The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-02 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY_ EVENING, FEBRUARY 1,1857.

SPRING CIRCUITS OF THE JUDGES. MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS, LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Jan. gl.
IN ENGLAND.

--.. • - -
Saturday being the last day of term, the judges, in
—4-- COURT OF EQUITY.
p esnanCe of the Queen's warrant, issued and signed tee , The quarterly return of the marriages, births, and (Before Vice-Chancellor Kiedersley.)
RACE V. RACE.
-pUrei.ceptsi for holding the general Assize of Oyer and Ter- deaths registered in England has just been published, by
authority of the Registrar-General. The marriage re- Upon this petition, the object of which is to withdraw
miner and general gaol delivery for the several counties
land and Wales. The following are the arrange-
tarn includes the months of July, August, and Septem-
in Eng
her ; that of births and deaths, the months of October the guardianship of the girl Alicia Race from her mother,
' being called on,
ments, with the exception of the Home Circuit, the death November, and December, 1856.
of Mr. Baron Alderson having created a difficulty, Mr. This return comprises the births and deaths registered Mr. Dagshaw said that it was thought desirable by
jeTustice Coleridge, who was to have gone on that circuit, by 2,196 registrars in all the districts of England during those who represented Mrs. Race, the parent and natu-
,
the autumn quarter that ended on Dee. 31, 1856 ; and
renaaining town until the new judge is appointed,
in
Cal guardian of the infant, that an opportunity should be
the marriages in 12,208 churches, or chapels, about ,
The arrangements, however, stand thus : 3,811 registered places of worship unconnected with the ,
MIDLAND CIRCUIT. Established Church, and 623 superintendent registrars' given to cross examine certain persons who had made
affidavits in this case. He therefore asked that the mat-
Judges—Lord Campbell and Mr. Justice Wightman. offices, in the quarter that ended on Sept. 30, 1856. ter might stand over, to give an opportunity for this
Northampton Mon., Mar. 2 1 Nottingham and Town, Sa- The returns of births and deaths for the four quarters cross-examination taking place.
Leicester and Borough, I turday, March 14 of the last year imply that in the country, as well as in the Mr. Ellis, on the ether side, resisted delay, and said
Thursday, March 5 Derby, Wednesday, March metrop. he, the hearth of the population of England and I that the court would, when an infant was concerned, at
Oakham, Monday, March 9 13 Wales was better than it was in any of the previous ten
I
Lincoln and City, Tuesday, Warwick, Saturday, March years. The effects of sanitary measures are becoming ap- once proceed with the consideration of a motion. He
I
March 10 2l parent, although they are only partially carried out should withdraw the affidavits to which reference had
NORFOLK CIRCUIT. within limited areas. Out of a thousand persons living I been made.
Judges —The Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer and the the fall of the annual deaths from the average of twenty- The Vice-Chancellor said that so doing was an admis-
Hon. Mr. Justice Erle. three in the ten years 1846 to 1355, and from less than sion that they were immaterial. He doubted whether
the court would permit evidence to be withdrawn in the
Aylesbury, Monday, Mar. 9 Bury St. Edmunds, Wed- twenty-three in the year 1855 to less than twenty-one in
Bedford,Saturday,Marchl4 nesday, March 25
1856, is decisive. The births in 1856 exceed the average case of an infant. However, he thought it woo d be
Huntingdon, Wednesday, Norwich and City, Tuesday, better that he should at once proceed to hear the case,
March 13 I March 31 proportion. The Christmas quarter of the year shows a
decrease of deaths and an increase of births. The mar- and if he found that the interest of either party required
Cambridge, Friday, Mar. 20 I it he should direct further evidence to be taken.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT. riages exhibit a considerable increase in the summer
Mr. Ellis then proceeded to state the facts of the case,
quarter of 1856 on the returns of the summer of 1855.
Judges—Mr. Baron Martin and Mr. Justice Crompton. which are already well known. It will be sufficient to
MARRIAGES.
Lancaster, Wed., Feb. 18 I Durham, Wednes., March 4 78,304 persons married in the quarter that ended on state here that the plaintiff is the child of Leeman Race,
Appleby, Friday, Feb. 20 I York and City, Monday, a serieant in the Marines, and of Alicia his wife, who
Carlisle, Monday, Feb 23 I March 9 September 30th, 1856 ; and this number exceeds by
was described in her marriage certificate as Alicia Riley,
4,002 the number
_5. The marriages rose
to 39,152. An increase in the marriages is observable after making certain bequests, appointed hie wife sole
OXFORD CIRCUIT.
Mr. Justice Crowder executrix thereof, feeling confident that she would do
he every division. There is an increase in Kent • and a
Judges— The Hon. usce and Mr. Justice
Willes. larger increase of marriages in Hampshire, which' is hstice to his children as a wife and a mother. Immo,
J
diately before his death, which occurred at the battle of
partly due to the return of seamen from the war • for
Reading, Monday, March 2 I Shrewsbury, Mon., Mar. 23
the marriages in the Ports Island district, including Petropaulovski on the 4th September, 1854, Race
Oxford, Thursday, March 5 I Hereford, Thursday, Mar. 26 wrote a farewell letter to his wife, commending their
Worcester and City, Mon- I Monmouth, Sat., March 28 Portsmouth, were 156, 211, and 335, in the correspond-
day, March 9 Gloucester and City, Wed- ing summer quarters of 1354-56. In Devonshire the children to her care. After the death of Race, and in
the year 1855, Mrs. Race, the widow, made some in-
increaseStafford, Friday, March 13 nesday, April 1 of marriages is also considerable ;in Plymouth
quiries with a view to obtain assistance from the Royal
WESTERN CIRCUIT. and the adjoining districts of East Stonehouse and Stoke
, the marriages in the same three quarters were Patriotic Fund for herself and her children, of whom
Damerel
Judges—Sir Alex. Cockburn and Mr. Justice Williams. there were two, a boy and the plaintiff. Prior to, and
315, 330,
and 514. In Norfolk the chief increase was in
Winchester, Mon., March 2 I Exeter& City, Mon., Mar.l6
Salisbury, Saturday, Mar. 7 I Boclrnin, Monday, March 23 Norwich. I
In Lancashire and Yorkshire the marriages about that time, Mrs. Race was residing with her bus-
- band's mother, together with her children and she re-
orchester,Thur., March 12 I Tuesday, Saturday, Mar. 28 increased but little. In Sussex, Wilts, Dorset, Glouces
mained with their grandmother until the
NORTH WALES AND CHESTER. her,Salop, Rutland, Derby, Cheshire, and Northumber•
D children were
placed at school, the boy at Chardstock, in Dorsetsbire,
land, the number of marriages was less in the summer
Judge—The Hon. Mr. Baron Bramwell.
quarter of 1856 than in the same quarter of 1355 and the girl at the Sailors' Orphan Girls' School and
I
Welshpool, Toes., March 10 Ruthin, Saturday, March 21 es -
ehe rate of marriage was 814 to 100,000 living'in the Home, at Hampstead. During their residence with their
Bala, Friday, March 13 Mold, Wednesday, March 25
summer quarter of 1856 ; the average rate of the ten ghhhandmother the children were brought up, as the plain-
Carnarvon, Monday, Mar.l6 I Chester and City, Saturday, tin s supporters allege, in Protestant principles. On the
Beaurnaris, Thur., March 19 I March 28 quarters preceding was 305. girl being placed at the school at Hampstead, the mother
The Judge on the South Wales Circuit will meet M went r. BIRTHS. to reside at that place. This occurred on the 2d
Baron Bramwell at Chester. The births of 157,615 children were registered in the
August, 1855, and from that time until October, 1856,
' last quarter of the year 1856, and this implies that the
Mrs. Race did not express any dissatisfaction at the course
rate of birth was 3.267 per cent. per annum, against the
which had been pursued with reference to the girl Alicia.
corresponding average rate for the quarter of 3.145, dt-
On the 23d October, 1856, Mrs. Race wrote to Captain
doted from the births of the ten autumn quarters 1846
Fishbourne, stating that she desired to have the boy
55. The births exceed by 8,762 the births in the last
out of the school at Chard tock, and that she also wished
quarter of the preceding year, and the increase pervaded
to have the girl from the Sailors' Orphan School. Se-
the whole of the eleven divisions. Tee increase of births
viral other applications were made, and these being
in some districts is ascribed to the return of men from
resisted by the persons having the custody of the person
the war. Westmoreland is the only county in which
of thegirl, Mrs. Race was driven to take proceedings in
there is a decrease of births.
the Court of Queen's
The births on the registers of the year 1856 amount to readers already
Bench,
know, the result of which was,
as on rea
that the mother was de-
-657,704; a number exceeding by 22,581 the number diae
dr n
teled to the custody
of births in 1855. It is the greatest number of births therefore
now
in
herh
of her own child. The girl
gnds. The only additional
ever registered in any year in England. The birth-rate
fact of moment in the case was the circumstance that
of the year was 3'454, while the average of the ten pre-
the father was a Protestant, and the mother a Catholic.
ceding years was 3.339. The learned counsel then read at great length the eva
INCREASE OF POPULATION. dente which had already been before the Court or Queen's
As 157,615 births and 96,521 deaths were registered Bench. This evidence went to show that the child,
in the last quarter of 1856, the ascertained natural in- Alicia Race, had written a letter to her governess,
crease of the population in three months was 61,094. at Hampstead, expressing her desire to be a Protestant,
In the same period 39,063 emigrants sailed from the and that on having a long written statement read over
ports of the United Kingdom ; of whom it was aster- to her by the Rev. Mr. Bickerateth, in the presence of
tained that 16,062 were of English origin ; and allowing 10 or 12 ladies connected with the Sailors' Orphan
for a proportion of 4,721 persons of unascertained origin School, asking her what she desired to do, she replied
the English emigrants may be set down at 19,211, tee that she desired to remain at that establishment.
Scotch at 2,406, the Irish at 15,467, foreigners at 3,204. The Vice-Chancellor asked if all this was material. As
It is novel to see that the English emigrants exceed the he understood the matter, the question for him at that
Irish in number, and tha tfor 5,897 sailing to the United moment to decide was, whether or not it was necessary
States, a force of 13,198 embarked fur the Australian at that time to take some immediate steps in relation to
colonies. the custody of the child. All these facts might or might
As 657,704 births and 391,369 deaths were registered
not be important to the final decision of the case. It
in the year 1856, the natural increase of population in
was, however, not the final case which was under consi-
England was 266,335. The number of immigrants into d
England during the year is unknown ; the emigrants of oration.
English origin amounted to upwards of 70,285. Mr. Ellis submitted that it was important to bring
The natural increase of population in the United these facts to the knowledge of the court, even with a
view to thedecision of the primary question as to whether
Kingdom was probably at the rate of 1,000 a day. or not az immediate step should be taken.
The pressure and the temperature of the atmosphere The Vice-Chancellor said that inasmuch as this was
were remarkably variable. October and December were the last day of term, and some days would elapse before
warm ; November cold. 3 9 inches of rain fell at Green- the Court would sit again, he would suggest that some
wich, and this was 3.7 inches less than the average quan - arrangement should be made, so that matters might re-
tity. main in statu quo until the further hearing of the petition.
If it were necessary he would sit again on Monday, and
so from day to day until the matter was disposed of ; it
would, however, be very inconvenient for him to do so,
for he had made arrangements expecting that the sittings
would be suspended in the usual manner. It appeared,
however, to his Honour that the case was one in which
an undertaking might be given which would meet the
wishes of all parties.
A long discussion then took place between the counsel
engaged on both sides, when the following terms were
agreed upon :
" Continue the former undertaking (i.e , that the child
remain within the jurisdiction of the Court.) The Vice-
Chancellor to see the child. If the child wishes to go to
the Roman Catholic church in the interval between this
and Monday week, she is at liberty to do so ; if she
wishes not to go, the Vice-Chancellor will make an order
prohibiting her from being taken to any Roman Catholic
place of worship until Monday week. In the meanwhile
the child is to be left to say such prayers as she may
thick fit ; the mother undertaking in the meanwhile not
herself to communicate, or to allow any one else to com-
municate verbally or writing or otherwise, with the child
on the subject of religion, nor to suggest to the child to
say any particular prayers or prayer. This order to be
without prejudice."
Upon this arrangement being come to,it was intimated
to his Honour that the child and her mother were in his
private room. The Vice-Chancellor thereupon left the
Court.
On his return, the Vice-Chancellor said—Having had
the opportunity of seeing the child, I took care to let her
understand that the only question now under considera-
tion was, what were her personal wishes as to whether
she should or should not go to a Roman Cathelic place , f
, °reship to-morrow and to-morrow week (being Sunday
and the Sunday following). I need not say that I en-
tirely abstained from entering upon any other matter.
The child is a very shy child, but apparently perfectly
competent to understand the question put to her. In
reply, she informed me that she wished to go to Christ
Church, at Hampstead. I collect that that was the
church to which she was accustomed to go when at tee
Sailors' Orphan School. I told her that was not the
question ; but that it was for her to decide whether she
wished to go on Sunday and Sunday next to a catholic
church. She replied that she did not wish. Under these
circumstances, and understanding that it would be more
in accordance with the wishes of the mother that I
should make an order as to going to church, than leave
the matter upon an undertaking, there will be an injunc-
tion or prohibition, restraining any person from taking
the child to any Roman catholic place of worship upoe
Sunday or Sunday next. The mother, whom I have
seen also, is suffering from considerable anxiety and di--
tress of mind lest her child should be taken from her ;
and the child itself expresses its wish that it should not
be taken from the mother. I have stated that for the
present there is no intention to part them. The re
mainder of the order will rest upon the terms of the
undertaking.

PARLIAMEN TAR,Y BUSINESS.

NOTICES OF MOTIONS WHICH STAND IN TELE ORDER
ZOOK OT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR THE SESSION
WHICH OPENS TO-MORROW (TUESDAY).
Mr. Bell—East India (Public Works)—Detailed re-
turn of all public works, civil and military, which have
been commenced or completed in India during the three
years from the 30th of April, 1853, to the 30th of April,
1356, or which are now in progress.
Mr. Bramley-Moore—To call attention to the slave
trade, and our relations with Brazil.
Sir William Clay—Church Rates Abolition—Bill for
the abolition of Church rates ; the bill to be limited to
total abolition of such rates, and a provision saving
existing legal obligations.
Mr. Cranford—Judgments Execution, &c.—Bill to
enable execution to issue in any part of the United
Kingdom under judgments or decreets obtained in cer-
tain courts of record in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Viscount Ehrington—Army—To move the following
resolutions :—That the long-continued excessive mor-
tality of the British army has been mainly caused by the
bad sanitary condition of their barrack accommodation.
That this house has viewed with satisfaction the efforts
of successive Governments, aided by Parliamentary
grants, to improve the moral, intellectual, and physical
condition of the British soldier, and is encouraged by
the happy results of such efforts and grants to hope
much from a continuance and further extension of the
same.. That much still remains to be done with regard
to barrack accommodation—firstly, for its increase,
with a view to the discontinuance of the present practice
of billeting, as being alike oppressive to the civilian
and demoralising to the, soldier ; and secondly, for its
improvement, both as regards the healthyaccommodatton
of the troops in general, and the decent accommodation
of the married soldiers. That in the opinion of this
house such increase and improvement are imperatively
called for, not less by good policy and true economy
than by justice and humanity.
Mr. Ingram—lnland Revenue—Select committee to
inquire into the present method of collecting the inland
revenue of the country, and to report any improvement
they may recommend in this department of the public
service.

The price of the quarter of wheat was 635. 4d. oa an
average of 13 weeks ; so the price of wheat has fallen
16s. or 20 per cent. since the autumn of 1855, when the
price was 795. 4d. The quantity of wheat and of wheat
flour entered for home consumption was equivalent in
the three autumns of 1854-5 6 to 19,413, 42,358, and
103,328 quarters of wheat weekly. The price of meat by
the carcase in the London markets decreased during the
three autumns of 1854-5-6 ; beef was 5d., 5d., and
sid. per lb. ; mutton, 6d., 51d., and 50. ; so that there
has been a sensible reduction in the price of beet, but
this has borne chiefly on the lower qualities of meat.
The highest prices remained at Sid. per lb. in the three
autumns. Potatoes (York Regents) were 10Gs. a ton
at the water-side market, Southwark, or rather more
than a halfpenny a pound ; or 221bs. for a shilling. The
price of this important esculent was the same in 1354,
but it was 5 per cent. less is the autumn of 1855.
STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
The deaths of 96,521 persons were registered in the
last quarter of the year 1856 ; and the rate of mortality
in the three months was 20 per 1,000 per annum. In
the districts comprising the chief towns in which•nearly
half the population is living, the people died at the rate
of 24, while in the remaining districts, comprising small
towns and country parishes, the death rate was 17 in
1,000. This shows in a strong light how much routn
there is for improvement in our large towns ; for it is
well known that many fatal agents which may be arrested
are at work in the small towns and country parishes.
391,809 persons died in England and Wales during the
year 1856. About 324,000 died by diseases and accidents,
which are at present almost inevitable. And 67,000 per-
sons perished by causes which, if they are skilfully at-
tacked, may, it is believed, be either mitigated or re-
moved. Let us pause to consider for a moment what
these five figures mean. Each unit represents a life lost.
Many had lived to the ordinary limits of age ; but thou
sands in the throng were children, eons, dau_hters,
slaters, brothers, wives, husbands, lathers, mothers, who
had not lived out half their days. These lives have
been lost ; but happily forty--even thousand men, wo-
men, and children of the same classes are now living
who would have been dead had the same rate of mor-
tality prevailed in the year 1856 as prevailed in the te❑
years 1846.55 ; and the loss of lives is 24,873 less than
it was in the previous year. A certain number of these
lives have been saved by sanitary measures.

Mr. Kennedy—East India (Public Works)—Select I
committee to inquire into the subject of public works in
India generally, and particularly into the progress made
in opening railways for traffic in that country, to the
financial effects of delay in executing the same, and to
certain recommendations of the late Governor-General
in Council of India, and of the Government of Bombay,
in relation thereto.
Mr. Kennedy—Public Business—Select committee to
inquire into the means by which the time of the Im-
perial Parliament could be best economised, and the
interests of the integral parts of these kingdoms may be
best secured, Icc.
Mr. Locke Ling—Administration of justice—Select
committee to inquire into the administration of justice in
the superior courts of equity and common law.
Colonel Lindsay—Army Colonels—That an humble
address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she
will be graciously pleased to take into consideration the
injury inflicted on those lieutenant-colonels of the army
who attained that rank before the 20th day of June,
1854, and who have been superseded by the retro-
spective action of the warrant of the 6th day of October,

1854.
Colonel Lindsay—To bring under the consideration
of the house the- effect of the warrant of the 6th day of
October, 1854, upon the position of that meritorious class
of officers, the captains of the line, t rrdnance corps, and
marines, as far as relates to their promotion to the rank
of brevet-major, and the disadvantage they will hereafter
be subjected to in comparison with the system previously
in force.

Colonel Lindsay—Address for copy of any memoran
dum or minute, in which the respective functions and
responsibilities of the Secretary for War and Comman-
der-in-Chief of the Army are defined.
Mr. Maeartney—Civil Service Superannuatione—Bill
to alter and amend the provisions of the Act 4 and 5
Will. IV. c. 24, for the purpose of abolishing the pre-
sent system of deductions from salaries, establishing a
more equitable scale of retiring pensions ; and according
the right to be on the public service after a certain num- TEE DOUBLE MURDER IN WA LWORTH
ber of years in office.
Mr. M`Mahon—Fisheries (ireland)—Bills to assimi- On Satunlay the whole of the papers containing the
late the law as to the sea coast and inland fisheries of particulars, as far as they have reached Mr. Elliott, re-
Ireland to that of England. lating to the death of Mrs. Bacon, were forwarded to
Mr. M‘Mahon—Assizes—Select committee to con- Sir G. Grey, the Secretary of State fur the Home De-
eider the expediency of reviving the 'ancient law as to pertinent, for his consideration. This course was cell
holding assizes for civil as well as criminal business three sidered necessary in consequence of the extraordinary
times a-year at the least, and more frequently if neces- apathy shown on the part of the authorities at Stamford,
wary ; and as to trying actions in the coucties where and the magistracy in Rutlandeleire, in which county
they arose, the body is buried, in neglecting to have the remains
Mr. Muntz—Queen Anne's Bounty—Select commit- exhumed and subjected to the necessary investigation
tee to examine into the constitution and management of by a coroner's jury. This apathy is the more extraor-
Queen Anne's Bounty, with a view to report to the dinary when tne strong grounds for requiring such a
house some recommendation for the more effectual man- course is considered, and the desire expressed by Mr.
agement of the same. Elliott for such a proceeding is taken into account. It is
Mr. Muntz—Taxation--To move the following reso- now proved beyond a doubt that Bacon, the prisoner in
lutions :—That the collection of a property tax under custody under such peculiar circumstances, had, on the
the existing law is universally admitted to bear most Bth of May, 1855, purchased half an ounce of arsenic at
unequally upon the parties who pay it. That all taxes the shop of Mr. Paterson, a druggist, at Stamford, and
which bear unequally muet be unjust and oppressive, that he had invited his mother to dine with him on tee
ar.d it is the beunden duty of the representatives of the Sunday following is equally certain. It is also beyond
people to remedy such inequality as much as the circum- a doubt that the old woman was seized with illness after
stances will admit. That to defer the application of a dinner, and that her sickness bore all the symptoms of
practical remedy, under the pretence that it would not that generally produced by arsenic. Yet after her death,
be a perfect one applicable to every individual case, is in which took place two days afterwards, the medical man
truth enly to add insult :o injustice. That such admitted in attendance on her gave it as his opinion that death
inequality would be greatly alleviated if a property tax had been produced by "cerebral disease." This was
was imposed upon the owners of different classes of in- taken for granted, and much of the difficulty that has
come, cacitalised.accordirg to the relative value of the taken place to the exhumation of the body has, it is be.
subject horn which the income is derived. That the lieved, arisen from the fear that the examination of the
abstract justice of such principle cannot be denied, and body itself will present a different state of things, and
the details for carrying it into practical operation would disclose a carelessness on the part of the inagietracy and
be very simple. That among other tables of classifica- the police in permitting at the time such a case to pass
tion which may be suggested the following would be without a close and searching investigation. It was ge.
equitable, and would undoubtedly relieve the people nerally believed that Saturday's post would convey to
from a great portion of the inequality, injustice, and op• the proper authorities the order of Sir G. Grey for the
pression inEieted upon them by the present mode : disinterment of the body, as well as directions that an
Incomes arisieg from land, funds, rents, mortgages, inquest might be held on it, and a searching investiga-
tithes, sharer, eapitalied at 25 years' purchase ; from tion take place. Adverting to coroner's inquests, no-
house property, capitalised at 15 years' purchase ; from thing can appear much more farcical than the inquest
commerce and trade, capitalised at 10 years' purchase; ; that has been held on the unfortunate children in this
and from profeesions, capitalised at 5 years' purchase. instance. Iu fact it was much worse, it was mischievous,
Colonel North—Address to the Queen for an allow. and as nearly as possible defeating the ends of justice.
mace to the Lieutenant Governor of Portsmouth for In the first place the coroner's officer took it on himself,
table money, the vele, morning after the murder of the poor children
Mr. Oliveira—Foreign wines—Select committee to was discovered, to have their bodies removed from the
inquire into the practicability of reducing the duty upon position in which they were found, and washed, and he
foreign wines, the committee of 1852 upon this subject I had also all the stains of blood in the place removed, and
having made no report,thus destroyed many important parts in the evidence
Sir J. Pakington—Address to her Majesty, praying which a close inspection, after the suspicion against the
that she will be graciously pleased to give directions time I wretched father had been excited, might have supplied.
an annual salary of 6001. be paid to the Bishop of New The inquest itself was a most hurried affair. The coroner
Z !eland, together with the arrears since inch salary was bound over the witnesses to appear at the Old Bailey
diecoutinued, end to assure her Majesty that this house I on the morning of the day appointed, for the further ex-
will make good the same.
• i aminetion of Mrs. Bacon, to give evidence on an in-
Mr. J. G. Phillinicre--To call the attention of the quisition in which verdicts of wilful murder in both
house to the a,druinietration of justice in the Compane's cases against the unfortunate woman was returned.
courts in Had there been no other power to interfere in the
—To call the attention of the house to
Major Reed matter, the consequences would have been that the
certain declarations signed by 3 number of acting assist- unhappy woman would nave been tried, acquitted on
ant-surgeons in the army, with reference totneirhaving the ground of insanity, consigned to Bethlehem as a
a gratuity of only two menths' pay on their services criminal prisoner, and her husband allowed to roam about
being dispensed with. in perfect security. L. the whole of the evidence that
-
Captain Scohell—Greenwich Hospital—To call thei has been given there is nothing that strikes one with
attention of the house to the disadvantageous position of deeper suspicion against the male prisoner than the fact
the captains, commanders, lieutenants, and masters of that not a single cry wa., heard from either of the poor
Royal Hospital, Greenwich. children after Sunday, 28th December, and Bacon did
Mr. Tite—Bank Charter Act—Select committee to not leave home until the Monday morning, at 7 o'clock.
inquire into the operation and effects on the commercial The neighbours on both sides were in the constant habit
andfinancial interests of the country of the Act 7 and of hearing both children cry, and considered them ex-
S Tic., c. 32, lendwn as the Bank Charter Act, with ceedingly cross children, yet not a single cry was to be
especial reference to the BeParßtion of the departments heard the whole of Monday or the Tuesday ; and the
of banking and is-ue of the Bank of England, and to the impression of nine persons out of ten who heard the wit-
limitation imposed on the circulation of notes payable on nesses was that the appalling murder took place on the
. demand of the private and joint stock banks of England, Monday morning, and that before Bacon left home. The
Scotland, and Ireland. Solicitor to the Treasury has been spoken to on the sub-
Mr. Tite—Criminal lunatics, etc.—Committee to in- jest of the prosecution in the case, and it is believed that
quire into the administration of the laws relating, to he will at once take it up and conduct it up 'from the
criminal and other lueatice. present point.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

(Sittings in Banco, before Chief Baron Pollock and
Barons Martin and Watson.)
RANDALL V. LUCK.-ALLEGED SEDUCTION.
This action was tried a few days ago before Mr. Baron
Bramwell, to recover damages for seduction, and on that
occasion his lordship nonsuited the plaintiff. The plain-
tiff was a licensed victualler, and the defendant had
lodged at his house, and had frequently been waited
upon by the girl in quertion, who was only about 19
years of age.
Mr. Sergeant Parry now moved for a new trial, on
the ground that his lordship had acted wrongly in non
suiting the plaintiff, when there was plenty of evidence
to go to the jury.
Rule granted.
ROSS V. MONTEFIORA.-71111 LATE CHARGE OF ALLEGED

ended to leave England As soon as he eonld obtain his

the ship's stores to A great extent, a reformation was be-
lieved to have hten eff-'eted, aini ?Brno s gia l, rpc, i ~,
him to a 5 I 1,1-W hone. AU went w.I un'i ''e IS li. w ,
,1, i ;
by toto lAA ,1 Arttr a...0h-stole, he tmt-r...1 ~i, bed r..4,ai ol ;I,
the night, stele his purse containing the notes named,
together with gold and silver front his trousers pocket.,
broke open a writing-desk, ransacked a bureau for valu•
ables he could not however find, and left the house by
the area door. The prisoner, after the robbery, returned
in the dead of the night, and broke into the house, crelt
into his bedroom, and having vainly sought there and in _
a lodger's apartment for money, lef by the same mean.L
Mr. Hatnnaill observed that it would indeed tax toe shtn &oini, 98 7. .
4P. et.
ingenuity of any reformatory to reclaim such a child. B,irny '
iningham .%00
I:
G
He wou d therefore send him for trial on the double Doevrebytr .
'0 6.. 155,
charge of robbery and burglary. Grandj:nc.tn 00 11. pr. ct.
Mr. Henry Linton, a very respectA G
ble looking inhabi• Do., 6 pr.o t. 10 6 pr6.2ict.
tent of Hoxton, was charged with assaulting Wm. Ar. ijeannd Union
nt tr, Ain. i '340 7s
63.
nold, a cab-driver, who stated that on Friday night he Lecas&L,v,i 00 151.
drove a lady from the west end to Hoxton, and in the Leicester ..• 10
1/ .0 5,
Kingsland-road met the defendant, who got in and rode Leicstr ,3c, ttss
0,
also. Upon arrival, he asked 4s. for his fare, but the Luoatucgehi
el As)nr :Igo)
,00t3
2,7. 10c
defendant, who said the lady was his wife, instead Of Neath •• ••
• 00 161
paying him, struck him on the neck and knocked him Oxford.... 100
down ; upon which the horse started off, and two rugs
were lost from 'he cab. -
Mr. Hammill ordered defendant to pay 20s. fine, half
of which, together with 103. 6J, costs, was handed over
to the complaining cabman.

iherty.
The rule was accordingly discharsed with costs.
(Sittings at Ni'l Prins, at We-tmin-ter —l;efore Mr.
Baron Bramwell and Common Juries.)
THE DIMON IRON ORE COMPANY V. NICHOLLS.—ACTION
FOR CALLS AND GOODS.
Mr O'Malley and Mr. Chitty appeared for the plain-
tiffs ; Mr. Mellor represented the defendant.
This was an action to recover 2341. 168. 91., for arrears
of calls and for goods supplied to the defendant, to which
be pleaded that he bad been induced to take the shares
by the fraad of the company, and also a set off.
It appeared that the defendant, who held a situation
in the office of the company, for which he received a sa-
lary of 2001. per annum, had purchased 350 11. shares
in the company, and had paid the deposit of ss. per share.
He had also paid a call of 2s. 6d. per share, since which
two additional calls of 2s. 6d. each had been made, which
he had not paid. He had also bought a quantity of bricks
from the plaintiffs, the value of which they now sought
to recover, together with the arrears of the calls.
Mr. Mellor said, on the conclusion of the plaintiffs'
case, that he did not think he could alter the facts, and
therefore he must consent to a verdict against him.
The verdict was accordingly entered for the plaintiffs.
CLAIDON 7. WOTTEN—A FAMILY SCILJAEBLE..
Mr. Collier and Mr. Beasley appeared for the plain-
tiff ; Mr. Sergeant Parry for the defendant.
The declaration in this case alleged that the defendant
had wrongfully taken away and converted to his own
use certain articles and money, the property of the plain-
tiff, as administratrix of the will of Mary Wotten. The
defendant pleaded that he did not take away the goods
and money, not guilty to the conversion of the goods,
and also that thegoods and money were not the property
of the plaintiff.
From the plaintiff's case it appeared that she was the
mother of Mary Wotten, the testatrix, who had been for
some years lady's maid to Lady Malcolm. She died in
April last, and left nearly the whole of her property to
her two unmarried sisters, and merely a bible to her bro-
ther, the defendant, a member of the Cheshire constabu-
lary, who immediately after her death seised everything
she possessed. Some portions of the property were, after
great difficulty, given to the plaintiff, who had adminis-
tered to the will, but the defendant still retained certain
articles worth 301., and 171. in cash, which he had taken
from the lodgings of the testatrix. The action was
brought to recover the articles and money so wrongfully
converted.
For the defendant it appeared that the deceased had
desired the defendant to see her wishes carried out as
expressed in her will, and that she had given him the
jewels which formed a portion of the articles which he
had taken away. She stated that she knew that he
would take care of them, but that if they got into the
hands of her mother they would be taken to the pawn-
broker's. He had taken possession of his sister's property
in order to fulfil the terms of her will, but he had kept
her property intact, with the exception of her jewels and
a few other articles of little value. Everything else had
been delivered up to the plaintiff for the use of his un-
married sisters. The 171. had paid the funeral ex
penses.
Mr. Baron Watson summed up, and said the plaintiff,
as administratrix, was entitled to have had the whole of
the personal property of the deceased placed in her
hands for distribution. The jury would say whether
they gave credence to the defendant as to the gift of the
jewels by the deceased. If they found for the plaintiff,
they must say what they considered to be the value of
the articles in question. The learned baron characte-
rised this as the most miserable case he had ever heard.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff ior 81. 10s.
on the money noun,, and 211. for the jewels.

Nan
Com]

SOUTHWARK.—Sixteen able-bodied paupers be
longing to Christchurch workhouse, eleven of whom were
considerably under 40 years of age, were charged with
refusing to perform th. work allotted to them, and set-
ting the authorities at defiance.
Mr. Blake, the clerk to the guardians, said that two
of the prisoners who had large families supported by the
parish cost 2001. a year. The men and their wives were
in the workhouse, and the children were at school at
Tooting, where each of them cost the parish 7s. weekly.
Those two men, with the other 14 now in the dock, re-
fused to perform their usual daily labour, in return for
such support. The commotion caused iu the workhouse
by their conduct was so alarming that the master was
compelled to call in the police.
The prisoners here said that the weather was so cold
and the food so scanty that it was impossible for them
to perform their work.
Mr. Blake said his worship could perceive that the
whole of the prisoners were hearty able-bodied men, and
quite able to do the work required of them. As for the
food it was wholesome, and a great deal more plentiful
than many of the ratepayers were able to get.
The magistrate said that they must each be committed
, to the House of Correction for 14 days, with hard labour.

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL.—Jan. 31

(Sittings at Westminster for the consideration of Crow❑
cases.—Betore the Chief Baron, Mr. Justice Cress
well, Mr. Justice Erie, and Barons Martin and Wa
son.)
THE QUEEN ♦. GORBETT.-

•" STEALING" AND " EMBEZ.

Name of Company

Berlin .. • • • • ........
East London
Do. 4 per Cent l'ref.
Do. 5 per Cent Pref.
Grand Junction .... • •
Do. New ••• • • •
Lambeth • • .. • • • • • • • •
New River Company ..
Southwark & Vauxhall
West Nilo dlesex . • • • • •
Do. Do, •.• • • •

LAMBETH.—Richard Mos,, a person well known
to the police, was placed at the bar for further exami❑a
tion, on a charge of having been concerned with his wile
in stealing property of the value of 12/,, belongi❑g to
Mr. Davis, a cornchandler, in Lambeth. Emma M9ss
was also charged before Mr. Elliott with being concerned
with her husband in toe abo,e robbery, and further with
stealing a gold watch, the prOpery of William Beaver.
The leinwe prisoner had been servant to The prosecutor
in the first case ; and on the Ist of October last, she, in
the absence of the family, carried away a large bundle,
containing 3 shawls, 16 yards of silk, and other property,
of the value of 121., and wa. j tined by her hu-band on
leaving the house. In the second case, she calted at the
house of Mr. Beaver, where she stopped but a short
time, and immediately after she had left a gold watch,
which was safe when she enter-d the house, was missed.
The prisoners were committed for trial.

Name of Company•

fiungerford . • ......
Southwark ..... ...
Ditto New of 7% p.c.
Waterloo . ....
Ditto Old Ann. of 81.
Ditto Nw ditto of 71.
Vauxhall .....• • • • • • •

WANDSVc ORTH.—A. tall elderly man, who was
described as a baker, and who gave the name of Jolin
Hampton, was charged with being concerned in working
a private still.
In consequence of large quantities of molasses having
been traced to a house in Church-row, Battersea, t.vo
excise officers proceeded to the premises, and, in a front
room, they discovered a large still in full operation, arid
running off strong it icit spit its. They also found ..buut
twelve gall ins of illicit spirits, wash, tubs, and all he
other utensils for carrying on an extensiva trade in illicit
distillation. The still was an extensive one, being about
sixty gallons, and the quantity of illicit spirits that could
be manufactured daily was about thirty gallons, tbereby
defratr ling the revenue of between Si. and 101. every day.
Mr. Dayman fined the prisoner 30/ , or three months'
imprisonment, with bard labour.

ZLING.-JUDGMENT.
In this case the prisoner had been indicted for steal-
ling, not embezzling, and at the trial, the chairrean of
the sessions before whom he was tried put several
questions to the jury, who found a general verdict of
Guilty against the prisoner. A c is*, however, had been
stated for the opinion of the court, and the question for
their consideration was, whether the prisoner had been
duly convicted or not.
The Chief Baron now said that the question which had
been raised for their consideration meant, in fact, for the
court to say whether the evidence set out was such as
would warrant the verdict of guilty. The court was of
opinion that there was abundant evidence of embezzle-
ment, but that there was not any evidence against the
prisoner of stealing. Therefore the verdict was not
warranted by the evidence, and the conviction must be

reversed.
Conviction reversed.
THE QUEEN V EHARPE.—REMOVINa A CORPSE FROM A
EURIAL GROUND.—JUDGMENT.
This was an indictment preferred against the defend-
ant, who was a surgeon, for exhuming and removing the
body of Louisa Sharpe, his mother, from a burial ground
belonging to the Dissenters, at Hitchin, in the county
of Hertford. It appeared that the defendant indueed
the wife of the man who kept the keys of the burial
ground to permit him to examine his family vault, in
order to ascertain whether it was sufficiently large to
contain the body of his father. He raised three coffins
which were placed at the top of the vault, and, having
removed his mother's; conveyed it away and buried it in
a churchyard with his father. The jury at the trial,
which took place before Mr, Justice Erle, found that
the defendant had, when he applied for the keys, in-
tended to remove the body, which was done merely out
of respect for his mother, and that he was actuated by
no ill-feelings towards any one, The learned judge re
served the point as to whether the conviction could be
supported. Mr. Sharpe, who appeared in person, and
argued the case last term, submitted that as the alleged
°fence was done without any bad motive it could not
be thought an unlawful act. His object in going to the
grave was to judge whether there was sufficient room to
inter his father there ; but finding there was not, he
had to a certain extent acted with reserve, and removed
the body of his mother, being desirous that his father
and mother should be interred in the same grave.
The Chief Baron said in this case the court felt fully
sensible of the estimable motives on which the defendant
had acted, but they thought that that would not avail
him against both the authority and principle upon which
the court was about to act. He apprehended that the
stealing the corpse was a misdemeanour, but the taking
a corpse for the purpose of anatomical science would not
fell within that category. Neither did the law record
ob d
property to th e
bco rap sceoropteeh,isapoadr efobte
p rote
fc.
distinguish-
able of conse
aritgch°tm to raL law
protection was
Tthbeerliagwhtroefo,a,gooy oisende
nu
crated ground. But there was no authority for saying
that there was anything to justify the taking of a corpse
r otimo n of the graveecclesiastical
from the grave where it bad been laid. The court had
been unwilling to coufirm the conviction in this case, on
account of the respect to the motives of the defendant,
out they had felt it their duty to Jo so, rather than lay
down a rule which might lessen the degree of protectain
which the law gave in in respect to graves. The con-
viction would therefore stand. The court, however, had
communicated ith the learned judge who had tried the
case, and he had stated that if the court fined the defen-
dant one shilling that would amply satisfy the justice of
toe case. The court, therefore, would act upon the sug
gestion, and would fine the defendant the nominal sum
of one shilling.—Conviction affirmed.

PREROGATIVE COURT.
(Before Sir J. Dodson.)
SIMSON ♦. CLAXTON AND ROSS.-JUDGMENT.

THE WEATEiEtt AND THE PARKS.

GAS-LIG]

Name of Company.

British Provincial ••
Brighton •• • •• •
City of London .•
Equitable •••••• •• •
European .... .•• • • •
4reat Centra1........
imperial .. • • .. •• .• •
Ditto 5ew........

Ditto Deent
Do Continental IstCap.
Do. Do. 2d Cap.
Do. Do. 3d Cap.
Do. Do. 4th Cap.
Independent
London Part Preferen.
. •• •• •• •• •• •,
Rateliff • • • •• •• •• ••
Surrey Consumers ....
United ,4eneral .. •
Westminster Chartered

Ditto, New .• • • • • • •
Western A •
Ditto B ••••• • • • .

Name of CoraPany

EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS
Although large printed bills were stuck up yesterday
in the various parka announcing that the ice was in a
very dangerous state, yet many thousand persons would
insist upon venturing upon it, and, as will be seen be-
low, a great many accidents took place.
During Saturday night the thermometer at the Royal
Humane Society's Receiving-house in Hyde-park fell as
low as 16 deg., indicating 16 degrees of frost. Yester-
day morning at 9 o'clock the glass registered 24 deg., at
noon it pointed at 28, and gradually rose till it reached
32. The barometer at 9 o'clock yesterday morning stood
at 29.97. The wind at nine in the morning was south-
west, but after that time it veered completely round each
point of the compass, accompanied by occasional dense
fogs. The sudden change in the weather during Saturday
night had the effect of rendering the different roads of the
metropolis, the various bridges, and suburban districts,
very slippery, so that travelling on foot or by vehicles was
extremely dangerous, and upwards of a dozen persons were
taken during the day to the hospitals who had slipped down
and thereby receired dislocations of legs or arms. At
Hyde-park-corner it was found absolutely necessary to
gravel the roadway to enable horses drawing omnibuses
or carriages to pass along. The following are the official
lists of the casualties in the different parks :
THE SERPENTINE, HYDE PARK.— Each bank along
this river was crowded with persons during the whole
day, and the carriage drives were well filled with vehi-
cles containing members of the nobility and gentry,
whilst the ice on the river was patronised by about
20,000 skaters and sliders, amongst whom were several
Foot Guards and a tidy sprinkling of the Horse Guards
(Blue). Sliding and skating went on without the lea-t
interruption until about a quarter-past twelve o'clock,
when all of a sudden a cry of " Help" was sounded on
either shore, It was then seen that several persons bad
broken through the ice, and were c inging to each other
in the watvr. The society's icemen at once put off,
under the direction of Mr. Superintendent Williams,
but so brittle were the edges of the ice near where
the men fell through, that as the icemen endea-
voured to pull the parties out they became immersed
themselves, and even their apparatus disappeared
under the ice. Owing to the joint exertions of
the different men belonging to the society th•- following
were got out in a very exhausted condition, and conveyed
to the receiving-house ;—Mr. Win. Barrett, of No. 11,
Keppell-street, Chelsea ; Thomas Costar, a youth of 17,
of No. 3, Blue Anchor-court, We-Ammeter ; Thomas
Spicer, who was so much exhausted as to he unable t
give his address ; Mr. Chas. ‘l%, aliett, of 2, Crown-treet,
Golden-square ; Mr. Edward Augustus Davis, of 49,
Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields ; Mr. George
Bulford, of 21, Hooper's-court, Knightsbridge ; Mr. W.
Smith, of 39, Clifton-road, St. John's-wood ; and iceman
H. Smith (No. 20), who had sunk three limes in his en-
deavours to save the others. These parties were all
placed in hot baths, and afterwards put to bed, and
during the day they recovered sufficiently to be oonveyed
to their several homes. Between one and two o'clock in
the afternoon another fearful crack in the ice happened
near the bridge. A soldier, who was skating, named
Browbent, of the Grenadier Guards, was followed by
several others, when their weight caused the ice to break,
and the soldier, with nearly ten or a dozen others, fell
through into deep water. For several minutes their
struggles were fearful, which increased upon the icemen
going to their assistance, for the moment they got to the
Place the ice gave way at the edges, and they were pre-
cipitated head foremost amongst the other persons. By
great exertions, however, all the persons, including the
icemen, were saved, and removed to the society's house,
where they obtained medical and other assistance, and
after the lapse of a few hours they happily recovered.
Amongst those rescued were Henry Augland and James
Tollswell, both belonging to the Royal Horse Guards
(Blue). About a quarter to five o'clock another break-up
of the ice took place, when a great many others were
seen to disappear under the ice. The icemen at once put
off, and with the aid of breaker-ladders and sledges, they
succeeded in dragging out of the water about ten men,
who were taken to the receiving-house. Amongst the most
exhausted were Mr. Price, of Pimlico ; P. Kennard, 15,
Charles street, St. James's-square; and E. Willamore, 17,
Earl-street, London-road. Whilst the men were engaged
in their praiseworthy attempts at saving life a great
number of other parties, probably 400 or 500, com-
menced snowballing any respectably dressed party who
was passing along, not even sparing women and children.
The police, after come trouble, succeeded in apprehending
some of the ringleaders, but as they were conveying the
prisoners along they were assailed by a shower of snow-
balls and stones.
THE LONG WATER, KENSINGTON-GARDENS.—About
10,000 persons di,ported themselves upon the ice on this
river. Four immersions took place during the day, and
several persons had their heads severely cut by falling, T.
being tripped, upon the ice, and. a soldier had one of his
eyes nearly cut out by the point of a skate, and was
obliged to go to the hospital.
THE ROUND POND, KENSINGTON-GARDENS.73,OOO
skaters and sliders amused themselves upon this pond
yesterday, but no accident of any importance took place
beyond a few cut heads.
THE REGENT'S PARK.-7,000 sliders and skaters ven-
tured upon the ornameutal waters in this park, in spite
of the cautions issued that the ice was only two 'Lichee
thick and very dangerous- About one o'clock a person
named Win. Leonard Stowie, of 23, River-street, Isling-
ton, broke ihrough the ic e and became unmer-,ed in 6 feet
of water. He was, however, reecued, and removed to the
enciety's tent ; and shortly afterwards, James Morten, of
21, Little E‘tward-street, Regent's-park, and George
Harris, of Charles-court, Camden-town, and three or
four others, became immersed, come in 7 feet of water,
but they were fortunately rescued by means of the sledge
and the services of Deputy Superintendent Parsons and
Iceman Pavey. They were attended upon in the marquee,
and were, after some time, enabled to go to their homes.
ce
The Victoria-park, Clapham-park, and Highgate-pond
had each a great number of patrons during the day, but
no serious accident happened.
The ornamental basins in the C'ystal Palace grounds
and the lake in the Surrey Gardens will be open fur
kating this day.

This was a suit to determine the validity of a codicil
executed by Mr. Thomas Simson, late of Ely, miller, by
which he bequeathed an additional legacy of 3001. to his
niece, Mrs. Ross. Probate was resisted by Mr. Jaseph
Simson, who would have taken the bulk of the deceased's
property under a previous will. The facts of the case
were reported a few days ago.
Sir J. Dodson now decreed probate of the codicil,
being of opinio❑ that the testator was of perfect capacity
to execute the instrument. He condemned Mrs. Ross,
however, in the sum of 501., nomine expensarium.

It is reported that the Bth Royal Irish Hussars are
under orders to march fro u Dtindalk to Dublin early in
March. The Bth will probably releive either the 2d or
3d Dragoon Guards, both preparing for service in India.

t