The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-05 00:00:00

TIE SUN, LONI3ON, TIITTRSDAY EVENING, DECEMIIER 5, 1844,

TURN-OUT of the LANCASHIRE and
CAESHIRE COAL-31INERS.

WIGAN, TUESDAY MORNING —Very gr t excite-
ment prevails at present amongst the col trs of this
part of the country. Meetings are holding very week,
in various parts of the district, at whic resolutions
are always adopted unanimously, to the effect
that their labour is not sufficiently rewar ed, and that
it is desirable to join the union, and collect funds to
enable them to stand a strike in the event of its being
necessary. Mr. IV. P. Roberts, solicitor, from New-
port, commonly called the " Miners' Attorney-Gene-
ral," has taken offices in Manchester, with a view, it
is said, of being on the spot to give such legal advice
as may seem necessary. Delegate meetings have
also been held in, various places, but their proceed-
ings, as far as the press is concerned, are kept
private.
Matters now seern to be fast arriving at a climax.
On Saturday last the workmen in every pit in Lan-
cashire and Cheshire, except the St. Ilelen's district,
sent in to their masters a written application demand-
ing an advance of twopence upon each shilling they
now earn. Should their demand be refused the
result will, of course, be a general strike. Yes-
terday several meetings were held, and, as far as it
was possible to ascertain, there was not a coal-mine
at work in the whole district. Two of the most im-
portant of these meetings were those held at a place
called Bardsley, between Oldham and Ashton, and
the other in the village of Lamberton-green, about
two miles from this place. At Lamberton-green a
delegate meeting was also held, at which delegates
were present from every coal-pit in the two counties,
except those in the neighbourhood of St. Helen's,
The public meeting at Lamberton-green was at-
tended by about 3,000 persons. George Ramsey, of
Marsden, near Colne, was called on to preside.
• The Chairman, Charles Parkinson, from Durham,
Benjamin Emberton, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and
James Price, one of the secretaries to the delegate
meeting, spoke at some length, and urged the necessity
of a firm and determined union among themselves, in
order to carry out their object effectually.
Mr. W. P. ROBERTS, solicitor, was next called upon
by the Chairman. He said he was there that day to
offer his advice and counsel to the men who were
engaged in that most mighty movement. He
was there for the purpose of encouraging
them to persevere in their good cause. Their
motto was " Peace, law, and order." They
sought to accomplish nothing by means of physical
force. They utterly repudiated that doctrine, and
sought only to obtain their object by legal and con-
stitutional means.

The proceeding lasted upwards of two hours and a
half. At the close of the business the chairman
again urged them to stand firm, after which they
separated.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
GLOBE.—We have frequently had occasion to
expose the impolicy of high duties on articles of
general consumption. The bounty they offer to the
smuggler ; the temptation to embark in illicit trans-
actions which they present to the trader ; the injury
they inflict on the fair dealer ; and the loss which
they occasion to the revenue ; have been often alluded
to, as combining to form an array of evidence against
a course which is no less subversive of morality than
it is mischievous to the commercial, trading, and
fiscal interests of the country. In an article on
this subject which appeared is our columns a few
days since, we alluded to the great expense at
which the several descriptions of force for the pre-
vention and detection of smuggling are kept up;
and remarked that this large item of expense would
be greatly diminished were the duties on such articles
materially decreased. It is not, therefore, from the
fact, that in the case of tobacco, and some other articles,
the quantity smuggled into the country amounts to
nearly a moiety of the entire quantity consumed, that
the extent of loss to the revenue is to be calculated. A
considerable proportion of the expense at which the de-
tective and preventive force is kept up, must be added
to this positive loss. When these two items are added
together, and the discouragement which such restric-
tive duties inflict on commerce are also taken into the
account, who can suppress surprise that a system so
fraught with folly should have found advocates ? A
Parliamentary paper, issued on Saturday last, sup-
plies evidence on this branch of the subject which
will enforce the necessity of revising the Import Du-
ties, with a view to their diminution. The folly of
persisting in the " save-at-the-spigot-and-letting-
out-at-the-bung " policy, which has been adhered to
with insane and cruel pertinacity, could scarcely be
more forcibly demonstrated than by such returns as
that before us. Towards the close of the last Ses-
sion, the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr.
Hume, ordered " a return f the several establish-
ments maintained for the prevention of smuggling in
the United Kingdom, in each of the years 1842 and
1843 ; the expenses of prosecutions by the Customs
and Excise; the produce of seizures ; the rewards
paid to officers, &c:

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
The near approach of the Christmas holidays, and
the continued decline in the price of cotton at Liver-
pool, combine to diminish the activity of this market.
The demand both for goods and yarn yesterday was
limited ; and, in some few cases, slight reductions of
price were submitted to. Generally, however, spinners
and manufacturers are so bare of stock, that they show
no inclination to relax in their demands.
ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, DEC. 2.—There
has been very little change in the piece market to-day.
The demand still continues limited, and prices low.
In the wool market the manufacturers purchase very
sparingly, at last week's prices.

THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON
(From the Plymouth Times.)
There are considerations to be entered upon in the
construction of such ships as the Queen besides mere
, sailing qualities, which we think have been too much
insisted on at the expense of others, perhaps equally
important—for example, stowage, ease of motion, capa-
bility of keeping the sea in heavy weather, cost, &c.
Now the Caledonia and St. Vincent are admitted to be
very superior ships in all these points of view ; they
steer easily, are readily handled, they mount 120 guns
on a measurement of only 2,600 tons, and their launch-
ing cost at the present time would not far exceed 75,0001.
The Queen, on the contrary, does not steer well; she
rolls much, and the motion is sharp and uneasy in bad
weather. She mounts only 110 guns, on a measure-
ment of 3,000 tons, and her launching cost is 90,0001.,
making a difference of 15,0001. We have been informed,
on very good authority, that this ship, the Queen, had
no less than six men in the sick list, from the fatigue
experienced at the wheel. Neither did there appear so
much difference in the inclination of the two class of
vessels as we might, from the great breadth of the
Queen, have expected. In a strong wind the inclina-
tions of the ships were not very different ; the Caledonia
inclined eight degrees, the Queen six degrees.
In the course of these trials the Queen carried away
two topgallant-masts, showing that every effort was
made to bring out her sailing powers, but without effect;
and it is quite clear that, as a line-of-battle ship intended
for the efficient and solid services of the country. she is
far inferior to the others, that is, so far as experience
has hitherto gone. When we consider that the working
sails of the Queen expose an area of 29,3511 square feet,
whilst those of the St. Vincent or Caledonia have only
25,619 square feet, the superiority of the latter as
adapted for sailing is quite apparent.
We come now to examine the capabilities of the Al-
bion. It should be observed, that the Albion is, by
measurement, one of the largest ships in the navy—she
is no less than 3,100 tons. Her spread of canvass is
enormous—the area of her working sails—viz., courses,
topsails, topgallant sails, jib, and spanker, is upwards of
30,774 square feet, being mere than that of the Caledo-
nia or St. Vincent by at lea,t 5,000 square feet. The
foremast of the Albion would make a mainmast for the
St. Vincent. She has only two decks, and is very fine
under water. Now to expect anything like an equality
in sailing between such a ship as this and the St. Vin-
cent and Caledonia in moderate weather, encumbered, as
these ships are, with an additional tier of guns, and 500
tons more load displacement, would be very unreasonable;
accordingly,, the Albion, in the general weather in which
the ships were tried, evinced a superiority in point of
sailing. When, however, the weather being stormy, the
ships were brought under reduced canvass, then the com-
parative sailing of the Caledonia and St. Vincent
became greatly improved; indeed so much so that
one morning off Cape St. Vincent, with a close-
reefed main-topsail, reefed foresail, and main-stay-
sail, the Caledonia gained not only upon the Albion but
the whole fleet. It is hence doubtful if in severe Albion,
wea-
ther the Caledonia would not prove the faster ship. But
whatever may be the merits of the Albion in respect of
appearance, or sailing, certain it is she has been found
to possess many very inconvenient and unsatisfactory
qualities—like the Queen, she steers laboriously, espe-
cially before the wind ; and in a sea way rolls awfully.
It is all very fine for persons ill disposed to enter into
the solid merits of the case to say that the Albion and
ships of her class are splendid ships—and noble ships—
must sail fast—and such like indefinite forms of expres-
sion. But the real question is, are such ships calculated
We for the hard services of the British navy? know, as
a fact, from undoubted authority, that the celebrated
Dupin, during his visit to England, said at Portsmouth,
in the dockyard, " This form of vessel is certainly very
handsome, but such ships will never answer the purposes
of your country." That the Albion, in the compara-
tively smooth waters of an inland sea, with her fine bot-
tom and her enormous spread of sail, would in light
winds win the cup, as a great yacht, is very possible,
especially under the command of Captain Lockyer,
whose thorough knowledge of every particular relating
to the navigating and sailing of a ship is certainly equal
to that of any one existing. Had Sir W. Symonds sifted
the whole 1\ avy List he could not have found a better
officer for his purpose. With respect to the beauty and
grandeur of her appearance under sail, there is no deny-
ing that; but we put these questions to Admiral Bowles,
or any of the gentlemen who were present :—When the
Albion ran down to the Caledonia befuro the wind, on
the 6th of November last, rolling so sharply and terribly
as she did, with a difficult steerage, and with her lower
deck ports barred in—was she at that time in any one
sense, a match for either of the three-deckers ? Could
she lave fought her lime; deck it 111.5 011Tellientli ?

Could she have fought them at all ? Did she not roll
lull 12 degrees when the three-deck ships scarcely moved?
Now, it is easy to see here that the peculiar situation
of the ships was such as to realise a palpable naval lost-
tion. We may suppose the Albion, in fact, to have been
the headmost ship of a fleet in chase, running down upon
an enemy, quite prepared, with all her ports open, to
receive her. Now, in spite of all these facts, a writer in
the Morning Post talks of the great superiority of the
Queen and Albion over the other ships. This may do
as a sort of fashionable announcement within the sound
of Bow bells, but it will not do in the seaports, or amongst
naval men generally ; we know better. Here is a ship
of more than 3,000 tons—that is, 400 tons more than the
St. Vincent, with an armament no greater than that of
the Rodney or Nile, measuring only 2,600 tons. She is
built at a launching cost of 80,0001., being 5,0001. more
than the St. Vincent, and she is inferior to her in arma-
ment by nearly a whole tier of guns. Now, what can
possibly be the use of such a ship as this ? Is she, for
the purposes of the country, in any one sense superior to
the Nile, the launching cost of which is nearly 20,0001.
less ; the armament equal ; the capacity for stores for
sailing trim greater = and the ports above the water
nearly two feet higher? Has the naval department lost
sight of its judgment altogether, in permitting for one
instant the existence of such a state of things as this ?
Indeed, so evident is the conclusion from the premises,
that we feel confident, with all the defects in the sur-
veyor's department, such a ship as the Albion would
never have been proposed had it not been intended to
make her superior, or at least equivalent to a three- deck
ship, by placing in her an armament of larger calibre ;
in short, she was originally intended to carry sixty-eight
pounders—that was really the secret of this imposing
structure, and it was guessed that she would have carried
her ports so high out of the water as to have been en-
abled to fight these guns, when a three-decker's lower
ports were obliged to be shut. Now, by a miss in the
guess work, either on the part of the surveyor of the
navy, or, most probabry, of the professional adviser,
it was found impossible to give the Albion any such an
armament.

By another mistake, the lower decks of this ship have
so little height under the beams, that in order to mount
the four or five 68-pounders which the ship carries, it
was found absolutely necessary to cut down the cells of
the ports. So much for building of ships by instinct,
without any regard to the general principles of physical
science.

We have no hesitation in saying, that in the very na-
ture of things the form adopted by the surveyor, viz.,
that of a wedge with a protrusion at the water surface,
which he calls " bearing," is most unfavourable to an
easy motion, and it is ruinous in heavy weather. By
the swelling of the body above water, the rolling tends
to immerse a greater solid on one side than that raised
up on the other ; but since, by the laws of hydrostatics,
the weight of the whole ship is that of the water she
displaces, be the position what it may, therefore this
tendency to inequality in the opposite solids, alternately
immersed and emersed as the ship rolls, must necessarily,
produce a distressing rising and falling during the roll-
ing, which cannot but work everything in pieces at last.
Let any one look at the report on the repairs of the
Vernon, after being only two years at sea, and he will
be,quite surprised at the refit. " Each end of the upper
deck beams was found to have separated from the
timbers in some cases seven-eighths of an inch." In the
present case the oakum had worked out of the seams of
the decks of the Albion, and she applied for 70 cwt. of
junk on board the Caledonia for caulking. This is the
second time since she left Plymouth, and we venture to
predict that ere long dm ship will come home to refit,
We should think that the results of these trials must
come home with considerable force to the minds of the
Admiralty, who hold in their hands the destinies of the
ship-building department of the Government ; and we
do hope it will lead to something like an improved board
for the construction of our ships. We have no personal
ill feeling of any kind toward the surveyor of the navy—
no desire whatever to deprive the country of any advan-
tage to be derived from his talents ; but we do solemnly
protest against our science and our reputation being
muzzled and beat down in the way it has, merely to sus-
tain the fanciful views of an empirical party, who imagine
there is a sort of royal road ,to learning in naval archi-
tecture.

If the many-repeated failures in the department of the
surveyor of the navy should not make that impression on
the Admiralty which we anticipate, certain it is that
sooner or later it will reach the understanding of the
Prime Minister through the pulse of the Treasury. Was
it wise, was it politic, was it consistent with any one
principle in practical experimental philosophy, however
empirical, to fill the building slips of our dockyards with
a series of ships—such ships as the Queen, Albion, and
i?ique—and before the qualities of any one of
them had been fairly ascertained ? Of the Queen's
class we have the Algiers, Victoria, Royal Sove-
reign, Royal Frederick ;—building cost, including
the Queen, full 450,0001. Of the Albion's class we
have Aboukir, Exmouth, Hannibal, and four others ;
—building cost, including Albion, 500,0001. Of the
fifth rates after the Pique, proved to have been at best an
unsatisfactory ship, we have Active, Cambrian, Flora,
Sybille, Constance ;—building cost, including the Pique,
nearly 200,000/., and so on of many others. Here is at
once more than a million of money laid out on the mere
building—to say nothing of the outfit of the ships for
sea, without any regard whatever to ascertained facts,
and on no better ground than that of individual opinion,
and a fancied new but indefinable light in the method of
constructing ships for our navy.
This new light at last turns out to be no light at all,
but a mere ignis fatuus, which, having led its followers
into all sorts of blunders, has vanished and left the Ad-
miralty in total darkness.
Verily, experience is a dear school.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Dec. 3.
(Before Lord Chief Justice TINDAL.)
WOODCROFT V. REYNER AND ANOTHER.

This case, which is important to the manufacturing
districts, and has occupied nearly three days, when
divested of all the technicalities belonging to the
process of weaving, is an exceedingly simple one.
The action was brought for the infringement of the
plaintiff's patent right in what is called a tappet,
which is an instrument used in looms for determining
the pattern of figured or fancy cloths. The tappet in
use before the plaintiff's, and usually called Bowman's
tappet, consisted of a number of solid circular plates
with prominences, causing the requisite elevation or
depression of the warp threads, and, when a new pat-
tern had to be made, it was requisite generally to pur-
chase new plates, or recast the old ones. The plaintiff
conceived the idea of dividirig these plates into sec-
tions corresponding with each other, so as to be trans-
posable and form a new tappet plate, and thus to
effect an almost infinite variety of patterns out
of the same plates by merely transposing the sections,
without breaking up the plates. The plaintiff al-
leged that the defendants had borrowed the idea of
their tappet from the patent tappet, and that it was a
mere mechanical equivalent. identical in principle.
After the case had been fully investigated, the jury
retired to consider their verdict, and, after they had
been absent nearly two hours, a proposal was made on
the part of the defendants, which ultimately resulted
in a verdict being taken for the plaintiff, with 403.
damages.
The CHIEF JUSTICE at once gave his certificate
that the merits of the case had been fully investigated.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Dec. 4.
(Before Mr. Commissioner HOLROYD.)
IN RE JAMES GIBBS.

The Court was crowded during the morning by per-
sons anxious to hear the further revelations likely to be
made in this extraordinary case, which it may be re-
membered by our readers, was, after the last examina-
tion, adjourned sine die. The present proceedings arose
out of an order by the Chief Judge of the Court of Re-
view that the matter should be referred back to the
Court of Bankruptcy for re-examination by the Hon.
Commissioner.

Mr. Edwin James appeared for the assignees and for
a creditor named Thompson, Mr. Montagu Chambers
'attended for the bankrupt, and Mr. Bagley for Mrs. An-
drews, another of the creditors.

Mr. EDWIN JAMES, having briefly recapitulated the
leading facts which led to the adjournment of the bank-
rupt's examination, with fixing a day for his passing,
and having read the order from the Court of Review,
added that it would that day be the duty of the assignees
to examine fully into the correctness of the bankrupt's
accounts. He had indeed filed a sheet which was par-
ticularly intricate, and as he (Mr. James) was instructed,
anything but saticfactory. The transactions therein
stated extended over a period ranging from 1823 to
1843, the date of the fiat. The debts amounted to some
121,000/.; the liabilities to 80,0001. more, making, in all,
about 200,0001. But there were some of the transac-
tions so singularly striking, so very extraordinary, that,
on first sight, they might be deemed altogether impro-
bable. The bankrupt had been what is termed a
scrivener; he raised money for parties upon annuities
or otherwise ; hi?, transactions had been of a most
extended character, and yet all the books pro-
duced by him to that Court were only two in
number—a cash-book and a ledger. The ledger, how-
ever, was itself no voucher, but a mere echo of the cash-
book. Was the bare fact not a startling one, that a man
supposed to carry on cash operations to an amount above
a million of money, could do so with only one cash-book.
lie asked if it were possible to do so? That cash-book
was also grossly inaccurate in its details, ane. dated only
from 1835, for some book which had existed before that
period had been destroyed. They were not told
why, but he (Mr. James) could, perhaps, assign
reason. At that time a bill had been filed against thea
bankrupt by Lord Glammis, and when called upon to
produce the book it was discovered that it had been
destroyed. That was certainly a remarkable coincidence
if nothing more. lie (Mr. James) would now draw his
llonour's attention to some of the features in the case.
The bankrupt's profits appeared to have been about
5,0001 a year, and yet, when he came to that Court,
there was one sum of 90,0001 charged for discounts
and commission. They had not had one voucher
for even 5/. of that amount. Not one voucher
from the man who had 5,000/. a year, and who yet
charged 90,00Q1 in his sheet for discount and com-
mission. It was preposterous. But
in thnat sum
e of
abgeaisctreaasnd othbey
9150:0000001/..: large ashoit was,
when he himself, and he only, was personall;
y
lied chhaardgetdo
liable for it. The Learned Counsel then entered
into a detail of the bankrupt's transactions with Lord
Kensington—transactions running over a term of years,
and involving accounts upon bills and annuities—the
considerable sums realised, with scarcely an ex-
ception, baying been appropriated by the bankrupt
to his own purposes, The discount then upon
the amount so appropriated by the bankrupt being
15,000/.1 would, if lidded totthe 9010001, paccouted for,

make 105,0001. Titere were other transactions of a
similar kind with Major-General Wyndham. The
bankrupt, on the 11th November, 1842, a time when he
was notoriously embarrassed, had written a letter
to that gentleman, stating that he had an
excellent opportunity of investing money to
considerable advantage, and he persuaded General
Wyndham to entrust him with bills to the amount of
18,000/. These he discounted for his own use at 40 or
SO per cent., and he had now got, of course, to account
for the money. He also got General Wyndham to ad-
vance him 10,000/., in two notes of 5,000/. each, under
pretence of lending them to a mar. named Youde, at a
large rate of interest ; but that amount also he retained
in his own hand. Such was but a specimen
of the manner in which his business was trans-
acted. His transactions in bills were very
large indeed, but though he had a book of bills payable
he had exhibited none of bills receivable. That there
had been such a book was perfectly clear, for it would
have been impossible to carry on such a business without
it. The profits accruing from bills of costs amounted in
one year to 23,000/., yet the drafts of those bills had
been also destroyed.
Mr. W. C. Wright, accountant for the assignees, was
then called, and verified the statements advanced by the
Learned Counsel.
Mr. CHAMBERS said, that in obedience to the order of
the Chief Judge in the Court of Review, the bankrupt
had attended that day before the Hon. Commissioner to
be examined touching the accuracy of his balance-sheet,
and he (Mr. Chambers) protested against the unusual
course adopted by Mr. James, of making, in fact, an ac-
countant, however talented or however respectable, usurp
the functions of the Learned Commissioner, and adjudge
the case by the evidence he advanced on the occasion.
He submitted that the Learned Commissioner could only
found his judgment upon the examination of the bank-
rupt himself, and not on the opinion advanced by the
accountant. _

Mr. JAMES replied to the objection, which was ulti-
mately overruled by the Hon. Commissioner.
The bankrupt was then placed in the witness-box, and
examined by Mr. JAMES.—He had no vouchers for any
part of the 90,000/. He never had a book of bills re-
ceivable. The date of bills due could be ascertained by
the cash-book. The dates in that book were not
always correct, but he could not explain why they
should not be so. In some cases " lumping sums" were
set down to certain accounts, which might balance them
exactly. He did not put them down, nor did he intend
that they should be so balanced. His intention was to pay
General Wyndham's bills when they became due. He
had not done so. They were all dishonoured.
After some further examination the matter was ad-
journed for' two months, in order that the bankrupt
might furnish vouchers, where that could be done, or
give the names of the parties to whom the amounts had
been given, and the dates at which those payments were
made.

(Before Mr. Commissioner EVANS.)
IN RE THE REV. DR. KENNY.

The insolvent is the Rector of St. °lave's, Southwark,
and this day came up upon application for his interim
order. His schedule states debts and liabilities (the
latter chiefly upon accommodation bills) at from 7,000/.
to 10,0001.; but it was admitted that that statement was
not to be entirely relied upon. The Rev. Doctor's living
was set down at about 650/. a-year, of which he proposed
to set aside 3501. a-year for the benefit of his creditors.
The insolvent regretted much his present position, and
was willing to give every information in his power.
After some further discussion, the further hearing was
adjourned to the 24th, the insolvent in the interim to
furnish the required information.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME ClRCUlT—Chelmsford, Dec. 4.

The commission of gaol delivery for the county of
Essex was opened on Tuesday evening, and this
morning Mr. Justice Williams attended Divine ser-
vice, and immediately afterwards took his seat on the
bench in the Court. The number of prisoners is not
very great, but the charges are of the most serious
description, including murder, arson, sending threaten-
ing letters, and indeed all the most grave offences
known to the law.
The Learned JUDGE, in his charge to the grand
jury, said that with regard to a charge of murder
against a man named John Young, it would be a
material question for them to consider whether the
cause of death was clearly made out, and whether it
was established as the result of violence, or whether
it might not have arisen from accident or natural
causes. There was another charge of murder, against
two persons named William Walton and Mary
Charlotte Field Lorkin 7 • and there was this pecu-
liarity in the case, that whereas the parties were
charged with the murder of an infant, of which the
female had been delivered, nu trace of the
body of the deceased had been discovered,
and fur all that there appeared positively by
evidence to the contrary, the infant might still be
alive. It was a case certainly involving very grave
suspicion, but the grand jury would consider whether,
upon suspicion only, they ought to find a true bill,
recollecting, as they would do, that if the accused
were sent to trial upon imperfect evidence and were
acquitted, that whatever evidence might afterwards
be obtained would be of no avail, as the subject would
be then closed for ever, and the guilty parties, if guilty
they really were, would altogether escape. He also
observed a case in the calender in which two pri-
soners, one a boy of thirteen, were charged with
firing a stack, and it appeared by the depositions that
the, younger prisoner had stated before the magis-
trates that he had put fire to a hedge to destroy a
wasp's nest. If the grand jury believed that this was
his original intention, and that he, in the first instance,
had no intention to commit any mischief, although
afterwards the fire might have spread and done the
injury now complained of, in law the prisoner would
not be liable to the charge now made against him.
The grand jury then retired.
THE CASE OF 11IISS RICHARDSON.
It will be recollected that a young lady, named
Ellen Richardson, the daughter of a gentleman
residing at Brentwood, was committed for trial
a short time back upon the charge of stealing a quan-
tity of silk, the property of a tradesman at Brent-
wood. The case was to have been disposed of at the
quarter sessions, but an application was then made on
behalf of the accused to allow the case to stand over
until the assizes, on the ground that the young lady
was too ill to take her trial. The magistrates granted
the application, and the charge, which has created
very great interest in the county, on account of the
respectability of the accused and her friends, accord-
ingly stood over until the present gaol delivery.
Mr. Ronwnts. now applied to the Court for a fur-
ther postponement, and he produced the certificate of
a medical gentleman, stating that it would he of im-
minent danger to the health of the accused if she were
to attend and take her trial at these assizes.
Mr. Justice Wriaaasis said he could not attend to
a surgeon's certificate. There must be a proper affi-
davit.

Mr. RoDWELL said an affidavit should be prepared
in the course of the assizes. The trial could not
come on on that day, because Miss Richardson was at
large under recognisances, and she was unable to
attend.

Mr. RYLAND said his witnesses attended at very
great inconvenience. He thought that his Learned
Friend ought to state when he would produce the
affidavit, and not keep them waiting there all the
assizes.

Mr. Justice WILLIAMS said he would not take the
case that day.
Mr. RYLAND said there were some peculiar circum-
stances in the case—the parties came from Brent-
wood, and—
Mr. Justice WILLIAMS said he knew nothing of
the circumstances of the case, or whether they were
peculiar et- not. He had never heard the name of the
accused. before, and he never wished to hear it again.
All he would say was that the trial should not come
on that day, and any application respecting the case
must be made upon affidavit.
Joseph Gladwell, 44, Joseph Gladwell, 20, and
Chenery Ciladwelt, 18, were indicted for feloniously
stealing a cabin-door, a quantity of rope, and planks,
and other articles, the property of Thomas Carey.
In another count the prisoners were charged with
the offence of stealing property from a vessel that had
been wrecked.

Mr. Rodwell prosecuted, and Mr. Ryland de-
fended the prisoners.
It appeared from the evidence, that on the 9th of
October a vessel called the Hazard was moored off
Great Clacton, on the Essex coast, and while she was
lying there a storm arose, which drove her from her
moorings, and she went on shore and broke up, and
became a complete wreck, her timbers and other ma-
terials being washed upon the beach. One of the
Ensex constabulary was set to watch the wreck, and,
about three o'clock the following morning, he saw
the three prisoners come with a horse and cart, which
they proceeded to load with timber, rope, and other
articles washed from the wreck, and on their being
asked what they were about by the officer, they told
him they were only taking "shore wood," and they
considered they were entitled to it.
Mr. RYLAND, in his address to the jury, said he
could not attempt to defend the proceeding of the
prisoners, or to contend that they had not been guilty
of larceny. His Lordship had, however, intimated
his opinion that the more serious charge of stealing
from the wreck had not been made out, and there-
fore the only question for the jury was, whether the
prisoners were guilty of the- minor charge. They
were aware that is =my parts of the country, id.
though happily-not in Essex, there was a very gene-
ral opinion among persons of the lower orders that,
when a vessel was unhappily wrecked, her materials
id, d
became the property of any person who was able to
possess himself of them. The prisoners were probably
impressed with that opinion, and did not believe they
were committing a felony in acting as they al-
though In law they undoubtedly were so.
Mr. Justice WILLIAMS, In summing up, said there
was no doubt that such an opinion as that alluded to
by the Learned Counsel did prevail in some parts of
the country, and he must state his impression that it
inflicted no small disgrace upon it. To suppose that
a vessel which had been suffering, and perhaps de-
stroyed, by the tempest, was afterwards to become the
Frei otpersorts urin *law; wso sal* illiaChleyclUi

and illegal doctrine, and one that it was high time to
put an end to. —The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.
Mr. Justice WILLIAMS then sentenced the elder
prisoner to be kept to hard labour for four calendar
months, and the younger prisoners were sentenced to
two months' of the same punishment.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.--York, Dec. 3.
(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.)
Edward Wright was charged with feloniously stealing
a bay gelding, the property of William and Robert
Shaw.

Mr. Bliss conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Wilkins
defended the prisoner.
The case as stated by Mr. Bliss, and as corroborated
by Thomas Shaw, was very clear and simple, exhibiting
the very great gullibility yet to be met with occasionally,
even in Yorkshire. Thomas, or, as he called himself,
" Tummus Shaw," was the son of Willy Shaw, and the
brother of Robert Shaw, farmers and millers, of Liver-
ton, a small parish in the North Riding. Willy and
Robert had a bay gelding, which they were desirous to
dispose of, and of all persons in the world Thomas was
fixed upon as the most fitting to take the gelding to
market, to treat with horse-dealers, and to make an ad-
vantageous bargain. Thomas, accordingly, set off to
Yarm fair, and having arrived the night before, that his
horse might be fresh and sprightly, in the morning he
walked him up and down, and showed him off to the best
advantage. In the market. place of Yarm Thomas met
the prisoner riding a grey mare. The prisoner asked the
poor wight what he would take for his gelding,andThomas,
anxious to make a good bargain, demanded 171. The
prisoner replied, that if he could sell his grey mare lie
wouldn't mind purchasing the bay gelding. At this moment
up came a third person, whom Thomas, with much sim-
plicity, designated as " a stranger," and he offered the
prisoner 16/ for his grey mare. The prisoner said,
" Na, he wudn't tak less than eighteen pun for t'mare."
On that the stranger called Thomas on one side, and
said, "If you can get me the grey mare for 161., I'll
give thee 10s. for 'tself." Thomas promised to try his
powers of persuasion with the prisoner, and " the
stranger" went away. Thomas commenced bargaining
with the prisoner on behalf of " the stranger," but he
was stopped short in his dealings by the prisoner saying
that he had overheard what " yon man" had said, and if
Thomas would give him (the prisoner) the 10s. he
should have the grey mare. Shaw agreed to this, and
handed over 10s. to the prisoner. Shaw and the pri-
soner then changed their saddles, and Shaw rode the
grey mare to a public-house, where the prisoner had
told him that he would find " the stranger," leaving his
gelding with the prisoner. On reaching the public-
house, however, Thomas discovered that he had been
done, tor " the stranger" was not forthcoming. He re-
turned to look for the prisoner, but alas ! he too and the
gelding had alike vanished; so there was Thomas minus
10s., and enjoying full possession of an old lame grey
mare in the place of his neat little gelding. Thomas
then informed the police, and the prisoner was soon after
apprehended.

The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sen-
tenced to be transported beyond the seas for the term of
ten years.

Henry Hargreaves was charged with having, on the
Ist of October last, at the parish of Mirfield, in the West
Riding, burglariously broken and entered the dwelling.
house of Ann Sharp, and feloniously stolen therein five
pieces of Irish linen, 100 pairs of black worsted stock -
ings, 50 pairs of men's worsted stockings, four pieces of
stuff, 100 cotton handkerchiefs, six ends of muslin, and
four pairs of men's shoes, the property of Ann Sharp.
He was also further charged with having, on the Bth of
October, at Kirkheaton, in the West Riding, burgla-
riously and feloniously broken and entered the dwelling-
house of Joseph Wild, and stolen therein Islb. of tea, his
property.
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE summed up at considerable
length, explained to the jury that the evidence of dis-
honest witnesses was not to be credited further than it
went in corroboration of, or was corroborated by the
evidence of others.

The jury foundthe prisoner Guilty.
A former conviction for burglary was put in, and the
prisoner was sentenced to be transported for life.
In a subsequent case which occurred, where three
women were charged with stealing is. 6d. from the per-
son of an old man named Lee, Mr. Wilkins defended the
prisoners.
The Learned COUNSEL commenced his address to the
jury by observing, that something had been said to them
the other night about the respectability of the police,
and they were asked whether it was likely respectable
men would enter the police, when
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE (interrupting) said, I cannot
conceal from myself, Mr. Wilkins, that you are referring
to me, and I cannot allow you to make observations
offensive to the Bench.

Mr. Wit.xiNs—l had no desire to be offensive, my
Lord.

Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—If you must remark upon
what occurred, do it—and you know well how to do it,
if you choose—in a less offensive manner.
Mr. WILKINS—I had no desire to be offensive.
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—I will not have a reply made
on the judge's address to the jury. I care as little for
observations made with regard to myself personally, I
hope, as any man can do; but I have the highest respect
for the office of judge, and I will not allow gentlemen of
the bar to make such observations.

Mr. Wxuarts —Well then, gentlemen, I will not com-
ment on what the Bench has said, though I am often
made to put up with observations when I can't reply, and
so are many of my brethren.
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE—To be sure you are, Mr.
Wilkins ; and whilst you are at the bar, and I am on
the bench, you must put up with it. Any comments
that you may please to make must be made in a re-
spectful manner.

Mr. WILKINS then proceeded in his address to the
jury, and laid it down as a general rule, based upon his
own experience, that policemen were prone to exagge-
rate against the prisoner. The Learned Gentleman made
an eloquent appeal in behalf of the unfortunate women
at the bar.

Mr. Justice COLERIDGE having summed up, the jury
consulted for a short time, and returned a verdict of
Guilty against two of the prisoners, and of Acquittal Ms
regarded the third.

Previous conYietions for felony were put in, and the
prisoners were each sentenced to ten years' transportation.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Winchester, Dec. 4.
William Jones, servant and Henry Jones, were indicted
for stealing a quantity of candles from the store of Geo.
Clark, at Lymington, on the 9th of November.
The prisoners were found Guilty. William Jones
was sentenced to fourteen years, and Henry Jones to
seven years' transportation.
Very great delay and inconvenience have been occa-
sioned at this assize from the following circumstance :
The magistrates in this county have refused to allow the
expenses of briefs for the prosecution and the fees to
counsel in all cases where the bills are ignored ; the con-
sequence is that counsel are not instructed till the bill
is brought into court, and are unprepared to proceed
with the case when it is called on, and much time is lost.
Mr. Baron Alderson said this was a most improper
thing ; the Government had thought it right to put the
people of England to the expense of sending a judge
down to try the prisoners, and the magistrates refused to
put the county to the expense of employing counsel to
prosecute them., He thought the magistrates would find
such paltry economy a disadvantage, as the assize would
probably last a day longer than it otherwise would, to
say nothing of decency in the administration of justice.
In addition to this, it was almost expressing an expecta-
tion that bills would be ignored, which was a libel on the
committing magistrates, for prisoners ought not to be
committed except upon a reasonable expectation that the
bills would be found.

OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Worcester, Dec. 3.
(Before Mr. Justice COLTMAN.)
The commission for this county was opened yesterday
evening. In the course of his charge Mr. Justice COLT-
MAN observed, that he had received literally a mass of
depositions, indeed, the largest and longest he had ever
seen, against a person named Hassall, imputing to him
the murder of his wife. It was a case which appeared
to have created a great excitement in the county, as far
as the reports in the newspapers enabled him to form an
opinion. There were only two ways, consistent with the
mass of evidence contained in the depositions, in which a
charge could be presented to their notice against the ac-
cused—either that of accelerating the death by the admi-
nistration of improper food or liquids, or by neglecting
to supply proper care and nourishment to the deceased,
both of which offences would amount to the offence of
manslaughter only. It was, however, an important fea-
ture in the case for the consideration of the grand jury,
that his wife was a person very much addicted to the ibe
of ardent spirits, and was described by the witnesses to
be seldom in a state of sobriety.
The calendar contains the names of 24 prisoners,
whose offences may be thus classed:—,Murder, 1; bur-
glary,mmi
m:
1;2 2;
bheiasg haytiwait
yr, olb;berrayp• ,e,lOl assaulto
uws i tshh
oionttienngt, o;
uttering counterfeit coin, 1; stealing from the person, 1;
and 5 for larcenies. Among the foregoing is not in-
cluded the charge against Mr. Hassall, whose case con-
tinues to create very lively interest in the county. The
bill of indictment is to be presented to the grand jury to-
morrow morning.
?4r. Godson, Queen's Counsel, who is specially re-
tained on behalf of Mr. Hassell, arrived from London
yesterday evening at the Star Hotel.
Mr. Justice Coltman has disposed of four cases this
afternoon, none of which presented any features of ge-
neral interest.

policeman. This had the desired effect. The defendant
pulled off his dog, and, having, bden compelled to give
his name and address, walked off.
This statement was proved by Samuel David, of De-
vonshire-street, Mile-end, the dealer referred to, and by
the woman who endeavoured to part the dogs.
Crispin, one of the constables employed by the So-
ciety, deposed that he had seen Thompson's dog some
days after the fight, and it was then in a miserable
plight.
The defendant denied the statement of the witnesses,
and called a young lad to prove that Thompson's dog
had bitten the bullterrier first, and that that had caused
the fight. This witness deposed to such being the case
eight days before, but said that he knew nothing of
the transaction sworn to by the wi.nesses for the pro-
secution.

David said that he passed Thompson's house every
day, and knew his dog well. It was a quiet, inoffensive
animal of the mongrel breed, while the defendant's dog
was a regular fighting dog, and bore evident marks about
the head and body of having be-en engaged in many
similar encounters.

The defendant said that the dug was not his, ifut that
it belonged to his master, Mr. Norris. He hoped thar
the magistrate would deal leniently with him.
Mr. HENRY fined the defendant 30s ; in default, four•
teen days' imprisonment in the House of Correction.