The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-24 00:00:00

THE FREE HOSPITAL.

Yesterday the adjourned inquest upon Susannah Ste-
phens, was resumed by Mr. Wakley, M.P., at the Lion,
Gray's Inn-road. It will be recollected that about a
month ego, two young girls, labouring under pulmonary
disease, in the last stage, came up from Windsor, arid
applied for admission into the Royal Free Hospital,
which was refused them, as the beds were completely
occupied. They then obtained shelter in the Lion, but
he elder girl, named Erle, aged twenty-two, died at five
o'clock the following morning, and the other, the subject
of the present inquiry, who was only eighteen years of
age, died in the Holborn Union workhouse last Friday
week. The case excited general sympathy.
The inquest-room was crowded yesterday, and
amongst the gentlemen present were Mr. Pritchard, high
bailiff of Southwark ; the Rev. Dr. Worthington, the
Rev. Mr. Pacleenham, &c.
An attorney, attended by Mr. Wingrove Cook, the
barrister, was in attendance on the part of the Hospital.
Hannah Fisher, nurse in the Holborn workhouse, ex-
amined—Deceased was brought into the workhouse on
the 20th ult., suffering from weakness and cough. She
had wines, broths, and other stimulants. She was sen-
sible the whole time, and was anxious to recover. She
died last Friday week. She told witness that she came
from Windsor to be admitted into the Free Hospital,
and that she and her deceased companion applied
for admission the previous morning. They were kept
in a cold room, in which there was a sink, and the floor
of which was stone, for two hours before a doctor saw
them, who told them that there was no room for them.
As it was raining they could not go out, and were almost
pushed from the gate. They asked the porter for some
food, and he got them what he called broth and bread.
The broth was nothing but salt and water, the porter in-
formed them that it was against the rules to give them
food. While they were standing in the porch at the
hospital gate, two other women were brought in and
received. They were desired to go to Bartholomew's
Hospital, but were unable to do so. They had only
2s. 3d. when they left Windsor, of which they paid 2s. to
the waggoner, and paid 3d. for coffee. After being re-
fused admission to the hospital, they were afforded food
and shelter by the landlady of the Sun, where the
other died.

Dr. Marsden said that 300 men were daily relieved by
the hospital, and that from Finsbury alone they had
annually 20,000 patients who got relief.
CORONE a—lf that was proved to the satisfaction of
the inhabitants of Finsbury, they would willingly sub-
scribe 20,0001. annually towards the hospital.
Mr. White, surgeon to the workhouse, proved the
deceased died of a pulmonary disease, and condemned
the conduct of the medical officers of the hospital towards
deceased.

Mrs. Tiffen, landlady of the Lion, reiterated the
evidence given by her on thy• inquest of the girl Gill, and
corroborated the evidence of the last witness, adding,
that when they entered her house they had death in
their eyes.
Mrs. llynies, the landlady of the Calthorpe Arms, ad-
joining the hospital, stated that after they had left the
hospital they came to her house, and that from their ap-
pearance she was convinced they were dying. She gave
them food and Is. 6d. to procure a bed.
Margaret Triguao, her housemaid, confirmed her tes-

timony.
William Evans, assistant relieving officer to the City
of London Union, and his son, deposed that three
females from the Peckham workhouse, labouring under
a certain disease, were admitted from the workhouse to
the hospital on the day the two deceased persons were
rejected, the latter were offered to be conveyed thence to
Peckham house, of which they refused to avail them-
selves, stating that they had enough of workhouses, and
that it was an hospital, not a workhouse they wanted.
Mr. Thwaites, relieving officer of the City of London,
Union, said that during the year between forty and fifty
thousand casual poor were relieved by it, and that many
were sent to the Free Hospital during the year for medi-
cal and surgical assistance.
The porter of the Hospital, Mr. Cook, the assistant-
surgeon, and Alice Warner, the cook or the Institution,
gave evidence contradicting the statements of deceased.
The Rev. Dr. Worthington, chaplain to the Hospital,
having been sworn, charged the Coroner with unvaried
hostility against the Hospital, and designated him a
" partial judge," when
The CORONER threatened him with committal if he
repeated such language, tit the same time ordering
him to quit the room ; with which order the chaplain
coal

Tlie jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict
of " Natural death."

Dr. Marsden inquired if they censured the conduct of
the officers of the hospital?
The foreman replied that the majority of the jury
found fault with them for having refused admission to
the deceased to an hospital professedly established for
the benefit of the destitute and bouseless.

Another juror said that no blame was attributable to
the officers.
A third juror'said that the landlady of the CAihorpe
Arms was more ad,ipted to be a :iurgt,on than the
medical gentleman of the hospital who refused them
admission.
The other jurors declared that they c,-)neurrcd in the
strictures passed upon the hospital by their foreman.

THE CONDITION OF THE AGRI.
CULTURAL LABOURER.

(From the Dover Chronicle.)
" Protection to native industry" is the plea urged 13r
monopolists for the continuation of the corn-laws. In,
the teeth of evidence the most clear and irrefragable,,
they will tell you that free trade would destroy the
agricultural labourer—that, in other words, the only
way to avoid the danger of starvation to the working
man, is to create an artificial scarcity. Of course,
the. paradox involsa d in this opinion is scouted by
every one who, possessed of the least grain of common
sense, has thought it worth while to examine never so
slightly into the subject. But there are many persons
who have been content to let others think for them en-
tir.ly on this head, and who hive consequently been
cajoled into the belief that the corn-law repalers are
anxious for a free importation of corn to di:.place home
cultivation, instead of to supply the deficiency caused by
the inadequacy of our home cultivation to the wants of
our increasing population. With this belief—entertained
without the least examination of the premises—they
jump at once to the conclusion that the labourer must
suffer by a free importation of corn, and, therefore, that
the corn-laws are a benefit to him. Not a sinwle fact or
argument can be urged to justify the assumption that
free trade will throw the labourer out of employment ;
on the contrary, the most undeviating experience, as
well as the most unvarying testimony, is against it.
Food was grown in this country before food grown in
foreign couatries was taxed, and will continue to be
grown when the tax on foreign fbcd is removed.
If the condition of the agricultural labourer was such
that the patriot and the philanthropist could look upon
it with complacency—if plenty smiled upon his cottage,
and the result of his labour was a sufficiency of food and
clothing—if he enjoyed a fair proportion of the good
things which are produced by the wormanship of his
hands—then w,arld there be some slight grounds for de-
scribing the corn-laws as " protection to native industry,"
at least, so far as the cultivation of the soil is concerned;
and however urgent might be the claims of the other
branches also of " native industry," for the destruction of
all favour to any one branch—however irresistible the de-
mands for consideration urged by the alarming vicissi-
tudes to which our manufacturing operatives are subjected,
there would be a more cautious approaching of the
great question—there might be a lingering fear in the
minds of many that the repeal of the corn-laws might
banish the rural felicity enjoyed by our ploughmen and
shepherds, and bring destruction upon the Arcadian
bowers of peace and joy wherein they dwell. But the
fact is—and it cannot be too strongly dwelt upon in the
important anti-corn-law agitation now progressing—
that the condition of the protected is not a whit better
than, scarcely indeed so good as, that of the oppressed.
The man who works in the fields is, notwithstanding the
laws professedly enacted to favour him, as badly off as
his brother who works in the factory ; nay, I question
much if he be not worsa ; for while occasional gleams of
prosperity visit his manufacturing brother, when food is
cheap, and give him hopes of approaching days that
shall be permanently better, his own wages are re.
duced, and a gradual deterioration of his social position
takes place.

I have availed myself of a few weeks' residence in a
district purely agricultural—in the neighbourhood of
Guildford, in the county of Surrey—to make myself ac.
quainted with the condition of those whose occupation
consists in tilling the land. I have conversed with them
in the field, and visited them in their homes ; and, from
what I have heard and seen, the irresistible conviction
has possessed my mind, that the abolition of the food
monopoly will confer the greatest possible blessing on
the agricultural population. The field labourer, "I am
fully persuaded, will have cause to hail with the deepest
gratitude the day that witnesses the repeal of the corn-
laws. Let me illustrate this by an example of their pre-
sent position:—
In the course of my rambles I became acquainted
with an old man, over whose head more than sixty
winters have rolled. To those who are callous and
indifferent to the sacred claims of humanity, his ap-
pearance would be considered a fit subject for ridictl*;
but, to those of better fueling, it unfolds a tale cf pre-
tracted human suffering, and a long career of unre-
quited toil. I will endeavour to describe it as I first
saw it. His face was thin and long ; and from his
pointed chin depended a beard which had not had an
acquaintance with a razor for some months, and which
imparted to his sallow, wasted, and wrinkled features,
a greater expression of forlorn woe than they would
otherwise have borne. His dress consisted of corduroy
breeches (the original material of which was aimost
concealed by sundry patches and damns), and a
discoloured jacket of thin flannel, similar in appear-
ance to those worn in the field by gentlemen-
cricketers ; and might, for aught I know, have been.
given him by some charitable and condescending
partisan of Young England. In order to obtain,
greater warmth than this jacket would afford, the
poor fellow had obtained an old sack, which he had
ingeniously contrived to fix on his person, by waking
a slit in the bottom of it through whi e h to insert hia
head, and one on either side fur his arms. But he was
not so extravagant as to permit a whole sack to hang
pendant from his shoulders : be had taken enough from
the top (now the bottom) to fasten round either leg as &
substitute for stockings. In the course of conversation
with this specimen of a " bold peasantry—his country's
pride," I ascertained that, after toiling a week, he could
earn the munificent sum of six shillings, whicls he waa
alloned to appropriate in the best way he could, to ob-
tain food, clothing, and lodging. The repeal, of the
corn laws being now, as it should be, the all engrossing
topic, I asked him what he thought would be the result
of such a measure ? His reply was, "Some of our people
think the corn. laws dean's ought to be done away with,
but it makes no odds to I." " Why not ?" was my in-
quiry. "'Cos measter says I are getting too old to work,
and must soon go to the parish." " Then the corn.
laws have not enabled you to lay up in your young days
sufficient to keep you from the union:now you are o/d?"
" Na, Sir ; things is been gettin' worse every year
since I wur a boy ; and this year it's worser than ever,
'cos the 'taters are bad." " But," said I, " the farmers
pay their men greater wages this year than they did
last, in consequence of their realising. from 13s. to 20a,
per quarter more for their wheat?" " Na, indeed ; I
doesn't get so much, 'cos they say I doesn't work so
hard ; but the others doesn't get a bit more, and work
as hard as ever : if wheat wur twenty poun' a load
(80a. a quarter), they might get a shilling a week
more." " That is, in consideration of their paying
from 2s. to half-a-crown more per week for their bread
alone?" " That's it, Sir."

A glorious prosp. ct. truly, was before the eyes Of this
old man ! Many a year has he lived alone in the world,
for he was never married—no opportunity has ever been
afforded him of cultivating the social and domestic affec-
tion. His life has been spent, and all his energies
wasted, in calling forth the hidden resources of the earth,
and producing food for the use of man ; performing thus
a far greater and nobler service to his country than he
who takes a shilling from a recruiting sergeant, dons a
red jacket, and goes abroad with murderous intent, to
blow out the brains of his fellow-creatures who have
never injured him. And the reward of his honest labour
is a poor-house for life ! Happy it may be for England
that asylums, in the shape of poor-law unions, are pro-
vided for enfeebled age ;_ but how much happier if such
a state of things existed as enabled the hard-working
man to reserve a fund for his support when Lis frame
becomes too old for toil ; and exist they would, if labour
had its open market.
The condition of the labourer in the full possession
of his physical powers is scarcely better than that of my
aged frieid in the sack. If married, he receives about
los. per week, of which from 2s. to 2s. 6d. goes out in
the shape of rent for his cottage. Food and clothing for
themselves, their wives, and families, have to be pro-
vided with the remainder. I have, in the course of my
sojourn, become acquainted with many labourer's fami-
lies, whose expenditure for food is necessarily limited to
a halfpenny per head per meal. I have sometimes ven-
tured to suggest to the heads of families, that it was to
be regrett( d that they had so many children to keep.
The answer was, that they could not get so much wages
if they had not, and they should also be without the
hope of ultimately realising something by their chil-
dren's labour. The objection to our manufacturing sys-
tem—that it fosters child labour—can be urged, 1 find,
with as much truth against our present system of agri-
cultural industry. _ _

In no instance can I find ,12:-.t the labourer has re.
ceived even a nominal increase of wages in consequence
of the increase in the price of provision!. lle rt eeives
the same sum per week this year as he did last, while he
has to pay for bread alone from one to two shillings more
weekly ; and he has to contend, moreover, with the
failure of his little garden crop of potatoes.
Simultaneous with the gradual deterioration of the
condition of the labourer, has been the gradual increase
in the rent of land.
.Only
.a few years ago, good land
could be rented in this neighbourhood for 20s. an acre.
It is now realising from 365. to 405., and the tendency
to rise continues. The fact that the rent-receiver grows
richer and richer, while the land-tiller grows poorer
and poorer, owes its existence to the wickedness and
perversity of the men who, by a legislative act, have
limited the supply of food, and created an artificial
scarcity on the one hand, and enhanced the importance
of capital on the other. Away with the corn-laws !
They are a libel upon God's providence, and an abomi-
nation upon the earth.

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT ST. 11ATHERINE
Docks.—Yesterday afternoon, at half-past, three o'clock, a
frightful accident occurred at the St. Katherine Docks,
which, it is feared, will be attended with fatal consequences.
to a labourer named Robert Bland, aged fifty-nine years. lie
was at work in A and B vault, when he fell through a loop-
hole, a height of sixteen feet. lie was found totally insensible
from frightful injuries sustained about the head. Both upper
and lower jaws were fractured in a shocking manner, and he
received other severe injuries about the head and body. He
was removed to the London Hospital.
DESPERATE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF A YOUTH
Ir OXFORD-STREET, BY THROWING HIMSELF OUT 0)! vA
IS-iNnow.-lesterday morning, at half-past eight o'clock, a
desperate attempt at suicide was committed by a young man
named James Bowles, eighteen years of age, residing at No.
65, Oxford-street, next door to the Princess's Theatre, by
throwing himself into the street from the second-floor window
Several persons who were passing ran to his assistance, and
raised him from the ground in a state of insensibility. lie was
removed immediately to the Middlesex Hospital, where he
lies without hopes of recovery.

It is reported that Mr. Deane, the Chairman, and
another Commissioner of Customs, will shortly retire from,
the Board.

NIGIIIT'S GAZETTE.
WHITEHALL, DEC. 20, 1845.
The Queen has been pleased to nominate, constitute, and
point the Right Hon. Henry Goulburn to be one of the
7. oclesiastical Commissioners for England, in the room of the
.ght Hon. Sir Herbert Jenner Fust, resigned.
CRO WN-OFFICE, Dec. 22.
.7%7 EMBER RETURNED TO SERVE LN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT.
Borough of Woodstock—Alfred Spencer Churchill, com-
monly called Lord Alfred Spencer Churchill, in the room of
John Henry Loftus, commonly called Viscount Loftus, now
Baron Loftus, called up to the House of Peers.
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, DEc. 22.
Royal Regiment of Artillery—Second Captain G. Innes to
be Adjutant, vice Sandham, who resigns the Adjutantcy only,
Dec. 18 ; Second Captain H. T. Fyers to be Adjutant, vice
Shone, promoted; Second Captain A. Benn to be Adjutant,
vice P. Benn, promoted, Dec. 22.
OFFICE OF ORDNANGE, Dec. 22.
Royal Regiment of Artillery—Captain and Brevet Major
W. E. Lock to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Hanwell, retired
on full pay; Second Captain J. Hill to be Captain, vice
Lock ; First Lieutenant J. H. Lefroy to be Second Captain,
vice Hill ; Second Lieutenant R. Phelps to be First Lieu-
tenant, vice Lefroy, Dec. 12.
Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Riding of
Yorkshire.
Sir W. Lawson, Bart, to be Deputy-Lieutenant, March
7, 1844.

Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire.
T. S. Lea, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, Dec. 1, 1845.
Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall.
J. K. Lethbridge, to be Deputy-Lieutenant, Dec. 13.
Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk.
Joseph Scott, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; Thomas
Blake, Esq., LL.D.. to be ditto ; John Longe, Esq., to be
ditto; Thomas Havers, Esq., to be ditto; Frederick North,
Esq., to be ditto; William Sancroft Holmes, Esq., to be
ditto; William Robert Cann, Esq., to be ditto; Thomas
Edward Scott, Esq., to be ditto, Dec. 6.
Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Somersetshire.
- North Somerset Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry—L. Hel-
bert, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Mauls, promoted, Dec. 17.
WHITEHALL
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Thomas Rodham, of
Wellington, in the county of Somerset, Gent., to be a Master
Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery.
WHITEHALL, Dice. 9.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed C. B. Portmore, of
Leicester, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High
Court of Chancery. _ _

BANKRUPTS.

Thomas Winston, merchant, Copthall-buildings, City, to
'amender Dec. 30, at half-past twelve, and Feb. 6, at two,
at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee ;
Crowder and Maynard, Coleman-street.
Elizabeth Rolph and Thomas Rolph, builders, Upper Brook-
street, Grosvenor-square, Dec. 31, at half-past eleven, and
Feb. 4, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official
assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Huson Ironmonger-lane.
Felix Herpent, warehouseman, Sherrard-street, Golden-
square, Dec. 31, at two, and Feb. 4, at one, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinglutll-street ;
Raw, Furnival's Inn, Holborn.
Joseph Howard Rand, glass dealer, Westminster-bridge-
road. Jan. 3, at eleven, and Feb. 13, at twelve, at the Court
of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Aldermanbury;
Buchanan, Basingliall-street.
James Miller, cordwainer, High-street, Southampton, Jan.
6 and Feb. 3, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom,
official assignee, Abchurch-lane; Overton and Hughes, Old
Jewry.
Thomas Brown, shoemaker, Paddington, Dec. 30, at one,
and Feb. 3, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham,
official assignee, Coleman-street; Buchanan, Basinghall-
street.
Sarah Caroline Fry, stationer, Margate, Dec. 30 and Feb.
3, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, offi-
cial assignee, Old Jewry-chambers; Fisher, Verulam-build-
ings, Gray's Inn.
Esther Smith, innkeeper, Southwell, Nottinghamshire,
Jan. 9 and Feb. 2, at eleven, at the Birmingham District
Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham; Shilton and
Son, Nottingham.
Clarendon Hyde, apothecary, Loughborough, Leicester-
shire, Jan. 5 and 26, at eleven, at the Birmingham District
Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; Ingle-
sant, Loughborough ; Foulkes, Birmingham.
William Brown, ironmonger, Atherstone, Warwickshire,
San. 5 and Jan. 26, at eleven, at the Birmingham District
Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Birmingham ; Morgan,
Birmingham ; Chilton and Co., Chancery-lane, London.
John Sier, baker, Cheltenham, Jan. 15 and Feb. 12, at
eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, Bristol ;
Oliver and Co., Moorgate-street, London ; Stiles, Cheltenham.
George Smith, bill broker, Manchester, Jan. 5 and 28, at
twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, official
assignee, Manchester ; Fox, Finsbury-circus, London ;
Worthington, Earle, and Berry, Manchester.
Joanna Chatterton, licensed victualler, Pendleton, Lanca-
shire, Jan. 2, at eleven, and Jan. 22, at twelve, at the Man-
chester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manches-
ter ; Johnson, Son, and Weatherall, Temple, London ; Hitch-
cock, Buckley, and Tidswell, Manchester.
William Wingfield, brewer, Rotherham, Yorkshire, Jan.
8 and 27, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young,
official assignee, Leeds; Hudson, Bucklersbury, London;
Robinson, Rotherham ; Bond, Leeds.
Joseph Collinson, worsted spinner, Allerton, Yorkshire,
Jan. 8 and 27, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young,
official assignee, Leeds; Scargill, Hatton-court, Thread-
needle-street, London ; Dawson, Bradford ; Harle, Leeds.
DIVIDENDS DECLARED.
J. and W. Campion, shipbuilders, Whitby, Yorkshire—first
and final div. of 6s. 7d. and 10-16ths of a penny in the pound
to those creditors who have not formerly received, and a final
div. of 2s. 7d. and 10-16ths of a penny in the pound to those
who have received, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr.
Kynaston, Leeds.
J. Campion, shipbuilder, Whitby, Yorkshire--final div. of
3s. 11d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr.
Kynaston, Leeds.
R. Campion, banker, Whitby, Yorkshire—first div. of
3s. 9d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr.
Kynaston. Leeds.
F. Loraine, bookseller, Newcastle-upon-Tyne--second div.
of 3s. in the pound (in addition to ss. sd. previously declared
on any Saturday at Mr. Baker's office, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
J. Howden, ironfounder, Wakefield, Yorkshire—first div.
of 4s. 6d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr.
Kynaston, Leeds.
J. and S. Sugden, cloth manufacturers, Huddersfield--
first and final div. of 10s. 7d. in the pound to those creditors
who have not formerly received, and a final div. of 7d. in the
pound to those who have received, on any Tuesday, at the
office of Mr. Kynaston, Leeds.
W. J. Wardell, wine merchant, Pickering, Yorkshire—
first and final div. °fats. Nel. in the pound to those creditors
who have not former received, and a final div. of 9d. in
the pound to those who have received, on any Tuesday, at the
office of Mr. Kynaston, Leeds.
T. Paterson and J. Codling, earthenware manufacturers,
Sheriff-hill, Durham—first and final div. of 6s. 9d. in the
pound, on any Saturday, at the office of Mr. Wakley, New-
castle-upon-Tyne.
W. 11. Bates—a third div. of 6d. in the pound, on any
Thursday, at the office of Mr. Christie, Birmingham.
B. B. Wilson, surgeon, Holme, Westmoreland—first and
final div. of sd. in the pound, on any Saturday, at the office
of Mr. Wakley, Newcastle-upon• Tyne.
T. C. Smith, hotel keeper, Hearietta•street, Covent-garden
—first div. of 20s. in the pound on any Wednesday, at the
office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street.
T. C. Smith and R. Hayes, hotel-keepers, Henrietta-street,
Covent-garden—first div. of 9s. 6d. in the pound, on any
Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street.
J. P. Bradley, wine merchant, Great St. Helens, City—
first div. of 6s. 2d. in the pound, on any Wednesday, at the
office of Mr. Whitmore, Basingliall-street.
J. Brooker, carver and gilder, Southampton-row, Blooms•
bury—first div. of Is. in the pound, on any Wednesday, at
the office of Mr. Turquand, Old Jewry.
DIVIDENDS.
At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street.
R. B. Clarke, plumber and glazier, Gower-street North,
St. Pancras, Jan. 15, at half-past eleven—C. Jarman, tailor,
West Smithffeld, Jan. 16, at eleven—J. F. Armstrong, coal
merchant, Staffordshire-wharf, Greenwich, Jan. 16, at eleven
—C. F. Warman, glass dealer, Hounsditch, Jan. 15, at half-
past twelve—W. Barnfield, jun., wine merchant, Mark-lane,
City, Jan. 15, at half-past eleven—H. It. Harraden, print-
seller, Cambridge, Jan. 15, at one—J. Robbins, bookseller,
Winchester, Jan. 13, at half-past eleven—J. Middleton,
hay and straw salesman, Jan. 15, at eleven—G. M. Von
Dadelszen, merchant, Mincing-lane, City, Jan. 15, at eleven
—T. Elodsdon, butcher, Harrow, Jan. 13, at at half-past two
—T. J. Sutton, master mariner, Scarborough, Jan. 16, at
twelve—J. Peake, miller, Tolleshunt Knights, Essex, Jan. 14
at twelve—W. H Alexander, hardwareman, Upper Clifton.
street, Finsbury, Jan. 14, at twelve—T. Smyth, perfumer,
Marcbmont-street, Brunswick-square, Jan. 14, at eleven—
11. S. Knowles, silk throwster, Moolham, Somersetahire,
Jan. I at eleven—A. Akehurst, baker, East Mailing, Kent,
Jan. 14, at twelve—C. Best, printer, St. James's-walk,
Clerkenwell, Jan. 28, at twelve—.G. F. Blow, currier, Great
Dover-street, Newington, Jan. 14, at half-past two—J.
Wartnaby, underwriter, Adam's-court. Old Broad -street,
City, Jan.• 16, at half-past eleven—J. Tunks, cowkeeper,
Netvlands-terrace, Kensington, Jan. 16, at half-past
eleven—J. Tomlin and W. Man, merchants, St. Michael's-
alley, Cornhill, Jan. 16, at one—W. Burleigh, scrivener,
Haverhill, Suffolk, Jan. 15 at one.
In the Country.
G. Grove, miller, Wick and Abson, Gloucestertershire,
Jan. 15, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court—P. W.
Smith, tanner, Bristol, Jan. 15, at eleven, at the Bristol
District Court—J. Lilly, farmer, Brinepitts, Worcestershire,
Jan. 22, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court—E.
Rogers, surgeon, Great Witley, Worcestershire, Jan. 21, at
eleven at the Birmingham District Court.
CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to
the contrary, on the day herein mentioned.
J. Tunks, cowkeeper, George-place, Newlands-terrace,
Kensington, Jan. I5—C. Draper, licensed victualler, Bishops-
gate. street Without, Jan. 15—H. Wood, draper, Cheltenham,
an. 15—T. Thompson, billbroker, Northampton, Jan. 16—
W. G. Flynn, merchant, Lower Thames-street, Jan. 18.—J.
P. Luxton, linendraper, Munster-street, Regent's Park, Jan.
15—G. F. Blew, carrier, Great Dover-street, Newington, Jan.
14"--W- R. Parsons, grocer, Limehouse-causeway, Lime-
house, Jan. 14-4. Phillips, tailor, Pinner's-court, Old Broad-
street, Jan. Liptrot, bootmaker, Wrexham, Jan. 13
E. Meredith, linendraper, Liverpool, Jan. 13—J. Lilly,
farmer, Brinepitts, Worcestershire, Jan. 21—T. Preston, jun.,
cotton spinner, Manchester, Jan. 13—J. Crabb, hemp enu-
mills, Dorsetshire, Jan. 12—P. Hansen, mer-
facturer, Hook-
. ci,ans, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Jan. 13-4. H. Limes, butcher,
Richmond, Surrey, Jan. 13—F. Ridd, surgeon, Nether Stowey,
Somersetshire, Jan. 13.
PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.
Jones and W. Chalfont, stationers, White Hart-place,
Kennington-lano—T. and T. S. De Vear, curriers, Lisle-
street, Leicester-square—H. S. Easty and W. Williams,
sharebrokers, Southampton-7W. W. Brookes, J. Lee, and W.
L. Brookes, attorneys,
Whitchurc , Shropshire—C. Denton
and J. Serjeant,.stone merchants, Quebec-wharf, Rotherhithe
—T. W. and J. B. Woolfe, boatbuilders, Lower Shadwell—
E. and S. Penton, Lupus-street, Pimlico—G. P. seenworthn
J. Kenworthy, and C. E. leenworthy,ff. carriers,
Ewooast 4
Mancahnedstejr
(so far as regards G. P. Kenworthy
)_
Richardson. earthenware manufacturers, Woodlesford, York-
shire—C. Herring, J. Burness, G. Herring, and A. Herring,
general agents, London—T. and W. Hallam, leathersellers,
Northampton—T. H. Crowther and J. Ash, jun., cotton spin-
ners, Stockport—J. Whitehouse and E. Whitehouse, sen.,
garden-tool manufacturers, Wolverhampton—R. Riddle and
el_.
R. firkin, lace manufacturers, Nottingham—J. Lewis and
Smsth, locksmiths, Birmingham—J. and J. W. Hendy, gene-
ral builders, Portsmouth—J. Bevan, N. Irom, and R. Bevan,
provision merchants, Birchin-lane—G. and T. Burford, linen-
drapers, Stratford—H. Rawsthorn and B. Ellston, iron-
founders, Haslingden, Lancashire—J. C. Gamble, J. and S.
Crossfield, alkali manufacturers, St. Helens, Lancashire.
SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.
Peter Allan, agricultural implement maker, Coldstream,
Jan. 2 and 23, at twelve, at the Newcastle Arms Inn, Cold-
stream.
John Mackenzie, coal merchant, Dingwall, Dec. 29 and
Jan. 19, at one; at the Caledonian Hotel, Dingwall.
David Prince Miller. theatrical ornament manufacturer,
Glasgow, Dec. 25 and Jan. 15, at twelve, at the chambers of
Etrathern and Douglas, Glasgow.
John Bendelow, innkeeper, Leith, Dec. 29 and Jan, 22, at
two, at the Old Ship Tavern, Leith.

her to question her as to some exorbitant items she had
charged in her bill, and to confront her with Mrs.
Wilmore, in respect to some statements she had made to
her prejudice. He began to talk to her about the bill,
but the affray began, and Mrs. Fish retired as soon as it
was over.
Mr. Alderman WILSON asked Ross if he wished to say
anything? Ross replied only that he had taken no part
in the assault.
Mr. Alderman Wn.sow said it waa altogether a cruel
and disgraceful assault, and he should send all the
parties to the sessions. Mrs. Wilmore should not escape
if she could possibly be found. The two defendants
could and might have prevented Mrs. Wilmore from
continuing the assault if they had been disposed, but it
seemed that the complainant was enticed to the cham-
bers and locked in for the purpose of being cruelly
beaten by a tall, strong young woman. Ross had not
even made a show of protecting the complainant. All
the parties were equally bad. He had supposed that
none but gentlemen were allowed to occupy chambers in
the Temple.
Mr. Robinson trusted he had done nothing unworthy
of a gentleman. As Mrs. Fisk had now made her
charge, he trusted she would return the 301. she had
taken to forbear doing so.
Mr. Alderman WILSON insisted upon knowing all the
particulars of this compromise.
Mr. Robinson declared he brought the parties toge-
ther merely to obtain some explanations, but as a
fracas had occurred in his chambers, and he felt his pro-
fessional reputation to be in jeopardy, he authorised Mr.
Games, a solicitor, to tender full amends for the assault.
Mr. Games saw the solicitor on the other side, a Mr.
W. C. Ward, and he ultimately paid 301. to Mrs. Fish,
41. to her doctor, and 7L to her lawyer. The sum de-
manded showed the spirit of extortion in which the
charge was made.
Mr. Alderman WILSON thought 411. was a large sum,
and was surprised that Mr. Ward, after getting the war-
rant, had thus made use of it to extort money. What
had he done in obtaining the warrant to deserve 71. ?
Mrs. Fish said her lawyer had not so used the warrant.
The offer to compromise did not come from him, but
from the defendant, and was made direct to her husband,
and as he was on his dying bed she thought she had
better avoid the expense and anxiety of further proceed-
ings.
Mr. Alderman WILSON observed, that it was clear his
warrant had been most unjustifiably used, and he would
not say what he should do in the case till Mrs. Robinson
was brought before him.
The parties then retired.
BO IV STREET.

Thomas Bennett, a letter-carrier, of Camberwell, was
charged with stealing the contents of two money-letters,
posted at the receiving-office, on Camberwell-green.
Mr. Peacock, the Post-office solicitor, attended.
It was proved by Mr. Walter Sculthorp, president of
the district post-office, that in consequence of the number
ofcomplaints made at the General Office in St. Martin's,le-
Grand, respecting the non-delivery of certain money-
letters posted at the Camberwell receiving house, he was
induced to make up two letters, the one addressed to
Mrs. Fisher, of Elm, near Wisbeach, and the other to a
person in Liverpool, inclosing in each a sovereign and
half sovereign (marked), and in the former one a gold
pin, also marked. These letters he posted at Camber-
well, on Monday last, and in the evening of the same
day awaited the arrival of the bag at the General Post-
office. The two letters, however, were not in the collec-
tion, and Mr. Sculthorp, accompanied by the inspector
of letter-carriers, Mr. Cole, and Peake, the constable, '
proceeded to the receiving-house, at Camberwell-green,
where they were informed that the prisoner had been
intrusted with the duty of taking the letters from the
box, and forwarding them to the Kent. road end St.
Martin's-le-Grand. He was accordingly sent for and
questioned, and on Peake's searching him, some of the
marked money was found in his possession. The next
morning he acknowledged his guilt, requesting Peake to
communicate the fact to the Court, as he should not be
able to do so himself.
Mrs. Blandon, of the Camberwell branch-office, Mr.
Cole, and Peake, having been also examined as to the
above facts,
Mr. JARDINE committed the prisoner for trial.
The prisoner, who was considered a respectable young
man, had some appointment in connexion with a place of
worship at Camberwell. He kept a tobacconist's shop,
and had been married only about six months.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

The final investigation into a charge of assault, alleged
to have:been falsely made against a bootmaker, named
William Hierons, living in Meard's-court, Wardour-
strect, by a woman named Elizabeth Cox, took place
before Mr. Maltby.
About ten days ago the woman appeared at this Court.
and stated that as she was passing through Mearcl's-
court, about two o'clock that morning, the defendant
(Hierons) came up to her, accosted her indecently, made
improper proposals to her, and on receiving a repulse
struck her a blow on the face which knocked her down
senseless. A stranger who was passing at the time, and
who witnessed the assault, assisted her in causing the
defendant to be taken to the station-house, and having
signed the charge-sheet promised to attend on her behalf
in the morning. This person, however, had not come
forward.
The defendant said he knew nothing whatever of the
assault, and called a witness, who said that the defendant
was not the !MLR who struck the blow.
The woman said she was positive the defendant was
the man.
Mr. MALTnr immediately inflicted a fine of 51, which
was paid.
In a short time afterwards the defendant came into
Court, and said he had accidentally met with a witness
who could prove he was not the person who had assaulted
the woman.
The witness, a neighbour of the defendant, but a
stranger to him, told the magistrate that she was at-
tracted to the window by a disturbance in the court
between a man and a woman. She looked out of the
window and saw the man knock the woman down. She
further saw the defendant ceme up to protect the woman,
and then she saw the man who had committed the assault
make his escape, and the defendant immediately after-
wards given into custody.
The defendant said this was a true statement of facts.
He had just reached home, and was about to put his
latch-key to the door, when he saw a woman knocked
down. He ran forward to her assistance, and was given
into custody as the person who had committed the assault.
Inspector Aggs (who booked the charge) said he had
no doubt he should be able to produce the person who
signed the charge-sheet on behalf of the woman.
This witness was found, and brought into Court. He
said he certainly signed the sheet, but it was only as a
witness to show that the woman had been assaulted.
He had never pointed out the defendant as the man who
had committed the assault ; on the contrary, he had no
recollection of having seen the defendant in the station-
house at all. He did not attend as a witness the next
morning, because he understood from the inspector that
his presence was not necessary.
Inspector Aggs said he was certain the witness had
pointed out the defendant in the station-house, other-
wise he would not have been admitted to sign the sheet
as a witness.

The witness bad asked if he were obliged to attend
the next morning, and was told it was usual to attend,
but he might do as he thought proper.
Mr. MALTBY appointed yesterday for the woman Cox
to attend before him.

The woman, who appeared to be still suffering from
the effects of the blow, when questioned, said the blow so
stunned her as to render her incapable of speaking posi-
tively to the person who had inflicted it. She had been
induced to swear that the defendant was the man from
his having been pointed out to her by persons who saw
the assault as the man who had struck her. Since she
was before the Court, she had heard so many persons
declare that she was mistaken that she was now re.
luctant to swear that the defendant was the nsan who
had assaulted her.
Mr. Ai ALTBY said, the case having now assumed an
aspect so different from that which it presented in the
first instance, when the woman swore so positively to
the identity of the defendant, he should order the de-
fendant to be paid back the 51. fine.
The defendant wished to know if he could not have
compensation for loss of time, and for expenses in pro-
curing witnesses.

Mr.:MALTBY could not comply with the re,

[uest.

RETIREMENT of LORD STANLEY.
We are assured that Sir Robert Peel will be enabled to
retain the co-operation of all his former colleagues, with
the exception of Lord Stanley.
Lord Stanley, we regret to learn, feels himself com-
pelled to withdraw from her Majesty's service. His
Lordship acted throughout the late painful and pro-
tracted discussions with perfect fairness and openness.
All the other colleagues of Sir Robert Peel will re-
main in office. They are influenced, no doubt, by the
same motives by which Sir Robert Peel was influenced,
when he informed her Majesty, on Saturday last,
that he required no time for consultation or delibera-
tion ; that on the instant he should resume the
fnnctions and responsibilities of Prime Minister.
The question to be decided at the Council, summoned
at short notice on Saturday night, was simply this—
shall the Queen and the country be left Kt such a crisis
without a Minister and without a Government?
The decision of the Duke of Wellington and of those
of his colleagues who had, in the first instance, dissented
from the views of Sir Robert Peel, was not to leave him
to pursue his arduous and patriotic cour:;o alone, but
to share the burthen with him, and give him
all the aid which their high station, their known abi-
lity, and disinterested integrity so well enabled them to
afford. The position of Lord Stanley was peculiar; and
acting on strong conviction and on his set ise of public
duty, he resolved on retiring.— Tory (Eveni.eg)paper.

TILE NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE, "The Queen
of Denmark," edited by Mrs. Gore, should r ether be placed
in the catalogue of. Memoirs. There is a love story running
throughout; but it is in reality a series of intrigues, conver-
sations, and incidents. The work is cleverly executed, full
of anecdote and lively scandal, and valuable for the graphic
pictures which it gives of Danish life and character. The
unfortunate Caroline Matilda, sister of our Ge nge 111., and
wife of the weak-minded Christian VII., is tb e leading per-
sonage in the romance; and, her character 'is fairly repre-
sented, and in sonic parts completely wind leafed. In the
scenes of violence and treason which preceded,'her banishment
to Zell, when begirt by enemies, she is described as acting
like a Queen, and on all occasions she appears possessed of a
warm English heart and a cool English I teal. The Count
Struensee, that miserable poltroon, who, to tave his worthless
existence, had the baseness to accuse his; royal mistress of
criminally intriguing with him, is too favot,trably drawn. The
minions of the Court, and the chief officers and statesmen of
the time, are sketched with a free pencil; the bals masques,
the private gossippings, the caballings, are described with
accuracy, as well as all the details of the royal pageants and
ceremonies.—;{Sorting Post.
The Marquis of I feadfort's second son, Lord Robert
Taylor, has entered the Household Brigade as Ensign and
Lieutenant in the Scotch Fusilier Guards.
...""The Marquis of Ailsa is indisposed at ; his villa, St.
Margaret's, near Richmond.

THE SUN, LoyDO-N, WEDNESDAY EVENING. DECEMBER 24, 1848.

THE ALLEGED MURDERS ON
THE HIGH SEAS.

ADJOURNED EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN
JOHNSTONE.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
William Dunn gave evidence to the same effect, that
he signed three or four papers, but it was through in-
timidation. It was after the death of Mars and Reason
they were signed, and in consequence of the captain say-
ing, if they did not, " He would cut their hearts out, and
make them sign them with their hearts' blood."
Some of the witnesses not being present to complete
the foregoing evidence,
John Lavis, surgeon of the Westminster House of Cor-
rection, was called to give evidence as to the state of the
crew when the Tory arrived. He said he examined,
on the night of the mon being committed to
prison, Nelson, Gair, and Barton. This was on the
evening of the 17th. The others, of which he had the
names in a paper before him, he examined next day. The
three first men appeared scarcely human, their wounds
had not been dressed or washed for several days, their hair
was dishevelled, and they were very dirty. By his orders
they were put into the infirmary. The next morning he
made a particular examination of all the men. The
witness then read a paper which he drew up at the time
and signed. It stated that Nelson had an incised wound
on the scalp, and another on the collar-bone and
back of the neck. The side of the neck and Elea
was burned and disfigured as if by gunpowder. There
were several wounds on other parts of the body. Gair
was the worst wounded, having his head scared in seve-
ral directions with wounds. His face was much dis-
figured with gunpowder, and he had several wounds
on the body. There were about twelve other of the
men who were wounded, some of them very extensively,
but the two named were the severest cases. Alison
had a severe wound by which his ear was almost
separated. The wounds had, however, healed very
readily, and might be considered more extensive than
severe. This was the substance of the written paper. The
witness continued, and said he examined the captain after
he was taken into custody. Witness found a punctured
wound on the back of the leg. Since then it had been
attended with severe erysipelas inflammation. The
captain was much depressed when he was taken, and in
a bad state of body, which might have been the cause
of the inflammation. The prisoner had no symptoms of
recent drinking. The wound named was the only one.
William Clapp, second surgeon at the Seaman's Hos-
pital, was next called, and examined respecting Morris,
Who had been taken into that hospital. He corroborated,
as far as that party was concerned, the statement of Mr.
Levis.

Alexander Sinclair, the carpenter, next called, was
examined respecting the origin of the transactions on
board the ship and relating to the death of Rambert.
The ship was quiet until they passed the Island of As-
cension, about the 23d of September. They were short
of provisions and water then. The quantity had been
limited for six or seven days to a pint of water per men.
A gallon a day is reckoned the allowance. Several of
the crew were dissatisfied and grumbling. It was re
marked that therecould have been more water obtained at
the last place they called at. There had been nodisturbance
that he was aware of up till that time. He re2ollected
bespeaking a French barque, about five or six days of er
leaving the parallel of Ascension, and three days before
Rambert jumped overboard. They got some water
and provisions, and a cask of wine, from tho barque.
About this time the captain found fault with the mate
about the boat being damaged. Witness heard the mate
say that if he had not a wife and family he would have
jumped overboard. Witness did not hear the reason of
his saying so, as he was only passing along. The
same night they bespoke the barque witness over-
heard Barry Yelverton tell the captain that Reason
had said, "if he (the captain) did not make the Island
of Ascension next day, there would be no more Captain
Johnstones." This was alleged to have been said the
day before the time when the ship should have reached
Ascension, but it was not told the captain till after be-
speaking the French barque. Witness afterwards
heard the captain call Rambert, and tell him
that there were intentions amongst the crew against
him. Rambert said he did not know of any at that
time. The captain then ordered the first and
second mate, and witness, and the three boys to take arms,
and they all did so. This was about nine o'clock at
night. The watch, comprising eight men and a boy,
were down asleep at the time. The other watch was on
duty and all orderly as far as he knew. Up to this
time witness heard nothing of any mutiny but what he
heard Barry Yelverton tell the captain, and the captain
saying, when he ordered them to be armed, " That he
believed the crew had sharpened their knives to take
his life." Several other questions were put
respecting subsequent proceedings, but the answers
were mainly corroborative of the evidence of the
other witnesses, fully given, as to the manner the captain
had acted towards the deceased. The only point ma•
terially differing from the former examinations was re-
specting the conduct of the captain after Rambert
jumped overboard. The witness stated that on Rambert
jumping overboard the captain called the crew together,
and asked if they should try to save him ? but the crew
were of opinion that it would be of no use,
the ship being under such a crowd of' sail. Wit-
neas at the same time heard Curtis tell the
captain that Rambert was the cause of all the
disturbance, as he wanted to take the ship to America.
Peter Curtis examined—He said that the mate
came to him about two hours before he jumped over-
board. He was all cut about the head tied face. Wit-
ness told Burton and others to go aft, and make the
cabin fast, as the captain would murder all hands.
Witness took iron belaying pins, and so did another of
the crew, and went aft with the mate, as far as the
break of the poop. French told them not to be foolish,
and so they went forward again, throwing down
the iron belaying pins. He saw French forward with
a pistol loaded, who threatened to shoot Rambert if
he did not go aft to the captain. French had a bayonet
in his hand as well as the pistol. Witness also heard
the captain threaten that if he did not bring the mate
aft, he would take his (French's) life. Rambert went
aft, and the captain struck him several times on the
head with the butt•end of the pistol, and cut him with
the cutlass about the head and face. Rambert
was then put in irons, but immediately after re-
leased ; and witness saw the captain chase him
round the deck with a drawn cutlass in his hand,
when the mate jumped overboard. Before Rambert
jumped overboard witness did not tell the captain the
mate intended to seize the ship and take it to America.
He did not hear any one say so but the captain. The
only reason why he wanted to seize the captain was for
their own protection, on account of his going about the
deck pricking and cutting the crew with a cutlass and
bayonet. The attempt he had named was the only one
made by the crew.
Mr. Hayward said this was all he had to offer
on the three principal charges, and he would now
the proceedings of
cwalhl,enevtihdeencsheipreasperriertehdig
in the Channel, re-
tiler eocceaepdt &tin
specting the cutting and wounding of the crew.
Beresford, Curtis, Tucker, Blackdon, Spence, Glover,
and Alison, being the remaining portion of the crew that
had not been examined on_the fourth charge, were then
called in, and, with the consent of Mr. Humphries, and in
order to economise time, Mr. Hayward confined the
examination to the actual injuries each had received from
the captain, without going into the general case on which
evidence had already been fully taken. Beresford said he
had got two cuts on the head and one on the wrist,
and was made to kiss the sole of the captain's foot. Curtis
stated that he had been cut in several places about the
cutlass, all hands b •
head and body with a being down in the
cabin at the time on their knees. Tucker deposed that
on the 7th of November he had been called down to the
cabin and ordered on his knees, and that while in
that position he was fired at by the French, through
order of the captain, on the face, the captain standing
by at the time with a cutlass over his head. He was
afterwards cut and fired at while on deck. The state-
ments of Spence, Blackdon, Glover, and Alison, were 1
of a similar character.
The evidence being closed, the depositions were read
over, and the witnesses severally bound over to appear
and give evidence against the prisoner at the next ses-
sions to be held at the Central Criminal Court.
Mr. BRODERIP, then addressing the prisoner, informed
him that, after a long and careful examination, it was
his painful duty to commit him for trial at the ensuing
session of the Central Criminal Court, on three capital
charges of murdering William Rambert, chief mate of
the ship Tory, Thomas Reason, second mate, and Wm.
Mars, common sailor; and also on the charge of feloni-
ously cutting, and wounding the crew of the same ship.
The prisoner was then removed in a most exhausted
state, and thus terminated one of the longest and mos
extraordinary magisterial investigations upon record.

the housewife that which she believed to be the 5/. note;
and, without attentively looking at it, she placed it in
her own pocket, and considered of the best mode to
escape detection for her horrid crime ; end at length
the thought came across her to make it appear that the
deceased had committed suicide. With a view to this
she tied the cord in a knot, and then lifted the body
from the bed, and placed it on the box by its side in the
position in which it was afterwards discovered.
In the morning she gave an alarm, as appeared by
the evidence, of the old lady being ill, and went
out to inform his daughter of it, and to request that she
would come to see her. Upon the prisoner being asked
how she could have been strong enough to lift the dead
body from the bed and place upon the box, she said, "I
think the devil must have helped me, but I did it." The
prisoner then went on to describe the other circumstances
narrated in the evidence, and said that the statements of
all the witnesses were correct, with the exception of that
of the surgeon, which she declared was not so in 'two
particulars, wherein he stated that he was the first me-
dical person who saw the deceased, and that:when he did
..so her eyes were staring and wide open ; but she de-
clared that his assistant saw her first, and that
her eyes were closed, and her face appeared per-
fectly composed, when he saw her. She stated that,
having resolved upon the course she intended
to pursue, she made the statement she did before the
coroner with a view to show that the deceased destroyed
herself, and which had that effect. She stated that by
this time she had discovered that the note was of no
value ; and she said she should never have attempted to
make any use of it, if she had not been pressed by the
old woman's daughter and her husband to lend them some
money ; and she said she went to the public-house with
the pretended purpose to change it, in order to pacify
them, and on their insisting to know how she became
possessed of it she did not know what to do, and
actually told them the story about her having received
it from some person in Bedford-street, in the Strand.
When she found that the witness Gaze determined upon
accompanying her to Bedford-street, she became quite
beside herself, and felt that she could no longer support
her position ; and she said she did not recollect the in-
coherent expressions imputed to her by the several wit-
nesses, although she had no doubt she had made use of
them. This was the substance of the statement of the
unhappy criminal, and after it was made she appeared a
good deal mord composed, and ever since her firmness
has appeared to increase, and she is evidently perfectly
resigned to the fate that awaits her. The execution
will take place on Monday, the 15th of January.

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
Yesterday the following was the result of the pol
for the several Wards for the election of common coun
cilmen

BILLINGSGATE.—*PhiIIipps 55, *Williams 42, Curling
55, Old 50, Bower 58, Knil 50, Johnston 50, Roberts 53,
Barnes 37.

THE WESTMINSTER MURDER.
CONFESSION OF THE PRISONER.
It will be remembered, very shortly after Martha
Browning had been placed in the cell, on the female side
of the prison, which is appropriated for capital coi:victs
of this sex, she appeared desirous to unburden her mind
of the dreadful weight which lay upon it, and in the
presence of the Rev. Mr. Davis, the chaplain, and the
governor of Newgate, Mr. Cope, she made a full admis-
sion of her guilt. Of course no questions were
put to her, nor anything said to induce her
to make such an avowal, but as she appeared
really desirous of making it, and did so of
her own free will, she was allowed to 'make the statement.
She said that her only motive for the commission of the
dreadful deed was a desire to possess herself of that
which she believed to be a 5/. Bank of England, but which,
as it turned out, was only a "flash" note, or one of the
" Bank of Elegance." It should be stated that the pri•
soner can read and write very well, but she says that she
never had an opportunity of fully seeing the note until
after the crime was committed, and she declared that there
was only one note, and not two,
as was represented at the
trial. She said, that being determined to possess herself
of the note, she considered the means, and at length re-
solved to take the old lady's life, as being the readiest
mode of attaining her object, and that she would eff. et
this by strangling hor with the cord which was in her
box, and fixed upon the Sunday night for
that purpose. Accordingly, in the middle of the
night, she got up, and cut a portion of the rope off,
and then, while the unhappy deceased was asleep,
she twisted it twice round her neck, and be-
gan to pull it violently. The old lady awoke in the
agonies of suffocation. She struggled slightly, and had
Just sufficient power to exclaim, "Murder, murder; what
are you doing?"—an expression which was spoken to by
one of the witnesses who occupied an adjoining room-.
and that almost immediately she expired. At this
moment, she says, the
person referred to came
to the door, and inquired what was the matter.
She was then standing over tho dead body of her un-
happy victim ; and she states that it was with great
difficulty she was enabled to procure an answer to the
effect that nothing was the matter, and thus induced
the party to return to her room. She then remained
upon the bed with the dead body until daylight, when
she examined the box of the deceased, and took out of '

BREAD-STREET.—Maughan 60, Hawtry 55, Duncan
52, *Laurie 51, Bridge 53, Dignum 48, Laurance 47,
Poland 46, *Mutrie 22.

BROAD STREET.—COrney 88, Gadsden 85, Jupp 83,
Warton 81, Marriott 78, Foster 78, White 74, *Baker
71, *Casterton 33.

DOWCATE.—Brown 36, White 35, *Kibble 34, Prior
32, *Harker 31, Cousins 27, Gandell, 25, Mortimer 24.
FARRINGDON WlTHOUT.—Bedford 134, Edkins 134,
Ru►n 131, Williams 127, Obba,rd 127, Isherwood 12
Stokes 121, Anderton 121, oLynois 118, Harding 118,
Buckmaster 115, Charles 114, Hodgson 112, Barnard
105, Taylor 102, Ramshaw 88, Prendergast 77.
PORTSOKEN WARM—Wright 90, Christie 86, Parker
81, Judson 77. Hayward 73, Danford 62, Killby 82,
Thompson 68, *Vile 37, *Scoones 37.

, .
QUEENHITHE.—Gow 40, Acocks 40, *Rathbone 40,
Tyler 39, Curtis 38, Sykes 24, *Simmons 16.
The nee• members have an asterisk attached to their
names.

REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS.
MEETING OF THE UNITED PARISHES OF ST.
ANDREW, HOLBORN, AND ST. GEORGE
THE MARTYR.
A general meeting of the inhabitants of the above pa-
rishes, and, indeed, of the borough of Finsbury gene-
rally, was advertised to have been held in the flail of the
Workhouse, Gray's Inn-lane, yesterday, permission to that
effect having been given by the governors and directors,
but owing to the determined opposition offered by the
board of guardians, the gathering was adjourned to the
Queen square rooms, Theobald's-road, when the pro-
ceedings commenced at seven o'clock.
Mr. Churehwarden Hunt, who had promised to take
the chair, sent a note of apology at the eleventh hour,
and the meeting was, in consequence, presided over by
Mr. George Taylor.
The CHAIRMAN thanked the meeting for the honour
they had done him in calling on him to take the chair.
They had been called together in consequence of a re-
quisition, signed by fifty-one of the most respectable rate-
payers of the united parishes, and he only regretted that
they did not, as originally intended, asiemble in the
Workhouse-hall, because it compelled them to meet in
a room which might, as it were, be deemed extra-paro-
chial. He had now to inform those assembled that he
held in his hand a letter from their esteemed represen-
tative, Mr. Thomas Duncombe. The letter was dated
from Ccpgrove, Boroughbridge, and was addressed to
Mr. Ticlinarah, who had acted as chairman of the com-
mittee of management in that matter. He would read
the letter to them :
" My dear Sir,—Your favour of the 20th instant, in-
viting me to a meeting of the inhabitants of the parishes
of St. Andrew, Holborn, and St. George the Martyr, to
be holden to-morrow evening, on the subject of the corn-
laws, has been forwarded to me in Yorkshire.
" Nothing, I can assure you and the committee, would
have afforded me greater pleasure than being present on
the occasion, had it been in my power to have had that
honour ; rest, however, assured of my intention, let
whoever may be Minister, or whatever party may be in
the ascendant, to continue my humble exertions in
favour of the principles cf free trade, which I have ad-
vocated during the nineteen years that I have had a seat
in the House of Commons.—l have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) " T. S. DUNCOMBE."
—(Cheers.) He had also to inform the meeting that
their other representative, Mr. Wakley, had promised
to be present shortly after eight o'clock. He would net
detain them by any arguments in support of his own
opinion that these laws should be abolished, but at once
call upon other gentlemen, who had to propose certain
resolutions for the approval of the meeting. He would
first call upon Mr. fidmarsh.—(Cheers.)
Mr. TIDMARSH, in a short speech, advocating the un-
conditional repeal of the obnoxious corn-laws, proposed
the following resolution:—" That, in the opinion of this
meeting, the present corn-laws are impolitic, inhuman,
and unjust ; that while they in effect operate only
for an alleged benefit to one class, they are, OR the other
hand, the cause of privation and suffering to a majority
of the population of this country, of far greater extent
than description could pourtray ; that in times of scar-
city they enhance the price of most of the necessaries of
life beyond the means of the poorer classes, and by en-
couraging undue speculation in all kinds of ood, produce
uncertainty and danger to the financial and commercial
interests of the community."
Mr. MILNR recapitulated the plincipal events in the
hissory of society "r the fillet passing of the ooen-laws
in 1815, and argued therefrom, that while the rents of
land were increased to an amazing degree, benefiting
the proprietors only, the farmers, for whose protection
it was ostensibly said to be passed, now realised 80s. per
quarter for their produce, because Providence had blessed
the country with abundant harvests, which rendered
nugatory the attempts of the Legislature to altogether
crush the people.—(Cheers.) Therefore he contended
that the only object the ultra-Conservatives had in
their present opposition, was the very same object which
had actuated them throughout--namely, to continue the
high rents, which really went into their own pockets,
and into theirs only. There was indeed a time when
agriculture might be considered the staple of the country,
but for the last hundreds years manufactures had made
such giant strides, that the former could not for a
moment be placed on the same level.—(Hear, hear.)
Surely then, at that time, every interest had a right to
protection. But they required no protection now; and he
was fully of opinion with Lord John Russell that pro-
tection in any case was a political fallacy.—(Cheers.)
He cheerfully seconded the resolution.
Mr. DuNcomnE, after animadverting on the conduct of
the guardians in refusing the workhouse for the purposes
of the meeting, and prompting the rate-pa) ers to oust
them at the next election, proceeded to explain the ruling
principles which influenced the landlords in their conduct
to their tenants—a principle which he contended had
given birth to the Chandos clause—that monstrous ano-
maly in the Reform Bill. But their power was coming
to a termination, and it seemed a special dispensation of
Providence to send the potato failure upon the country,
in order to show the fallacy of depending on themselves
for food. The landlords could not swallow these potatoes
at all—(Laughter)—and therefore it was that the pre-
sent curious " cabinet making" was going on.—(Con-
tinued laughter.) He (Mr. Duncombe) felt pity for the
position the Queen held among them.—(Cheers.) The
speaker indignantly repudiated the expressions used by
Mr. Alderman Farebrother, when he stated that the
Anti-( ;orn-law League were increasing an unnecessary
agitation by prophecying that a famine was coming upon
the country. He theft paid a just tribute to the exertions
of the League, and concluded by supporting the resolu
tion

The resolution was put fro:n the chair, and carried
unanimously.
Mr. PARIS then moved the second resolution—" That
in the opinion of this meeting the longer upholding of
these prohibitory corn-laws will prove perilous to the
nation's peace and welfare, and that the discontent and
misery daily occasioned thereby amongst all classes of
society is calculated to produce anarchy and confusion,
and also those numerous calamities attendant thereon,
which (in Ihe present crisis) it may be unwise to
predict."

- It was seconded by Mr. MAISE, supported by Mr.
CRAMP, and, like the former, carried unanimously.
Mr. HUMPHRIES, in proposing the third resolu-
tion, ".That this meeting, therefore, respectfully,
but most earnestly, calls upon her Majesty's
Ministers to suspend immediately the operations
of the Corn Bill, and to submit to the Legis-
lature, at an early period, a measure for the entire
abolition of the laws which restrict the free supply of
food ; and that a memorial, signed by the chairman on
behalf of this meeting, be presented to her Majesty's Go-
vernment," said that they were undersold in every
market of the world because of these iniquitous laws,
and ho thought the prosperity consequent OR their re-
moval would even convert those who were then opposed
to them.

Mr. HOWARTH seconded this resolution, which was
also earaied.
Shanks having been given the members of the
Anti-Corn-law League for their exertions in the cause
of the people, and to the chairman for his impartial con-
duct while in the chair, the meeting separated.