The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-03 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day.)

The sittings of the above court were resumed to-day,
before the Right Hon. the Lnrd Mayor, the Right
Hon. the Recorder, Aldermen Sir G. Carroll, Hunter,
Sir R. W. Carden, Sir H. Muggeridge, Eagleton, and
Laurence, the Sheriffs, Under-sheriffs, &e.

The first edition of the calendar contains the names of
110. prisoners.

The Recorder, on charging the grand jury, said he re-
gretted to have to inform them that the present calendar
was one of the heaviest, with regard to numbers, and to
the serious nature of the crimes it contained, that he ever
reoellected during the five years of his experience in this
court. There were no less than five separate charges of
murder, and they involved the destruction of nine
'separate individuals. Noth withstanding that fact,
however, he said he was happy to inform
them, that by the returns it did not appear
that there was any general increase of crimes of
violence to the person generally throughout the country,
and there was reason to hope that the increase of educa-
tion and the spread of civilisation in the country had
tended to decrease crime. From returns he held in his
hand that were made up to 1854, it appeared that
although undoubtedly -there had been an iuerease of
crime, yet it was not more than would be accounted for
by the increase of population and the increase of pro-
perty in this country, and it only referred to the ordi-
nary cases of felony, there being a reduction of thirteen
per cent. in charges of murder, manslaughter, and at-
tempts to murder. It seemed that it was the same in
the history ok nations as of individuals, that at
certain periods there were great calamities without any
apparent cause. During the last year, after forty
years of peace they had been suddenly plunged into all
the horrors of war, and during that period there had
certainly been committed a series of the most serious
crimes by persons of position and rank, and also by
others of the lower orders. It was no part of their duty
to speculate upon the causes of the sudden increase of
aggravated crimes, but they were bound to take the
matter into their serious consideration, and it devolved
upon every one to do all in his power to extend educa-
tion among the people, as the most certain means of
remedying so serious a state of things. The learned
Recorder then observed, that although the charges
were of a very serious nature they did not ap-
pear to present any legal difficulties, and if the
facts shculd be laid before them as they appeared in the
depositions, they would have no alternative but to re-
turn true bills in all the cases of murder and manslaughter.
In one of the cases of murder a question would possibly
arise as to the state of mind of the person accused, but
the grand jury need not trouble themselves with the
consideration of that matter which could be only pro-
perly investigated by the petty jury. He then referred
to other cases in the calendar, and concluded by dismis-
sing the grand jury to the performance of their duties.

HER MAJESTY THE EHPRESS OP THE FRENCH.—
PARIS, March I.—The health of her Tuiperial Majesty
is, in every respect, most sati,fe.ctory. Yesterday the
Empress, accompanied by the Emperor, drove to the
Bois de Boulogne. Their Majesties descended, and

walked together for half-an-hour.
NEW PEERAGE.—It is rumoured that Richard Pere-
berton Milnes, Esq., of Fryston Haq, will shortly be
made a peer.

The next meeting of the Fox Club will be held at
Brooks's on Saturday, the Bth March.
The Princess Joachim Murat, nee Princess de• Wag-
rain, was on Thursday safely delivered of a son, at the
Cletiteau-de-Gros•Bois, near Parie.
The marriage of the Lady Margaret de Burgh with
Mr. Beaumont, M.P., is appointed to take place with
much ceremony on Wednesday next.
It is rumoured that in case of the birth of a prince,
his :title will be "Ring of Algeria," and that Prince
Napoleon will be appointed viceroy, taking up his resi-
dence in Algiers.
The Board of General Officers appointed to inquire
into the statements affecting Lords Lucan and Cardigan,
Sir R. Airey and Colonel Gordon, will meet formally
during the ensuing week, in order to arrange the in ,n-
-ner cf proceeding. It will then ailjuurn for about a
fortnight, to give time for the attendance of the officers
telegraphed for the Crimea. Col. Griffiths, Col. Dougla,,
and other witoeeses are at home, and possibly the Co'irt
may deem it well to begin with their examination. The
commission will be held at the place of meeting formerly
used by the board of general officers fur army clothing,
—Court Journal.