The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVEtqiNer, MAY 26, 1856.

MA MET NEWS.—(This Day.)

THE RUGELEY POISONINGS.

it.ll,ll:* a Xit.

Co

Saturlay.

this :ay.

CORN EXCHANGE.

• Thereading country markets held on Saturday were
but moderately supplied with'wheat, yet all kinds moved
off slowly on easier terms. The barley trade was very dull,
and the quotations had a downward tendency. Oats,
beans, poas, and flour were steady.
The continental markets continuo firm for wheat and all
other produce. Our New York advices state that large
supplies of both wheat and flour continued to come for-
ward.

TRIAL OF WILLIAM 3ALMER.

London &)
N. West.
L.&N.W.
Calodon...
E. Un. &
E. C... .

98 - 100
94 - u 8

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT (THIS DAY).

ELEVENTH DAY.

E. Count.
Caldonian.

11 - 13
133 13
4 4}

The trial of William Palmer was resumed this morning
at the Central Criminal. Court. Intense interest was felt
this morning as to the result of the trial, it being known
that Lord Campbell would commence the day's proceedings
by summing up the evidence, and the probability of the
jury returning a verdict almost immediately following its
concln sion.

••• ''

Do
Gt. Wenn
,Yk. New.
Berw.
Y. &W

Very moderate arrivals of English grain were reported
up to our market last week. The imports from abroad
were 2,476 quarters of wheat, 2,262 barley, 7,123 oats,
99 beans, 2,078 linseed, 3,626 rapeseed, 33 sacks and 8,299
barrels of flour.

tig Z 107

At a very early hour the avenues to the Court were
densely crowded by persons having the necessary coloured
ticket of admission in their hands, and the Court was
speedily filled after the opening of the doors. Every avail-
able space in the Court was occupied long before their
Lordships took their seats on the bench.
The congregation of persons in Newgate-street, probably
owing to the fineness of the weather and the near approach
of the termination of the trial, was greater than on any
former day, and anxious inquiries were made by many of
them of persons who left the Court, " How is it going,
with him ?" &c.

Since Friday the weather has been warm, with heavy
showers. Wind S.W.

3. Moto,
Do

iii - ii

113 - 117

There was o. fairsnpply of wheat from Kent and Essex to
this morning's market, the former was taken at last Monday's
prices; the best samples of the latter were disposed of at a
decline of is per quarter, but the inferior were neglected,
and remained unsold at a late hour ; for Foreign the
demand was very trifling, and a mere retail trade resulted
at about last week's prices.
Barley is in good demand at the extreme rates of this
day se' nnight

Peto &Co.

Norfolk
Do
14.& N. W
& Midld
qtckton &
Thrlingt

2f - 2f

- 95

En. Conn.
01. Count
Do
L. &N.W
no

it - $ll
56 - 58

Beans, peas, and oats bring an advance of Is a quarter."'"
For flour there is slow sale, and Norfoiks are is. per
sack cheaper.

45 - 47

CURRENCY PER I
Whest—Essea l Kent,
Red •..; new 643 to 68a
Ditte.:...... old —s —a
Ditto, White new 64s 723
Ditt0........ old —s —s
Norfolk and Lin-
coln Red, old —s —a

:PERIAL MEASURE.

Northn
tomcats': At
Yorksh.
T. Brassey
fiLMClean
Stockt.
Darlingt

133 -~ 135

Malt—Chevalier ...• 783 to 803
'Oats Yorkshire and
Lineainstil., Ned 183 223
• Potato . . 223 273
yoaghal and Cork
Black. •• •... 183 213

- 2pl

Ditto new ...... —s —s
Bye—Old •••• .•...... —s —s
New •• •• •• •• •• 45s 52s
Barley—Grinding ..... 33s 33a
Malting . •• •• •• .. 35s 393
Chevalier.... . . 383 —s
gr0wn............... 63s 663
KingstanandWare 755 78s

203 24s
Beoteli,Fee4.•... 26s 30s
Beale—Tick 353 36s
Pigeons ....•••••• 333 42,
Peas—Grey ..•• •••. •• 33s 363
Map1e........... 35s 38s
White.:. •• 393 423

32 :- ii

'xtWe~tn.

RENCE SHARES.

Boilers •• 433 463
Floor—:Town-mado••• 63s 65s
Suffolk ••• •• • ,453 51s
Stooktn &Norfolk 473 50s

115 - 118
115 - 117
84 , 90

... .-- ...
94 --- 1.)6

9S - 100
16 - 17

5 s

107 - 112
97 -102

12i - 13

• • • '''''... ""'""

5 '7l

••• ---- •
117 - xl9

109, -11 l
103 -- 105

9i - 10,1

••• •

6 -
95 - 97
88 - 90
89 - 91
98 • 100

9i -10 f
16/ - 17#
10 A- 101
74 -76
-20 f
.9k -10 k
14t -15 f
536 138

... ~-- ..

136 140

153 - 160

,•••
§ -

,fre ...... O.*

116 - 1:18
1 95 - 97

87 - 89
1.- - -

,P• ... ...

101 —lO3
92 94
ld

I

99 -- -100

••• -••
14i - 15.

23f - 23
98 - 102
91 - 10,

... -- ~~

I : 21'.

••• .... •••
21 --- 2*.d

mother, one of which was in the hands of a gentleman
named Padwick. It was for 2,0001„ 1,0001. had been
paid, and there was 1,0031. remaining due on it. A soli-
citor of the name of Pratt had also advanced largo sums
of money, and the prisoner on similar bills amounting to
12,5001. Several of these bills had been renewed, and
there were two or three for 2,0001.. each due on the
25th of October, 1855, and the other on 27th October,
1835. One-half of 5001., and another of 1,0001. was
ever duo, and held over from month to month. Besides
these large sums advanced by Pratt to Palmer, he had con-
tracted very large debts with an attorney of Birmihgham,
and 10,0001. was due to him on them. The prisoner ex-
pected to pay the bills owing to Pratt by the proceeds of a
policy of insurance effected on his brother Walter's life.
The law of this country wisely forbids the insurance of a
man's life by another person who has no interest in it ;
but the law, unfortunately, does not prevent a man who
insures his life from transferring it to another person.'
The policy on Walter Palmer's life was assigned by him to
the prisoner, and he having died, it was expected that the
proceeds of that policy, which was for 13,0001., would be
the means of enabling the prisoner to take up the accept-
ances held by Pratt; but the insurance office refused to
Pay the amount on the policy, and hence arose the most
pressing demands on the prisoner. Pratt urged imme-
diate payment, and unless that were complied
with, in all human probability those forgeries
which had been so long hid would be discovered and
brought to light. His lordship then proceeded to read the
evidence of Mr. Espin, Mr. Padwick's solicitor, relative to
the bill for 2,0501. and the two letters written by Palmer
in reference to it ; one dated the 12th November, which
was on the Monday of the week of the Shrewsbury races, -
and the other dated the 25th, the Saturday after the death
of Cook. Mr. Espin, in his evidence, said—l produce a
bill for 2,0001., which was placed in my hands by that
gentleman to enforce payment from the prisoner's mother.
The bill was duo three months after date, but 1,0001. had
been paid off, and the bill was placed in my hands on the
12th of December to enforce the payment of the remainder.
I received two letters from the prisoner; one contained
a cheque for .1,0001., with a request that it might not
be presented till the 28th of November ; and the other
related to a sum .of money, 3501., about which there
was some mistake about the remittance, and in which
Palmer stated he would shortly be in London. I
produce a cheque for 1,0001., inclosed in the above letter
of the 12th, dated the 28th. I presented it on that day
and payment was refused. I also produce a cheque for
COO/., dated BtleP December, in prisonee's hand writiug, pay-
able to Mr. adwick or bearer, which was also dis-
honoured. It was forwarded in consequence of the cheque
of 1,0001. having been dishonoured. 1,0001. still remains
duo on the 2,0001. bill. Execution was issued against the
person. The prisoner was taken on the Ca sa. This was
strong evidence to show the state of the prisoner's circum-
stances at the time, and the pressure that was being
put on him. We thee come to the evidence of
Mr. Pratt, which was most important for their con-
sideration. Mr. Thomas Pratt said—"l am a solicitor,
practising in King-street, Mayfair. lam acquainted with
the ;prisoner. It commenced in Nov., 1853, when I ob-
tained a loan of 1,0001. for him. That was afterwards
paid. In Oct., ;1851, I was employed by him to make a
claim on two policies, both on the death of Ana Palmer.
I received 5,0001. from the Sun, and 3,0001. from the Nor-
wich Union. The money was applied in payindnt of
three bills amounting to 3,5001. or 4,0001. ; 2,0001. of
it was duo on acceptances and loans obtained subse-
quently to the claims on the policies ; the remaining
1,5001. was not so applied. In April, 1855, he applied
to nee for a loan of 2,000'. I obtained it on an accept-
ance drawn by himself and accepted by his mother. On
20th November I and my clients held eight billy that I had
discounted for Palmer. I held four of them myself. There
were two others then overdue. Tho bills are as follows :
June 5, 1851, for three months after date, drawn by Mr.
Palmer, and accepted by Sarah Palmer, for 5001., and en-
dorsed by him; Aug. 2, 1854, a similar bill for 1,0001.,
payable three months after date; July 22, 1855, for 2,0001.,
three mouths after date ; July 24, 1855, for 2,0001., three
months after the date, endorsed by Palmer to Thos. Pratt
(both or these becoming due in November) ; Sept. 27,1855,
for 1,0001., for three months after date ; Sept. 29, 1855,
for 2,0001., for three months after date; Oct. 2, 1855, for
2,0001., for three months, indorsed by Palmer to nes.
Pratt ; and one, Oct. 12, 1855, for 2,0001., for three months
after death. The whole of the bills purported to be
drawn by Mr. Palmer, and accepted by Sarah Palmer,
payable to the order of Palmer, and indorsed by him. The
whole amounted to 12,5001. 6,0001. had been renewed,
and would become due in January; two bills were only
overdue on the 20th of Nov. for 2,0031. One bill for 1,0001.
and another for 5051. was held over from month to month,
as was the interest. The interest charged for,discountiug
the bills was about 60 per cent. in August, 1355, Waiter
Palmer died, and I made an application to the Prince of
Wales office for 13,0001., the amount of the policy. Sarah
Palmer, as the acceptor of these bills, bad frocinently been
written. to at Rugeley, but no replies had been received.",,
And th.ere was every reason to ' believe that none
of these letters reached Sarah Palmer, the mother,
probably from some understanding between Palmer
and the Rugeley postmaster, that they should not be
delivered to her. His lordship thou read the leneddeened
correspondence that had passed between Palmer and Pratt
relative to those bills, and the non-payment of the amount
on the policy of insurance on Walter Palmer's life by the
Prince of Wales Insurance Company, all tending to show
the pecuniary pressure the prisoner was labouring under
at the time, which was near the period of Cook's death,
and the probability there was of the forgeries on the MC-
tiler bdng koown if the prisoner wcA unable to meet them.
At the conclusion of the reading of this correspondence;
the learned judge proceeded to say, that having read. the
letters in which Cook was not concerned, he would now
read some in which ho was. The letters concerning the
, raising of money for Cook, which letters were directed by
Palmer to be sent to him at the post-office, Doncaster, wet e
then road. In cross-examination the witness Pratt said
Cook was represented by Palmer to him as a person of re-
spectability, and on writing to him at Lutterworth re-
specting a bill for 5001., which had not been paid, Cook
came up from Lutterworth and paid the amount himself.
After referring to other parts of the evidence, he now came
to that of one of the witnesses, a butcher, residing at
Rugeley, in which a conversation took place concerning
the raising of a sum of 251. On the Otle pf November the
prisoner had only a balance of 91. wt his bankers ; and it
certainly did appear that having to meet a cheque for
1,000!„ due on the 28th, and nothing to meet it with, he
was in a very desperate state. On the 21st of November
the Messrs. Weatherby received a letter from Palmer, en-
closing an order for 3001., and asking them. to send him a
cheque for the amount for Cook, who, he represented, wee
ill of bilious attack. On the 22d he again writes to Messrs.
Weatherby, directing them to send cheques to Earwacker
and Pratt. On the 23d Mr. Weatherby wrote to Palmer,'
telling him that there were not, funds enough to meet it
with, and therefore they could not comply with the request
of Palmer; therefore his cheque had been 'sent to Wea-
therby; and returned by him to Palmer. Mr. Weatherby
received a letter on the 21th from Palmer ordering them
not to part with any money they had or might have be-
longing to John Parsons Cook. The cheque alluded to
had not been produced. They also had the evidence of
Butler to show that the prisoner, previous to the Shrews-
bury races, was short of money ; and if ho (the prisoner)
had no funds at his control, how was it possible for him
to have bought Polestar, whose value, after winning the
Shrewsbury race, was estimated by the witness Butler at
700 guineas ? and the mare was afterwards sold at Tatter-
sall's for 750 guineas. A document had also been spoken
of, to which the late postmaster Cheshire was asked to
sign his name. Why was not that produced ? The wit-
ness Bergen stated that the whole of the papers of the
prisoner were taken possession of, and on examination
neither that paper nor the order that purported to be signed
by Cook, and which the Messrs. Weatherby proved was
returned to Palmer, could be found amongst those papers.
These papers, after they had been examined by the solici-
tor, had been sent to his brother, Mr. 0. Palmer, yet they
had not been discovered. Bergen stated that he had care-
fully searched for the papers, and he could not find either
of them. These papers ought to have been produced.
He would now proceed to the circumstances that took
place at Shrewsbury, and the jury would have to draw
their own conclusions. The first witness called was Fisher,
who stated that he was a wine merchant, and knew Cook,
and sew him at the last Shrewsbury races, when
Polestar won. Cook seemed well on that day. On the
evening of Wednesday he said he stopped at the Rainbow,
where Palmer and Cook were stopping, and flow corn- i
menced the tampering with Cook. Cook had some brandy I
and water, and he asked Palmer to have some, but ho said
he should not until he had drunk his. Cook did so, and
immediately after he said there was something in it. The
glass was handed to Reid and Fisher, and the latter said
there was a strong scent. In ten minutes after taking this
brandy Cook left the room and was taken ill ; and Fisher
deposed that on Cook coming to his room ho told him he
had been sick, and that he received from him about 7001.
to take care of. The next morning Palmer said to Fisher,
"Cook says I have been putting something in his brandy,
but ho was d— drunk." It was important to recollect
the evidence on this point. Fisher had always been in
the habit of settling Cook's debts, and he also said he saw
on the Shrewsbury race course Cook's betting-book; and
it was an extraordinary circumstance that, as a large sum
of money had been won by Cook, the betting-book could
not be found. The learned judge then went through the
other part of Fisher's evidence, and came to that given by
Jones. He deposed to hearing the deceased make the re-
marle'about the brandy and water. Gibson, the assistant
to a surgeon in Rugeley, said he was sent for, and
when he arrived ho found Cook in a very bad condi-
tion, and ho sent him some pills and a draught ; and
the evidence of the witness Brooks would finish the
evidence on that portion of the case which related to
Shrewsbury. This witness stated that she saw the primer
with a glass in his hand shaking the contents of it round ;
she also stated that she saw him hold it up to the light,
and she also stated, in her cross-examination, that a great
many of the people attending the Shrewsbury races were
' taken ill. The next point to be considered was the evidence
L of Elizabeth Mills, which appeared in The Sun of the 15th

Their lordships, Lord Chief Justice Campbell, Mr. Jus-
tice Cresswell, and Mr. Baron Alderson took their seats
on the bench preCisely at ten o'clock, accompanied by
the Recorder, Deputy-Recorder, and several of the
aldermen. The Earl of Derby and the right hon. W. E.
Gladstone were also on the bench.
Oa their lordship taking their seats, the prisoner ap-
peared in the dock and walked to the bar dressed as on
each former occasion, in black with black kid gloves on.
He keeps up in appearance remarkably well considering
the immense amount of anxiety he must feel, and the ex
citement it must be to him from the protracted nature of
the proceedings necessarily, long from the circumstances
connected with the case, and the importance of the result
of the trial to the prisoner. He stood the whole of the
day, and for the greater portion of it leaning on the bar
with his right hand in front of his mouth, and paid the
greatest attention to Lord. Campbell's summing up—
scarcely taking his eyes off his lordship during the whole
of the time it occupied.
Before Lord Campbell commenced the summing up Mr.
Sergeant Shee applied to be allowed to put in an accept-
ance for 5001., drawn by Palmer and accepted by Cook,
dated September, 1835, which was granted. •
His Lordship immediately after proceeded to charge the
jury, but in a very low tone of voice, which, unfortunately,
is now become a habit with him, and more particularly in
proportion to the great importance of the case under con-
sideration. In many instances during his summing up he
was quite inaudible, and it was with difficulty lie could
be heard at all. He commenced by saying :—Gentlemen
of the Jury,—We have at length arrived at that stage in
this solemn inquiry when it is the duty of the judge who
presides to explain to you the nature of the
charge brought against the prisoner at the bar, and to
direct your attention to the evidence upon which you
are to return your verdict ; and I begin by conjuring you
to banish from your minds all that you have heard relative
to the charge before entering that box. Strong prejudice
has, no doubt, prevailed in London and elsewhere against
the prisoner at the bar, and particularly, in the county of
Stafford, where the offence for which he has to answer was
alleged to have been committed, and which was so strong
that the Court of Queen's Bench made an order, at the
request of the prisoner's counsel, for the removal of the trial
from that county to the Central Criminal Court, in accord-
ance with the terms of an act of Parliament especially
passed to attain that object. I feel, however, that on this
occasion the prisoner will have a fair and impartial trial ;
and whilst I warn you against being improperly in-
fluenced by what you have heard eleowh ore, I
must also warn you against being improperly in-
fluenced against the prisoner by the evidence that has
been laid before you implicating the prisoner in bill trans-
actions of a discreditable character, and allowed to be
introduced into the case to raise the probability of motive
on the part of the person accused for the commission of
the crime with which he stands charged. It affords me
great satisfaction to know that the case has been fully
laid before you. Everything has been done that can be
accomplished for the purpose of assisting you in coming to
a right conclusion. The prosecution has been taken up
by the Government of the country, so that justice might
be effectually administered, and the Attorney-General, the
first law officer of the Crown, has conducted the prosecu-
tion as a minister of justice. Again, I am much plea3ed
tq think that the prisoner appears to have ample moans of
preparing and conducting his defence. Evidence with re-
gard. to the
_scientific part of the case has been very pro-
perly brought from all parts of the kingdom, and the pri-
soner has had the advantage of having his else conducted
by one of the most di3tinguished advocates at the English
bar, and I must strongly recommeod you to attend to
everything that has been so eloquently, and im-
passively urged by him on the part of the priioner, with
the exception of his own private personal opinion of the
innocence of the prisoner. That by no means ought to
influence your minds in arriving at a just conclu-
sion, if you are to try the prisoner upon the evidence
and not by the opinion of the learned counsel en-
gaged on either side. It would have been better
if the expression of such an opinion by the learned coun-
sel for the prisoner been had abstained from, and it would
be a lamentable and unfortunate thing for the ends of
justice if permitted. A prisoner's plea of not guilty goes
for nothing, and ought not to influence a jury, and if fol-
lowed out must, as I have already said, lead to disastrous
consequences. An advocate might be mistaken as to the
innocence or guilt of his client, and he ought to rest his
arguments of innocence on the facts of the case as pre-
sented in evidence, and not rely on a verdict of not
guilty from an expression of his own -a opinion
to that effect. I will now in a few words state to you the
allegations on one aide and on the other. Oa the part of
the prosecution it is alleged that the deceased John Par-
sons Cook was first tampered with by antimony, and that
be was afterwards killed by strychnia; that his symp-
toms were those of poisoning by strychnia, and that the
prisoner having a motive for making away with him, took
an opportunity of administering strychnia to him, and
that the circumstances were so suspicious as to fall on him
and no ono else ; that within a few days of the deceased's
death, and when the supposed. poison was administered to
him, he actually purchased a quantity of strychnia, 'and
that the prisener'e conduct, previous to the death of John
Persons Cook :and subsequently, was not dictated from
feelings of humanity towards the deceased, bat for the
purpose of being the_better able to accomplish his purpose.
On the other side it was contended, and you are to say
whether or not it was so, that the prisoner's con duct before
thedeceased's death was dictated purely by motives of hu-
manitytowards him—that he had no interest in the death of
the deceased, but on the contrary, that ho had the greatest
interest in his We. Further, it was said that Cook did
not die by strychnia, but from natural disease, and that
the symptoms preceding death were those of death from
natural causes, and that no part of the evidence that has
been given shows anything at all consistent with death
from poisoning by strychnia. It is for you, however, to
decide whether the allegations on one side or the other
are proved, and a most anxious task is imposed on you
thereby, for if you fined the prisoner guilty he will have
to expiate his crime on the scaffold. It is of the greatest
importance, not only to him but also to society, that you
should thoroughly investigate the charge, for if persons
so acting are to escape with impunity, there would bo no
safety to life, and society, in its present state, would be
hardly able to exist. Unless you feel fully convinced
that the proof of the prisoner's guilt is beyond all doubt,
it is your,bounden duty to acquit him, but in cases of this
kind you cannot expect that witnesses should be called
who saw the deadly poison administered by the
poisoner openlyto the world. Evidence has been called ne-
cessarily of a circumstantial character tending to the con-
clusion of the guilt of the prisoner; but before you return
that verdict you must be satisfied that the evidence fully
justifies you in arriving atthat conclusion. With respect
to the prisoner's motive, it is of great importance that you
should consider whether there was a motive or not suffi-
ciently strong enough to wish him to get rid of the deceased,
for in either case it was of the greatest importance. At
the same time you must bear in mind that the experience
of ourcriminal courts shows that acts of this kind have been
perpetrated from very slight motives indeed, and to gain a
small pecuniary advantega. It appears to me that the
question you will have to consider is this—whether the
symptoms presented by Cook's death are consistent with
death by strychnine, for, if not, and you believe that death
arose from natural causes, the prisoner is at once entitled
to your verdict, and ought to have it ; but if the symptoms
are consistent with poisoning by strychnine, then you
have another important question to answer whether
the evidence which has been adduced is sufficient to
convince you that the poison was administered by the
prisoner. In cases of this sort the evidence is naturally
and generally confined to medical and moral evidence.
The medical evidence being that of the scientific men,
and the moral evidence the circumstantial facts connected
with the case; and it is impossible to separate them,
because itis only by a comparison of the two that a verdict
ought to be returned. In this case you will look to the
medical evidence, and say whether the deceased did die
by strychnia ; and to the moral evidence, and say whether
the prisoner not only had the opportunity, but did actually
avail hithself of that opportunity, and administered the
poison to the deceased. With these preliminary obser-
li
vations I will now proceed to read over the evidence
which has been given, and I most earnestly hope that you
will not be led away in the slightest degree by any observa-
tions that I might make, but that you will be guided en-
tirely by the evidence. The verdict must be yours, and
in your hands must this case rest. I shall begin reading
the evidence at that part of the case as opened by the At-
torney-General, respecting any motive the prisoner might
have had to induce him or to wish for the getting rid of
the deceased,and which, if it existed, must have arisen out
of certain pecuniary transactions the nature of which has
been laid' before you. It appears that the prisoner bor-
rowed large sums of money upon bills of exchange which
he drew, andwhich purported. to be accepted by hie

OPENING OF A NE TV BRANCH
RAILWAY.

and 16th inst. [lt will be recollected that it related t
Cook's illness, the administration of the pills by the pri-
soner on the Monday and Tuesday at the Talbot Inn, at
Rugeley, also the whole proceedings a few minutes prior
to the death of Cook, and also as to having seen the betting
book in Cook's room on the Monday previous to his death.]
He (the Lord Chief Justice) did not think there was the
slightest ground to suppose that this witness hadbeen bribed
to come forward to give her evidence. She also stated she
had seen Mr. Gardener two or three times, bat he was a
highly respectable gentleman, and it could not be supposed
that be would attempt in any way to prejudice the witness,
or give her directions as to the evidence she was to give.
The evidence of the witness Elizabeth Mills, as given be-
fore the coroner, was then road by Mr. Straight, the clerk
of the court, which differed only from that given before
this court by the omission to state upon that occasion that
the broth had made her sick. The jury lead heard the ex-
planation which she had given, and it was for them to
determine whether they thought her evidence was not to
be believed in consequence of that omission, particularly
as they found her evidence corroborated by the statements
of her fellow-servants. His lordship then went through
the evidence of Lydia Barnes and Sarah Bond, contending
that they entirely bore out the truth of what she said.
Having gone through this part of the evidence the court
adjourned.

Upon the re-assembling of the Court, his lordship pro
ceeded with the evidence Mr. Jones, the surgeon, and Dr
Lutterwortb, upon the porrtion relating to the consults.
Lion about the medicine which Cook was to take, and th•
posal that hat Dr. Bamford should ples3ribe fur the de-
ccasod, and also that relating to the missing betting-book.
{We shall give the continuation in-our last edition.]

MAJOR REED, M.P., ON THE PEACE TREATY.
At the public dinner given at Abingdon, on Friday last,
to celebrate the opening of the new branch railway from
Abingdon to Oxford, about 90 gentlemen sat down to a
splendid entertainment, in the Council-chamber. John
Hyde, Esq., jun., chairman of the board of directors, pre-
sided, and was supported by Major Reed, M.P., B. OH.
veira, Esq., M.P., D. Gooch, Esq., Capt. Jay, Captain
Bulkley, G. N. Tyrell, Esq., W. E. Newsome, Esq., W.
Stephenson, Esq., J. F. Rotten, Esq., Revs. E. Geare, J.
Gregson, Crawley, and Mortimer, E. J. Trendell, Esq.,
J. T. Hester, J. B. Sedgefield, Esq., J. P. Hammett, Esq.,
11r. Alderman Towle, W. W. Undershell, Esq., &c., &e.
Daring the evening many excellent speeches were made
relative to the benefits which the line was likely to confer
on tho borough of Abingdon and the neighbourhood. The
addresses, however, which appeared to excite the most in-
terest were those of Capt. Jay, in returning thanks for the
army and navy, and of Major Reed, is acknowledging the
compliment paid to him in drinking hie health as member
for the borough.
Capt. JAY, in returning thanks for the army and navy,
joined in the general congratulation that war was now at
an end, and that ponce was again restored. They all felt
thatthe army had gained for England great renown, that the
same blood still flowed through their sinews and veins
which animated the heroes of days gone by, and that the
British Army had acquired laurels such as could not have
been expected after so long a peace. (Cheers.) It was a
fortunate circumstance in one respect that the army had
met with certain reverses because they bad led to its re-
ceiving the support and sympathy from one end of the
kingdom to the other, and had so strengthened the unity
which existed between the people and the army that a
'standing army would no longer be regarded as dangerous
or inimical to the people. (Cheers.) They had seen the
army exhibiting, under the most trying circumstances, the
same indomitable courage which had always characterised
it. (Cheers.) They had seen, too, the fairest portion of
God's creation sacrificing the comforts of home and its
thousand endearing tics, for the sake of administering in a
far distant land to the wants and mitigating the sufferings
of those brave fellows who had shown the same spirit and
the same heroism which distinguished the conquerors at
Cressy, Poitiers, and Waterloo. (LoudlCheers.) The war,
thank God, was now at an end, but it had supplied an-
other proof, if ono were wanting, that whether in defence
of our national honour, at home or abroad, this country
could rely in the fullest confidence upon her brave and
gallant army. (Much cheering.)
Major REND, in returning thanks after his health had
been drunk, remarked that when he last met them he said a
few words on a question which then engaged the attention
of all classes of Englishmen—namely, the prosecution of
die war with Russia. That war was now brought to au
end, although on the occasion he had referred to he ex-
pressed his opinion that it would not in all probability be
brought to a speedy conclusion. Whether that termiva-
tion had been brought about hastily or not futurity would
judge; but ho felt happy, as every Englishman must feel,
that the effusion of blood was stayed. (Cheers.) Ho (Major
Reed) had the misfortune to be called ono of the war party
in the House of Commons, but a great mistake existed as
to what constituted the war party. They were not more
desirous of war than others, nut they did desire, and that
only, that it should be carried on with vigour, so as to bring
;t to a speedy and honourable termination. (Hear, and
eheers.) They had got peace at last, and ho heartily joined
iu the prayer to the Almighty that it might be lasting in
its duration, but the questionin' the minds of those who
looked to the, past., the pressnt, and the future, whether
:ho. peace which had been brought about bad been in
,►n honourable manner, and was likely to be perma-
nent. He should rejoice if it should prove so, but if his
'pinion were asked, he should say that he did
;sot think it was the best peace which English-
non could have desired, but that it was the best they could
obtain, and therefore were obliged to accept it. He be-
lieved that, if the noble lord at the head of the Govern.

ra-mt worn put on his confession, he would reply to the in-
quiry that it was not the peace which he desired, but that
it was obtained and brought about, not by the anxiety of
this country, but was forced upon them by the depression
of affairs iu France. Now that they had arrived at peace,
it appeared they were to have a general illumination, but
he was free to confess he could not hail it with enthusiasm,
pecans() ho considered it a miserable attempt to laugh off
very bad joke. Ho wr.s sorry, also, to find that it was in-
tended to expend 10,0001. in the explosion of fireworks,

because he thought if that sum, or even a larger one, had
been applied in giving their soldiers and sailers, on their
return from the seat of war, a good substantial dinner, it
would have beau more honourable to this country, and more
acceptable do those gallant fellows. Ho would have ,given
them a right hearty welcome, Which they had a right to
expect at their hands, or have relieved their widows and
families, which would have carried out the views of the
nation far better than wasting a largo sum of morey
in the explosion of crackers and rockets, the preparation
of which had already brought about great sacrifice of life,
and would terminate in many catching a severe cold.
Passing from national to local matters, Major Reed congra-
tulated them on the completion of their railway, which he
hoped would prove a lasting benefit to the borough of Ab-
ingdon. He could say, without being accused of bombast,
that the project emanated at that period when he had the
honour of being first introduced to them. At that time
it was regarded as a political movement, and not likely to
be realised, but he was happy to say it had attaine.l a more
substantial character, and hail become a reality. He
trusted that they would long enjoy the fruits, and derive
, great benefit in having a railway for the transit of them-
selves, their goods, and especially of that essential article,
coal. He anticipated great results from this line, and
trusted they would be fully realised. When the scheme was
originated, it received the support of some of his friends;
but it would not have been carried out had it not been for
, the substantial support given to it by their chairman (Mr.
J. Hyde) and others, who he hoped would long live to reap
the laurels which were justly due to them. The gallant
major concluded by expressing his wish that the line would
prove a permanent benefit to Abingdon and the neighbour-
, hood, and insure to them all the advantages which accrued
to other places which enjoyed the privilege of railway com-
munication.
The evening was spent in a most agreeable manner, and
the proceedings were enlivened by some humorous songs
by Mr. J. Bruton, the celebrated dinner vocalist, from Lou-
don.

CONSCIENCE MONEY.—Mr. John Carter, Upperthong,
liolinfirth, has received a letter, headed " Huddersfield,"
and inclosing a shilling, but with no signature, as fol-
lows :—" remember, when a boy, about twelve
years of age, taking cut of your shop about lid. ; accept
of the shilling as a restitution. Tell no man ; keep your
seorat in your own mind."—Lecds Mercury.
-ESCAPE OF PRISONERS.—A number of prisonersfrora
Wakefield Gaol, were, on Saturday morning, escorted on
hoard the convict hulk Defence, lying off Woolwich
Arsenal. Some time preceding their arrival a warrant
was received, announcing that 29 prisoners, under
various terms of sentence, were about to be despatched
thence, and that preparations should be made for their
reception. They were to be forwarded from Wakefield
to Woolwich, in the charge of three warder-officers. It
appears that on arriving at the Rugby station one of the
prisoners was seized with sudden indisposition, and was
consequently permitted to alight from the carriage.
This requiring the attention of one of the warders, left
the remaining prisoners insufficiently guarded, three of
whom succeeded in effecting their escape. Whether the
escape was discovered ont the spot or subsequently did
not transpire, but on their reaching Woolwich, and the
prisoners being told off, only 26 could be found. Two
of the missing prisoners were under sentence of convitt
labour for 20 years each.

A letter from the Turkish capital in the Gazette du
Midi, s ys :—" There has been no sentence pronounced
at Varna in the trial of Salih Pacha ; the authorities
were chaff ged merely to investigate the affair, and
Suphi Bey commissioner of the Purte, has addressed a
report of the proceedings to Constantinople where the
verdict will be pronounced. Letters from Varna asset t
teat the report of Suphi Bey proposes to have a sentence
of death recorded against the sargeant who assassinated
the young girl Nedilka, and against Hussein Aga, who
ordered the murder, and that the other servants impli-
ca'ed in the affair should be condemned to the galleys.
Ile ylso suggests that Salih Paella should be condemned
to some punishment, as it is impossible that he could
have been ignorant of the crime committed by his ser-
vants. The same letters mention a singular circum-
stance. The father of Nedillca, a poor fiisherman, has
olaimed a corn of 80,000 piastres (16,000 fr.) which ac-
cording to his account were in a chest, end which the
ravishers of his daughter carried away. Such a claim,
the falsehood of which is evident, has transformed the
interest taken in the family to contempt."
INTERESTING FACTS. —Extract from the Glaegoze
Mercury of the year 1706:—"Glasgow, April 6th._.
We learn from Hamilton that Thomas Young, merchant
in that town, died on the 21st ult., aged 96 ; and on
the 28th died Mary Corniel, his spouse, only six weeks
yotnger than her husband. They lived man and wife
73 years, and retained the use of their reason and senses
to the last. It is remarkable that Mr. Young got a
new set of teeth several years before his death."
HOW TO BUY A HORSE.—Mathews was thrown by a
startlish horse. A few days after Incledon met him
mounted on a fresh purchase. "Hallo, Charley ?"
cried he, "are you sure that new Buceplialus of yours
is safe ?" " Ob, certain," replied Mathews ;" I took
good care to ascertain that before I bought him." "how
did you manage that ?" "By sawing him well under
the tail with the bridle," answered Mathews.—Botary's
Miscellany.