street, by kick-
ing over a poor woman's stall, loaded with crockery-
ware. The next exploit was throwing a poor deaf organ-
grinder and his machine into the road ; and the third
knocking down a man named Burrell, who has the
charge of New-square, because he interfered to prevent
their doing mischief at the expense of the humble resi-
dents in that locality. Burrell, who in his fall from the
effoct of the blow, had his head cut, fetched the police,
who in vain for a length of time endeavoured to secure
Biter, but were obstructed and assaulted by his "com-
panions in arms,,"4 crowd of 500 or 600 persons as.

sembled, and it was not until the arrival of a large party
of the police that the three military defendants were
captured and anything like order restored to the neigh-
bourhood. Withers, in the course of the riot, used
language calculated to excite the mob to rescue the mili-
tary, and Stockwell on being repeatedly requested to
remove from the entrance to the station, struck one of
the constables a violent blow.

Clark received a good character from a sergeant of
the regiment, the other two were spoken of but ques-
tionably.

Biter wns fined 51., or two months' imprisonment ;
Marsh, 51., or six weeks'; Clark, 31., or one month ;
Stockwell, fourteen days without fine; Withers, 205., or
ten days.

jAji t :••••,* •idLP
7.fr` It•i'.4 114. 4'4 t n

DIRECT LONDON AND PORTS-
MOUTH RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.)
The first ordinary meeting of this Company was held
this day at the London Tavern, for the transaction of
general business.

W. A. Wilkinson, Esq., took the chair.
Mr. B. S. YOUNG read the report.
The CHAIRMAN then, after commenting on the
severity of the struggle in which the Company bad been
engaged while getting their Bill, proceeded to point out
certain mistakes in the spe, eh of the chairman of the
South-Western, at the recent half-yearly meeting of that
company. He then read long extracts as reported in a
newspaper, and apologised for having used the words
" madly" and " stupidly," in speaking of the allee-rd
breach of agreement by the South-Western. The
chairman, having reported the statement of Mr. Ch:plin,
with regard to the Brighton Company having broken off
the agreement, concluded by moving the adoption of the
report, which was agreed to.
The directors were then appointed, and 1,200/. was
voted as a remuneration for their past services, the
same sum being also voted for the succeeding year.
Mr. Young was appointed secretary, with a salary of
400/. per annum, and a resolution was passed, autho-
rising tne directors to take the necessary steps for car-
rying into effect the amalgamation with the Loudon,
Brighton, and South Coast Company.
Two auditors were appointed, at a salary of 201.; and,
after thanks to the Chairman, the meeting adjourned.

THE GREAT EASTERN Aid D
WESTERN RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.)
A preliminary meeting of the shareholders of this
Company to, k to-day at the London Tavern, in
pursuance of the following advertisement :
We, the undersigned, being respectively Shareholders in the Great
Eastern and Western projected Railway Company, in virtue of the
powers given by an Act passed in the present session, cap. 28, inti-
tuled " An Act to Facilitate the Dissolution of Certain Railway
Companies," having left at the registered place of business of the
said Company a requisition calling on the Members of the Provisional
Committee of the said Company to call a meeting of the Shareholders
of the said Company, and the said Committee having neglected or
refused to comply with the said requisition, do by the authority
aforesaid hereby call a meeting of the Shareholders of the said Com-
pany, to be held at ,the London Tavern, Blshopsgate-street, in the
City of London, on Thursday, the 3d clay of September next, at
Half-past Twelve for One o'clock precisely, for the purpose of -deter-
mining whether the Partnership or Company formed, or intended to
be formed, shall be dissolved, and in what manner the affairs of the
said Company shall be wound up.
As witness our hands the 21st day of August, 1846.
R. W. COHEN,
HENRY SMITH,
W. H. OXLEY,
FRANCIS PAWLE,
PREECE and EVANS.

The meeting, as it appears by the advertisement, was
intended to be a general one of the proprietors, but in
consequence of some informality in the notice, the
meeting was made only preliminary.to one to be held a
week hence.
At one o'clock, the hour appointed for the meeting, a
great number of shareholders were present, and Mr. J.
F. Maubert was unanimously called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, upon taking the chair, after ascer-
taining that none of the genth men of the committee of
direction or any of the provisional committee were pre-
sent, observed that there was no way of making the
wishes of the shareholders known to those gentlemen
but through the medium of the present meeting, aided
by the press.—(llear, hear.) He thought it was due to
the whole body of railway shareholders that the present
meeting should come to some strong resolution upon the
subject on which they had met. Looking over the
prospectus of the present Company, he saw thenames
of persons of the highest standing in the country, and,
considering the course that had been pursued, they
must excuse him if he said that it was something
like an attempt to induce the public to take
shares in a company by the weight of their great name;
and that when the winding up of the concern came they
were toiled non est inventus. By the prospectus, those
gentlemen stated that the expenses were not to exceed
10s. per share unless a public meeting was called to
sanction a greater expenditure; upon those terms the
shareholders had awed, they had paid their money, and
now they were offered 15s. per share to be returned.
He considered that the shareholders had a right to re-
ceive a return of 21. per share, and he hoped they would
be satisfied with nothing less.—(Hear, hear.)
• Mr. COHEN said that he had endeavoured for months
to get something like a statement of their accounts, but
to no purpose. He had called several times at the office
of the Company for that purpose, and had always been
met by the statement that they were only waiting for
the passing of Lord Dalhousie's Act, whin a statement
would be made of the state of the Company's
affairs, and a proposition made for its dissolution.
Now, what was the fact? The Bill for the Great Eastern
and estern Railway Company had been thrown out,
and yet the directors were going on from day to day
inserting expensive advertisements in the newspapers,
and squandering the money of the shareholders in every
possible way. Notwithstanding all this, the share-
holders could not get them to call any meeting, and
they were left in total darkness on the subject.—(Hear,
hear.) He trusted the meeting would come to some
strong resolution on the subject.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the directors and com-
mittee of management proposed to return 15s. per share,
but they would not do so unless the scrip was given up
to them.—(Hear, hear.) Now what was the object of
that. Why to enable them to use it against the other
proprietors.—(Hear.) He thought they were bound
with all their might to resist such a proceeding.
Several shareholders here stated that they had called
several times at the office of the Company, and could
obtain no informatibn with respect to the prospects of the
Company.
Mr. SPACEMAN said that the present meeting was
only preliminary to one to be held on Saturday or Mon-
day week. This course had been rendered ne-
cessary in consequence of some informality in the
notice that had been given of it. He had re-
ceived several letters from shareholders in the
country, stating their determination to co-operate with
the shareholders in town in their exertions for the dis-
solution of the Company. He had letters to that effect
from Barnsley, Bradford, and Newcastle. The men
who, before the passing of Lord Dalhousie's Act, said
they had not the power to dissolve the Com-
pany, were now doing all they could to pre.
vent its operation, and among them were the
managing committee of the Great Eastern and Western
Company; for after he had served the notice upon them
they were going on spending way or fifty thousand
pounds for the purpose of getting into their
bands a sufficient quantity of scrip to prevent the share-
shareholders constituting a meeting if they called one.—
(Hear, hear.) It was a three to say they could not hold
a meeting because Mr. Ward had sustained an irre-
parable loss.
A PROPRIETOR-It don't prevent his attending the
Italian Opera.—(Laughter.)
Mr. SPACEMAN considered the course pursued by the
managing committee most disreputable.--(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BLURTON, a Worcester shareholder, said that the
proprietors in that city were determined not to accede
to the proposition of the managing committee.
Some considerable discussion then took place, which
ended in the adoption of the following resolutions :
" That we, the shareholders attending the meeting, hav-
ing been induced by the terms of the prospectus issued
by the Get at Eastern and Western Company to: become
holders of shares to a considerable amount in that
Company, upon the understanding that our lia-
bility to expenses should not exceed 10s. per
share without the sanction of a general meeting
of shareholders, and no such meeting having been called,
we hereby determine to take such steps as we may be
advised to obtain the return of 21 per share.
" That a Committee be now formed to protect the
interests of the shareholders, and to communicate on the
mode they may deem most expedient the result of their
inquiries, and that Messrs. Webster, Cohen, Spackman,
Smith, and Maubert, be such committeemen."
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
meeting separated.
THE

FUNDS-(CLOSING PRICES).

oNE CLSIN
PRICES OF BRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES. Bank Stock

3 per Cent. Reduced Anns....- 96 :.,%
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 96 gli 96
3 per Cent. Annuities, 1726
New 34 per Cent. Annuities .....
LongAunuitiestoexpireJan.lB6o 10 7-16
Ditto 30 years, Oct. 10,1859
India Stock • . ,..... ....... .269
India Bondi, 1 ...,,..,..- •,... ....
Ditto tinder LOOM .. ......
BO Jo
South Sea Stock • - • - - 1061/2
Ditto OM Apnuitiea ,ii.e.;:i.i 964 9G%
tlltl3 Neil, Annuities
co -1301 s for Account.... ......
Exchequer Bills, 1,0004 11/2d —-- pm. 21
D,itto R 1.% ,113..5....41.6....... lg £1"

961 A
9434
9614
9834
10 7-16
104
259

pm.
Ditto S;ail
...
rm. 2f

TC _On CLOSING
PRE Or A ..r(..olll:cri Istri4:lo4 07.1kicx ritICE
&lends Ayres 'kinds, 6 Der Cent 43 4h
attoAPcount ... . 43
trithidol• Dtmtl6 ..i;A;ek4“.;::.144.
.174 34
Granada I3onds, 1 per Cent 2IP/;, 2,1 N Ditto Defend 3 ,":; 5% Mexican, 5 per Cent. 1846 26141a 26,Y
, a
Ditto. Account ..... ... . 26%4 26% Po:titguese Bonds, 4 per Cent .. 46 •
Ditto, Account 4614% 4614
Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840.
—271 i
Ditto, Account • 27%1A lia 25A
Ditto, Passive
Ditto. 3 per Cent — 39
Ditto, Account ..... .. 39 381/.2 391/i 39 38% Venezuela Bonds, 2 per Cent 42 Ditto, for Account
43
Ditto Deferred
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch, 2% per Cent., 12 Guild. 5978 60 5954 59%
Ditto, 4 per Cent. Certificates
—.95

PRICES OF BUSINESS DONE CLOSING
RAILWAY SHARES PAID. AT ONE O'CLOCK. PRICES.
Aberdeen
• 15
Amber.. Nott., Boston,
and Eastern Junction 2%..... 2
Armagh, Coleraine, and
Portrush l% ....
Aylesbury and Thame.. 1%
Belfast & County Down 2 ;‘2 ......
Birmin. and Gloucester. 100
atto New 17%
Birmingham_ and Ox-

ford Junction
Birkenhead, Lancashire,
and Cheshire June.... 23% — •••••••
Boston, Stamfil, & Birm. 225. —
Bristol and Exeter
Ditto, New
Bristol and Gloucester 3O ...... 50%
Bristol and Liver. June . 2%......
Buckinghamshire
Caledonian
Ditto Half Shares.-- 21,s 1%%
Ditto Extension ... .. 2%...... ...... . ....
Cambrian & Grand Jane 42s ......
Cambridge and Oxford.. 1% 11.4%
Central Kcnt
ester and Holyhead.- 27% —
•• •-••••••••
()helmet and Blythe
Chester and Manchester 425.
Cheltenham and Oxford 2 ...... •
Clydesdale Junction l5
Cork, Blackrock, and
Paseages
Cork and Killarney -. 2%
Cork and WaterfOrd ... 1% —
Cornwall
Cornwall & Cent'lDevon 2%...... ...
I .erby and Crewe 2%
Direct Lincoln, East Ret-
ford, and Shard. June. 2% —
Direct Manchester '
(Remington's)
Ditto (Itastrick's) 5,‘4......• —•• ••. .........
Direct Northern
Direct Norwich
Dublin and Belfast June. 10
Dublin, Belfast, and
Coleraine
Dublie and Galway..... 4
Dundalk & Enniskillen 7%
Eastern Counties Counties 141. 165.......
Ditto New lOl. 16s. —
Ditto Perpetual, 5 per
Cent, No. 1.......61.135. 4d....
Ditto ditto, No. 2... 61. 13a. 4c1...
Do., York Extension.. 105....... 2%. -
EastDereh'm andNor'ch 1
Eastern Union 35 .. ...
Ditto, Quarter Shares 814 —
Do. Exten.(Harwich) 1% —
Do., Camb. and Ely.. 2%......
East Lancashire
East Lincolnshire
East & West of England 1%......
Edinburgh and Glasgow 50 .....
Ditto Half Shares ... 10
Ditto, Quarter Shares 12%
Ditto, New ... 121/2 —
Edinburgh & Northern.. 10
Edinburgh and Perth... 3
Ely and Huntingdon ... 71/x
Enniskillen and Sligo ... 2% —
Exeter, Yeovil, & Dorset 5M
Glasgow, Kilmar.,& Ayr 50
Ditto, New
Do., M Shares (5 per
cent. guar.)
Glonc.,Abetystwith, and
Central of Wales 1%...... ..
Goole, Doncaster, &c. .. 425. -
Grand Union (Notting-
and Lynn
Great Eastern &Western 2% — •• ••
GreatGrimsby and Shef-
field
Great South. and 'Nest
(Ireland)
Great Menster ... 214
Great North of Scotland 21A...... .......
Great North of England-100 229 230 230
Ditto New 5
Ditto, New . —
Ditto, New -
';reat Western B5 -
Ditto % Shares 50 —
Ditto M Shares
Ditto Fifths 2O
(1 uild ford, Fare'm, Ports. 5 .....
Harwich ano Eastern
Counties Junction ... 2 ......
Hull and Selby
Ditto ,„I Shares
Do. Ralf Shares 25
Inverness and E1gin...... 2 .....
Ipswich & Bury St. Edm. 9
Do., do, and Norwich 21/2 —
Irish North Midland ... 1% —
Killarney Junctions ll4
Kendal and Windermere 11/, —
L dicaster and Carlisle... 45
Jo. New - 5
Lame, Belfast, and Bal-
lvmcna
Leeds and Bradford 26
Leeds and Carlisle
Leicester & Birmingham 225. — -
Leicester and Bedfard... 225.
Leeds and Dewsbury ... 17%
Lei, elater end Tam w., &c. 425....... 1/2 dis. % dig.
Liverpool and Bury ... 14 .. ...
Lpeol., Mrtchstr, Si New-
castle Junction
London and Blackwall. 16/. 13s. 4d.
Do. New
Ditto Extension
London and Brighton SO
Ditto, Fifths
London and Croydon, 131. 15s. 9d —
Do. Guttman. 5 per cent. 9
London and Greenwich 12115 s 4d — -
Do. Preference ...18117s 2d
.••
London, Hounslow, and '
Western - .. ...... • ••• •••
London and N. Westernloo 2051
Do. Quarters ..
Do., do., New Shares.. - ...... .........
Ditto Fifths
Ditto, Eighths (G. J.) 12%
Do., New 14 Shares
(G. J.). —
Do. 40/. Shares (L. M.) 6
Lond. & S.Western 411 6s 10d 73 71% x d ...711 x d
Do. New Consol. Bths 40 -
Do. Neer
Do. New
--
London and York 2l,x ..... 2%11 ..
Do. % Shares
London and Windsor • 1%... .. .. •
London, Salisbury, and
Yeovil . - ... -........... 2 %...... 1%
Londonderry& Coleraine 12% «............
Londonderry and Ennis-
killen 12%
Lynn and Ely
Lynn and Dereham l5
Manchester and Leeds .. 82
Ditto % Shares
Do. Quarters 2
Do. Fifths 3 . .... 11
Do. Sixteenths ... 64 —
Do. Extension 42s. 2%% p
Manchester and Birmin. 40
Do Quarters (A)...... 5 ••••••
Do. Quarters (B) ... 5
Do. Quarters (C). 1
Manehester,Buxton,and
Matlock 425....... INIA, p
Manchester, Birm., and
Mould Junction - ••• —
Manchest. & Southampt. 2 ...... 1%4
Midland
Do. Fifths 2
Do. New
Do. Birm., and Derbyloo
Midlnd & East. Counties 2%.....•
Midiend Great Western
Irish
Newcastle and Darling-
ton Junction 25 ..-.. ••• ..... ...., -
Do. New
Newcastle and Berwick 15 2B
Do North Shields ... 25
Newcastle and Carlisle...loo
Newport & Abergavenny 2 %......
Newry and Enniskillen 4% — .....
Newark, Sheffield, and
Boston ... ..
Ao• ••• ••• ........ ••
Norfolk ..
. ..• Do. Half Shares
Do. Tenths
2 .. ... 226
Do. Extension
North British ...........25
Do. Half Shares
Do. Fifchi 5
Do. Carlisle Extens. 11% 4M% ...... ~
North of Norfolk 2% - .... .... .....
Northern and Eastern... 50
Do. Scrip (iced. 5 dis.) 45
Do. Quarter Shares... 12%
Do. New
N. Kent & Direct Dover 2% — --- ---
North Staffordshire...-. 425. --3% p .
North Wales
.•
Northern and Southern
Connecting
Northampton, Banbury,
and Cheltenham
Nottingham & Mansfid.

% P

Oxford; Worcester, and
Wolverhampton
Oxford, NVitney, and
Cheltenhe.m..
Pilbrow Atmospheric ... 1 -, ...............
Portsmouth Direct 33% — .............
Preston and Wyre 25
•••• ""'•'Do. IShares
.. , ... .........
Reading, Guildford, and
_... .

261 A
214

n p
78

Ui p

114
140 •

2.
24
3814
/634

...
4N3

34 P

5,8 a,

Reigate
..... 8
•-•-• ......... ••...•
Rugby, Leamington, and

Warwick ....... .......... 425.
Scottish Central
......... 121 2O ........ ......
Do. New .•• ............ 21/., —
Se6V.lB/1 Midland lO
Do. Extension 2%
hqilleliii Buxton, Leek
Potteries,anderewe... 1%......
Sheffield & Manchester 100 - •• •
Do. Quarter Shares... 8
fihnwslitiry and Birm... 21/..... 3 234
Shropshire Union
Shrews., Wolverhamp.,
&S. Staffordsh. June. 21,4
Sligo and Shannon l%
South Devon... 35
South Midland 42s.
P:crntli & Midlands June. 425...... -
South F3tra9rdshireJunc. 21,4
South Eastern & Dover 33%
Do., No. 1
Do., Ne. 2.
Do~ No. 3
Do.. Ne. 4
St. Alban's, Hatfield , an d

Hertford Junetiori ... 425. —
Stainei and Richmond... 1 1 ...
Statibrdsh. & Shropshire 214
South -Wales 5
Swans. & Loughor & Ca-

23%
par

2534
17
1934
in

.....
4%

nieron's Stet. Coal 2 ......
Taw Vale Extension 2 ••• ••••
Tring, Reading, and
Basings_toke 514 -
YAW pf