The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-25 00:00:00

invitation to"that gentleman's house. The;name of-the
gentleman I allude to is Sir Alexander Cockburn. -Sir'
Alexander never expressed to me any opinion ►bout the
Ameer's loyalty. Mr. Coffey was en the same terms of
intimacy with me as any other member of my family.
He used to call at my house daily. It was very seldom
he supped there. The Ameer used also to come frequently
to my house. He was in the baba of taking opera boxes
from me. I remained in Frankfort three days. It was
there I heard Mr. Coffey frequently urge the Ameer to
go on. Mr. Coffey spoke in Hindostanee. What he
,aid to the Ameer I did not understand, bat it was
translated to me by an interpreter. Ido not think I
should be much surprised if the Ameer com-
plained of Mr. Coffey detaining him on his
journey, as I had reason to believe that the Ameer
was not sincere. His pantomime was perfect.
Ile could readily make persons understand him. I
should doubt his sincerity to his agent. If the agent
was the person I mean. I should think it was very
likely he would deceive him—especially if it was Ali
Slirza. I sent for Ali Mirea on Thursday last,
and he called upon me relative to an opera-box,
or which the Ameer was indebted. At that in.
terview he told me that Mr. Coffey had told such
stories as to constantly keep him in hot water. My object
in going to Sir H. Seymour was to relieve myself from
the aspersion thrown upon my character in connection
with the charge of Mr. Coffey. I wee anxious the ex-
posure should not take place. I have seen Mr. Roebuck
twice. It was at my own house and once at his. I might
have seen him altogether about half-a-dozen times, but
al ways in reference to the petition.
Mr. Deasy—You state that your name is Parr.
Were you ever called by any other name ?
Witness—Never ; except my husband's and my own,
❑amely, Parr and Ryan.
Mr. Deasy—You do business in the name of Ryan
and Co.!
Witness—Yes.
Mr. Deasy—Did you, or a friend of yours, ever
threaten to publish a memoir with respect to any gentle
man 1

Witness—Never.
Mr. Deasy—Did you ever demand any money for
withholding the publication.
Witnese•.Never.
Mr. Deasy—Were you ever threatened with prosecu-
tion, if you or your friends entered on such a publication?
Witness—Never. In regard to this matter, the
witness explained that once she met a lady on a packet
and was informed she was not a proper person. This lady
came to her house and read a long document, which she
imprudently mentioned to a friend of her's, a member
of Parliament asd a member of the Government, who
'mprudet tly mentioned it again. She proceeded to say
that a gentleman named Hawke had called upon her

with regard to the paper alluded to, but she did nob
know that it was a reference to any threatened publica-
tion. Mr. Hawke did not threaten a prosecution
against her, and she did not know that he held out a
threat of that description to the lady referred to. The
document was left for a long time with her. Her friend
the member of Parliament took it away with her per-
mission, andshowed it to a barrister in the Temple. The
document was highly defamatory, bringing the names
of some persons of the highest distinction in Euglaud in
question. It detailed a series of conversations alleged
to have taken place. She said she intended publishing
it. In the document it was stated that she had
paid a barrister 850 guineas as a fee to bring an actio❑
in her behalf against a distinguished person for breach of
promise of marriage, as it was on that gentleman's be-
half that that gentleman called. The witness went on

to Bay that she could disprove the insinuations cast upon
tier, by the evidence of certain members of Parliamen.
and other persons of distinction, and if the line of exa
rnination was persisted in she hoped she ehouid be
allowed to call them. (Laughter.)

, .
Cross•examination continued—l never saw Mr. Edwin
James, Q.C., on the subject of the publication. I know
Mrs. Coffey. That lady recently called at my house to
inquire whether Mr. Coffey was there. Mr. Coffey was
staying there. Mrs. Coffey osntinued to ring the bell so
violently that I was compelled to say to her that if she
did not come up stairs I should be compelled to do
something that was disagreeable.
Mr. Deasy—l wish this crose.examination to close, in
order to produce %Ir. Hawke.

Sir J. Graham—Did Mr. Batt ever mention to you
his arrangement with the Ameer.

WitneWs—He said when he came back from India he
should be a wealthy man, and that when he had finished
this business of the Amoers, he should got tho business
of other Indian princes, and thus obtain great wealth.
He said he had used his influence in Parliament, and
had been very successful in obtaining a compromise in
favour of Ali Moorad front Mr. V. Smith.

Sir J. Graham—Are you certain he mentioned Per-
iatnentary influence
Witness Quite sure.

By Mr, Sergeant Kinglake—l know that Mr. Coffey
had stated that if it was necessary he would detain the

Ameer, but I have never be-erd him say that he
would take him back to England if a hint was given.
A banker's clerk proved the payment of certain
cheques drawn by the Ameer, but could not say to who
the money was given.

The committee then adjourned until twelve o'clock
,o.morrow.

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK (This Day.)

COURT 01' QUEEN'S BENCH, GUILDHILL,
(Sitting at, Nisi Prins, before Lord Campbell and a

Special Jary.)
THE QUIMN V. BROWN AND OTHERS.

ELEYANTII D.

The trial of the information against the directors and
manager of the Royal British Bank for conspiring by
false pretences to defraud the shareholders and cus-
tomers and the public, was this day reenmed.
Tic same counsel appeared as before.

Mr. E. James, Q.C., addressed the jury on the part of
Mr. Esdaile. He said—lt devolved on him, as counsel
for Mr. Esdaile, to address them on his behalf, with a
view of directing their attention to the evidence of the
prosecution, as applying to that gentleman's ease in
contradistinction to the other defendants, and to point out
a; be hoped satisfactorily that though Mr. Esdaile may
have acted improvident, too credulous, and too sanguine,
he had not acted criminally. That was the distinc-
tion he wished them to draw on a calm and impartial
consideration of his case, and to say by their verdict that
his conduct was dictated by a desire to retrieve the
interests of the bank, and not of defrauding any
one ; for until the last moment, when the ship
went down, he was at the helm endeavouring to take
her safe into port. Mr. Esdaile might have been wrong
in some instances is the course he had suggested, but
he had never acted fraudulently or guilty. They were
now arriving at that period when their verdicts would
solve this great question, and when he asked them to
step to some extent between, he would not say unna-
turally, the public indignation roused against these
gentlemen who were now sitting before them by the
publio journals in designating them as swindlers to the
while civilised world, and discriminate between a too
sanguine, and it may be a careless dealing with the bank
, and criminality of conduct. It was incumbent on the
prosecution to make out a clear case, and it was the
wish of himself and his client to take a manly and
straightforward course on this occasion. Mr. Es-
daile, however, had no desire to shelter him-
self behind the back of any director with whom he had
been associated, but to take upon himself the responsi-
bility of his own acts. At the same time it was VlSOR-
tial for them to consider when they were called upon to
say whether any, and if so, who, ware guilty, what part
each had taken is the transactions which it is alleged
shows conspiracy. Mr. Esdaile was a gentleman well
known in the city. He was in partnership with him
father at the city saw-mills ; and hie uncle was, if not

the founder of the London and Westminster Bank, an
early originator and supporter of that thriving concern.
Mr. Esdaile joined the Royal British Bank is 1849,
on its first formation, and there could be no doubt
the bank suffered from a want of sufficient capi-
tal, a difficulty which probably they were aware
had befallen the earliest days of some of our now most
flourishing concerns in the kingdora. The London
and Westminster Bank commenced their business with
a paid up capital of 50,0001. ; the London Joint Stock
Bank, 60,000/. ; the Union, 210,000 i. ; and the London
and County, 35,0001. ; but as they were established
before the passing of Peel's cot in 1844 they were liable
to no restrictions, and could call up their capital as they
required it. The Royal British Bank wore unable, iu
consequeloe of the above act, to increase their capital
beyond 100,0001. without obtaining a supplemental
charter, so that the bank was trading from the time it
opened in 1840 to 1855 upon a narrow and cramped
eapital which paralysed its exertions, and made the struggle
the more severe ; but a struggle was usual in young cod-
oerne, and the millionaire of to-day had had to struggle
against "lock-ups," and he doubted if there was a bank-
ing establishment or a large mercantile firm that had not
had largo debts and claims which it was absolutely
essential that they should nurse, in the hope of retriev-
ing their position and removing a clog from their necks ;
and he should like to know whether the London and
Westminster Bank, if they had had a debt of 250,0001.
"lock-up," would have stated it in an abstract of the
balance-sheet. Mr. Cameron's power, the learned
counsel said, was omnipotent in the bank, and the fact
had been most fully shown that the director' were
his creatures and his tools, and that he was the man
who pulled the strings of the puppets. Mr. Cameron,
he had said, was omnipotent, and discounted bills at
pleasure that never went before the director'. The
appointment of a finance committee was a mere farce,
and Mr. Cameron must have laughed in his sleeve at the
prospect that whilst the finance committee was sitting
up stairs for the purpose of examining bills for discount
he was discounting his and his friends' bills at his plea-
sure. He reminded the jury that the conspiracy was
-.aid to have been committed in 1855 and 1856. At the
early part of 1855, Mr. Cameron was away from illness,
and in eoneequence of that Mr, Esdaile became general