The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-17 00:00:00

CORN AVERAGES.

GENEItA.L AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH COR/
Po- the. Week ended Jan. 13, 1850, made up from the Returns of tee
t Ile:meters iu the different Citleaand Towns in England and Wales
Per Imperial Quarter.
I WItEAT. BABLET. OATS. 1 aTE. I BEANS. I PEAS.
eRICE •• I 415 Id 126 s 1 d 15s 6d 123 s 4d 126 s 6d lUs 6d

DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN.
IT/aux. BARLEY. I OATS. I LIE. I BEANS. I PEAS.
Od
•IS ls Od Is Od Is Od Is Od Is Od

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

QUEEN'S BENCH.—(THIS DAY.)
THE GRAND JUNCTIO.NCANAL V. WILLIAM DIMES.
It appeared that the defendant in this case had been
committed to the geeen'a Bench Prison by the Viet-
Chancellor for contempt for disobeying an injunction of.-
taine.4 so far back as 1839. A few days ago Sir Frer
deriek Thesiger applit d on behalf of the defendant, to
.64 permitted time to file affidavits setting forth the
grounds of his detention. The right Of the defendant to
do Sti came oil this morning for discussion.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, with whom was Sir F:
Er'4l9. objeetmd, on the part of the Crown, t) the filing
of affidavits by this t'ef ndant unless informed of their
Precise nature. The course sought by the defendant
was altogether unprecedented.
Sir F. THEsIGER said the principal object of the affi-
dLtvits was to show that the Lord Chancellor, who was
the head of the Court of Chancery, was interested in the
rOatter, having a pecuniary interest in the Grand Junc-
tion Canal, t, at he had, therefore, no jurisdiction,
and that the defendant should therefore be set at liberty.
Upon this point he cited authorities which bore out his
lifav t f the case. The Court, he held, had a right to
allow the affidavits to be made, though they might be
objected to when brought befi.re the Court. That would
b • the proper time ; but surely there could be no doubt
that the defendant had a right to impeach the decision
of the Court c f Chancery. - The subject had a general
ght, when in the custody of the Governor of the
Quern's Bench, to enure 13( f ,re the Court with affi:,avite.
It was ircp.itsibb that un interested party could bo a
judge.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL Objected to this line of
argument. It had been the invariable practice of Courts
to refuse to allow affidavits to be made where they called
in ques ion the jurisd ction of other Courts. If it was
thought wed to arraign the jurisdiction of the Court
't.f Chancery, it might be done b)
plea,
by an applica-
tion fir time, or to take the billo'ir the file. The de-
fendant should have gone to the Court of Chancery,
with whom the matter rested. This Court had no
right to ter'ew the prccoedings of another and a higher
Court. If acceded t', the precedent thus created would
be a 'nor t dangerous ore. It would have the effect of
constituting another Coutt, and this Court might be
railed upon on some future occasion to review the de-
cisions of the House of Lords.
Mr. Justice PATTEsox said the Court was of opinion
that' no affidavits could be filed: .The order was made
by the Vic. -Chancellor, and not by the Lord Chancellor. •
Sir F. THESIGER said the initials of the Lord Chan-
cellor "C. C." a Tearett on the corner; it was therefore
act.
Mr. Justice PATTESON said the order was signed by
Sir Lalncelut Shale ell, Viec-Chancellor of England,
initials
it might be the custom of the Court to place the
ef the Lerd Chancellor at the corner.
Thos' Justice ERLE said if the argument of Sir F.
;ger vt a I held good, it miht be contended that be-
-24' e one f the judges of the Court f Chancery had
"t".jr,lterett in seine suit, that a [Orson might not apply
u'ilfe Rolls-or any one tf the Chancery Court'.
Sir P T e. a - • HESIGER iiCatO in reply.
th' The COURT repeated its former opinion, in which 611
e,jtulges agretd, that this Court could not constitute
;se f into a Court of Review, and deal with the deci-
4of a higher Court. The imprisonment was per-
rtly legal, and they had DO power to liberate the de-
er:Want. The affidavits could not be filed This opinion
ZPly la leered to the question of filing affidavits. He
r.:not know whether there was anything on the • face
ri the return upon which they could exercise a ju-
sdiction.
do,Sir., FREDERICK THESIGER thought, after the opinion
.Lne Court, that he was virtually precluded from
"Ig so.
41r• Dimei was then removed in custody.
BAIL

COURT.—(II-11S DAY.)
(11!e`oie Me. Justice IGHTMAN.)
THE DUKE OF BRONsIVICK V. BAItNARD GRUGORY.
M. lIENNIKER [Role,' the Coact tor a rule nisi, calling
IpP°u cie.teedant to show cause why the judgment
Per and the record is thi, cin.e should not he amended.
phi 4 was an indictment found et ti e Central Criminal
"°ll„rt aguinst Barnard Gregory, the late editor of the
f;Trist nee, per for a libel he had publishel on the
rt-iu" Brusti,jwiek. The defendant removed the in-
-eteeeut into this court, and after he had pleade I not
the 3' he obtait e i p-rmissii.n to retract the plea, and
eourt i-entenced him to six months' imprisonment.
iii-,s'Au‘ given iT to tile custodtepstaff, but he was
n.i.'etratt:rl upou his putting in bal and pieerrieg a writ
the against the rrcerd and the sentence. When
eso came before the Exchequer Chamber it
int-a..Apired that t':ere were eleven counts in the
rtetineut a-i some doubts;beieg"raiseil as to the validity
giant
there, it was submitted on the behalf of the
fliarit Oa' t the sentence, which it was contended
1.;(419-al one, was tnid and f no avail. The Court
e.rroe, hOWCve sent the rreord back to this court to
~,ve it atnenc'el as it was quite clear that the sentence
di'estto'ntultlefr, hot as a general six
upon the whole in
ent, but its a sentence f six months upon every
-,t;l4'st e.whole of the six months to be concurrent.
th, judgment peper having been accordingly amended,.
„ e4'e again tame bi fir,. the Court ( f Error, when it
tyre char, a piovisien had been added to the sentence
i ;tlie defendant was to- he imprisoned with the first
(1.11:t-,.,''hun of the feu V-i-class prisoners in the Queen's
• t) F,-",PrisLan and the Court, still entertaining doubts as
al'ilrecl te ftreution end meaning of the sentence, further
it to kre sent back for tie revision of this Court.
' ' Justice W IGaTMAN—Am I to understand that
thetll'llee has been drawn up in terms different from
',trill which it as pronounced by the Court?
• IieNNIXER said that was Be.
Jo+t'ee WIG?
HT3IAN—Have you an affidavit dc-
. to that fact
G?
'n iiESINIKER—The affidavit sets out the whole pro-
duaat ,„
. •
oi• iistice WIGTITMA.N—WeII, then, it ought not to
exnr 4t; tor if I understand the case, the Court of Error
14,10 'laud some doubt as to whether the sentence was
• 'Jett the coutas or a general sentence.
m • IletssartEß—Ye''
• is to r• Ju • tiee WIGIITMAN—And your application now
tereemetal the sentence, the judgment having been en-
aet,to,t? contrary to the words in which it was pro-
.
Il
r•-
I_ENNIKER—Yes•
triceWIGUTMAN—WeII, does your affidavit
at feet?
atto'rr_,.l-IEN. NIKER—The affidavit states that the original
eie:ku 7? fur the prosecution is dead, but the managing
feet `f the present attorney states that which be recol-
I]rro ()' what took place on the trial. In the Court of
To the ilefenant objected that the Court below had
5,,,,q‘ Cr to make the order relative to his let ing
ad 0 aptli the fourth clasp. The Court, he contended,
had 6tie? Power to make such an order when the prisoner
iedgrocio. tried. Here he never was tried, but conf.ssed
•• •
ktot
idustiee WIGHTMAN—And, therefore, the judg-
f 11)8.84 wr(mg•• I have no power to alter a sentence.
Of %hen a defendant or a prisoner preferred a writ
te have'rx
the prosecutor might come back to this Court
frltts'e, the benteneo amended. Suppose a party were
x.orrV for ten years, when in truth the law only
Net zedsec'ert years, could you come back to this
tub_ after a writ of error to have the judgment
f~lbort.rll.!,24);lzrt—Clearly not, my Lord, but the order
_ 4.e pert of the sentence, while the judgment has
tered up in terms different to those in which the
LO Was preneurieed. 4
ih,, Justice ,
-wu;on "On= t-r! f
.44
„Your affidavit?
tinuit
—^4tl ulauggicg clerk of the present

a il”rney for the prose=cution swears that •the Muster has
ii.forined him that the jujgenier.t paper has been dravvc
up in the usuar?erro for mica whOe the Curt passes
judgment in all the courts.
Mr. Justice WlairrmAN--Well, you ma; take A rule
to show cause.

Brie nisi secordiligly.
HARRISGN V. AUGUSTUS NEWTON.

Mr. JAMES applied to his Lordship to have the rule
in this case removed into the lull court. it was a rule
nisi,-t Upon the defendant, who is a memLer of
the bar, to show cause why a discharge f.lun execution
should not be! set aside, on the ground that it had been
obtained by fiaud. Now as this was a serious imputa-
tion on the char acter i-7f the Learned Gentleman, and as
it must preclude him from practising his profession
until the matter: was settled, it was desirable that the
case should be removed into the full court, where it
could be snore speedily disposed or.
Mr.. ROGERS contra objected, ou the ground, that until
now the 'defendant bad appeared in person, and it was
not till ycstt.rdaY that an attorney end council were
engrafted on the cas,..
Mr. Justice Wiwi:maxi raw no objection to the course
proposed, and granted the application.

LONDON AND ,NOSTR-WESTEEN RAILWAY V. THE
JUSTICES OF LANCASHIRE.

Mr. PRASIILEY. 11/411S instructed to , move for a rule
nisi, calling upon the justices cf Burtonupon-
Ewal to show cause why a mandamus should not
issue requiring them to hear al appeal of the
London and North-Western Railway- Company.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway, which
formed part of the company's lines, passed th rough the
parish of Burton, and they were rated to the poor for
8,935/. 155., but since the opening of rival lines the pro-
fits of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway had been
greatly reduced, and the company, therefore, was now
considerably over-rated. They had endeavoured to ne-
gotiate a reduction of the rate, but:without effect, and
at length; on their appealing to the justices in special
sessions assembled, their appeal was dismissed on the
ground that it was too late, two special sessions having
intervened between this period and the snaking of 'the
rates. Now, although an appeal to quarter sessions
against en infumal rate must be made within a given
time, the 6th and 7th W. IV., chap. 96, which, pro-
vided for appeals against over-rating, place's no limita-
tion whstever upon the time for makirig the appeal
special sessions, and consequently the justices iu this
iustsnce, bad actea erroneously in dismissing the appeal
of the company. It wai the first time this point_ had
been raised, and it was of great interest to the profession
that it should he decided without delay.
Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN granted a rule to show cause;
without pronouncing any opinion upon the point.
Rule nisi accordingly.
The Court afterwards sat at Nisi Prim..

COMMON PLEAS.--(THIS DAY.)

(Sittings in Banco.)
The Court was occupied during the morning in hear-
ing the further argument in the part-heard case of Moss
v. Smith, which involves the question of the liability of
the owner of a vessel freighted Valiaraiso for the
damae sustained by a part cf the cargo during the
voyage. The Court had not come to a decision when
our report kf .

SHERIFFS' Co URT.—(THIS DA Y.)

(Before .Mr. Under-Sheriff Bunenum..)
HORNE V. WILCOX AND ANOTHER.

• This was an inquiry to assess damages for false im-
prisonment, defendant not having put any plea in denial.
Mr. Bonny appeared for the plaintiff, and stated that
the plaintiff was an old man 77 years of age, who had
resided for upwards of 60 years with an unblemished
reputation, at Stoke Hammond, near Leighton Buzzard.'
On the 17th of May last ho was at ealbury fair with
his son, and bargaineJ fur a horst) with defendant, and
ultimately purchased it for 6!, and they went to the
Plough public-house to carouse, but from some unex-
plained cause defendant (Wilcox) gave both plaintiff and
his son into the custody of a policeman named Lett,
who forthwith took them up-stairs and handcuffed them
both together. This was about seven o'clock in the,
evening, t:ncl_about twelve they were allowed to undress
and were again handcuffed before they went to bed. The
next morning defendant went to a magistrate residing
three miles distant, who told him that he was a fool for his
pains, and Lett then said that plaintiff might be released
on paying one-half cf the expences of the detention, which,
however, was refused, and he was released about the middle
of the next day. The Learricd Counsel Said that the con-
stable might have been protected in what he did to
secure the prisoner, but he was not justified in resoning
to unnecessary violence, and as this was the result of de-
fendant's act he was amenable.

Jonathan Horne, the son of the plaintiff, was called,
and, in his examination in chief confirmed the a'_ov©
statement. .

Mr. PRENTICE cross-examined the, witness, and
elicited that the plaintiff was a horse-dealer. He was
also strongly pressed as to whether John Horne (wit-
ness's brother) had not sold the horse to Wilcox on the
previous day, and whether plaintiff did not partly pay
for it with a 51. note, which he, Wilcox had paid to
John Horne on the previous day; he was also questioned
as to whether the horse was hot glandereip, and whether
a "plug" did not fall out of its nose as Ikrilcox took it
home, • but the witness evaded direct answers. He did
not know that Lett was constable of the parish, but he
knew that he took them into custody. Wilcox said, " I
give these people ,in charge," but did not say what for.
Witness asked what .he bad done, and 'was taken for,,
and Litt replied, "I'll let you know what you have
done," but did not explain.
Mr. PRENTICE addressed the jury, and contended that
the deiendant had only committed an error in law, for
it must be clear that there had been a conspiracy be-
tween 'plaintiff; and his son John, for the horse had
been sold for 12/., and repurchased by plaintiff for 61.
The selling a glandered horse was an offence against
the Jaw, but 'Wilcox, instead of giving plaintiff in
charge, ought to have laid the case before a magis-
trate, and obtained a warrant. As it was the defen-
dant, having committ:d ,the error, must abide by the
consequences. • e

Ta Learned UNDER-SHERIFF, in summing-up, said,
the selling a glandered horse was undoubtedly an offence,
but there was no positive proof as to the facts; it was clear
that the law had been broken, and although the cork-
stAble might have had a legal defence, he had not pleaded,
it, and both defendants were liable, but the amount of
damages was entirely for the consideration of the jury.
A Juror wished to 'know what the plaintiff hid his
damages at?
The UNDER-SHERIFF said that had nothing to do with
the matter, as it was merely a flourish of the pen of the
special constable, who could put it down at 50/., 5001., or
5,000/., it was for the jury to decide the point, and not
take a plaintiff 'a character at his own valuation.
The jury, after a shout consultation, gave a verdict
for 15/.

MARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY.)
AN OLD TRlCK.—George Marsh, and John Francis,
two rough-loOking fellows, known to.. the police as rt-
gu!ar " duffers," were charged with attempting to de-
fraud John Blandon of 225., under the following cir-
cumstances :

It appeared that on are previous night the prosecutor
was in Mr. Atkinson's beer-shop, in Cumberland-
market, when the prisoners came in, and asked Mr.
Atkinson if he wanted any tobacco, as they had some
of the real sort, am) would sell it at 2e. per lb. They
then produced a sample feen a small package,
which Mr. Atkinson examined, and, finding it
to be genuine, he offered to purchase 121 b. at
Is, 9d. per pound. The prisoners agreed to this, and
Marsh said he had got it stowed away at a coalshed;
and if Mr. Atkinson would send a man with him he
would deliver on payment of the money. Mr. At-
kinson accordingly gave prosecutor a sovereign and
three fourpenny -pieces, win strict injunctions not to
part with the money until he had examined the article.
They then Itfz, the house, and instead of going to a
coalshed, they took him to a low public-house in the
neighbourhood of Oxford-Street, where the prisoner
Marsh showed him a parcel, which he said contained
twelve pounds good weight, and wanted to put it
in a box which he carried. He refused to
allow that, and was proceeding to open the
parcel, when the prisoner knocked it out of his hand and
ran out of the house. He picked up the parcel, and
went in pursuit 4f the prisoners, whom he overtook after
a sharp run and gave them in charge. The package was
subsequently examined and found filled with sawdust,
with the exception of about a quarter of areounce of
genuine tobacco which was spread on the top.
Lockerby, I 80", proved taking the prisoners into cus-
tody. They ev, re well known to the police, and if they
wrre remanded, he had no doubt but other charges would
be brought against them. •
Thee prisoners were remanded accordingly.
A CURIOUS Case.—Mary Levy, a handsome and
fashionably-attired 'female, was brought before Mr.
Bingham, charged with stealing a gold watch and appen-
dages, value 201., belonging to Mr. Henry Parrott, a
gentleman of fortune, residing at Walnut Tree Ville,
Hurst, near Wokingbarr, Berks.
The prosecutor stated that, about ono o'clock this
morning, he met the defendant, and accompanied her to
her lodging, at 7:, Princes-street, Leicester-square. Be.
fore retering to rest 1 e pieced his watch on the dressing-
table, and gut into bed. About eight o'clock the defen-
dant awoke him, and said the landlord hod sent for a
quarter's rent, which was 101., and that witness must
give her the money to pay it. He said he had not got it
in his pocket. She then took his watch and chain off
the table, and said she would detain it until be gave her
the money in addition to the 30/. he owed her. He told
her if she did tot give it up he would go to the station;
and on her still re fusing to give it up he went to the
station, and baring procured a constable, returned and
gave her in charge. In reply to Mr. Bingham, com-
plainant admitted that he knew the defendant twelve
months ago, when he kept her for four or five weeks,
during which time he spent upwards 4f 2001. upon he-.
Mr. BINGHAM said, under those circumstances he
would ditchafge defendant it she gave up the watch.
The d4fendant gladly consented to this, and was dis-
charged.

EXTRAORDINARY RECOVERY OF LOST
Last eie a gentleman residA.,t in the neighbourhood
Iladdiegton united that town for the annual collec-
tion cf his accounts. Ihving received about 500/., he
entered a shop there, and upon examining his money
missed tl o sum of 100/. lie imm«liataly retraced his
steps, and chanced to encounter a group if children in
the street eagagLd in the examinatien of what .semento be pictures ; but which, upon a more narrow inspec-
tion, he &mid to be his missirg net-s, each of 201., value.
They were, of course, recovered from the childre ,
who received in return a small Lratuity.—Edenburgli
Advertiser.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY —Trtiflie fOr
• •T • 1,3, IL Mutt. L.-,
9571. 19i. 7d.; awd, 541. 10s. 6d ; steam-boats, 731.
1,0851 12s. 7cl.
2i. 6d,—Totsl,

FRENCH PLAYS.
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

Herold's chef d' ceuvre, WA last and greatest com-
position, the opera of Zampa (which but fur the utter
absurdity of the plot, and more especially of -the
denouement, would be one of the most popular operas
in Europe), was produced here last evening in a style
and with a completeness 'which left nothing to be
desired, and which will go far to .render Zampa
popular with an English audience as a whole, as
various portions of it—such, fur instance, as the
overture and the preghiera in the first act—have ever
been. Zampa; ou, la Fiancée de Marbre, was ori-
ginally produced at the Opera Comique, in Paris, on
the 3d May, 1831, and at once attained the highest
pitch of popularity. The music was imported into
this country shortly afterwards, and the overture to
Zampa became a stock piece at all concerts, festivals,
and music meetings. Several attempts were made
to "cook" an English opera (or what in those days
passed for such) from Zampa, but they were all unsuc-
cc ssful. The English audiences were in general incapa-
ble of appreciating either the beauty or the science of the
music,and the plot ss as sales an extravagant caricature
of Don Giovanni, that Herold's music was again rele-
gated to the concert-room, and it was not until about
four years since that any attempt was made to give
an English audience an opportunity of judging of
the merits of Zampa as a whole. At that time at
was announced that Zampa was to be produced at
her Majesty's Theatre, and that Fornasari was to
sustain the character of the Pirate hero, and Madame
Persiani that of the heroine. Neither pains nor ex-
pence were spared to put it on the stage in a manner
worthy of its composer and -of its high European
fame, and those who had heard it at the Opera
Comique were rejoicing in the -idea that at length
this country would be enabled to appreciate its
merits. But, alas 1 fir the uncertainty of human ex-
pectations, on the day it was to be produced, Fornasari
was'taken ill and his place was taken by a certain Signor
Felice, who made the most unmistakeable fiasco ever
recorded in the annals of Her Majesty's Theatre.
Signor Fels! not only ruined himself but
he ruined the opera, for when Fornasari, on
his recovery, - appeared in the part of Zatripa,
the opera, notwithstanding the strength of
its cast (which included Madame Persiani,
Lablacee, and if we mistake not, Mario), went off
coldly, and was, we think, only ones. repeated.
Since, then, no attempt has been made to produce
the opera in London until last evening, when it was
produced in its original form, with M. Chollet, the
original Zampa, and we are happy to add with its
original success. The Zampa of M. Chollet is a
thing to be •remembered, no other artiste has ever
approached him in his delineation of this part, and he
most assuredly shares with the composer the credit of
the immense popularity which this • opera
has acquired in France. Zampa is a reckless
daring pirate, an unprincipled seducer, a coarse,
not a vulgar Don Juan, we say not
vulgar advisedly, because Zampa, pirate, and mur-
derer, and robber, and abductor as he is, was origin-
ally of gentle blood, he was the Count de Meaza,
and as Don Cesar de. Bazan preserved the manners
of the Count de Garoffe, beneath his rage, so does
Zampa preserve the gallant bearing of the Sicilian
gentlemen in the midst of his crimes, his blasphemies,
and his debaucheries. This phase of the character is
never lost sight of by M. Chollet, - and thus he
creates an interest in Zampa, which no other actor has
ever succeeded in creating. His delivery of the
music was admirable, the 'celebrated cavatina "Il faut
souscrire a mes lois," was both acted and sung with
the greatest spirit imaginable, and told most effec-
tively, and the barcarolle " Douce jouvencelle,"
which occurs in the finale to the second
act, . was given with exquisite taste and feel-
ing, indeed throughout the opera M. Chollet was
perfect he seemed to be the character he represented,
to have divested himself of his personal identity, and
to have assumed that of the gallant, reckless Sicilian
pirate. Mademoiselle Charton sustained the charac

ier of the heroine Camille, a part originally created
by Madame Casimir, who, however, was not equal to
Mademoiselle Charton. The " complaintei" of which
the far-famed preghiera which forms one of the most
popular subjects in •the overture is the refrain, was de-
livered with infinite taste and feeling by Mademoiselle
Charton, and her acting and singing in the quartette
" Le Voila," in which she first becomes aware of

Zampa's designs upon her- person and her fortune
were full of pathos -and power. In all the concerted
pieces she was admirable, and we have no hesitation
in declaring that in our opinion Mademoiselle Char-
ton is the best Camille who has ever ap-
peared, and this we say with the full
recollection of Madame Persiani in the
same character. M. Dilly. Leroy was the Alphonse,
and was overweighted. He is a clever young man,
but is as yet of scarcely sufficient calibre to grapple
with such a part as Alphonse. Rite, the attendant
'of Camille, who recognises in Daniel, the mate of
Zamps,'as her runaway husband,found a most amusing,
.espiegle, coquettish, and pretty representktive in Ma-
demoiselle Guichard, while Daniel, the man of
" striking" character, was admirably acted by M
Soyer. As perfect as the Zampa of M. Chollet,
though in a totally different style, was the Dandolo of
M. Chateaufort. Dandolo,- the bellringer, is, our
readers will remember, the funny man of the piece,
who is always in a fright, and M. Cbateaufert, who-is
one of the few really humourous actors which
the French stage can boast, represented Lima
with forty-Keely power of unction. The liaise
en scene was perfect. The costumes

were

elegant, and some new scenery, painted by Mr. Muir,
wai beautiful. As to the concerted and orchestral

music— cela va sans dire, ' Hanssens directed, and
Hanssens band performed it could it be otborwise

than perfect. The applause was enthusiastic through-
out the opera. M. Cholletlwas called on at the end

of the first act, and again with,Mademoiselle Charton
at the conclusion of the opera: The house was fully
and fashionably attended.

HALVING THE CENTURY.
(From Punch.)
Just now our table is cracking and groaning under
a heap of letters on both sides of the controversy
about the completion of the first half of the century.
One correspondent illustrates his view by proposing
that we should drink the half of a hundred barrels of
stout in as many years, and informs us that half the
hundred barrels will have been drunk so soon, but
only so soon, as the last pot of the fiftieth barrel shall
have been swallowed. Our only objection to this
mode of determining the question is, that he has not
sent us the means of trying his experiment. We
may apply similar observations to the propositions of
those who ask us to smoke so many bundles of cigars,
eat so much cheese, and wear out so many suits of
clothes in half a century. The quantities of these
articles are represented as given quantities, but all we
can say is, that we have not received any of them.
Ai to the matter in dieputei -we need only remark,
that if the year 1800 was the first year of the century
1801 was the second year, 1849 the fiftieth, and the
present year of grace, 1850, is the fifty-first. If not,
then otherwise. To us the question would seem
perfectly clear, but for the following communication,
which, being brief, we publish in extenso :
" Mr. Punch,—My cousin Bridget, to my know•
ledge, was born on January 1, 1800. If we are now
beginning the second half of the century she must
just have entered her fifty-first year. Yet a lady's
word is undeniable; and all who have been acquainted
with Biddy for the last 20 years can testify that,
during all that time, she has declared herself to be
only thirty.—Your constant reader
" TEMPUS FUGIT."

DIAMOND DUST.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal.)
Flatterers only lift a man up, as it is said the a igle
does the tortoise, to get something by his fall.
He whom reason rules may with safety rule others.
If we would peg etuate our fame or reputation we
must do things woith writing, or write things worth
reading.
Mankind are more what they are made by mankind
than what they are made by their Creator! The wolf
is f4-ocious because hunted from a whelp. The snake
turns upon you because you disturb and pursue it. The
child grows surly because unjustly coerced. But, above
all, man becomes unjust and cruel, because pursued with
cruelty and injustice by his brcther man.