The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, lAINDON, THURSDA X EVININO, JCI Y 24, 1855.

Mr. Sergeant WRANGIIAM denied that it was an unopposed On our admission to the gallery we found
Bill, as it was undeniably a competing line with the London and Mr. HU3IE moving to strike out the clause that con-
York. tinued the penny duty. His objection to the tax was, that it was
Mr. AUSTIN protested against the injustice of such a propesi- pact by the poor, who were not so much interested in the pro-
tion. It was monstrous, after they had been refused, to oppose perty it was intended to improve as the proprietors, and that,
the London and York line, because they did not compete therefore, they ought to pay the tax.
to be told by that very Company that first suggested their non- Mr. FORSTER seconded the motion.
compeiition, that they had no right to be considered unopposed, The Earl of LINCOLN objected to the motion. This was:
because, lorsooth, they were competing lines. why, if the argu_ not the imposition of a new tax, but:the continuance of an old.
ment was good in the first instance, that the London and York one that was of little or no importance to the consumer.
was not a competing line with the Milford and Doncaster, Mr. STUART WORTLEY objected to the continuance
and therefore the latter could net oppose; the converse was surely of the tax; he thought it highly improper to continue it on the:
tenable, that the Milford and Dmcaster did not compete with the face of the report of the Committee.
London and York, and therefore could not be opposed by the latter.
The
hf tee rHsoounasee
divided, observations,,henfrtohmereLaoprpdeaßre.d_Grosvenor, Mr. 8..
The Committee having retired to deliberate, after half an hour's Esco;t, Sir G. Clerk, Mr. Tufnell, and Mr. Wakley,
absence,
The CHAIRMAN having returned with his colleagues, said that For the motion ...
the Committee were of opinion that the Milford and Doncaster i Against it
line did not compete with the London and York, in I Majority against the motion —l7
respect of a through conimunication, but that it, as I The motion was consequently lost.
well as the Swinton line, did compete with the Wakefield branch I Mr. WAKLEY congratulated the Noble Lord (Lincoln.")
of the London and York. They, moreover, adhered to the original that he had not made the tax 6d., and the period of its
resolution of proceeding immediately with the clauses of the duration fifty, instead of seventeen, years, because he was core--
latter Bil, vinced that in both cases the House would have adopted it.
Mr. AUSTIN wished, before the consideration of the clauses was I Mr. HUME thought that measures like the present ought
proceeded with, to understand aright the decision of last evening. not to be brought forward at the morning sittings. It ap-
Either the Bill still remained undecided on, and its preamble as a peered to him that the course that had been adopted was a most
whole unproved, or the Bill was in its amended form—viz., by the shameful uay of conducting the business of the House. He
erasure of the worth empowering the construction of the Wakefield was determined to divide the House on the question that the
and Sheffield branches, declared as proved. I Bill do pass.
TheCH•lareaer (who appeared astounded at themanifestdilemma) I strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but no division
read the minu'e of their decision yesterday, by which it appeared took place, and the Bill passed.
that the Bill was declared proved, omitting the branches in dispute SMALL DEBTS BILL.
which had consequently been erased. The Small Debts (No. 3) Bill was reported, several clauses
:Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAM contended that though the branches were added, the Bid was ordered to be engrossed, and read. a
were omitted in the favourable resolution of the Committee, it did I third time on Monday.
not preclude their being subsequently considered. CHURCH BUILDING ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
Mr. AUSTIN, Q C., urged that the matter was quite clear; if the The House then went into Committee on the Church
Bill be declared proved, and the branches had been struck out, Building Act Amendment Bill.
they had no longer an existence. Mr. Building
objected to the Bill. It contained no pro.-
The Commerree declined given any interpretation of their de. visionore o
wbiheaettenvmerabfloer tinhe
apureottheecvtiopneionft theef lvaiietyw., Ifotvwiatsgsatvilei,l
chili., as Parliament must put their own explanation upon it. more
The discussion of the clauses being then proceeded with, power to the Commissioners to appoint the church-•
Mr. AUSRIN, on the 2d being put, said—My Lord, before the wardens, which was in effect giving them the power of making:
Committee go further into this case I wish to make a remark i church-rates, for, according to the opinion of Lord Chief Justice
which, though of vast importance, will occupy but a few moments Tindal, churchwardens had the power to make rates when.
of iyour time. While I entertained the highest respect for the inhabitants refused to do so. Under these circumstances,
the intelligence and impartiality of this Committee, and do not in- he thought the Bill ought not to proceed ; there were. tend to impugn the justice of their decision—for God forbid, that already no less than forty-eight Ecclesiastical Bills on the statute:
I should ever utter one word disparagingly of any tribunal book, and 400 orders in Council. The House ought not, there--
in the land—l must, on the part of the York and fore, to add another Bill, but try to consolidate the present- I
North Midland' the Midland, and the Eastern Counties C, rnpanies, Bills.
protest against this Bill being further proceeded with. And my Mr. S. HERBERT said that the arguments of the Hon._
Lord, I have my protest upon these grounds :—first— Member for Lambeth against this Bill were the strangest he-
Just at this critical juncture of the Learned Counsel's address, had ever heard ; because there was a large number of Acts of
when excitement was at its highest, and the greatest astonishment, Parliament in existence, and the law was in an anomalous,
not to say dismay, was depicted on the countenances of the London state, therefore they were not to proceed to amend.
and York adherents, the state of the law by any act of legislation. With.
Mr. DARBT, who had shewn great signs of restlessness during these regard to church-rates, nothing had been introduced in the'
few remarks, whispered the Chairman, who whispered Mr. &rope, Bill which would at all affect that question.
who passed the word to his neighbour, Mr. Hall, and the conclave The clauses were agreed to with some amendments, and the
romained in anxious deliberation sonic fifteen or twenty minutes. report was ordered to be received to-morrow.
Mr. Creed, the clerk, was then summoned to their councils, and the The Lords' amendments to the Westminster Improvement:
whole body impetuously withdrew to the adjoining room. (No. 2) Bill were agreed to.
After the absence of somewhat more than half an.hour they Tho Lords' amendments to the Bermondsey Improvement.
returned, and the CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee Bill were agreed to.
refused to hear any further observations from Mr. Austin, which in CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.
the present stage of the proceedings were wholly irregular. The Lords' amendments to this Bill were agreed to.
Mr. AUSTIN attempted to remonstrate, but it was useless; the SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY.
Committee were obdurate, and the counsel compeled to submit. The Lords' amendments to this Bill were agreed to.
At length the clauses of the DUNDEE AND PERTH RAILWAY.
LONDON' 11.14-D ronx BILL The Lords' amendments to this Bill were agreed to.
were entered on. And after all those which were unopposed were ABERDEEN RAILWAY
Lords' amendments to this Bill were agreed to, The agreed to.:
Mr. WILDE, on behalf of the trustees of St. B GRIMSBY DOCKS.artholomew's This Bill was read a third time and passed.
Hospital, opposed the 16th clause, which empowered the Company LIVERPOOL AND BURY (BOLTON AND WIGAN
to make the railway according in the deposited plans. The plans
AND LIVERPOOL) RAILWAY.
specified 60 acres as requisile fur the purposes of the line at
a point which interfered with the property of the hospital, and The Lords' amendments to this Bill were agreed to.
the Learned Counsel disputed the necessity of such an amount. The South-Eastern Railway (branch to Deal and extensionof the South-Eastern, Canterbury, Ramsgate, and Margate
Mr. Cubitt deposed to the absolute necessity of that quantity of Railway) was read a third time and passed.
land being taken.
On the motion that the Bolton and Leigh, Kenyon and
Mr. Hardwick, the architect of the London and Birmingham, Leigh: Junction, North Union, Liverpool and Manchester and.
and Great Western lines, deposed to those Companies not requiring Grand Junction Railway Companies Amalgamation, be read a
more than twenty or thirty acres for their stations. third time,
Mr. PAGET cffered to effect a compromise, and give the trustees Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved the amendments of which
the right of pre-emption of any land which the Company might he had given notice.
not require.
Mr. ESTCOTT doubted the propriety of suspending the
The Committee reserved their decision till to-morrow, and ad- standing orders.
journed at a quarter past five o'clock, Mr. PATTEN said that his only object was to prevent the
Bill from being thrown out for the session. The amendments
were not of a very important character.
After a few words from Mr. BROTHERTON,
Mr. DUNCOMBE said he objected to the motion being
withdrawn, and he hoped the Committee on Standing Orders
would not sanction such a proceeding. It would be better to
throw the Bill overboard altogether.
Dr. IIOWRING would have no objection to the motion
provided it would not have the effect of causing the Bill any
risk ; but it would be a very serious step to take if it would
have the effect of throwing out the Bill altogether.
After a few words from Mr. STEWART WORTLEY and Lord
G. SOMERSET, the motion was withdrawn, and the third read-
ing of the Bill ordered to be resumed to-morrow.
COMMITTEE—GROUP X.
Mr. B. DENISON said he begged to move that it be an in-
struction to the Committee upon Group X of Railway Bills,
that they have power to divide the London and York Railway
Bill into two or more Bills, if they think fit.
Mr. ASTELL said he would second the motion.
Mr. WARD asked a question of the Chairman of the Com-
mittee in reference to the Sheffield and Wakefield being left
out in the decision on the preamble of the Bill.
Viscount COURTNEY said it was desirable that he should
state the particular circumstances under which the preamble
of the Bill had been passed by the Committee. In
the exercise of their discretion they had left out
Sheffield and Wakefield, as there were other parties
who had competing lines to that portion of the London and
York:that accommodated these parties. They (the Committee)
did so, on the grounds that having heard the evidence on the
one side, it would not be fair to decide until evidence was also
heard on behalf of those who had competing lines to
propose. They considered it was but fair that they should
give these parties the chance of being heard, and, accordingly,
they thought the best course to pursue was to postpone that
portion of the Bill which related to those towns, and come to
a decision on the main point. They therefore decided that the
preamble of the Bill was proved, omitting Sheffield and Wake-
field. They how ever gave noopinion on the merits of the branches.
They purposely avoided doing so. The Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Ward) seems to object to mar deciding only on a part. In
doing so the Committee thought it was the best course to
pursue under the circumstances. If that was not satisfactory
the only way would be for the House to refer the portion of
the Bill omitted to the Committee so that they might decide
on that as well as the other parts of the case. If the House
could suggest any course to take in the matter, the Committee
would be satisfied to follow it out.
After a few words from Mr. DARBY, in explanation,
Mr. P. M. STEWART said ihat it was sufficiently evident
that the Committee ought to have applied for leave to divide
the Bill, and after thus disposing of the branches they might
have gone on with the trunk line. The House could knew
nothing of what the Committee had done, but from their own
confessions now, and therefore the House was not competent to
decide on what the Committee had yet done.
The SPEAKER was supposed to say that they were irre-
gular, in that they had no power to strike any portion out of
the preamble of the Bill ; but, as the Honse was in so many
cases out of order, he supposed that this must also be passed
over.—(Laughter.)
The motion was agreed to.
(LEFT SITTING,)

MPERIAL PARLIAMENT

(THIS EVENING)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Thair Lordships met shortly after Five o'clock.
DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH RAILWAY.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from
the promoters of competing railways to the Direct Landon
and Portsmouth line, and praying to be heard by counsel be-
fore the Select Committee as a competing line aiainst the
Direct London and Portsmouth Railway Bill. The Noble
Duke moved that the petition be referred to the Select Com-
mittee on the Bill, which was agreed to after a short discussion.
DUBLIN AND GALWAY RAILWAY.—REPORT OF
THE SELECT COMMITTEE.—PRIVILEGE.

Lord BATHURST said he had been directed, as the Chair-
man of the Committee appointed to inquire into the charges
brought against the Dublin and Galway Railway Company, to
call the attention of the House to their report. The Committee
had met and considered the petitions which had been referred
to them, and had heard counsel, and had examined witnesses in
support of the allegations in the said petitions, and had
arrived at the opinion, that most systematic frauds had been
used fur the purpose of obtaining the necessary number
of signatures to the subscription contract. No pro-
per attention had been paid to the letters of al-
lotment. Names had been inserted without the consent of
the parties, and letters had been sent to country postmasters,
with a request that they might be returned to London through
the Yost• office. It also appeared that 260/. were to be paid to
a person on his not bringing certain charges against the Com-
pany, and 500/. more on the Bill passing the Standing Orders'
Committee. The subscription contract did not amount to
three-fourths of the estimates. The result of the delibe-
rations of them had induced the Committee to express
entire concurrence in the report of the Committee, and that
the reduction in the amount of deposits last session, by the
House of Commons, had given a facility to frauds like those
mentioned in their report. Uunder all these circumstances,
they had come to the decision not to inquire further into the
Bill without further directions from the House.
The Earl of BESBOROUGH said the report was a peculiar
one, and he thought it better to give a notice respecting it.
He should therefore move to-morrow that the Bill be no
further proceeded with.
Lord BROUGHAM said he had now to state that having
brought forward a statement with regard to the privileges
of the House, that he had seen a statement giving
an explanation with respect to the report of the newspaper in
question, and that their Lordships ought not now to call the
reporter before] the House, or proceed against the Editor of
that newspaper. The Noble Earl opposite would forgive him
if he said that he never intimated that he wished to do so.
They had had too much experience en matters of that sort, and
he thought it better to leave him (Lord Brougham) as the ag-
grieved party to proceed at law by means of a criminal
information, if he wished to adopt that course. No doubt he
could prosecute ; it was no excuse whatever that the matter
occurred in the House of Commons, but he had to state that it
appeared the statement was made and was published in another
newspaper, against which he might proceed, if he pro-
ceeded at all—namely, the Morning Chronicle, as it
had published the same speech in the same words.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

IMPROVEMENT OF HALIFAX

HARBOUR.
(From Williner and Smith's European Times.)
We intimated our intention, in our last publication, of
throwing out a few suggestions for the improvement of
Halifax harbour. In fulfilling this promise, we do so
ith a becoming sense of our inability to treat the
subject in a manner becoming its importance, as our
acquaintance with the locale is necessarily imperfect,
and was picked up during our passage to and from the
port in question in the spring and autumn of last year.
But, however unworthily we execute the task, we
only
claim for our crude conceptions the attention to which,
upon investigation, they may be found entitled. If they
are worthy the consideration of the practical and expe-
rienced our object is answered, and being so, their
p' tt
paved. pl place e
Iwni t
adoption cannot be too speedily enforced ; if other-
wise, nothing less humiliating ,can overtake them,
than s
labour,h
said, good eedy
intentions" transit
arethat
such as it is, will not have been fruitless, for we
itwhehric caseh it
the
shall have eased our mind of a duty which we owe to our
friends in Nova Scotia, in whose welfare we shall ever
take a lively interest—to the splendid steamers, and to
the lives and property which they are constantly carry-
ing to and from their destination. The present age
excellence, the age of me-
chanical triumphs of art over ob-
stacles
times have defied human in-
genuity,p'. des
which
i s progression,showe lf u p
oin upon
thatbeing,
thee nother ag n,
par
Creator has not limited man's
faculties in working out his own redemption. The
chief, merit, however, of the suggestions which follow is,
that they are readily executed ; they involve, in pro-
portion to the magnitude of the interests at stake, but a
trifling pecuniary outlay, and cannot possibly deter by
their vastness or complexity. The present position of
the port of Liverpool—with one exception the greatest
maritime port in the world—demonstrates sufficiently
how science and capital can triumph over great, and all
but insuperable difficulties, and vessels of the largest
tonnage can now at any hour enter a harbour where,
formerly, such an advantage was unknown—unlooked
for—undreamt of.

HOUSE OE COMMONS.
The House met at Twelve o'clock.
COAL DI/TY BILL.

On the motion of the Earl of LINCOLN, this Bill was itti
a third time.

On the motion that the Bill should pass,
Sir JAMES DUKE moved," That it be enacted, that from
and after the 31st day of December next, there shall be allowed
upon the exportation from the port of London, westward of the
City boundary on the river Thames at Stained, of coals ex-
ceeding in quantity in one barge, lighter, or other vessel, twenty
tons, which shall not have been landed, a drawback of the ful!
amount of all the rates or duties which shall have been paid n
respect of such coals, subject, however, to such rules and regu-
lations as may from time to time be made by the mayor, al& r-
men, and commons of the City of London, in Common Council
assembled, to prevent fraud in respect of such drawback, such
rules and regulations to be approved of by the Committee of
her Majesty's Privy Council for managing the affairs of trade ;
and if the master of any vessel, or any coal-weigher, shall in
any certificate or otherwise state any circumstance which is net
true, for the purpose of enabling the owner of such coal,, or
his agent, to obtain any such drawback as aforesaid, or if any
lighterman or other person employed to carry such coals to their
destination westward of the City boundary on the river Thames
at Staines, shall not deliver the whole quantity of such coals at
some place to the westward of the said boundary, every such
master or coal-weigher, lighterman, or other person, so offend-
ing, shall for every such offence forfeit and pay any sum not
exceeding one hundred pounds."
Mr. HUME thought that there should be a modification of
the duty.
. .

Sir 6. CLERK said that he could not consent to the in-
troduction of this clause. He was perfectly ready to admit the
fact that the South Sea trade had diminished, yet he was at the
same time confident that the amount of shipping and the number
of seamen had increased. Since the introduction of steam
navigation, the coasting trade had certainly declined, but yet
the business and the prosperity had increased, and there was a
larger quantity of sea-borne coal introduced into the port
of London than had ever before been carried. The largest
portion of this tax, viz., eightpence in the shilling, was mort-
gaged by the Woods and Forests to pay for the iml rove-
ments in the City and port; and be thought, therefore,
that it was incompetent for the House to interfere with this tax.
Mr. FOR ST ER said that on the 4th of this month there were
266 tons of coals in the port, which cost 7s. 6d. a ton ; the
freight on this cargo was 7s. 9d. ; and there were other ex-
penses, to the amonnt of 2s. ; and this, with the port-dues,
brought the cost of coals to 1/. 3s. 6d. a ton to the buyer ; and
on the consumer the charge was, of course, proportionably
heavy.

The first approach to the shores of Nova Scotia is
marked by the inconvenience and the dangers of the
n, so honourable to
fogs so prevalent at seasons of the year,in other respects
the most favourable. The system of bell buoys intro-
duced at the entrance into the Mersey, at Liverpool,
would obviate much of the difficulty and danger arising
from the state of the atmosphere on the shores of Nova
Scotia.
the
The
of the world, proves that they require. but a hint to for-
ward any design in the cause of humanitesta of
fliNbshomva establishment on
Scotia,
S, ab
andle s I
soslan
beneficial to the trade
y ; and we take
the liberty of suggesting that bell buoys should be laid
doe n in such places as may be found, after careful atten-
tion to the subject, to be the most suitable.
The loss of the noble steamer the Columbia would, in
all probability, not have occurred, if a bell buoy had been
near the place where she struck ; and when we consider
the extraordinary difficulties which the uncertainty of
the tides at the entrance of the bay of Sundy presents,
we should say that the extreme point of the western'
coast would be a suitable place for one.
As the eastern coast is much lower than the western.
and less bold, and very dangerous ledges of rock run'
out on different parts of that coast, it would seem to be
absolutely necessary to have bell buoys there, and a
selection of the points would he easily made. For in-
stance, a bell buoy on the Rock Head would be a great
advantage, There is at present, we believe, a buoy,
but it is dumb, and the bell would be found of incal-
culable utility in giving warning to the mariner of his
position. Another bell buoy on the I olluck Rip, moored
in thirty-five fathoms, is desirable. In addition to these
there ought to be another bell buoy in forty-five fathoms
gravel, which are good soundings, off the lighthouse
N.W. by W., distance about five miles from the light-
house. The dumb buoy at Thrumpcap shoals ought to
be converted into a bell buoy. A light on Jedore -Head
one of the most dangerous parts of the coast, and another'
on the White Islands, about twenty-seven miles from the
harbour, would complete the necessary safety guides •
at present 150 miles of the eastern coast is without
solitary light.
The detention of the mail for a few hours (and hours
may be said to be days with the steamers when com-
pared
with sailing vessels), in which all America, vre

M. STUART WORTLEY said that his Noble Friend
was proposing to continue this tax for seventeen years
longer, it having been previously continued for only
seven years, and was thus placing the coal trade in
a worse position than any other trade in London.
There could be no doubt if facility were given to parties to
bring commodities into the City of London, a great portion of
those commodities would be brought in.—( Hear.)
The Earl of LINCOLN opposed the clause upon the prin-
ciple of justice to the creditor IN ho had lent money.—(Hear. )
He could not understand how it could be just, having borrowed
money f a certain purpose, and under certain conditions, to
attempt to reduce the security. He thought it would be
much better for the Honourable Member to withdraw the
clause now, and in another session to introduce a Bill em-
bodying the clause.

111r.-MASTERMAN could not agree to the clause, as he
believed the tax of Bd. a ton on coals was mortgaged to the
full extent, and, therefore, that the House had no right in
honour or justice to interfere.
Mr. WAKLEY hoped this would he a lesson to the House
how it taxed the necessaries of life. This tax had been fas-
tened on the public, and when they would get rid of it, Heaven
only knew. There was no common-sense or justice in charging
one price on coals coming one way, and another price
on coals going another.—( Hear, heat.) If there were any
common sense Members present, he knew well which way they
would vote.—( Hear, hear. )
Mr. R. PALMER supported the clause.
After a few words from Mr. WA WA,
Mr. MUNTZ protested against the inequality of the
principle of taxing the inland consumption, white they were
easing the continental consumer in every way.
Mr. SPOONER opposed the clause.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House
divided, when there appeared—

for the clause
... 24

Against it
Majority against the clause ... —l3
The clause was oensequently lost.

may say the whole world is interested, is a subject of so
much importance, that should it be deemed necessary
we doubt not that all nations would readily contribire
to carry out so useful a design, even upon the most ex-
tensive scale,

But besides this, there have been times, and those
times may come again, when hundreds of men-of-war
have been employed on the North American station ;
and we respectfully solicit the attention of the Admi-
ralty to a subject in which the highest interests of the
empire are involved.
The coasting trade of Nova Scotia, as well as the
fisheries, the great business of large portions of the
people of that province, are deeply interested in what-
ever would facilitate the approach to the harbours all
along the coast ; and the general trade with all parts of
the world which is carried on from Halifax would like-
wise feel the benefit of these well-intended suggestions,
should they be carried out, as we hope will be the case,
with the spirit and judgment that the undertaking de-
mands.
The just pride; of science, which has produced almost
a magical precision in the passage of our celebrated
steamers, is indeed humbled, when, at the moment the
voyage may be said to be completed, a barrier is sud-
denly presented to her entrance. How cheering at such
a moment would be the welcome sound of the mariners'
bell, giving confidence to the commander, and happiness
to the pasengeis ; and the splendid steamer, bursting
boldly through the fog, would afford another proof of
the power of art to overcome the obstacles to human
enterprise, and give delight and satisfaction to thousands
whose deepest interests are concern( d.

CHAINING FEMALES AGAIN AT
KINGS WIN FORD.
There are men on whom wholesome advice is entirely thrown
away, on whom even threats produce no effect, who set law,
justice, and humanity at defiance. The brutal treatment of
Eliza Price called forth from Sir J. Graham a declaration that
chaining a female was illegal, and that the party guilty of such
an outrage should or ought to be indicted. Pubic opinion con-
demns the practice, and yet, after the formal inquiry insti-
tuted by the Home Secretary into the allegations contained
in the petition of Eliza Price, and ere the public indignation
consequent on that inquiry is allayed, we have to record
another case nearly, if not quite as disgraceful, in the same
locality, and by some of the same parties. It having become
known that two girls were in the custody of Onions, the con-
stable, at his own house, an inquiry was instituted, and the
following statement was taken on the 15th inst , in the pre-
sence of a magistrate, who also directed Capt. Roberts, In-
spector of Police, to make inquiries and report to Mr.
Hatton, the chief constable of the Staffordshire police.
Margaret Perry states as follows :--My sister, Susannah
Hill, aged 14, was taken into custody by Onions, the con-
stable, on Wednesday, the 9th of July. I heard of it, and be-
tween eleven and twelve o'clock went to Onions' house and
found my sister in the back kitchen ; Onions was
at Higg's public-house; I went to him and asked him
to let my sister have a bed ; he said he had not a bed,
and if he had, he dare not put her in it. I asked him
if he would take bail for my sister's appearance, he
said he 'would not; I then left; I went to Onions' house the
following morning between eight and nine o'clock, and found
my sister in the hack kitchen with a handcuff on her wrist,
.and a chain fastened to it, the chain being fastened to the
grate. She was sitting on a stool, and had not been in bed
.all night, but chained in the kitchen. I left her. I went
-again on the Friday morning between seven and eight o'clock.
.iNly sister was then in the back kitchen, chained to the
:grate. Emma Woodhall was handcuffed to her, and both
chained to the grate. I left them there. My sister told me
she had not been washed, and asked me to take her some soap
1 and a cloth to wipe herself with. After the first night they
fl were allowed to lie on the ground upon some bags, against the
grate, with the handcuffs on and chained.
Mary Rowley states—Emma Woodhall is my sister. She is
eleven years of age, she was taken into custody by Onions on
'Thursday morning. I went to Onions' house between eleven
;and twelve on Thursday morning and found my sister with
Hill in the brewhouse. Onions said he was going to take
them to the Cross Inn, Townsend. I went with them (more
:than two miles). I saw Mr. Lea, the magistrates' clerk. There
•were no magistrates at the Cross Inn, and Onions brought
:them back to his own house. Between nine and ten the same
s(Thursday) night I went to Onions' house, and saw both the
;girls in the brewhouse. hook my sister some supper. I went the
:next (Friday) morning between 8 and 9 o'clock. No one was up
;at Onions' house. I waited till 9 o'clock before I was let in. The
!two children were sitting upon a low bench against the grate,
;they were handcuffed together and chained to the grate, they
said they hail sat there all night. There was the remains of
some fire in the grate. There was no appearance of bed or bed
'clothing. I did not see Onions; I understood he was in bed.
I remained until ten o'clock. I went with my brother to Wol-
•verhampton, more than seven miles, on Friday; Onions told
me he was going to take them there that clay. When Onions
got to the public office at Wolverhampton the magistrates
had left. He then left Wolverhampton and brought them
•to the Cross Inn, Townsend (seven miles). Onions left them
at the Cross Inn whilst he went up to Mr. Briscoe's, at Sum-
:merhill ; he was away about half an hour. He then took the
.children back to his own house and told me they were going to
the Crosss inn the next morning. On the following morning
-(Saturday) I went to Onions' house and saw the children, they
informed me they had been chained and handcuffed during all
-the previous night. I went to the Cross inn, with Onions and
-the children, we stopped there more than an hour, and then
-went to Mr. Briscoe's house, at Summerhill. We saw
:Mr. Briscoe ; he was lying on a sofa with pillows on it. Mr.
Briscoe asked the girls if they had ever been at Stafford ; he said
they must go now. Mr. Fothergill, the prosecutor, was there.
• 'There was another person at the same time at Mr. Briscoe's
:house. He was committed to Stafford by Mr. Briscoe. A police-
man took the man away to the station-house ; Onions took the
•two girls to his house, and on the way passed near to the
station-house, where they could have been left in custody of
the police. Onions told me that Mr. Briscoe ordered him
-to keep the girls in his custody till the Monday following.
I saw the two girls in the brewhouse on Saturday evening. I
went again on Sunday morning ; they were then in the brew-
:house, and said they had been chained, as usual, in the kitchen
Al night. I saw them again on Sunday evening ; they were
in the brew house. I saw them on Monday morning ; they
-were in the brewhouse. They said they had been chained all
the previous night, as usual. On Monday night the girls were
removed to the station-house. I saw Onions taking them.
He told me he was obliged to take them, as somebody had
-been telling the Stourbridge magistrates of their being at his
;house. He took them to the station-house at Brierly-hill, and
delivered them to policeman Simmonds. Simmonds told me I
Iliad better go to Stourbridge, and he would go with me. I re-
monstrated with Onions about his chaining the children. He
said he would not chain them any more so heavy. This was on
Friday. My sister complained, saying the handcuffs and chains
liurt her wrists, and asked me to name it to Onions.
This is the statement of the sisters of the unfortunate chil-
dren ; and we arc further informed that on the warrant of com-
mitment there is an endorsement, authorising Onions to detain
them in his custody till Monday; and also that on Wells, the
policeman who had charge of the man committed- by Mr.
Briscoe, asking Onions on Saturday whether the children were
committed, he said no, not at present.
Our readers will naturally inquire, with what dreadful crime
were these girls charged? Surely it must be one of fearful
magnitude !—murder, arson, or some such heavy offence. But
no, gentle reader, it's not quite so bad ; " the head and front
of their offence bath this extent—no more," that they had each
stolen coals of the value of one halfpenny ; and this in a dis-
trict where picking small coals from the pit bank is scarcely
looked upon as an offence, and of which, till of late years
scarcely any notice was taken.— Worcestershire Chronicle,

LLOYD'N SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)
LONDON, JULY 24.—Wind N. by E., light breeze and hazy.
DEAL, .TELY N.E., moderate.—Arrd. from the river
and sailed Agostina, Volum, Sydney, New South Wales; Gloriana.
Webb, Calcutta ; Mary Alice, Masterton, ditto ; Reliance, Robertson,
Ascension and Singapore ; Atalante, Murray, Africa ; Sandwich,
Mann, St. Lucia.
PLymot-Tit„TELY 23.—Wind E.—Arrd. off 22, Speculator, Pear-
son, Miramichi.
FALMOUTH, JULY 25.—Wind E., fresh breezes.—Arrd. off, Triton,
Poulson, St. Croix ; and Jonas, Havannah, both for Copenhagen ; Sa-
lamandre, Daviller, Aux Cayes for Ilavre ; Pandora, Antigua. 19.
Urania, Broden, St. Croix, for Copenhagen. 21. Mary, Porto Rico
for Bremen ; Wave, Quebec for Yarmouth ; Katherina Stewart
Forbes, ditto ; Caxton. ditto. 22. Lady Falkland, St. Jago de Cuba.
LIVERPOOL, JULY 23.—Wind E., moderate.—Arrd. Amity, Allen,
Montreal; Asenuth, Vickers, ditto. Sld. Glenroy, Blacklock, Africa;
Lady Worsley, ditto ; Llama, Partridge, ditto; Nautilus, Ward,
ditto; Agnes Sophia, Bourne, Barbadoes ; Meteor, Stephens, Bath ;
Ben Nevis, Heron, Quebec ; Albatross, Mills, ditto ; Rory O'More,
M`Master, Montreal ; Dash, Carpenter, Newfoundland ; Gazelle,
Smith, Cape de Verds ; Red Rover, Rosse, Beerod ; Ottoman, Rivctt,
Constantinople; Heroine, Mernary, Gibraltar. Arrd. off, Harvest,
Quebec; Iclare, Indies.

OFF PORTLAND, JULY 19.—Cornelia and Henrietta, Schut, Batavia
for Ainsterdam. 21. William, Porto Rico for Amsterdam.
BARNSTAPLE, JULY 22.—Arrd. G. Dobinson, Hornsby, Quebec ;
British Lady, Scott, Prince Edward's Island.
IlaisroL CHANNEL, JULY 23.—Arrd. Caroline, Brooks, Tobago.
NEWPORT, JULY 21.—Sld. Serious, Jamaica.
CLYDE, JULY 21.—Arrd. Atkinson, Bathurst ; Walter, Johnson,
Montreal. 22. Aleeste, Frazer, Trinidad; Phcenix, Kerr, St.
John's, N.B. ; Eclipse, Duncan, St. John's, N.B. ; Lord Sidi-Jacinth,
Fraser, Quebec. Sailed 20, Maclnroy, Paterson, Trinidad ; Dalmar-
nock, Burns, New Richmond. 22. Mary Ann, Young, St. John's, N.B.
W'IIITEHAVEN, JULY 22.—S1d. Sella, Corlet, Pugwash.
DunLIN, JULY 22.—Wind E.N.E.—Sid. 21. Grace Darling, Quebec.
OFF KINSALE, JULY 18.—Limeney, Messirner, Nassau, N.P.
OFF GLANDORE, JULY 19.—Asia, Gallilci, Richebucto.
OFF CAFE CLEAR, JULY 19.—.Manteo, Baker, New Orleans.
DROGHEDA, JrLY 22.—The Mary, of and from Washington, for this
port, came on shore to the southward of the bar to-day; crew and
materials saved.

SIIERRINGIIAM, JULY 23.—A headboard marked Prince of WalQs,
in gilt letters shaded in black, carved in the form of a fish, with a
thistle at the head, plated, apparently belonging to a steamer, was
picked up on the beach yesterday.

_ .
VEssELs SPOKEN WITH.—A large brig, supposed American, aban-
doned and full of water,was seen 4th inst., lat. 43 long. 50,W. of Paris,
by the Salamandre, arrived off Falmouth ; Willem, ichroeder, from
Rotterdam, off Anger; Koning, Willem 11., Van der Brugh, from
Rotterdam, June 8, lat. 6, N., lon. 22, W., both bound to Batavia, by
the Borghorst, arrived at Ilelvoet ; Ajax, Quebec to Liverpool, 16th
inst., by the Manteo, Duxbury, arrived off Cape Clear.

BRUSSELS, Jurfr 21.—The anniversary of the in-
auguration of the King was celebrated to-day with the greatest
solemnity. M. Van de Weyer will arrive here in the course of
this week, but will not immediately go to the Spa, as has been an-
nounced.

ESCAPE OF A LUNATIC.—On Wednesday morning
the inhabitants of Westbourne-street, Pimlico, were alarmed by a
man who was declaiming in the most horrib:e and blasphemous lan-
guage, and otherwise exhibiting the strongest symptoms of in-
sanity. After having attacked a truck which stood in his way, he
ran towards a drayman, who was in the act of letting a butt down
one of the cellars of the Pine-apple, and nearly knocked him into
it ; and then catching hold of a horse, began to beat it about the
head, until he was taken into custody by several policemen and
others, who providentially came up before any serious accident
occurred. It appeared that the poor fellow had only just broken
out of an asylum in the neighbourhood. He was conveyed with
the utmost difficulty to the station-house, and afterwards carried
back in a cab, under the care of a keeper, to the asylum whence
helm,: escaped.

[AI) VERTISEM ENT.] BAD HEALTH FOR TWENTY
YEARS.—IMMEDIATE RELIEF EY HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.—
Extract of a Letter from the Rev. George Prior, Curate of
Mevagh, Letterkenny, Carrygart, Ireland, May 2, 1845 :
" To Professor Holloway.—Dear Sir,—Within a short. dis-
tance of my house resides a small farmer, who, for more than
twenty years, had been in a bad state of health, and never got
but a moment's relief. Mrs. Prior procured a box of your
Pills for him, which did him so much good, that I heard him
say that for twenty years previously he never ate his food and
enjoyed it so much as since taking your Pills. Signed, George
Prior." Sold at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244,
Strand, and by almost all who sell medicines throughout the
civilised world.

THE BATHING IN HYDE PARK.—An alteration
took place yesterday in the hours during which bathing is permitted
in the Serpentine River, Hyde Park. The hours during the re-
mainder of the season will be from five to eight o'clock in the
morning, and from eight to nine o'clock in the evening.
During the sitting of the 17th the Helvetic Diet
discussed the question relative to the revision of the Federal com-
pact. A majority of eight against the expediency of discussion
caused It to be put off till next year. The principle of a total re-
vision of the compact had, therefore, only gained the concurrence
of five cantons—Berne, Arsovia, Basle (country), Glaris, and Vaud