The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-19 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS.
MEE'llis:G- IN THE PARISH OF ST. PANCR.A S.
A public meeting of the parishioners of St. Pancras
was held yesterday evening at the Vestry-room, Gordon.
street, Gordon-square, for the purpose of petitioning
Parlianient, with a view to the abolition of the corn-laws.
The meeting was very well attended, and we observed
Sir Benjamin Hall on the platform.
Mr. Howard took the chair.
The notice calling the meeting having been read,
The CHAIRMAN said that the meeting had been called
together at a most critical period to consider the mo-
mentous question of the corn laws.—(Hear, hear.) The
question was not one that affected the nation at
large alone—every individual was equally interested
in it. There might have been, some seven or eight years
ego, a difference of opinion in such a meeting as the pre-
sent, but on that occasion he thought they would all tie
very nearly, if not altogether, unanimous. He knew that
there was little necessity to enter upon the general nature
of the question, but he might be excused for making one
or two obseriations on the resolution he had to propose
to them. The corn-laws were of modern institution, for
it was not above forty years ago that the original law was
introduced. Its effect was not immediately felt, and
therefore the people bore with it patiently; but since that
time en important power had sprung up in the country.
An association, entitled the Anti-Corn-law League, had
endeavoured, and with great success, to enlighten the
people, and not only them, but the legislators of the
country.—(Cheers.) They had gone through the agri-
cultural districts, and had removed the delusion which
had held many of the farmers in fear of this law. This
was a great and important change in public opinion. This
might be partly accounted for by the blight in the potato
crop, and the declaration of Lord John Russell for the
immediate and total repeal of the corn-jaws. The
blight in the potato crop might have induced the late
Administration to modify the corn-laws at present exist-
ing, but the letter of Lord John Russell must have had
a decided tendency to advance the total repeal of the
corn-laws. What the blight of the potato crop com-
menced, the letter of Lord John Russell may have been
said to have finished. Thus, as it appeared to him,
there were three measures which bad immediately led
to the repeal of the corn-laws. They seemed to have
acted in the same manner as the plagues of Egypt
did among the Egyptians. They did not emanci-
pate the Jews until they found these plagues
intolerable ; and so the landed aristocracy would not
relinquish these laws until compelled by popular opinion.
They were of course aware that the vestry 'had invited
Mr. Cobden, Mr. Bright, and other distinguished in-
dividuals, but they had not the pleasure of their pre-
sence there. They had, however, apologetic letters,
stating that previous engagements would prevent their
attendance.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HoucinTost said that it was with great pleasure
he met in that room so many with whom he had on pre-
vious occasions been acquainted. It was not the first
time they had met in that room for a similar purpose, and
he always hoped to unite with them in the same good
cause. In such an emergency as the present every man
ought to be up and doing, either in diffusing his opinions,
or in applying to Parliament to get rid of this obnoxious
law. Ho would take the opportunity of stating,
in as few words as possible, what that
law had been, and how other countries had
acted under similar circumstances. A constitution like
our own prevailed in Belgium, but when a scarcity was
felt there the ports were at once thrown open—and what
was the result ? Sixteen ships left the port of London
and Liverpool for the ports of Belgium with food ; those
ships contained 2,500 tons of barley, 11,800 bags of rice,
and 3,000 bags of potatoes.—(Hear, hear.) He had re-
ceived, only the day before yesterday, a letter frcm a
correspondent at New York, and he said that the markets
we re in a most unsteady state, -owing to the uncertainty
and the speculation which existed in this country.
—(Hear, hear.) He added, that only specula-
tive merchants would export to this country.
The speaker then went on to point out what the effects
of the sliding-scale had been in the importation of wheat
from Odessa and Marseilles, and concluded by proposing
a la solution declaratory of the opinion of the meeting
that the corn-laws should be immediately repealed.
Mr. CLARKE seconded the resolution. _

LITERATURE.
MEPHYSI OPHELES. No. I.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS•

FROM THE MORNECG PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.

This is a new weekly illustrated periodiral, devoted to
wit, fun, and satire. The artist, whoever he may be, to
whom the illustrative department is confided, is a very
clever fellow. His "Dr. Russell rescuing Dr. Peel from
his Landlady," is a first-rate sketch, founded on the
well known picture of Johnson and Goldsmith—Lord
John representing Johnson, Sir Robert Goldsmith, the
Duke the landlady, and Lord Brougham the bailiff. The
other illustrations are all excellent. The Duke of Wel-
lington, in the character of James 1., publishing "
counterblast against tobacco," is a very happy hit., We
subjoin a few extracts from the literary portion of the
number, and leave our readers to judge of their merits.
" STANLEY'S GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONIES.—StanIey is
a great man for the colonies: just the man to elevate them
into nations. He began with Ireland. He found it miser-
able, but English. He left it miserable, but Irish. His
genius worked that astonishing 'evolution that has trans-
formed Ireland from a neglected province to become the
earner stone of European politics. _He has sown the seed of
a distracting nationality which may grow up to, we know
net what of mischief. New Zealand will never forget his
kindly care. Stanley has no ability, if he fail to give back
that fine island to the barbarism and semi-solitude of its
original possessors. He chooses governors to prove the
inefficacy of civilisation in securing common sense, and uses
English soldiers to teach savages how to fight. His protocols
prepare—his generals organise defeat. His system is to
evolve out of barbarians, victors of Englishmen ! Already has
he turned a hero out of the cannibal Heki. What then shall
be done with the profoundest statesman the great country
England can place over nearly one-half the civilised globe,
its colonies? How long, because he can utter smart common-
places in Parliament, shall he be privileged to knock about
our colonies as if enjoying his round at nine pins?"
4.‘ LOILD BUNTINGTOWER ON DEBT.....Whether a man owes
anything or not, is a matter of question between the assumed
creditor and the-supposed debtor; no man is a judge in his
own cause; therefore, no sensible person pays anything at all
without taking the opinion of twelve impartial individuals
upon the subject."
LIGHTLY TREAD 'TIS HALLOWED GROUND.'—A great
landholder is:a tender-footed crlttur, who fears nothing so
much as your treading on his corn."

TIMES.—The announcement of the approaching and in-
evitable repeal of the corn-laws is already travelling fast and
far over the world. The widening wave of public excite-
ment is circling round the globe. Wherevef men labour, or
congregate, or converse, this coaling change intrudes upon"
the common occupations of their lives, and they lift up their
heads to be spectators of its accomplishment. The repeal of
the corn-laws will prove to be an event of the utmost im •
portance to our foreign relations. Its effects at home have
doubtless been exaggerated by the fears of its opponents and
the hopes of its friends ; for, in a state of society constituted
like that of England, no single event, however important,
produces a decisive or permanent change on the great inte-
rests of the country. But with reference to our intercourse
with foreign states the case is different. The immediate ob-
ject of the measure is to promote the interchange of commo-
dities with foreign nations, and to bring the multifarious po-
pulations of the earth to one great market. Such a result as
that is the greatest to which a statesman can aspire, for it in-
cludes the questions of peace and war, the progress of improve-
ment, the destruction of prejudices, the spread of civilisation,
and the diffusion at home and abroad of a larger measure of
prosperity and knowledge to mankind. At this moment,
therefore, we turn our eyes with the deepest interest to our
allies, our dependencies, our competitors, our customers, and
even our adversaries in all parts of the habitable globe, in
anticipation of the effect which this event must produce upon
our relations with them and upon their own social condition.
At this very moment the :passions of the American demo-
cracy, and especially of the western states, are probably in-
flamed with extraordinary violence by the language of the
inert to whom their votes have intrusted the destinies of the
Union and the peace of nations. We have lately received
evidence, though not yet of a formal official character, that
Mr. Polk, in resuming his diplomatic intercourse with the
republic of Mexico, has thought fit to designate England
as " the common enemy." It is needless to disguise our
expectation that the message will be framed in very
intemperate language with reference to this country
and to the Oregon territory ; and to such language
the Ministers of the Crown, whoever they may be,
will know how to reply. But the vigour of their
reply will be heightened by the contrast offered by the
policy of the two States et the present moment. A more
memorable spectacle has scarely eccurred in the annals of
free nations. A more signal contradiction has never arisen
between the two great systems of constitutional monarchy
and of popular government. On this side of the Atlantic the
greatest aristocracy and landed interest of the world are gra-
dually surrendering long-cherished convictions and the tena-
cious prejudices of interest to the influence of more enlarged
views of the public welfare, and to the demands of public
humanity. The vast majority of those who have earned the
respect of the people of England by their talents, their
patriotism, and their public services, far more than by their
illustrious descent and their princely fortunes, are slowly, and
sometimes reluctantly, but nevertheless steadily, arraying
themselves on the side of truth, and acknowledging no law
but the general interest of the country. Here, in this state,
where party-traditions are so deep and strong, partyopposition
has already been reduced to the desperate struggles and the in-
effectual protest of a faction, and the opponents of years are
startled to find themselves at length enlisted in the same cause.
Noris this unanimity of wise and good men dictated solely by
the pressure ofa present calamity at home. This cause is that of
peace and of civilisation at home and abroad, now and for the
future. In the United States, on the contrary, the Execu-
tive Government formed by the ascendancy of the Demo-
cratic party, seems ready to sacrifice every great interest of
the Union, and of its neighbours, to the miserable exigen-
cies of its own existence. Its whole conduct to Mexico is
an aggravated copy of the policy of Russia towards the
Ottoman empire, at the worst times, and before the rest of
Europe interposed to preserve the remaining dominions of
the Sultan. The American Cabinet mainly rests its popu-
larity, and its hopes of renewing power at the expiration of
four years, upon the reckless pursuit of worthless and unlawful
objects ; and the people whose pride it once was to be known
to the rest of the world by their trading pursuits, their love
of peace, and their renunciation of the hackneyed crimes of
intrigue and ambition, are now hurried along in a course of
aggression which can only terminate in war, unless it be
effectually resisted by the Senate of the United States. Let
the nations judge between this picture and the other !
POST.—Notwithstanding the acuteness of an Evening
Contemporary, and its very interesting discovery that the
:Morning Post would be willing now to accept of a moderate
fixed duty, in lieu of the present sliding-scale, provided a
Government could be formed with that policy in view— not-
withstanding all this, we do in reality remain of our old opi-
nion, that the Whig scheme of 1841 was a foolish one then,
and won't do now. The fact is that, however romantic and
impracticable the notion may seem to be to the modest gen-
tlemen of the Liberal school, we go not only for the whole
protection of British industry, which the present law allows,
but for something more. It is not less protection which
would satisfy us, nor a continuance of the present, but
only a more real and effectual protection than that
which now exists. We do not say that this is a matter
to be effected all at once, or by one Act of Parliament.
We do not say that no Government should be trusted
which did not promise to increase the scale of pro-
tecting duties. Much has yet to be studied upon the difficult
question of the best means of fully developing and fairly re-
warding the industry of the people. This, however, we say
is clear, that neither the one nor the other is done as it
ought to be under the system of law and government which
now exists. We say, also, that in our opinion no Govern-
ment will be fully worthy of the earnest support of this
nation, which does not adopt as a principle that it is right
for the Government to do all it can towards more fully
developing the industrial capabilities of this nation, andturn.
ing the reward thereof more towards the pockets of those
who do the work, than hitherto it has been turned. Amongst
men who call themselves "Liberal," the great object always
seems to be to serve the interests of the owners of capital.
Now, we would protect those interests too, but we would not
do so at the expense of the working people. We would
not depress the millions that the hundreds might make a
better per tentage on their capital. We do not think
that the welfare of the capitalists is best promoted by
those who try to make them more rich by a process which
impairs the security of the general framework of society. A
man with eighty thousand pounds in a country where peace,
security, and good feeling reign, through the general com-
fort and contentedness of the population, is in very truth a
richer man—an owner of a more valuable property—than the
possessor of a hundred thousand pounds among a people
whose condition is fast driving them to despair. Our delibe-
rate opinion is, that, having regard to the increase of know-
ledge in the art of producing food and clothing in this
country within the last thirty years, the people ought in all
reason and justice to be better off than they were thirty
years ago. The population has increased, but it has not in-
creased in anything like the same proportion as the increase
of productive power. We say that were the nation managed as
it ought to be, the people at large Would share in the benefits
which may be furnished by the new discoveries in the arts
of production. The very reverse is notoriously the
he
mass
of thethe state
people
cannot
fact. It is notorious that as the national means of feeding
and clothing have become greater in proportion to the
Population,
ri owr aht
iecd.
r
opwillaptai the has deteriorated.
h
it paid without perceptible difficulty thirty years ago.
Luxury has made great progress. There are classes who
live in a much more profuse, though not more virtuous
manner, than they did thirty years ago, but the working
people do not live nearly so well. This fact, in a
nation which has been all the time advancing in wealth, is
in itself a condemnation of the system which governs the
reward of the people's industry.
During the last thirty
years the system which is called " Liberal," and which we
deeply regret that mercantile and manufacturing people so
generally approve, has been continually making progress.
During all that time the protection of British industry has
been in various ways undergoing diminution. The nation
has been getting richer—the masses have been growing
poorer. If this go on, the end will be either the complete
debasement of the British working people, and the ruin of
Britain in that way, or the rage of the British people rising
into revolution, and producing ruin in that way. In either
case, the Liberal system, which regards wealth and not the
welfare of the people, must bring national ruin.

- _
Mr. HAYNES then rose, and in a long address reite •
rated the common-place arguments on this question,
and concluded with moving a resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. LEWIS SMITH trusted that the importance of the
subject would procure for him a hearing for the few
cbservations he had to offer. After all that had been
said, there and elsewhere, it would be unnecessary fur
him to do more than draw attention to the present crisis.
(Hear.) They had just witnessed a statesman, who
had hitherto been opposed to the repeal of those laws,
coming forward and declaring that they should now be
repealed. Sir Robert Peel, it was known, had been
actuated by similar views. If the people would but stand
to each other they would effect all they required. His
resolution was, " That the corn-laws were injurious, and
bad for their object merely the aggrandisement of the
landed proprietors, to the detriment of the working
classes of the country."
Mr. HOLDEN seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. CROUCH said it had devolved upon him to pro-
pose the third resolution. He had to congratulate them
on the largeness of their present meeting, on the favour-
able views entertained by their Sovereign towards their
cause, and the adhesion to that cause of several of the
aristocracy. He would inculcate on them the necessity
there was, from their history of this very subject, for an
extension of the suffrage. He would conclude by pro
posing the resolution, which was to the following
effect:—" That there was every prospect of famine in the
country, and that it behoved them to come forward and
avert this calamity, and protect the people from its
accumulated evils.' The mind of man was incapable of
conceiving the advantages of free trade.—(Cheers.)
The resolution being seconded, was carried unanimously.
Mr. DOUGLAS said he had to propose a resolution, to
the effect that a petition, founded on the foregoing re-
solutions, be presented to both Houses of Parliament, and
that the Members for the borough be requested to sup-
port the same.
The resolution was seconded, and carried una-
nimously.
Sir BENJAMIN HALL, M.P., in proposing a vote of
thanks to the Chairman, observed that he was a free-
trader in principle, and accounted for his absence from
Parliament the session before last by the loss of a near
relation, and last session by severe illness. He also
stated that his colleague had, at a meeting in the
northern capital, expressed himself in favour of a re-
peal of the corn-laws.—(Cheers.)
The resolution being seconded, was carried unani-
mously, and the meeting separated.

EXTENSIVE FIRE AT LAYER-

DE-LA-HAY.

It is with extreme regret we record the following
particulars of a lamentably destructive fire in this
county, and it is indeed a matter of surprise that in the
time of a failure in the supply of some of the neces-
saries of life, a miscreant should be found base enough
wilfully to occasion the destruction of any portion of
those with which Providence has supplied us. The
scene of the calamity was the homestead of Mr. Wat-
ford, opposite the Fox public-house at Layer-de-la-Hay,
a barn npon which was discovered to be on fire about
eight o'clock on Tuesday night last. The wind blowing
a rather stiff breeze from the south, from the combus-
tible nature of the material of the barn and its contents,
the flames spread with the most alarming rapidity, and
messengers were instantly dispatched to Colchester fur
the fire-engines, one of which Ras promptly at the spot,
and there being a pond near by, a plentiful supply of
water was obtained ; the exertions used were, however,
of little avail, as the raging element was irresistible
and continued its course of devastation to a very large
double barn, containing 22i quarters of thrashed barley,
the produce of seven and a half acres of oats in the
straw; two large wheat stacks, three stacks of clover
(30 tons), two straw stacks, a granary containing 17
quarters of wheat and 20 quarters of oats ; horse, cart,
and cattle sheds ; cart and nag stabling ; piggeries,
cow-houses, &c., with a large quantity of agricultural
implements, all of which, with the workshop and the
greater part of the valuable stock in trade of Mr. Thomp-
son, wheelwright, whose premises were situate on the
opposite side of the road, in a line northward, were de-
stroyed. In about an hour after the fire broke out, it
is calculated that there were not fewer than 3,000 per-
sons upon the heath near by, witnessing the hasty de-
molition of so much valuable property. Superintendent
Brown and the county police were at the spot, and ren-
dered every assistance in their power for the preser-
vation of the property, and the firemen and neighbours
did their best to accomplish that object, but in a few
hours the whole of the property above described was
rased to the ground, and scarcely a vestige was left to
be seen. A range of four corn-stacks escaped destruc-
tion, owing to the point of the wind, viz., two barley
stacks, one wheat stack, and an cat stack, although
they all stood within a few yards of the other stacks de-
stroyed. The dwelling-house and furniture, with the
brewhouse, also escaped, but the furniture was removed,
as well as that of a considerable number of the neigh-
bours and cottagers, who, from the direction of the
wind from the first hour after the fire broke out, had no
hopes of their dwellings being saved ; fortunately, how-
ever, the wind changed at that period, or at least a
dozen houses must have been consumed, and the greatest
consternation prevailed throughout the night. Happily
no human life or live stock were sacrificed. The home-
stead, which was very extensive, and one of the most
complete in the country, was the property of C. G.
Round, Esq., M.P., of Birch Hall, who, within the last
few years, purchased the estate of the late Lord Western.
The corn destroyed was the property of the executors of
the late Mr. William Piggott, the tenant of the farm
prior to Michaelmas last, when it was taken possession
of by Mn Watford, to whom belonged the stacks of
stover, corn in the granary, and the agricultural imple-
ments consumed. We are happy to add, that most of
the owners of the property are covered by insurance in
the Colchester, Essex, anti Suffolk Equitable Fire Office,
but Mr. Thompson, we hear, is insured for only 1801. in
the same office, which, it is said, will not cover his loss
by a very considerable sum, as his stock is very valuable.
We extremely regret to state that there is no doubt it
was the act of a foul incendiary. 'The damage is esti-
mated at upwards of 3,oool.—Essex Herald.

The Countess of Lichfield and the Ladies Harriet
and Geraldine arid the Hon. Adalbert Anson are expected
to remain in the )''reach capital until the end of the erso-
ing month, when they return to rejoin the Noble Earl, at
rar ffen burg,
FRUE-TRADE MovErdENT,,-We are to find
that active committees have been formed in Valli and Bristol
since the recent free-trade meetings in those cities, for the
purpose of promoting the enfianchieement of free-traders in
East Somerset, West Gloucester, and North Wilts—a pro-
ceeding at all times constitutional, and more than ever ne-
cessary at the present crisis. A forty-shilling freehold may,
by means of Ono commit tees, be so easily obtained, that we
hope to hear of -many i,undred applications, and that the
conveyances have been duly made Won) the 30th of January
next.

TB __E SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORN] NG. DECEMBER 19, 1845.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
ROLLS' COURT, Dec. 18.
His Lordship sat at ten o'clock.
EARL NELSON V. LORD BRIDPORT.
The arguments on behalf of the defendant in this ca3e were
resumed, and occupied the whole day.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Dec. 18.
His Honour the Vice-Chancellor of England took short
causes and unopposed petitions to-day, none of which were of
the slightest importance. His Honour will not sit to-
morrow.

SHERIFFS' COURT, Dec. 18.
(Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BURC/AELL.
RICHARDS V. POILE.—DEBT AND COSTS.

This was au action to recover the sum of 211. 12s. 6d. on a
guarantee.

The defendant was landlord of the Cart and Horses, Turn-
mill-street, Clerkenwell. An action had been brought against
defendant's brother, and execution obtained on the goods.
Defendant, however, consented to pay the debt, 11. Is. 6d. and
costs. making altogether the sum at present claimed.
The UNDER-SHERIFF said they were large costs for so
small a debt.

The Attorney said there had been an application to the
Court above arising out of the case.
The UNDER-SMERINF—SO the defendant has to pay costs
in that action, and this for one guinea. Gentlemen, this is
not very cheap law, but you have no choice. The costs have
been taxed by the proper officer.
The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff.
WALLS V. TRICKEY.

This was an action to recover the sum of 71. for bricks.
The Attorney for the plaintiff said that in this case he
should submit to the Under-Sheriff that the debt had bean
contracted by fraud, and that, upon proof thereof, the defen-
dant could, under the new Act, be taken in execution as well
as his goods.

William Wells was called—Remembered defendant going
to his father, and giving orders for bricks, to be sent to
Messrs. Lyons, oil and colourmen, Kent-road. Defendant
said his name was Trickey, but he did not mean to trick
them. The bricks were sent. Defendant said they were for
Messrs. Lyon, who would pay for them; Had since called
en Mr. Lyon, who refused to pay, on the ground that they
had already paid Trickey.
The UNDER• SHERIFF said, what Lyon had told the wit-
ness was not evidence ; he, therefore, did not consider there
was sufficient evidence to convict the defendant.

The jury concurred, and a verdict was given for plaintiff.

BENJAAILN V. COLWELL.

The plaintiff in this action is landlord of a public-house in
Vinegar-yard, Drury-lane ; the defendant is a truss-maker in
Horse-shoe- court, Ludgate-hill The :union was brought to
recover the sum of 21. 10s. for money lent and goods sold.
Benjamin Kelsey was called, and stated that he had occa-
sionally served the defendant with brandy, cigars, Ise., on
account of plaintiff, who was a friend, and witness assisted
him in business. He had taken an account to defendant, who
said that he had been very unwell, and had not been out of
the house since he was at the plaintiff's, but when he could
get out he would call and pay.
Cross-examined.—Had been a licensed victualler, and kept
the Anglesey, Bow-street, but had been out of business for
two years, and bad since assisted at two or three public-
houses. Had been on railway business. Was not a stag, nor
had dealt,in shares. Had been doing something better. Was
not a " director," but had been taking traffic, employed by
Messrs. Bush and Blundell, of Mildred-court. He declined
saying how much he received. Plaintiff's house was for-
merly Dutch Sam's, and before that Money Moses was land-
lord. The account charged defendant with 11. Bs. for a glass
broken in the parlor. There had been a scuffle, as defendant
said he had had his pocket picked. The waiter was a man
named Evans, alias "the Starling." Could not say whether
the spirits supplied amounted to 10s. He could not say that
defendant broke the glass.
For the defendant it was contended that there was no
proof of money lent, nor could the witness say what amount of
spirits had been supplied, or that defendant broke the glass.
The UNDER-SHERIFF said the case was as weak as it could
be ; there was no proof of any delivery of an account, but the
note delivered by Kelsey alluded to one of which, if that
witness was to be believed, defendant was aware of, in which
be promised topay.
Verdict for defendant.

ADMIRALTY COURT, Dec. 17.
THE BATA.VIER.-COLLISION.

This was a suit to recover compensation for the da-
mage sustained by the Gravesend steamer Topaz, from
a collision which occurred in Limehouse-reach, between
that vessel and a Dutch steamer, the Batavier.
It appeared that the Gravesend steamer was at anchor
in the middle of the river, and was run into by the Dutch
vessel, which was going down the river. This brief
statement of the position of the two vessels would seem
to throw the whole blame upon the latter ; but on the
part of her owners it was to-day contended that the col-
lision arose from the improper and un-nautical manner
in which the Topaz was anchored. She was swinging
with a single anchor, instead of a double anchor, which
it was said she ought to have had, and in consequence of
her thus swinging loose in the middle of the stream,
it was contended that the accident occurred. For
the owners, however, of the Topaz it was argued
that the Dutchman had no business to steer so closely to
her, that there was plenty of room to pass without doing
so, and that the blame was exclusively here. A. further
point was raised in the case, and upon it the decision ul-
timately rested. The Dutch vessel had taken, in obe-
dience to the provisions of the Pilotage Act, as pilot on
board, a man who was always employed by her owners
in going up and down the Thames ; and the point urged
was that, at the time of the collision, the Batavier was
under his exclusive command, and that her owners were
not liable for the misconduct or mistake of a man
whom they only engaged under the compulsion of an
Act of Parliament.

Dr. Addams and Dr. Jenner appeared for the owners
of the Topaz ; Dr. Curtis and Dr. Bayford for the
owners of the Batavier.

The Trinity Masters (by whom the Court was assisted
on the question of nautical skill) expressed their opi•
nion there was no blame imputable to the Topaz in her
mode of anchoring ; that the collision occurred through
the bad steering of the Batavier, but that the fault
could not be laid to the charge of her master and crew,
as they had acted, as they were bound to do, under the
control and direction of tho licensed pilot who was on
board.

Dr. ADDAMS then submitted that the ordinary con-
struction put upon the Pilotage Act with regard to the
liability of the pilot himself, and the non-liability of the
owners who had been obliged to employ him, did not
apply to this case. Here, though the owners had been
compelled to employ a pilot, they had exercised their
own choice, and had always selected this particular man.
He had thus become their agent or servant, and for his
misconduct they were fairly liable.
Dr. LUSHINOTON thought otherwise. The Act of
Parliament compelled the owners of vessels sailing up
and down the Thames to take a duly licensed pilot on
board, and it would be most unjust to make them re-
sponsible for the conduct of a man acting in their ser-
vice under such circumstances. It did not affect, and
would not remove, that injustice—that the master or
owners had selected one particular man, and always
employed him. Their selection was confined to a cer-
tain class of men, in whose appointment they had no
control, and such a selection could not fix upon them a
liability so opposed to natural justice. The Trinity
Masters had held that the blame of this collision was
attributable to the pilot alone, and that the master and
crew were open to no censure-I'ad been guilty of no
misconduct. Under such circumstances, the Court could
not hold the owners responsible, and must dismiss the
present suit.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Dec. 17.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Lew.)
IN THE MATTER OF WILLIAM DAVIES.
Judgment was pronouneed in this most extraordinary
case, which was on the last occasion before the Court on
the 11th inst. The facts require to be succinctly nar-
rated in order to understand the judgment given. The
insolvent had figured as an attorney's clerk and potato-
salesman. Subsequently he became a house-agent and
an accountant at Hoxton, where he lately resided. His
debts were under 500 L, and he told a marvellous tale
about losing by robbery a sum of 2,0601. His principal
debts consisted of two claims for law costs, one by a
Miss Parkin, for whom he had acted as agent, and against
whom he had brought an action for upwards of 700 L,
which was referred to arbitration, and in the course of
the investigation thereon he swore in February last to
the then possession of 2,0001. An award was made
against him, and the costs followed, which with the costs
of his own attorney (Mr. W. H. Smith), exceeded 400/.
As an applicant to the Court from these claims,
it was incumbent on him to show that he had
been deprived paying them out of the 2,0001 which he
stated he possessed in February last, and he alleged
that he had been robbed of the money. The two cre-
ditors (Miss Parkin and Mr. Smith) refused to credit
thb story, and opposed his application to be discharged.
A lengthened investigation took place into the circum-
stances before the Learned Commissioner, who expressed
himself of opinion that the statement was an absolute
and atrocious falsehood. The story told was that the
insolvent, after the award was made against him, went to
Ostend, accompanied by a foreigner, whom he had met
at Gravesend, to enter into a partnership at Paris, and
he took 2,0601. with him in his portmanteau, which,
after he got into a private house at Ostend, was broken
open, and the contents abstracted, with the documents
relating to the intended partnership. He presumed the
wine he drank was drugged. He made no complaint to
the police, but got 24 frcm a person in the house, and
came home. He afterwards met the same person in
London, and, at his instance, went to Antwerp in search
of the gang by whom he had been plundered. On the
last occasion the Court requested that some evidence
should be obtained from a savings' bank, in order to form
an opinion as to what sum he had actually possessed.
It appeared that he had possessed a number of lease-
hold houses at Hoxton, which he had disposed of to a
Mr. Lake

Mr. DowsE, as counsel for the insolvent on the pre-
sent occaaion, tendered some information which had
been obtainadfrom a savings' bank, in which the insol-
vent had money deposited in the name of his wife.

The insolvent was sworn to the truth of his schedule,
in which the story of the alleged robbery was detailed.
In giving judgment, the Learned COMMISSIONER ob-
served that he had expressed his opinion on the last oc-
casion. He disbelieved the story of the loss, and he also
disbelieved the insolvent had possessed the sum he had
mentioned; because, if he had thought he had the money
and had concealed it, this course would have been clearly
defined; namely, to have refused to pronounce any
judgment on the case, as the applicant would have had
the means of satisfying every demand against him. What
the insolvent had possessed he could not say—he did not
believe that he had the money stated (2,0601.), nor (Amid
he presume to form no opinion as to how much he
actually possessed; that he was a person pretty well to
do in the world was plain, for he had owned a number
of houses, which he had sold after ho found the action
went cgainst him. The judgment of the Court was that
he be imprisc,ned for a period of twenty-two calendar
months from the vesting order, for making away Keith
and concealing his property.
The judgment will be computed from the I Ith of
October last. The insolvent was removed to Whiteeross-
street Prison.

The Earl of Pembroke's extensive stud and splen-
did equipages have been removed to Paris, and we hear the
NQble Earl contemplates a protracted residence in France,