The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-14 00:00:00

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

The Atrato spoke the schooner London Packet, of Ips-
wich, running up Channel, 20 miles S.W. of Portland.
About 2 a.m. yesterday mcrning, off the Start, the Atrato
observed a steamer, with two green lights and one white,
coming on full speed towards her. Capt. Woolley promptly
altered the course of his ship, and thus avoided a collision.
The steamer then continued chasing, and altered her lights,
taking in one green and putting red in its place. The
Atrato was going slow at the time, it being very thick and
dark. She was, however, put to full speed, and left the
other behind.

The Royal Mail Company's steamers Avon (from Colon)
the Dement (from Jamaica), the Prince and the Tamar

(for Colon), the Trent (refitting), and the Wye (from Bar-
badoes), were at St. Thomas's; the Clyde on the Gulf of
Mexico route ; the Solent at Colon ; the Teviot at Jamaica,
from Belize ; and the Thames at Barbadoes.
The United States screw steamer Dacotah, 998 tons, 450-
horse power, Commander J. P. Blainstry, arrived at St.
Thomas's on the 21st ult. She carries four 32-pounders and
two 11-inch Dalghren guns, and has a complement of 144
men. The Dacotah left Hongkong on the Gth of August,
Batavia on the 27th of August, Angeer Point on the 20th
of August, Cape Town on the 9th of October. She coaled
and sailed for Martinique at midnight on the 23d, towing a
schooner laden with coals for the Iroquois, at that place
watching the Confederate steamer Sumter at St. Pierre.
The United States frigate Macedonian arrived at St.
Thomas's on the 27th ult. from Colon. The war steamer
Iroquois arrived at St. Thomas's on the 25th ult from Mar-
tinique, having failed to take the Sumter; she sailed again
on the 29th in further search of the Sumter, she having
been seen only a few hours' distance from St. Thomas's.

I and heretics, each have their distinct idea and peculiar
expectation and hope of entering those regions of eternal
repose. So also have the Japanese ; but perhaps it may
now be the design of the Almighty to show them our way,
and to allow us to prove to them that only one passport is
necessary ; that there is but one real and sure way, and
that Noah was only a type of the one great Saviour and
Shepherd of mankind.
In an interesting dissertation on the primeval style
and manners of the Japanese we find the following
remarks on the evidence of their remote antiquity
as a nation :

Providence may have had some inscrutable reason for
allowing this nation to remain so long isolated and alone;
for although there may be no ruins of Palmyra or Luxor to
denote any very ancient architectural grandeur, there can
be little doubt of the antiquity of these isles, and of their
beiAnsg
atoll-dalyesarnsitnhgeyeawmere fromesoon afterthe E
the flood.
Egypt and
.
Assyria are supposed to have received much of thir learn-
ing from India and China, as the wise men who saw the
star of Bethlehem came from the East, and as I fully be-
lieve that Japan owes nothing to China, might not all the
good things we know of, and have improved :upon have
originally emanated from this uttermost part of the earth?
Might not all the world once have been as Japan to-day is,
with its Kamis and sun-goddesses? Might not the Apis
and Osiris of the Egyptians, the Jupiters and Junos of the
still more Western nations, have taken their origin in the
veiled mysteries of one original Sintooism ? Nearly all we
find in the West that man actually wants, or by nature re-
quires, either for food or raiment, is to be met with in the
far East; and as it is almost universally admitted that the
inhabitants of the nearest continent to Japan has never
been even a temporary sojourner on its shores, we may
infer that Japan furnished of her abundance to her neigh-
bours, who in their good time went and did likewise as
they spread far and wide.
The nations of the West, from the first visit of Marco
Polo to our own day, have left few traces of their presence,
except in history and memory, and these not of the most
grateful or pleasant nature. Few things, if any, were
copied by the Japanese, so that all we find amongst them
to-day cannot be confined to such late dates.
When Noah came out of the Ark, he selected Japan and
colonised it with his sons ; he then, as his family increased,
advised them to emigrate, and finally they became so nume-
rous, that to avoid dissension, and to obtain food for them-
selves and their flocks and herds, they separated, and as
they could not very easily go east of the Japanese Isles,
the inference is that they must have come to the West, and
thus gradually the earth was repeopled,
Thus Japan renovated the whole world ; and in the
manner of their living there is so much of the patriarchal
simplicity, and in their government, laws, and institutions
so much of the primitive kindness and severity, similar to
that which we read of in the " Book of Books," that
before such a wild speculation is entirely discarded, let us
know a little more of Japan from her legends, literature,
and history.
Some may take great pleasure in thus investigat-
ing this question, and may doubtless concur in the
opinion expressed by the writer, that perhaps when
" Petra was a capital, with green fields and noble
forests around it, when Athens was the seat of
learning, and Rome the mistress of the world,
that the hermits of Niphon were as well informed
as they are to-day, and that they may have retained
the same primeval habits which, at the confusion
of tongues and general dispersion consequent on
the building of the Tower of Babel, were peculiar
to those early times." The Japanese are early
risers, and the devotees to domestic drudgery at
home who have to get up hours before any visible
effect is seen, will envy those distant folks whose
duties are light in the housekeeping line, as they
have no beds to make, no sofas, tables, or chairs to
dust, and the room is instantly converted from a
sleeping apartment into a shop or drawing-room,
as required. The visits that are chronicled of the
Japanese ladies are very singular. They seem a
kindly race on the whole, and capable of great at-
tachment. The day before leaving the writer states
that the parting interview was sad—all the Japanese
were dressed ill black—which, though not mourn-
ing, is a sign of grief. They also drank out of cups
of tortoiseshell, with the figure of a crane lacquered
upon them, which meant to say, May your lives be
as long as those of the Tortoise and the Crane. " VVt
shall never forget the happy moments passed with
these kind friends at Hakodate. If we found pecu-
liarities and customs to smile at and amuse us, no
doubt we afforded them food for laughter and criti-
cism also." There are some plates that represent
the various classes. Crinoline is certainly not in
vogue in Japan, but its greatest enemy will agree
that here is the other extreme, and a more comical
figure than the Tea-Girl in the first page is seldom
seen in the costumes of any country. This volume
is most successful in its attempt to depict the laws
and delineate the customs of a people now engaging
great attention among us, and the author may be
congratulated on the happy results of his labours,
for many will pass a pleasing and profitable hour
in the perusal of its instructive and entertaining
pages. Books of foreign lands that serve to con-
vey at all an accurate impression of affairs are
invaluable to the general reader, and this " Resi-
dence in Japan" will be sure to become a favourite
from its attractive style, as well as from the
great variety of its contents. This work may
be recommended to all desirous of becoming ac-
quainted with the marvels and mysteries of a
comparatively unknown country lately brought
into notice, and of which all would be informed.

ELECTION OF ALDERMAN.

cord their deep regret at the less of their late Alder-1
man, Sir Peter Laurie, who for 35 years filled that
honourable position to the credit of himself and the
benefit of his fellow-citizens. He was an upright,
conscientious, and fearless magistrate, and . xhibited
throughout his public life a consistency f conduct
which made his name familiar, not only in the me-
tropolis, but throughout the British empire."
Mr. SIBLEY bore testimony to the courage and
sagacity of Sir Peter Laurie as a magistrate, and
which, he said, were especially exhibited in inves-
tigating the frauds of the notorious Richard Coster
in 1833.
- - - - -

Yesterday, at 2 o'clock, the Lord Mayor presided
at a Wardmote in Aldersgato, convened in Shaftes-
bury-hall, for the election of an alderman in the

place of Sir Peter Laurie, deceased. There was a

very large muster of the inhabitants on the occa-
sion, to whom the ceremony had considerable
novelty, seeing that a quarter of a century had

elapsed since they were last invited to take part in
a similar proceeding, The chief magistrate wore
the scarlet robe of an alderman, and was attended

by his sword and mace bearers, and by Mr. Orton,
an administrative officer of the corporation.
The LORD MAYOR said a-melancholy event had
called them together, and he could not enter on the
business in hand without a brief allusion to the
memory of a gentleman whom he had known for

At the instance of Mr. BESLEY, seconded by Mr.
DE JERSEY, a vote of thanks was tendered with
acclamation to the Lord Mayor, who, in acknow-
ledging the compliment, took occasion to say of Mr.
Norris, speaking from long personal knowledge of
him, that, while representing a provincial constitu-
ency in the House of Commons, he was also at the
same time one of the most earnest and most useful
representatives with respect to matters relating to
the Corporation of London. (Cheers.)
With that the ceremony terminated, and Mr.
Besley, the newly elected Alderman, received the
congratulations of his friends and neighbours.

meveral fears, and whose friendship he had the pri-
vilexe to enjoy. Sir Peter Laurie filled a distin-

guished place, and his name would be long held in
remembrance in this great city. (Hear.) A more

enlightened and mere conscientious magistrate

perhaps never administered justice. (Hear.) He
had been so long identified with the ward of Alders-
gate that it would be almost impertinent, certainly
supeifiuons, to say more in the presence of men to
whom he was so well known ; but as a brother

AN AIIERICAN AT JUN STALL : .EX-

TRAORDINARI SCENE.

magistrate, and having known him so long, he (the
Lord:Mayor) had thought he might be permitted to
make that passing allusion to the loss they had sus-

Mr. G. F. Train, the contractor for street-tram-
ways, whose offensive letter to the .New York
herald was quoted in our impression of Saturday,
delivered a lecture in the Town Hall, Tunstall, on
Tuesday evening, in aid of the funds of the Tunstall
Athenaeum. The Chief Bailiff presided. An ex-
traordinary scene, which is thus described by the
Birmingham Daily Post, took place on the occa-
sion :—" Mr. Train was interrupted by a person in
the Hall expressing a hope that Mr. Train would
speak the truth.—The Chairman immediately rose
to order; but the person who had previously spoken
asked if Mr. Train would endorse the statement
respecting his recent letter to the New York Herald?
—The Chairman said he must have silence, or he
would leave the chair.—Nothing daunted by this
threat, the person continued : Mr. Train had called
the volunteers a set of fools, and, as a volunteer, he
would not submit to that.—The Chairman insisted
on order, and, after some confusion, order was re-
stored.—Mr. Train said, as the volunteers had been
mentioned, he would reply to the observation by
reciting a poem on the subject written by
Eliza Cook.—[The Voice : " Perhaps you don't
believe it, when you say it."—Applause and
cries of " Shame."]—The Chairman called upon
the meeting to signify by show of hands whe-
ther the lecture should be proceeded with as
announced, and nearly every person in the
Hall responded in the affirmative.—Mr. Train
said he had written a letter, tut it contained
nothing hostile to England. If America had done
wrong, she would apologise for it; if she had done
anything contrary to international laws, she would
be the first to say so. Why did the English people
settle the question before hearing the other side ?
Why did they not wait until they had heard from
the other side of the water ? North America was
the friend of England, had always been, and always
desired to be. Mr. Train proceeded to demonstrate
this amid frequent interruptions, during which the
Chairman threatened to call in the police and have
the disturbers ejected. The threatened war between
England and America, Mr. Train continued, must
not take place. If America had done wrong in the
Trent affair, she would apologise ; but if e had
not, neither England nor any ether nation could
make her apologise. (Question, and confusion.)
They talked about international laws, but did in-
ternational laws apply solely to England ? Were
not other countries to participate in them as well ?
Could not the present dispute be referred to arbitra-
tion ? He said that Mason was the author of the

tained. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. NORRIS, M.P., one of the representatives of
the ward in the Court of Common Council, said, in

the very handsome and well-merited tribute which
the Lord Mayor had been, pleased to pay to the

name and character and virtues of their late alder-

man, he believed the entire body of the inhabitants
of the ward and the Court of Common Council cor-

dially concurred, as he himself did. After thirty
years of consistent and honourable labour in the

'service of the ward as its alderman, and where he
made many lasting friendships, the good old man
had passed from among them ; and it was now
_ .

their duty to select some fit and proper person
to succeed him in the discharge of duties he per-
formed so efficiently, He (Mr. Norris) might be per-
mitted to express some degree of gratitude and
obligation to many mei of influence and station in
the ward who had thought him worthy to succeed
Sir Peter Laurie as their alderman. (Hear.) He
had received that flattering mark of their goodwill
with the utmost satisfaction ; but, having taken
upon himself the discharge of Parliamentary duties,
and having regard to the responsibility with which
they were associated, and to the wear and tear of
Parliamentary life, he felt he could not also under-
take the onerous functions devolving upon a junior
alderman of the city of London, in the hope of satis-
factorily performing both, and he elected to stand
by his constituents in the country. (Hear.) If his
friends in the ward did not altogether approve the
preference he had shown, he trusted they would
appreciate and excuse the motives which prompted
it. (Hear.) He was helped to the conclusion by
knowing that there was no difficulty in finding in
the ward a gentleman on whom, with great pro-
priety, the mantle of an alderman might fall. They
all knew that the trading and bustling community
of London was recruited year after year by young
men from the country, full of energy, hope, and
enterprise, joining the ranks of citizenship. Forty
years ago Devonshire supplied one of that class in
the person of a gentleman whom he should propose
as their future alderman. (Cheers.) During those
40 years Mr. Robert Besley had been known either
in the ward of Aldersgate or its immediate vicinity.
In the last 20 of them he had been actively engaged
in business pursuits in the ward, and during the
latter part of that period he had been before the
public, performing various important duties in their
interest, and especially as an indefatigable member
of the Court of Common Council. With regard to
the duties of an alderman, so far as he bad to act
as a magistrate, it was important that he should
have a competent knowledge of law ; but while
actin,,; in that capacity he was always well and dis-
creetly advised. Besides that, however, it was im-
portant that a man who had to serve the office of ma-
gistrate in a city like London should know something
of the temper, the springs of action, and the impulses
of the human heart, under the influence of which
crimes of various degrees and systems of fraud and
swindling every now and then developed themselves
in a great commercial community like this. Their
late alderman was eminently qualified for probing
the motives and devices of the human head; and he
believed the gentleman whom he proposed to suc-
teed him had all the characteristics for such an
office. Qaick to discern and prompt to act, he had
no doubt the experience of a long life would teach
him to be humane, gentle, and considerate, while
firm and vigilant as a magistrate. (Hear, hear.)
An alderman had other duties to perform of a muni-
cipal character, and for the discharge of those they
had already proofs of Mr. Besley's aptitude. He
(Mr. Norris) believed he comprehended the truth
that a corporation like that of London had its life
and substance, not in the persons of those who gene-
rally and publicly administered its affairs, but in
being based entirely on a republic of citizenship
designated to promote the common weal. (Cheers.)
He believed his friend was competent to discharge
all the duties devolving upon a member of the
Court of Aldermen. He knew he had by industry
and perseverance acquired for himself a competence
which would enable him in the luxury of an idle
life to devote an active mind to the service of the
public in that capacity. That he would do so dili-
gently and faithfully was his (Mr. Norris's) firm
conviction, and he confidently recommended the
inhabitants of the ward to elect him as their alder-
man. (Cheers.)
The nomination was seconded by Mr. W. C.
FOWLER, a leading inhabitant of the ward.
No other candidate having been nominated,
The LORD MAYOR called for a show of hands,
and then declared the election-to have fallen unani-
mously on Mr. Robert Besley, a citizen and a
loriner.

The announcement was received with acclama-
tion.

fugitive slave law, and that Slidell had, for a quar-
ter of a century, been making hostile speeches
against England. Captain Wilkes had only done
what English officers had repeatedly done before;
and if his act was illegal, so was that of the com-
mander of the Trent in taking the Commissioners
on board his ship. He did not say that America
would give up the prisoners. He would tell them
what he would have done with them. He would
have tried them in a prize court in New York—
(hisses)—he would have convicted them of high
treason ; he would have hanged them—(hisses)—
and then sent them to England, if England in-
sisted on their being given up. (Confusion.) He
repeated, England and America must not go to war.
If they sent out a courteous despatch to Secretary
Seward they would be as courteously replied to ;
but if they put a revolver to his head and demanded
of him to give up those men, they would rouse up
in America some of the spirit he had seen now and
then rising to the surface in that meeting. (A
Voice—" We don't want our mails stopped.")
Quite right. They (the Americans) did not stop
their mails or their females. (Laughter.) Mr.
Train proceeded to speak on several other subjects,
amid continual interruptions whenever he said, as
he often did, anything touching directly on the
popular English view of the American question.
At length, wrought up to a pitch of intense anger,
he exclaimed he was their guest that night, and he
would not be insulted. He was not paid to come
there; but if they did not want to hear him, he
would go.—The Chairman again sternly inter-
posed, and order was presently restored. Mr. Train
went on to speak of the mutual interest of the two
countries to be at peace with each other. He re-
ferred to the American navy, which, although
small compared;with the English navy, was capable
of doing some work. He said a war with America
would not be found so easy as it might be supposed,
for the American coast was well prepared to resist
invasion. They would find a Cronstadt at New
York, and a Sebastopol at Washington. They
would not find it so very easy a thing to beat the
Americans after all.
A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Train, and
the Chairman urged the meeting not to prematurely
judge the merits of the American question.

The LORD MA:YOR congratulated the inhabitants
of the ward on the choice they had made. He
claimed, he said, to be somewhat of a judge of Mr.
Besley's fitness for the office, having for several
years been in a position in the Corporation of Lon-
don which enabled him to form an accur ate estimate
of that gentleman's capacity.
Alderman BESLEY, who was greeted with cheers,
said he had not sought in a light spirit the office
to which he had just been elected. He had looked
carefully at the duties and obligations incident to
it, and he believed them—rightly discharged—to
be all-important to the welfare of the citizens of
London. He adverted briefly to the privilege im-
memorially enjoyed by the citizens of London of
electing their own magistrates, and to the natural
jealousy with which they guarded that privilege,
lest the conduct of any one intrusted with majeste-
rial functions should place it for a moment in dis-
repute or jeopardy.
He had never undertaken any
important public dutoywi
without first counting the
conscientious cost and without a
citentious desire to discharge
it to the best of his
ability, With respect to Mr.
Norris, he felt that the claim of that gentleman to
consideration, as having represented
the Court of Common Council for the ward in
Upwards of 20
years, was so strong on this occasion that if he had
chosen to come forward he should have voted for
him. (Hear.) He (Mr. Besley) might say he
opened the first leaf in the ledger of his life in 1820,
and worked on with unflagging industry until he
made himself a cowmen position. Longing then
for some other employment by which his mind might
be occasionally taken out of the rut of continual
business, and an opportunity having offered itself,
he entered some few years ago the Court of Common
Council, and there his guiding motive had been to
promote the public good. The appointment which
had jest been conferred upon him was in no respect
a political one, but at this moment, in face of a
crisis, every Englishman felt the taint of politics.
(A laugh.) Sharing in the popular feeling, he de-
sired to say that England would bear and forbear
a great deal, but she would never endure her flag
being insulted or her protectorate disputed.
(Cheers.)
On the motion of Deputy LORKIN, seconded by
Deputy GODSON, it was then unanimously resolved;
" That the inhabitAnto of thin wad denim to re-

AN AMERICAN SHIP ON FIRE ON THE

WESTERN COAST.

bottles and other things, which had been rather
damp, and this, perhaps might have been the cause.
This i 3 the second American ship on fire that has
made for the Devonshire harbours during the last
fortnight, the previous one being the Lady Frank-
lin, of New York, merchant ship, which put into
Plymouth Sound.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—NORTIIAMPTON, Dec. 13.

(Before Mr. Baron Martin.)
His lordship went to church this morning at 9
o'clock, and afterwards took his seat in the Crown
Court at 1,0 o'clock.

On the application of counsel, the trials of three
men for rape, and one woman for forgery, were
postponed until the spring assizes.
Janet M'ilea, 61, charwoman, was indicted for
the manslaughter of Wm. Thos. Weaver, in the
parish of St. Giles, Northampton, in October last.
She was also charged upon the coroner's inquisition
with the same offence.

The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Cockle appeared for the prosecution ; the
prisoner was undefended by counsel.
The deceased was a child only three years and a
quarter old, and was with its mother an inmate of
the Northampton Union Workhouse. The prisoner
had also been an inmate of the workhouse for 14
years, and she had to superintend the management
of about 70 children, who were separated from
their parents. On the night of Saturday, the 12th
of October last, the prisoner surreptitiously con-
veyed into the workhouse an ash stick, about 2ft.
long, and about half an inch thick, which she hid
under her bed. During the night the child gave
some offence to the prisoner*, who, on the following
morning, after he had been dressed, took him down
into the dining room, and there severely flogged
him with the stick, and afterwards thrust him into
an adjoining room with such violence that his head
came into violent contact with the brick floor. Ac-
cording to the medical evidence these injuries were
the cause of death, which took place 13 days after-
wards.

The jury found the prisoner guilty.
Sentence was postponed.

WESTERN CIRCUIT—WINCHESTER, DEC. 13
(Before Mr. Justice Williams.)
THE ALDERSHOT MURDER.
Thomas Jackson, aged 19, a private in the 78th
Highlanders, was charged with the wilful murder
of John Dickson, sergeant of the same regiment at
Aldershot, on the 23d November last. The pri-
soner, who is a good-looking young man, was
dressed in a fustian suit of clothes. He pleaded not
guilty.
Mr. 11. T. Cole and Mr. Russell prosecuted. The
prisoner was undefended. The Learned Judge had
kindly offered him the assistance of counsel, but he
declined.
Mr. Cole, in stating the case to the jury, said this
was one of a very peculiar character, and was one of
that class that had become of late too common, and
was known by the name of "military murders." It
would be found that the prisoner enlisted in 1858,
when he was a little over 15 years of age. Shortly
after that he deserted, and afterwards enlisted in
the 39th ; and there was reason to believe he went
to India. In April, 1860, he was arrested as a deser-
ter, and suffered punishment. After that he was
punished for destroying his new kit, and more re-
cently he had smashed his rifle, for which he suf-
fered imprisonment under a sentence of court-mar-
tial. The learned counsel then detailed the circum-
stances of the murder, in the course of which he ob-
sex ved that it was to be regretted that in a time of
peace soldiers should be supplied with so much am-
munition. He then called the following evidence :
Duncan Anderson, private in the 78th Regiment,
deposed that the prisoner was in his regiment and
in his company, and so was deceased, in November
last, when they were quartered at Aldershot. He
first knew the prisoner in April last, at Edinburgh.
On Saturday evening, Nov. 23, I was in room No.
11, permanent barracks. Prisoner, deceased, Cor-
poral Campbell, myself,:and others were there. Cor-
poral Campbell was calling the roll about five mi-
nutes past eight o'clock, and deceased was checking
it. The prisoner answered to his name when called.
I was standing about five yards from the prisoner,
who was standing at the head of his own cot. Cor-
poral Monroe's cot is next to the prisoner's. Each
man hangs his pouch at the head of his cot. He has
20 rounds of ammunition (ball cartridge) in it. Men
on recruit drill do not have ammunition supplied to
them. The prisoner was doing recruit drill at this
time, but Monroe was not, and consequently he had
his quantity of ammunition in his pouch. The pri-
soner was standing between the two beds. There
is a separate rifle rack for each man at the head of
his cot. I saw the prisoner take the rifle from his
own lack, turn round, and place it by his side in
the attitude of "ready." He moved it backwards
and forwards, and then fired it, hitting Sergeant
Dickson and Corporal Campbell. The deceased was
standing two yards from the prisoner. After he
had discharged the rifle he replaced it in the
rack. The deceased had his back to the prisoner.
After the discharge of the rifle, deceased said," Who
did that ?" Prisoner replied, "It was me, old
boy." Deceased turned round and fell over, saying
something, but I could not hear distinctly what he
said. Corporal Campbell was standing a little in
front, to the left of the deceased. He said he was
shot, and left the room. The prisoner was seized
and taken to the guard-room, and I handed the
prisoner's rifle to the sergeant-major. I examined
the prisoner's pouch, hut there was no ammunition
in it. I also examined Monroe's pouch, and I there
found one packet of ammunition of 10 rounds loose,
and one round missing. The other packet of 10
was all right. I handed the ammunition over to
Sergeant Provitt. The prisoner appeared to be
sober at the time when he discharged the rifle.
About a fortnight before the occurrence he said—
" I will be hanged for that man yet," meaning Ser-
geant Dickson. He said this on several previous
occasions when in the barracks.
Wm. Marshall, private in the 78th, gave similar
evidence, and added that, when in the guard-room
prisoner said to him, " Marshall, only for you, and
a few more who live in the same barrack-room, and
who were always in when the regiment was on pa-
rade in the forenoon, it was my intention to have
taken 10 rounds of ammunition, load all the rifles
I could get, and discharge them at the regiment
while on parade."
Several other witnesses were examined, who con-
firmed the previous evidence as to the facts of the
murder, and the expressions subsequently used by
the prisoner as to his intentions towards the
deceased, one being, " I know my destiny ; I
know what I've got to suffer. The --
gave me six months' hard labour once, and now I
have given him twelve." The medical evidence
showed that death had resulted from a gunshot
wound.
This was the case for the prosecution.
The prisoner declined to examine any of the wit-
nesses, and when asked by the learned judge if he
had anything to urge to the jury, replied in a firm
and audible voice, " I have nothing to say, my lord."
The learned:Judge, in summing up, said the jury
had a very painful, but, at the same time, a very
simple duty to perform. The facts of the case left
not the slightest doubt of the committal of the crime
of murder by the prisoner.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty,
His lordship, in passing sentence on the prisoner,
said—You have been convicted upon the clearest
possible evidence of the crime of murder, and I can-
not forbear saying that I never knew or heard of a
crime that had been committed in a more malignant
state of mind than you were in when you took the
life of this unhappy man. Ido not regard it as
part of my duty to dwell on the heinousness and
enormity of your guilt; and I only mention it in
order that you may be fully sensible tkat there is
not the slightest hope of mercy for you on this side
the grave. His lordship then sentenced the pri-
soner to be hanged in the usual form.
The prisoner, on hearing the sentence, evinced
not the slightest emotion, but, on the contrary, left
the dock with a quick step and jaunty air.
THE EXECUTION,—In anticipation of the pri•
Boner's condemnation the inhabitants of Winchester
have got up a memorial, which has been numerously
signed, for presentation to the Home Secretary,
praying that the convict may be hanged at the
Camp, instead of at the county prison, where the
executions take place for murders committed within
the county. It is considered that the carrying the
sentence into execution near the scene of the per-
petration of the murder, and in the presence of the
troops, might have a salutary effect, and tend to
prevent its too frequent repetition.

Great excitement was caused among the inhabi
tants of Brixham on Tuesday last by an American
ship putting into their harbour for the purpose of
extinguishing a fire which was raging on board.
The ship is a fine merchant vessel, 1,000 tons
burden, and was bound in ballast from Antwerp or
Akyab, having left the former port about six or
seven weeks since, touching at Flushing. On Mon-
day night, about half-past 7 o'clock, while about
25 miles W.N.W. of Start Point, with a southerly
wind, accompanied by rain, the captain's daughter,
who was playing on deck, observed smoke to be issu-
ing from the main hatch. She gave an alarm, and on
the tarpaulin and grating being removed the smoke
broke forth in dense volumes. Every opening
was at once closed up, and holes cut in the deck
and water poured in. At first all was confusion on
board. The boats were lowered and the things re-
moved from the cabin, in doing which the men
came upon some spirits and wine, and, with the
recklessness characteristic of their order, at once
commenced a carouse, which was followed by the
inebriation of seven or eight of them, who imme-
diately began to fight. At length comparative
order having been restored, every exertion was used
to extinguish the fire. The fire bell was rung and
the' flare-up" ignited, to catch the eye of a pilot,
and soon the fishing smacks Charles and Sophia,
both of Brixham, came up and rendered every assist-
ance that lay in their power. The vessel then ran
into Elbury Cove, the intention being to scuttle her
if the fire could not be got under. While there
the Coastguardsmen, under Lieutenant Milton,
repaired to the spot, and after some time the
vessel sailed into Brixham Harbour, and the
fire-engine, under the direction of Mr. Wil-
liam Brown, the town engineer, was placed
on board the Harbour Commissioners' barge, the
Lamprey, and was soon playing on the fire. The
holes in the deck were enlarged, and the engines
kept playing till about three o'clock in the after-
noon, when the fire was at length extinguished.
The ship's name is the Eliphat Greely, built at
Bath, and of Portland, Maine, but, owing to a fear
of privateers, consequent on the recEnt troubles in
America, carries the name of "the Sloman, Ham-
burg," on her stern. She is a comparatively new
vessel, having been built only six years next Feb-
ruary. The captain, whose name is Mr. J. A.
Cutter, and who seems to be generally liked by the
crew, had his wife and two children on board. The
crew, consisting of 15 men before the mast, two
mates, one cook,
steward and captain, are all En
g- with the exception '
his seamen,
who are Dutch.
serious, hardly falling The
which was beautiful).
stroyed, as is also they
who are
of the captain and one of
arAmericans, and the two mates,
damage to the ship is very
short of £l,OOO. The cabin,
cabin Betted up, is entirely dge."-
as confined to the
re thet stores lay, the NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LIVERPOOL, DEC. 13,
CHARGE OF
FBefore Mr. Baron Channell.)
MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.—CAPT.
WILSON'S CASE.
Capt. W. Wilson, late commander of the British
ships Express and Severn, trading to Africa, was
deck, together with arraigned upon two indictments—one charging him
the knees and beams. The fi
after part of the ship, in whirchwwith the murder of Wm. Henderson, on the 23d of
whole of which are spoilt, the greater January last, on board the Express ; and the other
part by the with the manslaughter (..,f Chas. Jones, on board the
fire, and the remainder by the water. An entire British ship Severn, on the 4th April of the present
new set of sails, with a mizenmast, was destroyed, year.
a great deal of it being thrown overboard white in Mr. Brett, Q C
a state of conflagration, and out of 30 coils of new the prosecution, . ~ and Mr. L. Temple conducted
and Mr. Aspinall the defence.
rope only two or three remain intact. The vessel This case had lain over from the previous assize
being able to agree to a verdict. It is only neces-
atnow lies afloat in the harbour, abreast the break- in consequence of the jury by whom it was triednot
sa therefore, to give an outline of the facts.
The Express sailed from Liverpool on the 22d of
water, drawing 13 feet of water, there being 18 feet
September last year, and the deceased (who was
low tide. The origin of the fire 0
ni is notto t
heeffe known.ct
Many rumours are afloat, especially
that the fire was the work of an incendiary.. In the
about
30
years
0
how: inyfeyer, !me jaky 144(1 Wu deposited, with age) id .101D.04, some short time

before, being then in good health and strength. '
When the ship had been some time at sea the acts
of violence on the part of the prisoner commenced.
The first was the throwing of a handspike at de-
ceased, who was wounded in the ancle. This was
done as punishment for deceased not being quick
enough, or not having brought the captain a clean
towel, or some act of that kind. On the same day
the prisoner threw a knife at the deceased, and
wounded him on the temple. The deceased picked
up the knife, gave it to the prisoner, and a second
and a third time the captain threw it at Henderson ;
and, in the course of the same day also, beat him )
with his fists, knocked him down and kicked him.
From this time to the death of Henderson, a series
of acts of violence were perpetrated. The last act
of violence was shortly before his death, and there
was some difficulty, and some contradiction, as to
whether it took place on a Wednesday or on a
Saturday. The deceased was lying in his berth,
and the prisoner came to him and asked him why
he did not cook his sago. The deceased said he
could not stand so near the fire. The prisoner made
some remark, such as " Who is to do it for you ?"
and then took a can and struck the deceased under
the chin and under the nose, and made them bleed.
He went away and ordered the deceased to come
down to the deck to pick oakum. The deceased
said he could not do it, and the prisoner re-
plied that it was " all laziness," and seizing
the deceased by the shirt, he threw him upon
deck, jumped with his feet upon his chest,
kicked him on the sides and head, and beat him.
The deceased at first cried out, but at last he
became silent, and partly insensible. The pri-
soner then ordered buckets of water to be thrown
over the deceased, after which he was lifted
up and dry clothes put on him. The prisoner
afterwards came back to the deceased and asked
"if he was satisfied ?" The deceased said, " You
had better kill me at once than beat me so ;" upon
which the prisoner again beat and kicked him, and
renewed his threats " that he had better jump over-
board," and that "he should never see England
again." The deceased sank under this continued
ill-treatment, and died shortly afterwards.
Several witnesses having borne out by evidence
the main facts as to the alleged cruelties,
Mr. Gunn, a medical student, but not a qualified
practitioner, was next examined. When he saw
Henderson at Brass River he found him very much
bruised about the face. Henderson accused the
captain of causing those injuries, but when Mr.
Gunn questioned him in the captain's presence as
• to this matter the deceased refused to repeat the
• accusation.

wished to take their civil remedy in a superior
Court.
Mr. Wontner said it was Dr. Webb's desire
that the magistrate should decide the case. He
had other evidence to lay before the Court and
wished to proceed. If the magistrate would
decide it he would be perfectly content, but if it
were to be sent to the sessions as a criminal
charge, where Mr. and Mrs. Webb's mouths would
be shut, he would rather accede to the application
made on the other side, as their evidence could
then be heard on oath, and they would flatly deny
this- groundless and infamous charge.
Mr. Arnold did not think the application unrea-
, sonable. Complainant had come to the Court most
accessible, not being aware perhaps she could go to
any other ; had an attorney been consulted he
would perhaps have advised what was now asked.
He thought on both sides in so painful a case it was
better they should go to another Court where de,
fendant and his wife could be examined and cress-
examined. He (Mr. Arnold) would give no opinion
What course he should adopt if pressed to proceed
with the inquiry.
The case was then withdrawn by consent for
proceedings to be taken in a superior Court.
STR NORTON KNATCIIBULL'S CASE.—Johil
Kirby and Lewis Billaurd, who stand charged with
conspiring to obtain a situation for the former in
the establishment of Sir Norton Knatchbull by a
false certificate of character, were finally examined.
Mr. Charles Humphreys, on the part of the pro-
secution, called Mrs. Knowles, housekeeper to the
Duke of Somerset, to:prove that the defendants had
both been in his grace's service ; that Kirby had
been discharged, as stated by the duchess to her,
for drunkenness ' • and that Billaurd had never been
house-steward, but valet. As the witness could not
say of her own knowledge why:Kirby had been
discharged—
Mr. Humphreys put in a letter, addressed to the
duchess by Kirby, admitting the fact, and express-
ing his deep regret. He (Mr. Humphreys) further
stated, that if necessary he could show, by a letter
of Billaurd's to her grace, that he had not the hiring
or discharging of servants.
The defendants being asked whether they wished
to say anything,
Kirby replied, " Nothing."
Billaurd—l am not guilty of the offence.
L Mr. Arnold committed them to take their trial at
; the Central Criminal Court upon bail, which Bil-
laurd put in.

ERO.II THE GAZETTE OF LAST EVENING.

Under cross examination by Mr. Aspinall, who
appeared for the prisoner, Mr, Gunn stated that
from the 22d Dec., 1860, to the 25th of Jan., 1861,
he saw no marks of violence on the body of the
deceased. He further stated that the entry of the
man's death was made on the day he died, andthat
the cause of death assigned was debility."
There was a great discrepancy between the wit-
nesses' statements as to the date of Henderson's
death. The sailors said it was shortly after or
about Christmas-day; whereas Mr. Gunn said. it
was on the 25th January.
The Judge inquired whether the violence to
which the deceased had been subjected would re-
duce the chance of recovery from fever ?
Mr. Gunn thought it would.
The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter
against the accused. The sentence will be pro-
nounced to-morrow (Saturday).

POLICE IN7'ELLIGENCE.—Dec. 13.

WESTMINSTER.—EXTRAORDINARY CIIAItGE
AGAINST A SURGEON.—A few days ago Mr.
Edward Lowe Webb, surgeon, 9, St. George's-
road, Pimlico, was summoned for an assault
upou Eiizi Hancock, his servant, a pretty and
rather diminutive girl of 18. Complainant said
that on the 2d of December sho was or-
dered by Mrs. Webb to perform a particular
menial service, when she said she could not, upon
which her mistress told her she should leave the
house immediately. Complainant then waited for
defendant to come in for her wages, when he offered
her a sovereign, which She refused to take, as it was
not enough, and he ordered her out, but,she refused
to leave until she was paid. He then shook her and
threw her from one end of the surgery to the other.
Complainant's sister, who was also in his service,
then came into the room to see what was the mat-

ter, when he pushed her out. Mrs. Webb was at
the time in the surgery, and defendant having
locked the doors and given her the keys, again
shook complainant and struck her ou the head and
the mouth, which made it bleed, and it was still
continuing to bleed when she came to this court for
redress. Complainant then screamed, when he put
his hand over her mouth. He then threw her on the
ground, and removing her clothes smacked her, and
Mrs. Webb held her feet that she should not kick
him. Then he rolled her from one end of the room
to the other like a piece of carpet. The doors were
then unlocked, and defendant and his wife left her.
ComplAnant's bonnet and dre,:s were torn to pieces.
In cross-examination by Mr.Wontner, complain-
ant declared that defendant did not pay her her
wages. She had received a sovereign in June last,
and that was all.

OFFICERS FOR THE ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE

NOTICE TO MASTERS AND MATES IN THE MER-
CHANT SERVICE.

The following regulations have been established in pur-
suance of the Act 21 and 25 Vict., cap. 129, relating to the
enrolment of officers in the Royal Naval Reserve :

Any master or mate of the merchant service who is de-
sirous of becoming an officer of the Royal Naval Reserve,
should apply by letter to the Registrar-General of Seamen,
No. 6, Adelaide-place, London-bridge, E.C., for a form on
which his application for a commission in the Royal Naval
Reserve is to be made, and should state distinctly in such
letter, his name and the address to which the form is to be
sent. A form of application will thet be sent to the address
indicated, with full instructions as to the mode in which it

is to be filled up.
A pattern of the uniform may be seen at the office of the
Registrar-General of Seamen.

ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE.

By the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High
Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, &c.
Whereas by the Act 24 and 25 Vict., cap. 129, provision
is made to enable her Majesty to avail herself of the ser-
vices of a certain number of officers of the merchant service
of the United Kingdom, and of the colonies and dependen-
cie; of Gnat Britain, as officers of reserve to the Royal
Navy; and whereas her Majesty has been pleased, by her
order in Council of the 20th inst., to direct that the follow-
ing regulations be established for carrying into effect the
provisionq of the said act; we hereby desire and direct that
the regulations in fiuestion be promulgated for the informa-
tion and guidance of officers of the merchant service, who,
tin conformity with her Majesty's gracious intentions, are
desirous of enrolling themselves as officers of the Royal
Naval Reserve, under the conditions specified.

A book was handed to her, and she was asked
whether that was her signature, and she at first
replied it was, but on looking at it more attentively
positively swore that it was riot, and that the only
receipt she had given was in a different kind of
book. She (lid not insult Mrs. Webb, or call her
bad names, nor the little girl her daughter, and
threaten to throw a book at her. Mrs. Webb said
to her husband, " You have not half given it to her ;
get a stick and give it her ;" and Mrs. Webb looked
in the surgery cupboard for a stick, but could not
find it.
In answer to the magistrate, complainant said
that her sister Ellen (not in service) was in the
house when she was ill-treated. Complainant did
not shake her fist at Mrs. Webb,
.and call her a
vile woman ; did not tell the little girl she would
serve her mamma out.
Ellen Hancock said she went to the surgery and
saw defendant pushing complainant about, and give
her a blow on the mouth, after which defendant
turned witness out of the surgery.
By Mr. Wontner—Witness went to the house
by her mother's directions, who said Mrs. Webb
had sent there. Believed defendant had been to
her mother's. Went to the surgery because she
heard her sister scream.
By the Magistrate—On entering the surgery saw
her sister crying, and defendant strike her. The
door was fastened after witness was put out, and
then sho heard more screams, and went for the
police. After she was put out at one door she tried
the other, but could not get in.
Elizabeth Hancock, servant at defendant's, said
she heard her sister scream, and on going to the
surgery door found it locked. She asked to be let
in, but was not. Went into the street and rang the
surgery bell, when defendant let her in. The room
was in great confusion, the chairs and table lying
on the ground. Defendant struck complainant a
blow on the head with his open hand. Saw her
sister's mouth bleeding.
The defendant then made his own statement. lie
said that on complainant refusing to do what she
was desired, Mrs. Webb told her she must leave,
and then sent for her mother. Complainant then
went about the house laughing, and saying, " Send
for my mother, indeed." Defendant desired her to
be quiet, but she would not. A message then came
from her mother, stating that she could not come,
but would send her other daughter. Defendant
then paid complainant 198.11 d., and as he had paid
her a sovereign before, he got her to sign the re-
ceipt, which had been produced, for £1 19s. 11d.
As complainant was still misconducting herself, he
went to her mother, and she said she would send
her daughter Ellen. Defendant next went to the
police-station, and returning home found his poor
wife, who is in a delicate state of health, in great
trepidation. She complained that the girl had
shaken her fist in her face. He then told
the complainant to go, but she refused un-
less he or Mrs. Webb went witb her to see her
take her clothes. On the stairs complainant
met his daughter, and threatened to throw a book
at her head. Complainant then returned to the sur-
gery, when he told her she had better leave the
house quietly, as he had discharged and paid her.
Complainant then abused Mrs. Webb, and said she
would send for a policeman. Defendant desired her
to go for one, but she would not, and stood yelling
and crying loud enough to disturb all the neigh-
bourhood. A ring came at the surgery bell, and
he opened the door; he had done so before, to beg
her to go. Two policemen came to the door, and
they advised complainant to go. Defendant did
not strike complainant, but put his hand over her
mouth to prevent the noise she was making.
Catherine Elizabeth Webb, ten years of age, was
examined for the defence. She said that as she was
coming down stairs, between twelve and one on the
day in question, complainant threatened to throw
the book at her head, and told her sister that wit-
ness was quite as bad as her mamma. Before that
complainant shook her fist at Mrs. Webb, and called
her a vile woman and a wicked wretch.
Upon this evidence Mr. Arnold expressed his
opinion that if the charge were true it was so mon-
strous that it was hardly credible, and in one part
inexplicable, and adjourned it until yesterday.
Mr. Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, now
appeared for the complainant, and asked permission
to withdraw it from this :court. The complainant
had sustained serious injury, and abscess being
likely to form in her mouth from the effects of the
blows. It was a case in which she was entitled to
compensation for the loss she would sustain as well
a~ der the injury §hc had loci*, and her friends