The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-11 00:00:00

TEN SUN; LONDON, TITICSDAY BYRN'

A vote of thanks was passed to • the Chairman and
Directors,

HULL, SHEFFIELD, AND MIDLAND DIRECT.
A large and influential meeting of the Provisional Com-
mittee in this undertaking, was held at the hotel, Norman-
ton, on Friday, to receive reports from the engineer and sur-
veyor, and on other business.
ANDREW TURTON PETERSON, Esq., Managing Director of
the Shrewsbury and Hereford and Wakefield and Harro-
gate Railway, was called to the chair. He remarked that it
was scarcely necessary for him to say much on the merits of
the line, for it would be evident to all, that a line having at
one end a large manufacturing town, with a population of
110,000 inhabitants, and at the other the third port in the
kingdom, could not fail to have a traffic which would prove
highly remunerative.
EDWARD MOLYNEUX, Esq., explained the course of the
line. Its length would be about thirty-two miles, and as
far as Conisborough, it ran in nearly as straight a line as
could be drawn on the map, and was, in fact, a surface line
throughout the whole of that distance. The oily unusual
feature in the undertaking was the tunnel under the Ouse, a
work, apparently, of great magnitude, but on a careful
examination, it turned out to be a work neither so difficult
nor so expensive as it at first appeared. Mr. Billington, the
engineer, had obtained sections by actual boring, to the
depth of sixty feet ; from which it appeared that the strata,
after the first few feet, consisted of layers of red and blue clay.
The clay formed a natural shield to the tunnel, and was the
best possible soil for such an operation. The line as a whole
was a most easy and inexpensive one, with the exception of
the tunnel. From accurate and careful surveys, borings, and
estimates, so confirmed was the engineer of the easy nature
of the whole line, and the facility of constructing the tunnel,
as to state it as his deliberate opinion that the capital con-
templated would be much more than was necessary for the
completion of the undertaking. No residential or orna-
mental property was interfered with, and by nearly all the
landowners along the line the undertaking was most fa-
vourably viewed.
Mr. Wilson. said, he was pretty extensively engaged in
the Swedish iron trade at Hull, a trade of considerable
magnitude and importance at that port. When the Hull
and Selby Railway was first opened, it was net contem-
plated that iron or wood could have been taken by railway
so effectually, to compete with the water carriage. The
result proved that opinion to be very erroneous. Before the
Hull and Selby Railway was opened, the freight of iron
from Hull to Sheffield by water was 13s. 6d. per ton. It was
never contemplated that the railway would have interfered
with the water conveyance at that rate. However, the
directors determined to bring the traffic of the railway, and
commenced a determined competition with the water car-
riage. By this opposition the freight was reduced for a time
from 13s. 6d. per ton by water to 6s. 6d. per ton by land, and
the result was, that notwithstanding the very circuitous route
of railway communication from Hull to Sheffield, iron was
now almost altogether carried by railway at from Bs. to 10s.
per ton, while, as he had already said, by water it cost 13s. 6d.
per ton. The iron traffic was very great, and no one could
doubt that by the direct communication which the proposed
line effected from Hull to Sheffield it would come upon this
line. He was quite certain that since the month of June last
the quantity of iron taken by railway to Sheffield was 10,000
tons.

Mr. WAITE (of Doncaster) spoke as to the extensive wa-
ter traffic in the vicinity of Doncaster. He had no doubt
that if the proposed line was obtained, it would, in conjunc-
tion with the South Yorkshire Coal Railway, secure an ex-
tent of traffic which it was almost impossible to foretel. The
coal which must be carried on the line would be immense;
many coal-fields, now sealed, would be opened, and all knew
that in the Valley of the Don, all round Silkstone, Wors-
borough, &c., the coal mines were almost inexhaustible. In
connexion with other lines existing or projected, the Hull,
Sheffield, and Midland, would bring Doncaster into much
closer and more direct communication with all parts of the
country, especially with Hull, Manchester, Liverpool, Bir-
mingham, and London.
Mr. CHAMBERS (of Doncaster) proved that the corn traffic
along the line would be great. The freight at present was
ls. 2d. a quarter. Judging by the rates on other railways,
that would be reduced to Bd. or I Od. a quarter.
Resolutions for forming the Company, confirming its ca-
pital, appointing solicitors, engineers, &c., were adopted.
Reports were presented from the surveyors, and others.
They were of a favourable character, and stated that the
whole of the surveys were completed. It appeared that the
severest gradient on the line was at the tunnel under the
Ouse, and that was one in 108.
Several congratulatory addresses were delivered, and the
proceedings were brought to a close by the usual compliment
to the chairman.

BELFAST AND BALLYMENA RAILWAY.
_ (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.

On Thursday,-the 6th inst., the ceremony of raising the
first sod of this projected railway, took place on a field in the
neighbourhood of Whitehouse, a village three miles from Bel-
fast, on the road to Carrickfergus.
At one o'clock, the field was crowded by a large assemblage
of people, and soon afterwards Lord Massereene, who was to
officiate on the occasion, arrived, accompanied by a number
of the Directors. The portion of the field which was enclosed
was gaily ornamented with flags fluttering in the breeze. The
band of the 26th Regiment were in attendance, and before the
speaking properly commenced " discoursed" to the crowd.
A great number of ladies witnessed the proceedings, and
among the noblemen and gentlemen present within the en-
closure, were—Lord Massereene, Hon. G. Handeock, A. Mul-
holland, Esq., Mayor of Belfast ; D. R. Ross, Esq , M.P.,
Peter Kirk, Esq., M.P.. J. M'Neile, Esq., J.P., D.L., G. J.
Clarke, Esq., J.P., Steeple, Antrim ; E. Grimshaw, Esq.,
J.P., Robert Wright, Esq., Fortfield ; S. K. Mulholland,
Esq., R. Davison, Esq., A. K. Millar, Esq., A. Davison, Esq.,
Brouglashane ; C. Lanyon, Esq., county surveyor for Antrim,
and engineer of the line ; Dr. Stewart, Captain Manly,
Carrickfergus ; Dr, Mltlechan, Rev. Dean Chaine, J. Harri-
son, Esq., R. Thomson, Esq., John Kane, Esq., J. M'Neale,
jun., Esq., Jas. Simpson, Esq., of Edinburgh, &c.
Before the initiatory process of raising the first sod was
performed,
Lord MASSEREENE came forward, and spoke to the follow-
ing effect :—Ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate you all
on the auspicious circumstance which has brought us
together this day. The present is a period of very great
distress, owing to the failure of the crop which forms a large
portion of the poor man's food. A work of this kind is,
therefore, so much the more needed on that account, as it
will be the means of circulating a great amount of
money among the labouring classes. They will, therefore,
be more enabled to meet the calamity I have referred
to.—
(Cheers.) We ought to cherish gratitude to Divine Provi-
dence for allowing us to meet together and commence an um-
dertaking which will result in so much public benefit; and
I trust that the first spade full of earth turned up this day
will eventually produce a plentiful harvest to the share-
holders, whilst the first advantage will accrue to those who
need it most, the working classes.
Whea his Lordship ended, cheers arose which made the
welkin ring. He then took the spade provided for the occa-
sion, dug up a portion of the sod-covered soil, and having
thrown it into a handsome mahogany barrow, he wheeled it
forward a distance of five or six yards along a primitive tem-
porary wooden railway, popularly called a plank. Arrived
at the terminus, the Noble Lord emptied the virgin earth
from the car, and returned with it amid the prolonged accla-
mations of the crowd.
The Hon. G. HANDCOCK, Chairman of the Directors, then
took up the spade, saying he would follow the good example
set by his Lordship, although he doubted whether he could do
it in such a workmanlike manner. After he had acted accord-
ingly, several others of the Directors went in succession
through the same form, as didi also Mr. Lanyon, the en-
gineer of the line, and Mr. Dargan, the contractor. At the
conclusion the band struck up the national anthem, and
three cheers were given by the assembled multitude for the
Queen. The meeting then dispersed.

The Manchester and Southampton RailwayCotnpany have,
in addition to their new extension line from Droitwich to
Wolverhampton, through the densely populated districts of
Stourbridge and Dudley, announced the final adjustment of the
negotiations with the Marquis of Aylesbury—through whose
large property the line is to run for several miles—by which
his Lordship's cordial support has been obtained, in public
proof of which, his eldest son, Earl Bruce, has formally added
his name to the powerful and influential list of Directors.
This adhesion makes perfect the concuring, support along the
entire line, of all the great landed proprietors, from Sir John
Barker Mill, Bart. (the chairman) at one end of the line, to
the Earl of Bathurst, also a director, at the other. The sup-
port and co-operation of the Salisbury and Yeovil Company
is also secured, and what has all along been the great fea-
ture
to our eyes, the purchase of the Andover Canal, has
been completed. The deposits are all paid up, and the sur-
veys finished. The notices which are required by the stand-
ingl orders of Parliament have been most carefully revised,
and await insertion in the Gazette of next Tuesday.—Hamp-
shire Independant.

Shropshire Union Railway and Canal (Newton to Crewe).
North Gravesend.
Louth and Gainsborough Direct.
Midland—purchase of Leicester and Swannington, and for-
mation of branches, &c.

Midland—Erewash Valley branches.
Nottingham and Erewash Valley.
Line from the Eastern Counties at Stepney to the river
Crouch, With a branch to Southend.
Rochdale, Haywood, and Manchester.
Line from the Hull and Selby to Barnsley, with branch to
Great Driffield.

Line from the Hull and Selby to Barnsley, with power to
vary a part of the course of the Ouse, and make a navigable
cut in lieu. _ _

Liverpool, Preston, and North Union Junction, with ex-
tension to Blackburn, and branches to Southport and Wigan,
and other places.
South Midland, with a branch.

East Dereham and Norwich, with two branches.

Harwich and Eastern Counties Junction.

Direct Northern, with branches between Stevenage and
Claphait4 Bedfordshire ; Buckden and Hartford; Stilton and
Whittlesea, with nine others.
Exeter Great Western, with two branches.'

Great Kent Atmospheric, with seven branches, and power
to purchase or lease the Gravesend and Rochester, and to
improve the same.
Line from Oxford to the Great Western, at the West
Drayton station.
Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal (Old-
ham, &c., branches).
The same (Cooper-bridge Branch and Huddersfield Diver-
sion).
Southampton, Manchester, and Oxford Junction.
Clitheroe Junction, with two branches, and power to sell
or lease to the East Lancashire, and to unite and consolidate
with them, and to amend parts of the East Lancashire
Railway Act.
Line from Ardwick to Saddleworth, with four branches.
Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, Jind Halstead, with a
branch and power to sell or lease and ptrchase the interests
of the proprietors of the Stour Navigatioi'.
Direct London and Portsmouth—re.•introduction of Bill,
and also notice of another Bill fur making additional
branches.

-----
Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, with bra;iches.
London and York—re-introduction of Bill.
Line between the Sutton station of the Chester' and Bir-
kenhead to Llangollen, with branch.

CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN
INDIA.

The threatening aspect of the relations between this
country and the United States gives additional interest tc; all
facts and Suggestions bearing upon the prospect of an ill-
creased and improved supply of cotton from India. We,
therefore, present to our readers the following letter from it
correspondent, who has several times previously addressed us
on the subject ; appending to it an extract from a letter,
which appears in the Times of Thursday, under the signature
of " Indophilus," with a few remarks of our own :
"Manchester, Nov. 6, 1845.
" Sir,—ln the month of June last, you informed us that
you had, for some months previously, searched in the Indian
newspapers for further information respecting the Govern
ment cotton experiments ; and, at the same time, you laid be-
fore us an extract from the Bombay Times, giving a short
notice of successful cultivation of American seed cotton in the
district of Central India called the Deccan. The truth of
this brief notice you confirmed in the month of August, by a
statement that you bad received information (it must, of
-course, have been private information, or you would have
told us its source) of Mr. Mercer, one of the American planters
sent out by Government, having last year successfully culti-
vated 3,000 acres, and of his expecting to have this year
20,000 acres, all planted with New Orleans cotton. You also
gave as a reason why we never saw this Government cotton
in Lancashire, that it had hitherto been used by the native
manufacturers ; and, besides, that it was grown so far in-
land, as, in the absence of navigable rivers or good roads, to
prevent its being readily conveyed to the coast; but this dis-
, advantage of locality would, at some future day, be remedied
by a railway."
Now, will you allow me to remark, Sir, that our merely
hearing of successful cultivation of "improved Indian cot-
ton," without ever having the cotton publicly exhibited in
Lancashire, is very disheartening. It is sufficient to make
us suspect that the cotton produced is inferior, and that the
experiments are not so successful as the parties would have
na to believe. When Government do not give publicity to
the results of their experiments in such an important affair
as this, people naturally conclude that those results will not
bear the light; and the deplorable apathy with which this
subject is viewed by our trade is in this manner increased.
The American Government, too, in its official organ, the
Washington Union, as we find in the Times of the 30th ult.,
asserts that these cotton experiments in India have entirely
failed; and great is the American triumph at this result.
The following is a portion of the Times' extract 'from the
Washington Union.
"W e lay before the public this evening one of the most
interesting letters which has ever appeared in the Union.
Our regular correspondent in New Y ork furnishes a clear,
full, and decisive description of the result of the celebrated
experiments made by the East India Company in the culti-
vation of cotton in the east. We recommend it to the atten-
tion of our countrymen, particularly of the south ; and re-
spectfully advise the editors of newspapers to read and to
re-publish it in their respective papers. The English expe•
riment in the east has signally failed. It was made under
the most favourable auspices in different parts of India : it
has succeeded in none of them, It was made under the eye
of ten experienced planters from the cotton region of the
United States, with the best American cotton seed; but it
has failed! We again recommend the letter to every reader
and to every editor in the country.—Your's resnectfully.
" A COTTON SPINNER."
The following is an extract from the letter in the Tines,
which, it is necessary to remark, was written in answer to
the article in the Washington Union, referred to by our corre-
spondent :
"The experiment (in India) consisted of two very distinct
parts—first, the cleaning; second, the growing of cotton.
" The natives of India are well known to be careless in
the picking, the cleaning, and packing of their cotton. The
Indian cotton, however, has many good qualities, and would
be employed by our manufacturers to a much greater extent
if it were supplied in a clean state in large quantities. The
application of the American gin by the Americans, to the
cleaning of Indian cotton has been completely successful at
Coimbatore, at Dharwar, and at Broach. The cotton has
been freed of leaves, of seeds, of sand, and dirt, to the extent
of nearly one-fourth, which had to be carried front the field
_to the factory, and upon which carriage and freight has
usually to be paid as well as upon the cotton. The operation
has been performed with the skill and celerity to be
expected from the experience of the Americans employed,
with very little injury to the staple; and the cotton
has sold in the Liverpool market at nearly the price of
New Orleans cotton. I mention this fact prominently, be-
cause without a quick and effective method of cleaning cot-
ton, no very great or rapid extension can take place in cot-
t• n cultivation. The average export per annum, during the
five years ending 1841-2, was, to Great Britain,
66,125,9661b5, and to China, 452,795,3151b5. Considerable in-
crease has taken place in cotton cultivation in India. In
1825, only 39,567 bales were imported into this country; and
in 1844 no less than 239,713 bales. Some of this cotton was
from districts where no cotton was cultivated for exporta-
tion a few years since.
" With respect to the culture of American cotton in In-
dia, the success of the experiment has not been so uniform,
for though-it has failed in someplaces, it has succeeded and
is succeeding in others, and the information obtained has
shown us the districts best suited to the culture.
India is a country of such great extent and diversified
soil and climate, that a culture which is suited to
one part is sure to fail in other, unless corresponding differ-
ences in treatment are adopted. Thus, in the north-west
provinces of Bengal very fair native cotton is grown, and a
very good return per acre is obtained; but there the Ame-
can cotton plant did not succeed well, apparently owing to
two very dry seasons, when rain fell for only about six
weeks, instead of, as usual, for three months. But even
there cotton may I believe, be as successfully grown as in
Egypt, in the same latitude, by adopting the same method,
that is—irrigating the plant in proportion to the dryness of
the climate; and this the great dock canal, when completed,
will render an easy operation. In the moist and rich parts
of Bengal, the American plants run too much into leaf. This
might, no doubt, be obviated by variation in culture; but
the insects are unfortunately also very destructive to the
American cotton. But, even there, some varieties of cotton,
either indigenous or exotic, may be found suitable to the
soil and climate.
" In the Madras Presidency, the experiments at Coimba-
tore, which is far from a favourable situation for American
cotton, have been proceeding successfully, for the cultiva-
tion has been going on for some years with the acclimated
American seed. The cotton remains of good quality, and_:
the superintendent (not an American) is confident that he
can carry on the cultivation with profit; and if he can do
so, the natives will be still more able to de so, for they are
good cultivators, and much more economical than any
European.
" But none of these sites are within what is considered the
true cotton district of India—that is, the country above the
Ghauts, as the Mahratta country, Deccan, Can?,eish, Nagpore,
and Hydrabad, often all comprehended in Übe term Central
India. There the elevation of the table lead, with the modi-
fYing influence of the several ranges of neount sins, produces
a peculiarity of climate which is equally removed from the
excessive moisture of Bengal, or the parching drought
of Northern India. With a favourable climete, there is
also abundance of the excellent cetton soil of India;
and hence the cotton culture b-'s extended almost of
itself, and will go on extending in proportion to the encou-
ragement given by the capital ani energy of European mer-
chants. About 20 years since some excellent cotton was
grown at Dharwar, in the southern Mahratta cometry. One
of the American planters has established himself at t`his place,
and finds it well suited to the cultivation of America le cotton.
The culture, indeed, has been yearly increasing ; it was at
first 600 acres, then 3,000 ; last year, 7,000 acres were' tinder
cultivation in the government farms by the ryots and by
some German missionaries in different parts of the district,
with New Orleans cotton. This year seed has been (mg aged
for not less than 15,000 to 20,000 acres, and the ine;ell igent
American planter writes that not less than a mill; .on of
pounds will be produced this year. The important. fact is,
that the culture is increasing, and has been taken ups' by the
natives. He further states that the ryots find it a e most
profitable unirrigated crop they have, and they can sell it
fur about a penny a pound. They get more of the An merican
than of their own cotton per acre, and they get a bette e• price
for it without extra expense in cultivation. Much aof what
has been grown by the ryots has been bought by e the Go-
vernment, is being cleaned, and will be sent tq T.iv erpool.
The planter further states, that ' there is no betteo ,• short
staple cotton than that of Central India, when it. i s fairly
handled, and gets the ghost of a fair chance."
It will be seen, that the statements of the preceding It stter
coincide pretty generally with those which we made in _the
mantle of August last, and which are referred to br " • `
Cotton Spinner," but we should
.veobably mislead out'
readers, if we were to treat the letter ra the Times as a , lone
firmation, or any material corroboration, of the statemc
nta
which we published ; because, if we are not mistaken, ( 'ur
statements and that letter are founded upon the same info.
; and we have reason to know, that the accuracy o.
that information has be questioned by parties having re-
gular correspondence wlth India, and whose attention has 1
been directed to the cultivation of cotton there. Between
the conflicting statements on this subject which have
reached us, we are not at present competent to decide 1
and can only state, that more precise information as to,
the extent and success of the improved culture may be, t
very shortly expected in this country, when we hope to be, t
enabled to lay it before the public.
Of course, we hardly need remind those of our readers who. 1
have attended to the particulars which we have 'from time to, 1,
time inserted upon this subject, that the statementee rm— f'
tained in the Washington Union amount to veer e.
rhael
Acumitairviacatinonploafaceoratt;oltthmedefariltuhree
osfupwehriienhtenwdaseneeweell
seeing that they relate merely to the first experiments made •
sinevet
theso m
othere sub s eq
plantersa en t experiments, ri relinquishedment s
the known in this country, and had been repeatedly mentioned in f
the Guardian. The important question at present is, whether
rnadebyattMemr.ptMaenred lefter,afttheer
11
country; have succeeded in a greater or smaller degree ; for i
that to some extent they have succeeded, is unquestionable.' '
On this point the Washington Union dote not give, and most:

probably did not possess, any information. In another point
of view, perhaps, the article may deserve attention. The
Union is the known and recognised organ of the United
States Government ; and, considering the present aggressive
tendencies of the people of that country, the insertion in
such a journal of an article evidently written for the purpose
ofprod
cutting an impress•on that England cannot go to war
without ting off the supples of cotton necessary for her
manufactures,—and, by pretty direct inference, that she may
be outraged with impunity,—is a fact not altogether devoid
of significance. —Manchester Guardian.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Nov. 10.
SWEARING► IN OF THE LORD MAYOR.

The Right Hon. John Johnson, the Lead Mayor elect of the City
of London, attended this morning at the Court of Exchequer,
accompanied by the Civic officers, in state, to take the usual oaths
on his entering upon the duties of Chief Magistrate of the City.
The RRCORDER said—My Lord Chief Baron, I have the honour
to present to your Lordship the Right Hon. John Johnson, who
has been chosen by the citizens of London to fill the office of
Lord Mayor for the ensuing year. The laws, customs,
and charter of London have been duly observed in the election of
this gentleman, and the most gracious approbation of her Majesty,
signified by the Lord Chancellor, has ratified the choice. By the
laws of our municipal constitution to be an alderman, and to have
served the office of Sheriff of the City of London, are neeessary
qualifications for our Chief Magistrate, and the very effective
manner in which Mr. Johnson has filled these duties was the main
instrument of his present election ; but it was his early and
deeply honourable course in life which first attracted the
attention of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Johnson was for-
merly the lessee of the Dartmouth quarries, and he has
executed many great national works in the construction of bridges,
the formation and improvement of our dock-yards, and, ateve all,
the erection of that effectual barrier against the fury of the seas,
comprised in that stupendous structure, the breakwater of Ply.
mouth. It would be at variance with the sincerity of Mr. John•-
sen's character to arrogate to himself the undivided merit of this
noble, magnificent, and most useful undertaking. He
rejoices to have acted under the guidance and to have been stimu-
lated by the example, genius, and great spirit of enterprise of the
late Sir John Rennie. Mr. Johnson disclaims the praise of being
the sole architect of his present ample fortune. He acknowledges
with gratitude that its foundation was laid by the ability and
integrity of his late respected father; but in raising on this
foundation the superstructure, his efforts have been as honourable
as their success has been complete. To avail himself of every oppor-
tunity of public usefulness has been the leading principle of Mr. John.
son's life. During his shrievalty the defective accommodation of our
metropolitan prisons were, in a great measure, remedied by the im-
portant improvement effected by him, and for these and other
services he received the public thanks of his fellow.cittzens, and a
valuable piece of plate from the Corporation of London. As a
magistrate he has been exact and indefatigable in his attendance
to, and in the performance of, his duties, and he is now entering
upon the new and arduous duties of Lord Mayor impressed
with an honourable ambition to fulfil them to the
utmost of his power. For its acquirement he possesses the entire
,confidence of his fellow-citizens, no inconsiderable element of suc-
s•eis. He is devoted in his loyalty to his Sovereign, warm in his
attachment to the laws and constitution of his country, entertains
a z.•alous regard for the interests of his fellow-citizens, and is firm
in las determination to support their rights, liberties, and privi-
leges, comprised in the various charters of the City of London. The
late Lord Mayor is also in attendance upon your Lordships. His
year of office ends to-day, with all its duties accomplished. He
retires into private life amidst the general satisfaction and
esteem of his fellow-citizens. I believe he has ex.
hibited In the dispatch of his public business great
zeal and' impartiality. He has dispensed charities with a
bountiful hand, been most hospitable to his fellow.citizens, and iu
retiring from office with approbation, they hope he will still find
an opportunity to exercise those duties and virtues in the capacity
of a magistrate and a private gentleman.
The LORD Cases BARON, having congratulated the Lord Mayor
on his election to office, and Mr. Alderman Gibbs on the satisfac.
tion he had given in the performance of his late civic duties, ad.
ministered the oath in the usual form ; and the late Lord Mayor,
amidst a titter of laughter in a crowded Court, was then called
upon to render up an account of his mayoralty. This having
been gone through in the customary manner, the Lord Mayor in.
vited their Lordships to his banquet this evening, and then retired.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

Monday Mr. Alderman Wilson attended at the Giltspur-
street Prison, to hear the charges against persons who had
been apprehended in any part of the City since Saturday
evening, in order that their imprisonment might not be pro-
longed by the recurrence of civic rejoicings. There were
many charges of drunkenness.

Robert Scott, residing at the Bricklayers' Arms, in Earl-
street, Blackfriars, was charged with striking his mother on
the head with a poker, by which she was so much irjured
that she v.-as unable to attend.

Edward Knight, a policeman, stated that he was called
into the house at three o'clock on Sunday morning by the
prisoner; and, on entering, he perceived by his lantern a
woman lying on her face at the foot of the stairs. The pri-
soner was quite drunk; and finding that the poor woman
was much injured, and that the blow had been inflicted by the
prisoner, he took him into custody.
The prisoner said it was a blow inflicted entirely by mis-
take. He thought a thief had got into the house, and he
struck her under that misapprehension.
Mr. Alderman WILSON said it was a very unfortunate mis-
take, arising, probably, from his intemperance. It was to be
apprehended that her life was in some danger, and he should
therefore remand the prisoner till Saturday, unless his mother
should be able to attend sooner.
William Denman, a labourer, was charged with attempting
to commit suicide while in a state of intoxication, about
eleven o'clock on Sunday night.
He went down the steps on the Surrey side of Blackfriars-
bridge and plunged into the water; when he was got out he
said he only wanted to have a swim, but from his general
behaviour it seemed that he meant to commit suicide, and
that he was one of those who, when drunk, become un-
happy, and can think of nothing but their share of human
miseries.

Mr. Alderman WitsoN fined him ss. for being drunk, and
to be imprisoned three days if the money were not sooner
paid.

QUEEN-SQUARE.

Yesterday Donald M'Donald, a respectably dressed,
middle-aged man, was charged with affixing a printed no-
tice, intimating AS intention on the part of the Cornmis-
sionars of Woods and Forests to apply to Parliament for leave
to make certain public improvements, on the doors of West-
minster Abbey. .

Burrows, a porter and constable at the cloisters, stated,
that in consepuence of notices having been previously posted
on the Abbey doors, he watched last Sunday morning, and
saw defendant during divine service paste a printed notice
on the doors, and then took him into custody.
Mr. BOND inquired whether any orders had been given by
the Dean and Chapter on the subject?
The porter replied that they had given strict orders to pre-
vent its being done.
Defendant said, that the notices had been given to bins to
affix in the required places, and he was not aware that he
was doing anything wrong.
A gentleman, on behalf of the defendant, pointed out to
the magistrate a standing order of the House of Commons,
requiring that notices of contemplated improvements should
be posted on the doors of the parish church.
Mr. BOND said, that the order did not apply to this case,
as Westminster Abbey was not the parish church. It was
extra-parochial.

A gentleman, who represented the Dean and Chapter, said
they were not desirous of pressing this case, but, if it were
repeated, they must do so. He could not refrain from ex-
pressing his opinion, however, that it was very improper to
select a Sunday as the day to affix these notices, and more
especially the time in which divine service was being per-
formed.
Mr. BOND concurred ; and, having cautioned the defendant
against a repetition of the offence, discharged him.