The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-31 00:00:00

THE RUGELEY MURDERS.

The Lord Chancellor then handed the Speech
to the Queen, which was as follows
Ity LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Since the dose of the last Session of Parliament,
the arms of the Allies have achieved a signal and
important success. Sebastopol, the great strong-
hold of Russia in the Black Sea, has yielded to
the persevering constancy and to the daring
bravery of the Allied forces. The naval and mili-
tary preparations for the ensuing year have neces-
sarily occupied my serious attention ; but while
determined toomit no effort which could give vigour
to the operations of the war, I have deemed it
my duty not to decline any overtures which
might reasonably afford a prospect of a safe and
honourable peace. Accordingly, when the
Emperor of Austria lately offered to myself and
to my august Ally the Emperor of the French,
to employ his good offices with the Emperor of
Russia, with a view to endeavour to bring about
an amicable adjustment of the matters at issue
between the contending Powers, I consented, in
concert with my Allies, to accept the offer thus
made, and I have the satisfaction to inform you
that certain conditions have been agreed upon
which I hope may prove the foundation of a gene-
ral treaty of peace.

Negotiations for such a treaty will shortly be
opened at Paris.

In conducting those negotiations I shall be
careful not to lose sight of the objects for which
the War was undertaken ; and I shall deem it
right in no degree to relax my naval and mili-
tary preparations until a satisfactory Treaty of
Peace shall have been concluded.
Although the War on which I am en-
gaged was brought on by events in the
South of Europe, my attention has not
been withdrawn from the state of things
in the North, and, in conjunction with the Em-

peror of the French, I have concluded, with the
King of Sweden and Norway, a Treaty contain-
ing defensive engagements applicable to his Do-
minions, and tending to the preservation of the
balance of power in that part of Europe.
I have also concluded a Treaty of Friendship,
Commerce, and Navigation with the Republic of
Chili. I have given directions that these Treaties
shall be laid before you.

GENTLEMEN OF THE House OF COMMONS,
The Estimates for the ensuing year will be laid
before you. You will find them framed in such
a manner as to provide for the exigencies of War,
if Peace should unfortunately not be concluded.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
It is gratifying to me to observe that, not-
withstanding the pressure of the War, and the
burthens and sacrifices which it Las unavoidably
imposed upon my people, the resources of my Em-
pire remain unimpaired. I rely with confidence on
the manly spirit and enlightened patriotism of my
loyal subjects for a continuance of that support
which they have so nobly afforded me, and they
may be assured that I shall not call upon them
for exertions beyond what may be required by a
duo regard for the great interests, tho honour,
and the dignity of the Empire.
There are many subjects connected with inter-
nal improvement which I recommend to your
attentive consideration.

The difference which exists in several important
particulars between the Commorcial Laws of
Scotland and those of the other parts of the
United Kingdom, has occasioned inconvenience to
a large portion of my subjects engaged in trade.
Measures will be propoied to you for remedying
this evil.

Measures will also be proposed to you for im-
proving the laws relating to partnership by sim-
plifying those laws, and thus rendering more easy
the employment of capital in commerce.
The system under which Merchant Shipping is
liable to pay local dues and passing tolls has beer/
the subject of much complaint. Measures will
be proposed to you for affording relief iu regard
to those matters.

Other mportant measures for impriking the

Court of Queen's Bench—(This Day.)
(Sitting' in Banco, before Lord Chief Justice Campbell,
Justices Coleridge, Wightmati, and Crampton.)
THE QUEEN V. MR. PALMER-THE RUGELEY MURDERS.
Mr. James, Q.C., and Mr. Hawkins appeared on the
part of Mr. Dean, solicitor, in the prosecution in two of
the murders charged against the prisoner—that of his
wife and brother—to shf9w cause against the issuing the
writ of cc-rtiorari, obtained in the case on Tuesday last.
Mr. Huddleston and Mr. Scotland appeared for the
relatives of Mr. Cook, also to show cause against the
rale.

Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Gray supported the
rule.

Mr.'Jameg, in the absence of the Attorney-General,
said that from a communication he had had from the
latter learned gentleman it was nut his intention to
make any opposition to the issue of the writ if their
lordships thought it ought to issue, because it could not
be doubted that at Stafford and its neighbourhood great
excitement prevailed, and the Crown were of opinion it
would be safer both for the prosecution and the prisoner
that the trial should not take place at Stafford.
Mr. Huddleston opposed the issuing the rule, not, he
said, from any factious motives, but from the difficulties
which he said surrounded the application and the want
of jurisdiction of the Court, both of which he explained.
Lord Campbell said the question the court had to de-
termine was whether two certioraris should issue—one
to the coroner, to return the inquisitions, and another
to the assizes, to return to the court any indictments
that might be found. He was of opinion that in this
case the ends of justice required it should be done.
His lordship said he hoped that, pending the trial, no
further public discussion would take place on this case.
It was most improper to do so, and was much to be
deprecated, and if it could be proved that it was done
with an improper motive the parties so offending would
be liable to punishment.
Rule made absolute.

ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY. ----An accident, eel tainly not of a serious
description, occurred yesterday morning about 1 o'clock,
by the down goods train getting off the line, or break-
down, a few miles south of Warrington. The down
mail train, which followed somewhat quickly, was con-
sequently detained until the luggage was got away. We
believe no injury to life or limb was sastained by any
ono. The cause of the accident was not made known.
THE LATH ACCIDENT IN THE MEDWAY.—On Tuesday
a third body was discovered in the river Medway, near
Sheerness, which, upon being taken to Brampton Bar-
racks, was identified as that of Ensign Battine, East
India Company's Engineers. To-day the body will be
interred at Gillingham' with military honours.
STRANGE CASE or SToriDITY.--A gentleman, whose
name it is at present unnecessary to mention, yesterday
lost 2001. in the following singular manner :—He went
inta one of the local banks to deposit about 4001., of
which 2001. was in notes, and the remainder in gold and
silver. While engaged in counting the gold he placed
the notes on the counter beside him ; a person standing
near, the bank being crowded at the time, touched him
on the shoulder, and, on his looking round, called his
attention to the beautiful effect of the decorations of the
ceiling. The gentleman looked up, in obedience to this
emely suggestion, and, having fully admired the artistic
effect, looked down again. His feelings underwent a
very disagreeable change when he discovered that his
notes and his polite acquaintance had both disappeared.
Every inquiry after the notes was in vain ; they had
positively disappeared, and the admirer of ornamental
architecture was likewise gone. No trace whatever of
the notes or the person who is presumed to have taken
them has yet been discovered.—Liverpool Daily Thum
THE STEAMER BELGlQUE.—Sonthamuton, Jan. 30.--
In accordance with the request of the Mayor, the com-
mander of the Belgique, Capt. Tack, accompanied by
the Belgian consul at this port (Mr. Lefevre), attended
before the magistrates this morning. Mr. E. A. Smith,
Government officer, Mr. Pocock, solicitar, and several
of the passengers were also present. In the course of
conversation Mr. Lefevre said that inquiries had been
prematurely made, and until a survey of the vessel had
taken place the captain could not say whether the pas-
sengers would proceed to New York by the Belgique
or not. It was the intention to have the cargo got out
as soon as possible, when an examination of the ship
would immediately take place. The company were pre-
pared to take care of the passengers on board in the
interim. Mr. Pocock said that the passengers complained
of the want of comfort in theship, and that they could not
sleep on board. One of the officers of the ship was com-
pelled to sleep at an hotel in the town, being ill from the
bad accommodation on board the vessel. What the
passengers required to know was whether or not an ar-
rangement could be made for them to sleep on shore.
Capt. Tack said that he bad received no complaint from
any of the passengers with regard to the sleeping ac-
commodation since the vessel had been in dock, or he
would, if necessary, have made other arrangements. A
passenger here stated that, in consequence of the hatches
being kept open all night at each end of their portion of
the ship, the draught was very great. In fact, it was
sufficient to kill either man or beast. He had asked for
redress, but could not get it. It was true he had not
gone to the captain, but he had made complaints to the
officers. After further conversation Capt. Tack promised
that the sleeping accommodation of the passengers
should be improved, and Mr. Lefevre having stated that
a survey would be made by Saturday, the magistrates
postponed further inquiry until that day week.
THE LATE MURDER NEAR BURNOPPIELD.--We a
short time ago stated that 501. reward was offered for
the recovery of the watch stolen from the person of Mr.
Robert Sterling, who was murdered nearißurnopfie'd, on
the Ist of November last. Since the appearance of that
paragraph, Major White, the chief constable of Vie
county of Barham, has received a letter from Messrs J.
and W. Todd, of Glasgow, correcting a mistake made
in the former description of the watch. As this inad-
vertent error on the part of the watchmakers may have
been the cause of the hitherto unsuccessful endeavours
of the police to recover the lost watch, the corrected de-
iacription is herewith annexed, which is taken from an
e reedy similar watch furnished by the Messrs. Todd,
now in the possession of the chief constable :—" De-
scription of the watch silver patent lever, engine-
turned, with silver dial, with black hands, and nume-
rals. The silver face, within the gold figures, is en-
circled by an engraved wreath; except where interrupted
by the seconds dial. No maker's name. No. 3,846."
The fallowing articles were also taken from the person
of the deceased by his murderers, and any information
regarding them should be immediately made known to
the police—viz., a portmonnlie bearing on ono side a
photograph of the Duke of Wellington, and which may
be perforated by shot ; a dark-coloured' pocket-book,
with steel clasp, containing several unanswered letters
and memoranda ; two small lancets in a wooden case,
one end of which has been repaired with gutta-percha;
a bunch of keys, and a small brass padlock attached to
a steel ring ; and a penknife with a white handle.
A letter from Berlin, of the 24th, in the
Hamburg Correspondent, says :—" The English
Government has followed up the note which it
had addressed to the French Cabinet, on the in-
terpretation to be given on the fifth point, by a
second document on the same subject. It IS lii
the form of a circular despatch, addressed to the
English legations, in which it makes the neces-
sary communications on the position of England
as regards the question of peace. England ex-
presses much satisfaction at the unreserved accep-
tance of the programme of peace by Russia ; bat
she. will not consider the object of the war as at-
tain ed unless Russia consents to a series of other
cond)tions which England had previously made
know); to the Allied Powers, and with a view to
which the fifth point was reserved. These points
have L eon already mentioned, and every one asks
whetht Ir Nicolaieff will be comprised in the for-
tresses to be suppressed in the Black Sea."
The 54 Military Society of Prussia' celebrated
on the 24th at Berlin the anniversary of the birth
of I're derick the Great. The King and princes of
the Royal family were present, as were also M. de
Humboldt, Generals de Wrangel and de Groben,
the Miaister of War, and other superior officers.
The King's historiographer, M. Preuss,
_delivered
a suitable speech on the occasion.
A letter from Vienna of the 25th says :—"Barou
de Born queneY
and Sir Hamilton Seymour yester-
day had .% long conference with Count Buol. Later
in the day, the Russian Ambassador also had an
interview with the same Minister."