The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-29 00:00:00

other difficulties arising from Mr. Gibbs's delay in
producing his accounts was this, that the claims
against the sister parish could nut now be lega..y de-
manded—(Cheers)—nor was it just, when they con•
sidered the migratory habits of a commercial popu-
lation, that the present parishioners should be called
upon to pay debts contracted seven or eight years
ago by their predecessors, and which had only not
been paid at the time because Mr. Gibbs had neg-
lected to furnish his accounts. He contended, there-
fere, that if there really were any balance due to Mr.
Gibbs, it would be impossible for him to receive it.
He apologised to the meeting for having nothing
better to submit to them than a dry statement of
figures, and that he had not been able during his
year of office to benefit the parish, except in aiding,
as far as he could, the law suits in which they were
engaged. On the part of his friend Mr. Rock (who
was unavoidably absent in the country) and himself,
he begged to say, that however happy they would be
in retiring from office, and leaving to others some of
those difficulties with which they were surrounded,
they did not think it would be just to the parish or
to themselves that they should take advantage of the
present election to flinch from the task which had
been imposed upon them, and place other persons in
the thorny seats they occupied.—(Cheers.) If their
fellow-parishioners considered they had done their
duty—seeing that a delay in the proceedings in which,
on the part of the parish, they were engaged, had
arisen from circumstances beyond their control—if
they still possessed, as he believed they did, their
confidence, his friend Mr. Rock and himself would feel
bound to remain in office, and carry the war through
to, he trusted, a successful issue. They all, however,
knew the uncertainty of law, and it was possible that,
after all, the Court of Queen's Bench might give a verdict
against them. If so one step would still remain to them—
diet was to do whltt he originally suggested, namely,
to P.pply to Parliament for relief under the extraordi-
nary circumstances in which they were placed.—
(Hear, hear.) Of two evils they should choose the
least, and it was better to incur the anxiety and ex-
pense of an appeal to Parliament than to submit to the
domination of the present churchwarden (Gibbs) du-
ring the remainder of his life. With regard to funds,
he was sure they would all come forward with ala-
crity, and cheerfully subscribe what was necessary.
Upon that point he thought there could be no doubt ;
but, should the subscriptions fall short, he now re-
peated the offer he had made at the outset of these
unpleasant meetings, to advance on loan without inte-
rest, what should be necessary beyond the subscrip-
tions, to carry out their object.—(Cheers.) He hoped
they would unite in setting an example to other pa-
rishes by persevering in that which must ultimately
take place—their final deliverance from the thraldom
of twenty years.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said the object fur which the meet-
ing was assembled was to elect churchwardens and
other officers for the ensuing year. Their friend Mr.
Rock was compelled to be at Barnstaple on private
business—it was his native place, and he had gone
down to found a literary institution : but he had
written to him, expressing. his willingness, with Mr.
Flight, again to take upon himself the office.—(Hear,
hear.) He (Dr. Croly) had the greatest possible
aversion to the principle of re-elections—for they had
had quite enough experience of " perpetuity."—
(Hear, hear, and laughter.) But there could not be
any objection to these gentlemen ; on the contrary, it
was, under the present circumstances in which they
stood,, highly desirable that the re- election of these
gentlemen should take place.—(Cheers.) After the
election, the Vestry-clerk would report upon the
present state of the legal proceedings as far as he could
do so.
Mr. CUNLIFFE Ras fully satisfied with the conduct
of the two gentlemen named during their period of
office, and as they were all in the same boat, they
must swim with them and shove them on. It was
quite clear that no new churchwardens could act in
the matter. He thought the conduct of Mr. Michael
Gibbs on the previous day was improper and ungen-
tlemanly in dealing with such a parish as Walbrook.
—(hear, hear.) He moved that Messrs. Rock and
Flight be churchwardens for the ensuing year, and
he trusted that their fellow-parishioners and fellow-
citizens would come forward to assist them in resisting
the disgraceful proceedings of Mr. Gibbs.
Mr. WILSON seconded the motion, which was put
by the Chairman, and carried uuanimously.
Mr. FLIGHT acknowledged the confidence reposed
in himself and colleague, and said he thought for the
same reasons given for their re-election, it would be
desirable also tore- elect the overseers.—(Hear.) They
were equally with him and Mr. Rock desirous to do
all in their power, and that they had been restricted
to doing so little was not their fault.—(Hear.)
Mr. CUNLIFFE —I suppose they have got no funds ?
Mr. FLIGHT—Not a shilling.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Henry Rock and Mr. Williams were then re-
elected as overseers.
Mr. CUNLIFFE said he understood the sexton had
not received any salary for two years, and the or-
ganist's salary was equally in arrear. How much
was due to Dr. Croly he did not know, and perhaps
it was of no great consequence to a rich man like
that reverend gentleman—(k. laugh)—but it was
monstrous that Mr. Michael Gibbs should thus go on,
taking all he could get and pay nothing away.
A PARISHIONER observed that the poor organist
was starving, her salary from that church being
almost her only means of existence.
The CHAIRMAN agreed that it was monstrous that
any one man should thus receive the parish money,
and then turn his back to all applications either for
payment or explanation—disdaining, as it were, the
public voice. He had himself received nothing for
two years and a half. He was, however, quite willing
to postpone his own rights and his own complaints for
those of others. lie was not precisely in the position
Mr. Cunliffe suggested, but he preferred having his
stipend in his own pocket than that it should remain
in the possession of any other person. This might be
the weakness of human nature, but if it was, he was
fain to acknowledge the infirmity.—(A laugh.)
Mr. FLIGHT had understood that, pending the de-
cision upon the legal disputes, Alderman Gibbs was to
pay everything as well as receive everything.
The VESTRY-CLERK said that it had been arranged
that the parish income should be paid into the bank
of Messrs. Willis and Percival, and applied to parish
purposes.
A PARISHIONER—But has the money been so ap-
plied?
The VESTRY..2LERK—CertainIy not.
The PARISHIONER—Why that is a departure from
the principles of common honesty.—(Hear.)
The VESTRY-CLERK said he had suggested the
propriety of making the payments, in accordance with
the understanding, but as yet without success. With
regard to the progress of the law proceedings, the
action in the Common Pleas was tried on the 19th of
December, and, under the direction of Lord Chief
Justice Tindal, it assumed the shape of a special case,
the point raised in that Court being reserved for the
courts above. The duty of preparing that case, in
order to obtain the decision of the superior court,
rested with Alderman Gibbs's solicitor or counsel.
It had not, however, been as yet prepared, though
it had been applied for over and over again. With
whom the fault of the delay rested he did not
know. On the 15th of April next, when the term
commenced, an application would be made to the
Cou-rt on the• 'subject. With regard to the pro-
ceedings in Chancery, the accounts were before the
Master, vouchers had been required
_for the payments,
but there had been great difficulty in vouching
many items of large amount. The large sum of 2,0001.
for law charges was one of the disputed items which
was now under the consideration of the Master, and
not yet decided upon ; and there were several other
items upon which the Master would have to decide.
At present the proceedings were stayed in conse-
quence of the vacation, but they would be resumed
with the commencement of the ensuing term, and he
believed that ultimately they would be enabled to re-
lieve the parish from the burden which Mr. Gibbs
had entailed upon it. Sergeant Talfourd, Mr. Adol-
phus, and Mr. Peacock were all confident in the
opinion that the parish would ultimately be restored
to its rights. He regretted the painful position in
which the parish was placed in consequence of the
law's delay, but it was inevitable under the circum-
stances. It was suggested that the Court of Chan-
cery should be applied to, to appoint a receiver of the
parish income ; but counsel advised that it was most
desirable, if possible, to keep the parish free from the
interference of the officers of that Court, and accord-
ingly it was arranged that the future rents should be
received and paid into a banker's, to a joint account,
for parish purposes, and in the names of Michael
Gibbs and Thomas Whittaker, who claimed to be the
churchwardens. He had with some difficulty dis-
covered that the rents were paid into the bank; but
although he had made several applications, and had
undertaken that no question should be afterwards
raised by those he represented, no disbursements for
parish purposes, in accordance with the arrangement,
had yet been made. It was a question how far the
present parishioners should be saddled with the debts
of their ancestors; but he hoped before Trinity term
to be able to bring this part of the case before Lord
Langdale for his decision.
In reply to a question from Mr. Cunliffe, the
VESTRY- CLERK said, as the preparation of the case fur
the decision of the Court above rested with Alderman
Gibbs's counsel, he proposed to apply to the Court to
appoint a time within which the case should be pre-
pared, or judgment go in favour of the parish.
The Rev. CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, as the ves-
try of the joint parish have been summoned for to-
day, and as they are row actually waiting in the
church, I am necessarily precluded from going into
any detail on the subject of our meeting. But, as
the nature of the accounts has been adverted to so
emphatically by one of the churchwardens, and ,
laid procee.ie.ge. and their tardiness have been refer
red to in the-natiatiye oe'' our Vestry-clerk, I mos;
willingly abandon topics WhiCh nothing but n strict
sense of duty could lead me to touch urn at al'

ST. STEPHEN'S, WALBROOK.
The following is a fuller report of this meeting than
%", ei, gibe paper of )rslerday :
On Thursday the vestry meeting, which had been
summoned by notice in the regular form, for the
purpose of electing churchwardens and other officers
of this parish for the year ensuing, was held in the
Vestry-room of the parish church. Much interest
had been excited in the parish by the proceedings of
Mr. Alderman (now Lord Mayor) Gibbs, on Tues-
day lest (a report of which appeared in our paper of
Wednesday), in holding a meeting of the Select Ves-
try, for the purpose of forestalling the objects of the
present meeting, and procuring his own re-election to
the office of churchwarden, and the result was, that
shortly after ten o'clock, the hour for which the meet-
ing was convened, the Vestry-room was crowded
with the principal parishioners.
Dr. Croly, the Rector, took the chair, a motion to
that effect having been moved and seconded.
The CHAIRMAN said it might be proper, perhaps,
in the first place, that the Vestry-clerk should read a
statement of the circumstances that occurred on
Tuesday last, which had rendered it necessary for
him to make the protest he had forwarded to Mr.
Gibbs, which would also be read.
The Vestry-clerk, Mr. CROSBY, then read the fol-
lowing statement :—" St. Stephen's, Walbrook.—
meeting of the parishioners took place this morning,
the 25th of March, in the Vestry-room, under the
following circumstances :—On Monday last, with the
consent of Dr. Croly, a notice, calling a vestry meet-
ing for Thursday next, the 27th instant, for the elec-
tion of parish officers for the ensuing year, was duly
published. When this notice made its appearance,
Mr. Gibbt, who still claims to be churchwarden,
caused another notice, calling a vestry meeting for
this morning, the 25th, for the like purpose, to be af-
fixed on the church doors. So soon as the fact of the
publication of the latter notice came to the rector's
knowledge, he sent to Mr. Gibbs a written protest
against it, alleging that the intended meeting was
irregular and illegal, not being, as the law required,
called with the consent of the rector. This morning
at the hour of ten, the time appointed by Mr. Gibbs,
several of the respectable parishioners assembled in
the Vestry room. Shortly afterwards Mr. Gibbs,
accompanied by Mr. Eddison and Mr. Whittaker,
came into the Vestry-room, when Mr. Gibbs, without
taking any notice of the rector's protest, said, I have
to request that all who are not of the select vestry
will retire.' Dr. Croly then attempted to address
Mr. Gibbs, but was immediately interrupted by Mr.
Whittaker, who said, I move that the select vestry
do adjourn to the Lord Mayor's private residence, at
33, Walbrook. "this was seconded by Mr. Eddison.
Mr. Gibbs then held up his hand, and declared the
motion carried. Mr. Gibbs and his companions then
left the Vestry-room, but Mr. Whittaker shortly re-
turned, and said to the rector, Dr. Croly, I invite
you to the Lord Mayor's house.' To this the rector
replied, ' I invite you to stay here and do your duty.'
During this proceeding there was no chairman of the
meeting. After some conversation among the
parishioners expressive of disapprobation of Mr.
Gibbs' conduct, the meeting separated."
The REV. CHAIRMAN then proposed that the protest
he had made against the meeting which had been
announced by Mr. Gibbs, as being contrary to law,
in being called without the consent of the rector,
should be read, which was done by the Vestry- clerk
as follows :—" The rector of the parish having ob-
served upon the church doors a notice for a vestry
meeting on Easter Tuesday, signed Michael Gibbs
and Tho:nas Whittaker,' hereby protests against that
meeting, as being summoned without the rector's con-
sent, and therefore, contrary to law.
(Signed) " G. CROLY, LL.D."
The CHAIRMAN observed, that of the illegality of a
vestry meeting, held without the consent of the rec-
tor, there could be no doubt. Dr. Phillimore, in
giving his opinion upon that point, said—" U-
ndoubtedly the usual, and, therefore, under ordinary
circumstances, the preferable course is for the
churchwardens to give notice for the holding of'the
vestry, but in so doing they are ministerial to the
incumbent, and they are bound to consult his wishes
before they do so :" and in Steer's Parish Law,
p. 267, it was laid down that " vestries for church
matters regularly are to be called by the church-
wardens, with the consent of the minister." There-
fore, as he, as the rector, had not given his consent
to the meeting on Tuesday, he felt justified in peo •
hibiting it, and protesting against it as illegal. He
would now call on Mr. Crosby to state to the meet-
ing the circumstances of the law actions in which the
parish were parties against Mr. Gibbs.
Mr. FLIGHT wished first, as having been one of
the churchwardens elected for the previous year, to
lay before the vestry, as far as he could do so, the
statement of affairs in connexion with his office.
One would have thought that Mr. Gibbs would,
looking at the large body of parishioners by whom
he (Mr. Flight) and his brother churchwarden (Mr.
Rock) had been elected in the previous year—one
would have thought he would have been satisfied
that his twenty years' domination over the parish, had
now come to an end. Had Mr. Gibbs consulted his
own character he would have immediately retired,
and permitted his successors to commence the work
of reparation which was so much needed in the
affairs of that unfortunate parish.—(Hear.) But no ;
the sweets of office were too attractive to that gentle-
man to allow of his giving them up without a struggle
—(Cheers)—and the result was, that by actions
brought against Mr. Rock and himself, they had
been prevented being of any use to the interests of the
parish, and that time which might otherwise have
been beneficially employed for the benefit of the
parish had been necessarily devoted to the examina-
tion of such accounts as had been furnished. They
had investigated those accounts, and he would state
to the meeting some of the results. He found that in
1825, when Mr. Gibbs came into office, the amount
administered as relief to the casual poor for the year
was 6/. Bs. 6d. ; but the very next year, under Mr.
Gibbs's management, it had increased to 51/.—(Hear,
hear)—and the year following to 671. In his first year
of office Mr. Gibbs managed to increase his charge
ninefold, and the second year twelvefold.
Mr. CIINLIFFE here asked where were the vouchers
for these payments ?
Mr. FLIGHT said it appeared that this was a sort of
relief for the money distributed in which the church-
wardens were not bound to give vouchers.—(A
laugh.) But if gentlemen were surprised at this
they would be still more astonished at the general
results which he was about to state to them. In
1825, the aggregate amount expended in relief to the
poor was 610/. ; but the next, under Mr. Gibbs's
management, it was 7501., and in two years after he
came into office the annual charge under this head
was 860/.—(Cries of " Oh, oh," and " Shame, shame.")
in three or four years it had increased one-third, and
this in a parish containing 60 houses, making about
14/. a year poor-rate per each house.— (Oh, oh.)
The next extraordinary item in these accounts was
law charges. The amount charged under this head of
expenditure during the twenty years was 2,0001.,
and upon consulting with Mr. Crosby, the vestry-
clerk, on the subject of this extraordinary item,
he was informed that the alleged payments had
not really been made, but were merely entered—(Cries
of " Oh, oh")—and that there were no receipts till
the month of February, 1845. The amount set down,
therefore, for law charges appeared to be a mere playing
with figures rather than an actual payment. Look-
ing at the very large increase in the amount charged
for poor relief in these accounts, he had been led to
ascertain what had been the effect of the New Poor-
law Act, and had compared the expense of the first
year under the new law with the previous heavy pay-
ments, and what did they suppose was the result ?
To his great surprise, he found that under the new
law the charge to the parish had been reduced one
half.—(Cheers.) The complaint usually made against
the union of parishes was, that to unite a poor parish
to an opulent parish was to increase the charge upon
the latter, and it would naturally be inferred that a
parish like Walbrook would feel severely the union
with a parish like Whitechapel, which contained a
very large number of poor; but, with this disadvan-
tage of taking in a poor partner, he found that the
saving in the poor-rates, as compared with the annual
charge in the accounts, was nearly one-half.—
•(Cheers.) And, be it remembered, that this great
saving could not in this instance have resulted from
the superior management of one man or another, be-
cause the same gentleman who had managed matters
in that parish was now the chairman of the Poor-law
Union.—(Cheers and laughter.) Then he looked to
the mode in which the parish rents had been managed '1
under Mr. Gibbs. In looking over the list of de-
faulters he found amonzst others the name of their
late rector—the Rev. G. Townley ; then there was
the late Alderman Smith, for the rent of a house, 1271.
Another defaulter was a neighbour of his own, Mr.
Fen, a late select vestrymen, and, two years ago, one
of ;Ale most powerful supporters of Mr. Gils.—
(Hear, hear.) The parish, it appears, were losers to
the amount of 171. 10s. by his bankruptcy. These
were losses of which he complained bitterly, as they
need not have been incurred. It would be remem-
bered that in some of the earlier meetings that had
been held by the parishioners of Walbrook to obtain
their rights, he (Mr. Flight) had complained of the
frightful system of jobbing that had existed in the
parish time out of mind, and had complained that a
genOetnan, a near neighbour of his, rented a place be-
longing to the parish for 381. a year, having paid no
premium, which he for many years let for 901., and
now let for 80/. a year. It was under Mr. Gibbs's
management that a house worth 901. a year had been
jobbed away for 381. a year; and even that 381. the
parish did not get.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN deptw4tfd the use of such strong
expressions as jobbing.
Mr. FLIGHT resumed—lt was not to to woudere4
at tht-A the parish was in a state- of poverty, when, to
suit the interested views of select vestrymen and their
supporters, the parish property was let at less than
half its value.—(Hear, hear.) Jamonpt many

n HA n n
tit wit ik 4 1/44::

AND

Vtibitc Opinton.

" Who rubs may read."

PORMIGN.
On Monday the King of the French, attended by
eilouel Dumas, the Count de Strada, and two orderly
o _lfieers, left the Tuileries at three o'clock for St. Cloud,
and returned at six. In the evening, their Majesties re-
ceived the Prince de Ligne, the Brazilian Minister, the
Spanish Charge d'Affaires, the Minister of Public In-
torletion, Marshal Duke de Reggio, the Marquis de
le,ey, Counts de l'eei.gle, de Montesquiou, and Du-
en.lle', M. Gauthier, Peer of France; M. Jubeliri,
Under Secretary of State; Baron Langsdorff, and Col.
"xi ref the English army.
e Toulon letter of the 19th iniemit states that, by a
`,llsPatch addressed by the Minister of the Marine to the
euritime Prefect of that port, a discretionary power is
given him for discharging 1,500 sailors of his division.
Marshal
Mayor of Bordeaux has r. ceived litter from
Soult. announcing his intention to establish a
Impo this year near the cite, for the exercise of a body
troops under the command of the Princes.
_u July last a duel took place between two pupils of
the
i Pelytechnic_School, named Serviant and Delamarre,
% ahich the latter was killed. The tribunal of
'Versailles ordered the arrest of the survivor, but an
appeal was made to the Cour Royale (if Paris, which de-
eared that duelling did not fall within the reach of the law.
ftealust this decision the law officers of the Crown lodged
IneaPpeat to the Court of Cessation, and the Supreme
enhenal sent the case before the Cour Royale of Orleans,
which decided in the same way as the Cour Royale of
Ws. An appeal was also lodged against this judg-
ment, and it was heard on Tuesday by the Court of Cas-
alti°ll. The Court, after hearing M. Ledrit-Rollin, in
gaPPert of the jndgments of the Royal Courts of Paris
and Orleans, and the Proeureur-General Dupin, in sup-
!en of the appeal, decided that duelling is a crime within
re Operation of the Cede, and that the Court of Orleare.,
In declaring the contrary, has committed a violation of
Q law. The case is to be brought before some other
11 '"Yal Court, to be hereafter designated by the Court of
eassation.
_A duel with swords was fought on Sunday in the
'Dula de Vincennes, between Lieut. Lege, of the Navy,
and a person who remains unknown. They were without
V seconds, and the Lieutenant received a wound in
pethe side which causes considerable fears fir his life.
The two brothers of the fbllen combatant, being made
acquainted with his condition, hastened to him with a
surgeon. On being questioned cs to who was his adver-
sarYi he declared that he was a person unknown te him,
with whom he had quarrelled at a place of public enter-
tainment. The police, dissatisfied with this account, is
;lain; every endeavour to discover him. A sword and
%Pair of gloves, left by him on the ground, have been
Cured.
An accident happened on Tuesday morning on the
palls and Rouen Railroad. At the station of Epone,
two
Mantes, and where the train stops for ten minutes,
passengers who were in the rotinde of one of the
"'"igences of the Messageries alighted. The sign el of
starting had been given, when suddenly these pc sons
autde their appearance, and, running after the train,
which was moving slowly at the time, came up with it.
one of them attempted to get into the carriage, but his
foot slipping, he fell upon the rail, and the train passing
over his body, he was instantly killed.
,An Algiers letter states that, three days after the ex -
beenof the
returned in the nuMber of the killed was taken out
4_`" the ruins so little injured that in two days he was able
,e return to his duty.
There was rather a heavy fall of snow at Marseilles
°n the 22d inst., and the cold was still very severe.
, A letter from Zurich, of the 21st, states that consi
uerable excitement prevailed there in consequence of the
leParation of the Diet without the settlement of the
'question of the Jesuits, and it was understood that
neither Lucerne, the Valais, nor Friburg, would revoke
the decisions that they had come to in favour of that
'tY• It was believed, however, that the free corp
Would generally submit to the order of their dissolutions
COURT-rasHION.A.I3I.E.

The Queen Dowager and suite are expected to arrive
at; olurlborough House, on Wednesday next, from Witley-
‘'ourt, for the season.
The Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Buccleuch, Lord
°tanley, and those Ministers absent from town for the
parliamentary recess, are expected to return to town
v!r_ly in the ensuing week, a Cabinet Council having
been appointed for the earlier part of the week.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston arrived in town
on Wednesday last from visiting Viscount Melbourne at
"aroeket Hall, Herts, and have since gone to Broadlands,
their seat near Romsey, Hants, with the intention of
lernaining there until the re-assembling of Parliament.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne enter-
tained the Duke of Devonshire and a select party at
ginner, on Wednesday evening, at Lansdowne House.
The Marquis and Nlarchioness of Downshire are ex-
pected to arrive in Hanover-square, for the season, on
the 10th of next month, from Hillsborough Castle,
county Down.
The Earl and Countess of Ripon are passing the re-
!ese in town. The Noble Earl's health is considerably
-unproved.
The Earl and Countess of Granville have arrived at
their residence in Bruton-street, from the Duke of De-
'ionshire's residence, at Kemp Town. We are gratified
to learn that the Noble Earl has completely recovered
from his recent indisposition.
The Earl of Harrowby, who has been again seriously
indisposed in Grosvenor-square, is much better. Sir B.
Brodie is in attendance on his Lordship.
His Grace the Archbishop of York and Miss Har-
t9urt are expected to arrive at the Venerable Arch-
bishop's residence in Grosvenor-square, on Monday or
eusday next, from Nuncham Park, Oxford, for the
4'j,s4on. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,
his ef.rene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar,
t 1,141 a ,:jstinguisbed circle are visiting his Grace at
411theham.
Lady Macnaelten, widow of the late Sir William
aenaghten, Bart., who was brutally assassinated in
'''fghanistan, is expected :o arrive at Mivart's Hotel to-
morrow from India, apartmeu:s having been engaged for
er Ladyship's reception.
SAW 2ND POLICCIa:;
The proceedings in the Diocesan Court o= _lnquiry, in
the case of the Rev. Mr. Monckton, have been rez,umed.
At Kinton, a St. Helena merchant, named Solomon,
recovered 5001. damages against the Times newspaper,
for a libel. The libel charged him with having put un-
wholesotte water on board a ship called the Moffat, in
tc4laequence of which several the crevv and pas,engers
'4lkl suffered severely from (illsess. The defer-hints
4ttecapted to prove the truth of the allegation, but failed.
James Parry, charged, at Oxford, with wounding
his
Colley, at Berrington, by thrusting a poker into
is eye, on the 4th Feb., was acquitted of the felony, and
sentenced to one month's imprisonment for the assault.
• A nursemaid named Jarvis was indicted at Coventry
aer the murder of an infant which had been entrusted to
her care. Her defence was that a strange man had
entered the house, and, seizing a carving-knife, had
stabbed the child. The jury acquitted her.
The grand jury at the Middlesex Sessions have re-
turned true bills against a number of persons for com-
mitting atrocities in Spa-fields' burying ground, and the
Court has ordered process to issue against them.
The affairs of the Heir-at-Law Society have again
se come the subject of investigation before the sitting
Alderman at the Guildhall.
Johu Brown, a police-constable of the A division, was
Placed at the bar by the direction of the Police Commis-
sioners to answer the charge ofhaving assaulted a married
Is, °man named Pearton. The prisoner said that he had
'men merely larking with her. He was fined Ws.
At Marlborough-street, Robert Bugo, shoemaker, No.
30, Litchfield-street, was charged with having criminally
'Assaulted Elizabeth Woodbine, his servant, was fined 51.

PLIGILISTIC ENCOUNTER FOR FORTY POUNDS.—On
Wednesday the fight between Welsh and Brooks came
04,1 t in the presence of a fair sprinkling of the pugilistic
'alley. A steamer (the Running Rein) was provided to
,ultvey the combatants and their respective friend i to
tOe locality selected for the contest, starting from the
Sa.'rey side of London-bridge. Welsh last fought
SunCb, of Cheltenham, and came off the victor. The
Parties' having landed near Rainham, Essex, the noces-
-4,1117 pre.i.iminaries were arranged, and the men came into
the ring, a ‘ad the battle was opened. Welsh was seconded
`33' sing,
a ad Turner, and Cullan and Berry did the
requisite for Cirnuks' The men commenced fighting with
'caution and the first two rounds occupied six minutes.
'rooks then hit out with earnestness, Welsh stopping
*.eientifically- 'fie next round Brooks let fly his left,
Lind made a call at the viatualling office of his opponent,
but who resumed, nothing daunted. It then became
manifest that Welsh was the best " General," and the
contest had occupied forty-five minutes, when an intima-
tion was given that the police were about to make their
iiearance. The pugilists and the interested parties
PWere soon oa the qui rive, and quickly made themselves
-earce- They embarked on board the steamer, where a
nrsultation was then held as to the best course to purstionue,
all parties being anxious not to be foiled. A p posiro
*B3 arranged to make a trip to the Kent aide of the
river, and a ring was there formed, and Welsh and his
friends entered, but Brooks and his parties wt7e non est
Tventus, and in this way the affair ended, without an;
definite result being arrived at. The referee will decide
as to the disposition of the stakes. The men fought
gallantly, neither :evincing any desire to take any unfair
vantage. The well ht of the combatants was stipulated
t
° 9 stone. In the bettiog, Welsh was the favourite.
HARDSHIPS ON LICEN9fD VICTUALLERS. Wed-
daY a respectable licensed ';'?:ctualler applied to the
t,4giStrate at Clerkenwell Police-c.:.`nrt, in reference to
e transfer of his license. He had le;,' his house in the
cit
lirly part of February, and the in-coming tenant had
go.'te through the legal formalities. On the Bti: of March
he cbtained a certificate from the justices, a;', their
~•e(7lisit., meeting, and subsequently they applied at t;:.,1
-; urt t'nder Catain Rous's Act, to have it signed by
thep. magis,`rate, top protect him (the in-corner) egainst in-
'u'lners or :Excise penaltie4, for selling liquor-. until
the transfer co!ilti be made by the Licensing ALgistrates
at their next special sessions. They produced the as-
signment, agreement, inventory, and the certificate, and
_
urged that if the magistrate would sign the latter docu-
rin-comer ut it would save the in-coer from all risk until the
e!se could be transferred. The magistrate, however,
declined interfering, and the parties left the Court com
plaining of the hardship of the case. They were anxious
'I II Obey the law, and have the transfer made, to pre-
v4l
.- 'it any risk, and it was important to the body of the
tra‘le that something should be done to protect them
from . such hardship, and unneee*PrY
. inconvenience and
trouble,

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 29, 1845.

THE DIOCESAN COURT OF INQUIRY.

THE REV. MR. MONCKTON.

There are, however, two or three points, of wLich I
think it proper that some notice should be taken. One
is, that our meetings here are held in a spirit of vin-
dictiveness fegliinstl'Mrls Mather- Gibbs. Gentlemen,
I do not give him his present title ; it is only for a
season ; it will vanish from him before we shall have
learned to pronounce it ; and I venture to say that
he will be known much longer by the title of church-
warden of Walbrook than any of the flattering and
fortuitous honours of the scarlet gown. He calls
himself a persecuted man, and his persecution is of
this oriel. :—For nearly a quarter of a century he
has held the office of churchwarden, during that time
he has had the command of the whole parochial re-
venue, which, by his printed statement, I see some-
times amounting to 1,2001. or 1,3001. a year—and all
this without giving in an account to the parishioners
for upwards of nineteen years.—(Hear, hear.) The
necessity of repairing the church at last compelled the
united parishes to meet for the purpose of preventing
its ruin. They demand, before they are called_ on
for more money, to be informed what has been done
with the past. And this is persecution ! He asks
for time; it is given to him at my request; and this,
of course, also is persecution. A proposal is then
made to him to submit his accounts for those nineteen
years to arbitration, or to a public accountant, or
to three persons chosen by himself, and three
chosen by the parishioners. I can see nothing in all
this but the desire of a speedy and amicable adjust-
ment. But this, in the vocabulary of this sensitive
personage, is persecution. He at last gave in a por-
tion of an account; the parishioners naturally de-
manded a whole one. They were at length driven to
Chancery for the purpose of obtaining an account
with vouchers, the only kind of account that could
be satisfactory, or that, indeed, can be of the slightest
value between man and man. But this account they
have never seen, and we hear to-day from the Vestry-
clerk that the account before the Master is still drag-
ging on its lingering length, and fully substantiating
all the proverbial honours of the "law's delay." But
by whom was even the unvouched account audited ?
On this point the fullest impartiality is always ex-
pected. How was this expectation fulfilled ? The
names to this audit are actually those of the " select
vestry," the men whose conduct had been impugned
for the delay, and the name at the head of the list is
that of one who has still three years of churchwarden-
ship to account for.—(Hear, hear.) The printed
account made its first parochial appearance under an
escort of the Clay police.—(Hear.) Gentlemen, I
need no more than allude to the scene on that singu-
larly repulsive occasion. The fortification of the
church door—the planting of a police garrison in the
church porch —the grim wretchedness of the silly
son taking a lessen in the paternal profession, with
the church key in his hand, and pra stically inaugu-
rating himself into the mysteries of churchwarden-
ship—the little submissive clique within, catching
the droppings of vestry wisdom from the lips of their
master—and the whole terrified with the strong pro-
babilities that every roar of the people in the street
was the herald of a general invasion through the
vestry window. And yet, to what did this ridi-
culous preparation come at last—this favourite ac-
count, thus brought to the birth in aldermanic throes,
and with the detectors of burglars and pickpockets
for sponsors—this account, which, like a bottle of
old wine, was to make us in love with the
whole bin, and swallow it, lees and all—this ac-
count, which, like an old almanac was to revive our
memory of superannuated facts, things long crumbled
into dust, and Lord Mayor's days, never to return;
nay, of the glories of churchwardens themselves, ob-
literated by the remorseless sponge of time I—what
did it exhibit at last ? A balance in the hands of
Michael Gibbs at the commencement of his office to
the amount of several hundred pounds. This balance
speedily departing this life. Then twelve years'
rates uncalled for, and now, of course, like Owen
Glendower's spirits, certain not to come when " you
do call for them." Finally, a debt of 1,8001. is
brought against the parish by Michael Gibbs himself;
the church in a state of such dilapidation that it has
been presented several times at the Archdeacon's visi-
tation ; not a shilling in the pariah chest, so far as we
can fathom its extreme hollowness ; and the chief
stipends of the parish unpaid to the amount of a far-
thing! The sextoness's bills are due, as I am told by
her son this day, now two years ; the salary of the
organist, a widow, and living wholly by her profes-
sion, is, I am also told to-day, nearly two years due ;
and my stipend, as afternoon lecturer, is now due
two years and a-half.—(Cries of " Hear, hear," and
" Shame.") And from what does this extraordinary
state of things arise ? Certainly not from the pa-
rishioners. It is impossible that any parish can be
better disposed, or more ready to second all the efforts
of the incumbent. They are proud of their church ;
they desire to see its service honoured, every possible
addition made to its convenience and ornament, and
the full beauty of this singularly beautiful memo-
rial of the great master of English architecture
brought out by every aid of art, instead of being
given up to scandalous squalidness, and even to dan-
gerous and impending decay.—(Hear, hear.) At
this moment every eye may see the danger. The
floors of the aisles are exhibiting an increasing curve
from day to day. The whole of the south aisle has
sunk of late so much, that the weight of the floor has
torn away thegreater part of the bench, once strongly
fixed in the wall. As to the roof, its weather-stains
are palpable and alarming. The rain pours down the
walls, and nothing is more obvious than that repair
cannot be too immediate, or too extensive. Again, I
say, that the question is not of open or select vestries.
The proposal had been distinctly made to Michael
Gibbs to restore the select vestry to what it was about
the, time when he first became busy in the parish.
At the time of electing Mr. Pearce, the late vestry-
clerk, the number of the select vestry amounted to
fifteen, and this was but about thirty years ago.—
(Hear, hear.) But this proposal was peremptorily
rejected, and the Michael Gibbs model held on
" From quarter-day to quarter-day,
The silent, simple tenor of its way."
—(Laughter.) And what is the select vestry at this
moment ? Really, Gentlemen, I cannot answer that
question. A phantom comes the nearest to my idea.
A concatenation of cobwebs would be at once clear
and substantial to it. You saw on Easter Tuesday
all that remains of its mortal nature—the last fragment
of its existence above ground. At ten o'clock on that
day Michael Gibbs made his appearance in the ves-
try-room, at the head of his " select vestry "—select
indeed, for it consisted but of two persons. As for
Whittaker, his nominal co-churchwarden, he clings
so closely to the movements of his principal, that he
may be fairly regarded as his shadow, and ghosts le-
gitimately go for nothing in day-light. On the rec-
tor's reminding them of his protest against their
meeting without his consent, one of them moved an
adjournment, another seconded it, and Michael Gibbs
solemnly declaring the sense of his select vestry to be
for adjourning to his house, the question was carried
nemine contradicente. Never was resolution carried
with happier unanimity. Like the three tailors of
Tooley-street, calling themselves "the people of Eng-
land," the " tria juncta in uno,"
" The force of vestries could no further go,
To make a third, it joined the other two."
The select vestry retired, I suppose, to do as they
have done before, prostrate themselves at the boot-
toe of Michael the Perpetual, and, like the Chinese,
exclaim, "May your Excellency live for ever, and be
churchwarden of Walbrook as long after that as your
Excellency pleases." Gentlemen, if I were a hu-
mourist, I should have regarded the whole per-
formance as invaluable. The assembly, consisting of
two—the happy acquiescence of the debaters—the
division, in which the only persons who divided were
the " tellers"—the adjournment to Michael Gibbs's
parlour, converted, for the nonce, into a vestry-room,
where, unfortunately, the rest of the performance
was lost to the public eye, and reserved for the in
dalgence of his kitchen maids ! And is it in this man-
ner that the concerns of a parish in the centre of the
British empire are to be carried on, for the in-
struction of the people, the honour of the great Pro-
testant Establishment, and even for the charac-
ter of public authority, in its office of administering
justice to all, " to Cessar the things that are Csesar's,
and, by a still more impressive and imperious obliga-
tion, of rendering "to God the things that are God's?"
Gentlemen, with many illustrations of your wrongs
crowding on my mind, I must now break off. But
is it not evident, that if the acts of which you now
complain had been committed on a more extensive
scale, they must have produced the most formidable
resulls? Suppose that, instead of occurring on the
narrow scale of a single parish, they had spread over
the empire ! The principle is the same in one in-
stance as in ten thousand ; principle is independent of
minuteness or magnitude. Suppose, then, that in
every one of the ten thousand parishes of England
there was a twenty years' delay of all parochial
accounts, and at the end of those twenty years a de-
clared accumulation of debt, equal to three times their
annual revenue, that the fabric of every church was
threatening to come down, that every stipend was
unpaid for years, and that one man continued to be
placed in possession of the parish revenues from year
to year by his dependents—l on n that the supposition
shakes all natural belief—but if it could be realised,
we should see the empire convulsed from end to end,
the national hand fiercely attempting to right itself,
and nothing left to our posterity but to weep over the
wrecks of a revolution.
Mr. FLIGHT suggested that the meeting should ad-
journ for a month, as by that time it was probable
Mr. Crosby might have some intelligence to com-
municate as to the progress of the law proceedings.
It was ultimately agreed that the meeting should
adjourn till eleven o'clock on the 9th of AUT.
The thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted
to the chairman, and the meeting separated.
he

The proceedings in the Court of Commission as
against the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Monckton were re-
sumed on Thursday. The Commissioners took their
seats at ten o'clock, Dr. Lushington acting as Pre-
sident.
Sarah Lovett was first called, and examined by Mr.
Doane—She was fourteen years of age. Sarah
Huggins was her cousin. Was in the habit of going
to the parsonage. Always took her meals in the
kitchen. Mr. Monckton was there. lie sat with
Sarah Huggins and herself. After going one day to
the Zoological Gardens, found Mr. Monckton in the
kitchen. Saw Ann Day sitting on Mr. Monckton's
knee on the day they came from the Zoological Gar-
dens. Witness, during her stay, slept with Sarah
Huggins. On one occasion when she and Sarah were
in bed and undressed Mr. Monckton came into the
bed-room. He put the light about her eyes. He
said to Sarah that he thought she was asleep. Sarah
said she did not think so. He left the room in a
quarter of an hour.
Cross-examined by Mr. Warren—Upon one occa-
sion he came into the room, saying there was a cock-
chafer in the room. Had never seen any one sit on
Mr. Monckton's lap but one day. This was in the
presence of myself and Sarah Huggins. Ido not re-
collect telling any one but Mr. Sheldrick of any one
but Ann Day sitting on his knee.
The other part of the evidence of this witness
simply corroborated that of the parties previously
examined.
John Patient, examined by Mr. Doane—Was
minister's churchwarden of St. Peter's, and a member
of the School Committee. Had generally seen Mr.
Monckton in the parlour or study. The other portion
of the evidence in chief of this witness was not of any
general importance to the question raised.
Upon cross-examination, witness said he would not
believe Williams upon his oath.
Mrs. Sarah Huggins, examined by Mr. Doane—l
married Mr. Huggins four years ago. lam his
second wife. My husband is a carman. Sarah
Huggins and Susan Huggins are my husband's
daughters by the first wife. I knew their mother.
I got them their first places ; the only one that got
them places. Sarah went from Mr. Dunn's to Mr.
Monckton's. She was at Mr. Dunn's about one
twelvemonth. Mr. Monckton lodged at Mr. Milne's.
Susan was there, and I only wish that they were as
virtuous now as they were then. Sarah came first
to the Parsonage, then Ann Day, and after her
Fanny Froude, and then Susan. It was about four
or five months after Sarah was in the service of
Mr. Monckton, she was ill. Susan was also ill. Mr.
Collier was my doctor, but Sarah would not have
him. Ann Day came to me and made a statement to
me. I did not notice the conduct of Susan and Sarah
very particularly. I had meals with the girls after-
wards. and Mr. Monckton was present. I have dined
with Mr. Monckton End the girls at the same time,
and at the same table. I have had tea with Mr.
Monckton. Sometimes my husband went on a Sun-
day evening. When Mr. Monckton had company up
stairs, he did not come down early. My husband
and Mr. Monckton used to smoke and drink together.
In my sphere Ido think that Mr. Monckton made
himself too free. I have talked to Sarah about her
conduct, but she always denied it. I had heard
strange talk. I have been at the parsonage when
Sarah was ill. I have seen Mr. Monckton in the
bed-rocm when Sarah was ill and in bed. Sarah was
fainting. On one occasion Mr. Monckton was in the
bed-room, Susan being undressed. Sarah was asked
to leave the room, as he wished to have some pri-
vate conversation with her. I dined up stairs on
Christmas-day, 1843. My husband, Mary, Bessy,
my daughter, all dined together. A niece of mine was
there also. Mr. Monckton had a little with us. After
Mr. Monckton came home he was intoxicated. My
little niece sat on his knee, and she sang a song while
she was sitting on his knee. On New Year's-day we
dined in the kitchen. Mr. Monckton dined with me
and the servants. I and my husband, Susan, Ann
Day, and the servants supped together. Neither
Sarah nor Susan were subject to fits before they went
to Mr. Monckton's. Their health was exceedingly
good.
Cross-examined by Mr. Warren—l have never
known the girls subject to hysterics. I have been at
a public-house in Hoxton, and we had a quartern of
gin among the whole of us. Mr. Monektoii was
always kind to me. My niece sings well. The
servants took their supper at the same table. I have
not been more than six times at the rectory, and in
the course of twelve months I have met him there
more than six or seven times. Before the last Christ-
mas-day I may have been there five or six times.
After the Rev. Mr. Monckton came from church on
the last Christmas-day, he carved for us. Mr. Monck-
ton left us some wine and beer. He came back much
the worse for drink. I have not lived all these years
but that I know when a man was the worse for drink.
By the Rev. Mr. Russell (a Commissioner)—My
niece sat some time after she sang her song. Ido not
think Mr. Monckton sang also.
Miss S. J. Tennant (who is very deaf)—l reside
with my father and mother opposite to Mr. Monck-
ton's house. I know Susan and Sarah Huggins. I
saw them leave the house ; it was in the month of
August. That is my belief. There was a cab. There
was no luggage. The two sisters got in. Mr.
Monckton was standing at the door. I live there
now. I have seen Sarah since that time in the house
of Mr. Monckton, about a month before Christmas-
day. Ido think from the appearance of Sarah that
she was in the family-way.
Cross-examined by Mr. Warren—From the top of
our house I can see into the garden. We are nine in
family. I have never seen any impropriety in the
servants of Mr. Monckton. We left off going to
Mr. Monckton's church. My father did not think it
proper. I left off last Good Friday. I saw the ser-
vants regularly go to church. They dressed too
fine for servants. I never saw any levity. Their
conduct was that of servants to a master. Mr.
Monckton has dined with us. Last time my
father dined with Mr. Monckton was in August
last. Took an interest in the boys' as well as the
girls' school, with other ladies in the neighbourhood.
Mr. Monckton always took an interest in the school.
It was about Midsummer that I observed Sarah to be
enceinte. She came over with some fruit and vege-
tables. She had her bonnet on. I suspected it. On
the anniversary of the school I did not see Sarah at
the school. On the day the sisters went off in the
cab he behaved as he ought to do. He looked grave.
I have had some conversation with Mrs. Williams on
the subject of the conduct of Mr. Monckton. I do not
think Mrs. 'Williams equal in society to myself. In
the month of August Mrs. Williams alluded to re-
ports, that it was not proper for a person in his sta-
tion to keep three unmarried servants. Mrs. Wil-
liams said there was an improper intercourse, her
authority being that of the housemaid. When dining
at our house the conduct of the Rev. Mr. Monckton
was such as comported with a clergyman and a gen-
tleman. Mrs. Williams first began the conversation
upon the subject. She said that Mr. Monckton had
insulted her. She appeared to be most maliciously
disposed towards him. She appeared to be a scanda-
lous gossip. I would not placeany confidence in her.
I do not think I would place any reliance on her.
Mrs. Williams did say he ought to have his gown torn
from his back.
Re-examined—When I saw Sarah on the occasion
referred to my impression was that Sarah was in the
family-way.
Mrs. Phillis Miles, examined by Mr. Doane—l am
the mother to the parish clerk. Mr. Monckton lodged
in my house before he went to the parsonage, a few
days before the church was consecrated. He lived
with me about a year and a quarter. Susan Huggins
was in our service. Mr. Monckton had a sitting-
room, and used to smoke occasionally; sometimes in
our parlour. He used to smoke in the kitchen with
Susan, we sitting in the parlour. When she left
me, in January, I believe she wanted to go to live
with Mr. Monckton. She had behaved saucily to
me. I have heard many rumours of Mr. Monckton's
conduct with his servants. Between the time Mr.
Monckton left, at Michaelmas, 1842, and Chrismas
following, I heard of the reports. It was during
the first three months he went to live in the parsonage.
In consequence of the reports I spoke to Mr.
Monckton about it. He said there was always gos-
sipping among girls ; and he said he wished to get
two strong girls out of the north. I said that it
would be of no use, as he ought to have a matronly
woman. I since said the same to Mr. Monckton.
Susan was ill about Christmas, and I wondered she
was so ill, as she had always been healthy. Ido not
think I have said anything since to Mr. Monckton
about the girls. I remember Ann Day going to Mr.
Monckton's. She left her situation to go there.
Cross-examined--I think I should be just the
woman to make a good housekeeper for the Rev. Mr.
Monckton. I did not like a good servant to go away
from me. Mr. Monckton went down to smoke his
pipe or a cigar in the kitchen. I never remonstrated
with Sarah. She became saucy. I never heard Mr.
Monckton say anything improper to Sarah. He be-
haved like a gentleman and as a clergyman while he
lived with us.
Richard Stapley Miles, examined by Mr. Doane—
lam the son of the last witness. lam district clerk.
I had frequent occasions to see Mr. Monckton upon
the business of the church. Had seen Mr. Monckton
frequently in the kitchen in the evening,. The ser-
vants were occasionally in the kitchen. I have spent
an hour or a couple of hours, he being smoking or
reading. I have heard rumours of his conduct to the
girls. I spoke to him on the subject about December
last, in consequence of something Mr. Oldershaw
had told me. I told Mr. Monckton of the reports I
had heard, and I said I did not believe any one would
be so devilish as to set abroad statements so prejudicial
to the character of a minister, if there, were not some
foundation for them. He made me no answer, except
that a .10Utiehlan was waiting for him in the parlour.
There was, a degree of familiarity with the servants—

FREQUENCY OF MURDERS.—The English have long
spoken of the frequency of murders in Ireland, but now
in England they are almost of daily oceurrence. Suicides;
too, in England are yel7 common.

not that distance that ought to be observel-between a

gentleman and his servants.
Cross-examined—Never saw any indecent fami-
liarities with Mr. Monckton and his servants. I was
blamed by Mr. Oldershaw for propagating the slan-
ders against Mr. Monckton. I did not believe in
September last these reports. The Rev. Mr. Monck-
ton did say about two months ago to me in the vestry,
" Richard, there is not a word of truth in it." Last
Sunday Mr. Moackton administered the sacrament.
There was about the usual number of ladies present.
he Rev. Mr. Monckton was most kind and generous
to the poor. He would always assist them, sending
wine or bottled stout where needed. Our neighbour-
hood is rather a slanderous one.
Re-examined—When Mr. Monckton was sent for
to attend the sick, he immediately went.
Mr. Doane said that his case was concluded. Pre-
viously, however, Mr. Ballard was called to give
evidence as to the identification of parties—pursuant
to a demand of the parties on the other side.
Mr. Warren said it was not necessary, and Mr. Bal-
lard
was not sworn. The Learned Gentleman then ad-
dressed the Commissioners, and stated that as the case
on the other side had been brought so suddenly to a
close—his belief being that many more witnesses
would have been called—that he (Mr. Warren) was
not prepared to address the Court then with respect
to the voluminous evidence that had already been
given. He trusted, therefore, that the Commis-
sioners would adjourn the proceedings until to-mor-
row morning, as by such a course his address to the
Court would be much shorter than under any other

circumstances.
Dr. Lushington said that himself and his brother
Commissioners had had that subject under their con-
sideration. Their present impression was that evi-
dence not speeches, could be heard. The questionwas, if a prima facie case could be made out, so as to
warrant the Bishop to direct further proceedings.
Mr. Warren said he had paid the deepest attention
to the case. There was nothing prohibitory in the
Act to his being heard on .behalf of the Rev. Mr.
Monckton. In the llelston case a proctor had been
heard at very considerable length. In the Act under
which the present proceedings were commenced there
was nothing to prevent the Rev. Mr. Monckton from
addressing the Court, either personally or by his
counsel, on the evidence that had been brought for-
ward on the other side. The Rev. Gentleman bad
been placed in a must lamentable position. An cx
parte statement had gone forth. Mr. Monckton had
many friends and family connexions in India, and
these ex parte statements had gone out by the mail
without his (Mr. Monckton) having had a word to
say in defence, or to contradict the slanderous reports
that had been promulgated against him.
Mr. Doane said that on behalf of the parties he
had the honour to represent, he would not offer any
opposition to the course of proceeding as requested
by his Learned Friend, but he should contend for the
right of reply.
In reply to a question from the Court, Mr. Warren
said as Mr. Monckton was really on his trial, there
ought to be no reply.
The Commissioners then retired to the Court-room
to consider the point raised, and after an absence of
about ten minutes they returned, and
The President (Dr. Lushington) said he had ad-
vised with his brother Commissioners upon the point
raised. There was a certain degree of doubt as to
whether the party accused could be heard by counsel.
It was abundantly clear that they sat there in the
character of a grand jury to try if a pritnii facie case
could be established, but under the circumstances the
Commissioners were of opinion that they should not
shut out eviden2e. At the same time they were
firmly of opinion that they must hear Mr. Doane in
reply. •
Mr. Warren said he should occupy but as short
a time as possible. He had twenty-four witnesses to
call, but after what had taken place he might not call
so many.
The President intimated that he could not sit after
Saturday for some time to come, and a wish was ex-
pressed that the proceedings might be concluded as
early as possible.
The Court, after some discussion, adjourned till the
following day.

FRID.AX NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
WAR-OFFICE, MARCH 28, 1845.
3d Dragoon Guards—Captain G. F. Stuart, from 44th
Foot, to be Captain, vice Rodon, who exchanges, March 28.
7th Dragoon Guards—Ensign C. J. B. Plestow, from
76th Foot, to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Petre, pro-
moted, March 28.
2d Dragoons—Captain G. C. Clarke, from 89th Foot,
to be Captain, vice H. M. Campbell, who exchanges,
March 28.
Ist Regiment of Foot—Staff Surgeon of the Second
Class G. G. Robertson, M.D., to be Surgeon, vice Dart-
nell, promoted on the Staff, March 28.
10th Foot—Brevet Colonel Sir G. Couper, Bart., from
half-pay Unattached, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice J.
Luard, who exchanges ; Major T. 11. Franks to be
Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Sir G. Cowper, who retires;
Captain G. Staunton to be Major, by purchase, vice
Franks; Lieutenant J. T. Gorle to be Captain, by pur-
chase, vice Staunton ; Ensign C. J. Lindam to be
Lieutenant, by purchas, vice Gorle ; Ensign C.
Needham, from 84th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Lindam,
March 28.
15th Foot—W. C. Bontine, Gent., to be Ensign, by
purchase, vice Peel, appointed to the 85th Foot, March 28.
23d Foot—Lieut. A. W. W. NVynn to be Captain, by
purchase, vice Ferguson, who retires; Second Lieutenant
R. Bruce to be First Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Wynn;
J. Blakeney, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, by pur-
chase, vice Bruce, March 28.
44th Foot—Captain J. Rodon, from the 3d Dragoon
Guards, to be Captain, vice Stuart, who exchanges,
March 28.
68th Foot—R. W. Woolcombe, Gent., to be Assistant-
Surgeon, vice Irving, deceased, March 28.
76th Foot—Gentleman Cadet J. C. Clarke, from the
Royal Military College, to be Ensign, by purchase, vice
Plestow, appointed to the 7th Dragoon Guards, March 28.
84th Foot—D. Maunsell, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur-
chase, vice Nedham, appointed to the 10th Foot,
March 28.
85th Foot—Lieutenant H. M`Dougall, from half-pay
91st Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Ogilvy, appointed to
the 49th Foot ; Ensign H. Maunsell, to be Lieutenant,
by purchase, vice M'Dougall, who retires ; Ensign E.
Y. Peel, from the 15th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Maunsell,
March 28.
89th Foot—Major E. Thorp to be Lieutenant-Colonel,
without purchase, vice Bouverie, deceased ; Captain E.
Kenny to be Major, vice Thorp ; Lieut. .. H. Thorn-
ton to be Captain, vice Kenny, Feb. 26 ; Captain H. M.
Campbell, from the 2d Dragoons, to be Captain, vice
Clarke, who exchanges, March 28 ; Ensign R. B. Ken-
nedy to be Lieutenant, vice Thornton, Feb. 26 ; B.
Mein, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Kennedy, March 28.
HOSPITAL STAFF.—Staff Assistant-Surgeon P. Nicol-
son, M.D., to be Staff-Surgeon of the Second Class, vice
Robertson, appointed to the Ist Foot ; J. Mee, Gent., to
be Assistant Surgeon to the Forces, vice Nicolson, pro-
moted, March 28.
MEMORANDUM.—The Christian names of Lieutenant
Ramsay, of the 14th Light Dragoons, are Bulcarres
Dalrymple Wardlaw.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.
G. H. Vansittart, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant,
March 17.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire.
The Queen's Own Regiment of Worcestershire Yeo-
manry Cavalry—J. C. Elwes, Gent., to be Cornet, vice
Grazebrook, promoted, March 18.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk.
Melford Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry —J. G. W.
Poley, Gent., to be Cornet, vice R. M. Pocklington, re-
signed, Feb. 25, 1845.
WHITEHALL, MARCH 19.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Joseph Inglesant,
of Loughborough, in the county of Leicester, Gent., to
be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of
Chancery.
WHITEHALL, MARCH
24.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed George Burd, of
Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Gent., to be a
Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery.
BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED.
T. Boulter, innkeeper, Cromer, Norfolk.
BANKRUPTS.

Laing Johnston, wine merchant, Hammersmith, to
surrender April 5, at twelve, and May 9, at one, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee,
Basinghall-street ; Lonsdale, Temple-chambers, Fleet-
street.
Daniel Morton, fishmonger, East Cheap, City, April
4, at two, and May 9, at twelve, at the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Pennell, official assignee ; Bell, Austin-friars.
Elijah May, draper, Aldgate High-street, City, April 5,
at half-past two, and May 7, at eleven, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Aldermanbury;
Mardon and Pritchard, Christ Church-chambers, New-
gate- s treet.
John Phillips, tailor, Pinner's-court, Old Broad-street,
City, April 9, at two, and May 9, at twelve, at the Court
of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman -street-
buildings ; Cox, Pinner's-hall.
George Gardner, tavern keeper, Gravesend, April 11,
at two, and May 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lom-
bard-street ; Tilson, Squance, and Tilson, Coleman-
strcist.
Jonas Woodhea,cl and Daniel Woodhead, woollen cloth
manufacturers, Huddersfield, April 14 and May 2, at
eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Fearne, official
assignee, Leeds ; Reed and Shaw, Friday-street, Lon-
don ; Sale and Worthington, Manchester ; Richardsons,
Leeds.

DIVIDENDS DECLARED.
C, Tapp, coach maker, Wigmore-street, Marylebone
—second div. of five-eighths of a penny in the pound,
April 2, or any subsequent Wednesday, at the office of
Mr. Follett, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street.
C. Terry, quill merchant, Shoe-lane—fourth and final
div. of ld. and 1-16th of a penny in the pound, April 2,
or any subsequent Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Fol-
lett, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street.
W. Pearson, draper, Chelmsford—first and final div.
of 2s. lod. in the pound, any Saturday, at the office of
Mr. Green, Aldermanbury.
J. Simmons, J. Simmons, and J. Pine, manufacturers of
prussiate of potash, Battersea—final div. of sd. in the
pound, any Saturday, at the office of Mr. Green, Alder-
manbury.
J. Bail, cabaret maker, Salisbury—first and final div.
of QS. in the pound, any Saturday, at the office of Mr.
Green, Aldermanbury.
Q. Sharp
W; Clarke, upholsterers, Bernera-