The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-28 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM•

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in
rising to move for leave to bring in a bill to amend
the laws relating to the representation of the
people of England and Wales, and to facili-
tate the registration and voting at elections,
said—lt is now my duty to draw the attention of
the house to a subject, than which a more important
one has never been submitted to your deliberation.
Those questions of peace and war which are now
agitating the public mind are matters of imperial
policy, and any errors with respect to them may be
retraced, and any serious disasters may be
averted
by a free people ; but in bringing forward such a
measure as that which I am about to present to you
any wrong step may be attended with the greatest
possible injury to the interests of the country for
years to come. (Hear.) The difficulties with which
I and my colleagues have to contend with in dealing
with the subject arc much mitigated by the fact
that we have not to contend with party spirit, and
that we have the benefit of experience. (Hear,
hear.) I believe the bill I will have to submit to
you will be received with fairness by this
house, and will obtain the approval of the
country. It was not a matter of surprise
that the Reform Bill which was passed in 1832, and
which was necessarily of an experimental character,
should in the course of 25 years have been found
not all that was required—that it had omissions
which were to be supplied, and deficiencies which
were to be amended. (Hear, hear.) Since the time
that measure was introduced, a great alteration
has taken place. The population has increased
in a ratio that was unparalleled, and capital
has also increased to an extent of which no coun-
try, not even America, presents an instance. The
intelligence of the people has increased in propor-
tion with that of population and capital, and the
discoveries of science has effected the most extra-
ordinary changes in the country. For the last ten
years Parliamentary Reform has occupied the

LAW INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS-APPEAL.

THE SCOTTISH NORTH-EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY V

SIR WILLIAM DRUMMOND STEWA.RT, BART.

This was an appeal from a decision of tho Court of
Session in Scotland, finding the company liable to the
respondent in £14,500 damages in terms of their agree-
ment; and, moreover, liable for all loss and damage which
ho would have sustained if the company had carried out their
branch line though the lands of Murthly from Perth
to Dunkeld, as should be ascertained by decreet-arbitral of
Mr. George Buchanan, one of the directors of the com-
pany, under the Act of Parliament. The line of rail-
way was abandoned, and the company denied their lia-
bility for any consequential damage which might have
arisen if the branch line of railway had been made.

Sir Richard Bethell, Q.C., opened the case for the appel-
[ant.

Mr. James Anderson, Q.C., is on the same side.
Mr. Rolt, Q.C., and Mr. R. Palmer, Q.C., represent
the respondent.

The healing of the cause is now going on.

VICE-CHANCELLORS' COURT.
(Before Vice-Chancellor Sir William Page Wood.)
JUDGMENT.-IN RE HARRIS'S TRUST.
His Honour the Vice-Chancellor stated—The contest
in this suit raises the question, What is the effect of the
appointment which the testator has made as to the money
to be received frsin the sale of the bonuses arising on the
policy of assurance in the Metropolitan Assurance Com-
pany, to be divided, according to the proportions mentioned
in his settlement, amongst his children ? He directed
one thousand pounds to be paid to each of his two
daughters ; and then ho directed the remaining
two thousand pounds, or the residue, to be divided
equally amongst his five sons, nominatum—and the ques-
tion was, did these bequests pass shares to' the younger
children? his Honour, on referring to the dicta of Lord
Hanlwicke, and reviewing the decision in the cases of
Butler before Lord Cottenham, and Carter before Vice-
Chancellor Shadwell, came to the conclusion that the resi-
due, or surplus portion, was devisable amongst the younger
children, and declared that the children, on attaining the
age of 21, shall have their portions paid to them, and the
residue will be taken to a separate account.

The parties will have their costs as between solicitor and
client, and not as between party and party.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-(TIIIS DAY.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

INDECENT BEHAVIOUR OF SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN*.
—Cornelius Crowder, a machine ruler, of Market-row,
Newport Market, was charged with indecent conduct to
five little girls, on the previous (Sunday) afternoon, in
Soho-square.
From the evidence of a little girl it appeared that she was
on her way home from the Sunday school, on the previous
afternoon, in Soho-square, when the prisoner behaved in a
very indecent manner, and on their going away he followed
them down Rose-street, and into a court, where he re-
peated his disgusting conduct, once being guilty of it be-
hind a hearse standing in the street.
Tho evidence of another child confirmed her companion
in every particular, and left no doubt of the pariseodneines avary
dirty
conduct. The girls, although very young, acted
proper manner, looking for a constable, and as soon as one
came in view, immediately acquainted him with what had
happened, and the prisoner stole o ff.
Mr. Beadon asked the prisoner what he had to say to the
charge ?
The prisoner, in a roundabout way, denied the charge.
Mr. Beadon said he had no doubt whatever of the pri-
soner's having been guilty of what the, girls had stated,
and after animadverting in severe terms on his conduct,
sentenced him to three months' hard labour.,
CRUELTY TO A PONY.—George liughes a beerhouss
keeper, of the Latimer-road, Notting hill, was charged at
the instance of Mr. Love, chief constable of the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with
cruellyu
e defendantsig a n pony.
ed
he had not paid for the poney yet.
lie had bought a business and taken the poney with it.
The magistrate said the proper means must bo taken,
either by having it put out to grass for the remainder of its
days, or having it killed to terminate its misery. If it was
destroyed he would not have to pay for it ; for if an action
was brought against him he could say ho had no service out

of it.
Ultimately the defendant consented to its being killed,
and left the court with Rutherford for that purpose.