The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-19 00:00:00

CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY COMPANY.

This was an action tried at the last sittings in
London before Mr. Baron Bramwell. The ground
of action arose from the loss in transitu of some
portion of a parcel of goods belonging to the
plaintiff, which had been entrusted to the custody
of the company's servants. It appeared that the
goods remained all night at Penge, and were removed
thence to Faversham, and from there by a branch
to Margate, which was their destination, and when
they were delivered at the house to which they were
directed it was discovered that they were not per-
fect. The jury, before whom the case was tried,
returned a verdict for the defendants, and during
the present term a rule was granted to show cause
for a new trial.

This morning Sir George Honeyrnan, Q.C., pro-
ceeded to argue against the rule. Ile said that in
actions of this kind, in order to recover damages for
negligence, it was necessary, not only to show a
scintilla or colourable amount of evidence, but the
evidence must be complete ; this was laid down in
" Horner v. the Eastern Counties Railway." In
the present case, however, he had called a porter
who stated that he was employed at the
Faversham station, and that the spot where
the goods were placed was an open space, which was
accessible to other persons as well as the company's
servants. Now, although it might be urged that
the company ought to use vigilance to protect the
goods, yet there was nothing to show that there
were not officers about to look after them. He would
point out, too, how indefinite the circumstances
under which the goods were lost. It might have
been at Penge, it might have been at Faversham, or
it might have been at Margate. Nor was there any
evidence to show under what conditions it had been
left at either place. Under these circumstances he
submitted that there was nothing to show negligence
on the part of the company, and moved to havo the
rula dismissed.
The court dismissed the rule and decided in favour
of the defendants.

(E_-(Ik3WIPNiAs'.-LI
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71)1111 ''*_,..l.llk#C

11ER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Nov. 18.
The Queen went out in the grounds this morning,
accompanied by Prinee,-,_s Beatrice.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess
Christian, attended by Lady Susan Melville and
Colonel G. Gordon, met the Count and Countess ati
the railway station in Windsor, and accompanied
them to the Castle.

OPENIN G

PAID,LIA.IIENT•

TEIS DAY.

- o-

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(Tries DAY.,
Parliament was opened to-day by Royal Commission.
The proceedings, in place of the grand displays that in-
variably occurs on the occasion when her Majesty meets
her Parliament, were dull and comparatively uninteresting.
Beyond a number of ladies in morning dress occupying
some of the seats on either side of the House, the ceremony
was merely reading the Royal Commission, and Black Rod
being directed to summon the Commons to the bar of the
House.

On the arrival of the Speaket the Lord Chancellor read

HER MAJESTY'S SPEECIL

MT LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
In again applying to you for your advice and
assistance, I regret that I have found it necessary
to call for your attendance at an unusual, and, pro-
bably, to many of you, an inconvenient season.
The Sovereign of Abyssinia, in violation of all
international law, continues to keep in captivitY
several of my subjects, some of whom have been
especially accredited to him by myself, and his per-
sistent disregard of friendly representations has left
me no alternative but that of making a peremptory
demand for the liberation of my subjects and sup'
porting it by an adequate force.

I have accordingly directed an expedition to be
sent, for that purpose alone ; and 1 confidently
rely upon the support and co-operation of my Par-
liament in my endeavour at once to relieve their
countrymen from an unjust imprisonment, and to
vindicate the honour of my Crown.
I have directed that papers on the subject stall
be forthwith laid before you.
I receive from all foreign Powers assurances of
their friendly feelings, and I see no reason to aPPre.
bend the disturbance of the general peace of Europe.
A baud of Italian volunteers, without authority from
their own Sovereign, having invaded the ral'al
territory, and threatened Rome itself, the Emperor
of the French felt himself called upon to despatch
an expedition for the protection of the Sovereign
Pontiff and his dominions ; that object having beenaccomplished, and the defeat and dispersion
of the volunteer force having relieved
the Papal territory from the danger of external
invasion, I trust that His Imperial Majesty
will find
himself enabled, by an early withdrawal of
troops, to remove any possible ground of misunder-
standing between His Majesty's Government and
that of the King of Italy.
The Treasonable Conspiracy, commonly known
as Fenianisin, baffled and repressed in Ireland, has
assumed in England the form of organised violence
and assassination. These outrages require to VI,
rigorously put down ; and I rely for their effectual
suppression upon the firm administration of the law,
and the loyalty of the great mass of my subjects.
GENTLEMEN OF TIIE HOUSE OF CO3IMONSI

The Esti►nates for the ensuing year are in t!►o
course of preparation, and will in due time be 13i'
before you. They will be framed with a view t°
economy and to the necessary requirements of the
public service.

Mr LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
As a necessary sequel to the legislation of the
last session, Bills will be laid before you for amend'
ing the Representation of the People in Scotland
and Ireland.

I have reason to believe that the commissioner 9
appointed to inquire into and report upon the
boundaries of existing boroughs, as well as of the
proposed divisions of counties and newly-enfrauchise'l
boroughs, have made considerable progress in Oa
inquiries, and no time will be lost after the receipt
of their report in laying before you their reconr
mendations for your consideration and decision•

A bill will also be presented to you for the more
effectual prevention of bribery- and corruption at
elections.

The Public Schools Bill, which has already been
more than once submitted to Parliament, will again
be laid before you.

The general question of the education of al
people requires your most serious attention, and
have no doubt you will approach the subject with 3
full appreciation both of its vital importance 3°a
its acknowledged difficulty.
Measures will be submitted to you during the
present session for amending and consolidating the
various acts relating to the mercantile marine.
The exemption which the country has now for
some time enjoyed from the cattle plague affords fi
favourable opportunity for considering such perlll3"
neat enactments as may relieve the home trade fr°lll
vexatious restrictions and facilitate the introduction;
under due regulation, of foreign cattle for home
consumption.
Measures for the amendment of the law,
have been deferred under the pressure of illt)r.e
urgent business, will be submitted for your enlisl-
deration.

Other questions apparently calling for Legisl3tiv:
action have been referred to Commissioners, yihoo
reports, as they shall bu received, shall, witllo.l
delay, be laid before Parliament.

It is my earnest prayer that all your deliberai
tions may be so guided as to conduce to the ,generd
contentment and happiness of my people.

HOUSE OF COMMONS (Tills DAT.)
The Speaker entered the House at a quarter to tv7-'
there being at that time several members on both
present, Colonel French being the first member who arriv:re
Shortly after, Mr. Cawthorn Hardy, Sir J. Ferguson, to
Mowbray were the first members of the Government i,v
arrive. Mr. Hunt, Colonel Pattern soon followed, and d
the time prayers were said there was a very full Atte"'
dance.
The members of the Opposition present were Mr. -°l(i.s:,
man, Sir R. Peel, Mr. Baines, Sir C. O'Loughlin, Sir r•
Bowyer, Mr. Ayrton, Alderman Lusk, Mr. Batley'',
Potter, Col. French, Mr. Wyld, Col. Sykes, Mr. Ac/3„%.
Mr. Watkin, &c., &c. The front bench was entirelY "0„
occupied until two o'clock, when Mr. Knatchbull-linsol
sen entered. At 10 minutes past 2 the Deputy 116bierthe
the Black Rod entered the house and summonedcb
Speaker to the House of Peers to hear her Majesty's
on the opening of Parliament, which was read by (03%-lit
sion, the only occupant of the Opposition GoVert°
bench being the lion. members we have mentioned. ttbo
The SPEAKER returned at 20 minutes past 2, hn;oei;:,
regular sitting of the house was adjourned until 4 03'
t°
The Earl of Derby, the Chancellor of
Exchequer, and Earl Russell gave their usual
liamentary dinners yesterday evening. . pot
'lulu' SCANDAL—The season of 1867 1° t A
likely to die out without one more sensational i 3
question that is expected to cause some
rumoured, is about to be brought under the consid°'tber°
of the Jockey Club, and it is extremely probable that,otto
will have to be another raking up of almost ful tof e
bets. It seems that last year a horse was claimed °11.4i,11‘.
selling race by a young gentleman who seemed to:co,
"parting" by no means a necessary part of
tract. This young gentleman sold the horse, for 110001
he had not paid, to a well known owner of e'rn t
and in his name won several hurdle races told 5_:0010
chases. A short time ago the horse was resold to and
duke who is very fond of cross-country sporo-0
raja
now it transpires that the horse, not having 00,0 dis
for, could not legally run, and therefore he must Tbo
qualified for all those races which he may have w°,jj lst
11
law on the subject is, that anyone claiming a 11°:(5:o
.:c1). bon
pay for the animal before 10 p.m. of the day on
was claimed, or he has no right to demand linniaily
question is sure to lead to a long discussion, 0513u,c.. ocarli
if the case is proved, the horse will be diLqualitied wo:tioa of
half a dozen races which he has wn. The qu...t oting
bets will be, of course, for after co osideration, hu
0011 to
the "Bristles" case as a precedent, there is everYr_oooo a
believe they will not be interfered with, let the de
the Jockey Club be what it may.— Sportsincut.