The Times, 1846-12-31, p.8

8　　THE TIMES, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1846. ## Column 1 # IRELAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) DUBLIN, Dec. 29. ### DESTITUTION IN CORK. The *Cork Examiner* of last night is filled with details of the progress of distress in Skibbereen, Berehaven, and other districts of that extensive county. Writing from the former locality, the special reporter of that journal says— "After an absence of nearly a week from Skibbereen, I passed through that town on Thursday last, and during my stay made such inquiries as its briefness permitted me. By two respectable inhabitants I was assured that the mortality, so far from diminishing, had up to that day appeared to increase, and that the funerals were even more frequent than during my sojourn. One of these gentlemen told me positively that on one day during the week he had counted no less than 1[5?] funerals, some of them numerously attended, and others unaccompanied by a single mourner. On leaving Skibbereen the coach was circled round by at least from 50 to 60 women—all of whom appeared in the most extreme destitution, and who appeared to pay particular attention to a gentleman who was about leaving Skibbereen for Cork. On making inquiry as to this gentleman's name, I was informed that it was Inglis, that he has for some time held the situation of Commissary-General, and that he was sent down specially by Government to investigate the condition of the people of this district. By chance I happened to travel with him on Thursday last, and during my journey received some important information regarding the effects of the present mortality and the operations of the Relief and Soup Committees. He appeared fully acquainted with the destitution that in former letters I attempted to depict, and he also seemed anxious that the misery of the people should be terminated. He related to me several incidents connected with the present destitution of the town, and alluded to one particularly, which, even in this abode of destitution and misery, is so singularly shocking as to require a more lengthened notice. On Sunday last—yesterday week—a young woman with difficulty entered the public streets from one of the narrow and ill-formed lanes that compose the outskirts of the town; with tottering steps and tremulous voice she besought the charity of the passers by, but for some time her solicitations were useless, and from continued abstinence from food, and consequent exhaustion she fell in the street, and remained there for a short time unable to rise or even speak. She was shortly after removed from the place where she fell, and after the proper restoratives had been supplied, the poor sufferer was conveyed to the wretched cabin that she called her home. She there informed the charitable persons in attendance that her father and mother had died within the previous two weeks, and at the same time directed their attention to a heap of dirty straw that lay in the corner, and apparently concealed some object under it. On removing this covering of straw the spectators were horrified on beholding the mangled corpses of two grown boys, a large portion of each of which had been removed by the rats, while the remainder lay festering in its rottenness. There they remained perhaps for a week, or it might be for a fortnight, unknown and unheeded, the wretched relics of poor mortality, on which these loathsome vermin had nightly held their disgusting banquet. Such a fact and such a state of society, communicated to me by a responsible official of the present Government, requires in this place neither remark nor comment; indeed, I must do the gentleman the justice to say that he evinced a generous sympathy in the distress of which this incident is but one of the results. From the same unquestionable source I learned that the deaths in this town of Skibbereen alone, for the three weeks previous to my second arrival, amounted to 169, and these in almost every instance the consequence of insufficiency or total abstinence from food. This number of course included the deaths in the workhouse, but does not refer to the mortality that prevails in the rural districts." In a subsequent communication, from Castletown, Berehaven, he thus writes :— "The barony of Bere contains a population ranging from perhaps 25,000 to 30,000 souls—the great majority of whom were dependent upon agricultural produce for their maintenance. The mines of Berehaven form the support of a proportion of this population, and, with a few individuals engaged in the fishing trade, constitute the only exceptions to those depending upon agriculture. The number of labourers at present employed upon the public roads in the barony is, as nearly as I could possibly ascertain, about 2,000, which, with 1,500 labourers at work in the Berehaven mines, makes the number receiving daily hire nearly 3,500 individuals. There is, then, an employed population of 3,500 persons, contributing to the support of families amounting, perhaps, to 14,000 or 15,000, out of a population twice the amount. From such a calculation—and its accuracy is beyond question—it must be evident that thousands still continue unwilling mendicants; and that the Government, if they be inclined to rescue them from destruction, must afford them immediate employment. "On the 10th of this month all the works in this barony, as I have learned from the best authority, were simultaneously stopped, and continued in that position until Monday [l?]ast. It is true that snow fell for a few days during this period which circumstance might be availed of as a convenient excuse, but it is equally true that the cessation occurred before this interruption, and continued for some days after its termination. "A poor man, called Timothy Sullivan (Rockterah)[.,?] who lived at Coulagh, in the parish of Kilcatherine, the father of four children, made several ineffectual appeals for employment, but, as is pretty generally the case, these appeals proved ineffectual, and he was compelled so [sic] endure the heart sickness of 'hope deferred.' Each day found his children clamorous for food; each day he solicited assistance from the Government officers, and the same result attended his exertions. His sorrowful appeal was, however, heard on Tuesday week last, and he was provided with a ticket for employment; but the assistance was rendered too late, poor Sullivan was beyond the reach of their niggardly bounty, and independent of that long-withheld support. He died on Tuesday last, solemnly declaring to the assembled neighbours that he had not tasted a morsel of food for four days before, and that no drink had entered his lips during that time, with the exception of a drop of cold water. Sergeant Murphy, a policeman of this town, after ascertaining those circumstances, informed head[-?]constable Wade as to the cause of the man's death, and Mr. Wade in consequence wrote to the coroner, requesting his attendance. That gentleman's duties probably prevented his compliance; and as he could not personally assist, Mr. Wade called upon Dr. Armstrong, a highly respectable practitioner of this town, and had the body disinterred. After a strict *post mortem* examination, held on last Sunday night, Dr. Armstrong, in my presence, subsequently stated his conviction that starvation was the immediate cause of Sullivan's death, and also remarked that the frequency of deaths at present occurring in this barony, he attributed to the badness of the quality and the insufficiency of the food which the people were at present obliged to use or enabled to procure. "Humphry Curtin, of Courough, died under exactly the same circumstances a few weeks since, after he, too, had frequently solicited employment on the reads [sic], and received an equally unfavourable response. "I have ascertained the particulars of other cases equally appalling; but what advantage is there in troubling your readers with narratives so heart-rending, and details of apathy so barbarous? What utility is there in transforming your paper into a register of mortality?—for such it would certainly become if I alluded to one-half the instances which are recorded in my note-book, or retained in my memory." ### NEGLECT OF AGRICULTURE. It appears that it is not alone in the south and west that those fatal consequences are to be apprehended from the total neglect of agricultural labour which has created (and justly) such gloomy forebodings of another year of far greater scarcity than the present, when the failure or shortness of one crop has sufficed to convert the kingdom into one fearful mass of human destitution. Although not to the same extent as elsewhere, farm work has been abandoned in the county of Fermanagh, and the culture of the soil made a secondary consideration to the repairs of roads and levelling of hills. The circumstance having attracted the attention of the owners and holders of land, a resolution to the following effect was passed at a meeting, on the 26th inst., of the Lisbellaw Relief Committee. Resolved,—That we, the Relief Committee of Lisbellaw, beg leave earnestly to call the attention of the Government, and of the public, to this alarming fact, that (as we know by our own observation) there is much less farm-work now in progress through the country than usual at this time of the year, though an abundant supply of food will be wanted, more than ever, next harvest; and though it is certain that all kinds of food will be at so high a price that a farmer could never supply labourers with a certainty of more ultimate advantage to himself; and, therefore, that every farmer, in this peaceable and rich country, should, for his own interest, and for the public good, lay himself out to spend as much labour as possible on his farm before next harvest." ### DISTRESS IN THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. The *Armagh Guardian* says— "Notwithstanding the benevolent efforts being made, we regret to hear that the misery of the poor increases, and fears are generally entertained that in some parts starvation will have many victims, if there be not speedy administration of relief. We shall not to-day allude further to this painful subject, but earnestly exhort the gentry to double their exertions. Famine has made its appearance in reality; and we trust the subjoined may serve as a stimulus to increased efforts on behalf of the poor :— "DEATH BY STARVATION.—With feelings of the deepest sorrow we state that within a few miles of this city there has fallen a victim to starvation; such is the fact, and we greatly fear it is but the precursor of many, for no idea can be formed of the amount of destitution and misery in many parts of the county. Deceased was of the name of Tomlinson, of the neighbourhood of Tartaraghan; and it appeared on the inquest held on the body by Mr. George Henry, coroner, that he and his wife and three children had existed for some months past on miserable food given them by the farmers of the place; that for days previous to his death the whole family had nothing to eat except raw kale and turnips, without a particle of meal or other food; and further, that he died begging a drink of water with meal on it. He was a man of only 45 years of age, strong and healthy previous to this winter." ### STOCK AND SHARE MARKETS—This Day. GOVERNMENT FUNDS. 3 per Cent. Consols, shut, 93[illegible] opening | Bank Stock, shut, 2[0?]5 ex div. et bonus opening 3[illegible] per Cent. Stock, 95[illegible] [illegible] ## Column 2 MISCELLANEOUS. [table, left half] Pipe Water Debentures, 91[illegible]; Royal Bank, 12[illegible]; Patriotic Insurance, 10. [table, right half] Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company, New Shares, 35 paid, 55. RAILWAYS. [table, left half] Dublin and Drogheda, 51 52 Dublin and Belfast Junction, 4 Dundalk and Enniskillen, 1[illegible] Irish South-Eastern, 1[illegible] [illegible] Midland Great Western and Royal Canal half-shares, 1[illegible] [illegible] Cork and Waterford, 2s. 6d. Dublin, Dundrum, and Rathfarnham, 3s. 3d. Killarney Junctions, 12s. 6d. 12s. 3d. [table, right half] Limerick, Ennis, and Killaloe Junction, 27s. 3d. Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin, 6s. 9d. 7s. Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Junction, 7s. 6d. Bandon and Bantry, 7s. 3d. Dublin and Sandymount Atmospheric, 6s. 6d. Wexford, Waterford, and Valencia, 3s. 9d. # THE SLAVE-TRADE. ### TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—I am desirous of offering a few observations in addition to my letter that appeared in *The Times* of the 26th inst. I stated therein the fact of the rapid and progressive decrease of the slave-trade, and the conviction that by persevering in the system now in force on the coast of Africa the traffic must shortly be extinguished. I urged that Her Majesty's Government might have safely proposed the Sugar Bill with a pledge that no evil effects as regards the slave-trade should ensue, instead of the admission that their measure would increase that detestable traffic. In support of the far higher considerations involved in the question, I also urged the condition of our West India colonies as a reason why the Ministerial "admissions" should not be carried to their legitimate conclusions, and the attempt to suppress the slave-trade abandoned when at last success was within reach. West India interests have been cruelly dealt with; and, though I believe that the cause of suppression did not forbid the admission of slave-grown sugar, I am of opinion that those interests, in the name of justice and honesty, had a right to expect its continued prohibition. That is, however, swept away; and it is to be hoped that the mother country will now vigorously exert herself for the benefit of those hardly-treated colonies. What must be the result to their interests if the suppression of the slave trade is abandoned, will appear by showing, from high authority, the amount from which it has been reduced during the last few years, and to which it would soon spring up again if the squadron were withdrawn before its extirpation were completed. Mr. Bandinel's position in the Foreign-office afforded him the best opportunities of ascertaining the truth, and though the estimates of amount of slave-trade copied into my last letter differs with Mr. Bandinel's, yet they agree in establishing beyond all doubt the fact of rapid and progressive diminution. Speaking of Cuba, and reckoning from 1821, he says, "The number of slaves imported for the next 15 years was still nearly 40,000 a year." "But ever since the treaty of 1835 came into operation the diminution of slaves imported has been marked and gradual, and is become more striking every year. "By a particular and detailed account from Her Majesty's commissioners at the Havannah for the year 184[0?], it appears that although in Cuba new sugar plantations are yearly laid down for cultivation, and although the sugar trade of Cuba has increased so much that more sugar is exported than would supply the whole demand of Great Britain, still the number of slaves imported into Cuba is yearly and strikingly decreasing." "In 1838 the number of slaves imported had decreased to 28,000." "In 1839 the number imported was 25,000, and in 1840 the number had further diminished to 14,470." "So that the number of slaves imported into Cuba in 1840 was only one-half the number imported in 1838, and only about one-third the number imported before the treaty of 1835 came into operation." "In Brazil the recent diminution in the importation of slaves appears to be still more striking than in Cuba." "The total of slaves supposed to be imported into Brazil in 1838 amounted to 94,000." "The whole amount of slaves imported into Brazil in 1839 may be estimated at 56,000." "Only 14,244 slaves were imported into Brazil during the year 1840; so that in 1839 the importation of slaves had diminished upwards of one-third since the preceding year, and in 1840 the number imported was only rather more than one-fourth part of those imported in 1839, and not one-sixth of the number imported in 1838." "The diminution in the importation of slaves does not, however, arise from a slackening in the demand for them, for in Porto Rico a newly imported negro used to sell for 200 dollars—the price is now 450 dollars. In Cuba such negroes sold in 1821 for 100 dollars—the price now varies from 425 to 480 dollars. In Brazil a newly imported negro used to sell for 160 milreis—the price is now 400 milreis." The rapid diminution of this hateful traffic in the face of an increase of profit of 300 per cent. on each slave landed will, I think, sufficiently bear out my assertion that the days of the slave-trade are numbered, and that no further increase of price can suffice to re-establish it, so long as our efforts, to which its diminution is entirely owing, are persevered in. Mr. Bandinel's excellent work was published in 1842, but since then yet more vigorous measures have been adopted, and, in addition to a largely increased English squadron on the coast of Africa, comprising several steam-vessels, a French squadron of 26 sail and an American squadron of 8 vessels, are now cordially co-operating in the service. If we refuse to recognize every petty chief as an independent sovereign, entitled if he please to violate on his own territory every principle of humanity, we shall hasten the consummation so ardently to be desired; but the grand object is the general recognition of the slave-trade as piracy by the civilized world. Every act of force or violence committed by an unauthorized merchant vessel on the high seas, unless strictly required for self-defence, is piracy; and though every petty chief may be treated as though he were the head of a civilized state, he cannot extend his right to commit every atrocity to the ocean, far less delegate it to the master of the slave-ship. On the high seas the law of nations prevails, and the forcible detention of men as prisoners for sale is, from the day they are embarked to the moment of their landing, one continued crime, and that crime is piracy. It may be argued that nearly all nations have engaged in the slave-trade, and at one time or other sanctioned it by their laws; but the immutable principles of right and justice, forming the grand foundation of the law of nations, though violated by general consent, can never be weakened. While a single State continued to sanction the crime, those who had shared the profit and the disgrace in former times were, perhaps, bound to refrain from interference; but now every civilized country agrees in declaring it a crime, and punishes its subjects engaged in it, and, therefore, the law of nations is again in force, and the time seems to have arrived to obtain from the civilized world a formal declaration of this great principle. In almost every case in which during the last 20 years acts of piracy have been brought to light, the pirate vessel has been a slaver; but as Servi said in the lamentable case of the murder of a midshipman and prize crew of the Wasp on board the Felicidade slave vessel, "Dead men tell no tales." It will be remembered that this miscreant, with his fellow-murderers, escaped all punishment. Let us ask which the slave vessel resembles most—a pirate or a lawful trader? She is adapted exclusively for fast sailing—crowded with a cut throat crew, formidably armed, and frequently without any papers. Of 108 slave vessels condemned in 22 months (up to last April), more than one-half were condemned in the Courts of Vice-Admiralty, under 2 and 3 Victoria, c. 73, as vessels not entitled to claim the flag of any State or nation, and were wholly destitute of papers shewing, or attempting to show, any national character. It would be wasting time to urge the danger to lawful commerce while the seas are infested with these villainous buccaneers, and it is altogether absurd that special treaties and exceptional rights should be required to justify their seizure. When the slave trade is deemed and treated as piracy, the traffic will be effectually put down; but this is essentially necessary to secure its eventual and permanent eradication. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Dec. 29.　　A CONSTANT READER. Note.—Vide *Some Account of the Trade in Slaves from Africa, &c.*, by James Bandinel, Esq. Longman, Brown, and Co.: 1842. --- INFLUX OF IRISH PAUPERS INTO LIVERPOOL.—We mentioned, two months ago, that vast numbers of the Irish poor had begun to pour into this country. This influx is from Mayo and other western counties of Ireland, where the persons who ought to support these poor creatures are said to be encouraging them to migrate to England in shoals. In the present state of the Irish Poor Law, there are no means of checking this heartless cruelty, for out-door relief is not permitted in Ireland, and all the workhouses being crowded to overflowing, the overseers of Liverpool cannot send the poor creatures back without exposing them to imminent risk of starvation. It is clear, however, that this evil cannot be allowed to proceed, without the most ruinous consequence. If it is, the 13,000 Irish paupers now in this town, and who are mentioned in the memorial to the Government, will soon increase to 20,000 or even 30,000, and the parish rates of Liverpool will soon rise from 2s. to 5s. or even 10s. in the pound. At the present rate of relief, the expenditure will not be met with a smaller rate than 4s. or 5s. in the pound, if it should continue on the same scale throughout the winter. Nor is it to be supposed that the evil will be confined to Liverpool or Glasgow (where, from similarity of position, with respect to Ireland, it is almost equally great). From their nearness to Ireland, these towns will be the first to be overwhelmed with the flood of pauperism, but unless means are adopted to check its influx, other parts of the kingdom will fare equally ill in a short time.—*Liverpool Times.* ## Column 3 # LAW REPORT. ### ADMIRALTY COURT, WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30. The Court sat for a short time, it being default-day, but nothing occurred besides the routine business of assignations and proctors' motions. Sir John Dodson presided. ### CONSISTORY COURT, WEDNESDAY, Dec. 30. This was an extra Court-day. The Court sat *pro formâ*, there being no business before it. ### COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Baringhall-street, Dec. 30. *(Before Mr. Commissioner* FONBLANQUE.*)* IN RE T. C. KER, AN INSOLVENT. This was the day appointed for the adjourned first hearing of the insolvent, who is a claimant to the dukedom of Roxburghe, but he did not appear. Mr. Sturgeon, the insolvent's counsel, said he had received a letter from him, stating that he was engaged in Edinburgh, endeavouring to effect an insurance upon the life of a baronet who was indebted to him, and in order to be enabled to carry out that, prayed the Court to grant an adjournment. Mr. Cooke, on behalf of some creditors, said, that although he had ample grounds to call upon the Court to dismiss the petition, yet he would not do so, as he thought it would be most beneficial to the estate that the insolvent's property should continue vested in this Court. He should not oppose an adjournment. The case was then adjourned, and an assignee appointed. IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF SMITH, HOLT, AND NEALE. In this case the bankrupts were proprietors of a defunct railway paper, called the *Iron Times*, one of the many which sprang up during the railway effervescence of last year, and of which so few remain. To-day the bankrupts Neale and Holt applied for their certificates, which were opposed by the late editor of the *Iron Times*, Mr. Berry, upon various grounds. In answer to questions from Mr. Berry, the bankrupt Holt said he had gone to the last "Derby" in a barouche-and-four, but not at his own expense. He had represented that he expected to dispose of the paper to a company, which was the fact. He did receive a large sum of money from the Lynn, Wisbeach, and Peterborough Railway Company shortly before the bankruptcy. The sum was 510l., and was expended in carrying on the paper. Mr. Commissioner FONBLANQUE said there was no sufficient reason to delay the certificates. He should grant the bankrupts their certificates. # POLICE. GUILDHALL.—Yesterday Matilda Boddington and Jenkin Hawkes were again put to the bar on suspicion of having stolen a bundle of male attire, which they were carrying across Smithfield about 9 o'clock in the morning on Tuesday last. Hawkes, who is a hairdresser, was attired as a woman in a lavender and white dress, with a black veil and black bonnet. He had ringlets of false hair hanging about his temples, and looked exactly the character he had assumed. He had been allowed to put on the coat and trowsers his companion was carrying, to see whether they would fit him, but he was obliged to resume his masquerading garb before he was put to the bar this morning. Mr. Alderman JOHNSON inquired if the policeman had made any inquiry into the character of the prisoners? The officer said he had, and he had found nothing to their prejudice. Hawkes was carrying on business in Bowling-green-lane, Clerkenwell, and was considered a respectable man in the neighbourhood. The landlady of the house where Boddington resided was present to speak to her character. Mrs. Slater, of Wingrove-place, St. John's-street, said the prisoner had lodged in her house a fortnight, and she had given her notice to quit on account of the late hours she kept. As the room was not furnished she was not required to give a reference. She had not been guilty of any improper conduct in the house till this affair occurred on Monday. She saw the young man arrive in his proper dress, but he went away attired as a woman with Miss Boddington. He changed his dress in her room. Mr. Alderman JOHNSON asked Miss Boddington how she obtained her living? The prisoner said, she was assisted by her friends, who lived in the country. She had a sister residing at Fulham, but no other friends in town. Mr. Alderman JOHNSON said, she had disgraced herself by joining in this adventure, and she must be very careful for the future. He discharged her, and required the barber to find a surety for his good behaviour for a year. His father, with some reluctance, became that surety. The Court was occupied a considerable time in further hearing a charge of feloniously stealing four plated candlesticks, with snuffers and tray. Mr. Alderman Johnson was assisted by Aldermen Farebrother and Moon. Mr. Locke, one of the Common Pleaders, attended with Mr. Jones, a solicitor, to sustain the charge; and Mr. Clarkson, with Mr. Moss, a solicitor, defended the accused, Messrs. Frederick and Edmund Coleman, wine merchants in Old Broad-street. The previous evidence of Mr. Charles Green, of Assam Villa, Forest-hill, was first read over, from which it appeared that on the 15th inst. a search-warrant was issued, on the oath of Mr. Green, that the candlesticks were lately stolen from his house and were believed to be lodged at Messrs. Coleman's. When Roe, the city officer, inquired for the articles they were given up to him, and Messrs. Coleman appeared before the magistrate to account for the possession of the property, which they were then charged by Mr. Green with having stolen from him. It appeared that early in the present year the two Colemans, with a friend named Perry and Mr. Green, agreed to rent and furnish Assam Villa, and live together. Servants, food, &c., were to be put down to the joint account, and each pay his fourth share at the end of the year. Perry became a bankrupt, and the account to the end of July was found to be 412l. Mr. Frederick Coleman seceded, as well as Mr. Perry; but Mr. Edmund Coleman continued to reside at the villa, as well as Mr. Green. About the end of November, Mr. Frederick Coleman called for a division of the plate, which was of considerable value. Mr. Green resisted it, because he was liable for the rent of the house and debts to the amount of 50l.; and he locked up all the plate in two cupboards in his bedroom,—each gentleman having a separate room. One day, Mr. Frederick Coleman came down with a cart, and, in the absence of Mr. Green, opened his cupboards, and carried off all the plate, and all the furniture that was used in Perry's room. Mr. Edmund Coleman was present, and assisted in the removal of the property. Mr. Locke applied for a search-warrant to seize and recover the whole of the property, on the ground that it was a felonious taking to enter a man's private room, unlock his cupboards, and carry off what he might find there. If he had any right in the property he must seek his legal remedy, and not resort to lawless force. Mr. Alderman Moon granted a warrant; but restricted it to articles the private property of Mr. Green, and which had not been purchased for the joint use of the parties. Mr. Clarkson now cross-examined Mr. Green, who said he was formerly a clerk in the Birmingham Railway establishment, and then became an accountant. An action was pending against him for detaining a bankrupt's books, but he should prove he had a lien on them. He had detained another bankrupt's books till the Court of Bankruptcy satisfied his claim. He had referred the landlord of Assam Villa to Messrs. Vere. Had permission to do so, though he had no account there. If he had been advertised in the swindlers' list he was not aware of it, and should seek redress. He had employed a solicitor to compound with his creditors a year ago. He was nothing now. He had been nothing since Mr. Henry Coleman lent him 1,500l. As to when he had last any money of his own, Mr. Clarkson had no right to fish into his private business. Mr. Locke re-examined him, when he stated that he was introduced to Mr. Perry to advise with him on his pecuniary difficulties. Mr. Perry introduced him for a like purpose to Mr. Henry Coleman, who was involved by railway transactions. He resolved to go on the continent, leaving witness 1,500l. to speculate in railways. He bought shares, sold them, and gave the money to Perry by direction of Henry Coleman. Mr. Alderman FAREBROTHER asked if Messrs. Coleman retained the property they had carried off, or had converted it to their own use? Mr. Moss said they retained it. Mr. Alderman JOHNSON intimated that his colleagues agreed with him that the taking was not felonious, because the Messrs. Coleman believed they had a right to take care of the property. Mr. Clarkson said, that relieved him from much that he had to say; but he proceeded to make some caustic observations on the evidence of Mr. Green. He had never in his life heard a more impudent charge of felony. Mr. Green threatened to make Mr. Clarkson pay for what he had said about him. The magistrates concurred in dismissing the charge against Messrs. Coleman. Mr. Green claimed, and Mr. Moss conceded to him, possession of the four candlesticks, snuffers, and tray. BOW-STREET.—Yesterday a man named Timothy Mahony, who occupied a miserable house in Shire-lane, Temple-bar, was charged with suffering a poor family to inhabit a cellar under his premises, contrary to the provisions of the 7th and 8th Victoria, c. 84, s. 103 (the Building Act). The charge was preferred by Mr. Boswood, the relieving-officer of the Strand Union, at the instance of the board of guardians, and the defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. Dowling, one of the guardians, described the wretched condition of the cellar, in which an old man and a woman and several children had been living, without furniture or light and with nothing but a heap of shavings for their bed The place was desolate in the extreme, and wholly destitute of ventilation. It was stated that the def[end?]ant had pleaded his ignorance of the prohibitions of [the?] Building Act, and that he had received no remuneration from the poor creatures occupying the cellars. Mr. Mosely, another guardian, observed, that it was not the wish of the board to press the present case, but they desired that the liability imposed by the new act upon persons in a similar situation should be better known. Mr. HENRY commended the guardians and other officers of the Strand Union for their general attention to the interests of the poor, and adverted to the clauses of the act, which rendered the defendant liable to a penalty of 20s. per day for suffering his cellar to be inhabited. He regretted that there was not some better means of making the provisions of the act known among the class of people whom these clauses were intended to affect. He thought much good would result from a personal visitation by the officers of the parish in districts which the poorer classes generally resorted to, with the view of communicating a knowledge of the law upon the subject, and warning them of the consequences of its infringement. As the guardian did not press the charge against the defendant, his worship merely required him to pay the cost of the summons, upon which he was discharged. A donation of 5l., from "W. H. C.;" another of 5l., from "G. H. C.;" and the first half of a 5l. Bank of England note, from "T. B.," were received by Mr. Henry for the poor-box of the court, the donor in each case requesting an acknowledgment of its receipt in *The Times*. MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—Mr. Thomas Telford Campbell was summoned before Mr. HARDWICK for having assaulted Mr. Charles Hartnung. Mr. Hartnung said he was a watchmaker occupying [column continues] ## Column 4 apartments at No. 47, Warwick-street, Golden-square, where the defendant also lodged. On Monday last he had occasion to open the staircase window for an instant, when the defendant came out of his apartments in a great rage, and seized him by the collar, and, after striking him, threatened he would be the death of him. The defendant then armed himself with a poker, which he brandished about, and renewed his threats of vengeance on complainant. Had it not been for the landlady of the house complainant had no doubt that he should have sustained further injury. As it was, his shirt and habiliments were torn in the scuffle. The complainant proceeded to say that the defendant was generally believed to be not in possession of sound intellect. The defendant had been in confinement for some time, and during the period he had recently been at liberty he had conducted himself with so much eccentricity and violence as to afford ground for the opinion that he ought not to be permitted to remain without being placed under some degree of restraint. He (complainant) declared he went in bodily fear of personal violence, though there really was no cause why the defendant should entertain hostile feelings towards him. There were several persons with whom the defendant had lodged present, who had also been threatened with personal violence by him, and who would state their opinion of the defendant while he was their lodger. Mr. Rowe, bracemaker, Air-street, said the defendant lodged with him for a short time. The defendant was very hasty in his behaviour, and had acted with so much violence in consequence of some imaginary offence, that witness was obliged to say he would call in the police. Mr. Tomlinson said the defendant had lodged with him a short time ago. The defendant's principal occupation was looking through a telescope at the stars and giving odd names to his alleged discoveries of new planets. He would frequently stand before a looking-glass, and after regarding himself attentively for a short time would suddenly call out "What an ugly ape I am." Mr. Campbell in defence denied the assault. He was inconvenienced by the complainant opening the window, and on attempting a remonstrance he was assaulted. He certainly did lay hold of the complainant to protect himself from injury, but he released him on being requested to do so. "An outrage against feelings," continued Mr. Campbell, "may lead to conclusions, but it does not amount to an outr[a]ge in law. If a person in a field wishes to shut a gate, and another person attempts to prevent him, and is struck, this is an outrage against feelings, but not an assault. This is my case." The landlady, Mrs. M'Cloud, said the defendant was a very quiet and good lodger. The complainant on the contrary was in the habit of breaking the peace of her house. Mr. HARDWICK said, as the complainant swore he went in bodily fear, the defendant must find bail, himself in 50l. and two sureties of 25l. each. "E. W. M." has sent 10l. for the poorbox. MARYLEBONE.—Yesterday the sitting magistrate, Mr. Rawlinson, received from "G. H. C." 5l. for the poor-box of the court. It was requested that an acknowledgment of the donation might appear in *The Times*. WORSHIP-STREET.—On Tuesday a powerful fellow, named William Hardy, was placed at the bar before Mr. BINGHAM, charged with the following brutal assaults upon Mr. Charles Penman, a master cabinetmaker in Myrtle-street, Hoxton, and Catherine Penman, his wife:— The prosecutor stated, that about 4 o'clock on the preceding afternoon the prisoner, who was in his employment, came to his house and abusively demanded some wages to which he was not entitled. Seeing that he was intoxicated, he endeavoured to get rid of him by promising to settle with him at another time, and asked him to go home; but the prisoner refused to leave without the money, and on witness taking him quietly by the arm to lead him to the door, he struck him such a violent blow on the side of the head with his fist that he with difficulty saved himself from falling, and was forced up against the wall. On recovering himself he closed with the prisoner, and a struggle ensued between them, which attracted the attention of the witness's wife, who came out to his assistance; but she had no sooner made her appearance than the prisoner struck her such a tremendous blow on the right eye that she instantly dropped to the ground. Witness appealed to him on his cowardly brutality, but without effect, for the moment his wife rose the prisoner struck her again upon the left eye, and again felled her to the ground, which violence the witness was positive he would have repeated but for the opportune arrival of a policeman, into whose custody he was given. The prosecutor's wife (who was in an advanced stage of pregnancy, both of whose eyes were shockingly contused, and whose face exhibited other marks of recent ill-usage) generally corroborated her husband's account of the attack made upon her, and described the blow upon her right eye as so terrible that it cut to the bone and caused a great loss of blood. The poor woman was so weak and exhausted it was with difficulty she could support herself while giving her testimony. When called upon for his defence, the prisoner attributed his conduct to the liquor he had taken, which rendered him unconscious of what he was doing, and expressed great contrition for the injuries he had inflicted upon the complainants. Mr. Penman pressed for a summary adjudication, on account of the delicate state of his wife's health, which would preclude her attending elsewhere; and Mr. BINGHAM, who lamented the insufficiency of his powers to deal with a case of such a description, said he felt bound to listen to this request under the circumstances, but he should mark his sense of the prisoner's brutality by ordering him to pay the highest amount of penalty he could impose upon him for the attack upon Mrs. Penman, namely, 5l., or two months' imprisonment in the House of Correction, and a second penalty of 40s. for the assault upon her husband, or one month's imprisonment in default, and direct that the latter punishment should commence at the expiration of the first. Neither of the penalties was paid, and the prisoner was removed in the van. Mr. Broughton requests us to acknowledge his receipt of letters enclosing the following contributions for the poor-box of this court:—From "M. H. C.," 5l.; from "G. H. C.," through the hands of Mr. Perry, the chief clerk at Lambeth Police-court, 5l.; from "A Norfolk Lady," 5s.; and from "T. B.," one half of a 5l. note, the second half of which the benevolent donor expresses his intention to transmit on seeing a notice of the receipt of the first in *The Times*, in which also the other contributors wished to see their subscriptions acknowledged. SOUTHWARK.—Yesterday the magistrate received 5l. from "W. H. C." for the poor-box, the donor requesting that its receipt might be acknowledged in *The Times*. LAMBETH.—Yesterday John Robert Lee Middleton, a young man, who had beeu [sic] apprehended on a warrant on that morning, was placed at the bar before Mr. ELLIOTT, on a charge of committing a gross outrage in the house in which he lodged. Mr. Games, who attended on behalf of the prisoner, submitted, upon his client being put to the bar, and the complainant not appearing to make the charge, that the friends of the former had made a fair and suitable compensation to the latter for the insult offered and injury done to her, and under the circumstances he hoped the prisoner might be discharged. Mr. ELLIOTT replied that the prisoner's offence was of too serious a character to permit of a private arrangement. In fact, he had been guilty of a very serious outrage and assault upon an infirm woman, deprived of her sight, as well as one also upon a little girl, who slept with her; and, therefore, the case must be heard in the usual way. Shortly after the complainant made her appearance, and the case was proceeded with. From the statement, it appeared, that she was blind, and had been confined to her bed for the last five weeks, from illness, at her lodging, 5, Lambeth-square. On Saturday morning, about 4 o'clock, the prisoner, who was a lodger in the house, came home, forced her bedroom door open, and threw himself upon the bed; upon which, she and a little girl, the daughter of her nurse, were sleeping. He first assaulted the girl in an improper manner, and then attacked her. She resisted him as well as her strength would allow her, and got out of bed, but he caught her, tore her nightdress, and flung her on the bed again. She called out for assistance, and sent the little girl down for the landlady, but the latter did not come to her, and she (complainant) ultimately managed to get away from him, but how she scarcely knew, and went down stairs. In her cross-examination by Mr. Games, the witness admitted that after going down stairs on the morning in question, and after the alleged outrage, she had drunk some brandy and water, which had been sent for by the prisoner, but added that she had done so at the earnest request of Mrs. Poulter. She also admitted having received 2l., and had a promise of a third pound from a friend of the prisoner, as a compensation for the offence and the injury done to her bed and other things in her apartment by the prisoner. Mr. Games submitted that this admission put an end to the case. Mr. ELLIOTT thought otherwise, and elicited from the witness that she had been recommended by her friends to take the money; first in consequence of her bad health and her confined means, and next in consideration of the mother of the prisoner, who was represented to be a very respectable woman, to whom a prosecution would be a very serious injury. The little girl who slept with the last witness deposed to having been assaulted herself, in the first instance, and described the prisoner's disgusting conduct on the occasion. For the defence, Mrs. Poulter, the landlady of the house, and her brother, were called, but their evidence did not contradict the testimony of the witnesses for the complainant. After hearing them, Mr. ELLIOTT regretted he had not the power to deal with the case as it really deserved, by sending the prisoner to the treadmill. By sending the case to the session he feared, from what had already occurred, that justice would be defeated, and he should, under all the circumstances, take it on himself to dispose of it summarily. In doing this, he should impose the highest penalty the law permitted, namely 5l. for each assault on the little girl and the poor blind woman, or four months' imprisonment. Mr. Games applied to the magistrate to order the complainant to give back the 2l. which she accepted as a compensation; but he refused to do so, remarking that she was entitled to it for the injury done to the property in her room. CLERKENWELL.—Samuel Abrahams, aged 16, was charged by Robert Welch, aged 17, residing at No. 17, Brunswick-place, Barnsbury-road, Islington, with having committed a violent assault. It appeared in evidence that the prisoner and the prosecutor were apprentices to Mr. Walmsley, an engraver, and they had several quarrels. The prisoner threatened to be revenged, and on Wednesday last they had another quarrel, when the prisoner seized a wooden mallet, and whilst Welch had his back turned upon him he struck him a desperate blow with it on the head, which rendered him senseless and injured him severely. He had ever since been ill, unable to work, and under medical care. Several witnesses gave evidence as to the assault, and as to the prisoner's morose temper and violent conduct. A solicitor attended for the prisoner, and pleaded provocation in mitigation of punishment. Mr. COMBE, however, committed the prisoner for trial, but accepted bail for his appearance at the sessions. Yesterday 5l. was sent to the poor-box by "G. H. C.," who requested an acknowledgment in the newspapers. WESTMINSTER.—Mr. Broderip yesterday received the re- [column continues] ## Column 5 maining half of a 5l. note, N C 70,396, from "J. B.," the first part of which was forwarded on Tuesday for the poor-box. The donor requested an acknowledgment in *The Times*. # LAW NOTICES.—(This Day.) ### BANKRUPTCY COURT, BASINGHALL-STREET. (Before Mr. Commissioner EVANS.) J. Woods—interim order at 11. R. A. Jackson—interim order at 11. J. Davis—final order at 11. J. M. Lazarus—final order at 11. J. Murch—final order at 11. G. Wood—choice of assignees at half-past 11. J. Ullathorn—last examination at 12. F. Perry, jun.—last examination at 1. C. Goodwin—last examination at 2. *Meeting of Creditors,* J. Whitehead's creditors to meet assignees at 12. ### SHERIFF'S COURT, RED LION-SQUARE—Sit at 10. Strutt v. Far[l?]ar—Weston v. Williams—Purdy v. Depree—Saunderson v. Trollope and others—Hart v. James—Hallett v. Gordon—Rose v. Dennes [?]—Grove v. Elnor [?]—North v. Turner—Pike v. Moffatt—Pike v. Lawrance—Grilliers v. Guignes [?]—Edwards v. Samson—Jones v. Edington—Banks v. Newton—Buxton v. Polhill—Stratford v. Bishop—Farey v. Robinson—Armstrong v. Mackie—Outhwaite v. Horne—Henly v. White—Findlay v. Archer—Gilpin v. Rugg—Aitchison v. Woodward. Undefended causes will be taken at the sitting of the Court. ### QUEEN'S BENCH. Sittings appointed to be held in Middlesex and London, before the Right Hon. THOMAS Lord DENMAN, Lord Chief Justice of Her Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench, in and after Hilary Term, 1847. MIDDLESEX. IN TERM. 1st Sitting—Tuesday, Jan. 12, and two following days at 11 o'clock. 2d Sitting—Friday, Jan. 15, and subsequent days at 11 o'clock. 3d Sitting—Friday, Jan. 29, at half-past 9 o'clock precisely, (for undefended causes only. Sitting after term—Tuesday, February 2. A list of such remanets as appear fit to be tried in term will be printed immediately, but on the statement of either side that a cause is too long to be tried in term, it will be withdrawn from such list, provided the other side have two days' notice of the application at the Marshal's to postpone, and do not oppose the application on good grounds—the usual number of completed and new causes will be put into the list day by day in their usual order. LONDON. IN TERM. Sitting at 10 o'clock on Saturday, Jan. 30. For Undefended Causes and such as the Judge considers fit to be taken. AFTER TERM. Wednesday, Feb. 3, to adjourn. # NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. WOOLWICH, DEC. 30. Her Majesty's Royal yacht Fairy arrived at a quarter past 11 o'clock a.m. to-day, from Portsmouth, and was attached to moorings opposite the Woolwich Dockyard. She is to be taken up to Messrs. Penn's, at Deptford, the constructors of her engines and machinery, to be examined; and any deficiency that may be found to have taken place during her recent trips will be made good during the winter season. The only vessels building in Woolwich dockyard at present are the Royal Albert, 120 guns, now in a state of forwardness, having the whole of her frame timbers put together, and the greater part of her planking timber laid over the frame. The bottom or under-water planks have been converted from beech-wood, and the upper planks, which are 10 inches in thickness, of the best English oak. The frame is also of the best English oak, put together in the strongest manner. A number of workmen are employed in preparing and fixing the side-pieces for supporting the beams inside, and during the next year this magnificent vessel will be an object of considerable attraction to visitors to the Dockyard; as she will then be in an advanced state to show her great magnitude and substantial, yet elegant, appearance. The Nankin, 50-gun frigate, building under the new slip at the east end of the yard, from a design by Mr. Lang, jun., assistant to the master shipwright at Chatham Dockyard, where the timbers are converted and sent round to Woolwich Dockyard, has about one-third of her frame put up, and a number of men employed upon her. The Basilisk steam-vessel, building on the slip next to the Royal Albert, has only her keel and a small portion of her frame put together. She is to be built exactly similar to the Niger steam vessel, recently launched from this dockyard, and will be fitted with paddle-wheels, the Niger being fitted with a screw propeller to test their comparative merits. The timber converted for the Hannibal, of 90 guns, has remained untouched for a considerable time; and the Basilisk is building under the slip intended for the Hannibal. # SHIP NEWS. *Mails* (table; columns Arrived, MAILS, Due; leader dots in the middle columns not reproduced): | Arrived | MAILS | Due. | |---|---|---| | 3 | Dublin.. | 0 | | 2 | Waterford | 0 | | 1 | Donaghadee .. | 0 | | 1 | Guernsey and Jersey | 0 | | 1 | French.. | 0 | | 1 | Flanders | 0 | | 0 | Brazil | Dec. 25. | | 0 | Boston and Halifax | Dec. 30. | | 0 | Mexico and Havannah | Jan. 7. | | 0 | West Indies .. | Jan. 7. | LIVERPOOL, Dec. 30. The Mersey, and the Reliance, went on shore at Matane, St. Lawrence, on the 24th of November. The Empire was on shore at Little Matane, and the Hartland at L'Islet, covered with ice. The Marquis of Normanby, for this port, put back to Quebec, dismasted. The Zenobia, for this port, has put back to New York, from Newport, Rhode Island. The Leuconia, for this port, has put back to New York, leaky, and with cargo shifted. The Caroline, of Inverness, bound for Leith, salt laden, grounded on her anchor this morning off Woodside, and sank. The Larne, the Rowland, the Jane, the Lady Huntley, the Virginia, the Oudiaka [?], the Arabian, and the Harmony, hence, and the Lord Seaton, from Demerara, have arrived at New Orleans. The Tory, and the Laurel, hence, have arrived at Savannah. The Thomas Bennett, hence, has arrived at Charleston. The Sea, the Cosmo, the Queen of the West, the Franconia, and the Panthea, hence have arrived at New York. Arrived.—The John R. Skiddy, sailed the 13th inst., from New Orleans—the Eremont [?], from St. John's, New Brunswick—the Promise, from Montreal—the Spartan, from Hayti—the Alexander, from Prince Edward's Island—the Requiter, from Naples—the New Margaret, from Shanghae—the Keying, from Virginia—the Effingham, the Agamemnon, and the Mearns, from Quebec—the Wizard, from Malaga—the Herculean, from Bombay—the Benin, from Benin—the Theresa Jane, from Marnham—the Tinamara, from Ceara—the Trenton, and the Ashburton, from New York—the General Wiltshire, the Charlotte, and the Ambrosine, from Quebec—the Saucy Lass, and the Minerva, from St. Michael's—the Baron of Ramber, from Montreal—the Visiter, from Malta—the Budget, from Lisbon. Off the port.—The Royal Sovereign, and the Pomona, from Callao—the Adino, from Rio Grande—the Anglesea, from Rio Janeiro—the Talisman, and the Finland, from New York—the Arethusa, from St. John's, New Brunswick—the Pacific, the Loo Choo, and the Emanuel, from Quebec—the Hevellyn, the Helen, and the Killermont, from Bombay—the Nautilus from Terceira—the Young Queen, and the E. Boustead. Sailed.—The Comercio, for Havannah—the Bridgetown, for New Orleans—the Aberfoyle, for New York—the Ann, for Maranham—the Norman, for Boston—the Sir J. Beresford, for Bahia—the Abbey Lands, for Savannah—the Emelia, for Rio Janeiro—the Mischief, for Palermo—the Admiral, for New York—the Idea, for St. Michael's—the Emerald, for Leghorn—the Sandford, for Barbados and Porto Rico—the Moult, for Azores—the Gilbert Jameson, for Corfu—the Vixen, for Ancona—the Law Ogilby, for Corfu—the Pauline, for St. Thomas's—the Foigh-a-Ballagh, for Beyrout. --- LONDON, Dec. 30.—Wind this day at noon, S. E., fresh breeze and frosty; 7 p.m., S.W., moderate breeze. DEAL, Dec. 28.—S.E. to S.S.E., fine. Arrived, the Cumberland, from Quebec, and sailed for Hull. Arrived from the river and sailed, the Balley, for the Cape of Good Hope—the Black-eyed Susan, for St. Kitt's. DOVER, Dec. 29.—S. to S.W. Arrived, the Johanna, from Port-au-Prince, for Hamburgh. ISLE OF WIGHT, Dec. 27.—Off, the Washington Allston, from Boston. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 29.—S. to E.N.E., fine. Arrived, the Carolus, from New Orleans for Bremen. SALCOMBE, Dec. 29.—N.E. Off, the Johanna Maria, from Batavia—the Kelson, from Calcutta—the Mariana, from Rio Janeiro. BRISTOL, Dec. 29.—S., light. Arrived, the Enchantress, from Quebec. SHIELDS, Dec. 29.—W.S.W. Arrived, the Theodosia, from Quebec. FALMOUTH, Dec. 29.—N., light. Off, the Pfeil, from Rio Grande, and sailed for Hamburgh; passed a bark, apparently English, dismasted and abandoned, on the 9th inst., in lat. 42 N., long. 29 W. SLIGO, Dec. 27.—Arrived, the Teazer, from Montreal. Sailed, the Industry, for New York. SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. 28.—A large ship, with loss of bowsprit, foremast, &c., together with much wreck, was passed in the Bay of Biscay, by the Royal Tar, arrived here. GUERNSEY, Dec. 25.—Sailed, the Halcyon, for Panama. JERSEY, Dec. 28.—Sailed, the Pandora, for Pernambuco. GREENOCK, Dec. 29.—A vessel was seen on shore on Cape Chat during a snow storm on the 25th ult., by the Envoy, arrived at this port from Quebec. PARIS, Dec. 27.—The Caraquena, from Bordeaux for La Guayra, was on shore near St. Martin, Ile de Rhé, on the 22d inst. 28.—The Monte Christo, from Batavia for Nantes, was wrecked on the west coast of Quiberon previously to the 25th; eight of the crew drowned. A brig with a half-poop, and painted ports, partially dismasted, and abandoned, with "Benjamin Frankfort" painted on the stern, was passed on the 10th of October, in lat. 33 N., long. 73, by the Ballochar No. 2, arrived at Baltimore. The Jeune Desiree went ashore near the Isle de Justin, in the gale of the 22d inst.; crew saved. NEW YORK, Dec. 2.—The British schooner Sarah Ann, from Boston for Cumberland, Nova Scotia, is wrecked in Baillie's Mistake, near West Quoddy Head. The Lagrange, from New Orleans for London, has put in here leaky, and must repair. The North America, from St. John's, New Brunswick, for Boston, burst her steam-pipe off Long Island on the 25th ult., drifted on shore after parting her anchors, and is waterlogged and a wreck; crew and passengers saved. The Leavitt, from St. John's, New Brunswick, which was on shore on the Hook, and reported to be a total loss, came off, after throwing her cargo overboard, and has been towed up here with considerable damage. 9.—The Hampden has arrived here from Liverpool, with bow stove, fore and maintopsail yard carried away, foreyard sprung, and leaky, having been in contact on the 29th ult., in lat. 34, long. 69, with the bark Paris, of Warren, hence for New Orleans. The Luconia, hence for Liverpool, has put back leaky, and with cargo shifted, in a gale on the 23d ult. The Henrietta has arrived here from St. John's, New Brunswick, with bulwarks stove, deck load washed overboard, &c., having encountered a heavy gale on the 25th ult. The Albion, hence for Antwerp, put back to this port on the 6th inst., leaky, with pumps choked, and bulwarks stove, having shipped a sea in a gale on the 24th ult., in lat. 39, long. 66. CUXHAVEN, Dec. 26.—The Sophie, from Rio Janeiro, is discharging her cargo (coffee), being leaky. BREMEN, Dec. 25.—The Hanoverian, and the Bremen, pilot boats, have gone to sea. The Light-vessel No. 1 has returned to her station at the entrance of the Weser. EMDEN, Dec. 24.—The Antonia Hillegonda, from Groningen for Great Britain, has put into Zoultkamp, and will return to Groningen to have her cargo (oats) examined. ELSINORE, Dec. 22.—The Dragoe, and the Anhalt, light-vessels, have been removed from their stations. The Mulgrave, from Moulmein for England, has put into Galle, leaky, and must discharge. --- # GRAVESEND, Dec. 30. Wind, S. Arrived.—The Triton, from Ostend—the Sarah Barry, from Saguenay—the Glenbervie, from Port Philip—the Cato, from St. Vincent—the John Barry, and the Bengal, from New York—the Xabia, from Montevideo—the Washington Allston, from Boston—the Countess of Durham, from Pernambuco—the Martha, from Tarragona—the Essex Lass, from Messina. Sailed.—The Menai, for Ostend—the Giraffe, for Rotterdam—the Columbine, for Havre—the Rapid, for Harlingen—the Olof Wyk, for Rio Janeiro—the Kingsdown, for the South Seas—the Ganymede, for Hartlepool—the Marquis of Lansdowne, for Gibraltar. DECEMBER 29. Arrived.—The Margaret, from St. Michael's—the American Eagle, from New York—the Elizabeth Grange, from Santa Martha—the Buteshire, from Calcutta—the Augusta, from Gravelines—the Helen Scott, from Malta—the Gem, from Zante—the Kjobenhaven, from Holbeck—the Agnes, from Quebec. Sailed.—The Lord John Russell, for Harlingen—the Sally, for Beyrout—the Zemindar, for Bombay—the Amity Hall, for Jamaica—the Azorian, for Azores—the John Romilly, for Constantinople. --- CUSTOM-HOUSE, Dec. 30. VESSELS ENTERED INWARDS. The Marion, from Calcutta—the Elizabeth Grange, from Santa Martha—the Carh[a?]lton [?], from Belize—the American Eagle, and the Bengal, from New York—the Sarah Barry, from Saguenay—the Margaret, from St. Michael's—the Ruby, from Seville—the Auguste, from Gravelines—the Kjobenhaven, from Holbeck—the Triton, from Ostend—the Four Brothers, from Dunkirk—the Helen Scott, from St. Vincent's—the Gem, from Nantes—the Glenbervie, from Port Philip—the Washington Allston, from Boston—the John Baring, from New York. VESSELS ENTERED OUTWARDS. The Bowes of Streatham, for Singapore—the Triton, for Ostend—the Marion, for Jamaica—the Palestine, for Athens—the Ruby, for St. Kitt's—the Prince of Wales, for Sydney, New South Wales—the Mecca, for Trinidad—the Cato, for St. Vincent's—the Tartar, for Madras—the Friends, for Dunkirk. CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO. The Sarah Charlotte, for the Cape of Good Hope—the Sandwich, for St. Lucia—the Dart for Ostend—the Belfast, for Calais—the Soho, for Antwerp—the Harlequin, for Boulogne. CLEARED OUTWARDS IN BALLAST. The Jane, for New Orleans—the Æolus, for Azores—the Audacia, for Bahia. ## Column 6 # THE ABUSES OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY. ### TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. [The following letter appeared in part only of our yesterday's impression, having been displaced to make room for the President's Message :—] Sir,—I suppose that your readers will have sufficiently perceived from the statements in my last letter but one (which have not yet been refuted) that in the purchases made for the National Gallery since 1842, that plainest rule of economy has been violated which common sense dictates to all, and which Franklin has embodied in that pithy sentence, "Nothing is cheap that you do not want." But there is a refinement of silly extravagance, an embellishment of common recklessness, which not even Franklin had anticipated—I mean the endeavour to add a zest to the sense of possession by the self-imposition of an unnecessary price for an unnecessary article. Those who doubt of the existence of so singularly morbid a propensity will be surprised to learn that the trustees and their professional adviser, Mr. Eastlake, have been so deeply possessed with this unhappy craving, that they have in some cases paid for a picture *more than double* the sum for which it had been offered to private persons. It will be seen, from what I am about to relate, that the wasteful excess of expenditure on three of the ten pictures purchased since the appointment of Mr. Eastlake to the office of keeper would have been alone *more* than sufficient to have secured to us, within the same period, among other fine works of the best age of art, Titian's great historical picture of "Tarquin and Lucretia," formerly in the collection of Charles I.; and the Methuen Raphael—works I have elsewhere quoted. If we must, indeed, submit to have inferior works annually thrust upon us, we should at least be allowed the reasonable consolation of paying as little as possible for them; but it is useless to expect even this, while there is so little chance of any picture finding its way into the public Gallery until it has been long hawked about the town, by way of testing its originality, and till both trustees and keeper have been successfully "earwigged" (I use a disreputable, though significant, word to designate a disreputable practice) by the agents of the owner. I have already stated that the "libel on Holbein," that prodigious specimen of the incompetence of "competent persons," was offered in my presence for 300l.; but I now know that it might have been had for 250l. of the same dealer who sold it to the Gallery; and I have also learnt that the price paid for it by "Parliament" was 600 guineas, instead of 600l. Is it not comfortable to reflect that so choice a "specimen of art," so "fit," according to Mr. Eastlake's happy prediction, "to challenge inspection," and so "worthy of being well displayed," has cost us *only* 380l. more than was necessary? At the sale of Mr. Penrice's collection in 1844, the trustees decided on giving the very moderate sum of 5,580l. for "the Judgment of Paris," by Rubens, and that "Lot and his Daughters," by Guido. It was surprising that another work of the latter master, "Susanna and the Elders," should, in spite of the strict propriety of its moral and the unassuming tameness of its treatment, have been overlooked by such congenial purchasers. But, that "*Deus ex machinâ*" of embarrassed dilettanti, an ever-vigilant and high-spirited dealer, was waking while they slumbered. He purchased and kept the picture by him until he should be able to bring Mr. Keeper Eastlake to a just sense of its value. Within a year his eloquence prevailed, and his patriotism was rewarded: for less than 850l. he had rescued his prize; for 1,200 guineas he laid it at the feet of a grateful country.* Little more than half of this sum might have procured us Titian's "Tarquin and Lucretia," but that was an "immoral" subject. Could Titian have foreseen an age of decencies and mediocrities which would reject a picture whereon he had expended the might of his genius and the riches of his experience because the subject was "immoral," surely his disdain of so worthless a posterity, his disgust at a vision of such pruriency and imbecility combined, would have at once extinguished the "original and fiery virtue" within him, and have paralyzed his godlike powers. Thus, Sir, we see that on the "Susanna and the Elders"—the first purchase since the "libel on Holbein"—we have another trifling unnecessary excess of more than 410l. In the discussion which took place in the House of Commons on the latter valuable acquisition, many of your readers will doubtless remember the declaration of Sir Robert Peel, that "the trustees intended in future to *fortify* their opinions by the advice of eminent artists and experienced dealers." We are now, therefore, I presume, enjoying the blessings of that ingenious device; but would it not be an additional relish if we were informed of the names of the "eminent artists" who counselled the purchase of this "Susanna and the Elders?" It is reported that the "experienced dealer," who sagaciously valued it at 1,200 guineas, was rewarded with 2½ per cent., nay, some say 10 per cent., on the purchase money. The charge for valuation, whatever it may have been, as it was incurred through Mr. Eastlake's inexperience, was, doubtless, defrayed by him, and it, therefore, concerns us but little. The touching instance of generosity which he displayed in the offer of 50l. out of his own pocket, to induce the dealer to take back the picture "resembling" Holbein in "manner," leaves us no room to question it. The third and last purchase which I intend to notice for the present, is that of "Philip IV. of Spain hunting the Wild Boar," by Velasquez. This is, indeed, a most pleasant history, and one whose novelty will, unless I am greatly deceived, prove not more striking to the public than to some of the heroes engaged in it. The trustees and the keeper, totally unconscious of the strings which regulate their movements, are, it is said, to the present moment under the soothing impression that a noble act of patriotism on their part has prevented the exportation of this picture. They are still perhaps enjoying in blissful ignorance the consolatory thought that it is free from the degradation of having been hawked about in any other country besides their own. Alas that so charming a vision should ever be dispelled! It is, nevertheless, currently reported that it had only just returned from an unsuccessful trip to Holland; that the threatened exportation was only a hoax; and, finally, that in the incredibly short space of four months it had been exported, rejected in Holland, re-imported, and sold to the Gallery for the small sum of 2;200l. [sic] If this be the case, the excessive gullibility and ingenious trickery displayed in this transaction are both so admirable in their way, that it would be difficult to award the palm. Now, Sir, I hope it is unnecessary for me to remind the public that it is on them, and not on the silly vacillating dupe who misrepresents them, that such egregious impostures can have been practised; and if anything could add to our indignation at official waste and official misdemeanour, it is when we see it relieved and contrasted by the successful cunning of ignorant and uneducated men. If this Velasquez was worthy of so great a sacrifice to keep it in the country, what must we say of that culpable indifference which, after neglecting it for so many years, risked its loss in having allowed it to go to the continent? If, on the other hand, it was not of such vast importance, how can we sufficiently condemn the managers of the National Gallery for having suffered themselves to be bullied into buying it for 2,200l. by the threat of exportation? Not many months since this picture was offered to a private gentleman for 1,200l.—little more than half the sum we have been made to pay for it; but even at this price it would not have been a desirable acquisition, as a better picture might have been had for the money. We must, as I have before insisted, have *model* works, if any, and not squander the public money on fashionable mediocrity. We are thus plundered through the notorious incapacity of Mr. Eastlake, whose only guides in estimating a picture are "eminent German friends," German handbooks, German twaddle of every description, measurement of panels, exorbitant prices, and *threats of exportation*. I have met with some persons who are so pig-headed as to think that the "head and front" of his "offending" in the "libel" case was in having mistaken a *name*; whereas his offence lay in the gross ignorance manifested in his admiration and purchase of a low-class picture at a [price [right-aligned at foot of column] --- \* It is necessary to bear in mind that the beautiful "*new*" appearance which this picture now presents is owing to Mr. Eastlake having superintended the removal of the "dirt," and repainted the "cracks." --- *FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE NEWS, &c., SEE THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE TIMES OF THIS DAY.* --- Printed and published at the office, in Printing-house-square, near Apothecaries'-hall, Blackfriars, London, by John Joseph Lawson, printer, of No 35, Rye-lane, Peckham, in the county of Surrey.—Thursday, December 31, 1846.