The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-25 00:00:00

FERENCE.

The conference met yesterday at ten o'clock; Sir
Joshua Walmsley, Esq., M.P., in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said the first business of the day
would be to receive reports and suggestions from the
provincial delegates present ; and he should first call
upon -

Mr. BIGGS, of Leicester, who said that the
political tone of Leicester was, he was glad to
say, perfectly healthy.—(Hear, hear.) They had
there a National Reform Association, with its officers
and working machinery, and he did not doubt but that,
let an election come when it would, they would return
two Radicals to Parliament, as they ever had done.—
(Cheers.) The principle which recommended the asso-
ciation to the men of Leicester was, that it laid down that
all men were equal in the sight of the law. This
was a principle which lay at the root of all progress,
whether they looked at the rapid spread of the Christian
religion, or to the social progress of the new world, as
exemplified in California more particularly. In all the
other objects of the association, whether of political or
financial reform, the men of Leicester perfectly con-
curred, and would support with all their energies.
Mr. ADAMS, of Derby, next addressed the conference.
At Derby the committee was formed for working pur-
poees, and contained men of every shade of liberal
opinion. In their neighbourhood they had formed a
National Land Association, and although circumstances
had not yet been very favourable, yet 400 shares had
been taken up already. He also wished to say that the
Chartists of Derby, though they had not abandoned their
claim for universal suffrage, had given their support
most unhesitatingly to the National Reform Associa-
tion.—(Cheers.)

Mr. M'GRATH, of Dublin, said he was present at this
conference to assure it of the support of the bod
men with whom he acted in political i f
mat-
ters. lie hoped that the Reformers of
Eng-
land and Ireland would no longer be keptng
separate as they bad been by the devices of their rulers,
and he could assure the conference that on better ac-
quaiutance they would find that the Reformers of Ireland
would act with all their energy in support of this great
national movement.
Mr. EVAN JONES, of Merthyr, South Wales, next
presented himself; to make known to the con-
ference the sentiments of the great manufacturing
districts of Wales. They were warmly attached to this
movement because they looked upon it as the cmstitu-
tional precursor of further political and constitional
refolns. The fiat had gone forth spinst all political
and ecclesiastic& despotism, and it was impossible for
Lord John Russell, with his present House of shams and
hypocrisy, to attempt to arrest it. The town of Merthyr
was under the dominion of l i
iur princely run-
m asters, who moved it as they chose; but he hoped
that the present movement would in its course emanci-
pate them as well as others from that aristocratic
thraldom.

Atter Mr. Lewis and Mr. Harrison, delegates from
Stroud, and Mr. Whitewall, of Peterborough, had ad-
dressed the w
terext
Mr. Tu WOE' London, thought that the great
object of this conference was
but to give practical
not to indulge in remarks
upon political questions,
sugges-
tions for the operationsassociation. The
great and first object was to increase the number of
ofsugg es
the-
electors, and he thought by attention to the means which
every district had in its power, by carefully
ing the registrycarefully
, and selecting esouvpeerrisenetresndin-
, every parish, that object might, to greatahethought extent, be
so, hethe
secured. If he might be allowed say tlo
t constitution of the present association was too
aristo-
cratic—there was not a sufficient leaven of working men
in the council. He thought that if there were a confe
r.
ence every two years of all the members of the association,
when the council were re-elected then new blood
would be infused into it.
Mr. CHARLES GILPIN wished to explain that there
were on the council many men who were elected, and
who had no other qualification than the payment of one
shilling per annum.
After a few words from Mr. THWAITES,
Mr. COBDEN, M.P., then rose, amidst loud and re-
peated cheering, to address the conference. He pre-
sumed that Ole reason why the gentlemen whom
he saw before him had come up to Loudon
that they were dissatisfied with the doings
was,
of the House of Commons, and he should
be a great hypocrite if he did not agree with them.
He presumed they thought that by an extension of the
Parliamentary representation they would eecure a better
House of Commons than the one they now had. and
that not only he, but every Englishman who professed
to be a lover of his country, would be a hypocrite if he
did not agres with them in that. Again, he would
presume that as they called themselves a
Financial Reform Association they considered that
an extended suffrage would ensure a more economical Ad-

ministration. The House of Commons well deserved any
suspicion and mistrust with which the people regarded it,
for he must say that the House of Commons was much
more extravagant than the Ministry itself, and it was
upon this House that they would have to work, in this
part of their operatious. Well, then, how was this t be
done ? What were the means to. be employed ?
It could only be done by long and arduous work. No
better maxim could ba found than Sir R. Pce,'s cry
which he raised for his own party—register, register!
The whole political power in this country sprang from
registration; that was a subject to which they must pay
the greatest attention—the only political, moral, and
constitutional means by which they could effect
any object in this country was by attention
to the register. Every man when he got home must at-
tend most earnestly and zealously to this subject, must
form associations for this purpose. If they did this,
they would gain a great influence in Parliament. This
was an object which could not be effected by central
efforts—local efforts were the great means to
be applied. But it was not only in the boroughs
that they must work, the greatest opposition to
the cause of reform was only to be found among
the county Members, and he would give them instances
of this. On Mr. Hume's motion 104 county Members
voted against it and 13 for it, 5 of whom only were
English Members. On Mr. Berkeley's motion for the
ballot 14 county Members voted for it and 82 against it.
Oo his own motion 19 county Members voted for him and
99 against him. So they saw that it was the county Mem-
bers who stopped the way in improvements. He firmly
believed that it was by acting upon the counties that the
Anti-Corn-law League had succeeded in its efforts. He
(Mr. Cobden) had always said, during that agitation,
that let them only get South Lancashire, the West
Riding, and East Surrey, and they could carry the repeal
of the corn-laws. Well they got them, and they carried
the repeal. Let them, then, by means of the National Land
Associations work upon the counties, and there could
be no doubt that they would, in like manner, carry their
objects. He (Mr. Cobden), was a vice-president of one
of these associations, and he was happy to say that up
to this time they had secured 340 votes, and were pre-
pared to lay out 10,0001. to secure more. Let
them exert themselves to the utmost to secure
the establishment of similar associations. Such
Land Associations as these were the only means
to interest the people in the ownership of property, and
that was one of the greatest blessings he thought which
could happen to the country, because it would tend to
elevate them above those habits of wasteful extravagance
and immorality which more than anything else
would prevent the people from obtaining those
political privileges to which they were entitled.
The Government were taking the matter into their own
hands with respect to Ireland, and, probably. Scotland
would follow next session. The times were favourable
for the efforts of this association ; only let it work well
and it would soon grow fashionable, as the League had
done. They could not go on much longer in this
state. Look at the present state of parties in
the House of Commons, all broken up and shattered ;
things must be changed, and great leaders of parties must
look out of doors for some party to cling to, and nu
que.tion would be taken up but an alteration in the re-
presentation of the country. They had then a very
cheering prospect before them—the country would be in-
debted to them for their efforts. Let them go on in the
same way as they had begun, and they would carry ano-
ther great reform, and it would be carried for ever with-
out the necessity of ever looking back. The
Hon. Gentleman then concluded amid loud cheering.
Mr. CHARLES LIISHINGTON, M.P., rose to move the
first resolution. He apologised t 3 the meeting far not
addressing the meeting in support of the resolution, as
he was labouring under severe indisposition caught
during his attention to his duties in the House:—
" That, as the Freehold Land Societies have bean
proved to be powerful auxiliaries to the cause of reform,
by adding to the number ef voters in the county consti-
tuencies, and as they are a means of promoting thrifty
and provident habits among the working classes, this
conference is of opinion that they are worthy of the
earnest support of every Reformer, and easy be wide
greatly instrumental in promoting the reform move-
ment."

Mr. LATIMER, tenant-farmer, of Hertfordshire, sup-
ported the resolution. He claimed fur his fellow-agricul-
turists a share in the present movement. They had
failed to get justice from the landlords, and they now
turned to the people of England to obtain from them the
protection and security which they desired for the secu-
rity of their capital. He ridiculed the idea of ever re-
turning to the old system.
Mr. MACGREGOR, M.P., then addressed the meeting,
assuring them that he should be ready to support the
objects of the association in his place in Parliament.
This concluded the morning sittings of the confe-
rence, which adjourned until two o'clock.
The conference resumed at two o'clock, Mr. Biggs,
Vice-President, in the chair.
_ _

Mr. REYNOLDS wished to take the sense of the
meeting upon two resolutions which had been submitted
to the business committee, but had been rejected by
them. He must, however, observe, with deference, that
this assembly, though called a conference, had as yet
done nothing which could entitle it to the name'of a con-
ference.—(Partial cheering.) The first resolution was
one embodying the principle of universal suffrage; the
second advocating the payment of Members, and pledg-
ing the association to carry out these principles.
Mr. TILLETT rose to explain the reasons why the
committee had rejected the resolutions. They conceived
that the object of this conference was to consider
the best practical means of carrying out the principles
which had been stated as the basis of the association,
and not argue what the principles should be, inasmuch
as they were all laid down in the programme of the as-
sociation. If Mr. Reynolds did n, t agree in these prin-
ciples, it was his duty to retire from the conference.
The CHAIRMAN then put the question, whether the
meeting would entertain the resolutions, but the con-
ference rejected them by an unanimous vote.
After Mr. BURTON, of Winchester, had addressed a
few words to the conference, the Chairman introduced
Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., who said that ho should abstain
from saying anything in praise of the principles which
they were met to carry out, but should confine himsef
to endeavouring to give the conference a few hints
as to the best means of carrying out those principles.
He thought that nothing could be of more importance
than to present an undivided front to the country, both
in the nature of their propositions and in the means of
carrying them out. There could be no doubt that their
propositions would meet with men who would not
entirely agree with them ; some would think
they went too far, and some that they did not
go far enough. Now one reason why he always
felt confidence in defending their propositions was,
that they were not directed against any particular class, or
involved propositions which did not affect all classes alike.
It was a mistaken notion, but one which had great sway
in the country, that there was something in the power of
the many which would be destructive of security of
property and good government. There was one course
which some speakers followed which he was free to say
did some degree of harm, and that was identifyin,z
the destruction of their own particular objects of politi-
cal hatred with the purification of representation. For
instance, if he (Mr. Bright) were arguing in favour of
this proposition, he would not say that he calculated that
the moment he got an extension of the suffrage he
would upset the Established Church, because that would
do no good, but only frighten many men who thought the
principle of an Established Church was quite right, but
who would go with him on the question of
Parliamentary reform. There were reasons quite
numerous enough without going to such reasons as
these. There was a strong tide of opinion flowing in their
favour even in the House of Commons; the progress of the
Irish Franchise Bill showed that there was no longer
any question of the absolute necessity of these
advances, but only how they were to be done. The
great care which this association had to take
was, that in their speeches and writings they should not
alarm the timid portion of the public, that they should
lay their propositions before the public in the most
tempting shape. If they did their duty they would have
little f: ar of opposition, but would gain one step in the
realisation of that great principle, that all real govern.
ment must be based on the concurrence of all classes of
the people. The Hon. Gentleman then sat down amid
loud and repeated cheering.
Dr. BOWKETT, of Poplar, then spoke to the resolution,
which was proposed by Mr. Lushington, M.P., in the
morning sitting.
Mr. F.RAZER, of Ipswich, next addressed the con-
ference.

After the first resolution had been put and carried,
Mr. CLARK proposed the next resolution, which was
seconded by Mr. TILLET, and carried unanimously. It
was to the following effect:—
" That the council be respectfully requested to pre-
pare a Bill containing the plan of reform prop )sed•by
the association, with a view to its introduction, in that
shape, to Parliament."
Mr. THWAITES then proposed," That this conference is
of opinion that for the future the members of the council
be chosen by election, without reference to the amount of
their subscription, by a conference of delegates from
various parts of the country, and that the ten pound
qualification be discontinued; and this conference would
further recommend that the council shall henceforth be
chosen at the annual conference."

Mr. WADE, in seconding the resolution, took . occa-
sion to find fault with the former constitution of the
council, which, he complained, did not afford sufficient
opportunity for the admission of the working classes.
The CHAIRMAN then explained, and some discussion
followed with reference to the resolution, in which Mr.
Alcock, Mr. Alderman A. ScholefiPld, delegates from
Sheffield, Mr. Prout, and Mr. G. Dawson joined, when
The CHAIRMAN announced that the hour fixed for the
adjournment of the conference. had arrived.
The debate upon the resolution was then adjourned
until the meeting uf the conference at ten o'clock to-
morrow (this day).

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
MANCHESTER,. TIIESDAY.-Our market has relapsed
into a state of quietness like that in which the Niagara
found it at the beginning of last week; with this differ-
ence, however, that, allowing for an abatement from the
more extreme demands of producers, they have now
taken their stand on a rather high range of prices. The
quotations may be broadly stated at id. to id. per
lb. above those of this day fortnight, in mule and
water twist, and lid. to 3d. per piece in wide shirtings,
printing cloths, and other medium fabrics. Exceedingly
little business has indeed been done, either in yarns or
goods. The home dealers appear to be gaits out of
the market, and the continental merchants are watch-
ing the course of things, in a state of harassin; per-
plexity, cautious not to operate beyond the supply of the
immediate and more pressing wants of their correspon-
dents, who, as well as themselves, are anxiously
noting the successive ebbs and flows of prices in
this market, and losing something of confidence with
every vibration. However, the firmness of producers
for this class of buyers is materially sustained by the

British •• •• •... •• •• ••
Ditto l• rovincial•• ••
Brighton . ........
City of London ......
ContinentalConsolidat.
Equitable.• •..... •...
Imperial •• .... •• •• ••
Independent .........
London•• .... •• •• •• ••

Ditto.. • • • • • • • • • • • •

Do., Parl. Preference
Phcenix . • • .• • • • • • • • •
Ratcliff ... • - .. • • •• • .
United General • • • • • •
Weatrainster Chartered
Ditto, New . • • • -• • •

CANALS.
..1 1 I r; ' 'Dividend
Names of r., Dividend Price. Names of ...,
Companies. A per ' Companies. .0 F" Price.
..1 Annum.
r. Annum. i.c
----- -- - --- -- ---
X X
Ashtn& Oldh 97 71. 113 Macclesfield% 100, 21. 105. 50
Barnsley ...• 160 121. 180 Neatk ••• • • • 100 161• 340
lirknk&Abrg 150, Si. 85 Oxford.. •• • • 105 201. 185
Birmingham 401 41. 86 Peak Forest. 7g , 31. 18s. 70
Coventry.... 1001 251. 210 Regent's.... 33 11. 2s. 18%
Derby .•. . . 100;: 61. 63 Rochdale.. • • 65 " 50%
Ellsmre&Chs 1331 565. 41 Somrset Coal 150 7/.105. 130
GrandJunctn 1001 5/. 85% Do.LkFdSt 12 61. p. c. -
Grand Surrey 100 2/. Os. 30 Stffrd &Wore 140 281. 410
Grand Union 100 11. 10s. 24 ShrewsburY•• 125 151. -
Grantham .. - - - Stourbridge- 145 201. 300
}Unfit & Ant 39 7s. 6d. 5% Severn and/ 21. Os. -
Lancaster . 100 21. 32% Wye Rail.j 26
Leeds& Livrplloo 301. 322 Warwick& / ,i., 41. 64
lOC
LoiCester ....1100 5/. 66 Ilirming. 31- '
Letcstr &Nthl 83 41.- 48% Warwick& } 100 31. 42
Loughboroghi 142 701. 510 Napton..
9fonmouthshlloo 81. - Worcstr &} 78 31. 41%
Mntgamrysla I 100 - - Birming.
Meltralwbri 100 - - Wilts & Brks. -14 s. 8
rasa' or SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of I Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
---- --
5. . X I. d -
Bank of Scotland
British Linen Company U. per cent. 100 0 100 0 0 18G
;aledonlan Bank
City of Glasgow Bank . 61. per cent. 10 0 10 0 0 12%
Clydesdale Bank --6% per cent. 20 0 10 0 0 13%
commercial Bank .. • • 71. per cent. 500 0 100 0 0 169
Eastern Bank .....• • • 61. per cent. 25 u 10 0 0 94,
Edinb.& Glasgow Rank 61. per cent. 5 0 5 0 0 51. lOs
Exehangeßnk of Scot.. 4/. per cent. 100 0 50 0 0 8
Isle of Man. Company 71. per cent. 10 0 7 0 0 _
gational Bank 6% percent. 50 0 10 0 0 14%
gorthof Scotland Bank 41. percent. 20 0 50 0 3%
North British Bank • • - - - -
Royal Bank of Scotland 51. per cent. 100 0 100 0 0 132
Union Bank of Scotland 81. per cent. 100 0 50 0 0 90
Western Bank-- -• • 71. per cent. 50 0 50 0 0 74
Alliance Firs and Life 8%1.pr cent. 10 0 10 0 0 20%
B. Accord. Life aud Fire - 20 0 010 0 -
dritish Guarantee Ins. 41. per tent. 10 0 1 0 0 16.; Od
Caledonian Fire Insur. 101. per cent. 100 0 10 0 0 23
Colonial Life ... - 50 0 1 0 0 It, 3s,
City of Glasgow Life 6/. per cent. 25 0 2 0 0 21. 9s
Edinburgh Life Incur 6l. percent. 100 0 12 10 0 20%
East of Scotland Life - 10 0 015 0 -
Eng. & Scot, Law Life 51. per cent. 50 0 217 6 -
Herculeklnsurance Co. 71. per cent. 100 0 10 0 0 -
Incur. Co. of scatlnd 6l. per cent. 100 0 10 0 0 -
Life Assoc. of Scotland 6/. per cent. 10 0 1 0 0 li. 103
Mercantile Life
National Fire and Life 51. per cent. 10 0 1 0 .0 228.'6,1
North British Insur.
North & West of Scot. 61. per cent. 10 0 1 0 0 -
Scottish Life and Guar. - 20 0 011 0 -
Scot. Mas. and Gen. Life , - 0 015 0 -
Scottish Union Insrnca . 6 Ul. pr cent. 20 0
1 0 0 231.04
Standard Life ...... - 41. per cent. 50 0 45 0 9%
United Dep. Assurance 51. per cent. 10 0 1 0 0 16s 6d
MISCELLANEOUS.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of raid. Price.
Annum. Share.
- . -
X. s. d. X. s. d.
Auction 3fart........ 2/. 55. 50 0 0 - 25
Australian A,,Triculturl 1/. 100 0 0 30 0 0 lb
Anglo-Mexican Mint., IL Ws. 10 0 0' 10 0 0 -
Ditto, Dail Shares.. - - I 210 0 -....
Canada ... ••.... .. .. Gl. per cent. 100 0 0,32 10 0 26
Uppr Canada Bonds 51. percent. - - 89
Ility Navigation .... - - - 91
Gen. Revers. & Invest. sp. c. k., bs, 2/ 100 0 0 100 0 0 94
Equitable Reversienry 51. pr cont. 100 0 0 100 0 0 -
Gen.SteamNavigation 11. 81. 15 0 0 14 0 0 -
London Inst!tution ... - - 78 15 0 -
Rotel Institution.... - - 126 5 0 -
Peninslr& Orient.Stm. 8/. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 80
Reversionary Int. Soc. 1%1. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 91
Royal Mail Steam •• - 61 18. 4. p. c 100 0 0 60 0 0 52;
South Australian... •• 11. per share. 25 0 0, 25 0 0 19
Van Dieman's Land.. - 100 0 01 29 0 0 -

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
C ..)17111' OF QUEEN'S BENCH, April

T QUEEN V. WHITMARSII.---'TLIE NATION AL I. :IND

ICHEME.

thi; case a man'han►us had issuocl, directed to
Fi.ancis Whitmarsh, the registrar of Joint Stock Coro-
p,'Jlies, commanding him to register the National
Land Company's scheme. The defendant made a re-
turn, in which he alleged that the company in ques-
tion was not established for any commercial purpose,
or for any purpose of profit ; that the company car-
ried on the business of bankers, being constituted of
more than five persons, and carrying on such business
within sixty miles of London ; and, lastly', tha: the
scheme was illegal, it being conducted in the manner
of a lottery. The prosecutor demurred to the return,
which demurrer now came on for argument.

Mr. PEAcocK (with whom was Mr. Macnamlra)
supported the demurrer. He contended that the Na-
tional Land Company was a commercial company,
established for the purpose of profit, such profit being
employed, not for the private advantage of any one
member, but for the purpose of promoting the general
~uccess of the scheme. The object of the scheme was
the purchase of land, to be divided in allotments
amongst the subscribers. He denied that the com-
pny was a banking company within the meaning of
the B Inking Acts, although it had established a bank
for receiving and applying the contributions of the
members. Neither was it a lottery, no member
having an interest opposed to that of the rest of the
members, though it was true that some might at an
earlier period than others have the enjoyment of those
interests.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (with whom was Mr.
Welsby) said that if the present company was enti-
tled to be registered, any company for the distribu-
tion of money or goods by lottery would be entitled
to the Bathe privilege. He contended, first, that the
company was not established for any commercial
purpose, or for any purpose of profit. The object of
the Act was to encourage trading companies which
might produce a profit to shareholders and the public.
In this case no profit could be made, and if it were
made, that was merely subsidiary to the main object.
Secondly, the scheme was a lottery, which did not
depend on whether there were blanks or prizes. The
whole scheme was founded on the fact, that those who
drew prizes were entitled to an advantage ; and the
question of the amount of advantage was immaterial.
Thirdly, by the 25th section of the Act parties who
applied to have their schemes registered were bound
to state their business, and they were bound to tell
their whole business. They had not done so, for it was
returned, and not denied, that they carried on the
business of bankers in Holborn ; and it was contrary
to public policy to give any sanction to a company
which was violating the law.

Mr. PEACOCK, in reply, said the only object of the
parties was to comply with the Act of Parliament,
for it would not give them power to do anything
which could not be done without registration.
There was a power given to the directors to sell as
well as purchase lands, so that great profit might
result.

Lord CAMPBELL—VaIuabIe mines might be dis
co% e red.

Mr. Justice ERLE-But that is not the purpose for
which the company is established.
Mr. PEACOCK—If any profit were made, that
would be sufficient. It could not be regarded as a
:ottery, for those who drew prizes must pay five per
cent, upon the amount of capital expended in the pro-
duce of the land allotted, and in the improvements ef-
fected upon it. He (the Learned Counsel) thought
that most owners of land would be very willing to let
all their land on these terms.

Lord CAMPBELL—The scheme may be a lottery
after all, then, it being considered an advantage not to
have any lands allotted.

Mr. PEACOCK snblnitted it was merely a partition
of their own lands among part-owners. It the company
should be declared to be illegal, those who hAd paid
deposits would not be able to recover them blek ; but
if it should be declared to be legal, and entitled to
registration, it would be brought within the Winding-
up Act.
Lord CAMPBELL said the Court would take time
to consider whether the company was established for
a commercial purpose, or for any purpose of profit,
and whether it came within the Lottery Acts ; but
not the other objections which had been urged.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, April 24.
(Sittings in Banco before Lord Chief' Justice WILDE,
and Justices CRESSWELL, WILLIAMS, and TAL-
FOURD.)
This was a special paper day.
LEVY V. MOYLAN AND OTUERS.
This was an action of trespass, in which the plain-
tiff, Lawrence Levy, complained that on the 20th of
February last he was taken into custody and dragged
to Tothill-fields House of Correction, where he was
kept two days in confinement, by order of the defen-
dant Mr. Dennis Creagh Moylan, late judge of the
'estminster County Court, against whom, Francis
Smedley, his high bailiff, William Flack, assistant
bailiff, and Frederick Tracey, the governor of the
fothill.fields House of Correction, the present action
was brought. The death of the defendant Moylan
was suggested on the record, and the other defendants
pleaded a plea in justification, setting out that the
trespass in question occurred in the district of the
Westminster County Court, of which the de-
fendant Moylan was judge ; and justifying
the trespass complained of, under a warrant
signed by the judge, ant under the seal of
the Court directed to the defendant Smedley and the
constables, peace officers within the jurisdiction, and
to the governor of the House of Correction of Tothill-
fields, the said warrant reciting that the plaintiff did
wilfully insult the defendant Moylan during the
sitting of the County Court, and that thereupon he
(the said judge) ordered him into custody until the
rising of the Court, and required the High Bailiff then
to deliver him to the Governor of Tuthill-fields Gaol,
to be there kept in custody for seven days, or until
he should be discharged. The defendants severed in
their pleading, each pleading similar pleas. To these
pleas there was a special demurrer, on the ground
that the pleas were bad for uncertainty, "in not
showing in what manner the plaintiff insulted the
said Dennis Creagh Moylan, whether by words, ges-
tures, or acts, and on the ground that the warrant
recited contained no commitment to any prison.
Mr. S. TEMPLE, in support of the demurrer, con-
tended that the warrant was 'bad. It should have
shown on the face of it what the insults were, in
order that the jurisdiction of the judge might be seen
from the warrant itself (" Gosset v. Howard," 10
Q. B.). The officers of the Court were only justified
by the warrant when it was good, and they were
bound to judge of its sufficiency, otherwise they
would be exonerated for carrying out warrants of
the most illegal kind. Where were you to draw the
tine, if the warrant ordered an officer to take a man
and hang him ?

Mr. WHATELEY—Ronnd his neck.—(A laugh.)
Mr. TEMPLE—A duty beyond implicit obedience
to the warrant must be imposed on the officer, or
grave inconveniences might result. Then what was
to be deemed an insult? If the insult were to be
depend on the caprice of the judge, and need not be
set forth, a man's liberty might depend on the state of
the judge's digestion and on whether or no he supped
heavily the night before. It might be said that the
113th section of the County Court's Act which en-
acted that "if any person shall wilfully insult the
.judge, or any juror, or any bailiff, clerk, or officer of
the said court during his sitting or attendance in court,
or in going to or returning from court, it should be
lawful for the bailiff or other officer, by order of the
judge, to take such offender into custody and detain
cim until the rising of the court, and the judge should
have power afterwards to commit for seven days,"
gave the judge the power to decide what was a suffi-
cient insult to warrant the exercise of this au-
thority. That power must, however, be liable
to supervision, and the nature of the insult ought
to have been stated. Would it be said that
twirling a white feather before the judge would
warrant such an exercise of power? Or if a
person put his thumb to his nose on meeting the
high bailiff in the street, would that warrant it ? Or
was an advocate to be deemed to be insulting the
Court because he was tedious ? He submitted on
these grounds that the warrant was insufficient and
was no justification to the officer, and that the judg-
ment must be for the plaintiff.
Mr. WHATELEY, Q.C., for the defendants Smedley
and Flack, submitted that the warrant was a sufficient
justification for them, and that they were not hound
to inquire into the sufficiency of the warrant. There
could be no doubt that the judge had the power to
commit for contempt, the court being a court of re-
cord, and there was no doubt that the 113th section
of the County Courts Act gave that power. Supposing
the insults were as suggested by his Learned Friend,
they were gross insults. A gentleman now in Par-
liament had supposed the act of "taking a sight" to
be derived from the Phoenicians, but it was no doubt
a gross insult; and twirling a white feather in a
judge's face might so irritate him as to render him
incapable of fulfilling his office. But were these acts
to be described in the warrant, the warrant would be
ridiculous. He submitted the warrant was sufficient.
Mr. OGLE, for the defendant Tracey, addressed
similar arguments to the Court.
Mr. TEMPLE having replied,
The COURT took time to consider its judgment.
THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON V. PARKINSON

This was an action of debt, the verdict in which
was made subject to a special case. The plaintiff
brought the action to recover a large sum alleged to
be due by the defendant for coal dut:es, the defendant
being the proprietor of a new kind of fuel imported
into London from Newcastle, called the Tyne Patent
Fuel. The component parts cf this fuel were 87
parts of small coal, 10 parts of pitch, and three of
lime. The question raised in the special case was,
whether or no this fuel was substantially coal, and
subject to the duty as such, or a different manufac-
tured article.

Sergeant Ch:tnnell appeared on behalf of the
phlintnr, ::rui Will-s for the defendant.
'Pia? Col7rt-r c!,:ferred giving judgment until they
hal loAecl i:Ito the it.atat-es relating to the impAtion
of tiles.? we therefore po3tpone a more de-
tailed report.

COURT OP EXC,REQUEII, April 24.
(Sittings at Nisi Prius at Westininster, before Mr.
ALDEasort and Common Juries.)
There were 20 causes entered in the list for the
day. The only one of them which would justify a
notice was