The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-08 00:00:00

VENING, JUNE 8, 1846.

dreadful day which, it needs no prophet to foretel, must
come? Men feel as individuals, and it is surely a pregnant
truism, that every mass, be it mob or be it nation, only of
such materials is composed. * * s *

" The old world f:oliticians of 1815 tried to squeeze back
the young serpent into its cast-off skin. Common sense
must have taught them it would wriggle itself free ! Shall
kings and congresses put new wine into old bottles, and trust
that it will not ferment there? *

" The oak and the elm are the aristocracy of the forest. I
Poplars represent the foreign adventurer. The walnut,
beech, and chesnut, the middle class of gentry ; while lower
in the social scale we find the apple, cherry, damson-tree,
or pear. Thus far our analogy holds good, though hardly
for the very poor. Perhaps these may be best typified in
our present state of society by the waste undergrowth of an
American forest, serving by their decay to nurture the more
fortunate plants which rear their heads above them." *
Our author seems rather addicted to finding similes
for elevated subjects, among the well-known and com-
mon-place matters of every day life—as, for instance,
" Imagination, like the Polytechnic, has its dissolving
views." Again, where he speaks of " the telescope of
faith ''—an expression singularly felicitous (for does not
Faith, like the telescope, make the things of distance
appear near ?) and yet the comparison hardly accords
with the due dignity of the subject. Our lady-readers
will not admit the justice of the following sentiment:—
" It requires an excess of moderation and patience to talk
with a woman on the object of her love. We are most of
us at such times so provokingly c pinionated ! Our pride and
our affection so guard all avenues to the fort of reason,'
that very little effect can be produced by the most disciplined
attack of the besieger. Unless, indeed, a bomb falls in that
powder-magazine—a womsn's vanity. Then the explosion
takes place within the walls, and pride and affection both
perish amid the ruins."

TURLOGH O'BRIEN. No. in.
We congratulate the author of this serial fiction upon
a certain degree of improvement in its composition ;
and his readers will doubtless congratulate themselves
upon the dramatic incidents which the plot is develop-
ing. The castle (in whose vicinity the occurrences of
the narrative have hitherto been laid) is subjected in
the present number to a siege from certain predatory
assailants ; but, as might have been predicated from
preceding circumstances, the defenders promise to keep
them at bay yet awhile, if not entirely to nullify their
machinations. Phia's illustration to this point of the
story is a right spirited etching, the grouping of which
is artistic ; and the attitudes into which several of the
figures are thrown, though difficult in their extreme
peculiarity, are nevertheless elegantly and naturally pen-
cilled. We have observed that the number as a literary
composition is an improvement upon its predecessors,
and it is so inasmuch as there is less of that wordiness
which we have already particularised as most reprehen-
sible in the style of the writer. Our surprise at this
peculiar failing in his productions is somewhat height-
ened, we will confess, at discovering in him one of the
popular contributors to the Dublin University Magazine.
We should have imagined the pupilage which he had
undergone in lavishing his midnight oil upon that mis-
cellany would have diminished his reckless expenditure
of diction. Hewever, as he appears to have acquired an
inkling of the blemish, we shall anticipate a modifica-
tion in his future use of adjectives. Nous verrons !

THE LAW LEXICON; or, Dictionary of Jurispru.
dente. By J. J. S. Wharton, Esq., S.C.L., of St.
Mary's College, Oxford. Part I.
If the subsequent parts of this very useful compilation
are equal to this, the first part, Mr. Wharton will have
a very great obligation on the public, and on
profession, by its publication. It is a work that
conferred
legal
has long been wanted, for the existing law dictionaries
have, in consequence of the numerous recent alterations
in the law, become almost obsolete. Mr. Wharton pro-
mises to give in this Law Lexicon an explanation of all
the technical words and phrases employed in the several
departments of English law, including the various legal
terms used in commercial transactions, together with an
explanatory as w ell as literal translation of the Latin
maxims contained in the writings of the ancient and mo-
dern commentators. The first part contains the whole
of the letter A, and he has, as far as he has gone, per-
formed his promise perfectly. As a specimen of the
manner in which he has executed his task, we give his
account of the rules to be observed in interpreting Acts
of Parliament.

" The principal rules for the interpretation of Acts of Par-
liament are the following ;-1, That a statute begins to ope-
rate from the time when it receives the royal assent, un-
less otherwise provided for. But where an Act expires
before a Bill continuing it has received the royal assent,
the latter Act takes effect from the expiration of the former,
unless otherwise provided, and except as to penalty. (48
Geo. 111, c. 106). 2. It is to be construed equitably, not
according to its mere letter, but the intent and object with
which it was made; 3, that these points be considered—the
old law, the mischief, and the remedy; 4, that a remedial
statute be more liberally, and a penal more strictly con-
strued; 5, in construing a statute, all other such statutes
made in pari materiel, ought to be taken into consideration ;
6, a statute which treats of things and persons of an inferior
rank, cannot by any general words be extended to those
of a superior; 7, where the provision of a statute is general,
everything which is necessary to make such provision
effectual, is supplied by the common law; 8, a subsequent
statute may repeal a prior one, not only expressly but by
implication, as when it is contrary thereto, i. e. so clearly
repugnant that it necessarily implies a negative. But if the
Acts can stand together, they shall have a concurrent effi-
cacy ; 9, if a statute, that repeals another, is subsequently
repealed, the repealed statute revives without any formal
words ; and 10, Acts of Parliament derogatory from the
power of subsequent Parliaments do not bind."

110 W TO SPEAK AND WRITE FRENCH
CORRECTLY. By D. M. Aird.
We recently took occasion t.) recommend Mr. Aird's
" Self-Instructing Grammar" to the notice of all stu-
dents in the French language, and we mentioned it as
a really successful and meritorious undertaking. Many
obstacles which had blemished the works of previous
French grammarians were in that little volume re-
moved, or brought so nearly to a level with the under-
standing of youth, as to facilitate his progress in the
acquisition of that knowledge ♦ery remarkably. In the
present book we conceive that the author has attempted
something yet more difficult—he has had more obstruc-
tions' to subvert in its composition; he has bad to tax
his ingenuity and to simplify his explanations to an ex-
tent which we should imagine would have allayed his
enthusiasm in the cause—but that the product of that
enthusiasm is now lying upon our escritoire.
Mr. Aird has evidently laboured, upon the
principle that pronunciation can be taught through
black and white, and be endeavours to prove the
accuracy of that principle by publishing this volume.
Now for our own part we are sceptical, we must acknow-
ledge, as to the possibility of learning the right pro-
nunciation of an idiom through anything but oral
tuition. If we were all of us Mezzofantes, the im -
pediment would be merely nominal, but being as we
are, and looking, for example, at some of those guttural
combinations of consonants in the German, we are
(again we say it) sceptical. Howbeit, if the pronuncia-
tion of the French language can be taught " by the
book," we would hazard the opinion that Mr. Aird's
bock will do so. That 'it will enable any one with
ordinary capacity to write the language correctly we
are satisfied, and that too in a remarkably short period.
The author will not accuse us of pedantry if we object
to the publication in the first page of such an aphorism
as—

" La terre tourne, mats non le soleil."

It is an oversight which might impress the mind of
childhood with a wrong image. The work, however, is
good, and practically good.

EATING-MATCH EXTRAORDINARY.
A grand eating-match has been for some time going
on between the Courts of Chancery and Aldermen, the
contest being which of the two courts shall devour the
largest number of charities. Some may object to this
harmless pastime; but one great object of charity is the
feeding of the hungry ,• and who can be more hungry
than aldermen, except lawyers? Betting, at the outset,
was two to one upon the aldermen, whose long-estab-
lished reputation for prowess at the table had created a
prestige in their favour ; and one bold speculator was
heard to declare that h would back them to eat up
every charity in England in a twelvemonth. Their
worships have certainly been doing pretty well. 'Tis not
in aldermen or any other mortals to command success;
but they have done more, as the poet says, they have
deserved it ; having assuredly spared no exertion to
justify the reliance which has been placed upon them
by their backers. At one bout, which not long ago came
off at Greenwich, a small but determined band of
civic champions disposed of whitebait, stewed, collared,
and spitchcocked eels, Thames flounders, salmon in
some half-a-dozen shapes, mackerel in about as many,
carp, tench, turbot, and lobster•sauce, in all about 30
dishes of fish ; the whole forming a most formidable
array of the finny race. They next got over, or through,
a phalanx of strong pieces de resistance, consisting of
shoulders, breasts, and cutlets of lamb, roast and boiled
fowls, ducks, goslings, hams, tongues, sweet-breads, fri-
candeaux, curries, and other substantials, to the amount
of some 40 dishes, not to mention a numerous force of
patties and such light auxiliaries ; after which they set-to
with a relay of tarts, cheese-cakes, Charlotte-Russes,
creams, jellies, and custards ; all of which, with their
accompanying condiments and vegetables, they utterly
execution upon
up and dispatched• Unwearied with these efforts,
they manfully returned. to the charge, and did signal
figs, prunes, orang
grapes, pineapples, almonds and raisins,
short time, and sweets ; convert-
In
absorbed a whole
completelytune, a dessert into a desert.
ing, in an incredibel;
In the mean time, thy
Hock, Sauterne,
deglutitnta
astonishingand soda water,
cellar, in iced punch
Madeira, Port, Sherry, Claretr ate:,
French brandy, and liqueurs. Thisr
unparalleled in any other annals offeat,
pilete
civic, was crowned by the demolition of an immensen
of muffins and crumpets, and a propfortionate number of
vessels of tea and coffee ; with all o w which under their
waistcoats they returned triumphantly.
tu to town. Our
bold citizens thus, at one sitting,
fundedut D / or
pro-
perty.
Wonderful,
the interest of a charity
however,
of the Court of
it has been eclipsed by the exploits
o f 3, 0 Ouosl
wsataesrltihnipgs,
achievement,
Chancery ; which possesses a
width of throat and a
capacity of stomach which defy all competition. By
enabled
reason of these natural advantage 3, Chancery is
to do that at one gulp which it would take the aldermen
many dinners to accomplish. In a single suit it has
swallowed up from 300/. to 5001. charitable trust pro-
perty, as a mere morsel ; and its barristers and clerks
have bolted, in fees, the bagatelle or kickshaw of 201.
or 30/. at a time, and thought nothing of it. So that
the odds in this eating-match are now in favour of the
Court of Chancery ; for, though the aldermen have
eaten large holes in charities, Chancery has swallowed
them entire.—Punch.

THE WEATHER.—The weather during the week has
been almost unendurably sultry, and everybody is crying out
against the heat. Summer clothing, hair-dressers, baths,
liquids, and so forth, have been in great request. The country
looks parched for want of moisture, but the crops have sus-
tained, as yet, no injury worth speaking of from the con-
tinued drought.—Carlisle Journal.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(SATURDAY.)

HOUSE 01' COMMONS.
GROUP XVII.

MANCHESTER. AND SOUTHAMPTON AND
ROMSEY AND REDEPLIDGE BRANCH
(SOUTH—WESTERN).
The Committee met this morning shortly after eleven
o'clock, the Hon. E. Yorke in the chair.
Mr. Gibbs, a wine-merchant and a proprietor of bonded
warehouses at Manchester, was then called and examined by
Mr. ALEXANDER—He considered that a direct communica-
tion between Manchester and Southampton was very much
wanted, and that nearly all the brandy and wine imported at
London, and a great portion of that imported at Liverpool,
would be imported at Southampton if the line were made.
' The charges made at London and Liverpool on the impor-
tation of wines and spirits was much greater than those
at Southampton. The saving, in comparison with the Lon-
don charges, would be 2s. per pipe, ls. 3d. per hogshead, and
Is. per cask; and with Liverpool, 3s. 4d. per pipe, 2s. 7d. per
hogshead, and Is. &l. per cask. The silks which are now
imported for the use of the manufacturing districts would
certainly-go to Southampton. A large quantity of goods now
find their way to Manchester by way of Southampton and
London, but at a very large expense, and besides being
subject to damage in their conveyance from one line to an-
other. The goods therefore imported at Southampton would
certainly go by the proposed line. Tram-ways would be
laid along the quay at Southampton to accommodate the un-
loading of vessels. In the event of a supply of cotton
being stopped in the event of a war with America, no
doubt quantities would be imported from Egypt, where
it was manufactured. This cotton would be conveyed by way
of Southampton to the districts of the north. He supported
this line because it would be of importance to both Man-
chester and Southampton.
Cross-examined-. The length of the line was about 213
miles. By the present means of conveyance by London
goods from Manchester were sent four or five days before a
vessel sailed from Southampton in order to meet it in time.
A saving of two or three hours between Manchester and
Southampton would not be of practical importance, but a
break of gauge would be a great inconvenience.
By Mr. SMITII—The West India produce destined for
Manchester was imported at Liverpool. If Southampton
was the natural port for the Mediterranean Liverpool was
now the natural port for the West Indies. Two hours longer
occupied in the transit between Southampton and Manchester
would not depreciate the value of goods ; but the difference
of two hours would in some transactions be of great import-
ance to the merchant.

By Mr. ALEXANDER—Three hours would be of great im-
portancein complying with a foreign order. An uniform gauge
between Manchester and Southampton was of great import-
ance.

Mr. Avington, a partner in the firm of Ridgway and Co.
at Henley, in Staffordshire, was examined—The firm to
which he belonged was one of the oldest at Henley and em-
ployed 480 persons. He carrried on very little trade with
the counties of Hants, Wilts, and Dorset, which he attributed
to the want of a direct communication with the counties. In
sending goods there, they were subjected to great inconve-
niences by the frequent change of carriage. Parties in that
part of the country were consequently driven to purchase
their earthenware at the wholesale houses in London at an
increased cost. In exporting earthenware to foreign coun-
tries a communication with Southampton would be of great
advantage. The principal part of the clay used at the Pot-
teries came from the neighbourhood of Poole in Dorsetshire.
It was shipped at Poole, and taken to Liverpool, where it
was transferred into flats and conveyed by canal to the Pot-
teries. The expense was very large, and the clay was greatly
damaged by the frequent change of carriage. The earthen-
ware manufactures in the north had greater facilities in con-
veying clay and at a less cost.
Re-examined by Mr. JAMES—A break of gauge in a line
eighteen miles longer than the Manchester and Southamp-
ton would be a most serious disadvantage, not only on ac-
count of the delay of transhipment, but the danger of in-
juring the goods. Large sums of money had been expended
by the manufacturers in the Potteries, and in order to use
that capital to the best advantage it was of great importance
to be in a condition, by having direct railway communica-
tion from the north to the south, to compete successfully
with the manufacturers of Whitehaven and Stockton-upon-
Tees.

Mr. Samuel Payne, carrying on the largest hardware
trade at Southampton, obtained hi; goods from Staffordshire
by canal to London, and thence to the South-Western ter-
minus at Nine Elms, and so on to Southampton. The cost
per ton was 3/. 18s.; others, however, paid more. Also ob-
tains earthenware in great quantities by canal from Stoke,
Stourport, by the Severn to Bristol, and from thence by
coasters round the Land's .end to Southampton, at a cost of
21. per ton. By that route great delay took place, and the
goods were in addition liable to breakages. In one case,
goods sent on the 27th of October, did not reach him until
the 22d of February last. The average, however, was two
months. Had not less than 200 tons in the course of the
year, and paid about 700/. a year for carriage, about half of
which he considered the Manchester and Southampton would
save. Has also glass from Birmingham, but the manufac-
turers pay the expense of transit, which of course increased
the price of the article. Should also keep less stock, and con-
sequently require less capital in his business.
In his re-examination Mr. James handed in a copy of
the Illustrated London News containing large wood cuts of
the break of gauge at Gloucester, and the mode of tranship-
ment, with the confusion it has created amongst the pas-
sengers.—ls that an accurate picture of the mode of this
transhipment? You see your crockeryware is being smashed
to pieces, two children also have lost their mother, and one
old gentleman put by mistake into a horse-box ? I do.—
(Roars of Laughter.)
The Committee then adjourned until twelve o'clock on
Monday.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
ROLLS' COURT, June 6.
I-nrcl Langdale was occupied during the early part of the
d in hearing consent petitions, of which there was a large
number on the list.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. BYDDENFIELD.
Mr. Twiss, on the part of the Crown, applied for the post-
ponement of this cause, as well as three others under the
same title, till Thursday next. He stated that they would
be all embodied in a petition, and thus come properly before
the Court on that (the general petition) day.
The application was granted,
LOCKHART V. HARDY.
_

This case, which was part heard, came before the Court
for argument on one point, namely, as to the payment of a
sum of 1,000/. to the petitioners.
The arguments turned chiefly on the terms of the will of
the testator.

Lord LANGDALE, after hearing the arguments on both
sides, said this was a matter of great importance, and he
must consider the point. If he could satisfy himself by the
perusal of the schedule and other documents in the case, he
should then give his opinion on the point before the Court.

RYVES V. TIIE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

Arr. TURNER, on the part of the defendant, Waid this was
a bill filed by an alleged legatee, who claimed, under an al-
leged will, as the personal representative of the Princess
Olave, the daughter of Henry Frederick, Duke of Cum-
berland, a sum of 15,0001., which it was stated had
been devised to her by his late Majesty George the
Third. His Grace the Duke of Wellington lodged a de-
murrer to the will, and it would be his duty to state to the
Court the circumstances under which the claim was made,
and the grounds upon which his client had entered
the present demurrer. It was alleged by the bill of
the plaintiff that the will in question was duly exe-
cuted in 1774, that it bore the sign manual and was
as follows. [The Learned Counsel then read the will,
which it was stated was in the handwriting of his Ma-
jesty George 111., and stated that he bequeathed a sum
of 15,0001. "to Olave, daughter of our brother Henry Fre-
derick, Duke of Cumberland, in compensation for
any losses she may have sustained."] The bill
then stated that at the decease of his Majesty George
the Third, his late Majesty George the Fourth became
entitled to the chattels and other property of his father, with
this liability of 15,000/. That legacy had not been paid to
the plaintiff. The affidavit of the plaintiff then set forth
that Lord Warwick told his Royal Highness the
Duke of Kent that he wished to communicate
some particulars respecting his brother to the Princess
Olave, who had an interview with his Royal Highness and
the latter nobleman That after receiving a pledge from
her not to divulge what he was about to communicate Lord
Warwick informed her that she was the lawful daughter of the
Duke of Ciunberland, and that there were papers in his pos-
session which he had obtained from the Earl of Chatham esta-
blishing this fact. These documents the affidavit stated
were in her possession in the same state in which she had
received them, with the exception of the corners of some of
the sheets, which were torn off. The case came before
the Prerogative Court, and the judge rejected
the application, not on the ground that there
had not been a just cause made out, but that there
was no probate of the will alleged lodged in that Court.
The affidavit of the plaintiff then went on to state that
the late King George the Fourth made his will
in the presence of the Duke of Wellington and Sir William
Knighton, whom he appointed his executors ; that the latter
was dead, so that his Grace was the only surviving executor.
It further stated that his Majesty George IV. died possessed
of the same property as his father, including this legacy to
the Princess Olave. It was objected by the noble de-
fendant that the Princess Olave was not the party men-
tioned in the will, and even that if she were, be
was not bound to comply with the present demand. The
bill then stated that Dr. Wilmott was present at the birth
of the Princess, and that his Royal Highness the Duke of
Cumberland never had any other daughter of the
same name. The Bill then prayed that an ac-
count might be taken of the personal estate of
his late Majesty George IV., and that the defendant might
be compelled to pay the legacy. It appeared that the
Princess Olave had made the plaintiff her heir, and she ac-
cordingly instituted the present proceedings, which his
noble client thought fit to resist. The Learned Counsel
then cited the Acts 3d and 4th of William the Fourth,
respecting legacies, the case of " Peck v. Horn," decided in
the Vice-Chancellor's Court, and the Book of Royal Wills, to
show that under the peculiar circumstances of the case the
plaintiff was not entitled to recover the legacy.
Mr. Turner had not concluded his arguments when the
Court rose.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, June 6.
(Sittings in Banco.)
HAMILTON V. THE QUEEN.

This was an application to this Court, upon a writ of
error from the Central Criminal Court, to quash the
proceedings in a trial against the prisoner, upon the
ground of error in the indictment. The then pri-
soner, now plaintiff, it will be recollected, was tried
not long back at the Old Bailey, and found guilty,
upon a charge of " obtaining money under false pre-
tences." The trial took place before Mr. Pollock,
and the precise terms of the charge against the pri-
soner were, that he represented himself to the prosecutor
as Arthur Rowan Hamilton, a captain of the sth Dra-
goon Guards. The prosecutor, believing the prisoner to
be a captain in her Majesty's service, advanced him
5001. upon the strength of the representation. He,
however, was not long deceived— he discovered that he
had been imposed upon, and that the prisoner was not
only not a" captain" at the time that he represented, but
that he never was a captain, either in her Majesty's ser-
vice, or that of any foreign potentate, living or dead,
reigning or deposed. The prisoner must therefore have
made some great mistake in stating that he was a
Captain in her Majesty's sth Dragoon Guards. Pro-
secutor, more indignant at the imposition to which ho had
been subjected than at the mere loss of his money, and
anxious to protect the public morals and public interests
against such doings, filed an indictment against the pri-
soner, the result of which was a verdict of "Guilty" upon
the finding. Against that verdict and the whole of the
proceedings, the prisoner now appealed upon a writ of,
error, the assigned error being alleged to consist in the
use in the indictment of the words " then a captain."
Mr. BALLANTINE appeared to support the prisoner's
plea, and addressed the Court upwards of an hour. The
learned gentleman argued with much ingenuity, urging
upon the Court, that although the prisoner was not a
captain at the moment, or exact time of the day laid
down in the indictment, yet he might have been a captain
on that particular ,lay ; in other words, that he might
have been a captain in the morning, although not a
captain in the evening ; that nothing was more
possible, nothing more common. In the course
of his argument, the learned gentleman resorted
to numerous technicalities, entrenched himself in every
available position to extricate the prisoner from the em-
barrassments of his situation, and concluded by sub-
mitting that the indictment contained error on the face
of it ; and by hoping that the Court would give judg-
ment in favour of the prisoner.

Mr. C. CLARK, for the Queen, contended for the
validity of the indictment, maintained that there was no
error in the framing of it, and that it was to no pur-
pose to dispute about" " the time of day," at which the
prisoner might have been a captain, and might not,
the fact being that he never was a captain, either in
ale morning or in the evening.
The Learned Gentleman was proceeding step by step
to support the indictment, but had not spoken more than
a quarter of an hour, when
The COURT expressed itself satisfied, and gave judg-
ment in the case, deciding that the indictment was per-
fectly good, and that there was no error in it. The
Learned Judges respectively delivered their opinions,
Mr. Justice Matteson, and Mr. Justice Williams con-
curring with Lord Chief Justice Denman.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MARYLEBONE.

tha,
wEasrqr.a'notiwith having coin-
-13, Hyde Park•
mitted an assault upon the person of Mr. John Richard
Wake Thompson, the son of a solicitor, of No. 2, garTdleionn:,as wa A
sss charged edSmoni
Buck-
lersbury. The case arose under the following circum-
stances:—
It appeared that complainant's father had been ap-
plied to by a Mr. Charles Bennett to make application
by letter to the defendant for 1091., alleged to be due in
relation to his connexion with the London and Birming-
ham Direct Railway. The letter was written, but as no
answer was returned a number of writs were prepared
in the defendant's name, and the complainant
was entrusted with the service. Accordingly,
the complainant went to the defendant's house,
in Hyde Park-terrace, and was told that Mr. Smith
was at breakfast. The maid asked him his name, and
he replied that it was Wake, so that he might get an
interview ; and after waiting some time in the hall he
was admitted to the defendant's breakfast room, when
he immediately presented the writs, and Mr. Smith
seized him by the collar of his coat, and shook him, at
the same time threatening to whip his father. He also
called complainant a scoundrel, and as he went towards
the door lifted up his foot for the purpose of kicking
him. The complainant stated that he gave no provoca-
tion further than he had stated. In answer to the
defendant's counsel he said, that in a moment of irritation
he called Mr. Smith a scoundrel, and took hold of his
coat in self-defence, but denied that he offered to kick
the defendant.—Mr. Long remarked that however much
Mr. Smith might have felt annoyed at being served with
writs, still he was not justified in striking the com-
plainant, who was simply carrying out the law. The de-
fendant was fined 40s. and costs.

DUTCH EXPEDITION-AGAINST
BALLY.

Great preparations arebeing made throughout Java
for the expedition against Bally, which will
i consist of
3,000 men, of all arms. The armament, it was ex-
pectected, would depart on the 15th instant from Ba-
tavia, Sourabaya, and Samarang. Serious apprehen-
sions are entertained by many prudent persons for the
result of this expedition, the Ballinese being known to
be well prepared for it, and it is certain that a discomfi-
ture to the Dutch in Bally would be dangerous to their
authorityeir
authority in Java, in its present discontented and im-
poverished state. The Governor-General is, however,
stated to be full of energy, and determined to try the
arbitrement of the sword. The late Governor-General,
it is well known, was averse is hostile proceedings
against Bally, on account of financial difficulties in
Java. The merchants and civilians at Batavia are ap-
prehensive that in case of any check to the Dutch arms
occurring in Bally, all the regular garrison of the place
would be withdrawn, and that they will be compelled in
the capacity of national guards to perform garrison
duty, which, besides being unpleasant, would seriously
interfere with the time for their own business.—Over-
land Singapore Free Press, April 7, 1846.
DUTCH PENAL SETTLEMENT, SINGAPORE.—A great
number of Chinese have come over from Rio lately, some
reports say to the amount of 2,000 or 3,000, and are
living on this island, without any ostensible means of
subsistence. They are scattered through the jungle, and
are no doubt prepared to take part in any mischief. We
also learn with some surprise that the Dutch Govern-
ment are converting Singapore into a kind of penal set-
tlement for their Chinese criminals, the steamer Biduco
having brought several Chinese on her last trip, who had
been banished from Minto, and who were landed here!—
Overland Singapore Free Press, April 7, 1846.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING AN

AMENDMENT IN THE LAW.
On Saturday a general meeting of the members and
friends of the above society took place in their rooms,
21, Regent-street. The meeting was very numerously
attended by noblemen and gentlemen, particularly those
connected with the law, and amongst those present were
the Dukes of Rutland, Cleveland, and Richmond, the
Marquises of Normanby and Clanricarde, Earl Radnor,
Lords Monteagle, Beaumont, Denman, and Brougham,
Sir John Stoddart, Mr. Sergeant D'Oyly, Mr. Commis-
sioner Fane, Mr. Commissioner Evans, &c., &c.
Lord BROUGHAM was unanimously called to the
chair, and observed that they had met to consider the
subject of the promotion of the amendment of the law—
a subject which required the most important considera-
tion. It was within the last twelve or fourteen motnhs
that the society had been established, and it was esta-
blished on sound principles and rational views It was
highly gratifying to state, that during the time the
society had been in operation, it had made consi-
derable progress. They had first formed themselves
into committees divided into the respective subjects of
the criminal and equity law, as also the law affect-
ing real property, who had severally made reports,
and it was at length thought time to call this general
meeting to have the subjects explained. The subject
was one in which he had long felt the deepest interest,
and although he was aware that the public had been
long doomed to disappointment, yet he thought the time
of disappointment was past, and that the time for
hope had arrived. He (Lord Brougham) had last ses-
sions introduced nine Bills to Parliament, four of
which had become the law of the lead, which were
Acts for the extinction of terms, the promotion of cheap
conveyance, and those of debtor and creditor, abolishing
the imprisonment for debt ; the law of mesne
process having been previously abolished. Im-
prisonment for debt had now ceased to exist in
this country, only as far as regarded punishment for
crime. It had been found that arrest in execution
was of no earthly use whatever, the steps to which were
twelve, as stated by Mr. Commissioner Fane, all causing
considerable expense to the creditor. Any man could now
apply for protection to the Court of Bankruptcy, and un-
less guilty of gross fraud or extravagance, that protection
would be granted. As regarded what might be deemed
extravagance, he would cite that of a man being pos-
sessed only of .ss. going into Storr and Mortimer's and
ordering goods to the amount of 1001.—(Hear, hear)
and then cheating them of their monty. There was
great difference of opinion as to the abolition of the
imprisonment for debt, and the general opinion
was that the Legislature had gone a little too far in
the favour of the debtor, but they could not return. They
could not stop, and therefore they ought to give every
aid to the creditcr. A case had occured in the Bank-
ruptcy Court, where a man had by defrauding his
creditors got 7001. in his possession, with which he
again set up in business, in the very town where he had
cheated his creditors. With a view of correcting saCh
a state of things, he intended to submit a Bill next
sessions. It was important to punish a man for fraud
and extravagance, but the Act for Abolishing Imprison-
ment for Small Debt had been passed in conse-
quence of the representation of such unspeakable horrors
as were endured by those imprisoned for small debts who
it was shown, suffered more than those imprisoned for
crimes ; and that, too, probably for debts not exceed-
ing 405., more than would be endured for a debt of 4001.
—(Hear, hear.) It was, however, found that the ma-
jority of debts were under 201., and now most men took
care not to exceed 19i. or 191. 19s. After alluding to
the anomalies of the law, both in its civil and criminal
jurisdiction, his Lordship said that as every Eubj set was
bound to obey the law, they were entitled to know what
were the laws they had to obey, particularly as to the
criminal law, of which they ought to have a code they
could understand. His Lordship concluded by calling on
Lord MONTEAGLE, who proposed a resolution to the
effect, " That the present mode of administering the law
in the Court of Chancery was one of the greatest evils of
the country.
_ _

The resolution was seconded by Mr. Sergeant D'Oyly,
and carried.

A letter was read from the Earl of Devon, apologising
for his absenee.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE, in a brief speech, pro-
posed a resolution, recommending an improvement in the
law as respected the transfer, &c., of real property, which
was seconded by
Lord BEAUMONT and carried.

Mr. BETHELL, Q. C. of the Chancery Bar, stated
many hardships to which suitors were subjected in the
Court of Chancery, and stated that a charity, the
funds of which were derived from eighteen cottages,
had found it necessary to sell the latter, and an order
was obtained for the purpose. The cottages sold for
about 1,6001., but the trustees had to pay costs amouut-
ing to 1,4001. thus rendering a manifest injury to the
poor persons for whose benefit the charity had
been established. He was of opinion that there
should be a court of mediation, a judge at
chambers as in common-law. Take for example a man
having a legacy of 1001. ; it would be all absorbed by the
present mode of procedure in the Court of Chancery, but
might be cheaply arranged by an appeal to a judge at
chambers.

Lord BROUGHAM said, that the latter suggestion was
entitled to the highest consideration.
[Here Lord Denman entered the room, and was re-
ceived with hearty cheers].
Mr. Commissioner FANE said that although there
were not less than 1,000 dishonest to one honest debtor,
yet he thought that the laws did not yet sufficiently
protect an honest debtor, while they were not stringent
enough for a dishonest debtor, or considerate to a
creditor. The Learned Commissioner concluded by
moving a resolution for the improvement of the law in
the above respect, which was seconded by
T. ELLIOTT, Esq., and carried unanimously.
The Duke of RICHMOND said that in his magisterial
capacity he was frequently called upon to administer
laws which were a disgrace to the statute-book. Chil-
dren of nine, ten, and eleven years of age, at the
sessions found guilty of minor charges of felony,'
and being branded with felony, it was dif-
ficult afterwards to get them to pursue an honest
course, and under all circumstances he should be de-
sirous to get rid of such an evil. The Noble Duke
concluded by moving a resolution for the amendment of
the criminal law.

The motion was seconded by the Marquis of Non-
MANBY, and carried unanimously.
After thanks to the Noble Chairman, the meeting
broke up.
VI

SIT OF PRINCE ALBERT AND
THE ROYAL CHILDREN TO THE SURREY
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

On Saturday his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess
Royal, and the Princess Alice, and attended by Colonel
Bouverie and the Dowa&er Lady Lyttelton, paid a
visit to the Surrey Zoological Gardens. •
At ten o'clock it was announced to Mr. Tyler, the
proprietor of the gardens, that his Royal Highness
Prince Albert and the royal children had just drawn
up to the New-street entrance to the gardens. That
gentleman, who up to that moment was quite uncon-
scious of the honour of a royal visit, hurried to the gate,
and was in time to receive his royal and distinguished
visitors. The Prince, accompanied by the childrer,
and attended, as above stated, by Lady Lyttelton and
Colonel Bouverie„ perambulated the gardens for nearly
an hour, and attentively viewed the varied scenes and
objects there. The antelopes recently presented by her
Gracious Majesty to the proprietor of the gardens were
viewed by the royal party, as were also the wild ani-
mals; but the view of Mount Vesuvius, painted by
Danson on about a couple of acres of canvas, seemed to
attract the particular attention, not only of the royal
parent, but of his Royal Highness's beautiful and inte-
resting children. _ _ _

The—royal party left the gardens by the entrance in
Manor-place, but before doing so Prince Albert ex-
pressed to Mr. Tyler his gratification at the arrange-
ments of the entire establishment under his ma-
nagement.