The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-05 00:00:00

HE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EN ENING, JANUARY 5, 1844.'

the late tariff, which it treats as an experiment
in free trade. We fully concur in the beneficial
effects assigned to the tariff, but we can-
!lot admit that that financial adjustment
is to be considered as, in any respect, an
experiment in free trade. The proof that it is
not such an experiment, will be found in the fact
that nearly all the important taxes reduced were
taxes for revenue, not for protection. The tariff
and the property tax are to be taken together
as one great measure of financial reform—
an approach to a more equitable distribution
of the public burdens. As such they have
operated most beneficially upon the home and
colonial markets, and it is thus that they have
restored manufacturing industry. If in truth the
tariff is to be considered as an experiment in
free trade, it is an experiment that has wholly
failed ; for it has not procured the admission
of a single yard of cotton or of one
penknife into any country of the world
upon terms more favourable than before. This
the Times itself candidly admits, when it says
that " so far as foreign tariffs are concerned, tile '
result has been, it must be owned, absolutely
nothing." The tariff, however, has not failed ;
it has most happily succeeded in contribut-
ing to our present prosperity and in opening
the road, as we firmly believe, to still
greater prosperity hereafter; but it has not
failed, because it was not an experiment in free
trade. As to the foreign tariffs, we are per-
haps unpatriotic in saying that we are no proper
judges of their wisdom or folly, for your perfect
patriot has no charity for the patriotism of the
natives of other countries. There are, however,
certain general principles of which we ought
not to lose sight in pronouncing upon the acts
of our neighbours; and one of these principles
is, that an enlightened and liberal self-love is as
commendable in Governments as it is pardonable
in individuals.

NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
As the meeting of Parliament is now near a
baud, the public will naturally look for some ac
count of the new houses in which the future des
tinies of the country are to be discussed.
The present aspect of the works affords, it is
true, no indication of the time when their com-
pletion may be expected, but from the great ac-
tivity which prevails in every department, and
from the present state of the shell or exterior
walls of the building, it may be inferred that about
the
one-half of entire work, preparatory to the
interior fittings and decorations, has been com-
pleted.
The whole river front now assumes an imposing
appearance, being carried up uniformly to the
height of two full stories above the basement of
the building. The whole length of this exten-
sive front is embellished by innumerable heraldic
ornaments, niches, figures, royal ciphers, scrolls,
and by the richest mouldings and tracery of the
most florid style which distinguishes the Gothic
architecture.
Considerable progress has lately been made
with the north and south extremities of the
building, where it is intended to erect the Victoria
and clock towers. These:extremities, which ex-
tend at right angles to the river front, have been
carried up to about the same height as the river
front itself. In general terms, therefore, it may
be said, that the whole exterior shell of the
building, comprising the river front and the
wings at each end, are. completed to the height
of two stories, or about 50 feet above the surface
of the ground. The space comprised between
the two wings, and bounded by the main range
of building, will be occupied by numerous courts
and cross ranges of building, to be appropriated
as the dwelling-houses and offices of the officials
connected with the establishment. This portion
of the work is eonsiderably in arrear of the main
part of the building, being built to a height not
generally exceeding 14 or 16 feet.
With regard to the execution of the work, the
most superficial observer must be struck with
the regularity and precision which pervade its
most minute portions. Although the whole
establishment of labour, capital, and machinery
can only be looked upon as temporary, yet the
combination and division of labour are here
pushed to as high perfection as in those enduring
establishments of manufacturing industry which
have excited the wondering admiration of
the world. The mechanical arts minister here
in a thousand ways which ten years ago
were quite unthought of; iron railroads, of
excellent construction, laid not only on the
ground, but high up in the air, serve for the easy
conveyance of stone, mortar, bricks, and other
materials to all parts of the building. Powerful
machines, termed " travelling cranes," with nu-
merous wheels for multiplying power, traverse
these railroads, carrying, suspended from their
huge frames, large stones, often weighing many
tons, and the stones, when lowered from these
cranes, are carried off in trucks to the inmost
parts of the complicated building. Each stone
bears upon it some distinguishing mark to indi-
cate the allotted place in the structure, so that no
confusion arises in the disposal of them.
The proximity of the building to the river
affords unusual facilities for the delivery of the
lime, sand, stone, and other materials, and nu-
merous barges, containing these stores,, are con-
stantly being discharged of their cargoes at the
long embankment in front of the building.
The space between the river and the front of
the building affords a convenient depot for the
stones, &c., thus brought to the work. Nearer
still to the building a long range of covered sheds
extends the whole length ; here great numbers
of masons are employed in dressing and fa-
shioning the stones into the immense variety
of forms required by the peculiarly rich and
decorative style of architecture which has
been adopted. About twenty feet above the.
ground, where the stones are thus prepared, is
erected a railroad for the travelling cranes to
work upon, and by their means the stones are
placed upon the trucks, and are thus conveyed
upon cross-railroads to their ultimate destination.
The mode of dressing the stones deserves par-
ticular notice, being highly interesting, and a
considerable improvement upon the old practice.
1i 'hen intricate forms had to be cut out in stone-
work, it was usual to construct what were called
" wooden templets" or moulds, which were
made of several pieces, and which the mason
in working the stone applied to the va-
rious planes or faces in order to fashion it
to the required form. These figures are now cut
out of sheet zinc, on which they are first drawn
with geometrical accuracy. These zinc plates,
representing innumerable varieties of deviced
mouldings, are laid upon the stones, when the
figures are traced out, and the stone cut away to
the exact form of the zinc pattern.
The tools employed by the masons, some of
them rivalling in delicacy and finish the imple-
ments of the sculptor; the machinery invented
by Dr. Spurgin for raising mortar, bricks, &c.,
to the upper stories ; the application of hoop
iron to produce a " bond" in those walls which
are composed of brickwork ; the iron " gird-
ers " for supporting the floors, so as to
render the building fire-proof; by dispensing
with the use of inflammable substances; the pecu-
liarly scientific scaffolding, so widely different
from the common method of scaffolding, by poles
and ropes; and a variety of other ingenious ap-
pliances, are scarcely less calculated to excite
admiration, than the concentration of genius and
artistical skill displayed by the architect himself
in designing the structure.
All the principal part of the building which
is not purely decorative is composed of the stone
termed in geology " magnesian limestone," which
prevails extensively in this country, as one of the
lower members of the new red sandstone forma-
tion. The mineralogical character of this stone
is that of a silicious grit, united by a highly-
chrystalline calcareous cement. Its texture is
firm and tough, the particles being closely ag-
gregated and finely wedged together, so that
there is every probability that it will effectually
resist the variable action of the atmosphere. It
is procured in large quantities from quarries at
Bolsover Moor, in Derbyshire, and Huddlestone
and Anstone, in Yorkshire. When moist from
the quarry this stone is of a yellowish brown
colour, and works well under the tool of the
mason. When dry, however, its colour is much
more delicate;and it acquires an additional hard-

ness.
Some of the very ornamental parts of the work
are composed of the Bath oolite, procured from
Painswiek and other places in the neighbourhood
of Bath. The stone, though differing considerably
from the magnesian limestone in a mineralogical
character, having less adhesion amongst its parti-
cles, and consequently less touFhness, appears well
adapted for elaborate decorations, in consequence
of its fine and uniform grain, beauty of surface,
and the readiness with which it may be worked.
The limestone, however, appears to be much
inure extensively employed, even for decorative
purposes, than the Bath stone, which was once
so great a favourite, arid, judging from
the present sound appearance of every
block to be seen upon the works, there
is every reason to suppose that the test of time
will amply justify the high recommendations
rbestowed-ursonit by—Sit 11-.-De hil3eche and the
other Commissioners appointed to select the
stone for this great national edifice.

- ---
The Pukc of Grafton has resigned the: Lord Lieu-
tenancy of this county, the duties of which his 4ge and infirmi-
ties have disabled his Grace from executing. It i. generally
believed that Earl Jermyn will succeed to the. office.—Bury
Post.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Jan. 4.
IN RE JAMES EDWARD MIVART, THE YOUNGER.
The insolvent, whose case has been already partly repotted in
The Sun, came up this day for his final hearing. On the last
occasion the hearing:was adjourned, to compel him to re-adver-
tise and describe himself by the name of Rolles, resident at
Upper Clapton.
Mr. CRESSWELL stated that the insolvent was the son of the
proprietor of a well-known hotel in Brook-street, Grosvenor-
square, and had contracted debts to the amount of nearly 6,0001.
He (Mr. Cressw ell) appeared on behalf of several creditors, to
pray the Court would now pass judgment upon the insolvent.
Mr. Spinks. of Upper Clapton, whose evidence has already
appeared in The Sun at length, attended again this day, but
stated no further circumstances worthy of notice.
The insolvent having been sworn,
The Learned CHIEF COMMISSIONER. said the insolvent
came before the Court to be discharged for debts amounting to
5,9001., of which the greater part was without consideration.
He had been already before the Court, when he was discharged
from a large amount of debts, and, on that taking place, his
father,' who was a most respectable and estimable man, kindly
did all in his power to put an end to the foolish and reckless
course which was pursued by the insolvent, and allowed him
2001. a year, with the run of his house, where, it was well
known, all his wants would be well and even luxuriously sup •
plied. Not content with this, the insolvent, in an incredibly
aceoftit tmeh contracted debts to the amount of nearly
e slightest prospect of his being ever able
6stol:l3poratoyl7; witliou
hem, from every tradesman whom he could delude into
giving him credit. if such conduct were not marked by a
strong sense of disapprobation on the part of the Court, he
thought it would be an insult to public justice. The sentence
upon the insolvent therefore was, that he be imprisoned for
eight months from the date of the vesting order.
The insolvent was then removed in custody.

WINTER ASSIZES.
CHESTER, Wednesday, Jan. 3.
THE HIGH LEIGH BURGLARS.
Thomas Riley, Richard Holbrook, and Joseph Holbrook,
weavers, were placed at the bar, charged with having on the
14th day of October last burglariously entered the dwelling-
house of one Lettice Widders, at High Leigh, and stolen there-
from 50 sovereigns, her moneys. This burglary, as will appear
by the evidence, was of the most atrocious description, per-
petrated in the middle of the night by armed men, with
blackened faces, under circumstances of almost unparalleled
atrocity.
The Attorney-General, with whom was Mr. Trafford, ap-
peared for the prosecution ; Mr. Temple conducted the de-
fence tor the prisoners Richard and Joseph Holbrook, and Mr.
Yardley appeared for the prisoner Riley.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in stating the case, said, the
prosecutrix was a widow, of the name of Lettice Widders, who
lived at High Leigh. On the night of the 14th of October
last her house was burglariously entered by persons armed with
pistols, who on being surprised by the inmates had used threats
and intimidations of a fearful nature, such as would be detailed
by the evidence which be was about to call. In endeavouring
to affix the guilt to the parties concerned, the prosecutor had
been obliged to resort to the evidence of one of the prisoners'
accomplices as an approver. Of course, it would he unneces.
sary to say, from the character of that witness, that his testi-
mony should be received with caution, he being, as would be
elicited, no doubt, by the cross-examination, a confirmed thief.
Lettice Widders, the prosecutrix, was then called, and she
deposed that she lived at High Leigh, and when she went to
bed on the night in question, she left the house perfectly secure.
About one or two o'clock in the morning she was awoke by a
noise in the buttery. The prisoners, when they were disco-
vered, called out for their pistols, which they then presented to
me and my servant-man. 111 y man fled from the prisoners, but
found they had fastened the front door outside. The thieves had
effected an entrance by taking out a window, and then had
burst open the door of the buttery, and entered the room where
the witness was. The witness continued—They bad all black-
ened faces, and they said, "Do you know us?" They then
asked for money, and I said I had not got any. They said
they knew me of old, and I had got some. They said they
would shoot us, and my man, being much frightened, said he
had got nine sovereigns up stairs, and he would give them to
them. Two of the men then went up stairs with him, and the
other two remained down stairs with me. One of the men
began to break the locks of the drawers, and to destroy. my
goods with a poker. They found any money, which was in a
box, and then they handed me up to bed, step by step. They
took and ate even a few apples there were. (The witness, who
was somewhat advanced in years, at this part of the recital,
lost all self-composure, and repeatedly railed with indignation
at the prisoners at the bar for the injuries she bad received.
The Learned Judge recommended her to avoid unnecessary
excitement, when the evidence was continued.) I remained in
bed until the robbers had left, and my money was taken away.
Cross-examined by 11r. TEMPLE—I became exceedingly
alarmed. I really could not tell from fright what happened.
By Mr. YARDLEY—I cannot say I knew any of the prison-
ers at that time.
Peter Street examined—Was servant to the last witness.
Remembered the night in question when the house was broken
open. Was awoke between one and two o'clock by a noise in
the buttery. Looked through the roof, and saw men with
blackened faces ; asked them what they were doing there, when
they pointed their pistols to the place whence his voice pro-
ceeded. He then put the slate on the hole whence he was
looking. He went down stairs and tried the front door, but
found it fastened on the outside. As soon as he got to the
door, he turned his head round, and saw the men following
him. They said, if he did not sit down and be quiet, they
would blow his brains out. They asked him if he had any
money, and he replied " No." They told him if he did not im-
mediately deliver what he had, they would shoot him. They
asked his mistress for her money also, and whether he or his
mistress knew them. They said they did not. They brought
down a sickle afterwards. Their faces were blackened all over.
Two of the men went up stairs with him into the bed-room.
They took 9/. from him. He did not know any of them at
lot time. He had seen one of them since the robbery ; it

was Kerfoot, the approver. As soon as he saw him, he said
he was one. There were two sickles in the bed-room. One was
brought down and put into the fire. His mistress asked them
what that was for, when one of them took out the sickle, and
shook it over his mistress's head. It appeared very hot. He
saw them take the money out of his mistress's box. They
afterwards broke open some drawers and a desk. They got
hold of some silver spoons, and one of them said, " Put them
down, they are marked." One of them made a prayer upon
his knees, and said, " There, we shall do now ; we will not
come again this year, but shall the next;" and said, while on
his knees, " The Lord have mercy on your two souls." A
handful of ashes was then thrown into his eyes. When they
went away, they
.told him what he had to expect if he offered
any alarm or resistance; that they would leave two men at the
door with the
,pistols, who would turn upon them and kill
them both.
Ralph Kerfoot, the approver, was then sworn, and said-1
know the prisoners at the bar. I have known the Holbrooks
from children, and Riley about five years. I went with them
on the 14th of October from a public-house in Bridge-street,
soon after nine o'clock. John, Joseph, and Richard Holbrook,
and Thomas Riley, started with me to go to High Leigh. We
went to a house that John Holbrook had arranged to rob. We
arrived about eleven o'clock at the house where Mrs. Widders
lives, and they then consulted which was back est way to enter.
Wes,
entered by a small window at the of the house.
After that we fastened the door of the adjoining house with a
o think,
a thick stick. Riley then fastened the
fc r
front
faces
dooran d, Widders' house. We then blacked our
as
l l Mrs.
ofri e blacking which we had bought. John ea with
Hol-
brook came to us, and said somebody was going by, so that
we desisted for a little time. Riley then, who had a chisel,
struck out a pane of glass, and wrenched the window open.
We broke some iron bars which were across the window.
Riley got in first, myself next, and then the Holbrooks.
John Holbrook remained outside to watch. Riley made a
great noise by jumping upon a mug, which awoke Mrs.
Widders. The man above said " Where's my gun ?" There
was a hole in the room floor, and I thought some one was going
to shoot down. We cried out " Get your pistols ready."
They then broke open the door into the house, and found Mrs.
Widders and the servant trying to make their escape from frit
fr..nt door. We went to them, and demanded their money.
They at first said they had none, but we said we knew they
had, and we were determined to have it. At that time Rile)
put a sickle into the fire which he had found. Joseph Holbrook
and Riley then broke open the drawers. I then took the sickle
out of the fire. Riley then went up to the old woman and
said, that if she did not find the money in two minutes he
would blow her brains out. We had two pistols, but I do not
know whether they were loaded or not. Joseph Holbrook gave
me the pistol when he went up stairs to open the drawers. 'The
servant then said he had a trifle, and Richard Holbrook and
Riley went up stairs with him, leaving myself and Joseph down
stairs. We then all went up. I discovered a box, and went
round and pulled it out from under the bed. Riley broke
open the box, and found a purse with 42 sovereigns, 4/. or 5/.
in silver, and a watch. Some silver spoons, also, which I had
in my hand, I was told by them to put down, as they were
marked. Riley went down stairs, and returned with some
ashes, knelt down, and, as I understood him, said, "May the
Lord have mercy on your souls," and then threw the ashes to-
wards the young man's face, and said, " Come, now we shall
do." We went down stairs, and struck off for the direction of
the river, and then divided the money, and each received his
share, some 101. and a few shillings each. Riley threw the
watch into the river. We then ft.und a boat moored on the
river, which we took, and passed over to the Lancashire side of
the river. The three Holbrooks went towards home. Riley
and myself went to Manchester. The dark lantern was pur-
chased by John and Richard Holbrook. I gave Joseph 91. 14s.
of my money, because I was going home, and was afraid of my
wife seeing it. Joseph Holbrook told me that he had thrown
my money into the river. He told me, also, that he had given
it to hie wife, but when in Bridewell he said he had thrown it
into the river.
Cross-examined by Mr. TEMPI.E—i did not keep my share
of the money. I was taken up on the 22d of October. I was
tired of the line of life I was leading, that was the reason why
I turned approver. I thought it would be a means of breaking
us up. I was never in gaol before, or ever caught. I have
a very good-will towards the prisoners. I have never quar-
relled with any of them.
By Mr. YARDLEY.--I am a power-loom weaver by trade.
I have not done an honest day's work these three months. I
have been concerned in four burglaries, and one attempt. I
cannot recollect whether I have been concerned in any high-
way robberies, or other offences.
Mary Houghton deposed to selling a dark-lantern to two
men on the day in question, but could not identify them.
Mary Gibbons examined—I keep a shop at Lutchford, and
sold some blacking
on the 14th of October, a half-penny
worth, to a man of the name of Thomas Riley.
Cross. examined by Mr. YARDLEY----1. will swear solemnly
that the prisoner Riley is the man.
William Walton, the owner of a boat on the river, de-
posed to finding his boat on the Lancashire, instead of the
Cheshire, side of the river, where he had moored it.
John Yates knew Nerfoot, and saw him with Riley in Man-
chester the morning after the robbery, and thought from their
looks that they had been up all night.
James Irwin, a constable, arrested Richard Holbrook. Went
to his father's, and found two pieces of cord, which corre-
sponded with that with which the doors of Mrs. Widders' and
the adjoining house had been fastened.
James Jones, a deputy-constable at Warrington, on being
sworn, said—l apprehended Kerfoot and Riley. The prisoner
Riley said he had not been in Warrington since 1839, nor had
he seen Kerfoot for five months. Riley said in my hearing
that he would not mind giving 10/. to somebody who could
pull them through the job. Riley said to me, as I was con-
veying him along, s. Weil, Jones, what is your opinion? had
we better not plead guilty ?' It is a good job we are stopped,
for had we gone on much longer, murder would have been
the result. It has been suggested by one of our party that
we should strike parties on the temple, so as to make them
insensible."
David Willis, policeman, on his examination said—The two
Holbrooks admitted to me that they had done the High Leigh
robbery. The evidence given by this witness in every respect
corroborated the evidence of Jones as to the confession of the
prisoner Riley.
This was the case for the prosecution.
._Mr. TEMPLE, for the prisoners Holbrook, laboured hard to
prove an alibi.
Witnesses were called, but they did not at all strengthen the
defence.
Mr. YARDLEY also addressed the jury for the prisoner
Riley, after which
The ATTORNEY-G ENERA L replied.
The Learned Juno F. summed the case up very elaborately,
recapitulating most minutely the evidence that had been of-
fered, when

The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.
The Learned JUDGE, after commenting upon the heinousness
of the offence, sentenced them to be severally transported for
eighteen years.
John 1) ckenin was indicted for an abominable offence.
The evidence was of such a disgusting nature as to preclude
the possibility of publication.--He was acquitted,

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.
Orrow, 29, pot-boy, was charged with burglariously
breaking and entering the divelling-shouse of Thomas Sproston,
and stealing two gold watches, a silver watch, a Si. Bank of
England note, and other articles, value 301., the property of the
prosecutor.
Mr. Payne conducted the pro-ecution, and Mr. Wilkins de-
fended the prisoner.
From the evidence adduced in support of the prosecution, it
appeared that on the 15th of December the house of the pro-
secutor, the Rising Sun, Princes-streeti Lambeth, was broken
into, and the property mentioned in the indictment stolen
therefrom. A strong suspicion was created that the ri hbery
must have been committed by some person well acquainted
with the premises, but the prisoner, who was employed by the
prosecutor as pot-boy, was not at all comidered as the guilty
party. Eventually, however, he was taken into custody,
and a man named Spirey came forward, and stated that the
prisoner had urged hint to assist in robbing his master's house,
and had proposed that he should be concealed in the house
before it was closed for the night, and that he should then take
all the property that came within his reach. The whole ease
for the prosecution rested upon the evidence of the man Spirey,
and another named Cowing, who deposed that after the rob-
bery had been committed he was present when the prisoner
Orrow came to a public-house where •he was, and told him to
sell Spirey or his friend, that he, the prisoner, and a man
who went by the sobriquet of 4. Kiddy," were suspected of
eommitting the robbery at the prosecutor's house, and that
the police were after them.
The witness Spirey in cress-examination said that he had
himself been in custody upon a charge of burglary, and had
often been in prison upon other charges, soil it appeared very
clear that his character was of such a descriptitei as to require
that his evidence should receive material corroberation. The
only circumstance in support of the evidence of this witness,
however, was that a screw-driver was found in the prisoner's
cupboard, which corresponded with the marks on the bureau
from whence a portion of the property had been abstracted.
Mr• WILKINS addressed the jury, and commented in severe
terms upon the character and conduct of the witness Spirey,
concluding by calling upon them not to give credit to testi-
mony of such a description.
The Jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
Josiah Langan, 29, carpenter, was charged with cutting and
wounding T. Pike, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Clarkson defended the prisoner.
It appeared that the prosecutor was with his wife at Rattle-
bridge on the 27th of December, and the latter having stopped
for a moment to look into a shop, the prisoner, who was intoxi-
cated, came up to her, and putting his arm round her waist,
made ear of some offensive expression towards her. The pro-
secutor upon hearing his wife give an alarm came to her assist-
ance, and a scuffle took place between him and the prisoner,
during which he received some injury, which was, however, of
a trifling description. The weapon with which it was inflicted,
a screw driver, was found in the possession of the prisoner.
The Jury found the prisoner guilty of an assault, and ac-
quitted him of the felony.
The prosecutor recommended the prisoner to mercy, and he
was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.
The Grand Jury were discharged in the course of the
afternoon.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
( YESTE RDA Y.)
A/ANS/WV-I/O USE.
The LORD MAYOR upon taking the Chair directed that
the officers appointed to attend to the immediate vicinity of St.
Paul's, should appear to answer for having permitted a most
disgraceful contest between the conductors of omnibuses there
on the preceding day for a passenger. He hail been informed
that notwithstanding the strict injunctions which he had but a
few days ago given, that omnibus and cab obstructioes should
in no instance be allowed to pass unnoticed by the police, a
laxity in the discipline, commenced with so much activity, had
already appeared in the street. He had heard that the drivers
had relapsed in some parts of the great thoroughfares into their
old practice of loitering, and he could not ascribe such
disobedience to the orders which had been issued to any-
thing but the remissness of the police. He should, there-
fore, make the policemen in each district responsible
to the public, and cause the dismissal of such of them from the
force as neglected so important a duty, by immediate applica-
tion to the Commissioner. His Lordship also took occasion to
observe that the contract to which he had on Tuesday last re-
ferred, with respect to the work of the scavanger, did not
seem to be acted upon even since the exposure of its frequent
violation had taken place. He called the attention of Major
Shaw, the Superintendent, to the latter tact, and said he
should expect that a copy of the contract which was on Wed-
nesday published in the newspapers, and which contained in
detail the specific direction, would be pasted up at every station-
house, so that the policeman of every district might make him-
self acquainted with the duties which the scavengers had to
perform, and summon such of them as neglected to do what the
contract pointed out. It would not be imposing an onerous
duty upon the force, as the men could easily ascertain whether
the scavengers a' tended to sweep the stree's in the several
localities at the hour specified in the paper.
The Superintendent said he would take care that a copy of
the contract should be put up in every station-house, and that
the men should he ordered to summons those who neglected to
perform the terms of the contract before the Commissioners
of Sewers.
His Loanstnir added that he had no doubt of the determi-
nation of the Commissioners of Sewers to inflict the penalties
ennmerated in tke contract, which was as binding as an Act of
Parliament.
Mr. Grainger, the owner of several cabs, was called upon
by a cab-driver, named Ettridge, to answer a complaint under
rather singular circumstances.
Between two and three months ago Ettridge wasbrought before
' the Lord Mayor upon the complaint of one of the officers of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who
stated that the driver hail driven a horse upon whose shoulder s
and back there were sores. A fine of 40s. was demanded upon
the conviction of the driver, who preferred, at all events, the
alternative of confinement in a prison for fourteen days, and
was accordingly committed. The driver, it appeared, had,
upon entering the service of Mr. Grainger, subscribe,l to a
written agreement, by which it was settled that the master
should retain in his possession the license of the driver as secu-
rity for the payment of 12s. a day for the use of the cab and
horse, and the license lay in the master's desk for the sum of
3/. 195., due in accordance with the condition of the instrument
at the time the summons was applied for. Ettridge obtained
the summons for the detention of his license upon the repre-
sentation that as he had suffered the penalty in its most
grievous shape for having driven a horse which, whatever
might be its condition, had been supplied to him by his master,
he had an unquestionable claim to his license, denying at the
same time that the debt to his master was more than four
shillings, which, when offered once, he had rejected.
Ettridge stated that he went into the employment of Mr.
Grainger last April, and subsequently signed the agreement
alluded to, dated the 25th of September. He was afterwards
charged with having driven a horse with a sore hack, and im-
prisoned for the time stated. Upon coming out of prison he
again went into the service of Sir. Grainger, but on Tuesday
week he left it, having received notice to go. On Thursday
he applied for his license, but he could obtain no satisfaction,
and he could not get employment without being able to pro-
duce that authority.
The Loan MAYOR said it was a question whether an Act of
Parliament which was made for the public did not altogether
destroy the effect of an agreement which appeared to have been
made in contravention of it. The tendency of the agreement
seemed to him to be incompatible with the spirit of the Act.
The solicitor to Sir. Grainger said that at all the police
courts agreements of the kind were recognised, and, in fact, if
they were not, the owners of cabs could not conduct their busi-
ness at all. He then quoted the 6th and 7th Victoria, cap. Sb,
sec. 23, which says—" Provided always, and be it enacted that
it shall not be lawful, either in any court of law, or before
any justice of the peace,, to enforce the payment of any sum of
money claimed from any driver or conductor by any pro-
prietor on account of the earnings of any hackney carriage or
metropolitan stage carriage, unless under an agreement in
writing, which shall have been signed by such driver or con-
ductor," &c. &e. The driver, he said, had acted very badly,
and it appeared from the summons, upon the hearing of whis,h
he had been imprisoned, that it was for cruelty to the horse
that he had been punished.
The Loan MAYOR asked whether the driver had, upon
coming out o f prison, signed a now agreement ? The driver
replied that he had not.
The Loan Maroit then said that whether the agreement
which had been signed was or was nut reconcilable with the
Act of Parliament, he considered that the imprisonment the
driver had undergone was such a cessation from work as to
constitute a virtual discharge, and therefore, after he came out
of prison, no fresh agreement having been signed by him, he
was entitled to his license. His Lordship added that he had
observed, from the conduct of the driver, that he merited but a
very small share of indulgence, and that he was bound to make
reparation for the loss sustained by his master, who, upon his
part, if he took care to enforce the Act of Parliament in its
true spirit, would, to a clear certainty, get better servants.
W S HIP-STILE E7'.
Yesterday a tall, powerful man, named Patrick Cannel!, ap-
parently a bricklayer, was charged before Mr. Bingham with
cutting open the head of a youth, named William White, with
a tailor's iron, called a " vose," and thereby endangering Iris

life.
The offence was fully proved, but it appeared that the pri-
soner's intellects were considered to be affected.
The object of the prisoner's rage, who is a slender youth of
15 years of age, was ghastly pale, and so ill that it was with
considerable difficulty he could support himself while giving
his evidence.
Mr. Courtney, the surgeon, described the injury as a very
severe scalp-wound of great extent, and said it was altogether
a truly wonderful escape from death.
The prisoner, of whose insanity there cannot he the remotest
doubt,—as the unhappy man sometimes displayed the most
apathetic indifference and at others the greatest violence, and
for one half of the day was singing and shouting gaily, and for
the other was on his knees devoutly praying,—made in his de-
fence an incoherent and unintelligible harangue, and
Mr. Ilixcua 31 fully committed him to Nevrgate for trial,
leaving it to a jury to determine the queAion of his sanity.

LA BETH- S7l E E 7'.
Last evening, after the numerous night charges had been
disposed of by Mr. Norton, Nehemiah Shakspeare, a middle-
aged man, who had been upwards of seven years resident engi-
neer at the Lambeth waterworks, and who while in that situa-
tion enjoyed a handsome salary, was brought into Court and
charged by Air. Johnston, the principal in the firm of Johnston
and Co., of Gloucester-street, Counnerc'alroatl, with having
wilfully and maliciously caused the bursting of a steam-boiler
on his premises on Tuesday morning last, by which the lives
of upwards of 70 individuals were placed in the most imminent
danger, and property to a considerable amount. destro3ed.
An account of this explosion appeared in Ihe Sets of
Wednesday.
It appeared from the evidence of Mr. It. Johnston, that
the accused had been engaged by him as engineer at a salary
of 28s. a week. The accused had been engaged in preparing
a slide for the engine, and witness thinking that he was slow in
executing the job, told him that if he did not wish to do it to
say so at once, and he would find somebody else to finish it.
The prisoner made no particular obnrvations in reply ;
he, however, finished the job on Monday. On Tuesday,
the morning of the explosion, witness went into the engine-
room and saw nothing amiss. The witness described
the manner in which the engine was supplied with water,
for the purpose of proving that with ordinary rate all tie-
tangement from deficiency of water might be avoided.
After witness had gone from the engine-house to the ware-
house he was alarmed by a violent rusts of steam into the latter
place, about ten minutes to 9 o'clock. The witness then de-
scribed the effects produced by the explosion of the boi...er.
When he first saw the prisoner afterwards he was standing by
the side of the boiler in the yard. Witness said, " Well,
Shakspeare, you have done a pretty thing," and observing that
he was smiling at the lime, and instead of exhibiting the
slightest grief or regret at what had happened, seemed to enjoy
it as a good joke. Witness, addressing a friend who was with
him at the time, said. " Look at the old villain, he has got a
smile upon his countenance ;" and his only answer was, " No,
1 have not." While witness was in conversation with Mr.
Good, a cigar manufacturer, the prisoner was about to leave the