The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 17, 1345.

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY, •
EDINBURGH.
FORGERY AND FRAUD.
MONDAY, JAN. 13.-John Neill, a young man, a
printer, was charged with forgery, fraud, and wilful im-
position, and with using, and uttering as genuine, forged,
fabricated, and false writings, and with forming a felo-
nious scheme to impose upon and defraud the lieges, and
to obtain money from them by means of forged and frau-
dulent representations:-Having (Ist), on 11th March,
1844, forged and fabricated a letter addressed to Mr.
Stirling of heir, representing himself under the signa-
ture of Robert Stirling," as having been deputed to re-
ceive subscriptions in behalf of a ladies' association,
said to hare been organised at Liverpool, for
affording aid to the widows and families of those
persons who perished on board the President steamer,
on her passage between this country and America,
showing a subscription-list (printed), having a
great number of names attached to it with sums
purporting to be the subscriptions of the persons therein
mentioned, in support of the funds of the said alleged
association; which list comprised, in addition to her Ma-
jesty, the names of various of the nobility, gentry, and
clergy, for sums varying from 51. to 1001.-by which
fraudulent representation Mr. Stirling was induced to
send to the prisoner, by letter of credit, 251. 10s., as his
subscription to the said fund. (2d.) With represent-
ing himself in the neighbourhood of Large, in Ayr-
shire, as the son of Robert Storrie, passenger on
board the Manchester steamer, who was said to have
been lost in that vessel, with property to the amount
of 1,9001., leaving a wife, son, and daughter in very
straitened circumstances, and transmitting a subscrip-
tion-list, with forged subscriptions attached, purport-
ing to be those of Lord Murray, Bishop Terrot, &c.,
&c. The third, fourth, and succeeding charges, up to the
fifteenth, detail the several acts of fraud and imposition
which he succeeded in practising upoa the nobility and
gentry in Ayrshire and the county of Bute, by which the
Countess of Glasgow, the Rev. John Kinross of Large,
the Misses Robertson, &c., &c., were severally induced
to make payment of several sums of money, whereby
they were all defrauded ; with the further aggravation
of having been previously convicted of forgery, and ut-
tering false, fabricated, and forged letters, before the
Sheriff-Substitute of Forfarshire and a jury at Dundee,
ion the 7th of October, 1842.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Evidence having been read at great length,
Mr. Neaves addressed the jury for the Crown, and was
followed by Mr. Crawford in an able defence for the pri-
soner.
Lord MONCRIEFF then summed up the evidence in an
exceedingly careful and able manner.
The jury, without retiring, consulted together for a
short time, and intimated, by their foreman, that they
unanimously found the prisoner guilty of the first charge
as libelled.
Mr. Neaves craved the court to pronounce sentence.
Lord COCKBURN said this was a very extraordinary
case, and displayed, on the part of the prisoner, a bold-
ness of conception, an ingenuity, and a total disregard of
consequences, which were perfectly appalling. Ile had
carried on a scheme of forgery and imposition which,
considering the completeness of its details, and the de-
termination with which he pursued his nefarious pur-
pose of imposing upon wealthy and benevolent indi-
viduals in the upper ranks, the court, in the discharge
of its functions, could not lightly pass over. It was
not so much that a gentleman like Mr. Stirling had
been cheated out of his money-that was no doubt a
bad feature of the case, was, he might venture to say,
almest without a parallel-but that schemes of real
benevolence and charity would suffer, when liberal-
minded gentlemen and ladies were imposed upon in
this manner ; when they thought in their simplicity
that they had been giving their money for the relief of
suffering humanity. A much more serious punishment
than that he intended to propose, would have been in-
flicted under the statutes in force up to a recent period
had his crime been but one act of forgery-instead of
being-as it had been proved to-day-no less than seven
such- acts. The smallest punishment the court could
award for this crime was transportation for seven years;
but considering the aggravated circumstances attending
the case, he could not in conscience propose to their
Lordships a less sentence than transportation fur ten
years.
Lord WOOD concurred.
Lord MONCRIEFF then admonished the prisoner as to
his future conduct, and sentenced him to ten years'
transportation.
The following is a copy of the forged subscription
sheet for Scotland :-
Marquis of Queensbury, 50/.; William Croil, 151.;
John Cogan, 25/. ; William Dunn, 50/. ; Schwabe and
Gobert, 10/. 10s. ; John Neill, 51. ss. ; .T. Wilson, 101. ;
James Buchanan, 101. 10s. ; Andrew M`George, 10/.;
J. Richardson and Co., 10. 103. ; Andrew Wingate,
201.; Ifu;th Tennant, 211.; H. Ewing Maelae, 251.; James
Jeffrey, 51. ; Lord Glasgow, 50/. ; A. Drummond, 201.;
Sir Archibald Campbell, 251.; Lady H. Thorp, 10/. 10s.;
Earl of Buchan, 31k 10A. ; Sir C. D. Fergusson, 251.;
Thomas Chalmers, Si. ; Earl of Mar, 201.
The following are some of the forged subscriptions in
the sheet for England :-
Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, 100/. ;
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, 50/. ; her Majesty the
Queen Dowager, 50/. ; the Duke of Devonshire, 100/. ;
the Duke of Richmond, 50/.; the Marquis of Anglesea,
50/. ; the Marquis of Bute, 50/. ; the Marquis of North-
ampton, 50/.; the Earls of Fitzwilliam, Derby, Balcarras,
Lonsdale, Mexborough, each 501. ; Viscount Morpeth,
20/. ; Lord Sandon, 30/. ; Sir Richard Sutton, Bart.,
100/. ; Baring, Brothers, 20/. ; P. Gladstone and Co.,
20k ; Dr. 13ickersteth, 5/. ; from two Misses whose
father was lost on board the President, JUL ; from their
mother, fq. ; workmen in Fawcett's Foundry, 7/. Se. 4d.
Subscriptions amongst the heads of five pilot boats, Nos.
3,8, 4,2, and 6,4/. is., &c. &c.

DISGRACEFUL OCCURRENCE.
KENDAL, JAN. 13.—The hitherto peaceble town of
Milnthorpe was on Sunday afternoon last the scene
of a most disgraceful occurrence. A number of rail-
way labourers had been drinking sll the forenoon,
and most of them having got into a beastly state of
intoxication, they commenced fighting in a most brutal
manner. About two o'clock a large number of these
men went to a green in the centre of the town, where
they had several pitched battles, so that there was one
complete scene of fighting the whole of the Sabbath
afternoon, and whilst Divine service was performing
in the church close by. Here they assaulted several
Milnthorpe men who were passing; and the populace
were actually afraid to leave their houses to go to
church. One of the " navvys," named Wills, had a
pair of loaded pistols in his possession, with one of
which he attempted to shoot a man for asking him for
money; but, fortunately the piece missed fire, and the
pistol was immediately taken from the misguided man
by some of his companions. The disturbance is said
to have arisen in a great measure from one of the sub-
contractors not being able to pay all the men their
wages, and becoming infuriated with taking liquor,
they began violently to threaten his life, but he for-
tunately made an immediate escape from the town.
The landlord of a public-house applied to the deputy-
constable of the town to take some of the men into
custody, but he replied, " That he had nowhere to
secure them, provided he did take them ;" and such
has been either the morality of Milnthorpe (containing
about 1,000 people), or the apathy of the respectable
inhabitants, that they actually have not a lock-up in
the town, or place of safe keeping for malefactors.
However, the above disgraceful scones have in some
measure roused the inhabitants from the lethargy,
and, in self-defence, they have now started a subscrip-
tion for the erection of a suitable building. The
above is not the only instance where the Sabbath has
been scandalously desecrated. MilEthorpe has, ever
since the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway commenced,
been the scene of much confusion and riot upon the
Sabbath. Early on Monday morning the remainder
of the men were paid off without much disturbance;
but it is to be hoped that, in future. such steps will be
taken as will prevent a recurrence of these alarming
proceedings.

DARING ATTACK.—On Wednesday evening last a
most daring and brutal attack was mule upon Mr. Ellis,
butcher, of London-street, and Mr. Cresswell, of Horn-
street, in this town, while returning home in a gig from
Farley-hill. It was nearly seven o'clock when both par-
ties left the house of Mr. Webb, where they had just
previously partaken of tea, and arriving at the hill, near
the park of Mr. J. P. Anderdon, they checked the horse's
pace in order to descend the hill steadily, as the night
was very dark from the intensity of the fog prevailing.
They were not much more than a quarter of a mile on
the road, when the horse and Mr. Ellis were simula-
neously struck upon the head with great bludgeons,
and such was the severity of the blow received by Mr.
Ellis, that he instantly fell out-of the gig in a state of
utter insensibility. Mr. Cresswell then encountered one
of the villains, whom he succeeded in laying prostrate
upon the ground, but no sooner had he done so than he
was felled by a blow from another of the party. Whilst
they were struggling, *vehicle was heard to approach,
arid the heartless rascals, finding there was no time
to complete their purpose, ran away, exclaiming, " D—
'em, we must leave 'em." The horse, it appears, was so
much frightened that it jumped over the railings ; the
wheels of the gig becoming entangled, the horse was
consequently suspended. Mr. Corderoy, jun., of Farley-
hill, on reaching the spot, assisted Mr. Cresswell in ex-
tricating the horse, and afterwards placed Mr. Ellis, who
was still insensible, in his cart, and conveyed him to his
father's house, where restoratives were applied, and after
the lapse of some time recovered from the state of in-
sensibility in which he had been for more than half an
hour, not having the slightest knowledge of anything
;hat occurred subsequent to his being struck on the head.
Both parties returned to Reading the same night, reach-
ing home between nint' and ten o'clock. The foggy at-
mosphere was favourable to the design of the villains,
comprising a party of four, whose features were not at all
discernible ; this is to be regretted, as it will, we fear,
prevent their detection.—Reading Mercury.
STEEPLR-CHACE.—On Tuesday a steeple-chace for
MN. a-side came off over the steeple-Chaco ground at
Stourton, between Mr. Sands' horse Dandy, ridden by
Mr. Tinley Barton, and Mr. Sandbach's horse Tom, rid-
den by Mr. Dawson. 'There were between 200 and 300
sportiig gentry present, including Sir William Stanley,
Lord and Lady Gordon, Mr. John Stanley, &c. The
Dandy made most running, but swerved from several
of his fences. At the third fence from home, the Dandy
was leading about 30 yards, but refused the leap. Tom then
came up, and both jumped. In the jump they struck
against each other, and riders and horses fell. Ir. Bar-
ton appeared stunned, but was in the saddle in a mo•
ment. Dawson then got about 100 yards ahead, and
came in triumphantly. Had it not been for the tumble
at the third fence it was thought Barton must have won.
—Liverpool Journal, Jan. 11.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.) !
MANSIOiV-HO USE.
Yesterday, Howell, Sniith, and Franklin, the men
who were on Saturday charged with having com-
mitted a burglary in the George and Vulture Hotel,
were brought before the Lord Mayor for final ex-
amination. Mr. Hobler appeared for Howell, Mr.
Wontner for Franklin, and a solicitor's clerk attended
upon the part of Smith. The justice-room was
crowded extremely during the examination, and very
great interest was excited.
Eliza Ann Hughes, the chambermaid, who first
saw Howell and Smith in bed-room No. 6, added to
her statement of the former day that, upon going in
with a candle for the purpose of lighting the fire on
the night of the burglary, she saw them stooping
down between the bed and a chest of drawers, and
that she ran out and tried to lock them in, but they
burst the door open and prevented her ; soon after
which they were seized by Mr. Warrener, the owner
of the house.
The following new evidence was then produced by
Major Shaw, the superintendent of the City police :
City policeman No. 514 stated that on Friday
night (the night of the burglary), at nine o'clock, he
was on his beat, and did not see any cab in Lombard-
street at that time, but between twenty-five minutes
arid half an hour after nine he observed a cab stand-
ing near George-yard, and saw a person inside, who,
upon seeing him, put up the window. The cabman
was then placing the nose-bag on his horse. At ten
minutes past ten witness heard a cry of " Stop thief"
from George-yard. Went into the hotel. Saw
Smith in the custody of Mr. Warrener. Conveyed him
to the station-house, and, upon searching him, found
upon his person a skeleton key, two latch keys, a
knife, a half-crown, and a snuff-box. On the way
to the station-house in Tower-street, Smith said
to witness, " These poor innocent b—s have
nothing to do with it. I know that I am a
b—y thief. Wouldn't you go and rob a house
if you thought you could get anything ? It will
only be a drag. They could not give us more than
three months for it." Before they reached Moore-lane
Smith said, striking one hand against the other, " I'm
d—d, they have got the lot." Smith tried to make
himself appear drunk, but witness believed him to be
perfectly sober.
The witness, in his cross-examination by Mr.
Wontner, stated that upon going to the premises of
Mr. Warrener he found there was great confusion.
City policeman No. 553 stated that Mr. Warrener
gave the prisoner Howell into his custody. Ile found
upon Howell's person a screw-driver, a skeleton key,
four keys, and some matches, between the cloth and
the lining of his coat. Three of seven matches ap-
peared not to have been used. Thirteen and sixpence
were found in Howell's pockets. Howell said that he
used the screw-driver, &c., in his trade as a cabinet
maker.
Mr. Warrener stated that one of the keys found
upon Howell opened the door of No. 6 bed-room in
the hotel
City policeman 469 stated that at ten minutes past ten
he saw Howell and Smith in the custody of the two
officers who had just given evidence, and he was told
by Mr. Warrener to apprehend Franklin. Witness
followed Franklin from Fenchurch-street to St. Mary-
at-hill, took him into custody, and conveyed him to
the station-house, where a bag of large dimensions
was found in his hat. After the prisoners were
searched, Smith turned round to the witness and said,
" D—n me, you've got the lot. I suppose they'll
give three months apiece for it." Witness replied
that that was for the Lord Mayor to decide upon to-
morrow.
In answer to questions from Mr. Wontner, the wit-
ness said that Franklin gave his name and address at
the station-house, and that the conversation between
Smith and witness just detailed was heard by the
other persons in the station-house at the time.
Jane Richardson, housemaid at the George and
Vulture Hotel, stated that some keys and a glove
were picked up at the foot of the stairs when the
prisoners Howell and Smith was in the custody of
the officers.
Mr. Hobler—You don't know how the keys got
there ? 'Witness—No.
Mr. Warrener stated that the keys did not belong
to the house.
The LORD 'MAYOR, who attended very closely to
the whole of the evidence, and was most particular
in ascertaining the exact time at which the prisoners
Rowell and Smith quitted the cab and were found in the
house, desired to he informed in what parish the
George and Vulture Hotel was situated ? Mr. W ar-
rener replied that the premises stood in two parishes
—the principal part was in the parish of St. Michael,
Cornhill, and the remaining part was in the parish of
St. Edmund the King and Martyr. The bed-room in
which the girl saw Howell and Smith was in the two
parishes, and he believed that one part of the bed was
in one parish and the other in the other parish.
The LORD Mayon—Have you lost anything your-
self ? Mr. Warrener—Nothing whatever. The wit-
ness said, with respect to Franklin, he observed that
prisoner following the other two when they were in
custody, and saw that the moment Franklin saw that
he was watched he turned away quickly, and was
making off when he was apprehended.
Mr. Wontner then submitted that there was not
evidence sufficient against his client Franklin to jus-
tify the Lord Mayor in committing that prisoner as an
accomplice with Howell and Smith. The cabman
could not identify the two latter as the companion of
Franklin in the cab ; and as for the appearance of
Franklin in the hall, that hall was a passage common
to the public, and a complete thoroughfare, from ap-
pearing in which an inference was not to be drawn that
he was aiding and assisting others in the commission
of an offence in the room above stairs.
Mr. Hobler, for Howell, stated that it would, per-
haps, be a question with the Lord Mayor whether it
would not be most advisable to dispose of the case in
a summary way. No property had been found upon
Howell.
The solicitor for Smith said that nothing appeared
against that prisoner, except what had been said by
the officers.—(A laugh.) No keys had been found
upon him.
, The LORD MAYOR said he had distinctly heard
and marked the evidence in the whole of the case, and
his duty appeared to be very plain indeed. It was
his duty to commit all the prisoners for trial. His
Lordship declared that he by no means entertained
the opinion of Franklin's case which Mr. Wontner
endeavoured to impress. He would, however, say no
more upon the subject, but leave the decision to
another tribunal. The prisoners were to be com-
mitted for trial as soon as the depositions should be
prepared.
The prisoners were then removed from the bar.
MARYLEBONE.
Mr. John Claverints Savage, residing in Wellington-
road, St. John's Wood, and who is well known as the
owner and driver of a four-in-hand, preferred a charge
of 'outrageous assault, &c., against William Ballantyne,
one of his servants.
Complainant stated that on the previous day, about
half-past four o'clock, his carriage was, agreeably to his
order, brought into the yard, when the wheelers were
attached to the vehicle, and while another servant was
gone for the leaders, he (complainant) accused the pri-
soner of having been indulging too freely in drink, upon
which he became extremely insolent and abusive.
Mr. Lossc —Tell me what he said and did.
Complainant—When I told him ho was the worse for
liquor, he said, " No, Mr. Savage, I am not ;" and as I
considered that his way of addressing me was unbecom-
ing in a servant, I told him it was his duty to say " Sir;"
he then walked into the corridor and demanded his
wages, and, before I had time to say a word, ho gave
me a very violent blow upon the eye (the left eye was
much swollen and discoloured) ; after this he followed
me into the parlour, and, on his endeavouring to hit me
a second time, I seized hold of a poker in order to de-
fend myself, upon which he laid hold of a shovel, and I
' thought his intention was to split open my head. I ran
into the yard, and immediately I had done so the pri-
soner smashed several panes of glass, the noise occa-
sioned by which frightened my horses, and it was with
some difficulty that they were prevented from starting off
at full speed, and in all probability doing much mischief.
The prisoner gave me various other blows, and at last he
, was taken into custody. I could net, of course, think of
fighting with him, he being merely a servant; but had I
been attacked in the same way by a gentleman, I should,
no doubt, have acted differently.
Mr. Loma—What situation does the prisoner hold in
your (service ? Complainant—Oh, he is groom and
coachman.
Prisoner—l deny it, Sir, you are your own coachman ;
you always drive yourself.
Thomas Marston, another of complainant's grooms,
said, that while harnessing the leaders, he saw complain-
ant come out with a poker in his hand. The horses at
that moment took fright.
Mr. Lore—Did you see any assault committed ?
Witness—l did not, Sir. I have no personal know-
ledge of anything :that might
.have taken place in the
house.
Mr. LONG (to the prisoner)—What is your answer to
this charge ? Prisoner—Mr. Savage struck me first,
and I was obliged, of course, to defend myself ; he
fought at me with the poker and I did the same by hills
with the shovel, and in the course of the affray the
windows were broken ; he was more to iblame than I
was ; and if he had paid me my wages and let me go
when I wished him to do so, nothing unpleasant would
have happened.
Catherine Young gave evidence to the effect that she
saw complainant (her master) drag the prisoner forci-
bly into the passage, where they both fought with poker
and shovel ; in trying to separate thins she received
many severe blows upon her face and body.
ilr. LONG discharged the prisoner, telling Mr. Savage
that he might prefer an indictment at the sessions if he
thought proper.
VC7O/?S RIP- STREET
Richard Smith, .Joseph Isaacs, and Henry Gosten,
three respectable-looking lads, whose ages varied from
IS to 14 years, wore charged with having administered
powdered cantharides to Mrs. IL Collins, the wife of a
salesman in Spitalfields-market, whereby her life had
been seriously endangered.
It appeared from the statement of Mr. Joseph Collins,
the husband of the injured woman, that on the morning

of the 14th instant his wife, while passing through the
market, was stopped by the oldest of the prisoners
(Smith), the son of a respectable tradesman in the
market, with whose family she was on intimate terms,
who invited her into his parent's counting-house to take
breakfast. She declined doing so, having an infant at
home which required her immediate attendance, and left
the market ; but on her return, in the course of half au
hour, she again saw Smith in company with the second
prisoner at the door of the counting-house, and was
again pressed by Smith to take a cup of coffee with him.
She then consented, and drank a small quantity from a
cup be handed to her, but hesitated while drinking it,
and on seeing that the second prisoner (Isaacs) asked
her to put more sugar in it ; but she refused,
as it was already so sweet she could scarcely
swallow it. She then left, but in about half an hour
became so seriously ill, that she was obliged to be
conveyed home, where she got gradually worse till the
evening, when her illness assumed such alarming
symptoms, accompanied by a copious discharge of
blood, that a surgeon was hastily sent for, who, upon
examining her, at once pronounced that she was labour-
ing under the effects of a powerful dose of cantharides,
and that her life was in imminent jeopardy. By the ju-
dicious treatment of her medical attendant the dan-
gerous symptoms had now considerably abated, but his
wife still continued in such a debilitated condition as
wholly to preclude her attendance at the Court. The
witness added, that shortly after his wife had boon
brought home the prisoner Smith called at his house,
and anxiously inquired if she was ill or had taken any-
thing; but it not being then known to the witness that
he had been instrumental in causing her illness, he was
allowed to leave unmolested.
Sergeant Easthope, 1 11, stated, that on the circum-
stances being communicated to him by the last witness
he immediately took steps which led to the apprehension
of the prisoners, and had since ascertained that the de-
leterious ingredient had been purchased at the shop of
Mr. Hawkins, a chemist in Union-street, by the lad
Gosten, who had presented an order for it in the hand-
writing of the prisoner Smith, but signed with a fictitious
name, the order stating that it was required for the pur-
pose of being administered to a pig. The sergeant
handed in the order alluded to, and also a medical certi-
ficate describing the dangerous effects produced by the
noxious drug.
In answer to the charge the prisoner Smith said that
for some time past he had had a cutaneous eruption in
his face, and had been advised by several persons to take
a dose of cantharides to remove it. He had mixed some
in his coffee, and was drinking it, when he was called out
of the counting-house upon business, and during his ab-
sence the prosecutor's wife walked in, and, unasked by
any one, drank all that remained in the cup ; he, how-
ever, apprehended, on afterwards learning the circum-
stance, that no evil results were likely to ensue to her
from it, as he had himself drank twice the quantity
she had taken without any serious effects being pro-
duced by it. 6
The prisoner Isaacs made a similar statement to that
of his companion Smith ; and the third prisoner, Gosten.
denied any further participation in the transaction than
having innocently executed the order at the chemist's at
the request of Smith.
Mr. BINGHAM said that he should discharge the
youngest of the prisoners (Gosten), as it appeared that
he had merely been an unconscious agent in the hands
of the other two ; but with regard to Smith and Isaacs,
he should require them to find bail for their appearance
on a future day, when the wife of the prosecutor had
sufficiently recovered to attend and give evidence against
them.

The bail was immediately put in, and the prisoners
liberated.

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

This Society held its annual meeting on Wednesday, at its
rooms in Trafalgar-square, Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., in
the chair. From the report of the proceedings of the Society
we learn that, in the year just ended 179 accidents had come
under the attention of the Society, in 152 of which its exer-
tions had been successful, and in only 25 unsuccessful ; of
the whole 40 were suicides. The Society had distributed in
the year 18 silver medals, and 14 bronze medals ; the thanks
of the Society written upon vellum had been given to two
persons, and pecuniary rewards in 107 cases.
The Society had received various donations and legacies in
the course of the year, including a legacy of 3001. from Miss
Williams, 100/. from W. Drew, Esq., and a legacy of 700/.
from W. Grantham, Esq.
A vote of thanks was passed to the Duke of Northumber-
land, the President of the Society, and his Grace was unani-
mously re-elected President for the ensuing year. Votes of
thanks were also severally passed to the various other officers
of the Society, all of whom were re-elected. The Society
made the following awards;--
Its silver medallion to John Merton, for having at Barnard
Castle saved the lives of two youths, named Robinson and
_ _ _

To Dr. Creighton, of Dublin, its silver medallion, for having
rescued a woman who had attempted to commit suicide, she
being ON third person whose life had been saved by the
courage and energy of Dr. Creighton.
Its silver medallion to Lieut. Henderson, of the Rifle
Brigade, for having saved the life of an artilleryman who had
fallen out of a boat in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia.
Its silver medallion to Hammond Maxted, for having rescued
W. White, when in danger of being drowned from the rising
of the sea at Margate.
Its silver medallion to Miss Sarah Wilkinson, governess in
the family of a clergyman, for saving the life of a child in
her charge who had fallen into a river.
Its silver medallion to Mr. Geary, mate of her Majesty's
ship Beacon, for having saved the life of a seaman of that
vessel, who had been knocked overboard while reefing the
mainsail in a gale of wind.
Its silver medallion to Mr. Ramson, a commercial tra-
veller, for saving the life of a boy who had gut out of his
depth whilst bathing, and for again entering the water,
after having brought, the first boy out, though he succeeded
only in bringing the lifeless body of a second boy to
the shore.

Its silver medallion to Harrington, a boy of the se-
cond class, on board of her Majesty's ship Hecate, for having
saved the life of another boy, who had fallen overboard in a
strong tideway, this being the second time this lad had risked
his life to save that of a another.

Its bronze medal and a pecuniary reward of two guineas
to John Phillips, policeman at Hastings, for attempting to
save the life of a woman who had thrown herself into a well
eighty feet in depth, in the barrack-yard. He succeeded in
bringing her body to the top of the:well, but too late, for life
was already extinct.
The Fothergillian medal, value fifty guineas, was awarded
to Mr. Erickson, for his admirable experimental treatise on
the pathology and treatment of asphyxia. A similar medal,
was given to Dr. Key Shuttleworth, for a treatise on the
same subject.
The account of the annual proceedings of the branch society
at Brighton was then laid on the table, and a vote of thanks
passed to the Kev. J. S. M. Anderson, the Honorary Secretary
of that branch.

The finance accounts of the year showed that the total
receipts were 2,5591. 4s. ld.; the expenditure was, for sala
ries, printing, &c., 1,784/. 12s. Id.; for the Brighton branch
institution 40/. 13s. 6d.; for legacy duty, 101.; for purchase
of stock, 257/. 3s. 9d. ; and, though last not least, for the
Hyde Park Receiving-house, 413/. ss. 10d. , making the
total expenditure 2,5051 15s. 4d., and leaving a balance of
53/. B.e. 9d. to go on with
Mr. Hawes, M.P., read a letter from his Grace the Duke
of Northumberland, the President, in which he expressed his
sincere gratification at the state of the Society, and his hope
that it would continue to flourish.
A vote of thanks was given to Mr. Bond Cabbell, as
Chairman, and he was respectfully solicited to allow his
name to be enrolled among the Vice-Presidents of the So-
ciety, for which honour he thanked the meeting, which then
separated.

beth, that the laity have been roused into formidable
hostility to these novelties, and will not, until they are
discarded, be pacified by smooth words and civil advice.
From one who holds his high office they expect com-
mands, not entreaties. They are tired of waiting for
redress. They have been irritated and defied, foiled
in their appeals to episcopal authority, sometimes
roughly answered, and rarely conciliated till no other
course remained. With Englishmen this ha& ever
proved the worst of all methods that eeuld be tried; and
now that their sympathies are keenly enlisted on behalf
of the Church, is it grateful or reasonable to check their
zeal by disgusting them with innovations which they
regard with jealousy and even alarm? It seems agreed
on all hands that these changes are of no material
consequence, and do not bear upon any vital point of
doctrine. It is really idle to entertain the question.
Churches are emptied, congregations scattered, clergy-
men rendered odious, families set at variance, because
those whose high position requires them to take order
for the adjustment of these differences will not come
forward promptly and effectually. The time will arrive,
we fear, when this energy of the people may be arrayed
against that very institution for the purity of which they
are now determined to battle to the utmost. Is it worth
while, is it judicious, is it necessary to thwart and ex-
asperate them ? However, they must now abide by the
result of their own efforts. If they would be rid of the
mummeries and extortions which superstition er the
desire of influence has thrust upon them, they must, each
in his own parish, where the offence continues, protest
and unite against it. By every constitutional and peace-
ful means, without uproar or tumult, they must adopt
whatever appears the speediest mode of accomplishing
their object. There is nothing so irresistible as a calm, i
persevering opposition to what men have reason to
believe illegal, and what they feel to be injurious.
To their own exertions the laity are indebted for
so much of concession as they have already obtained.
They must throughout trust to themselves ; and there
can be no doubt, that with the tacit acquiescence of those
who ought to take the lead, but whom natural indecision
or infirmity condemns to a timid neutrality, they will be
at last emancipated from childish or offensive innova-
tions, and return to their churches to enjoy once more,
and without interruption, the form of Divine worship
to which they and their forefathers have been ever habi-
tuated and attached. In conclusion, we call the atten-
tion of our readers to this fact—that the pastoral letter
to which we have been adverting cannot be the letter
which was addressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury
to the Bishop of Exeter, and which worked so marked
a change in the language and mandates of the latter
prelate. The Bishop of Exeter's letter to the clergy of
his diocese is dated Bishopstowe, the Bth, and the Arch-
bishop's present letter is dated Lambeth Palace, the 11th,
of January. The difference in these dates is material.
—Times.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS

The following are the results of "A Table of Mortality
in the Metropolis, showing the Number of Deaths from
all Causes registered in the Week ending Saturday, the
11th of January, 1845." The Table is issued from the,Otlice
of the Registrar-General:—

Weekly
CAUSES OF DEATH. Total. Average of
Five Years
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases 223 184
Diseases of variable or uncertain seat 94 106
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses 145 159
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 4O 24
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other
Organs of Digestion
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles 9 6
Diseases of the Skin, &c
Old Age, or Natural Decay 77 70
By Violence, Privation, or Intemperance
Causes specified llO7 954
Deaths from all Causes ......