The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-24 00:00:00

NOTICE

TILE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 24 IMS.

THE WEATHER.--SIIN OFFICE, MAT 24.
THERMOMETER, Lowest, 44 ; Highest, 59; Noon, 51.
BAROMETER, 29.94.—W1ND, N.V.
NoTrc.---The figures which follow the words "Lowest" and
" Highest" denote the lowest and highest state of the
Thermometer during the preceding twenty-four hours. All
the other observations are made at noon.

severest penalties are sometimes meted out for the most
venial transgressions of a statute, having regard to cer-
tain acts in themselves indifferent—and the lightest are
inflicted for crimes the most revolting to humanity, be-
cause of some technical informalities in the indictment,
or some error in the pleadings), we little imagined
that we should so soon encounter an evidence of the
physical existence of one of those unconvicted ruffians
who now and then escape in the last crisis, as it were,
of fate, the ignominious doom they have justly merited.
It is undoubtedly a sound principle of humanity, and
of justice as well as of law, to assume any man inno-
cent, in the face of whatever evidence may have been
brought forward to substantiate his guilt, until a verdict
of Guilty shall have been recorded against him. At
the same time there are facts and circumstances on
which, though the cumulative and legal proof necessary
to establish a conviction may be wanting, the impression
of the public mind is clear and distinct that they
are conclusive of the guilt of the accused. We
mentioned the case of one " SHEENE," tried many
years ago at the bar of the Old Bailey, for the murder
of his infant child by cutting its head off. This ruffian
escaped conviction at the time, solely by virtue of some
worthless quibble as to the technical description in the
indictment of himself or his victim—(for. we really
forget which). Whichever it was, he had been
styled in the pleas of the Crown " THOMAS "
for " JOHN," or "JOHN " for " THOMAS." So-
ciety, it might have been supposed, was in-
terested only to know—first, whether a murder
had been committed upon the child; secondly, by whom;
and upon neither of these points was the slightest doubt
expressed, either by the jury or the judge. The flaw
in the indictment, however, being pleaded by his
counsel, was held to be fatal, and he escaped that doom
which it would be an affectation of delicacy to suppose
that any individual in the country, who had perused the
evidence tendered at his trial, ever doubted that lie had
most richly merited. In these distressing cases, wht re the
meshes of the law may be said to break through after hav-
ing netted their prey, natural instinct usually deters the
monster which has broken out of them from ever ven
turing again into their vicinity. So, in those rare cases
where a technical informality has overridden the whole
force of direct proof, positive depositions, and circum-
stantial evidence, the lucky delinquent has gene-
rally been too happy to withdraw himself from the yell
of public indignation and the pointed finger
of scorn and infamy, in the safe retreat
of obscurity and silence. In the police re-
ports for Wednesday last, under the head of Wor-
ship-street, we read of a WILLIAM SHEEN, brought up
for having assaulted and threatened the life of a re-
spectable publican. The ease was proved to the satis-
faction of the magistrate, and SHEEN was bound over to
keep the peace, himself in his own recognizance for
1001., with two sureties of 50/. each. These were very
readily procured, for this SHEEN, it appears, is a pros-
perous personage, possessing household property in the
vicinity of the office to the amount of more thin 701. per
annum. It is further stated that he is the same man, we were
going to say, who, having cut off the head of his infant
child, was allowed, through the carelessness of the Clerk
of the Arraigns, to slip his own out of the halter. We
had no expectation of ever encountering this " wolf-head"
again. We had thought that even the most obscene and
darksome purlieus of Shoreditch and Spitaladds could
have vindicated themselves from the imputation of har-
bouring such inhabitants. But this is an age of surprises.
It must be imagined that the public like to renew old
acquaintances of however questionable a reputation
under any circumstances however startling. For our
own parts, we are beyond the reach of such emotions.
Nil admirari is the motto we take up with. We should
scarcely utter an interjection were we told to-morrow
that the injured and scientific experimentalist, Mr.
BELANEY, was endeavouring to get enrolled as licentiate
in medicine and surgery under a new Charter for " par-
ticular " instead of " general " practitioners. Yet we
do marvel at our law of bail, or the discretion of our
magistrates in administering it. To-day a gentleman of
great respectability is brought before one magistrate,
for soundly horsewhipping the seducer of his own
daughter in the person of his brother-in-law, her uncle.
Application is made to bail the gentleman who has,
under such irrepressible feelings of resentment, com-
mitted such an act of violence. The Magistrate, Mr.
TWYFORD, refuses under circumstances thus -special to
accept bail, and asks, with a simplicity quite touching—
‘‘ Why should he ?" To-morrow you shall have a no-
torious murderer, with no other recommendations but
those of his luck in defrauding the public executioner,
brought up on a charge of -wanton and brutal assault,
without any such provocation of intolerable injury, before
another magistrate. The charge is proved to his satis-
faction, and this Magistrate, on bail being tendered for
the notorious offender before him, accepts it with a
facility that seems to ask—" why should he not?'

(THIS DAY.)

HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE TIIIS DAY.
Morning .. 7 minutes after 3 1 Evening .. 50 minutes after 3.

~~

(LEFT SITTING.)

roup X.
LONDON AND YORK LINE.

Mr. HILDVARD—It is almost a question which I cannot answer,
Sir—l should certainly like to be there.—(Laughter.)
The CuentmeN—As far as the Committee are concerned they
are ready to sit every day next week. The inquiry is rather Im-
portant as it affects the public time, and any saving of that time by
our sitting will be a great benefit.

Mr. BARING WALL—If one is to have a holiday at all, it may as
well be had on the Wednesday as on any other day.
The CHAIRMAN— As the majority of the Codnsel are agreed to
have Wednesday, we shall sit on every day during the week save
that day.

Mr. Muschamp was then called and examined by Mr. PAGET—Is
a coal.owner, residing at Lancaster lodge, county Durham. The
witness was examined very shortly to the same effect as Mr. Pease
yesterday, namely, as to the present facilities for and expense of, the
transit of coals from the pits in Durham to London, and expressed
his opinion that the proposed London and York line would very
materially increase the coal traffic between South Durham and
London, and diminish the cost of conveyance.
In his cross-examination by Mr. HILDViRD (who was counsel on
behalf of the Midland Counties, the Lincoln and Cambridge, end
the Eastern Counties schemes) he deposed that the coal owners
had at present tram-roads from the pits' mouths to the different
ports of shipment.

Group V.
SHEFFIELD AND NEWARK LINE.
The opponents of the Parliamentary line continued this morn..
ing to call evidence.

Mr. Hayne, C.E., sail that the tunnel on the amended line would
cost at least from 40/. to 501 per yard. He was acquainted with
the stratum through which it would pass, and he did not think it
the same through which the Parliamentary line should be made.
Joseph Meashorn, coal agent, was called to show which line
would best open up the coalfields. His opinion was, that the ori.
gin.l line would be decidedly the best.
John Boots gave similar evidence.

This was the case for the opponents, and
Mr. WHATELUT, Q.C., rose to address the Committee—He con-
tended that his Learned Friend Mr. Baines had not proved a ne-
cessity for the scheme before the Committee, and that as the valu.
able purposes of such a line were exceedingly doubtful, the Com-
mittee should decide against it. The preamble of the Bill had not
been proved, but even if doubtful the Hon. Committee were bound
to reject it. The Learned Counsel then entered at considerable
length into detail to show that the valuable minerals of the country
could not be more easily conveyed by this railway.

Group EE.
DUNDEE AND PERTH (NORTH) RAILWAYS.
The Committee on these lines resumed this morning at the
usual hour; the Right Hon. F. Baling in the chair.
Mr. M'Veagh examined by Mr. FORSYTH—is a civil engineer
of great experience. Has had the estimates given in by Mr.
Miller and Mr. Storie submitted to him. Does not believe that
the railway projected from Dundee to Perth can be constructed
at anything like the sum named by the former, who has considera-
bly underrated the cast in almost every particular. Mr. Miller's
estimate for the Dundee and Perth line is fully 50 per cent. lower,
than any other constructed by him. On his own computation
there would be 30 feet of base, and an average slope of 1 # to 1 ;
the earthwork will comprise 639,000 cubic yards of clay, and
278,000 cubic yards of rock work. On the permanent way he
anticipates an increase of 30,0001. above the price stated by Mr.
Miller.

Madrid journals of the 16th instant have been re-
ceived, but they bring no news. A rumour prevailed
that General CONCHA, Governor of Catalonia, was about
to be removed from the command of that province.
According to another rumour, a Carlist rising was ex-
pected at Arragon.

Cross-examined by Mr. ANDREWS—The other lines constructed
by Mr. Miller, with which he had compared his estimate of
the Perth and Dundee, were the Glasgow and Greenock,
and the Glasgow and Edinburgh. The former is an
unusually expensive line, the earthwork having cost no
less than 15s. a yard in some places, and the tunnel.
ling was extensive and difficult. Has had no experience, nor has
examined the line himself; but he is competent, by assuming the
correctness of Mr. Stories evidence, to state positively that his,
and not Mr. Miler's estimate, was true.
Mr. Enington, examined by Mr. FORSYTH— Is a civil engineer
and having been astonished at the great difference between Mr.
Miller's and Mr. Storie's estimates, caused five different surveys
to be made of the line, and as many computations were sent in of
the quantity of work and cost required, all of which confirmed
the statement of Mr. Stofie, and contravened that of Mr. Miller.

The Three per Cents. closed at 34 3.16 for cash,
and 348 at 60 days ; the Five per Cents. at 25ii at 60
days ; and the Debt without Interest at 81 for the 27th

The discussion in the French Chamber of Deputies on
,he northern line of railway has been brought to a close,
and the Bill adopted by a majority of 253 to 10. The
following are the more important clauses adopted rela-
tive to shares :—The adjudication shall net be valid
until confirmed by royal ordinance ; the company de-
constituted as a societe
y
apc
nrl
promises
rne idns
ee sosuccessful
dulyshares
authorisedbefore
cannot
mbeing
according
to Art. 37 of the
Commercial Code ; the projectors of the company shall
have a right only to the reimbursement of their advances,
and after they have established their claim to the same
before a general meeting of the shareholders ; no one
can vote by proxy in the board of directors of the Com-
pany. In case two members, differing from the rest on any
point, shall demand to have the question postponed until
the opinion of one or several absent directors might be
made known, a copy or extract of the minutes shall be sent
to all the members absent, with a request to them to come
and vote at the next meeting on a certain appointed day
or to address, in writing, their opinion to the chairman.
He shall read the opinion so sent to the board, after
which, the point shall be decided by the majority of the
members present ; all publication of the quotations of
shares, before the constitution of the societe anonyme
shall be punishable by a fine of from 500 f. to 3,000 f.
The following clause was proposed by MM. DUFAURE and
VIVIEN, and also adopted,:—" There shall be sent to the
office of, the Minister of Public Works the register from
which the scrip receipts delivered to the subscribers
shall have been cut, or a list, stating the reciprocal
engagement of the projectors and the subscribers, and the
definitive division among them of the capital of the
company ; from the date of the delivery of the
registers or lists above mentioned, all stipulations by
which the projectors shall have reserved to them-
selves the power of reducing the number •of
shares subscribed for, shall be null and void." TI e
clause prohibiting the negotiation of the receipts or pro-
mises of shares, and declaring the subscribers answer-
able for four-tenths of the amount of the shares, was
among the last agreed to, and the Bill passed. Com-
mittees of the Chamber were engaged in examining the
Paris and Strasburg lines, and the branch line from
Metz to Saarbruck. The- line from Orleans to Tours, it
was expected, would be opened in September. The
Constitutionnel says :—" Independently of the ships of
the line and those of a smaller force appointed to cruise
in the Mediterranean for practice, there is to be a
division formed of steam frigates. Admiral PencEvAL
DEscnciszEs will continue to command the first, and the
Prince DE JOINVILLE the second, who will probably
have the chief command, if the two squadrons act to
gether "

Group R.
DUBLIN AND BELFAST JUNCTION RAILWAY.

Mr. Gibson Craig in the chair,

Sir John M`Niell's cross-examination continued by Mr. Alex.
ander at some length, respecting several lines he had formerly
surveyed, one or two of them at the instance of the Government
Railway Commission, and vs hich he stated had much more favour.
able gradients than the line now under the consideration of the
Committee. One or two of the lines surveyed were inland. The
reason why the gradients were then made so slight was the belief,
by engineers, that no railway could be constructed with gradients
less than one in two or three hundred.

To Mr. BOYLE—He surveyed hi 1835 a line between Drogheda
and Portadown, at the instance of a Company, called the Great
Trunk; he also surveyed, at the instance of the Railway Commis.
sion, lines between Dublin and Armagh and Dublin and
Enniskillen. He received no instructions as to including Bel-
fast, Newry, and Portadown. This he was quite certain of,
as his instructions were to survey the beat lines between certain
points that were set forth. He also surveyed four lines for private
Companies in the north of Ireland. Among others, he surveyed
a coast line, which at that time was thought to be a mere specula.
tion. Events since had shown the value of that opinion. The
traffic since that time had much improved. The present line would
give the greatest amount of accommodation to Newry, Armagh,
Portadown, Belfast, and Dundalk. There were rising gradients
for 23 miles towards Portadown, averaging 1 in 210.
(LEFT SITTING.)

Group FF.
The Committee re-assembled this day at twelve o'clock, in Room
No. 7, Lord Ashley in the chair, and proceeded with the ad-
journed case of

- THE EDINBURGH AND HA WICK RAILWAY.
Mr. CLARKS appeared on behalf of Mr. Walker, a landowner, an
opposing petitioner to that part of the line in the parish of St awe. The
Learned Counsel had to press upon the Committee the adoption of
a deviation in the course of the line. This would save the inte-
rests of his client and prevent the danger which would, according
to the plans, be incurred by the position of a school-house, in pro-
eeeding from which children would be constantly crossing and re.
crossing the line many times in the day.
Mr. I'ringle, M.P., having been called to prove the position of
the schooLhouse, and the great danger attached to it, stated that a
bridge over or archway under the railway, would altogether obviate
the difficulty. The slumber of pupils attending being very small,
and the country being very thinly peopled, a simple archway ender
the line would be quite sufficient.
Mr. CLARK objected to the estimates. They were insufficient.
(Leer SITTING.)

CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)
THE lIANOVER JEWELS.
The Lord Chancellor, the Master of the Rolls, and the other
Learned Judges who have attended the hearing of the case with re-
spect to the Crown jewels of Hanover, sat to.day again, in his
Lordship's private room at Westminster. The public, as hereto.
fore, were not admitted, the matter being kept strictly private.

ROLLS' COURT.-(TITIS DAY.),
The Master of the Rolls did not sit to.day, in consequence of
having to attend the Lord Chancellor to hear the further argu-
ments in the case of the claim of his Majesty the King of Hanover
to the Hanover Crown jewels.

The accounts from Lucerne are to the 19th, and state
that the Grand Council had been induced, by fear rather
than any other motive, to commute the sentence on Dr.
STEIGER, on condition that he be transported for life.
The Cantons of Berne, Zurich, and Argau, it appears,
thrt atened, in case of any attempt to carry the capital
sentence into effect, to call out the federal troops and

VICE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)
(Before the VICE-CHANCELLOR Of ENGLAND.)
His HONOUR took motions to-day of no interest to the public
generally.

The Vice-Chancellor Kisitcwr BRUCE took motions and causes;
and the Vice- Chancellor WIGRAM, after disposing of the case of
Buckle v. Fawcet, proceeded to hear unopposed and opposed cause
petition

rescue the prisoner. M. MULLER, the President of the

Diet, who had been struck with apoplexy, was re

covering.

QUEEN'S BENCH-(THIS DAY.)
The Court was occupied during the early part of the day in
hearing a motion for a new trial, but the case pres nteci no features
ofpublic interest, the arguments being pure!), technical,

The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on Thurs-
day at 86f. 20c. ; the New Loan, at 86f. 55c. ; the Five
per Cents. at 121 f. 60c. ; Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,2401. ;
Rouen, 1,132 f. 50c.; Vierzon, 822 f; Havre, 921 f. ; Avignon,
1,055 f. ; Basle, 273 f. 75c.; Spanish Actives, 4014 ; Spanish
Three per Cents., 42; Spanish Passives, 71.
The following are the quotations for the new lines
:-
1 Orleans and Bordeaux, 240 f, premium ; Boulogne, 130 f.
ditto ; Troyes and Montereau, 701. 50c ; Paris and Lyons
(Laflitte), 22f. 50c. ; ditto (Calon), If. 50c. ; ditto (Ganneron),
10f. 50c; Northern line (Laffitte), 35f.
; ditto (Rosamel), lot:
50c. ; Tours and Nantes (Mackenzie), 12f. 50c. ; ditto ( Drouil-
lard), par; ditto (O'Neill), 12f. 50c ; ditto (Jacques Lefevre),
par ; Lyons and Avignon (Lecointe), 25f. ; ditto (Talabot),
35f. ; ditto (Compagnie Meridionale), I lf. 25c. ; Bordeaux
and Toulouse (Mackenzie), 121 ; ditto and Cette (Espe-
leta), 17f. 75c. ; Creil and St. Quentin, lf. 50c. ; Paris and
Strasburg (Ganneron), 12f. 50c. ; Dijon and Mulhouse, 6f. 25c.
LYONS, MAY 19.-Avignon and Marseilles, 1,067 E, end of
May; Paris and Orleans, 1,235 E, ditto; Paris and Rouen,
1,1221., ditto; Orleans and Vierzon, 827 f, ditto ; Orleans and
Bordeaux, 7121., ditto.

BANKRUPTCY -(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Commissioner GouLator,)
IN RE GARRET, AN INSOLVENT.
This insolvent, who was a farmer at Milton, Northamptonshire,
came up for his final order, and was opposed on the ground of
having made a vexatious defence to an action on two bills of
exchange.
The insolvent said that he had acted under the advice of his at.
torney, who told him there were a good defence to the action.
The COMMISSIONER—What, a good defence, when you chose to
sign accommodation bills without having any possible means of
meeting them.
The insolvent said that he had been taken in, whilst drinking a
bottle of wine; but he could assure the Court that he did not
know of the proceedings till after they had commenced, and then
begged nothing further should be done, as he could not pay.
The CommissioNEst—Where is your attorney P—A boy about
fourteen or fifteen, said his father could not attend to.day, but he
was watching the case.
The COMMISSIONER—Watching the case, indeed! This is too•
often the case. Some attorneys lead their clients into difficulties,
and there leave them. He said that nothing justified the insol-
vent's conduct in giving the bills, but at the same time the aggrava.
Lion, if put in on shun plea, was caused by bad advice, Under

• VERY SIMPLE:A gentleman last week became a
member of the Royal Humane Society, under the impression that
he could have one of their drags to go in to Epsom races.—
Punch.

RAILWAY COM MITTEES

Group W.
WAKEFIELD, PONTEFRACT, AND GOOLE RAILWAY.
The Committee to whom this group of railways was referred, met
to day at twelve o'clock in room No 6, to hear the further exami_
nation of witnesses on behalf of the promoters of the above line ;
Mr. Pakington in the Chair.

Previous to the examination of Mr. Harris, engineer, being re-
turned, further evidence was, at the suggestion of Mr. Talbot,
heard, to show the daily inconvenience which arose at the Nor_
manton station, from the great amount of traffic that passed that
station.

Mr. P. Clarke was then examined—He stated that he had had
the general superintendence, for the three years up to April last, of
the York and North Midland Railway. Had the arrangement of
the trains at the Normanton station —the power to make
alterations rested with him. He exerted himself to the
utmost to remedy the inconvenience and delay which arose
at the Normanton station, in consequence of the immense amount
of traffic which passed that station. The increase of workmen and
assistants could not remedy this. If more buildings were erected
so as to afford larger accommodation for the re-arrangement of the
trains, a little relief might be afforded. He thought, however, that
the traffic at present was beyond what could be accommodated con.
veniently, and that any increase of it would materially interfere
with the interests of the public.
By Mr. KNOWLES—Passenger trains from York by the York
and North Midland line, are not detained at the Normanton sta-
stion by the necessity of an engine to take them on.
Mr. John Harris, engineer, whose evidence was partly heard
yesterday, stated that the, terminus of the proposed line at Goole
would be at one of the shipping docks. It was
a convenient station for passengers, and was admirably
adapted for goods traffic also. There were large warehouses situated
near it. There was a branch in connexion with the railway at
Goole, about a mile in length, and which proceeded along the streets
of the town, and terminated on the banks of the Ouse. The gra-
dients on the whole line were favourable. The worst gradient
from Wakefield to Goole was lin 250. There was a gradient of
1 in 253 in the Midland branch. The Sheffield and Bight
branch had a gradient of 1 in 150 for abcut one.half of the line,
and the rest was nearly level. The narrowest curve on the pro.
posed line was eighteen chains in radius. The remaining curves
were favourable and very few. The witness then proceeded to
detail the items of the estimated cost of the line. The cost of land
was 52,9441.; of fencing, drains, &c., 13,7071.; earthworks,
97,8131.; bridges and culverts, 60,8081.; crossings and road-gates,
5,2571. ; rails, 54,390/. ; (which were calculated at 101. per ton.)
The suppurts on which the end of the rail rests was 12,705.

This Committee re-assembled at twelve o'clock, in room No. 8,
Lord Courtenay in the chair. Soon after the Hon. Members had
taken their seats,
Mr. HILDYARD said he would feel obliged if the Committee would
state whether they intended to sit during the holidays, of which
there were two in the ensuing week, one to be devoted to her Ma-
jesty's drawing-room, and another to the Derby. He would like
to know it the Committee contemplated sitting on either of those
days. The Derby day was long considered a dies non.
Mr. DARBY—Do you wish to go to the Derby, Mr. Hildyard 2
(Laughter.)

e ,;‘,. ' ~.. 67.,,,,. ';;;..,
. 66 ' ' ° 'i. ;
414
~,.
Z....,„
k V
',% "
,
't4l
. , ~ .
' ' -ba; ~ , . ',.
er • m o-s 'k.
b.k pIT '
....71
-7---,,„„ •

SECOND EDITION.