The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-11 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF GREECE.

In reply to Mr. SMYTHE,
Lord PALMERSTON said a dispatch to the same
effect as that which bad appeared in the public journals,
and which purported to emanate from Count Neeselrode,
had been communicated to the Government by Mona.
Brunnow.

In reply to another question from the same Hon.
GENTLEMAN,
Lord PALMERSTON said he wat preparing; a
number of documents in continuation of those which
had formerly been laid before Parliament on the affairs
of Greece, and he should lay them on the table of the
House when the proper time arrived for doing so.
MOLDAVIA AND WALLACHIA.
In reply to Mr. ANSTEY,
Lord PALMERSTON said it was stipulated by the
Emperor of Russia that all troops should, beyond the
autnber of 10,000, be withdrawn from the provinces of
Moldavia and Wallachia as soon as possible, and he had
no reason to believe that any change had taken place
in respect to that arrangement.
GREECE.

Lord PALMERSTON, in answer to Mr. E. Denison,
said he did not think it would conduce either to the
interests of the public, or give any information to the
House on which it could form any distinct opinion, to
lay the papers before the House while the negotiations
respecting Greece were still incomplete.
ARMY ESTIMATES.
On the motion being again put that the House resolve
itself into Committee on the army estimates,
Mr. HORSMAN wished to inquire of the Secretary
of War whether there were any regiments in India
which had been there more than fitteen years; and, if so,
whether it was intended to adopt any rule for their
relief ?

Mr. FOX MAULE said that a rule had been mado
that no regiment should in future continue in India on
uninterrupted service more than fifteen years. Measures
bad been taken to tarry out this rule, and in future no
re ;invent would be required to serve there longer than
fifteen years. There were regiments now in India that
had been there more than fifteen years, but they would
be relieved as soon as possible.
The House having resolved itself into Ccrnmittec, and
the motion having been read,
Mr. FOX MAULII said that the motion which he had

placed in the hands of the Speaker was for a vote of
91,128 men for the service of the Crown and for em-
ployment under the East India Company. In bringing
it before the House, he was sorry that the motion had
not been made on Friday night, as it would have
saved him from troubling the House with a statement
which would be comparatively tedious. The whole
number of men which he had to ask for was 99,128,
while the number granted for the current year was
103,124, showing an excess of 4,126 on the former. The
number of officers was 128, of non-commissioned
officers 308, and of mon 3,690. Of the whole
of the number now asked for 69,398 were for
home service, and 39,730 for colonial service.
Of these 9,088 were colonial forces. They had then
30,000 men of the Queen's service to be relieved from
home in different parts of the world. Out of 59,000
men at home, if they subtracted the Guards, who were
essentially troops for the home service, and cavalry to
the extent of 8,000, they would have 45,000 men at
home to_ receive the troops in the colonies. They
had been told the other night by the Honourable
Gentleman (the:Member for the West Riding) that he
could effect a saving in the charges of 5,823,000/.
of which he presumed one-third would be in the army
charges, namely, 1,941,0001.; for he did not think the
Hon. Gentleman meant to interfere with the non-effec-
tive branch which had been investigated from time to
time. Now they asked for an establishment of 99,130
men, at a charge of 3,936,5821., subtracting [from which
1,941,0001., the sum which he presumed the Hon. Gen-
tleman proposed to save, there remained 1,995,5811.
He turned now to the year 1835, which had been so
pointedly alluded to by the Hon. Member for the West
Riding. Ho found by a calculation made in that year,
' by taking the amounts voted, and placing them against
the rank and file, the charge for each man was 42/. some
odd shillings. Now, to say nothing of the honour and
dignity of the country, that sum would give 50,000
Imen, a number that was considerably below
i the standard of 1835, but his Hon. Friend complained
Ithat since 1835 the army had been increased from time
to time and that all these additions had been studiously
[ maintained and we had never gone back. It was quite
true that from 1835 down to the present time there had
been repeated additions made to the strength of the
I army both at home and abroad. He found that
Ithe army in 1835 did not exceed 81,000 men, but in 1838
disturbances arose in Canada of a very formidable cha-
racter, and the consequence was, that the army was im-
mediately increased for the purpose of suppressing it.
It was increased to 89,000, and it was afterwards
further increased to 93,000. In 1840 the colonial
I corps was raised, at the urgent request of several
Honourable Members, and in 1842 additional troops
were rrquired to serve in India and China.
In 1846, the state of affairs in China had assumed such
an aspect that the Government came down with a supply -
mentary vote, and the Home willingly granted 8,000
additional men. In the years 1848 9 the army rose
still further, to no less, indeed, then 113,000 men.
That occurred under the supposition that India was to
see no more war. If those five regiments had been re-
duced the moment they arrived from India, what would
Ihave been the result? The very next year after their
return they were re quired for India again, and if they
I had been reduced immediately on their return, the cost of
1 their re-equipment would have been double the :um
1 their maintenance had cost after their return. After
1848-9, the Government went from 113,000 men down to
103,000 ; and this year, they were still retracing their
steps, for :frem 103,0e0 they had arrie ed at 99,120.
It was said by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for the
West Riding, if the colonies were to have the power of
self-governmer.t, it was but fair that those colonies
should maintain the troops sent out in the
form of military police. His Honourable Friend,
(Mr. Labouchere) stated the other night, that as far
as finding lodging and troops went, that principle was
being gradually carried out in Canada, Australia, and
several ethers of the colonies. That was at least a step
in the direction indicated by the Hon. Gentleman the
Member for the West Riding, and as the colonies
progressed he had no doubt the principle of their
maintaining the troops necessary for their own d. -
fence would be still further carried out.— (Hear.) He
(Mr. F. Maule) wag, however, prepared to maintain that
scarcely any of our colonies were in thit position
when it could be fairly said they could
hear that expense from their own resources.
His Hon. Friend then went on to say that the organiza-
tion of the British army was of a more extravagant
nature than that of any other army is Europe; and he
justified the assertion by observing that it was kept up
in a discreditable manner. Now his (Mr. F. Maule's)
experience enabled him to say that the officers of the
British army were the worst paid and hardest worked
of any class of public servants he knew.—(Hear, hear.)
Take, for instance, a lieutenant-colonel, and view his
position and his pay in a mercantile sense, as as to be
perfectably intelligible to a mercantile man.—(Hear,
hear.) Ile paid 4,540/. for his commission, and his
annual pay amounted to 3651. Now, deducting
51. per cent. interest on the capital which
he had sunk, it would amount to 2271. ; and to this sum
was to I e added income-tax and other expenses, which
would altogether make a total of 2581., so that the actital
salary am lieutenant-colonel for all his services was only
107/. By the same calculation, a major would only
receive 93/. 155., a lieutenant 85/., and an ensign 731.,
The aristocracy held a very small portion of the com-
missions in the army, so that the accusation that
it was maintained for the aristocracy was unfounded.
To reduce the number of officers as proposed, in
the first place, would compel the Government
to make retiring officers annuitants on the country,
and in the next reduce the efficiency of the army
In the second place it would tend very much to reduce
the efficiency of the public services. With respect to
the increase of the several grades of officers in different
regiments he agreed with his Hon. Friend the Member
for Manchester, that it would be a great evil, hilt it
should be recollected that the efficiency of an army
could only be sustained by the efficiency of the officers by
which it wascommanded. Officers must of necessity:be men
well trained and well supported, so that when it was ne-
cessary to increase the strength of the army, as, for in-
stance, suppose a regiment at the Cape of Good Hope
required strengthening, they would only have to send out
men to increase the corps to its proper numerical
standard.—(Hear, hear.) What was the fact ? Thre
were 30,000 men in the colonies, and 30,000 in
India, leaving about 45,000 for various duties on the
home service of whom 40,000 were imperatively required
for home service, so that only 5,000 men were left to
relieve 60,000. lie would not trespass upon their time,
but he might say that the proportion of officers was
far below what many might deem a proper average.
Why, he found that looking at the army lists they had
one officer to 20 men ; and on looking at the army of the
United States, which the Right Hon. Gentleman would
not say was kept on a larger establishment than was ne-
cessary, be found that in an army of 171,000 men there
775 officers, in the proportion of one officer to 21 men.
Here, then was the argument which he adduced to the
House in asking it to give them a force of 99,128 men
forthe ensuing year. He had shown them it was necessary
on the ground of providing relief for the forces abroad
—a necessity which had been insisted upon in much
better language than he (Mr. F. relaule) could use in
his speech in 1845. A routine of ten years colonial
service had been arranged, and if the house asked to
preserve that routine it must giant them the requisite
number e f men to maintain it. He thought some con-
sideration was necessary to the times in which they lived
and to the position of the country. Looking
at the state of foreign armies ho found that the
army of France at the present moment consisted of
430,000 men, besides a great number of gendarmerie
and national guards. The Prussian army consisted of
325,000 men, besides 450,000 of the first and second 1
class of landwher. The Austrian army contained 35
generals, 200 staff-officers, 16,549 commissioned officers;
49,000 non-commissioned officers, and 539,000 men.
He thought, upon these grounds, he had shown sufficient
reason why the House should grant the proposition
of the Government to maintain 99,128 men
during the present year. He came now to votes of
money, but with regard to this branch of the subject
he should not enter into any details, simply because the
estimates were now before a committee sitting up
stairs, who were carefully investigating every item,
and would report the result of their inquiry to
the House. He should therefore now give the House
only an imperfect knowledge of each vote. The charge
for the land forces during the present year was
3,562,431/., the same charge in last year's estimate
was 3,656,388/. showing a decrease of 93,1571.
upon this estimate. The next vote, which was for the
staff, amounted for the year 1849-50 to 173,276/., and
for this year to 164,916/., showing a reduction of 8,4601.
He should here call the attention of his Hon. Friend
who complained that the officers were not reduced in
proportion to the men to the fact that in this vote there
was a reduction of two general officers, two aide-de-
camps, six attached generals, one assistant quarter-
master, two majors and one quarter-master. The vote for
the public department last year amounted to the sum of
94,199/., this year it was 92,684 L, showing a decrease of
1,515/. In the vote for the Military College there was a
small decrease, amounting to 5131. The next vote was
fur the Military Asylum, which comprehended
the Educational Institution in England and Ireland.
Upon that vote there was a decrease. There was an
increase in the vote for the yeomanry corps in this
year as compared with last year of 14,714/. The
reason of that increase was that last
year, the Yeomanry corps had not the opportunity of
assembling for that convenient drilling, which
was small at all times, which was absolutely neces-
sary to keep the corps in proper discipline. In the
effective service this year as compared with last there
was a decrease in the expense of 89,5271. The next
was the non-effective service. The first was the re-
wards for military service. Last year it was 15,120/4
this year it was much about the same. For the
pay of general officers the sum taken last year was
79,808/. ; the fund for this year was 58,000/. in round
numbers, showing a decrease of 20,0001. in round num-
bers. He must say on this vote as compared with the vote
for 1835, there was a decrease of no less than 55,000/.
He now came to the half-pay list—formidable at all
times—but still not disproportionate this year. In
1849 it amounted to 400,0001., but this year 386,000/.
showing a decrease of 14,000/. ; and, since 1835, of
195,000/. The number of officers who had fallen off the
list was 234, the number discharged 87, and no one was
placed on the list who had not earned his position by
risks in the service, by ill health, or by
other circumstances of an equally objection-
able nature. On the widows' list there bad
been a decrease since last year of 2,2421., and since 1835
of 22 6921. The decrease on the vote fir the main-
tenance if the children of deceased officers (as
we understood the Right Honourable Gentleman) was
4,500/, and since 1235 68,000.. The pensioners' list
in 1849 was 1,224,000/, and this year 1,333,000 Z,
showing a decrease of 109,000/., but this in-
cre 2io could easily be accounted for, and the
consequence was that he bad resolved this evening to
diminish that vote, and he had accordingly estimated it

at 2,000/., so that there might bo an excess for the ge-
neral benefit. The next fund to which he came was the
super annuation fund, and that he had made a reduction of
3,0001. being the difference between 40,0001., which was
the vote of last year. The whole reduction then was
122,814/. and upwards. He had been desirous of saving
more, but he found that the office of Commander-in-
Chief, which was one of great responsibility, involved large
expenses, the expenses indeed were such that many of
the senior of tiers had, he was sorry to say, run
the thing so fine that many of them died shortly
after. The result of the whole then was that
the number of men voted for in 1849-50 was 113,847
at an expense of 4,358,7521, while in 1851 the number
was 99,128, alith an expense of 3,534,582/., making a dif-
ference of 14,792 men with a reduction of 423,1681
comparing the armed establishment at present with
1835, there was a saving of upwards of 2,0001. Having.
attained the service of 1835, he did not mean to
say that the Government would stop there. they
would do all they could to save more still. The ex-
pense of parties in the army that had been sent to prison
was more than paid by the deductions from their pay,
and he was happy to say there was a most
visible decrease of crime in the army.—(Hear.) With
regard to the health cf the army, he Was happy to
say that the mortality had considerably de-
creased abroad during the last year or two.
Considerable improvement had also been made in the
military schools, and it was with great delight that he
saw the men taking to it as they did. He was happy
to see that the Commander-in-Chief was following
that up towards officers as well as men. The Bight
Hon. Gentleman after passing a high eulogium upon the
army, conclu‘led by moving a vote for 99,128 men.
Mr. HUME then rose, and was
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, March 8.

The judges arrived in this town at seven o'clock
last night, and Mr. Baron Rolfe immediately pro-
ceeded in the High Sheriff's carriage to open the
commission at the Castle for the county, and at the
Guildhall for the city.
Their Lordships having attended divine service to-
day at the cathedral, proceeded to the castle at
twelve o'clock, and opened the business of the as-
sizes.

The calendar contains the names of 106 prisoners,
of whom three are charged with attempting to mur-
der, two with rape, five with manslaughter, 14 with
cutting and wounding, seven with horse and sheep
stealing, 12 with burglary, six with sacrilege, three
with forgery, two with perjury, three with bigamy,
and 23 with larceny.
The cause list contains an entry for the West Rid-
ing of 38 causes, and of 21 for the East and
North Ridings, of which 16 are marked for special
juries.
The Civil Court was occupied the greater part of
the day with undefended actions, after which Mr.
Baron Alderson, who sat in this court, tried several
prisoners.

March 9.

NISI PRIUS COURT. (Before Mr. Baron

ALDEB.SO?.i.)
FOTHERGILL V. TODD.

In this case is a member of the London
Stock Exchange, and the defendant residea at Leeds,
and is also a member of the London Stock Exchange.
The action was brought to recover the difference in
the price of 50 great Northern Railway shares sold
to the defendant, and which he refused to accept.
There were various pleas, amongst others that the
shares sold had not been tendered.

Mr. Martin, Q.C., Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, and Mr.
Atherton appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Knowles,
Q.C., and Mr. 11. Hill for the defendant.
The contract of sr.le was given in evidence, and it
was proved.that under that contract the shares in
question had been transferred to the defendant in the
books of the railway company on the sth of May last.
It was also proved that a tender of the shares had
been made in London about eleven o'clock that day,
and also by letter the day after at Leeds. The de-
fendant refused then to accept them, and the shares
were sold, the difference in price being 5571.
For the defence a point was raised that the shares
were not in point of•fact tendered.
The objection was overruled by his LORDSHIP, who
held both tenders to be sufficient, reserving to the
defendant leave to move to enter a nonsuit on. the
point raised.
A verdict for the amount of the difference in price
proved was then taken for the plaintiff.
The other civil causes tried to-day were wholly de-
void of interest.

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.)
In the course of the morning the grand jury came
into court, and by their foreman complained to Mr.
Baron Rolfe that they had been waiting an hour and
a half without any business before them.

Mr. Baron RoLrE—Well, gentlemen, I am sorry
for that; but I believe the officer has gone to see
after it.

One of the officers in court here said that the
new printed regulations did not require the attend-
ance of witnesses in the cases fixed for that day until
twelve o'clock.

The Learned BARON referred to these regulations,
and informed the grand jury that this was so.
The Foreman—Whence, my Lord, do these regu-
lations proceed ?
Mr Baron RoLrz—That I cannot tell, but they
are framed for the saving of expense to the public.
The Foreman—We think it very inconvenient.
Mr. Baron ROLFE-If you ask for my opinion, I
think that grand jurors ought to be in attendance
during the whole assizes.—(Laughter, during which
the grand jurors seated themselves in their gallery.)
After a pause the Foreman again addressed his
Lordship—" I did not intend to trouble your Lord•
ship with any observations, but if grand jurors get
through their business satisfactorily, if they are not
to be discharged then, we think it will tend to dete-
riorate the character of grand jurors, and a difficulty
will be found in getting gentlemen to give their at-
tendance."
Mr. Baron RoarE—Well, gentlemen, if you then
again askeans my
opinion, it is this—that there are the
to compel grand jurors to perform their
same
m
duties as there are to compel petty jurors. I re-
member in one county inflicting fines of 201. on many
grand jurors for their non-attendance. I must say,
however, that I think such a course not likely to be
necessary in this county, where I have always found
the grand jury list well filled up.
Thomas Atkinson, aged 20, was indicted for having
on the 15th of December last, at Leeds, assaulted and
robbed John Fozard of a sovereign, four half-crowns,
and ss.
Mr. Ellis appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Campbell Foster defended the prisoner.
It appeared from the evidence of the prosecutor,
that on the afternoon of the 14th of December last he
had received 1/. 1,55. in payment for a coffin, which
he had made as a joiner ; that he placed this money
in his watch fob; and that afterwards he went to a
public-house in the Free Market, called "No. 2,"
where he remained drinking till about 8 o'clock.
When be left there he was rather "fresh." On his
wav through Regent-atreet be was suddenly seized
by two men, one of whom pinioned his arms behind
him, whilst the other cut away his watch fob and
money. They also robbed him of his spectacle-case
notthkenow either of the men, and could pavement, and his face was much
and tobacco-box. After this they knocked hiai down
eount. He didhisface on
not speak to the prisoner. Two boys were then called
who stated that they saw the prisoner at about 8
o'clock in Regent-street have hold of one of the arms
of the prosecutor, and another man have hold of his
other arm ; that suddenly one let go his hold of him,
and ran away, and the prisoner pushed the prosecutor
backwards and forwards until he threw him down on
the pavement. The witnesses assisted him up, and
went with him home. His face was cut with the
fall, and he complained of having been robbed. They
both knew the prisoner.
For the defence it was elicited in cross-examina-
tion that the public-house called No. 2 was resorted
to by persons of bad character, and that five persons
were drinking in the room with the prosecutor; that
the prosecutor had not seen his money from the time
when he first put it in his watch-fob ; that he was
very drunk, and that the two boys saw the prisoner
and the other man leading him like a drunken man,
when one gave him a push and he fell down.
The Learned COUNSEL for the defence contended
that there was no evidence to connect the prisoner
with the robbery. The prosecutor might have lost
his money in the public-house and have concluded he
was robbed by the prisoner and his companion, or he
might have been robbed by other two men prior to
the boys seeing the prisoner and his companion lead •
ing him along ; and that the evidence was perfectly
consistent with the prisoner and his companion inno-
cently assisting the prosecutor home, and wantonly
pushing him about in bis drunken state.
His LORDSHIP having summed up the jury Ac-
quitted the prisoner.
Ann Healey and Elizakth Pazoson were charged
with having, at Wakfield, on the 11th of last Decem-
ber, forged two orders for the payment of money.
The prisoner Pawson pleaded *Guilty.
Mr. Hall and Mr. Hardy appeared for the prosecu-
tion ; the prisoner Healey was not defended by
counsel.

It appeared that the prisoner Pawson, in December
last, was servant to Mrs. Harriet Harrison, of Field-
head, near Wakefield, and that Mrs. llarrison kept
her securities for money in a bag, which she placed
at her bed head, and amongst- them was a deposit
receipt for 801., which she held as an acknowledge-
ment for that sum deposited in the bank of Messrs.
Leatham, Tew, •and Co., at Wakefield. Pawson
having. stolen this note from the bag in which it was
kept, induced the prisoner Healey to endorse "Har-
riet Harrison" on it, and also to writs a note in
the name of Mrs. Harrison, requesting the bankers
to pay 101. on the deposit note. The prisoner Pawson
then took the note to the bank and received 10/., the
note being exchanged for a deposit note of 701. Af-

terwards, on the 22d of December, the prisoner
Pawson obtained a further advance of 101. on the 701.
note, by a forged endorsement and note ,as before.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
His LORDSHIP sentenced the prisoner Pawson to
be transported ten years, and Healey to be imprisoned
two years.
In the course of the case, his Lordship having
made some inquiry as to the form of the indictment
and the evidence to sustain it, from the Learned
Counsel,
Mr. HALL said that under the new economical re-
gulations which had been adopted, his brief had not
been delivered until after the prisoner had pleaded ;
he was not, therefore, so well acquainted with the
facts of the case as he ought to be as counsel. Such
a proceeding was very likely to lead to a failure of
justice.

HOME CIRCUIT, Chelmsford, March 9.

The whole of the business for the county of 14s9ex
was got through on Friday night, the Court sitting
until a very late hour for that purpose.
James Boag, who was convicted on Thursday of
the offence of altering a marriage certificate was
brought up for judgment this morning. The prisoner
was recommended to mercy by the jury on account
of his previous good character.
He was sentenced to be imprisoned and kept to
hard labour for two years.

This terminated the assizes. The commission for
the county of Sussex will be opened on Monday at
Lewes.

MIDLAND ClllCUlT.—Oakhant, March 8.

This quiet county town assumed the aspect of
bustle and business this morning. Mr. Baron Parke
arrived at an early hour, opened the commission, and
speedily disposed of the few very ordinary cases pre-
sented. There were bat four or five prisoners, and
not one of the cases calls for any particular notice.
Lincoln, March 9.

The Right Hon. Mr. Baron Parke arrived here
about two o'clock to-day, and immediately proceeded
to open the commission for the city at the hall, and
try the prisoners committed within that jurisdiction.
There were only four prisoners, all charged with
offences of a very trivial character. Two pleaded
Guilty, and the business in this court terminated
within two hours.

His Lordship then went direct to the County-ball
and opened the other commission, appointing to sit at
nine on Monday morning.
The calendar will be rather heavy, there being
about forty prisoners for trial, some of them for very
grave offences.
The cause list will also present some amount of
business.

Lord Campbell reached the judges' lodgings at six
o't.loek.

OXFORD CIRCUIT, Worcester, March S

Five out of the six civil causes entered for trial at
this place having been disposed of yesterday, and the
remaining case having been fixed for to. morrow, Mr.
Baron Platt assisted Mr. Justice Patteson to-day and
tried prisoners in the Nisi Prius Court.
CROWNCOURT—(Befure Mr. Justice PATTESON.)

John Meek, George Robinson, and Henry Bayley
were indicted for highway robbery upon Charles
James at Wolverley ; and Mr. William Houghton was
charged with harbouring and maintaining them, well
knowing that they had been guilty of the offence
charged against them.
Mr. Best conducted the prosecution, and Mr. W.
H. Cooke defended Mr. Houghton. The other pri-
soners were not defended by counsel.
The facts of the case were somewhat singular. It
appeared that Mr. Houghton, who is a railway con-
tractor, had been convicted upon the information of a
person named Norbury, who is gamekeeper to Mr.
esthead, M.P., of some offence against the game
laws, and been fined 251. Houghton thereupon con-
ceived great animosity against Norbury, and on the
17th of November last, being Saturday, he went in
the evening to the Park-gate public-house, at Wol-
verley, with the other prisoners, who were his
servants, and said, "if he had got Norbury there he
would give 255. ; " and after a good deal of conver-
sation be paid ss. down, and told them to go and
give Norbury a good thrashing. The men accord-
ingly went in pursuit of Norbury, but did not find
him, and as they were returning to the public-house
where Houghton remained during the greater part of
their absence, they met the prosecutor, a poor work-
ing man, who was returning home with his wages,
and knocked him down, and robbed him of a sovereign
and a half-crown, and of his bundle. They then re•
tured to the public-house, and told Houghton they had
been in search of the keeper, and had got their knives
ready for him and his dogs, but that he did not come
out to them ; but they said nothing of the robbery.
Half an hour afterwards a man came in and said a
person was lying in the road covered with blood.
Some persons then went to look after him, and the
prisoner Meek went up to the place where the prose-
cutor was lying, and said, " Come' old fellow, I will
help you up," and pretended to do so, but imme-
diately struck him in the face, and knocked him down
again. Being remonstrated with, he said the prosy.
cutor " bad asked for it, and it served him right."
Houghton then called to Meek to get up in his cart,
which he did, and being told that Meek had nearly
killed a man, he merely replied, " The d-1 he has,"
and drove off, the other prisoners following in another
cart. Information having been given of the robbery,
some constables went to the Old Swinford-gate,
through which the prisoners would have to pass, and
apprehended them in the carts, and found all the pro-
perty stolen upon the prisoners Meek and Robinson.
The jury Acquitted Houghton and Bayley (against
whom the evidence was very slight.), and convicted
Meek and Robinson ; upon which
His LORDSIIIP sentenced them to ten years' trans-
portation.
(Before Mr. Baron PLATT.)
Isaac Adams, a young man about twenty years of
age, was indicted for cutting and wounding Philip
Johnson, with intent to disfigure him and to do him
some grievous bodily harm.
Mr. R. Kettle prosecuted, and Mr. Richards de-
fended the prisoner.
On Saturday evening, the 15th of October, the
prosecutor and the prisoner, who is the son of a
butcher, were at the Talbot Inn, in Oldbury; a dis-
pute arose about the payment for some liquor. The
prisoner's father struck the prosecutor, and the pri-
soner said, " he was not much of a fighter, but would
have a round or two with him." The prisoner and
prosecator then fought, and the prisoner was knocked
down. He jumped up, and ran across the street to
his father's shop, snatched up a butcher's cleaver,
and returning with it, struck the prosecutor a violent
back-handed blow on the cheek with it, which cut
him severely, and knocked him down senseless, in
which state he remained until the next morning.

A surgeon deposed that the wound was of a
very serious character, extending from the cheek to
some distance down the throat, and that two im-
portant arteries were divided.
Mr. RICHARDS, for the prisoner, said he could not
deny that a very frightful assault had been com-
mitted, but urged that the fact that the prosecutor
and prisoner were friends, and had been drinking to-
gether in a friendly manner but a few minutes before,
negatived the presumption that the prisoner was ac-
tuated by the serious intents charged M the indict-
ment.

The jury found the prisoner guilty on the count
charging him with intent to do grievous bodily harm
and

His LORDSHIP sentenced the prisoner to be im-
prisoned and kept to hard labour for one year.
William Waters, aged 18, was charged with
feloniously shooting at John Overitt, at Claines, in
this county, with intent to kill and murder him.
Mr. Whitmore prosecuted ; the prisoner was de-
fended by Mr. Huddlestone.
On Saturday night, the 9th of February, the pro-
secutor, before going to bed without a candle in his
room, was about to shut his bedroom window when
he saw the prisoner standingiin his garden, within '2O
yards of the window with a gun in his hand, which
the prisoner then pointed at the window and fired
off. The shots broke the glass, and would certainly
have struck the prosecutor, but that he dodged, " so
that the shots could not go through him." He then went
to the prisoner's house, which was next to his own,
and finding the prisoner after some time he charged
him with the offence, but the prisoner denied it. The
next morning he went again to the prisoner, and
brought him into the house, when the prisoner said
he hoped he would not do anything with him for he
was drunk, and that he would pay for the broken
window. The prosecutor did not complain of the pri-
soner before a magistrate for nine days, but mentioned
it the next day to his landlord, who said he would
speak to the police about it, but neglected to do so.
The only evidence of motive was, that the prisoner
had frequently used opprobrious language towards
the prosecutor and his brother. On the other hand,
it was proved that the gun . went off easily at half-
cock, and that the prisoner had uniformly protested
it went off accidentally.
The jury, under his Lordship's direction, returned
a verdict of Not Guilty.
Mary Wood, a respectable-looking little country
girl, aged 16, was indicted for having on the 24th of
September, at Leigh, in this county, feloniously set
fire to a stack of wheat, the property of William
Nott.

Mr. Richards prosecuted, and Mr. R. Kettle de•-
fended the prisoner.
It appeared in evidence that there was a hop-gar-
den near to the stack which was fired, and that 18
women were employed on the 24th picking hops.
They all went to breakfast at the cottage of Betty
Hyde, and then left together to resume their labour.
The prisoner carried from the cottage a lighted brand
to ignite a fire in the hop. garden, it being a wet
morning. The rick was on the road from Betty's
cottage to the hop-garden. A woman nerved Grif-
fiths swore that she was walking behind the prisoner,
and that as the prisoner passed the wheat rick she

pushed the lighted brand into the rick. In this she
was corroborated by another witness, who said she
had heard Griffiths say " Don't do that" to the pri-
soner as they were passing the wheat rick. On
cross-examination it was elicited that a woman named
Brooker had also carried a burning brand from Betty
Hyde's cottage, and that she was one of the last of
the hop-pickers who walked past the rick, whilst the
prisoner was one of the first. It further appeared
that Booker had been suspected of firing the rick.
The two principal witnesses for the prosecution were
cross-examined in the absence of each other, and
there were facts from which it might be inferred that
they had endeavoured to relieve Booker from the im-
putation of firing the rick.
Mr. KETTLE addressed the jury for the prisoner,
and called several witnesses to her character.

After a very feeling and careful summing- up by
he Learned JUDGE,

The jury, almost without turning in the box, re•
turned a verdict of Not Guilty.
The verdict was received by a very crowded court
with applause, which was immediately suppressed by
the Learned Judge.

WESTERN ClRCUlT—Salisbury, March 9.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice ERLE).
Jane Lawrence was indicted fur having unlawfully
exposed her female infant child, with intent to mur-
der it, at Ramsbury.
Mr. C. Smith was counsel for the prosecution.
The prisoner was a pretty young girl of 19. She
had been for some months in the service of a Mrs.
Edwards, at Ramsbury. On the 2d of November she
appeared to be very unwell. Her mistress asked her
what was the matter. The girl complained of pain in
her side. Her mistress gave her some coffee, and went
into another room. She shortly afterwards, about
seven o'clock in the evening, again went into the
kitchen, but the prisoner was absent. In about
twenty minutes she went into the kitchen again, and
then saw the prisoner leaning on the table, and she
then perceived the girl was in such a state that some-
thing extraordinary must have happened, and she told
the girl to go to bed, and she sent for a doctor. Upon
the surgeon coming, he saw the girl and asked
her if she had had a child? Pie then examined her,'
and found she had recently been confined. She was
then in a state of very great excitement, in mind as
well as body. He then told her her child was alive
and was taken care of, and that, as soon as she was
better, she should have it. She then ceased to deny
her confinement. A woman sat up with her all night,
and the next morning the prisoner told that woman
that she had been confined in the garden ; that she
was much frightened, and had taken up the child, and
had gone to the wall, but she didanot throw it over
the wall, because she feared it would kill it. She
then wrapped it up in the skirt and carried it through
the house into the lane. She then tried to throw it
over the hedge, but had not strength enough ; it rolled
back. That she then put it through the hedge. so
happened that that evening, about the time when the
child was so deposited, a"man, named Pike, who was
in the lane heard the cry of something in the field.
He got through the hedge and saw something lying
down. He went to it and found it to be a newly-
born child. It was quite naked. He took it to the
house of a Mrs. Curtis, who kept it during that night.
The next morning the girl was taken to the house of
Mrs. Pike, and, according to her desire, her child
was brought to her ; she nursed it, and exhibited great
affection for it, but in about a week it died from
natural causes.

Mr. Justice ERLE, in summing in up, said that, in
order to find the prisoner guilty of the serious pare of
the charge, they must be convinced of the intention
of the prisoner to murder the child, and that was at
variance with her statement as to the reason of her
not throwing the child over the wall.

The jury found the prisoner Guilty of a common
assault, and she was sentenced to one month's impri-
sonment.

Eliza Smith was indicted for setting fire to an out-
house, the property of William Gosling, at Chiseldon.
Mr. C. Smith was counsel for the prosecution.
The prisoner was seen in a field in which the out-
house was situate in the evening, by a woman who
asked her if she had any victuals; the prisoner said
she had not. The woman asked her why she did not
go to the union again ; the prisoner said she would be
-if she would go the union again ; she would do
something else.

The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
Mr. Justice ERLE said she had already been in
gaol 10 times.
__

The prisoner.—You may as well say 13 times, my
Lord, at once.
The Learned JUDGE then sentenced her to 10
years' transportation,
Prisoner—Thank you, my Lord ; I hope you will
stay here you grey-headed old till I come back,
and then I'll bring you a ring-tailed monkey.
The prisoner was muttering and swearing all the
time she was in the dock, and in the midst of the
trial a large heavy-nained shoe fell down from her
clothes, but it was instantly seized by a turnkey. The
prisoner said she had intended that for his Lordship.
It would appear to be growing into a custom in this
county to throw shoes at the judges, as it WAS done in
this city this time twelve months.

NISI PRIUS COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice
TALFOURD and a Special Jury.)
DOWLING AND UXOR. V. HITCHCOCK AND IVES.

Mr. Crowder, Mr. Cockburn, and Mr. Lopez were
counsel for the plaintiff :and Mr. Sergeant Kinglake
and Mr. M. Smith were for the defendants.

Mr. Dowling was a tailor residing at Westbury,
in this county, and the defendants were surgeons.
In August, 1847, Mrs. Dowling was thrown out of
a foor-wheeled chaise and was most severely injured,
having a concussion of the brain, three ribs broken,
the lungs injured, the shoulder much damaged, and
the leg fractured. The defendants were called
in and set the leg. She remained under their care
for eight weeks, and then she was removed to her
own home, and attended by her regular surgeon.
She was afterwards seen by Mr. Norman, a surgeon
of great eminence at Bath, but she could not even at
the present moment walk upon the leg. The action
was brought for negligent and unskilful treatment.
Three county surgeons were called, who gave it as
their opinion, that the course pursued by Mr. Hitch •
cock was not correct, and that the treatment had
shown a want of skill.

For the defendants, Mr. Norman of Bath, and Mr.
Skey of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, were called, and
they stated that Mr. Hitchcock had acted in the most
judicious manner; that the injuries must have been
of a most serious nature and very difficult to treat,
and they did not think anything better could have
been dyne. It was a regular smash. Mr. Skey said
that Mr. Hitchcock had been a pupil of kis, and had
gained a very high reputation at the hospital for sur-
gical skill.
The jury retired, and then returned a verdict for
the defendants.

The case did not conclude till past 10 o'clock a
night.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MARYLEBOIVE.

On Saturday a respectably-dressed young man,
named William Boater was placed at the bar, before
Mr. Long, for re-examination on the charge of having
uttered forged notes.
Mr. Denton, on the part of the Bank of England,
requested that a remand might take place, as he had
reason to believe that more cases against the prisoner
would be.substantiated on a future day.
The prisoner stands committed upon the two
charges which have been brought against him ;
and, in order to afford the Bank authorities time
to get up other evidence, he will be brought up again
on Wednesday next.