Surrey Quarter Sessions.
The Times, 1824-04-28T00:00:00

Yesterday- the adjourned quarter sessions for the county of r rey waas hela at Reigate, before the Chairman (LortA EASTw OR),the county members, and a very large body of magistrates; 'aearly 50 were in attendance. A fler a variety of routine business had been'trainsacte,.d respecting the local arrangements of tbc county, the grand jury were sworn at one O'clock. The CITAIJnSAw congratulated them on thc trifling criminal business which they had on the present occasion to discharge at their sessionis. He also begged to take this opiortunity of renrinding then,, that sinice a late fatal event in one ofthe home counties, an ex- tension of privilege had been conterred upon local constables. On the occasion to which he alluded-the killing of Grange, the con- stable, by Mr. "ornolly, is Hertfordshire-a local constable lost Iiis life in cndeavouring to execute a nragistrate's warrant out of the particular district in which the constable was sworn to act. Be- the late act of Parliament, however, a constable was lcgally entitled to execute any warrant in any district in wuhichi the magistrate sigring such warrant had jurisdictiont, withiout reference to his (the con stable's) local authority. The returns from the various county prisons were then rut in by tie respective gaolers, and the former resolution respecting the county mragistrates' Jurisdiction, whichl was thought to clash with the local power of coommitment of the Guildford mnagistrates, was confirmed, and it was'hoped that an amicable tinderstanding would prevail between the partics before the next sessicns. A sortof cervazo.nx de frise plan for the beter s( curity of the Horse. motrger-lane prison, to be placed upon the walls, wss agreed upon in preference to the grating or caginLr (as it was called) roof which was at first intended. THE T5tEAD-WHEEL. The report of the surgeon of the Brixton House of Correction was thien put in and read, which stated, in substance, amnongst other things thatno prejudicial effect had been en:zured by tiie prisoners Fromn de operation of the particular species of labour from the tread- wfheel. The report of the visiting magistrates, to the same effect, was also read, which after the expression of that opinion, addied, that to pre- vent the females from catching cold in the interral betveen their coining off and w-orking upon the tread-wIhel, a screen was to pro- gress of construction, which would save themn from the current of air without exclqding them from the view of tlie governor. tn the motion of r.HElOLtIE SUtaNxElt, the construction of this screen was refenred to the consideration of the visiting conunittee. Mlr. BRISCOE rose to address the Clrainirais, and said that he had a specific motion to bring under their considieration. The UTrlATRNatAr._N hat is the particular nature ofvour mnotion ? . r. BrIscoE._kt is for the purpose of putting an end to thein fiiction of the tread.wheel in the caseof females, and of m1Jes in ad- vaxced age, and in eases of raptures, &c. The CHATFItLN.AI-` Is it tbe sanoe as a motio:I which was dis- posed of at a foinier Sessions ?" Mr. Bstiscoy._- No; it is dissimilar."_!1e then proceeded to develop his object, and begeed at the beginning to assure his Lordship, and the Court, that far more agreeable wouad it be to him, and to thiose feelings and retired and unobtiusive habits wlhich were colsonant with his earlier pursuits, to have abstained from en- tering upon this subject; but an imperative sense of *ublic dury compelled him to come forward and denounce the introduction of a new, painftl, illegal, and wuncoqtitutioaal mode of punishment. (A cry of " No.") He would repeat, tl,at the infliction of this odious and degrading punishment of the tread-wheel was contrary to law. No Judge had the Power to inflict it.-no Magistrate u as justified in ordering its use. Entertaining thcse opirions, and at the same time knowing how much sthey differed fromthoseof tiebodyofthe lagic- tracy to which he had the honoar to belong,lie wished h ecouldhonestly and conscientiously retrain,on tiepresentoccasion. from pres,irg the to} ic upon thleir consideration but motives of liunraiiiv-a knowv. l ge ot the prejudicial operation upon the health. particularlv o0 fe- males, from this treatment. .1r. RE-RicK rose to orde-. He said that it was a matter of no. toriety, antI the practireof thecourtsof law-he liadhinzseif, whilst acting judicially, so acted upon that practice-of applying this pu- lishilierit in sentences to hard labour. *Vhv,t nen, was the time of the Court to be wasted by the introduction of this irrelevant topic, aund in sUch improper termns? Sir TirnWAs TurTox said, that Ar. Kenrick was out of order: it was quite irregular and improper to charge any magistrate with iintendine to waste the time of the Court, istien lie was merelv swating Iiis own opinions. If hc travelledintoirrelevant niatter, then the chluirman wotrld, doubtless, interfere. (llear.) Tire CIA143A.1Ve said, that he had taken the opportunit of asking the worthy magistrate in the first instance, whetlher his intended motion was the saine as a former onie, which had been disposed of at a forner sessions; fbr if it reere, then the sribiect could riot be revived without a regular notice given a sessa'ns bufore the propostd discus- sion. Tiie worthy marristrate lad, however, said that his niotion was di6sinirlar, anti he of course allowedi him to pTeceed; but lie hoped be tvorild not introdluce irrelevant matter. .Mzr. RHOLatE SuIarNrR, M. P.. said. tl!at tire general ordler of the magistrates wlich sanctionedi the use ot' the treari-wheel could not nowe he Canvassed withlout a previous sessional notice. Ile admiitted. tire competency of any niagistrate to suggeest ztiy tiieastire to relieve any particular class from it, operation-iti that way only could a niotion be notv made in order. .MSr. DEx IsON, M. P., said, that no ng%istratehadi a fl pJrvl LIus noLicc, to attacs a system of' discip]ilie v:hich had re- ceived thc formal sanction of the magistrates acting in their judicial calvacity. He might apply hliiiseif, if' he pleased, to the conAilera, tiLn ot any part of its pi actical operation. The CLE RK of the PEACE then read the secsional oreder, whicd prohibited the introductioni or a motion upon a topic alxeady dis- posed ot; wvithout notice during the previous session;. AM r. Bn ISCOE said, that he had no desire to contravene any or!er or form of the zmagistracy; but having ha(d much experience of the evils and dlaigers of this treadi -wheel system, all lie desired wvas, to be allowed to state those evils, and point out those niischiefb. he was in a condition to denmonstrate themu, and to show that several prison ers had loot their health, and some their lives, by the tread-wheel, M hy was he, when he pled-ed hi:nself to make out suach facts, to be met by technicalities? But if they wrantedl to crush all inquiry, and to prevent hitii front statintu his opiniosks, and the pain- ful tacts upon which lie had for ned thiem, titen, of coucr.ae, as an in- dividual magistrate, he rmust sit dowii and obey an authority which he had not the power to resist. At the request of the CIuaItsMAN, Mr. BacscoE repeated the object of his motion. DMr. RADI.E JACRSOy said that it was painful to the m.gis. tracy to be placed itn the situation iii whichi the w-orthv magtste had put tihem-they were cast into-thie alternative of violatingI es_ siotial order, or pertuiitting a genitleman to enter into a discourse cal- culated to send forth pathetic tories, of the facts of which they did uot believe a single one, in the way in whiich they were coloured. He would be the last inan to limit any gentleman's mode of proceed ing in tirgitg 1is particular means ; and if thc Worthy magis trate inerely intended to recommend soine qualfication or restriction oi the infliction of the tread-mill,-in cases of pregnant wonien,tor instance, or cascs of sickness.-why then lie was pertectly competent to make soch a proposition ; buit lie could not contraverae the general proposition which they had already sanctioned. It was mon- strous to hear such statemtents imputed tothe opt-ration of the tread- mill, awhen, ai'ter the most mature atter,tion to the investigation of the snabject, it was proved that those persons who wvere exposed to it, came out with itcreaseel health, with increased morals, and with inier=ased conmfort. (Hcar, hiear.) If tihe wortly magistrate on the present Occasion merely meant to give a notice for the next session, then l.t it stand; for he a-as far fiorn entertaining any desire to crush iniquiry, bht they must adhtiere to their established rules and orders. (Ilear.) The CHAIRasAN: put it to tbe catndour of the worthv maitistrate, wAhether lie would propose, witnout noti-ce, a motion directly opposed to a positive order of the court. Mr. BtISCoE repeated that he had no desire to contravene anv order: aU he wanted was to state facts; and as a doubt had been cast upon the injurious effects which he ascibed to the tread-wheel why not allow him to show, and in their owin prison, too-in that LoUFe of correction tnore intmiediately under their own eye-the practices which had taken place ? WVas it not a fact that in Brixton men and women had been handcuffed and tied to tite wheel ? " I ask," conti-. nued Air. Briscoe, " yotur gaoler, who is now present, whether the fact be not so?" (Considerable murm4urs.) MIr. H. TstowERS said, that though he differed toto ew!o upon principle from the worthy magistrate, stiU he thought the freedom of ebate ought hot to be shackled. Iset a proper notice be given, and the subject theti formally discussed. The CDAitAI raia tbat that would be the prop-r course, i. BA.R1SCOE.-I can only bow to the decision of the Ccurt, and ton?ne myself it present to give a notice of a wside and general na- te,tbat will at the ensuing sessions submit tha whole question to the roisideratiort of the Court; and at thesame time I think It w b petent for me to give direct instances of the ill .bs whitich have sprung frorn a practice full of cruelty in its opera- Jye3 the borro here at a magistrate, and having seen with my own this system of cruelty, I cannot silertly assent to Air. KEN tcg..If the worthy magistrate means to bring for- dwar a charge of cruelty, we are, I think, boand to hear him. If he does not mean to charge any body with such acts, then he is irre- gular ininsinuatirgso much. (Hear,hear.) Ir. DE:; , 5X--Here is a grave charge aginst onr own gaoler. e (Mr. Briscoe) says, these cruelties have been practised in our ouse of Correction: -before we separate we ought to examine into acli a chiarge. WVhere is the Keeper, Mr re? r. TROTTErx entirely concurred with the hon. member, that it Wal ipeative not to allow such a charge to go forthfor one moment with ao t in The public ought not f'r an instant to be left i r eeinpre7sion which could, he was convinced, upon Th~ r, emetoved, (Fiear, hear.) v ea Gaolerwas loudlycalled for by several magistrates, and se- Mr. BCesloudly catledon MUr. Briscoe to specify his charge. impute d RISCOE claimed a fair coastruction for his words: he had hbe? cruelty to the gaoler. It might be that the gaoler did what i(mputef to him in the strict and imperative discharge of his duty. (Considerable murmurs from the bench of magistrates.) It Si-Ls to the system which they tolerated, and not tothe individual obliged to work it, that he imputed cruelty, and, as a mna-istrate, t'elt it h uy to detcribe it as such, in the hope of their applying a re- med. t A loud cry of " State our facts.") He wanted to state hut tbey interrupted him when in the act of doing so. There hWerewo cases in the Brixton prison, in whici individluals had been chatnedi to the whe l from a quarter to eight o'clock until twelve lock except daring their breakfast-time. Mtlr. C -v\FOftD.-lake a charge in a tangible shape, and then caIn bBe met: or else take time for that ourpose. Ir. Bs.1 -HE.ere are facts of cliaining to the wheel-do you Ii OLXE Su{SrER.-Such facts might exist, and yetnot be cruel, ut necessary aad proper. Ir. KxEn cx_I believe, in the instances alluded to, they were high ly proper. AIr. HSOLSeE SU5I5ER.-T believe so, too. A cry of" ' Name the cases" being repeated, M r. ~R5CoE said, I speak from recollection merely; but I t he name of ne was WVilson and the other Naggett, or some stuch namnet. t m3y be wrong in the names, but the fact cannot be dSeni'e&It was admitted to me by the officers of the prison, and byhat sicgnai fiesthetname? (An expression of dissent was here given Of TthCeCAreAL said, thut it appeared to be the general opinion of the Court that wht in the face of it was represented to be an act Of cruelty, ought not to be one moment passed over witlhout inquiry. (Loudcries of '" Hear.") The Court was, therefore, now anxious to hear the specific charge of cruel:y which the worthy ma8istrate meant to bring forward. They were anxious both to satisfy them- elves and also thepublic, without delavy upon such amatter. Hi truwted% therefore, the worthy magistrate would state the particulat ca-se of crueltv which he conceived to have been committed. (Loud c'ries of' " Wlar.") A lr. BRIscoE._I have mentioned the facts of the chaining to the wheel to Air. Green, the gaoler, they were told me by the prisoners themselves, in the presence of the turnkeys and medical attendants; they wFejnoe deniel, but, on the contrary, admitted both by the matron _.(i the gaoler: they said, however, it was done rarely. The Cz.vrRatAy.-llrill the worthy magistrates state the spe- cific eases ? 3ir. BRscoE*.-Appointa committee of magistrates, and I shall communickate to them all theinformation Ipossess. (Acryof "No.") lir. RExsricK.You have made a charge, why not state it spe- cifleall y,? .Mr. TROTTEtL-PriOr to any thing being done, lie ought tc state names, and then the Governor could be asked if the stateniet were true. The CAI5rnMArA.-11hy not name the instances of particular ag- gravation to which you allude ? Mr. BRItscoE._r ant really asked for these particular instances unprepared. I have thie depositions of the parties at liome, and for- got to bring themn but can the specific act of chaining prisoners to the wheels be denied? (lurmurs.) The C stIAr,yl.-.Tlielearned niagistratedoes not seem to think that he do" an injustice to individuals, to the gaoler, to the whole bench of nmazistrates, who supcrintend the management of the pri- sons, to state charges of cruelty generally, and to abstain from the only specification which would enable any body to meet them. ( Hear, hcar.) Such charges rtust be serious to all nien of feeling; therefore they ought not to be made lightly, nor until the person tnaking them is ready to support them by evidence. (Loud cries .lr. BOLIAND.-I thought I heard the lion. magistrate say, that e ad two chtrges see icay of a cruel nature to bring forward. Do I now understand him to nmean that it is of no importance to specify particulars ? Can that be fair conduct towards the Court ?- :Ir. BRIscoE._I entirely concur with the noble Chairman, that no man should bring forward a charze without being ready to prove it. But when I have accidentallv left these particular docu- ments at homne. do I not go far enough'for the purpose of support- ing the observa'tion which I made upon them, by telling you, that I cook the statements of the sufferers in the presence of tdie turnkeys, the matron, and the medical atten(lant, and add, that they admitted the fa:t ? Arc not sonie of these persons here to be interrogated upon the subject ? The CIIAIR,,IAN.,I think you said their names were Iilson and Nazgett ? dlr. fmBtfscoE.-I think so; but I speak merely from menory. The only inuportant fact, however, for the ends of substantial justice, be the names right or wrong, is the chaining of prisoners to the tread.wheel sanctioned in the prison ? I repeat, the fact has been admitted to ine. ! AIr. COLES.-I am anxious that the precise period alluded to should be specified. ;Ir. BRIsCOE...r shall be readv to give all these particulars at the adjournment dav, at Newington. ,Ir. HOLME SUMYIER.-'l'hat cannot bedone; for the adjourn- mente.day i. solely for cririinal business. Mr. CRAWFoRD.-Tlie worthy magistrate has brought forward a charge, and most unaccountably left at home the papers which he says will support lt. A Magaistrate, whose name we could not learn, said, that the epi. theos illegal and cruel had been used, and these either applied to the acts of the Court, or the governor of their prison. In either ease thev ought not to separate before such an imputation was disposed of. ,Ir. BRIscoE.-r repeat that I used the words with reference to the system-they are the very werds of the reverend ChairmaR of the Northallerton Sessions in Yorkshire. Mr. HOLUESUMtNER.-The facts affirmed by Mr. Briscoe are of a two-fold nature-they may afftect the Court, or the gaoler, or beth. Now, from the gesture of some of the worthy magistrates, and his own concurrent recollection, he believed his lion. friend was right in the names of the two cases he had alluded to-would it not then be easy to refer at once to the Governor's books, and see what was the special entry tlhere? (Hear, hear.) 'rhevi ought to oppose no technical difficulty to the clearing up of such a charge. (Hear.) MIr.DENIsoN and several other Magistrates concurred in opinion, that in the inquiry respecting so grave a charge, all teclnical femis ought to be laId aside. Ilile Governor'X book was then produced, fro.n whieh it appeared that .James Naggett and Thomas Wilson were, on the 22d of De- cen.ber last, handcufifed,and attached in that state to the tread-wheel. Mlr. Green, the Governor, eas then called for, and he iummediately appeared. The CItAirtmAx askeA IMr. Briscoe if these were the two cases to wbich he alluded-were they soldiers ? blr. BsIscoE said, he believed they were, and that circumstance confirmed hun in the recollectinmi that these were the individuals. He repeated, that he applied the epithet " cruel" to thie practice, and not to the (Goecrnor, who might have acted so from an impres. sion of necessary severity in the administrationi of tlhe power confided to him. He (-lr. Bri~coe) psotested against this poxver of chaining to the wheel-it was a practice of a most objectionable nature. The ClAirtittacNax-We have now, by referring to the entry into the book. given you every assistance to explain yourcharge. (Hear.) Mtr. BntsooE.-I believe these are the two cases I meant, and being soldiers, 1 consider a grest aggravation of the particular act of severity; for if there were any persons who ought not to be wantonlv put to shanlc, they were those who had risked their lives in tbeir coun try's service, and whlo wert attachled to a prefession in which it was particularly desirable that a sense of slianne and of honiour should br as mnuch as powssible inculcated. Mlr. fiOL3IE SiT3MNER.-Now is the time for you to state your objection to the conduct ot AIr. Green, the governor. .ir. BlitscoE.-Have I net already said, that I impugn the sys- tem. anti not the individual ? The CeAlRxMAX.-But are wenot now inquiring simply into mat- ters of fact, and not discussing points of feeling P mr. Birscox.-I cannot state the facts in any other manner at this ir*oment than I have stated them. Mr. Co uRTiENAY said that the original object of the worthy ma. gistrate appeared to lhave reference to the treatment of female prison. irS; bat he had incidentally made this charge of cruelty respecti.ig the.two soldlers: the females were not soldiers. After a long conversation upon the point of form, and the partict- lar.mode ef proceeding which the imputation called for, MIr. LETT suggested that the entry in the book should be read to the Governor, and that he should then be called upon to explain the case. Mr. TROTTER begged to ask the hon. magistrate if, when he discovered what lie thouyht to be this cruel conductof the Gover- nor, it had occurred to hlim to hare dematided any explanation of the particulars from .l r. Green. Mr. BRISCOE begged again and again to state, that he had brought no distinct charge aucatust any individual. He was stating irt he believed to be the illegality' and evil 0o' the systern itself; ywss oputon was conbtroverted, and he was called upon for facts; at the instant this chaining t7 the wheel occurred to him, atid he tnen. tioned itto illustratehs vieof thesystemwhichheso much de- precated. As a proot that he did not crntemplate to m sake this the ground-work of a specific charge, he had come unprepared with the particular depositions wllich were in his possession. He merely s; ated those facts when ma6istrates around hin excaimed No,a" when he descanted u: on the cruelty of the system itself. Air. 'IuItRS'R said that he was one of the magistrates who had said - No- at the rime, and he stUIl denied that unnecessary severity or cruelty had been inflieted in their gaol. rMr. Green (the Governor of the Brixton House of Correction), being loutUy called upon to explain the case of the two soldiers al- luth d to, said that they had become very refractory, had refused to wv;ork upon the wheel, and cut up all their bedthings. One of them had assaulted him so severely aS nearly to break one of his fingers and the other had given one of the turnkeys a most dangerous .ick. iUIr. H OL UE S UMS R--" d GreitZ, you told nme somiething more at the time, why do you not now repeat it ?" DZr. Green added, that when he was about to set out to Guild. fofd to attend the sessions, he was apprised in the prison, that the moment of his departure was fixed upon for a general disturbance in the gaol, at the head of which were to be zhe two soldiers. Ott their reftusal to work, he had them put into solitary confinement: while there, they cut up their blankets, and were of courge obligeud to sleep on the iron ; they were afterwards handcuffed, and attacbed to the tread-mill, when, after a short time, they became quiet and consent- ed to work. These soldiers were the most troublesome of all the pr'son ininates .'ls o HO Sn.Mxwa repeated what the Governor had told him at the time of thismatter, in nearly the same words as those iased by jUr. G.een in his descripition; and said, that so far from thinking the treatment of these soldiers cruel, he thought it Proper, and that it was the substantial duty of the Governor to in9 ict it, or elso be wobTd hg.ve mprOwi.ed his dut. (I'ee.r, hea|r.) Mr. CnsAwromx.-Did Mr. Brisce ask you the eauSe of this particular pinishment? Alr. Green.-Not. until after he had taken the depositions of the prisoners. 31r. TIo'TTET.-Before whonr were the depositions swoin? Mr. utREEv.-_BefbreAr. Briscoehirmself. Air. BxtiscoE.-I took their statements openly, as I was entitled to do. The CuATRMi3x said, that after the explanation which bad been given relative to the particular transaction, he trusted 31r. Btiscoe would feel that the severity used became necessary, and was of course iustifiable: and that as to the general question, he would postpone it, to give a regular notice. iUr. KENsRICx thought the Court ought to be obliged to MIr. Briscoe for putting the matter into a train of investigation: but that being done, he thought it incumnbent utpon them in justifica- tion of their officer, and for the information of the public, to move a resolution declaring that such a charge had been brought agairst Mir. Green, had been insestigated and reported, and hisconduct sanction- ed and approved. (Cries of hear.) AMr. BRISCOE again disclaiuedhavingbrouglitanyspecificcharge against the individual. AIr. HOL:rE SuMtNER said, that if he had not done so, he had done worse, by throwing out an insinuation of cruelty which couid not fail to be prejudicial to the individual,without putting it forth in that tangible shape in which it might be met and refuted. This, too, was done in the face of the individual, of the magistrates, and, lie might add, of the public; for possibly there were those present (casting his eye towards the reporters at the table) who were there engaged in writing what passed for the information of the public throLghtlie newsnavers to-morrow, and who would be converingthis vague and unjustifiable mode of imputation to the world. (Cries of ;' Hear.") If the worthy magistrate disclaimed having intended to make any charge, all he could say was, that then his course of pro- ceeding became infinitely more un just. A long conversation then took piace amnong the magistrates, after which it was determined that a justificatory resolution should be passed for the Governor's, conduct in the particular instance, and Mr. RANDLE .JACRSON thought the wording of it should bestrong. Air. KEVRICK then submtted such a resolution, and it was se- conded by Air. Denison: the words "1 a charge ot cruelty bavina been brought," were again objected to by Mlr. Briscoe, as creating an assumption which was not the fact. This led again to a wann conversation, in which several magistrates insisted that Mr. Briscoe's name should be inserted, as having brought the charge. Sir THOStAS TURTON said, that really, in the confused noise of this discussion, it was difficult to collect what they were about. Although he entirely differed from Air. Briscoe in the princi- ple upon which he went, yet he must say, that that gen. tleman was not well treated this day by his brother ma- gistrates, in the impetuosity of their course of proceeding towards him. They said he lhad brouglht a charge against an individual- he disclainiedhaving done so; yet the introduction, of the word charge was uncourteously persevered in. He wished that nothing personal should be mixed up in their proceedings, and that some more courtesy was observed. He kave Air. Briscoe the fullest credit fox the purity and humanity of his motives; and it was in earlylife, and in the onset of men's public acts, that such zeal was gencrally evinced by well-meaning men, and warmly acted upon, until time tempered their enthusiasm. Ouglitnot, then,seine consideration be shown to the individual ? Whatmotivehad Dlr. Briscoe to take this time. thi trouble, this unplis .nt task of visitingprisons-whatmotivecouldhm have bat one of humanity? (Hear, hear.) He had a right to visit their prisons as a magistrate-he had a right, if he pleased, to com- plain of their system of managing them. When he said this, hc repeated that he entirelv differed from Dtr. Briseoe's view of the tre,d-wheelpunishmenj.; bu,t lie did not, therefore, think that the magistrate who entertained different opinions from him upon such a topic,was to be clamoured against-to be Catcchized--to be interrogated -in the discharge ot his duty. (Some murniurs.) Heassured his hon friends that he was too old a stager to be interrupted. (lAlaugh.) He condemned the vociferous interruption which the worthy magis- trate had sustained, and the attempt to force upon him a charge which he insisted lie never intended to make. (A cry of " No.") He would say yes, and add, that upoin his honour, M1r. Bris. coe had b.en set down in that way. From the moment he commenced, lie was interrupted by interlocutory demands to state his instances, to slhape hi!s charges. Such conduct he must most unequivocally condemn. (Hear, bear, from AMr. Briscoe). In conclusion, he would suggest, that in the proposed resolution, the word " charg'e" be onitted,and " allegation" inserted in its tstead. After some further conversation upon the amended word, it was agreed to as suggested by Sir Thomas Turton, and then carried. M1r. BRISCOE then gave a fornal notice, that he would bring the whole question of the tread-mnill before the Court at the ensuing ses- sions. It was a mode of punishment, he reniarked, more objec- tionable, both in principle and in its liability to abuse, than any other whici the wit or ingenuity of IDan had been able to devise on anv former occasion. The Court then proceeded to dispose of the ordinary county busi- ness. The discussion respecting the tread-wheel excited considera- ble interest, and the Couirt was much crowded throughout the day. SURRI?EY QUAlRTER SESSIOJVS.