The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-16 00:00:00

CONFLICT BET WEEN AN EAGLE

AND BIRD-CATCHER.

The eagles ai-eV;ryferociousan:il3old, and sometimes
make desperate attacks upon the bird-catchers, flying at
them as they descend the cliffs, with beak and claws, and
directing their fury against the eyes of the intruders. To
defend themselves against these formidable enemies, the
men carry long knives; and a story is told of a desperate
encounter that took place some six or eight years ago,
between a bird-catcher and one of these sea eagles, which
was well nigh terminating fatally to the former.
The man had been lowered from the top, and hung
suspended from the,overhanging precipice, when an eagle
darted at him from out of a fissure in the rock, and com-
menced a furious attack. The bird-catcher drew his
knife and defended himself; but his feathery assailant
eluded for a long time every blow. At length, however,
finding- himself closely pressed, and maddened by re-
peated stabs of the knife, the enraged bird gathered up
his powers for a last desperate dart at the man. The
latter saw the impending danger; and, blind to every-
thing but the necessity of a vigorous effort to parry the
attack, raised his knife, and aimed a furious blow at the
eagle. It took effect but too well; the stroke that freed
the bird-catcher from his fierce antagonist, severed at
the same moment almost in twain the rope to which he
was attached, leaving the unfortunate man suspended
but by a single thread or twist of a cable over the yawn-
ing abyss..
In this dreadful extremity, there was nothing left him
but to give the signal by which his companions overhead
would understand that he wished to be drawn up. Most
providentially they perceived this awful predicament, and
slowly and with the greatest precaution commenced
pulling in the rope. It was so slender that there seemed
scarcely a possibility that the almost severed thread
could last until the wretched man reached the top; and
with sickening suspense and dread, he felt the frail link
that still bound him to life, and saved him from the hor-
rible gulf below, stretch and Olin& beneath his weight.
It required, too, the utmost skill and caution on the part
of those overhead to keep the fractured portion of the
rope from chafing against the sharp knife-like edge of
the projecting rocks; and between the agony of seeing
the fragile thread gradually attenuate and become every
moment weaker and weaker from the continued pres-
sure, and the necessity of drawing it very slowly, lest
some unforeseen shock should cause it to snap suddenly
and hurl the victim into the abyss, the men on the cliff
were in a state of scarcely less suspense than the
object of their anxiety.
At length the unfortunate bird-catcher neared the brow
of the precipice; his companions redoubled their effort.,
for the rope was every instant showing increased symp-
toms of giving way. It snapped just as he was within
an inch of the top; but not before one of the men had
seized a firm grasp of his clothes, by which he was
enabled to drag him triumphantly over the brink. At
the sight of their comrade in safety, the men, among
whom a breathless silence had hitherto prevailed, raised
a loud shout, but he heard it not. The awful situation
in which he had been so long suspended, was too much
for the poor bird catcher; he lay stretched on the grass
without sense or motion. For a long time, so profound
was his insensibility, his companions thought he was
dead; but he recovered at length, though he has never,
it is said, completely gotten over the effects of that fear-
ful hour.—Scenes on the Shores of the Atlantic.

ROBBERY AT CARFIELD HALL,

II A RLO W.

A robbery, of a bold and ingenious nature, was
effected at Harlow, on Tuesday. It appears that, since
the 27th ult., Colonel Wayde had been in Paris upon
business connected with the Rouen Railway, and was ex-
pected on Wednesday at his seat, Carfield Hall, Harlow.
About three o'clock on Tuesday a person, accompanied
by four men, made their appearance in front of the
house, and commenced making preparations, ap-
parently for a survey. Having arranged his theodo-
lite, the leader of the party proceeded to inquire for
the Colonel, sending in his name as George Plaxton,
surveyor, Salisbury -square, Fleet-street.- He stated
himself to be well-known to the Colonel, having met
him but a few days prior in Paris. On being informed
that Colonel Wayde was not expected home till the next
day, he appeared much disappointed, observing that he
must have misunderstood the day, the Colonel being
fully acquainted with the object of his visit ; that he
(Plaxton) was now engaged surveying for a new line of
railway, forming a junction between the London and
Cambridge and the Eastern Counties Railway; and that
he was anxious to make his survey, as, from a coversation
he had with the Colonel, he thought the line might be car-
ried out withoutinterfering with Carfield Hall. The servant
ultimately introduced him to Lady Wayde, who believed
his statement. Subsequently he consented to put off his
survey till the next day, when the Colonel was expected
home. To an invitation from the butler to stop at the
hall he objected, observing that he must return to London
that evening, having unfortunately left.behind him some
articles which ho could only get himself, and having
taken some refreshment, he shortly after left. The first
discovery of the true character of the visitors was made
by the nursery-maid finding the lock of her box picked,
and a portion of its contents scattered about the room.
On going to Lady Wayde's room, it was further dis-
covered that the thieves had been there, but fortunately
a chest of drawers which contained the ladies' jewellery
had resisted their efforts to force. One of the servants
met two of the pretended surveyor's men upon the stair-
case, but took no notice, knowing their master had seen
her lady. On the return of Colonel Way de on Wed-
nesday morning, the story respecting the railway turned__
out to he a fabrication, and he found himself robb
ed
the articles:—A gold
The following is a list of some of
birdwith
theengrsaevrevdan't•,Cs .box, a
musical box, surmounted with a
of property to the value of between 3004 and
b 400:
, and diamonds for eyes—the box plays twelve tunes, was
the amount of 21. 13s.
the property of the ex-King
.of France, and cost
c 30.04..;,
stinl,sraoilnlagsapi
ravatertraomwf
as, itlerh7e7ra4- tnn;
,t,c; umanobt endde pistols,money
otom
—County _Herald.

THE TIMBER TRADE. The annual circular of
Messrs. Churchill and Son, a leading firm in the timber
trade, contains some interesting particulars relative to
this important branch of our national commerce. It ap-
pears, in the first place, from the document, that prices
have varied considerably throughout the season, and
that, while Canadian deals have been upon the advance,
Baltic have receded in as great a ratio ; " timber,"
properly so designated from all quarters, except St.
John's, having risen to a high point towards the close
of the importation. The stocks on hand of foreign deals
and battens are large. There were of deals, in 1845,
852,936 pieces, whereas in 1846, there are 1,024,577
pieces, and of battens there were in 1845. 368,246 pieces,
against 499,464 pieces in 1846. The stocks of colonial
deals and batters, and of red pine timber, have dimi-
nished, but of yellow pine timber we find an increase.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO JOHN JONES, JUN., ESQ.,
OF LLANAIITIL-With unaffected regret we have to an-
nounce that a lamentable accident has befallen this gentle-
man, the eldest son of John Jones, Esq., and heir of Llanarth.
It appears that Mr. Jones, and several of the members of tho
family of Llanarth, were guests of Sir Charles Morgan, and
proposed remaining during the usual festivities of this season
at Tredegar, and, on Friday last, a brilliant field, composed
of the gentlemen and several lathes from Tredegar, proceeded
to the meet of the Ruperra bounds. Previously to the com-
mencement of the sport of the day, Mr. Jones, who had been
in conversation with a lady of the party, unfortunately put
his horse, a high-spirited animal, at a hurdle gate, that he
supposed to be secured, but which was not the case, there
being no fastening. In the attempted leap, the knees of the
animal struck the top bar, throwing Mr. Jones with such
terrible force, that his head sunk considerably into the mud.
The ladies, terrified •at the accident, screamed for succour'',
and a medical officer of the Enniskilling Dragoons, 31r.
Rolls, of the Hendre; and Mr. Edmund Jones, brother of the
sufferer, assisted in raising him, and a considerable number of
other gentlemen were soon on the spot. Appearances s
_watearis
most alarming, and several feared that the accident
.wa fatal.
Mr. Jones
hlansise i
econveyed,re a
understand that upon exami-
proniptly in attendance. We
ration of a portion of the brain, with partial effusion. The
wstilaitiaemofßurtet,e,rer,insseunrasieobinli,tyw, to
nation, the symptoms indicated con.cussion„and a slight lace-
puLe was down to forty; the extremities cold; the vitality
y had been of
as the pupil, were paralysed; and the general character of
at
to wellh e the ease was alarming. Dr. O'Bryan,
slight; the muscles that movee evening,
rgei.
enecngytl,elaisbermaikrl :nLotphfiisteStyoersnyiiscetiloaildnt
'likewise
aspenptr,oNa.ericii
London,
course
ooaarrumne
rdi :we le:goh• ,
adopted,
aremrr
Pr ; i
a-
are
dpo:ennock. TdinSai
messengerpis enrdmadaraittne.
eminent
it;
and friend.; of the patient, by stating that although thvoeefdc
inch consolation to the family
tahaseet
was a perilous one, he had every reason to expect a favour-
able termination. Yesterda • the favourable symptoms were
still happily progressing. Yesterday
he relapsed at intervals
into a dreamy delirium, he recognised and spoke freely to
, those around him.-41fonmouthetire Arerlin,

THE PROPERTY-TAX.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN,

SIR,—I find that the surveyors of taxes are very busy
adding to the assessments in respect of the property or
income-tax ; but I hope that other Commissioners of
taxes are less inclined to lean to the dictum of the sur-
veyor than they are in this district.
If you will spare me room in your paper, there is one
principle in the mode of assessing occupiers of farms to
which I wish partiCularly to call attention; and, for ex-
ample, I will mention the case of a tenant-farmer of 250
acres of land, worth 300/. a year, and for which he pays
that rent, and wh, is assessed to the poor-rate at a
trifle under that sum. The surveyor is not satisfied
with this value, as the half of 300/, with deductions for
tithe-rent, would entitle the occupier to exemption from
taxes; so he adds to the value of the la❑d 1001. a year,
being the amount of the tithe rent•charge, and this
brings the total assessment up to 4001., from which the
surveyor allows one-eighth, being 501., to be deducted for
tithe-rent, and thus the value is brought up to 3501, and
the tenant is made to pay 7d. in the pound on 174/.. the
half of that sum, or 3d. on 350/. In this way 1001 is
put on for tittle-rent, and only 501. allowed for it.
Upon referring to the rules for estimating the value of
property contained in the Act of Parliament, I cannot
see how this system is justified. General Rule 1 enacts
that "The annual value of lands charged under Schedule
A shall be understood to be the rent by the year at which
the same are let at rack-rent, if the amount of such rent
shall have been fixed by agreement, commencing within
the period of seven years preceding the sth April next
before the time of making the assessment ; but, if the
same are not solely at rat k-rent, then at the rack-rent at
which the same are worth, to be let by the year."
In the case stated it is clear that the landlord must

pay on 3001, less the amount of land-tax, which is de-
ducted from the annual value, under the sth clause in
rule No. 5,
The 4th clause in the 4th rule, Schedule A, provides
that, " For any compositions, rents, or other payments in
I:eu of tithes, the assessment thereupon may, if the
Commissioners think fit, be made on the respective occu-
piers of the lands from which such tithes arise, or on the
respective persons liable to the payment
, of such compo-
sitions, rents, or other payments.' The landlords being
the parties legally liable to the rector for his tithe-rent,
the Commissioners add it to the landlord's assessment,
and the tax on the two together is collected from the
tenant or occupier, to whom, under clauses in the Act, it
is allowed, on his paying the rent and tithe-rent to his
landlord and the titheowner; but as the Commissioners
aid surveyors add the gross and rent-charge, I do not
see how the titheowner is allowed for parochial rates,
&c., in respect of his rent-charge, which he is clearly en-
-led to deduct under the 4th clause in section No. 5,
ehedule A.
In this district the Commissioners and surveyors are
at satisfied with adding the gross tithe-rent to the
I ndlord's assessment, but they also add it to the occu-
pier's assessment, as I have before-mentioned, and they
tell the farmer that he cannot set it off with the rector.
But by virtue of section 7, Schedule B, the Commission-
ers deduct one-eighth of such aggregate value of rent
and tithe-rent, so that the occupier's assessment, being
the rent of 300/. which he pays ins landlord, is increased
to 4001 by adding to it the tithe-rent of 100/., and then
it is re.luced to 3501 by deducting one-eighth of the
toad value, and then the tenant is made to pay 3il. in
the pen id on 3501
That your readers, who cannot refer to the Act of
Parliament, may more clearly understand this juggle, for
such it seems to me, I will quote section 7, Schedule B,
more at length, as it points out the mode in which pro-
perty is to be assessed under that schedule. It provides
that "The duties last before-mentioned (being the duties
thereby granted contained in Schedule B) shall be
shamed in addition to the duties to be charged under
Schedule A on all the properties in this Act directed to
be charged to the said duties, according to the general
rule in No. 1 in Schedule A before-mentioned, on the
full amount of the annual value thereof, estimated as by
this Act is directed; provided that in all cases where
lands are subject to a rent•charge in lieu of tithes, and
in .111 ether cases where lands are not subject to tithes,
or to any modus or composition real in lieu thereof,
there shall be deducted out of the duties contained in
this schedule a sum not exceeding one eighth part
thereof."

Now, Sir, I beg to submit that, under this clause, the
occupier, instead of having the whole rent-charge
nadt d to tke annual value of his farm, so as to make
it 4)01, is entitled to have one-eighth part of the duties
dedu;ted in respect of the annual value of 3001., which,
as you will see, will reduce the tenant's tax from
St 2s. ld. (being 31d. in the pound on 3501.) to
3/. 15s. 3 1., being 31d. in the pound on 300/, less one-
eighth part of the duty.
I must now mention the case of a friend in this
neighbourhoo ; who occupies his own land, and who
appealed to the Commissioners for abatement, on the
gr ,und that the surveyor had charged him more than
the annual value of his land, which hitherto had been
as,essed at the same value (3501.) to the property-tax
as it was to the poor-rate, but the surveyor had added
something like 201. per cent, to it. Upon the surveyor
acknowledging that ho added to the value without seeing
the land, and without obtaining the opinion of anybody
to justify the increase, he claimed, and the Commissioners
adhered to the gross value in the poor-rate assessment
as the value to which the property is liable under Sche-
dule A, deducting therefrom the land-tax. To this
value the rent-charge was added to be Eet off with the
titheowner.

In this case, as in the case of the tenant-farmer, the
Commissioners 'added the gross amount of the rent-
charge. say 1001., to the occupation value of 3501:, thus
tusking my friend pay on 4501. as owner, the duty in
respect of 1001., the rent-charge being repaid him by
the titheowner ; and on 4001. as occupier, one-eighth
part of the duty on the occupation value being allowed
hula ; so that, as owner, the value or assessment is 3501,
and, as occupier, a trifle under 4001.
This assessment for the occupation my friend con-
ten led was not in conformity with section 10, which, in
,he latter part of it, provides that, " Where the owners
di be also occupiers of such lands (as was his case),
i shall have paid any parochial rates, taxes, or assess .

►ts charged on the same, or any compositions for
. hes there then the said annual value shall be also
e•,imated exclusive of such rates, taxes, and assessments
and compositions for tithes, to be computed in like man-
ner ai aforesaid," i.e., on the amount thereof bona fide
paid in and for the year preceding the year of assess-
ment.

You will observe that, instead of having the rent-
charve added to the occupation value, my friend consi-
dered that, under the la.:t quoted clause, he was entitled
to have the parochial rates, &c., deducted, but this the
surveyor had never heard of, and the Commissioners not
seeming to comprehend the Act, and feeling sure that to
allow such deductions could not be the intention of the
framers of it, the assessment as owner was put down at
:350/., and as uccupkr at a little less than 4001.
I thir< you and your rea7ers, alter going through this
statement, will exclaim, " If this is the way the assess-
ments are generally made, it is no wonder that the pro-
perty-tux produced so much more than was calcu-
litej upon. But is the Act so acted upon by Commis-
sioners iu oth-r districts ? Of this I shad he glad if
-you or any of v ur readers 'A ill inform toe, and how far
I am right in my con,truction of the clauses above
q.-,o;k d, and also in what way redress can be obtained.
If the asst ssments generally throngh the country are
made upon the principle acted spun in this district,
there can be no doubt that the tax is made to raise
ore-fourth more out of the land than the Act authorises,
or rh, p-oposers of the measure contemplated.
I child,: it as well to mention that the figures to illus-
trate the cases rEtlerred to are not the exact ones which
were before the Commissioners, but I have adopted eren
sums to make the statement appear the more clear, but,
at the same time, they bear a pretty exact relative pro-
portion to the real assessments.—l am, &c.,
A CONSTANT READER.
Ilarlestone, Norfolk, Jan. 12, 1846.

FREE TRADE in the WEST RIDING
OF YORKSHIRE.
At a very large and influential meeting, held at the Music
Hall, Leeds, on Wednesday, the Secretary of the Asso-
ciation announced the subscriptions towards the quarter of a
million fund, collected in various towns of the Riding. The
amlunt received is upwards of
THIRTI THOUSAND POUNDS,
and there is little doubt, when the returns are completed,
that this sum will be augmented to
FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS.
The contributions from five of the principal towns are as
fol:ows
L"eds
Hudaerstield..
Halifax 4,000
Bradford
Sheffield ..
The Mayor of Leeds occupied the chair at the meeting,
and W. Aldam, Esq., M.P , R. Cobden, Esq., M.P., and J
Bright,.Esq., M.P., were present.
The highest degree of enthusiasm prevailed.—Advertiser,
FR

£B,OOO
5,000

EE-TRADE FESTIVAL at LEEDS.
I 1' • - kV
tol.'81:42;1, tinciNFZIM li,:. —l' 11 e dinner which is to take place
here
the great League fund, promises to be
a mat brilliant and os
e:s,fd attain Public attention is on
the fiai clue, and lunch!' importance is attached to the number
and nature of the free-trade demonstrations to take place be-
fore the opening of Parliament
as affording to Ministers a
n
test ofin the &pc h and strengt 4 the anti-monopolist move-
rrn,t the country.
me dinner to-night will be presided over by the Mayor
of Leeds. The company will probably amount to four bun- includeP maniyiiciof the moat influen-
dred, nd will certainly
, &c.—are
tial names in Leeds and the West
:'. licighbouring towns—Bradford, Hali Tag;
ta;.ing place. -
One of the objects of the dinner is the as inc -re
alreadv immense League fluid; people 0 The ,----e of the
. , the -vv,e--
st
lii !jog Lancashire
will not lag behind their neighbours of
thi.4 g,w.d work. The sinews of war will be well strung up in
meet and overpower the last efforts of the monopolist.
It is anticipated that subscriptions from the West Riding
to the amount of 30,000/. will be announced, and that the
town of Leeds will come d,wm to the tune of 8,000/. or
1,000/. Here is a goodly tribute towards the quarter of a
million
Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright will of course take a prominent
hart in this evening's proceedings. Mr. Aldam, the Mem.
ber for Leeds, and Mr. Busfeild, M.P., for Bradford, are ex-
pected to be present.

FaEE-TRADE MEETING IN BRIGHToN.—An iM-
portant free-trade meeting was held in Brighton on Tues-
day, when several resolutions in favour of a repeal of the
corn and provision laws were adopted with acclamation.
The chair was taken by the high Constable, and the meet-
ing was addressed b-y Captain Pechell, M.P., and Lord
Alfred Hervey. In the crowded state of our columns we
rind it impossible to make room for a report of the pro-
ceedings.
'rue MILITIA.—Messrs. G. and W. Ormond, of y
43
Bond-street, have received orders to suppl,ooo of
accoutrements to the Board of Ordnance,
for the usesets
of the
militia. 'The order is to be completed without dela,.
ENoßmous PIKE.—On Tuesday a pike wa2 shot,
tti, Mr. Ray, at Trivg, whioh weigh2d 1% le.

CLEANSING OF THE STREETS
1 IN THE CITY BY THE POOR. .
Yesterday a deputation from the Association for the
Relief of Metropolitan Destitution, established at the
west-end of the town, waited upon the Lord Mayor for
the purpose of stating the result of the experiment made
in cleansing parts of the City according to their plan,
and requesting his Lordship's sanction to the continu-
ance and more extensive operation of the recently
adopted test. Amongst the deputation were—Mr. C.
Cochrane, the president ; the Rev. Dr. Penfold, Mr. G.
Jones, Mr. T. Burgoyne, Mr. P. Jefferies Mr. C. Gatliff,
Dr. Brornet, Mr. J. E. Panter, Mr. T. Winkworth. the
Rev. Dr. Sprange, Mr. R. Bowie, Mr. J. Holmes, &c.
Mr. C. COCHRANE, in addressing his Lordship, said
that some persons might imagine the Association par-
took of a joint-stock character. Nothing was further
from the fact. It consisted of many of the most affluent
find influential people in the land, who came forward
spontaneously to carry out the objects by liberal contri-
butions, and there was no association in the metropolis
i'hich taxed the public so lightly, or drew so largely
from the pockets of those who took the most active part
in the operations. The establishment of the baths and
' wash-houses, at the celebration of which the Lord Mayor
had officiated with such active benevolence, was neces-
sary for the removal of the sources of coot imination and
filth. The establishment of the association, represented
by the gentlemen present, was necessary for the not less
tw
oimportant
experiments,
purpose
one ofi n
Regent-street preventing
an d accumulationox f o r d .os
Oxford-street,
which invariably was accompanied by disease and demo-
ralization. In their own locality, the society had made
and the other in the Strand, and in both cases the success
was perfect and indisputable. The whole of the inhabitants
bad declared their opinion of the efficacy of these tests,
and numbers of them were willing to subscribe largely for
the support
nowf
nt,h ew
without
b u,
tut
the
consent unfortunately,
o fthe at the
vestries, west-
enno
system of an extensive character could be carried out,
, for the individuals who formed EA bodies trembled for
, the loss of popularity which they apprehended might
follow from the increase of rates upon the inhabitants,
although it could be proved, beyond all doubt, that the
result would be an important diminution in most of the
other charges to which rate-payers were liable. The
City of London was differently constituted. Its high
municipal provisions distinguished it from the little
bodies to which he had just referred, and he hoped that
by the encouragement of the most benevolent plan of
cleansing the City streets, through the instrumentality
of the poorest of' the industrious poor, the elevated cha-
racter it held in the history of corporator. would be
still more powerly sustained. A deputation from the
Society had in November waited upon the Commissioners
of Sewers, to request permission to be allowed to make
the experiment in the City. Their request was imme-
diately complied with. A commencement was made in
the beginning of December, and the experiment would
end with the present month. They hoped and believed
they had accomplished what they professed they were
able to perform, and they were naturally anxious to
hear the favourable opinion of the Lord Mayor, con-
vinced as they were that the testimony of the chief
magistrate of the City of London would be no slight
recommendation to the Government to the adoption of a
great plan by which thousands might be constantly em-
ployed for the benefit of' the whole community. Before
they commenced they found that there were numbers of
poor men as willing as they were able to work, and they
had the gratification to know that no complaint whatever
had been made against any of the poor fellows who had
engaged in the acceptable employment which had
been provided for them. The shopkeepers the
public and the police, if lie might be allowed
to draw such distinctions, all united in stating that
their conduct was without reproach. It was highly sa-
tisfactory to contemplate so powerful an argument to
show that those who were so ready to charge the poor
with idleness and disinclination to work were not justi-
fied. There they were, by the united testimony of the
official overseers, and all others who pasted through- the
streets, every moment adding strength to the opinions
delivered in their favour It had been calculated
that, by the energetic carrying out of the system,
constant well-paid employment could be given to
40,000 industrious tden throughout the country.
The advantages to those whose good was chi. fly
sought by the Committee in carrying into effect
the objects of the Association would be seen, not
only in the present relief of their necessities, but in the
self-respect which must naturally arise from the
exercise of an independent principle wholly at variance
with the feeling of revolting workhouse humiliation so
generally diffused through the land. When her Majesty
was laying the first stone of the Royal Exchange, she al-
luded in her address in stronger terms to the charity of
the citizens than even to their commercial enterprise, and
the employment of the industrious poor certainly consti-
tuted an essential part of that first of virtues.
The LORD MAYOR said that he warmly approved of
the kind intentions of the Association, exemplified in
finding employment for those who were qualified for la-
bour, but he could not consent to contribute pecuniarily
to the object, for he knew what it was to be mixed up
with associations which necessarily incurred great
expense. He knew that the expense of employing carts,
horses, barrows, &c., as well as paying the men who were
to do the work, would be considerable ; and he knew
the responsibility which was likely to be thrown upon
all who lent their names to projects calculated or in-
tended to benefit society. He knew, also, that there
were Acts of Parliament which provided for the per-
formance of the duty of keeping the streets
clean, and the proper enforcement of which Acts
would be efficacious. There were rates collected for the
payment of the expenses so incurred, and if the work
was not properly done complaints ought to be made by
the inhabitants, who ought to contribute the equal
pound-rate. lie conceived that the paving and cleansing
Acts ought to be consolidated with the poor-rate, so that
the guardians might, if they considered it were desirable,
employ the paupers of their own City, without. being
under the obligation to consult another board, who
might make different arrangements from those, by
which it could be seen whether or not the City poor were
idle and disinclined to labour. In the present state of
these laws the guardians had no adequate opportunity of
testing the authenticity of the statements made preju-
dicial to the character of their poor. His Lordship con-
cluded by expressing his admiration of' the totally disiqm,
terested views cf the gentlemen of the Association, and
rejoiced to hear so gratifying an account of the conduct
of the poor persons employed to keep the streets clean,
an 3 of the adequate performance of the duty.
Mr. COCHRANE said the Association never entertained
a thought of dictating to the Board of Sewers, or any
other body connected with the City of London. Their
only wish was to see the plan carried out with effect.
Several other gentlemen of the deputation spoke
upon the subject, and expressed their sense of the very
marked kindness with which his Lordship attended to
their application.
The LORD MAYOR then accepted an invitation to dine
with the Association on the 26th instant , at the London
Tavern, to celebrate their anniversary.

THE LORD MAYOR AND THE
Poon-LAw GUARDIANS OF THE CITY OF
LONDON UNION.
It is st!origly suspected in the City that a very great dif-
ference of opinion exists between the Chief Magistrate and
the board of guardians of the City of London Union, on a
subject of considerable importance to the community.
Upon the publication in the newspapers of some-observa-
tions made in the justice-room, by his Lordship, on the plan
( long adopted by that Board) of sending poor children to
the asylum at Peckham, upon their application for relief at
Cannon-street, the Board of Guardians transmitted a letter
to him, expressing their regret that such remarks should
have been made upon ex parte statements, denying that there
existed any foundation for them, and representing that his
Lordship mists t have informed himself of the exact state of
the case, by attending the meetings of the Board, of which he
was ex officio one of the members. The letter is said to con-
tain resolutions in vindication of the whole of the conduct of
the Board.
It is necessary to observe that soon after the Lord Mayor
entered upon the duties of his office, he received information
through a variety of channels that the orders under which
the officers of the City of London Union acted were ex-
ceedingly oppressive to the poor who came within its limits,
from all parts of the country as well as of the metropolis ;
that miserable objects upon applying for relief were sent off
with tickets of admission to a sort of asylum at Peckham,
distant nearly four miles from the City, at night, in the
midst of hail, rain, and storm; and that on the following
morning they were discharged without the least inquiry into
their claim upon other parishes, or the least sympathy with
their distresses. Into the existence of this most formidable
evil his Lordship pledged himself to make a scrupulous in-
quiry. In a multitude of instances in which wretched
fi iendless children were brought, before him, he found
that the same character is given of the proceedings of the
authorities and of the severe and degrading nature of the
treatment to which the object of the Lord Mayor's com-
passion was subjected day by day. Upon former occa-
sions complaints had been made by those who had been
obliged to seek the few hours' refuge which the asylum
Yielded, after the exhausting and hungry march of four miles,
but somehow or other an answer sufficiently satisfactory was
always given ; and yet, although the complainants have been
frequently assured from the bench that there was not the
slightest truth in their statements, they retracted nothing in
their accounts of the filth and degradation which they had to
encounter, and persevered in declaring that-they would in•
finitely prefer a prison, if the way to it were not irreconcil •
able to their consciences.
In accordance with the expressed intentions of his Lord-
ship, and considering that a better opportunity of testing the
pure spirit of the Peckham establishment could not present
itself than the commencement of his mayoralty and the
winter afforded, he repaired, without saying a word about his
intention, to the very spot of which the guardians had always
given so alluring a description. W ithout, as we have been
given to understand, affording an opportunity to the servants
of the asylum to make the slightest change in the appear-
ance of the place, his Lordship bolted into the bed-rooms,
and inquired on the spot into the condition and characters of
the inmates. We are told that the illusion vanished com-
pletely under the inquisitive search thus suddenly and
peremptorily made.
It became necessary to answer the letter of the board of
guardians to his Lordship. That answer, it is stated amongst
the guardians, has been given. His Lordship' not only re-
peated in substance his forcible comments made in the Man-
sion-house, but entered into a particular statement of what
he had witnessed with his own eves. lie condemned the
system upon which the City of London Union bad been
conducted, with regard to the distance of the place of refuge
from the heart of the City, in which it ought to be centered,
and especially with regard to the crowding together of young
and innocent females with women of loose character, and
suffering from the most loathsome disease. He expressed
his utter abhorrence of the demoralising influence of such
an association, and denounced it as peculiarly disgraceful to
a city in which there abounded such affluence and charity,
and where such a union establishment for the poor
should
toto of
ties of
coulld existry.H as
erewg•ortei
thtledbetoan obligedexbeanple
a most injudicious and absurd parsimony, in selecting
a place of refuge for their poor at such a distance as was cal-
culated to intimidate many fromanseaeslytilnugmi,i,t,itabnind
tuhregebdoutnh!
immediate necessity of preparing
daries of the City, in
for the employment and disciplineda
which accommodationof them
incaotuelad. be provided
It
r.yd- thatn tnh
the
hLe od rady
before, Mayor
sent awmasecssuernregnetrlto- rthepeorbtoeadr)d-eosftepr
to inform thew that a building at a, Ehort dis azze from the

centre of the City, and in which there was a great deal of room,
could be had at a very moderate expense, and that it would
be most advisable in them to take it without delay.

HOTEL AND TAVERN KEEPERS

PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.

The seventh anniversary dinner of the above-named insti-
tution took place on Wednesday evening at the London Cof-
fee-house, Ludgate-hill. The company numbered about
150, and the chair wa., taken by the Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor, who was surrounded by many influential citizens.
'1 he object of the institution is a most praiseworthy one,
ins, much as it tends to " the establishment of a fund for the
permanent assistance of hotel and tavern keepers, proprietors
f club houses, confectionery establishments, cooks, and
waiters, being members, and their widows, and temporary
assistance of members, their widows and children, when in
necessitous circumstances."

After justice had been done to a dinner, which was of a
most recherche description, and wines of first rite quality were
placed on the table, the usual loyal toasts were proposed from
the chair and duly responded to.
In proposing " Prosperity to the Institution," the Chair.
man observed that the great object of the committee of
management and those who were interested in the society
was to raise as soon as possible a fund of 5,000/., which
would enable them to commence their benevolent opera-
tions.—(Cheers.) The subscriptions and donations already
amounted to nearly that sum, and he was sure that if those
persons present took the matter into their hands with any
degree of sincerity, that they would within a fortnight, not
only accumulate a greater fund than that which was yet
contemplated, but would create a degree of ardour in the
cause which would be serviceable in the greatest degree.—
(Applause.) His Lordship then proposed "The health of
Mr. Bleaden, and prosperity to the Licensed Victuallers'
Assurance Society."
Mr. BLEADEN returned thanks, and said he saw present
many of the most opulent hotel and tavern-keepers in Lon-
don ; and acting upon the suggestion of their worthy chair-
man, he would beg leave to state, that if any of those gen-
tlemen would undertake to get ten subscribers of 5/. each to
the association within a fortnight, he would undertake to do
the same.— (Cheers.) 'I he association bad now been seven
years in existence, and he thought it was a shame that they
had not yet been able to collect amongst them 5,0001.
The Loan MAYOR then proposed the health of Mr. New.
bon and the Honorary Members of the Society, and in so
doing, drew attention to a rule which prohibited honorary
members having any greater interest than common life-
governors, He trusted that this rule would meet revision,
and that Mr. Newbon, as solicitor to the Society, would con-
sider it with minute attention.
Mr. Newnom thanked the Lord Mayor for directing atten-
tion to the regulation in question. The sum already collected
by the Society, including the amount of the evening's sub-
scription, was upwards of 4,0001. ; and the proposed exertion
would, he had no doubt, raise it to the required amount be-
fore the termination of the year.
The Vice-President, Trustees, and Committee were then
proposed, and responded to by 'l'. M. BACON, the treasurer.
Subscriptions and donations amounting to upwards of
3001. were then announced by the secretary, and in which
were included from the Lord Mayor, 10 guineas •, the Lady
Mayoress, 5 guineas; Mr. Masterman, M.P., 10 guineas;
Messrs. Lovegrove, 5 guineas; Captain Lamont, 10 guineas;
Mr. J. S. Newbon, 10 guineas, the Licensed Victuallers'
Insurance Company, 5 guineas; Mr. J. Stewart, 5 guineas;
Messrs. Bathe and Breach, 5 guineas; Mr. Thornton, 51.;
Mr. Thomas Clarke (Windsor), 5 guineas , Dr. Taylor, 10
guineas, &c.
" The Health of the Chairman" was proposed by Mr.
Clarke, and several other toasts connected with the official
departments of the society were also announced and re-
sponded to.
The dinner did the utmost credit to the cuisine of the
Messrs. Lovegrove, and the wines were excellent.
The musical arrangements were well managed by Mr.
Shoubridge, Mr. Moody, and other professional gentlemen,
and afforded much gratification to the company, who did not
separate till a late hour.

THE INNER TEMPLE.
(The Barristers of the Inner Temple, whose names are
subscribed to this Memorial, beg leave to submit it for
consideration to the other Barristers of the Society.)
TO THE BENCHERS OF THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF THE

INNER TEMPLE.
The undersigned Barristers of the Inner Temple take
the liberty of requesting the attention of the Bench to the
subject of the present mode of election to the office of
bencher, which has been recently brought under the notice
of the public.
They assume the mode of election to be, as generally sup-
pesed, by ballot, and that one black ball excludes.
This mode of election has been occasionally adopted by the
members of clubs formed exclusively for social purposes ; but
it is submitted that there is no analogy between associations
of this kind and the Bench of an Inn of Court. The social
intercourse which takes place between the benchers is
only an incident to their position. They are constituted for
very different purposes. They enjoy peculiar rights and
advantages, and exercise functions of great importance to
their profession and the State. They are the trustees of
large funds, as well as the arbiters of the discipline and pro-
fessional honour of the bar; and they are invested with the
power of allowing or rejecting claims for admission to the
bar, and of disbarring any member of it who, in their judg-
ment, has been guilty of misconduct. It is believed that no
other instance can be found of a body with similar powers
and duties, to which the admission is not either of right, or
by some mode of open election.
The undersigned beg leave to notice one other broad dis-
tinction between the case of admission to the Bench, and that
of admission to private clubs and societies. In the latter, the
candidate is under no compulsion to incur the chance of re-
jection ; he encounters the ordeal of the ballot by his own
free choice. Candidates for the Bench are very differently
circumstanced. The greater number are such as claim the
honour on being appointed Queen's Counsel. These cannot
decline claiming it without incurring a self-inflicted degrada-
tion in theeyesof the profession ;yet they cannotclaim itin the
Inner Temple without running the risk of injurious exclusion
by the secret act of a single bencher. It is respectfully sub-
mitted that this is no ordinary grievance for men to whom an
honourable estimation is of the highest consequence, to be
exposed to so painful an alternative.
That the rule under consideration had never, so far as the
undersigned are aware, been acted upon at all until a very
recent time, is a strong proof of the moderation and honour-
able principle which have governed the conduct of the Bench
—a strong proof, confirmed by the experience of the other
Inns of Court (where the rule does not exist), that it is un-
necessary—but assuredly no argument in favour of it; for it
is impossible not to foresee that when once such a rule, after
long lying dormant, is practically revived, its application will
probably be repeated, and certainly feared.
The undersigned are sincerely anxious that they may not
be considered as actuated by anyspirit of undue interference.'
Such a representation as the present cannot, in their
opinion, be considered improper in a matter in which any
J4iember of this Inn may at some future day have a direct
personal interest. Nor do they question the power claimed
by the benchers, great as it is, erecting them, in a certain
sense, into a court of appeal from the Lord Chancellor's
appointments. The object of the present application is
merely to press the expediency and justice of establishing a
better method of exercising that power; and, with this view,
the undersigned pray the Benchers to take into consideration
the speedy adoption of such a mode of election as they shall,
in their wisdom, think best adapted to maintain at onee their
own independence and protect candidates from being ex-
cluded on insufficient grounds.
W. ATHERTON J. DEEDES
E. L. BADELEY E. H. FITZHERBERT
F. CALVIERT K. MACAULAY
J. M. CARnow 11. A. MEREWETHE3
A. CLEASBY H. MERIVALE
H. DAVISON W. F. POLLOCK.
Inner Temple, January, 1846.

THE LATE EARL GRANVILLE.—At an early hour
yesterday morning the mortal remains of the late Earl Gran-
ville were removed fioni the family residence in Bruton-
streA t, to be conveyed by railway to Whitmore, and thence
to Stone Park, Staffordshire, to be interred in the family
vault in Stone Church. The funeral was conducted in the
most private and unostentatious manner possible. The in-
terment was to take place yesterday afternoon. The Earl
Granville, the Honourable Frederick Leveson, Mr. Fullerton,
Mr. Stuart. and Dr. Veredav left town by the earliest train
yesterday morning, to attend the solemn obsequies.
ArrEcTio-sr.—Among other things lately washed
on shore near Sangatte, was a box containing the body of a
female child about two years old. It. was enveloped in
cotton ; and on it was a purse containing two sovereigns,
with a letter. The following were the contents of that af-
fectionate note :—" The charitable Christian who shall find
this body is intreated to bury it in consecrated ground, for
the deceased was a Christian." The prayer was religiously-
complied with._Boulogne Gavotte.
REMOTE GENEALOGY OF THE CORN-LAWS-CSIXtOn
and other old chroniclers assert that King John, having
heard in the year 1216, that corn was very cheap, declared
" He would, ere long, make it so dear that a penny loaf should
be sold for a 5,,i11ing." This drew upon him the deadly pas-
sions (according to the legend) of a monk of Swineshead
Abbey. In Mr. Horne's "Ballad Romances," the above tra-
dition is turned to very striking account as the subject of a
ballad chronicle instinct with passion and pathos. Few
things in our language can exceed in grandeur the death
scene of the King and the Monk. The poetry throughout
is, indeed, of "high proof." It is a poem which, in the pre-
sent cent-law agitation, will be cited again and again."
ISLINGTON LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY.—
On Tuesday evening Charles Woodward, Esq., F.R.S., deli-
vered a lecture on " Optics and Optical Instruments,' to 800
jeivenile members of the families of subscribers.
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A FEMALE AGED EIGHTY
YEARS.-Yesterday Mr. Baker resumed and concluded an
inquiry at the Black Horse, Kingsland-road, on the body of
Hannah Seeley, aged eighty years. The deceased occupied
an apartment in the house No. 7, Luke-street, Curtain-road,
Shoreditch, the landlady of which was a person named
Mary Warwick, who had a son about twenty years of age;
both the latter have gone out of the way, the son being a
sailor, having gone to sea, and the mother not ut present to
be found. The deceased had lately frequently complained
to her neighbours that she was knocked about and ill-used
both by Mrs. Ware ick and hi r son; the formes, it was
proved, was in the habit of doing so whenever she got in-
toxicated, which she frequently did. The neighbours ad-
vised her (deceased) to sell what furniture she possessed and
to go into the Shoreditch Union, where she might end her
days in peace. This the deceased according did. On being
admitted she complained that her arm had been broken by
a poker, which blow had been struck by her landlady or her
son three weeks previous. Mr. James Clark, of No. 3, York-
place, Kingsland- road, parish surgeon, said lie fund a frac-
ture of one of the bones of the right arm, which she said had
been done three weeks previously by a blow. Witness at-
tended her up to the time of her death, which occurred on
Friday last. He had since, by the coroner's order, made a
post niortem examination, and found the brain,
chest, and
viscera very healthy for a person of her advanced age, and
as such likely to live sonic years. The fracture of the arm,
and the beatings she had stated to have leceived, at her
period of life and emaciated condition, causing irritability of
the system, had, in his opinion, caused death. The jury re-
turned an open verdict founded on the medical testimony:
MR. FORTNUM'S WILL.—We are requested to in-
sert the following, in correction of some of the details of the
will of the late Mr. Fortnum, which appeared in our paper
of yesterday :—The will of the late Mr. Richard Fortnum,
of the firm of Fortnum, Mason, and Co., 182 and 183, Pic-
cadilly, was proved in Doctors' Commons on the Bth inst.,
by his executors, Frederick Keats, his nephew and partner.
and Mr. William Urwick, wine merchant, Great Tower-
street. The personal estate was sworn under 100,000/. He
leaves his entire interest in the business to his four surviving
partners, and secures to them the premises, &c., for a long
term. He leaves to his sister, Miss Fortnum, 10,0001.; to
his niece, Miss Keats, 20,000/. ; to his niece, Miss Mary
Fortnum, 10,0001.; to Mrs. Keats, 5,0001., should she survive
her husband; to Mr. Scorer, 2,000/. ; to Mr. Oakley, 1,500/. ;
to Mr. and Mrs. Selt, 5,000/. ; to his executor, Mr. Urwick,
500/. ; to his solicitor, J. D. Finne, 5001.; liberal sums to the
establishment, and many other legacies ; and the residue,
real and personal, to his nephew, Frederick Keats. The
dated October, and he died December 5. —Port,

CAMBRIAN and GRAND JUNCTION

RAILWAY.

A meeting of the Proprietors of this Company was held
yes! e. day at Wood's F'otel, Furnival's Inn, for the purpose of
taking steps for tho immediate dissolution of the Company, in
consequence of the unsatisfactory explanations that had been
given by the Managing Committee of local Directors of the
position of the affairs of the Company.
Mr. A. LAURENCE said that it was right for him to state
that he and Mr. Webb had been deputed to represent the
other Proprietors at any meeting that might take plaee, and
also take such steps as might appear to them most desirable.
He trusted that they would now select a chairman.
Mr. M'LAUREN suggested that Mr. Laurence should
take the chair himself; which Mr. Laurence declined, as
being a delegate; and Mr. Webb also declined presiding fur
the same reason.

After some delay, Mr. Ley to')k the chair, when a resolu-
tion was proposed, to the effect that all persons present
should give their names, which was carried by a majority;
but several of the gentlemen rising to leave, the resolution
was not persevered in.
Mr. LAURENCE said that he was a shareholder to a large
extent, and residing in Hereford. From the plans and sec-
tions not having been deposited in the usual way, we gave
notice to the banker not to pay the money. The local coin•
mittee had made a most unsatisfactory explanation, to the
effect that they did not think it likely the speculation would
succeed, from the circumstance of the money not having been
paid up in order to enable them to comply with the standing
orders of Parliament, and that the blame lay with their
engineers. (The speaker read a correspondence to this
effect.) He would not trouble them with all the cor-
respondence that took place between Mr. Doudney and himself
on the question. In consequence of not receiving an answer
to a qui stion on the subject from the Managing Committee,
the shareholders of Hereford signed a protest to the effect
that there should be no further eutlay of the money until the
Directors should have satisfied the shareholders, at a public
meeting held fur the purpose of ascei taining the position in
which the Company stood. It further added, that they would
be ready to assist in the prosecution of the undertaking if
their demand was acceded to. Mr. Dominion replied to this
protest, that they had not decided on the course to be pur ued.
This drew an answer from hint to the effect that., viewing
the position in which matters stood, they could not consent
to the Committee proceeding further.
A long and desultory discussion ensued, which ended in a
resolution, to the effect that a Committee of the I'roprietors
be formed to investigate the ata:e of the affairs of the Com-
pany, to correspond with the Managing Committee, and to
call a meeting and communicate the result to the shareholders.
The thanks of the meeting were then given to the gentle-
men from Hereford who had originated it.

THE LWWON JOINT-STOCK

BANK.

A general meeting of the shareholders of this Company
was held this day at the banking-offices, Prince's-street, City,
for the purpose of receiving the report of the Directors, and
also of electing five gentlemen in the room of five Directors
retiring.
The meeting was very fully attended.
Mr. Curling, Chairman of the Directors, presided.
The SECRETARY then read the report as follows :--
"In meeting the shareholders at the beginning of the year,
the Directors have the satisfaction to state, that the business
of the Bank eontinues steadily to improve, as will appear
from the balance-sheet herewith submitted for their perusal
and information.

" From this it will be seen that the transactions of the
Bank, during the past half-year, have netted a clear profit of
20,1301. Bs. Bd., which, after paying a dividend at the rate of
6/. per cent. per annum on the capital stock, free from income-
tax, will leave a balance of 2,130/. Bs. Bd. to be carried to the
reserve, which, together with the interest due thereon, raises
the amount of the guarantee fund to the sum of 96,297(.26.6d.
" The seats in the direction to be v cated on the present
occasion are those occupied by Archibald Hastie, Esq., M.P.,
William Mitcalfe, Esq., Ambrose Moore, Esq., John Timo-
thy Oxley, Esq.. and William Shadbolt, Esq., all of whom
have given notice that they are candidates for re-election.
" In conformity with the recommendation of the Pro-
prietors at the last General Meeting, that the Board should
take .nto their consideratinn the practicability of instituting
a fund for the benefit of the clerks of the establishment, in
case of sickness, age, or other incapacity arising while in the
service of the Bank, the Directors have to state that the re-
commendation has had their anxious and deliberate consi-
deration; and that, with a due regard to all ti e interests
concerned, they have arrived at the conclusion that the
satisfactory management of such a fund would be most diffi-
cult, if not impossible, and they, therefore, cannot recom-
mend its adoption.
" The half•year's dividend will be payable on and after
Friday, the 23d day of January inst."
The CHAIRMAN then, on the authority of the Board of
Directors, declared a dividend of 6 per cent. per annum.
The Chaiiman afterwards moved that the report be received
and printed for the use of the shareholders.

Tlie motion having been seconded,
Captain OWEN rose and said, that although he would
rather have waited until the accounts had been gone into, he
would, as, that appeared to be the proper time, refer to one of
the paragraphs of the report, in which he was much in-
terested. The paragraph stated that, "In conformity with
the recommendation of the Proprietors, at the last general
meeting, that the Board should take into their consideration
the practicability of instituting a fund for the benefit of the
clerks of the establishment, in case of sickness, age, or other
incapacity." And the Directors stated that " the recommends
tion has had their anxious and deliberative consideration, but
that they could not recommend its adoption. Now he
should like to ask if the Stcretary might be permitted to
read to the meeting the minutes of the Directors on that
occasion?—(Cries of "No, no.") Be could have no desire, if
the Directors told him diet this proceeding was objection-
able, to press it ; but he should like the answer from them.
Mr. HASTIE, M.P., thought it was a most irregular course
to call upon the Directors to produce one of their minutes.
Captain OWEN said, God forbid that he should ask for any-
thing otherwise than in an amicable spirit. He would be
the last man in the world to pit the Directors against the
Proprietors, or the Proprietors against the Directors.—
DHear, hear.) But he must confess that he thought the
irectors might have said a little more on this subject. Ile
was not singular in his opinion on this occasion, and he could
not understand any motives which should influence the
Directors to withhold the information desired,by him. He had
one other question to ask, and that was, if the clerks should
choose to subscribe to such a fund among themselves, would
there be any objection on the part of the Directors to their
so doing?
The CHAIRMAN was sure that be was speakinz the senti-
ments of his brother Directors when he said that there
would not be the slightest objection.
Capt. OWEN then said that he would gladly place his
name (poor as he was) at the top of the list for 501., and if
the idea were not carried out he was pretty sure that the
clerks would return his money. He trusted that many gen-
tlemen in that room would follow his example.—(Cheers.)
Mr. MITCALFE said that he should be happy to subscribe
his 501. for such A .ptirPoSe./f4cheer& Thwimastion had
indeed been fully considered by the Directors, but he was
glad to join with the Honourable Proprietor in a matter
which did honour alike to his head and to his heart.
Captain Owxx said that the dimculties contemplated by
the Directors were, he thought, over-rated. He had seen
such funds managed in the Honourable the East India Com-
pany's service, its also in the service of her Majesty, and with
a trusteeship vested in five members, three to be chosen from
the Proprietary, and two from the Board of Directors, he
could see every encouragement to the undertaking.
The report was then carried unanimously.
On the motion of the CIIAIRMAN, seconded by various
Shareholders, the Directors who were in the retiring list
were unanimously re-elected.
Mr. HAsxix briefly returned thanks for himself and his co-
adjutora. The kindness the Proprietors had shown in se-
lecting them was a proof that they had performed
their duties, and he could assure them that those
duties would not be the less attended to in the time coming.
Mr. MOORE wished to know what the Directors intended
should be the maximum of " the guarantee fund?"
_ .

The CHAIRMAN said that when it amounted to 100,0001. the
DirectorA would take the matter into consideration.

Mr. RicmAm) GIBBS suggested that the Company should
relieve their clerks from the burden of the income-tax. He
thought the London Joint Stock Bank was in such a state of
prosperity, that iu this matter they could set an example to
the other banks in London.

The CHAIRMAN said the subject had been considered by
the Directors.

Mr. AMBROSE. MOORE assured the meting that the sala-
ries of the clerks were every year fully considered by the
managing Directors, and where they thought. the services t,f
any of the clerks required it, an immediate increase was
given. But he disapproved of the principle of shifting the
burdens from one set of men's shoulders to those of another;
and he was sure that experience and common sense would
prove that these money votes were better left. with the Direc-
tors than with the constituent body, for by allowing the
latter to furnish a precedent of this kind they would intro-
duce a wasteful 83-stem of expenditure.
The conversation then dropped, and the meeting broke up,

THE WILTS, SOMERSET, AND
SOUTHAMPTON RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—ln your list of Companies which had not de-
posited plans, &c., according to the standing orders,
appear the Wilts, Somerset, and Southampton Railway.
This is an error. All the plans have been duly depo-
sited, the capital fully subscribed and paid up, the Act
of Parliament drawn, and every preparation made for an
immediate application to Parliament for an Act to au-
thorise the construction of " the Wilts, Somerset, and
Southampton Railway."—I am, Sir, &c.,
H. B. SHERIDAN, Secretary.
26, Gresham-street, Jan. 15, 1846.

FELO DE
SL—An adjourned inquest was held at
Cambridge, on Monday, on the body of Eliza Porter, whose
death was occasioned by her having taken some drug to
procure abortion, and the jury returned a verdictoffelo dem.
the body was buried the same night -without the rites of
Christian burial.
FREE TRADE, LIVERPOOL.—The working men of
Liverpool have resolved to hold a meeting on the subject of
the corn-laws. Thursday evening Lest is the time, and Clay-
on square the place appointed.
TILE QUARTER OF A MILLION LEAGUE FUND.•-•••
During Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, the Manchester
subscriptions, and those of the neighbourhood, to the great
250,000/. fund, had been increased by upwards of 1,300/. ; the
amount advertised in our last being .75,712/., and the total up
to last evening amounting to 77,021/. The additional sub •
scriptions include 500/. received yesterday from Mr. William
Eccles of Blackburn; 200/. from Mears. 'William Higgins
and Sons, of Self ,rd; 2001. from Mr. Clegg, of Manchester;
' and 100/. from Messrs. George Benson and Co., Slalybridge.
The Liverpool subscriptions, up to last night, were more than
15,500/. ; and it is said that the Leeds subscriptions consi-
derably
exceed 7,000/., though they will not be announced
till the West Riding dinner, this evening. Deducting 1,5001.
of Liverpool subscription; included in the total of 77,000/.,
this would give an
aggregate total, from Manchester, Liver-
pool,
and Leeds, to last evening, of ninety-eight thousand
pounds !—Manchester Guardian of Wednesday.
PEDESTRIANISM.—During the last year there were
no less than 385 public foot-races, varying in distance from
one hundred yards to twenty miles, and in stakes from 2/.
to 50/.

We regret to learn that Sir George Murray passed
a restless night on Tuesday, and was not at all improved in
health yesterday.
THE MINISTRY.—There is no truth in the state-
ment that Lord Canning is about to succeed Lord Metcalfe as
Governor-General of Canada. We have every reason to be-
lieve that it has been proposed to Lord Cathcart to succeed
Lord Metcalfe, and thus unite in the same hands the civil
and military government of Canada. The report of Lord
Yorkshire respectively.—
Granville Somerset's retirement from office is altogether
Lord and Lady
without foundation. The Earl of Verulam and the
Earl
of
Harewood will attend at the first Council, to be sworn in as,
Lords Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and the West Riding of
Treasury paper.
Hon. E. Stanley has ived • armed tewm.
Stanley are still at Knowsley. The

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
ROLLS' COURT. Jan. 15.
His HoNoun was occupied during the greater portion of
the day in hearing the retnaising petitions.

COURT OF FXCHEQUER, Jan. 15.
(Sitting in Banco.)
CIRCUIT PAPER.

Their Lordships have agreed that the following shall be the
circuit paper for the ensuing Spring assizes :
Home—Lord Denman and Baron Alderson

Midland—Lord Chief Justice Tindal and Justice Coltman
Oxford—The Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Baron Rolfe
Norfolk—Mr. Baron Parke and Mr. Justice Maule

Northern—Mr. Justice Pattison and Mr. Justice Coleridge
North Wales—Mr. Ju .tice

South Wales— Mr. Justice Wightman
r. Justice Erskine and Mr. Justice Creswell remain in town.

BOARD t•. COLEMAN,

This was a writ of inquiry directed to the Sheriff of Surrey,
to assess the damages due to the plaintiff from the defendant,
for holding over some premises in Lambeth after the expira-
tion of a lease, and was executed on 19th Dec. last, when the
jury found damages, amounting to 353/. Os. 4d.
Mr. 'immix moved the Court for a new writ of inquiry,
on the ground that the damages were excessive. and against
the evidence on the trial in the action of ejectment.
A rule nisi was granted to show cause why a new writ
should not be had.
WHARFAGE.—HENSON V. TEMPEELEY.
This was an action on the case tried in this Cuurt on•the
Ist December last, and was brought by the plaintiff to re-
siftoer
t. havinghis
ship-building
trespassed
eupono erthe
from
gr o of the
defendanttll e
yard, abutting upon the river Thames, when the jury found
a verdict for the plaintiff, with damages amounting to 50/.
The plaintiff was a shipwright, and occupied premises ad-
joining the river Thames, and claimed the frontage before
his yard over which the river ran for the purposes of his
business, and denied the right of any other person to place
their barges there. The plaintiff proved a prescriptive right
of forty-five years. The plaintiff also claimed damages from
the defendant for having injured the ground by diguing
mud holes in it. The defendant traversed the plaintiff's
allegations, and denied the plaintiff's right to the sole use
of the ground in question, and put it in evidence that plaintiff
had allowed a man named Vescy to moor his barges en the
ground in "question without interruption for two years.
Mr. GUNSING now moved the Court for a rule to show
cause why a al?* trial should not be granted, or the damws
reduced to forty shillings; and contended, in support of his
motion that the plaintiff had failed to prove the antiquity of
his right to the exclusive use of the land before his ship-
building-yard, and that the plaintiff, by allowing the land
to be occupie,d for two years, was proof of his doubting the
validity of his right, and that the Lord Chief Baron in
charging the jury had misdirected them, by assuming that
the plaintiff's prescriptiVe right had been proved, whereas
that right was claimed by the defenclunt in common with
the plaintiff. The Learned Counsel also contended that the
damages were excessive, on the ground that the mud holes
were necessary for the purposes of wharfage, and useful to
the plaintiff:
The LORD CHIEF BARON—If the defendant coulei have
proved an adverse usage of twenty years against the plaintiff,
there would have been some ground for the motion; and as
to the damages, perhaps Mr. Jervis would consent to their
being reduced to 201.
Mr. JERVIS consented to* the reduction on behalf of the
plaintiff, and a rule to that effect was granted.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Jan. 15.
_ REGISTRATION APPEALS.

This was the first day of the present sittings set apart for
the consideration of registration appeals. Several unimpor-
tant cases were argued, but of those submitted the following
was the most important.

COLVILLE V. THE OVERSEERS OF THE BOROUGH OF

CHATILAM.
Mr. Sergeant KINGLAK appeared in support of an appeal
against the decision of the Revising Barrister in a case sub-
mitted to his decision at the last Court held for the revision
of the list of voters for the borough of Chatham. Mr. Col-
ville was the appellant in the case, and the overseers the
respondents, and the point raised was the following :—Whe-
ther in regard to the borough 101. franchise the registration
of the voter was to be allowed in consideration of
being rated to the poor on a net annual rent of the value of
10/. ; or whether the rating must be on the clear annual
value, after deducting repairs, insurance, and other expenses
necessary to keep the premises in repair. The Learned
Gentleman maintained the latter interpretation of the Reform
Act. The whole matter was to settle what was meant in the
Act by the words " clear annual value." He contended that
the fair criterion of clear annual value was, the value of the
premises to the landlord after all expenses were met, and not
the net rent paid by the tenant. The Learned Gentleman
quoted several case; in support of the view of the question he
submitted, and said in addition that this ws.s the legitimate
construction of valuation, according to the Parochial As.ess-
ment Act. Considerable discussion had arisen, not only at
Chatham, but other places throughout the country, as to the
real meaning of the words net or clear annual value, and the
case was chosen, out of many others of the same character,
for the decision of their Lordships.
No Counsel appeared on the other side, and their Lordships
reserved their decision.