The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14, 1856.

symptoms described by me in the book which I have
written upon poisons as attending the taking of anti-
mony relate to the taking of a vital dose.
Mr. Smith—Am I to understand that there may be
the administration of poison in some form or other with-
out atiy ofie of those symptoms ?
JOr. Taylor—Sir, what I have described in my book
relates to the administration of antimony in acute doses.
This is no such case. This is a case of the administration
of antimony in small doses. The antimony was given in
this case in small doses—medicinal doses probably—but
certainly small doses. Had it been administered in large
di.ses, my belief is that it would have produced the symp-
toms which are described in that book. I have compared
my observations here with what I have written in my
book, and with the appearance of the body as described
by those who made the post mortem examination, and my
opinion is not affected.
By a Juror—Antimony would not have been a proper
medicine to administer in the state of weakness in which
she was said to have been found.
Cress examination continued—There was not sufficient
arsenic in the system to account for death. Dr. Rees and
myself examined some antimony, and, as is mostly the
case in commercial antimony, we found arsenic there.
In the deceased it did not exist in the heart. If anti-
mony should be taken during life, and the system be-
comes saturated by it, it would require 14 or 15 days to
get rid of it. After 14 or 15 days, supposing a weak
lady, for instance, had strength to live so long, I should
net in life find traces of antimony taken before that
period. Bat if antimony should exist in the system at
the time of death we could discover it for any length of
time after that event. The effects of poison upon the
system do not depend upon the quantity taken into the
stomach, but upon the quantity absorbed into the SyS-
tern. It is not 5 or 50 grains in the stomach that are de-
cisive, but the quantity which impregnates the blood ; so
that a man may swallow 5 grains, and it may produce
severer effects upon him than 50 upon another. That
which we find in the stomach is only the sediment or
dregs of what bas killed. From the medical evidence
given as to the state of the deceased during the last eight
days preceding her death, and from the discovery of
antimony in the stomach, bowels, rectum, and all parts
of her body, it is my opinion she died from the effects of
tartar emetic, and no other cause, after antimony.
George Owen Rees deposed—l am, Fellow of the Royal
College of Physicians, and Fellow of the Royal Society.
and Professor of Materia Medics in Guy's Hospital. I
assisted Dr. Taylor in making the analysis described by
him, and also the state of the organs. I have heard the
evidence given by him, and I fully concur in it. lam
of the same opinion as to the cause of death.
By Mr. Deane—From the evidence I have heard here
I have no Ota3oll to alter my opinion given in the report
read by Dr. Taylor. From the history of the illness of
the deceased, given by those who attended her in her ill-
ness, and from the examination of the organs after death,
and from the fact that antimony was discovered, as de-
scribed in our conjoint report, I am decidedly of opinion
that deceased died from the effects of antimony adminis-
tered in small doses, repeated at intervals.
Mr. Deane (to the Coroner)— Do you intend to com•
plete the case of Anne Palmer before going on with that
of Walter Palmer ?
The Coroner—Oh yes ; I shall take a verdict from the
jury upon the cause of the death of Anne Palmer before
taking the evidence in the second case.
Mr. Smith also desired that this course should be
taken.

Dr. Taylor, however, requested that his evidence in
the second case might be taken before the hour at which
it would be necessary for him to leave Rugeley to catch
the express at Stafford, as both be and Dr. Rees were
absent from London at great sacrifice to themselves.
The Coroner consented to comply with his request.
Mr. Smith (to Dr. Rees)—Have you found poison in
the system of Walter Palmer ?
Dr. Rees—We have not.
Dr. Knight re-examined—My opinion .as to the cause
of the death of Anne Palmer has been considerably mo-
dified and altered since I have heard the opinions of Drs.
Taylor and Rees, and I am inclined to think that I must
have been mistaken in the opinien which I gave yester-
day, under the circumstances stated to me on my visit
to the deceased Mrs. Palmer ; and I tend to the belief
that the opinion given by those gentlemen to-day de-
s et-flied the true cause of death.
By the foreman—l di3 not perceive any symptoms of
fever ; they were those of great exhaustion.
By Mr. Smith—To the best of my belief the skin was
heated and the tongue was moist. I agree with the
opinion as to the different effects of antimony upon the
'system, when administered iu large or small doses. Dur-
ing my examination of the deceased, when I visited her
in her illness, I did not suspect poison. Having heard
the descriptions of Drs. Taylor and Rees as to the symp-
toms of poisoning from antimony, I still say that I did
not on that visit perceive symptoms of poisoning so de-
scribed by them as resulting from the taking of antimony.
Yet, having heard those opinions, I now believe that at
that time the deceased was suffering from the effect of
antimony. Mr. Palmer did not tell me what medicine,
it any, he had prescribed before Dr. Bamford was called
in ; at least I don't recollect that he did. After hearing
the statements of Drs. Taylor and Rees, and the de,crip-
tion given yesterday by Dr. Monckton of the condition
of the body after death, there is nothing inconsistent
with Mrs. Palmer's having died from vomiting, from na-
tural causes, yet I don't believe that she did. The vomit-
ing might have been produced by a bilious attack, and
exhaustion produced by that been followed by death.
From the appearance of the viscera, as given by Dr.
Monckton, my opinion is that vomiting was not the
cause of death. I found Mrs. Palmer in so exhausted a
state that I could not get from her a statement as to her
feelings. I believe that it is impossible t r form an ac-
I aerate opinion as to the nature of a disease, unless the
patient suffering is able to describe his feelings. Sup-
pose a man was suffering from an acute disease of the
brain, and he was rambling in his mind, and unable to
give a description of his symptoms, I could not form a
I correct. opinion of the existence of the organic disease, if
army, under which he was labouring.
By Mr. Deane—There was not fever in the deceased
when I saw her, and tartar emetic was certainly not a
proper medicine to administer to her.
Here the Court adjourned—it being 1 o'clock—for
half an hour.
Upon the return of the Court after the adjournment
the brat witness called was
Benjamin Miller (he was examined by Mr. Deane)—
Upon being sworn he said—l am a surgeon, living at
Barton-under-Needwood. I knew the deceased Anne
Palmer. I was formerly in practice at Rugeley. I ex-
amined Mrs. Palmer for the purposes of life assurance
in January or February, 1854. I examined her four or
tire times. These examinations were two for the Scottish
Equitable-office, and two or three for other offices. The
first two referred to one ass Nance. The Rock, the
Atlas, and the Liverpool Life Assurance Associations
were the other societies for which I examined Mrs.
Palmer. lam not certain whether I examined her for
the Norwich Union-office. I believe those examinations
wsra shortly before her confinement. I found her to
be of perfectly sound constitution. I considered hers to
be a proper life for assurance. Ido not remember pre-
cisely when she was confined. I saw her afterwards.
She was down stairs. I do not know whether she had
been out. I saw her for the Scottish Equitable-offisar
shortly alter her confinement. I saw her in consequence
of a communication I received from the office. I was
requested by Mr. W. Palmer to give a certificate of Mrs.
Pa; arer'm health after her confinement, and after I had
received the communication from the Scottish Equit-
able-office. Mr. Palmer gave me as a reason that I had
seen her so recently on the part of other offices that he
aid not think it requisite, and that she would be alarmed.
He did not suggest any reason for alarm.
Mr. Deane—Did she express any alarm at your wish-
ing to examine her again ?
The witness did not reply to this question.
Mr. Smith—Was what she said said in the presence
of Mr. Palmer ?
Witness—No.
Mr. Smith—Then I object to the question. The an-
swer would not be evidence.

. -
By Mr. Smith—All women pregnant are considered,
medically, to be in a state of disease. There is always
danger attending confinements. I believe there are not
many assurance offices which refuse to insure what are
called diseased or appear to be diseased lives, as in this
case. I was the medical referee of the society.
[Mr. Smith read one of the certificates, in which the
witness had made no entry, although he said he thought
that he had, of the pregnancy of the deceased.]
By Mr. Smith—The policy was accepted. I consider
that. a person who would lose property on the death of
his wife would not exercise more than reasonable caution
by insuring her life before her confinement. I meant by
a sound life that there was no organic disease. Mrs.
Palmer had no organic disease. I was employed by the
office to make the examination of Mrs. Palmer. The
examinations were confined to the entire of January and
a portion of February. Ido not kdow when Mrs. Pal-
mer was expected to be confined. Ido not know how
many proposals were made. The examinations were
made concurrently—some before and some after Mrs.
Palmer's confinement.
By Mr. Deane—l cannot say whether I examined
Mrs. Palmer on the part of the Rock office before or
after her confinement.
Mr. Deane, in reply to Mr. Smith, said that Mrs.
Palmer was confined on the 24th of January, 1854.
By Mr. Smith—There were two examinations for the
Scottish Equitable—one before and one after her con-
finement.

The diary which the accused kept in January in that
year was put in, from which was read :
" Jan. 25.—Annie and baby going on well.]
" Jan. 26.--Up with baby all night.
" Jan. 27.—At home all day ; baby worse. Mr.
Bamford called to see baby, and sent mixture. Baby
died at 10 p.m."
By Mr. Smith—l was requested by the Rock-office
and by Mr. Palmer to examine Mrs. Palmer. Sometimes
3lr. Palmer applied to me before I heard from the office.
Tile proposal to the Rock Assurance Society was then
handed in, the handwriting on which was admitted by
Mr. Smith to be that of the accused. All the proposals
were afterwards given to the coroner, and read by him.
The following are the particulars of those documents :
The Scottish Equitable-office accepted, on the 2d of
February, 1854, a proposal upon the deceased's life for
5,0001., made by her husband. The New Equitable
3,0001., accepted on the Bth of December, 1853, on the
proposal of the accused upon the life of his deceased
wife. A proposal to the Scottish Amicable for 3,0001.,
made by the same upon the life of the same, declined on
January 3, 1854. The amount named in the case was,
by mistake, 3001. only, and it was declined till after the
confinement of Mrs. Palmer. It was afterwards al-
cepted, and again rejected by this office upon the dis-
c/very of the mistake. Two other proposals were made
and accepted, dated January the 17th and 19th in the
above year.
Mr. Smith— I was desirous that hose acceptances

stioubl be read, in order that it might be seen that they
were made before the confinement of the deceased.
By Mr. Smith—l never heard of a reported case or
knew a case of slow poison from antimony. Previously
to this I never heard of one in any part of the world.
By the Coroner—Having heard all the evidence, and
receiving the request of the jury that I would state my
opinion, I say that I should think that death was occa-
sioned by small doses of antimony.
By Mr. Smith—T mean by a " small dose," a medi-
cinal one. The dose of medicine, however, which would
be good to one might kill another.
Thomas Lomax, examined by Mr. Deane—l am a sur-
geon, living at Stafford. Early in the year 1854 I exa-
mined Mrs. Palmer on account of the Medical General
Legal Life-office, the New Equitable Life-office, and the
Kent Mutual. There was a fourth, but lam not quite
distinct upon that. That (a report handed to him) was
one of my reports.
The Coroner—Do you wish that to be evidence ?
Mr. 'Deane—Shortly ; the date of it.
Examination continued—The date is the 12th January,
1354. It is the proposal to the New Equitable for the
sum of 3001. I reported favourably of the life. After-
wards I had a correspondence with the office upon the
subject.
Mr. Deane —Will you state shortly the result of that
correspondence ?
The Coroner—Oh, you must produce it.
Witness, after a pause, on examining his papers, said
that he had not the letters with him.
They were afterwards found by Mr. Deane, when Mr.
Smith objected to them as evidence.
Mr. Deane—Then I will make it evidence for you.
Witness—This proposal is one made by Mr. Palmer.
There was a mistake in the matter of the proposal in this
paper of 3001. for 3,0001.
[Several proposal papers were banded in to the coro-
ner. who read them to the jury. One was dated the 12th
of January, 1854, for 3001., to the New Equitable ;
another was dated January 25, 1854, for 5,0001., in the
same office, the latter being a correction of the previous
proposal. At the bottom of this last proposal the ac-
cused stated that this proposal was made to secure a
similar sum on some doubtful property in Stafford.]
Witness continued—ln each case in which I examined
Mrs. Palmer I considered that Mrs. Palmer wasa healthy
subject.
By Mr. Smith—ln one proposal it is stated that the
deceased, on the occasion of the death, of the third child,
had hail a prolonged labour, when the infant died, from
the umbilical cord being twice round the neck. Such an
entry would tend to check the ready acceptance of the
proposal by the assurance society.
By Mr. Deane—Such au accident as that described
would be dangerous to the child, but not, I think, to the
mother.

Henry M. Wakley—l am at present the managing
director of the New Equitable Life-office. I received this
proposal from Mr. Lomax. (It was the first that was
put in for 3001.) That proposal was accepted. It was re-
ceived on the 13th of January, 1854, and it would be
accepted on the 19th of January in the same year. After
that proposal was accepted, and before the issuing of a
policy, I received a second proposal, in consequence of
a letter from Mr. Lomax, stating there had been a mis-
take. That second proposal was received on the 26th,
and accepted on the same day, that being a board day.
It was, however, in a few days afterwards declined.
Mr. Deane—l have nothing further to ask this witness.
By Mr. Smith—Not in all cases the statement of a
prolonged labour would induce an office either to refuse
to grant a policy, or charge an increased premium. Still
we might charge an extra premium. We might pursue
this latter course it, the case of a repetition of suchill-
ness. In the case of a protracted labour, and in one in
which a proposal is made immediately before another
confinement we should not have accepted the proposal
until after the confinement. If there was a second long
labour, it would make us hesitate before we accepted.
Mr. Deane—Having accepted, and afterwards rejected
that proposal, will you say whether it was ultimately re-
jected because of a prolonged confinement ?
Mr. Smith—T object to the question.
Tile Coroner--If he makes a statement he may give
the reason of it.
Mr. Smith still objected.
Mr. Deane--I sba !be perfectly satisfied if the coroner
will make a note of that question.
The Coroner—The jury wish to have the question
answered.
Witness—Tt was not rejected because of a prolonged
labour.
The Coroner—The jury also wish to know why it was
rejected ?.
Mr. Smith—Oh, Mr. Coroner, you ought to exercise
your authority, and prevent such questions.
The Foreman—Why was it refused ?
Witness—Because of information which we received
from the manager of another assurance office to whom a
proposal had been made.
John Goddard—l ant actuary to the Rock Assurance
Society. I produce a proposal by Wm. Palmer, surgeon,
of Pugeley, upon the life of his wife, Anne Palmer, for
5,0001. for six years ; dated Jan. 26, 1854, on the life of
Anne Palmer, aged 27, signed by Win. and Anne Pal-
mer, and witnessed by Ann Bradshaw. Palmer, in this
proposal, stated that he had an interest in the life of his
wife to the amount to which he desired the office to se-
cure to him. Before granting that proposal the directors
wished to know the interest Palmer had in the life of his
wife ; the amount he was going to insure in other offices;
the amount and object of the loan, which it was stated
by Mr. Strawbridge (the agent of our office) Mr. Pal-
mer was about to borrow on the assurance.
Mr. Smith objected to anything being said by the wit-
ness which he had learnt from Mr. Strawbridge.
By the Coro!' er—Theproposal was ultimately declined.
Ey Mr. Smith—Almost all I havestated I have learnt
from Mr. Strawbridge.
Witness—There are two other cases that I might men-
tion.

Coroner—Have they reference to your office ?
Witness—No.
Coroner—l suppose that the assurance offices have an
objection to state the reason why they refuse lives ?
Mr. Deane—They have not the slightest objection in
this ewe.

Coroner—Because some offices have rejected my life.
Thomas M. Strawbridge, examined by Mr. Deane, at
the request of the Coroner—l am the manager of the
Rugeley Provincial Bank, and the agent of the Scottish
Equitable-office. I produce one proposal. It was signed
William and Anne Palmer. The proposal was accepted
for 5,0001., and the money was received in March, 1855.
The proposal was made on the 13th of January, 1854.
In addition to the above proposal I received one for the
Rock-office, from which I received a letter ; in conse-
quence of which letter I communicated with Mr. Pal-
mer, and then wrote to the Rock-office the letter which
I produce. I applied to him for certain particulars,
which he refused to give me, and then I wrote that let-
ter, making the statements which are in that letter.
The Coroner expressed some objection to receiving the
letter as evidence, when
Mr. Deane said—lf you don't think that that letter
ouht to be put in I will not press it.
The Coroner--I don't think it is necessary.
Alfred Bishop Butterfield deposed—l am clerk to the
Sun Life Assurance Society, London. This is a proposal
made to the office by William Palmer, surgeon, of Rug,
ley, dated the 11th of Feb., 1864, to insure the life of his
wife for 5,0001. The certificate of health is signed by
Anne Palmer, and the declaration was signed by Wil-
liam Palmer upon the granting of the policy. The po-
licy is 12,738. The receipt is dated the fith of February,
1855, signed " William Palmer." Money paid to Wm.
Pratt, solicitor, 5, Queen-street, Mayfair, London, in
pursnance of a written order.

- John iillward Campbell Koch deposed---I am secre-
taly to the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society.
A proposal was made to our office on the life of Anne
Palmer by William Palmer, her husband, and it was
dated the 3d of Jan., 1554. it was for the SUM of 3,0001.,
out was declined.

Mr. Bergen, superintendent of police, examined yes-
terday, was recalled—l saw Dr. Monckton take a bottle
similar to this from William Palmer's surgery..
Mr. Smith—Oh, I'll admit all that. I will admit that
Dr. Monckton took that and a hundred other bottles if
you like, all containing poison, from Mr. Palmer's surgery.
1)r. Morickton—l received this bottle from the bands of
Mr. Bergen, in Mr. Palmer's house, on, I think, the 17th
of Dec., the day on which Palmer was removed from
egeley. I believe that it contains tartarised antimony.
I received no other bottles besides that one. There were
many other bottles. The surgery was complete with
bottles that one would expect to find infsuch a room. I
have satisfied myself, by tasting it, that the contents of
that bottle contain tartarised antimony, which is more
generally known to the public under the name of tartar
emetic.

By Mr. Smith—The bottles were generally such as
one would find in a surgery, except that they-were not
so full as is commonly the case.
Mr. Doane--I have no other witness to call with re-
ference to the death of Anne Palmer.
Mr. Smith—l wish to ask Dr. Taylor whether this is
not the first case en record of a case of slow poison by
antimony ?

The Croroner—ls there any more evidence in the case
of Anne Pa!lner ?

ller:tiot
Smith—Mr,
Coroner, I should like to say a few
words.

'rho Coroner reminded Mr. Smith that Drs. Taylor
and Rees were waiting to go to London.
Mr. Smith—Oh, then, certainly I should much prefer
that.

Mr. Deane—But there are other witnesses that shoulal
be heard.

The Coroner—What witnesses, Dr. TAylor, do you
wish to have called?

Dr. Taylor—Why, I should like to hear the evidence
of those persons who were present with Walter Palmer
shortly before his death.
Mr. Smith—Then that case I think we had better
go to the jury at one 6as to the cause of the death of
Anne Palmer.

This course was then determined upon, when,
After considerable discussion as to the right of Mr,
Smith to address the jury, which ended in that body de-
clining to hear that gentleman,
The Coroner, in order to put his notes together to
read them to the jury, adjourned the Court fur a quarter
of an hour.

Upon the reassembling of the Court,
The Coroner said that he should not read that portion
of the evidence which did not immediately relate
to the question into which the jury had to inquire.
Their object was the inquiry into the death of the
deceased Anne Palmer. In coming to that conclusion,
he must remark that any statements which had been
made in the public prints respecting this matter should
not be allowed to influence their minds. Such state-
ments might, with men of less intelligence than the jury
he was now addressing, have had some weight, but he
did not think that they would have weight with them.
He must also remark that, although there were other
roses pending, they had to consider only this one, antil

should dismiss from their minds any knowledge that
they might have re Tectif:g others. They had sworn to
come to a conclusion in accordance with the evidence in
this case, and this only. The principal points they would
have to consider were, first, the cause of death ; secondly,
if the cause of death was poison ; thirdly, they must
consider by whom that poison was administered, if at
all administered—whether it was taken accidentally, or
whether it was given deliberately. And then, having sa-
tisfied themselves•upon this point, it would be for theta
t.) say under what circhmstances it was so administered.
The Coroner then read through those parts of the evi-
dence which be thought important, briefly remarking
upon portions of it.

At the conclusion of his remarks, at. about 10 minutes
past 6 o'clock, the jury retired to consider their verdict.
Upon the rtturn of the jury, after au absence of 20
milauteg,

The Coroner said—Gentlemen, have you considered
your verdict?
The Foreman.—Yes.

The Coroner.—What is your verdict
The Foreman then, amid breathless silence of a
crowded and excited court, said— We find that Anne
Palmer died from the effects of tartarised antimony, and
that that was designedly administered by her husband,
William Palmer.

The announcement of the verdict was followed by de-
cided manifestations of satisfaction from a large nurubsr
of persons in the hall.

The Coroner, after a pause.—What do you mean by
its being "designedly" administered ?
The Foreman._\Ve mean that it was designedly ad-
ministered for the purpose of destroying life.
The Coroner—That, gentlemen, is a verdict of wilful
murder ?

The Foreman—That is our verdict.
The Coroner—Then, in that case the evidence must
be written upon parchment. That shall be done, and
the evidence in that form laid before you on Monday
morning, to which time I adjourn this Court, to inquire
into the cause of the death of Walter Palmer.
The court was then cleared.
During the progress of the case, and after Dr. Taylor
bad completed his evidence,
Mr. Smith, addressing the coroner, remarked that he
understood that Dr. Taylor's report of the analyses upon
the remains of the deceased, which had been submitted
to bile, appeared in the Times of that morning. He
should like to know by whom it bad been communicated
to the Times? I want to know, said Mr. Smith, by
whose consent it was published'?
Dr. Taylor—Not by mine, certainly.
Mr. Smith—lf reports of this description are to get
abroad before they are properly giver4in evidence, there is
an end of all justice and all inquiry. Such a proceeding
is very likely to prejudice the case against Mr. William
Palmer.

Dr. Taylor.—The publication of it was very impro-
per. One of the reporters asked me whether I had ob-
jection to his t eking a copy before I delivered it, because
the hour was getting late ; and he would have to leave
train for London without being able to transcribe it in
time for publication in the paper which he represented
on the following morning, if I refused to permit a copy
to be taken before I delvered it. I replied that I could
permit a copy to be taken on no condition except the
one that it should not be published before I had given
it in evidence. Upon a pronotise to that effect being given
to me, I granted the request of the reporter.
Mr. Smith wished the coroner to require from the
correspondent of the Times how he became possessed of
the report.

The Coroner.—l cannot call the reporter of the Times
as a witness. Call on the next witness.
The reporter adds that, whatever promise might have
been required from the gentlemen to whom Dr. Taylor
referred, and given by them, the two gentlemen engaged
in the inquiry by whose courtesy he was enabled to ob-
tain A copy of the learned Professor's report imposed no
such conditions upon him ; and that be consequently
made no promise respecting it. He further states that,
until he heard the statement of Dr. Taylor to that effect
,n Satur !ay, he did net know that the reporters alluded
to had obtained the report under any conditions.
The legal gentlemen who have been retained to con-
duct the case for the prosecution of Palmer are the At-
torney-General, Mr. Whiteley, Q.O , and Mr. Huddle-
ston. The counsel for the defence have not yet been
►elected. The solicitors who have hitherto bad the
management of the case on behalf of the accused have
three names before them, from which they w►ll make a
selection. Those named are Sir Frederic Thesiger, Ser.
jeant Wilkins, and Mr. Elwin James, of the Home
Circuit.

From the commencement of the inquiry on Friday
morning to its close on Saturday night, the proceedings
were watched by Captain Hatton, the chief of the Staf-
fordshire police.

STAFFORD, SUNDAY NIGHT.

It is said that evidence has been obtained of William
Palmer having purchased prussic acid at Wolverhamp-
ton, on the day before his brother, Walter Palmer, died.
There have been further disclosures mile respecting
the death of Bladen, formerly collector for Messrs. Char-
riuvton, the brewers, of Mile End.

THE PROJECTED ROAD ACROSS ST.
JAMES'S- PARK.

It will be in the recollection of the readers of this
journal that in the autumn of last year it became known
to the public that a project was in contemplation by the
Government for carrying a public road across the mid-
dle of St. James's-park, from the B:rdcage-walk on the
south side to Pall-mall on the north, and that a consi-
derable amount of popular indignation followed the an-
nouncement of the proposition. From that time little or
nothing has been heard of the matter, no steps have
actually been taken for carrying the scheme into execu-
tion, and it was supposed that Sir Benjamin Hall, the
Minister of Public Works, who has hitherto had all the
credit of the proposal, had accepted the significant hint
of the public disapprobation, and consigned it to the
limbo of abortive and abandoned projects. But it will
be seen, from what transpired at an interview on Wed-
nesday last between the hon. baronet, and a deputation
of gentlemen who waited upon him on the subject, that
he sought to divest himself of the conception and
responsibility of the scheme in question, with which the
inhabitants of the metropolis had begun to connect hie
tenure of office, and that it cannot be said to be relin-
quished. The precise 'node in which the project is to be car-
ried out has never been divulged by theauthorities charged
with its contrivance. But there are good grounds for be-
lieving that it is to be a public carriage road, commenc-
ing in Birdcage-walk, at the present entrance to the park
from Queen-square, and carried over the ornamental
walks and water of the enclosure by a viaduct resting on
a series of arches to a landing place in the Mall on the
opposite side, and so opening up a direct communication
between Westminster and Pall-Mall, which it will enter
between Marlborough House and St. James's Palace.
The deputation to which reference has been made, con-
sisting of several gentlemen of great respectability, re-
siding in the immediate vicinity of the park—namely,
Mr. Keating, M.P., Q C. ; Mr. Benjamin Hawes, of the
department of the Secretary for War : Mr. Whately,
Q.C. ; Mr. Tomlinson, barrister ; Mr. Lavie, an emi-
nent solicitor, and Mr. Tustin, had an interview, by ap-
pointment, on the subject of the proposed road, with Sir
13. Hall, on Wednesday last, at his official residence in
Whitehall-place. Tne deputation would have been more
numerous, but several gentlemen who had expressed a
wish to take part in it were unavoidably out of town.
Mr. KEATING, M.P., addressing Sir Benjamin Hall,
said that the gentlemen accompanying him and himself,
all of whom resided in the immediate neighbourhood of
the park, had waited upon him with the view of ascer-
taming what the intentions of the Government were
with reference to the road in question. They and many
others of the inhabitants felt considerable uneasiness in
respect of the proposed alteration, which they thought
wits calculated materially to impair the enjoyment of the
park by the general public, without affording them any
countervailing advantage.
Sir B. HALL said he would avail himself of that oppor-
tunity to state, while explaining bow the matter in ques-
tion stood, that much apprehension had prevailed in the
public mind as to his position in respect to it. The publics
had an erroneous idoa that he was the author of the pro-
posed plan, and that he could do what he liked in the
parks. But that was not so. He was not a member of
the Cabinet ; he could only act in accordance with the
instructions he received from the Secretary of State for
the Rome Department ; and wit.: but an executive officer
to direct any public works coming within the scope of
his department to he carried into execution which might
be determined upon by the Government, with the sanc-
tion of Parliament. All he had done in the matter in
question was this. Some short time since he, as Chief
Commissioner of Works, had'reoeived instructions from
the Secretary of State for the Home Department to pre-
pare a plan for making a road across the park upon
certain data. That plan had been prepared, and it
would be his duty to submit to the consideration of the
Secretary of State, before the meeting of Parliament,
when it would be laid on the table of the House of
Commons. Nothing whatever had yet been done in the
matter except preparing the plan; certainly nothing
towards tee execution of the work.
Mr. B. HAWES said he apprehended the cost of the
proposed work would have to be included in the public
estimates, and asked if it had been so included, as, with•
out knowing the real state of the case, they (the depu
tation) might be referred forward to a time when it
might be too late for the public to make any available
objection to the project ?
Sir It HALL wan understood to say that the cost was
not yet included in the estimates, that the plan had only
been prepared, and that he had no power to do anything
further in the matter.
Mr. linwEs eaid he apprehended then they might
consider that the subject was as yet only sub judice.
Sir B. HALL said that was so ; and Mr. Keating, or
any other member of Parliament, might ask for infor-
mation on the subject at the proper time in his place in
the House of Commons.
Mr. WIIATELEY suggested that it would be desirable
that the deputation should go at once to Sir George Grey,
the Home Secretary, and state their objections to the
proposal before it proceeded further. He, for himself,
had .not merely an objection to the road as a public
grienance to the neighbourhood, but a personal dislike
to it an depriving himself and others of the pleasure and
advantmge they enjoyed from the enclosure as it at pre-
sent existed. It would not only affect the view from his
house, which looked out upon the park, but by going .
past Queen square would be an annoyance to the inha-
bitants in that quarter.
A general conversation ensued, in which Mr. TOMLIN-
sioN, Mr. LIME, and other members of the deputation
took part, and in which it was pressed upon Sir Ben-
jet fin Hall that the projected alteration would be preju-
dicial to the ccmfort of families in the vicinity, who were
aemestomed to walk in the enclosure and to send their
children there for health and recreation, while it would
materially interfere with the enjoyments of a large body

of tile classes who were im the }!abit of cmntinual!y
re,:ortmg to the park for similar purpoe,.'ova- I
contended that there was no pressing necessity for the
change. _ _

Sir B. HALL said all he could state was, that he could
decide on nothing. There were three parks, St. James's,
Hyde-park, and the Green-park, which were the property
of her Majesty, and under the authority of the rangers,
and in which he could not build a lodge, or make or
divert a fo,,tpatb, without authoritative instrivti,,os.
It was utherwiie iii the case of the Victoria, Battersea,
and the Regent's Parks, which he might call the people's
parks.

Mr. KEATING said they might conclude, then, that the
matter, as suggested by Mr. Hawes, was as yet sub
judice. Me had come prepared to explain the grounds
on which he thought the project in question was objec-
tionable, but he felt it was unnecessary after what bad
been said by Sir B. Hall.
Sir B. HALL said all he could say again was that he
was pot at liberty to exercise any judgment in the mat-
ter, that he had prepared the plan which he had been
instructed to prepare, and which he would send to the
Secretary of State. The deputation might go, if they
pleased, to Sir George Grey and state their objections-
to him, or, as he had already said, Mr. Keating alight
ask for information on the subject in his place in Parlia-
ment. But, in the meantime, they might rely that no-
thing would be done in the execution of the work with-
out the matter being brought under the consideration o
the House of Commons.

At the request of Mr. Heating, Sir Benjamin under-
took to mention the circumstance to Sir George Grey
of the deputation having waited upon him (Sir B. Hall)
to express their objections to the proposed alteration,
and the interview terminated.

PRICEN OF SHARES
IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COM-

PANIES' STOCK.

From the Official List.
PUBLISTIF.D. EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING.

LONDON, FRIDAY, JAN. 11, 1856.

GAS-LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES.

.-t
ii. .

11ADDINGTON CORN MARKET—JAL 11.
WHEAT. BARLEY OATS. BEAN-.
First 9ls Od 433 6d 33s 6d 52s O
7,i SQ. "

Second 77s 7d 39s 3d 30s Od 45. 101
Third 663 Od I 31s Od 21s Od 143. O&i

Total quantity of wheat in market, 735 qrs., 6'19 old
PP barley if 7,9 qrs., 721 ,
oats ~ 611. qrs., 593 Wald
fl PP beans 61 qrs., 56 sold
AVERAGES PER IMPEitiAL QUARTER.
_

Wheat, 31. 17 7 6-1 the Barley, —ll. 19 3 8-12 tbs
Oats, ... 11. 10 0 9-12ths 1 Beans, .....21. 5 10 6.l2tbs

DALKEITH GRAIN MARKET—JAN. 10.
Qrs. Best. Current. Infei 14, .
314 Wheat 83s Od
1379 Oats 3os 8,1 oos Od
965 Barley 42s 6d oos Od
50 Peas & beans 52s Od OOs Od