The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-20 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Lucrezia Borgia was to have been played on Thursday, and
great curiosity was excited as to the success of Moriani in the
part of Gennaro. However the following notice, which ap-
peared at the top of the Opera bills, showed that such curl.
osity was not to be satisfied :
" It is with great pain that Signor Moriani is compelled
respectfully to announce to the nobility, his friends, and the
public, that a severe catarrh and hoarseness, under which he
is suffering, has increased to such an extent, as to render it
impossible for him to sing this evening, and, instead of the
opera of Lucrezia Borgia, will be presented Donisetti's cele-
brated opera of Don Pasquale."
As the audience had probably been gathered together
chiefly by the prospect of Moriani 's singing, it was quite " on
the cards" that some dissatisfaction would be expressed. In-
deed, had a less favourite opera than Don Pasquale been sub-
stituted, or had that been performed by less eminent artists,
the chances would have been in favour of discontent. As it
was, Grisi, Mario, Lablache, and Fornasari, charmed as much
as ever, and Don Pasquale was followed by loud applause,
without a murmur of disapprobation. The quartet in the
second act, and Mario's serenade were encored. The Pas de
trois, from Les Houris, by Cerito, St. Leon, and Ferdinand,
was introduced between the acts, raising an agreeable doubt
as to which was most fascinating, the grace and elegant
groupings of the slow movement, or the energy and spirit of
the quick one. This pas created general enthusiasm.

ERRATUM —On the motion of Lord Brougham, the
Aliens Bill was read a second time on Thursday. From the
Parliamentary report we inferred that his Lordship had only
made some occasional remarks on the subjeet.

We regret to hear that Lord John Russell has been
detained in the country by the indisposition of Lady John
Russell, who, however, is, we believe, gradually recovering.

MANSLAUGHTEE.—An inquest was held on Thursday
in St. Thomas's Hospital, before Mr. Payne, Deputy-Coroner
for the City, on view of the body of John Samuel Reade,
aged 40, a greengrocer, residing in Ireland-yard, Blackfriars,
who died from the effects of being ridden over on Tuesday,
by a man named Scott. The jury, after a patient investiga-
tion, returned a verdict of manslaughter. . ...

AFFAIR or HONOUR.—Captain Brownrigg, Gre-
nadier Guards, Military Secretary to the Governor-General
of Canada, Sir Charles Metcalfe, called to account Mr. J.
/Ernilius Irving, formerly a lieutenant in the army, for having
stated at a Reform meeting in Kingston that the Governor's
staff are " a pack of empty-headed jackanapes ; and that
Lord Cardigan would have hunted them out of his regiment
as old Indians." Mr. Irving replied that the words were
used in a political and not personal sense ; but Captain
Brownrigg retorted that whatever construction the speaker
applied to them, they were "unbecoming an officer and a
gentleman." Mr. Irving finally expressed his regret for
having been excited to make any unkind or offensive allu-
sion to tin t. P
_ _

LEAMINGTON, JULY 17.—The latest arrivals here
include the Duke of Sutherland and the Marquis of Stafford,
Sir John Dashwood and the Hon. Agnes Erskine, Lady
Hamilton, Admiral Oliver and family, Sir George and Lady
Sitwell, Sir John P. and Lady Orde, Mr. Gibson Craig, M.P.,
the Hon. Mr. Petre, Lady Parker and family, Sir H. Palliser,
and Lord and Lady Harberton.
STATE OF HERNE BAY.—We much regret to state
that it has been found absolutely necessary to call in an ad-
ditional body of police for the government of this flourishing
watering-place. Up to the present year there has been only
one policeman ; there are now two.—Punch.
SHOOTING MEETING IN SWITZERLAND.—The great
federal shooting meeting at Basle is concluded. It is calcu-
lated that the number of carabine-shots fired was at the least
250,000; and, it is said, on the Sunday, no fewer than 21,000
bottles of wine were drunk in a few hours. The list of all the
prizes would fill many columns of a journal. There were
three grand prizes of the respective value of 3,780 f., 2,400 f.,
and 2,loof.—the first being won by Colonel Hunerwald, of
Lemburg, in Argau ' • the second by DI. Benzinger, of Appen-
zel ; and the third by the English nobleman, Lord Vernon,
who obtained his naturalisation in Switzerland, in order to
have the right of competing. He is said to have made a
vow that he will not leave Switzerland until he has won the
first prize. His skill has excited so much jealousy in the
country, that a citizen of Appenzel, named Kohler, one of
the most renowned marksmen in Switzerland, had recourse
to a most unworthy trick to gain the superiority over Lord
Vernon. By giving a heavy bribe, be seduced a marker to
put down to him many more hits than he actually made.
The fraud, however, was discovered, M. Kohler was obliged
to leave Basle immediately, and, by a Council of the Federal
Carabineers, he is disqualified from ever shooting again at
any public match. The marker, who broke the oath he took
to mark justly, has been arrested, and will be tried.
PRECARIOUS SITUATION.—On Sabbath se'nnight,
as a farmer's wife, in the vicinity of Seaforde, was walking
through the garden, her attention was attracted by more
than ordinary noise of the bees to the apiary. On approaching
she observed a young swarm coming off, and being anxious
to see where they would settle, she remained for some time,
when, to her very great astonishment, they alighted on her
head, being attracted thither, it was thoUght, by the white-
ness of the cap which she was wearing. The good old lady,
with much presence of mind, remained unmoved ; and having
called for a new hive, which was instantly produced, loosed
hericap and deposited the bees therein, without sustaining the
slightest' injury save a single sting on the hand.— Correspon-
dent of the Downpatrick Recorder.
We have authority to state that Lady Brougham's
party, announced for Friday, the 26th, takes place on
Thursday, the 25th instant.
We understand that the new Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, Lord Heytesbury, accompanied by his private secre-
tary, Mr. Henry A'Court, who lately held that appointment
under Lord Eliot, will leave town on Thursday next, the 25th
inst., for Dublin Castle, rid Liverpool. Lady Heytesbury
and the Hon. Miss A'Court are not expected to leave Queen
Ann-street for the Viceregal Lodge until the end of the en-
suing month.
ALARMING FIRE AND NARROW ESCAPE.—Yes-
terday a fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Read,
tailor and draper, High-street, about five o'clock in the
morning, by which a fine boy, about six years of age,
was so severely injured, as at first to render his recovery
doubtful. It appeared from the statement of the fe-
male servant, with whom the child slept, that she got
up about half-past four o'clock, leaving him in bed, and
proceeded down stairs. In a few minutes afterwards
she and the family were alarmed by loud screams from
the apartment where the child lay, and upon rushing up
stairs she found the bed-curtains in flames, and the
room filled with smoke, while the unfortunate child him-
self was lying upon the floor, fearfully burnt, and almost
in a state of insensibility. Every remedy was resorted to,
after which the unfortunate sufferer was taken to the
hospital. The servant stated that a box of lucifer
matches lay upon a table near the bed, and she ima-
gined that the child must have got up and taken some
of them upon the bed. During the confusion and terror
which was occasioned by the sufferings of the boy, the
fire had gained such an ascendancy that it was feared
the whole of the premises would have been destroyed ;
but, fortunately, through the exertions of a number of
men, who were working in an adjacent timber-yard, it
was extinguished without much damage to any of the
other rooms. The servant, in her exertions to extin-
guish the child's dress, was severely injured about the
arms and hands, and also in the face. On inquiring at
the hospital, we found the child was completely out of
danger.
COPENHAGEN, JULY 11.—Yesterday morning the
Russian frigate Aurora, of 44 guns, arrived in the Chan-
nel (die Renne) bound from Cronstadt to England. It
took in a stock of fresh water. News is come to-day from
Dragoe, that a Russian fleet, coming from the south, was
in sight at eight o'clock this morning ; three ships were
two miles south of Dragoe.—Hamburgh Boursenhalle,
July 13.
ASSESSMENT or GAME.—At the Suffolk sessions,
held on the 11th instant, the Earl of Euston proposed to
petition Parliament to authorise, in some mode or other, an
assessment upon game. He made the proposition on two
grounds ; first, because he was quite sure that if the bench
did not take up the subject, there were others who would
very shortly do so ; and, secondly, because he thought it was
much more to the honour and credit of the bench of magi-
strates to lead in a matter of that sort (in which he con-
ceived that the peace of the county was so much concerned)
than to follow. The evil effects of preserving game where
not confined to the demoralisation and crime which it fos-
tered, but it also interfered with the profit of the sale of the
legitimate produce of farming. There could be no question
of the destruction that game did to the produce of the land ;
it also interfered very much with the proper use of it—and
here he begged to remark that he included deer as well as
tgiaomn et,
0.
the He t
we oo nHc louudseeds
obtypme
ro
and which stated, in effect, that the justices of the peace,
lviainmgenfotr,
wadoption,
haacsihdorratwpneuti;
unanimously concurred in lamenting the great increase of
crime in the county, and also agreed in attributing the same
to the practice of preserving the game ; that some check
ought to be put on a practice causing so much demoralisa-
tion, and also increasing the comity rate ; that the use of it,
and the sale pf it, had an effect on the sale of the legitimate
produce of the land ; they, therefore, prayed that an assess-
ment upon it, to be applied to the use of the county rate,
should be authorised to be made. The motion was not se-
conded, and no observation being made on the proposition,
the subject dropped.

they had been hitherto unable to prove, by reason of Mr.
Wilton being their trustee. _
The further hearing was then adjourned to an early day
in November next.

SUMMER ASSIZES.
HOME ClRCUlT—Chelmsford, July 19.
The business on the Civil Side concluded about four
o'clock on Thursday afternoon, and Mr. Baron Gurney
then proceeded to assist in trying the prisoners.
The following cases were disposed of late on Thursday.
_ _

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PARKE.)
Abraham Thurgood, 57, labourer, was indicted for the
manslaughter of his wife, Mary Anne Thurgood, by
kicking her in a most brutal manner.
It appeared from the evidence, that the prisoner and
the deceased, and a son of the latter by a former
husband, occupied a cottage at Wickham Bishops,
in this county. On the 16th of March the son
went to bed about nine o'clock, leaving the pri-
soner and the deceased in the lower room, and
in a short time he heard a noise, as if per-
sons were scuffling below. Soon afterwards he
heard a shriek, and heard his mother, who appeared to
be out of doors, say to the prisoner, " For God's sake,
Thurgood, let me m, I shall die." He got up, and the
door was opened ; and, when the deceased was let in,
she complained of severe suffering ; and upon a surgeon
being sent for, it was found that she had received a most
dreadful injury upon the lower part of her person. It
was suggested on behalf of the prisoner that the de-
ceased had accidentally fallen upon the scraper at the
door, and so received the injury, but the surgeon ex-
pressed his opinion that it would be much more likely to
be inflicted by a kick from a man's heavy boot. There
was, however, no distinct proof that the prisoner had in-
flicted the injury.
Mr. Baron PARKE having summed up, the jury re-
turned a verdict of Not Guilty.
John Hardy, 11, was indieted for feloniously setting
fire to a stack of straw, the property of Frederick Charles
Fitch, at Steeple Bumpstead.
Mr. Rodwell prosecuted, and Mr. Marsh appeared for
the prisoner.
This case was one of a somewhat similar character to
that disposed of on Wednesday, with this difference, that
the prisoner, when he was taken into custody, said that
his master had beaten him, and that he committed the act
to revenge himself.

The jury found him Guilty. Judgment was res:

ipited.

MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Northampton, July 17.
(Before Lord DENNuot.)
BIANSLAUGHTER BY A FATHER-IN-LAW.—John Marriott
was charged upon the Coroner's inquisition, with killing and
slaying James Plowright.
Mr. Miller conducted the case on the part of the prose-
cution.

Ann Plowright deposed that she is the widow of the de-
ceased, James Plowright, and daughter of the prisoner. She
had been married not quite five months. Her husband, who
was twenty-one years of age, had a fit about a fortnight be•
fore his death. They lived in the same house with the pri.
soner. Three sisters and a brother slept in the same room
with the prisoner. The eldest is fourteen, the youngest is
six. On the 25th of June last her husband returned from
his work about seven o'clock, and they went to bed about
nine. Heard her father and mother talking. Heard her
father say to her mother, " If you don't speak I'll throttle
you." He then called out at the door, "Is your party in
bed? Are you listening to me?" He was not answered.
Heard her mother fall on the floor. Her sister Ann ran in
and called to witness's husband. Witness ran in first to her
father's chamber, and her husband followed, but he fell down
stairs as he went. On going into the room, saw the bed-
clothes on the floor. Her father had hold of her mother.
The deceased struck her father, and took her mother from
his arms. Deceased told her father to sit down, and
tell her civil what he meant to do. He said, " I have
told you, and I mean to do it to-night." He then
went up to the deceased, and took him by the feet, and threw
him backwards. They both fell, the father uppermost. De-
ceased scratched his father's face, while witness, her mother,
and sister, endeavoured to draw him off, but could not move
him. In two or three minutes he got up and went down
stairs, and deceased got up. He threw his arms round his
mother's neck, and said, " Oh mother, mother, he's done for
me." He then took witness round the waist, and said, "Oh
dear, I can't see you; I can't hear you," and fell down in-
sensible, and never spoke afterwards. A surgeon was fetched,
but he died before the surgeon arrived. There was no cause
of quarrel between him and her father, who had several times
attempted to destroy himself. In the month of May he had
attempted to cut his throat, but was prevented by deceased.
Ann Marriott, a sister of the last witness, corroborated her
testimony.

Mary Collins, a neighbour, proved her being sent for on
the night in question. Found deceased on the floor with As
head in his wife's lap. Applied vari•us remedies in the hope
of restoring him, but without effect. He lived about an
hour. Saw the prisoner that night ; his face was covered
with blood.

Mrs. Plowright, on being recalled, said while her husband
was on the floor her father said, " Get out of the way and
let me kick his brains out."

Mr. Simpson, a surgeon, of Stamford, attended the de-
ceased a fortnight before his death, when he was said to be
in a fit. Witness considered it arose from drinking. He was
kicking and biting. Witness slapped him sharply in the
face, and he soon recovered. On the night of the 25th he
was called in, when he found Plowright dead. Made a post
mortem examination. Considered his death arose from a rup-
ture of the lungs.

Several persons, members of the county police and other-
wise, gave the prisoner a good character for being an honest,
sober, and industrious man.

He was found Guilty, and sentenced to twelve moat It ilia
prisonment.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, July 17.
CROWN SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL.)
Young Ward was put to the bar, to take his trial upon an
indictment found at the summer assizes for 1843 against
him, a woman named Greenough, and three other men, for a
burglary in the house of one John Atkinson, at Hunslett, in
the parish of Hunslett, on the night of the 11th of April,
1843, and stealing therein sundry articles of apparel, two
silver table-spoons, six silver tea-spoons, one silver caddy-
spoon, a pair of silver sugar-tongs, and other articles, the pro-
perty of the prosecutor.
Mr. Hall, Mr. J. H. Hill, and Mr. Monteith, conducted the
prosecution. The prisoner was not defended by counsel.
It appeared from the evidence of the prosecutor and his
wife, that on the evening of the 11th of April they made up
the house quite safe, and retired to rest about ten o'clock.
About midnight they were awoke by some noise, and on
rising to discover the cause, they found that the house had
been entered, and the articles named in the indictment,
stolen. Butterfield, Lindley, and the woman Greenough,
were shortly after taken. The two former were tried and
convicted at the summer assizes for 1843, Greenough being
admitted to give testimony against them. The present pri-
soner escaped for the time. The woman Greenough was not
now forthcoming, and some difficulty was experienced on
the part of the prosecution in connecting the prisoner with
the other three. It was proved, however, that the prisoner
was with Greenough and the other men, at Wakefield, on the
12th of April, the day after the burglary—that the woman
stated in his presence that he was her second husband,
and that they passed the night together as mat
and wife. The witnesses did not know her person-
ally, but having been at the trial of the other
men at York last summer, they swore that the woman whe
then gave testimony under the name of Greenough was the
same woman, and that the prisoner was the same man. It
was further shown that on the 18th of April, only six days
after the burglary, the prisoner sold the six tea-spoons and the
caddy-spoon to a working man for 15s. The man borrowed
of him (witness) half-a-crown, which he paid down, and he
was to come for the remaining 12s. 6d. the next week. In
the meantime they were challenged.
The prisoner, in his defence, said that he could all his
mother and sister to show that he was at home at ten o'clock
on the night of the robbery. At his desire she was put into
the witness-box, but said she knew nothing about i 4 and
could not tell when he came home. The sister was not caled.
The prosecutor, it appeared, was his uncle.
_ _

The Learned. JUDEsti summed up the case, and the jury,
after a short consultation, returned a verdict of Guilty.
A previous conviction for felony was then proved against
him.—Sentence deferred.

NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Huntingdon, July 17.
The business of this county began to-day at one o'clock,
being two causes in the Nisi Prius Court, and five prisoners
in the Crown Court.

CIVIL SIDE —(Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS.)
GOODLEY V. JACKSON.

Mr. Prendergast and Mr. O'Malley were counsel for the
plaintiff; Mr. Sergeant Byles and Mr. Gunning appeared for
the defendant.

This was an action in which the plaintiff, who is a poor
labouring man, living in Ramsey Fen, sought to recover
damages from the defendant, a large farmer, residing in
Middlemore Fen, in the same parish, such sum as the jury
might think he was entitled to for his conduct towards the
plaintiff's daughter, per quod servitium accusit.
As might be expected, the details of this case were net of a
character to be made public. It may suffice, therefore, to say,
that the chief witness for the plaintiff gave a plain and
straightforward account of herself, her conduct, and her ac-
quaintance with the defendant, and entirely denied all other
imputations on her character, which was assailed in various
quarters.
On the part of the defendant, it was contended that she
was not to be believed on her oath, and several men, both
married and unmarried, were put into the box to swear to
their own disgrace and that of the plaintiff's daughter.
Mr. PRENDERGAST having replied with great force on this
evidence, which he characterised as base and unmanly,
The jury, after a quarter of an hour's deliberation, returned
a verdict for the plaintiff with 201. damages.
The other cause was referred.

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON.)
ARSON.—Samuel Baxter, a respectable little boy, aged ten
years, and not unlike the celebrated General Tom Thumb,
having pleaded guilty to a charge of firing four straw
stacks, the property of Robert Daintree, of Hemingford Ab-
bots, on the 11th of May,
Mr. WELL% on the part of the prosecutor, begged to re-
commend the youthful incendiary to mercy. His father was
his farming bailiff, and had filled that position for eight
years with the 'greatest credit. The prisoner himself was
always considered a very deserving boy, and every one was
surprised at his having confessed to the perpetration of this
crime.
His LORDSHIP then called before him the prosecutor and
the father of the prisoner, neither of whom could in any way
account for the transaction.
The boy himself when asked to assign any reason for his
conduct, professel his inability to do so, denying that he had
ever been incited to the deed by any one, or that he had any
motive. The prosecutor, however, said that he had told him
that his reason for doing so was a wish to live in the village,
and that he thought the house would be burned as well as
the stacks, in which case he and his family must all have
gone into the village. To accomplish this wish it would
appear that he had thrust a lighted stick into one of the
stacks.

--i-fr. Damtree earnestly begged for mercy on the boy, whom
he said he had known from his extreme youth as well as his
f4ther.

--111 r. Baron ALDERSON—WeII, I do not know what to do
with him, but I shall not pass sentence on him just now.
The boy was then removed, crying bitterly, as well as his
poor father, but having been shortly replaced on a chair in
the dock,
His LORDSHIP thus addressed him—Samuel Baxter, your
case has given me great pain and difficulty indeed, but I
cannot exercise any discretion as a judge. It is for the Crown
to do that. We must make the same example for boys as
we would for man who commit such an offence as that to
which yoi, have pleaded guilty. What circumstances there
may be in your favour which her most gracious Majesty the
Queen may see, I know not, but her advisers may see some
such which may induce them to recommend the display of
mercy towards you. I can only say that you shall have the
benefit of my most favourable recommendation to mercy. At
present I can exercise none, but must pronounce the sentence
of the law, which is, that you be transported for fifteen years,
and I hope that other boys will take notice of it.

U

=,„

- -
SPIRIT of the PUBLIC\AOURNALS. •
- r nem -THE EVENING PAPERS OR. ofrtillLY:''
GLOBE.—The exclusion of Mr. Aillbutirtappez
the House of Commons Post-office Conailttee not
merely ungracious to the individual ; it was also injuri-
ous to the public interests. We scarcely remember a
previous instance of a Member of Parliament who moved
for the appointment of a Committee, which he obtained,
being excluded from the constitution of the Committee.
The information which Mr. Thomas Duncombe had
collected, and the witnesses on whose evidence the
charges he brought against Sir James Graham, with
reference to his warrants for the detention and
opening of letters passing through the Post-office,
were to be sustained, rendered his services as a mem-
ber of the Committee most important, if' not essen-
tial to the ostensible object for which the inquiry was
directed to be made. Supposing the object of the
Government, in assenting to the inquiry, to be honest,
the exclusion of Mr. Duncombe from the Committee was
most unfortunate. But if the design of his exclusion
was to shut out information, by preventing the indivi-
dual best acquainted with the case from taking part in
the investigation, then the purpose has been accomplished.
The proceedings of the House of Commons last even-
ing go to illustrate the injury which the public
interests, involved as they are in the efficiency of the
inquiry, have already sustained through being de-
prived of the services of the Hon. Member for Fins-
bury, as a member of that Committee. Mr. Duncombe
made a statement to the House as to the course adopted
by the Committee toward himself. The Honourable
Member was summoned by it, and appeared before it.
He was asked whether he had any statement to make,
or any information which he wished to lay be-
fore the Committee ? He replied, that he had
charges which he was in a situation to sub-
stantiate by evidence, relative to the detention and
opening of letters at the Post-office. The Committee,
upon this, asked for his list of witnesses. "We will
send for the parties, and ascertain, by an examination
conducted by ourselves, the evidence they tan supply
in support of the charges you allege. You, Mr. Dun-
combo, may withdraw. Leave the whole affair to our
management. We will not trouble you further." The
Committee, according to Mr. Duncombe's statement,
was very courteous, and even " coaxing," in its de-
meanour ; but declined his offer, which he pressed upon
them, to allow him to examine his own witnesses.
The Committee even refused to allow him to be pre-
sent while the examination of these witnesses was COG-
ducted by the members of the Committee. The latter
refusal was grounded on lack of power in the Com-
mittee to grant that permission. But on a formal ap-
plication being made by Mr. Duncombe to the Com-
mittee, that a formal application be made by it to the
House to allow of his being present, he was requested
to withdraw ; and on being again admitted, he was
informed that the Committee declined to make such
an application to the House. The correctness of
Mr. Duncombe's statement was admitted by Lord
Sandon, the chairman, and other members of
the Committee, who were present in the House.
Lord Sandon, indeed, was willing to concede the
presence of Mr. Duncombe during the examina-
tion of his witnesses by the Committee, if the House
would consent. But Sir H. Peel would not hear of such
an invasion of the " rules of the House" and the " gene-
ral practice with regard to all Committees of the sort."
To take the examination of the witnesses out of the hands
of the Committee would imply a want of confidence by
the House in the Committee of its selection ; while to
permit a Member of the House, who was not a Member
of the Committee, to be present during the inquiry,
would be to destroy the secresy imposed on the Com-
mittee in the investigation with which it was intrusted.
" He (Sir H. Peel) should therefore advise the House
to adhere in this case to the general practice with re-
spect to all Committees of this sort. It was now a
question of confidence in the Committee." The
presence of Mr. Duncombe—whether as a member
of the Committee, or as an examiner of the witnesses
he has collected, and as manager of the case in which
the public is so deeply interested, and which he de.
clares he is in a position to establish—is refused.
The complexion which the proceeding now wears is
anything but healthy. We were disposed to hope that
the Government, driven by very shame to concede in-
quiry, would have kept up appearances with the public,
and afforded every facility for rendering the result satis-
factory—at least, that no impediment would have been
interposed to thwart investigation, and to prevent a full
discovery of facts. The fair examination of all the wit-
nesses brought forward by Mr. Duncombe, was essential
to produce this desirable effect.
STANDARD.—Mr. Thomas Duncombe last night
made a bold effort to be admitted to the sittings of the
Secret Committee upon the Post-office, and in doing so,
gave ample proof of the prudence of his original exclu-
sion from that body. For what does Mr. Duncombe want
to be admitted to the sittings of the Secret Committee ?
If it is not to prevent its proceedings being secret, we are
at a loss to conjecture a motive. The Member for Fins-
bury is not afflicted with any excess of modesty,
but surely even he will not pretend that the gentlemen
composing the Committee are not qualified by experience,
intelligence, and integrity to conduct the delicate inquiry
confided to them, without his help ? He says, indeed,
that he has witnesses to produce, whom it isnecessary for
himself to examine in person ; but witnesses who
can give testimony only to their own selected
examiner are witnesses who may as well be dispensed
with. The duties assigned to the Secret Committee are
in all respects analogous to the duties of a grand jury,
but what would be thought of a prosecutor insisting
upon admission to a grand jury-room, on the plea that
he must examine his witnesses in person ? We, how-
ever, perfectly understand Mr. T. Duncombe—he knows
that his case has broken down, and he is now demand-
ing what it is impossible to concede ; laying the founda-
' non of a grievance, which may serve him as a door of
escape from his groundless and most trumpery charges.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, July 18.
(Before Mr. Commissioner limaloyn.)
IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF CHAMBERS AND CO., LATE OF ISOND-
STREET, BANKERS.
This day was fixed for taking an audit in this% extraordi-
nary case, which has been for the last twenty years promi-
nently placed before the public, both before this Court and
every other Court of Law in VV estmiuster, and is even now
awaiting the decision of an appeal to the House of Lords as
to the right of sale in the assignees of the Italian Opera
House. The commission was dated in November, 1824, and
since that period Mr. Chambers, sen., has been the inmate
of the Fleet Prison, while his accomplished daughter was
compelled to support herself by the public exertion of her
talents.

Mr. Hamilton to .day attended for the assignees, and put
in a statement of the bankrupts' affairs, the receipts and pay-
ments from the commencement of the bankruptcy in 1824 :
The payments on account of the Opera House include up-
wards of 20,0001. for improvements and substantial repairs,
18,0001. for fines on renewal of leases, and between 12,000/.
and 13,0001. on account of the purchase money.
The property of the bankrupts now consists of—
The Opera-house (subject to a claim by Mr. Wa-
ters to an annuity of 250/., the arrears of which,
with the redemption price (5,000/.), amount to
about 13,0001.), valued at
Estate at Chettle
The Enfield property has been mold for 6,2001, to
three-fifths of which the assignees are entitled,
which, after deducting expenses, will amount to 3,509
Whetstone and Northam 2,000
Four-fifths of a moiety of some property in Kent 2,500
Supposed balance on the settlement of accounts
between Mr. Chambers and Mr. Waters, under
a decree of the Court of Chancery, the pro-
ceedings in which are suspended by the
appeal now pending in the House of Lords, in
which judgment is expected to be given this
session
Funds in the Court of Bankruptcy ... 18,900

Total supposed assets (subject to the above claim) £186,900
The debts proved and to be proved against the
joint estate amount to (about)
Ditto against the separate estate of Mr. Chambers,
the elder
The Learned Gentleman now stated that he wished to call
the attention of the Court to an item which was also some-
what involved in the bankruptcy of Messrs. Wright, the
bankers—namely, a charge for warehousing some 5,000 or
10,000 books, although of that immense number only 100
could be of the slightest possible use ; and he, on behalf of
Chambers' assignees, objected to the payment of so much
rent. He had suggested that those useless books should be
thrown at once into the river Thames, but the official assig-
nees had not the courage to do so.
The official assignee (Mr. Groom)—l certainly had. not
the courage.
Mr. Commissioner HoLß9YD—There must be some place
obtained in which to deposit them.
St. Paul's Churchyard
Mr. FUMILTON thought that only
would be large enough to hold them.
Mr. Commissioner Homorn--The question of a place for
the deposit of bankrupts' books and papers is now before the
Lord Chancellor, and will, I trust, be speedily brought to
some determination, as it is undoubtedly one of considerable
importance.
Mr. Hamilton said he could not understand the utility of
preserving useless books and papers in bankruptcy, perhaps
so far back as the year 1703 ; but to revert to (numbers'
affairs, as there were now several creditors in attendance,
they might probably wish to know how it happened that no
dividend had been yet declared, either upon the joint or
separate estate, and hence, upon the part of the assignees,
he was now ready to explain the larger items in the state-
ment which he had just presented for their information,
though, at the same time, that could only have been
offered to them in round numbers. Great difficulties had
occurred in the sale and purchase of the Opera House, which
formed by far the largest asset in the list. The Opera
House, then, was originally to have been purchased from
Mr. Waters for 80,0001., but before being completed by Mr.
Chambers, he became a bankrupt. In the year 1829, bills
were filed in Chancery to compel the purchase and sale, a
decree was obtained, but a difficulty arose, as Mr. Waters
then resided in France, and the assignees could not make
a good title. Mr. Waters, however, dying in 1839,
a portion of that difficulty was obviated, and three
new assignees were chosen. A conditional contract
for its sale for 100,0001. was made by them, but
another difficulty arose from the circumstance of Mr. Wa-
ters' representative then residing in France, when the assig-
nees felt themselves authorised to offer him 5,000/. for his
assistance in perfecting the title; but subsequently it was
found that Mr. Waters had before his demise lodged an ap-
peal against the decree in Chancery before the House of
Lords, and which was still pending the decision of their
Lordships. The intended purchasers were then advised to
relinquish their intention—the negotiation was immediately
broken off, and the issue was only now awaiting the judg-
ment of the Lord Chancellor, which he (Mr. Hamilton) had
every reason to believe would be in favour of the assignees;
and if that were so, and no other difficulty should arise, then
a very large item would come to the credit of the estate.
After going through some other details, he said the total
assets were then, as he had before stated, 186,9001., subject,
however, to a possible reduction of about 13,000/. ; and if
the judgment of the House of Lords were favourable to the
assignees, then the creditors of Mr. Chambers' separate
estates would realise 15s. in the pound.
Mr. Commissioner HOLROYD said that the separate estate
must first be heard here, and then the parties, if they thought
proper, might carry the matter elsewhere.
Mr:HAMILTON said that Mrs. Chambers and her family
have not been represented here, although they had an in-
terest of 35,000/. in the estate, and for which, wifortimitars.

Just ready, In 3 vols. post !Ivo.,
TH E VOYAGE of LIFE.
A STORY OF THE LAND AND THE OCEAN.

By GEORGIANA C. MUNRO,
Author of " The Adventures of a Legatee."
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street.

SHEPTON MALLET, SOMERSETSHIRE.
pr, ALFORD returns his grateful thanks to the
1. • numerous Families who have honoured him with their pa-
tronage, and to his Commercial Friends and the Public generally, for
the kind support which he has received from them during the eight
years that he has occupied the George Commercial Inn ; and begs to
inform them that he has taken and entered on the HARE and
HOUNDS COMMERCIAL HOTEL and POSTING HOUSE, which
he has newly fitted up for their convenience.
T. A. assures his friends that nothing shall be wanted on his part
that can conduce to their comfort and accommodation. lie trusts
that strict attention, combined with moderate charges, will secure
him a continuance of their favours.
Excellent Stall Stabling, Loek-up Coach-houses, &c. &c. The
Posting establishment conducted on the usual moderate terms. Good
Post-horses and carefUl drivers. Coaches to and from London leave
the above Inn daily, Sundays excepted.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
THIS EVENING JULY
Will be performed Donizetti'e Opera, entitled
DON P ASQUALE.
Norina, Madame Grisi ; Ernesto, Signor Mario; Dr. Malatesta,
Signor Fornasari ; and Don Pasquale, Signor Lablache.
Betwee.: the Acts a Divert ssement, in which will be introduced a
Pas de Deux Isy Mdlle. Fanny Ellsler and M. St. Leon; Pas de
Deux by Mdlles. &heifer and Plunkett; and the admired La
Cracovienne," by Mdlle. Fanny Ellsler.
To conclude with a Divertissement, entitled LA VIV AN DIERE,
dutrliticing the Redowa , or Original Polka of Hungary, by Mdlle.
Cerlte and M. '6.t. Leon.