The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-03-09 00:00:00

kit& WAY AFFAIRS.

The Paikrate;Chesteri 'and Birkenhead Railway Bill
has passed the Standing Orders.
The Manchester and Southampton railway bill has been
thrown by the committee on standing orders.
The portion of the Newcastle and Berwick line betweefi
Newcastlek and Morpeth_was opened on Monday.
At the Meeting of the Thames Tunnel proprietors it
Was stated that uegotia ions for selling it to a railway, had
storytor,fclav

Mr. James Walter, the able-Liverpool correspondent of
the Maiming Herald, has been appointed superintendent of
the South Eastern and Dover Railway.
At a meeting of the shareholders in the London and
Manchester (Remington's) line, held on Saturday, a mo-
tion was made for dissolution, but not carried.
The first sod of the Waterford and Limerick railway
was cut last Tuesday, near Caher, by the Earl of Glen-
gall.

On Saturday, at an extraordinary general meeting of
the Birkenhead and Chester railway proprietors, the bill
for incorporating the line with the Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire and Cheshire Junction was agreed to by the share-
holders.

At a meeting of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Company on Friday, there was a majority in favour of the
directors; that is, against the running of the Sunday
trains. The numbers on the division will not be known
for a day or two._

ROBBERY OF. RAILWAY SCRIP.—The police have re-
ceived information that a robbery of one- hundred and
thirty scrip shares, in the Worcester, Warwick, and Rugby
Company, had been effected' from the office of Messrs.
Oldaker, Pershore, Worcestershire. The numbers are all
between 9041 and 26,020.
WIDENING OF THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER
RAILWAY.—The works for widening this line, from the
point where it leaves the Olive Mount cutting to the point
where the new•Runcorn and Warrington Branch is to turn
off at Huyton, are now in progress. The object is to
form four lines of railway instead of two, and for this
purpose the Broad Green embankment will be made as
wide again as it is at present, and all the other works will
be increased in proportion.
So uTn -E ASTERN.—Messrs. Golderand Lucas have con-
tracted for three hundred houses to be built at Ashford,
seventy-two to be finished by the end of July next. The
carrying out of the horno or jetty, at the extremity of the
Folkestone harbour, has caused the sea to encroach on the
East Cliff, and to wash away large quantities of beach and
sand near Copt Point. The wreck of a ship has been dis-
covered, supposed to be the Grantham East Indiaman,
1500 tons, wrecked there about 110 years since. She was
laden with a general cargo.
An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders
in the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction
Railway, was held at the Clarendon Rooms on Saturday.
The drafts of the following bills were submitted to, the
meeting and agreed to :-Ist, to enable the Company to
make a deviation in their line from Chester to near Hels-
ley, the deviation to Warrington having been abandoned
in consequence of the directors not being able to make
terms with the Grand Junction Company ;-2d, to incor-
porate the Company with the Chester and Birkenhead
line ; and, 3d, to take an interest in the Mold Railway to
the extent of £20,000.
RAILWAY TRAVELLING AND COACH TRAVELLING.—
Upon referring to the time-bills of the old coaches in
their high and palmy days, before railways were con-
structed, we are struck by the vast reform which has
been achieved, and the immense advantages which the
public have derived by the establishment of railways. It
is worth while to compare the existing charges by railway,
and those which were imposed upon travellers by the
"fast coaches " between London and Birmingham.
The charge by the old coaches for each inside pas-
senger was 425., and each outsider, 215., and the
journey occupied the entire day—that is, from six in
the morning until eight or nine at night. What is

the cost at present ? The first-class fare Is 205., and the
second class 145., being a saving of money of upwards of
one half on the first class, and of time eight or nine hours
out of twelve. But it must be borne in mind, that in our
calculations we have made no allowances for expenses on
the road—expenses which, under the old coach system,
never could be calculated upon with accuracy before-
hand. There were the guard and coachman to be satis-
fied—all most voracious pikes—and there were sundry
breakfasts and luncheons, and dinners on the road, all
which expenses are entirely avoided now ! But this ad-
vantage is not all. A commercial man may run down
from London to Birmingham and return the same day
for 245.

RAILWAY MEETINGS.—Detailed reports of progress
of the works, of negotiations with other companies, and
of intentions, are given by the Great Northern. From
London to untingdon is to be opened in July, 1849; to
Peterborough in November, 1849. Mr. Brassey will lose
£5OOO per month if he fail, and gain that sum per month
if he accomplish the feat. We are glad to see the hand
of alliance offered to their neighbours on all sides. The
report will repay attentive perusal.—Discord so prevailed
at the meeting of the Birmingham and Oxford Junction,
that it was adjourned for a fortnight.—The Birmingham,
Wolverhampton, and Dudley, in reporting progress with
their contracts, announce that their line is to be on the
double gauge. If Parliament will not give leave this year,
they will try again and again until they get it.—The
Bristol and Exeter divide their usual per tentage per
annum of 41 on paid up capital.—At last the atmospheric
has been tried on the South Dev,,,, mid the success of
the experiment reported to the ' elf yearl meeting ,A
dividend of 5 per cent. on the capital ar ing from the
traffic of the North British ann alkeit Branch was
declared.—At.the half yearly meeting of the North Bri-
tish, it was stated that Mr. Hudson's second offer to lease
the line at 8 per cent. in perpetuity had been rejected by
the directors.—The East and West Yorkshire directors
offered to amalgamate with the Leeds and Thirsk on

equal terms, which the latter have accepted, but the
meeting postponed the decision. —The North Wales
meeting was unsatisfactory : no information on future
prospects could be given. Disputes on debts and liabi-
lities were reported to exist.—Notwithstanding the aug
mentation of capital, the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock,
and Ayr declare a dividend of 7 per cent. per annum.—
Thus early after its opening, the receipts enable the
Furness to pay a dividend of 4 per cent. per annum.—
Railway Chronicle.

THE BENCH AND THE BAR.
DISTRICT COURT OF BANKRUPTCY
IM RE STOCKDALE AND ANOTHER.

This important- case has come to a close, so far as re-
gards the Liverpool District Court. On Thursday Mr.
Norris, on the part of Thomas Stockdale, stated, as against
the bankruptcy, that there was no sufficient petitioning
debt to support the bankruptcy, or acts of bankruptcy to
support it at the time; and, thirdly, that the fiat had
been issued against good faith, and could not be supported
in a court of review. An act of bankruptcy had. indeed,
been proved against Mr. John Stockdale, but nothing of
the kind had been proved against the father. On the
other hand, Mr. Harvey contended that the conjoint acts
of the parties proved an act of bankruptcy.
On Friday, Mr, Commissioner Perry delivered his de-
cision at great length. It was to the effect that the bank-
ruptcy of John Stockdale was admitted, and that, as re-
garded Thomas, the father, he had committed an act of
bankruptcy by absenting himself from his place of busi-
ness and not returning. There had besides been a delivery
of palm oil, subsequent to the 17th February, to one party,
and this was admitted by Mr. Norris to be a fraudulent
preference on the face of the depositions. He considered
himself bound to confirm the adjudication.
Mr. Norris and Mr. Falcon each thanked the learned
commissioner for the attention which lie had given to the
Case, and the proceedings ended.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, MONDAY
SHARPE V. TAYLOR.

This was a suit to- recover the plaintiff's share in the
earnings and proceeds of sale of an American ship, called
the Victoria, which was strands d TIP9M T .Ivr.rntinl in 1A2.1

..••• • ucuLautllll, .111111-Cl/1111-Ull
at their expense. The ship was afterwards sold in America,
under circumstances which showed, according to the case

been before the Master, and it N%as contended, on belialf
of thn +LAI r‘rd..ccol+ fat. rd +hp chin did not

,'cted to I

ived some ad-

Merl' Lillll WIII.IIL, LUG
vantage from the ship subsequently to the alleged sale.
The defendant, on the other hand, insisted that the plain-
tiff had, adopted the sale and was bound by it. J udgn►ent

ARCHES- COURT,

TVEFADAY

TilE COVNTE.SA Or DYSART EARL OF DYSAILT.
Sir Herbert Jenner Vustgave judgment in this case. It
was an appeal from the.decisioa. of. the Learned Judge of
the Consistory Court of-London in a suit for restitution of
conjugal rights, brought by the Earl against the Countess
of Dysart,_iu which a charge of cruelty Was set up against

his Lordship as a . defence to . the . suit. The Learned
Judge of the Court below (Dr. Lushington) was of opinion
that the plea of Lady Dysart was not established, and that
she was bound to. return to cohabitation.• - Against that
decision the present appeal was brought; and, in pro-

mat minuteness into the ficts the ease—which have
more than once been laid., in extenso, before the public.
i'lw Learned Judge concluded by saving that he felt

grant a separation betiwen the Earl and Countess of
Dysart, • as praYt,d by the latter.--:Notice of appeal was
then given on behalf of the Earl. ' •

The judges arrived at York ori Saturday

n the Vice-Ch,

,neellor's Court; on

was giver

tiff belongs to Liverpool. If was a bill filed by tne pituu-
tiff, alleging that the defendant had surreptitiously and
fraudulently obtained copies of his account% by bribing hi 4
clerk. The bill prayed that the plaintiff might be re-
- - - • • ..% cm. tilt, 41114 R

Lig no proof of

it intention to use the accounts, and

strained trunt publishing sum
of the suit. His Honour• held t.,at ther
the defendant's prest, _,,tiOn to use
dismissed the bill with costs.
LIBEL.—GIMIONS Lt. BELLERDY. AND ANOTHER.
• -1 1-..sf.re Mr. Justice Patteson and a
Monday. The.plaintiff
-chant at Stamford:

This case w

olflBhir

3f Sept:: last a Ritr?grap!'

pren-

who congregated there in

,nsidCrable

LtligLa ; the

in question' wint

-hovie, and w.as generally 11(.4.d.up to tiie rt

riili-atiotiof the

le, and

On question was an exceedingly well-conaueied
Awe frequented by tome of the lost respectable men in

March 1, 1147.

•
the town, but that since the publication of the article is
question, the plaintiff's business had beeiventrrely broken
up, and the place in question shut ; the parties who Were
accustomed to frequent the same having cleaned td do so
for the future, on account of the notoriety given- to the
place by the paragraph in•question. The lefendants, in
support of their plea of justification, put the chief .siver-
intendent of police of Stamford, and some of his company,
into the box. Their evidence, however, proved that it
was one of the best conducted places in Stamford. Many
other persons were called, but failed to establish that the
house of the plaintiff was conducted less resr'eetably than
any other public-house in Stamford.—Mr. JustieelPitte-
son, in summing up, said there was no doubt the matter
charged was libellous ; the only question would be, whether
the averments in the plea were made out.—The jury, after
a short consultation, returned a verdict in favour of the
plaintiff.—Damages,
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY.---.-LOrd Bro'ugham's
bill to amend the law of bankruptcy and insolvenCy, which
was read a first time on Monday, has just been, printed.
It contained 27 provisions, and it is proposed to repeal
the jurisdiction of the court of bankruptcy and.the district
courts of bankruptcy ; to abolish. the court ofreview, and
to reduce the number of commissioners'. In future, the
judges of the small debts courts in the country; 'with cer-
tain exceptions, are to have jurisdiction in matters of in-
solvency, but the insolvent debtors' court is .to have. jurie-
diction in the several counties of Middlesex, Hertford,
Kent,- Surrey, Sussex, Hants, Oxford, Buckingham,
Bucks, Bedford, Northampton, Huntingdon: Cambridge,.
Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. There is a provision-in the
act to give a protection from arrest on the filing a petition
by'granting an interim order. Hitherto the court has had
no power to entertain a petition until a person was in
custody, but now it is proposed to give a similar. power to
the one at present exercised by the court' of bankruptcy.
The court of review is about to be abolished, as' arse •suh-
division courts, and appeals are to be made in certain
cases to the Lord Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor, which is
rather an expensive mode of proceeding. The commis-
sioner acting under the fiat is to decide on matters before
him. As vacancies occur, the commissioners, in London
are to be reduced from six to three, and in the-country to
nine. Provision is made for the registrars of. the court,
and in order to carry out the intended act rules are to be
framed by the insolvent debtors' court, and to be sanc-
tioned by the lord chancellor. Such are the principal
features of the bill, which is entitled "An Act to repeal
the Jurisdiction of Her Majesty's Court of Bankruptcy
and . District Courts of Bankruptcy, in matters of Insol-
vency,to abolish the Court of Review, and to reduee.tho
number of Commissioners." '

LAW AND JUSTICE.-At a trial, touching some railway
matter, the following instructive dialogue is reported-to
have taken place a few days since, at the Drogheda Spring
Assizes :—" His lordship then referred to the opinions, of
Sir Thomas Wilde and Baron Rolfe, in recent cases, and
said that the present action must be guided by those au-
thorities. The jury, he therefore thought, ought to find a,
verdict for the defendant. The jury then asked leave to
retire, as a difference of opinion existed among them.—
Mr. Justice Perrin said the case rested on a question of
law, and on such questions the jury should be directed by.
the court ; but if they wished to consider the case further,
they had better retire. After an absence of a quarter of
an hour the jury returned.—One of the jury : My lord, I.
am deputed by the jury to ask your lordship whether it be
a question of law or a question of justice that the jury are
called upon to decide ? Mr. Justice Perrin : Law ; I told
you so. Juror_: There is a difference of opinion between
us on this subject as to what is justice; for if we were at
liberty to consider the honesty of the case, we could not
agree to a verdict for the defendant.—Another Juror : Is
it by justice or law we are to go, my lord ? Mr. Justice
Perrin : It is a question of law, and it is the duty of the
jury to bow to the court on a question of law. Juror:
We bow to your lordship. Mr. Justice Perrin: If I am
wrong my decision can be set right. The jury then found,
as directed, a verdict for the defendant. The counsel fur
the plaintiff shortly afterwards tendered a bill of excepti-
ons, which was received by his lordship." Two points in
the foregoing strike us with remarkable force. The first
is the distinction set up between " law and justice.'.' The
second is, the admirable calmness and coolness with which
the Judge says, " If I am wrong my decision can be set
right. But at what cost, my lord, to the unhappy liti-
gants ? Who will get the oyster and who the shell in the
farther prosecution of the case ?

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

.ERPOOL NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE,

On Wednesday the great national steeple chase carne
off at Aintree, in presence of an immense concourse of
spectators, numbering many thousands.
The sport of the day commenced with the flat race,
with 12 starters, Idolatry being the only exception. As
soon as the word "Go" was given, Brown Fly led the way
at a tremendous pace, followed by Nottingham and Lady
Lurewell, Tom Tough lying near by rounding the course,
Brown Fly gave way, Tom coming closer, and eventually
running at a slapping pace in third place to the distance
chair, where he gave way, Nottingham here began to race,
and Lady Lurewell, anxious to reach the post, made the
attempt too soon and lost the chance. Brown Fly also
made an attempt, but could not reach the wished-for post
in time, finishing third, Jovial second, Nottingham first.
Won by a length.

---
Now to the steeple chase. Twenty-eight horses came to
the post and started, ran, and not a single accident occur-
red, barring one mare, who "spilt" her rider. She led
the first time round, taking every leap admirably. The 2nd
time round she, disappeared. At starting the whole lot
got`awaY well, clearing everything that cthne in their way,
Red Lancer making play at a tremendous pace closely
followed by the Roarer and Pioneer. The first tune rot's('
all looked well, and every one in good places with two el" ceptions, the horse without the rider and
Lassie, who came up last, but doing work. At the last
push Matthew shewed himself in front, easily defeating
St. Leger second, and Jerry third. Jerry ran well.