The Sun. — 1844-11-25 (London, England)

CRIMINAL COURT.—(THIS BAY.) The first session of the present Mayoralty was corn" roomed this morning at the Old Bailey.. Precisely at tea o'clock, the Right Hrln. the Lord Mayor attended by his chaplain, Mich:m:l Gibbs, A.M., ~ vicar of Christ Church ; Aldermen H. Hughes, Kelly, Hooper, Marshall, Sheriff Sidney, and Under-Sheriffs Martin and Ashurst entered, and the Court was opened in the usual form.  lhe names of the grand jury were then called over, and they being sworn, The RECORDER then proceeded to deliver his charge. lie said that the charges in thepresent calendar, although nut numerous—it containing only 118 names—at the same time, comprehended several charges of the most serious and important character. Many of them were charges of violence to the person. No less than ten for cutting and wounding with intent to do some grievous bodily harm ; seventeen of larceny from the person, ee" companied, more or less, with 'violence ; two of ruin' slaughter, and one of murder. All these cases were of serious character, but the facts connected with them were in general clear and sufficiently distinct, and not involving any question of law on which it would be necessary le! him to address them. Their attention would be principally directed to the question of fact, what credibility should be given to the witnesses, and how far the cow Meting evidence should be believed. With regard to the charge of murder, he did not think it convenient, nor would it answer any useful purpose, to advert to it, or examine its details. They would give it their due and cautious attention. With regard to one of the charges of manslaughter, which was involved in considerable obscurity—a charge against a husband, a professional man —it behoved them to sift the evidence well, and before they returned a verdict of manslaughter, to feel assured that there were really good grounds for their so doing. There were two other charges to which it might be expected that be should allude—he meant those which related to offences of a foul and unnatural character ; but he was sure they would spare the Court any reference to such infamous cases, as the great probability was, that the facts themselves would be amply sufficient to guide their opinions. The remaining cases in the calendar did not require any pa' ticuita notice, but it was with regret he stated that there was one case of manslaughter, to which he could not properly refer, as the depositions were transmitted just before the sitting of the Court that morning. The proper officer to have sent them In might have done so several days before, but he, with a culpable procrastination, had deferred the transmission of them till the last hour allowed by Jew: Had they been delayed a little longer, the Court would have felt it its duty to impose a fine upon the offending party. The Learned Recorder then adverted to the general duties of the grand jury, and concluded thus-With these remarks he would leave the gentlemen of the grand jury to the discharge of their duties, but he would add, that if anything should arise, in the course of their proceedings, to call for the assistance of the Court, it would be readily granted them. They might always refer to the officer appointed to assist, and with these few words he would dismiss them. The grand jury then retired.  NEW PUBLIC MART FOR ORIENTAL SitrAWLS. Tilt; large sale of India shawls, for which London has II"' become the grand market, took place yesterday, at ,the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle-street, and was PRI' eiPally attended by dealers from the Continent. Up' wards of 3,000 shawls wero sold, and a sum little short h of sixty thousand pounds changed hands. Ala" the shawls thus disposed of are considered to be of a flue quality, they are not of the very first class, the latter being always secured by opulent dealers, such es AleBS% Everington and Company, Messrs. Graham: and Co., the other well-known houses, who, having their agents ill tue: Punjaub, are permitted to superintend the looms, and„,:e z;eleet such as they consider of superior quality. facilities recently afforded for bringing these shawls to Bombay, and the alteration of the duty by the new tarty" have caused a reduction of at least one-half, thus bringing this elegant enduring fabric within the reach of Ya° great body of the people. Indeed, such reduction has had the additional advantage of giving to our British merchants the opportunity of shipping them to Consts: tinople and other markets, from whence they, the mar chants, were formerly glad to get them,