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------------------SOUTH WALES.
SOUTH WALES. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF INQUIRY. [Continued from our last.] RADNORSHIRE TRUSTS. The Rhayader and Llangerrig Trust consists of less than ten miles of road, about four of which are in Montgomeryshire, the remainder in the county of Radnor. The history and condition of this small but impoi cant trust show the impossibility of relying on the pruduce of tolls oniy for the cons1ruC'IOU and repair of roads in poor and mountainous districts The old road from the mat ket-town of Rhayader, in the valley of the Wye, towards the sea-port town of Aberystwith on tbe west the direct post. road between that town and the Metropolis), passed over a moun- tain track of not less than I,5!)0 feet above the level of the sea. In another Ji,eclion. the road from Rhavader to L1anidloe-, con. necting the valleys of the Severn and tbe Wye, and North and South V< ales, passed over so hilly and ditRcult a tract of cOlin try that the funds of the Radnorshire Trust had never sufficed for its proper construction In the year 182S, it was ascertained, by actual survey, that a line of road could be so cons!rai ted, from Rhayader along the valley oftfoe Wye, as to communicate at once with Llanidloes and wllii Aberysiwilh, avoiding altogether the hills and obstacles which rendered lite old lines of road nearly useless. An Act of Parliament was obtaiued in 1S29, and I,YOOl. was borrowed on the security of the tolls for the construction of the road. As this SHm was found 10 be insufficient, a furtber sum 0f 2.S00t. was borrowed of an individual at -It per cent.; but, in order to obtain this loan, the creditors under the first loan not only g.ve to the lender a priority of claim ou the tolls as his security, but, in case of the tolls proving insufficient, became per- sonally responsible to him for payment of the debt. Two gales are placed on the road, the produce of which is not sufficient to pav the interest of the secund loan. The embarrassllleJ1" in whicb tins trust has b2en p1acerl. has lately been aggravated by either the misconduct or improvidence of a person, who was not only emplo, ell as surveyor, but suffered also to become tlte tenter of one of the turnpike gales. Accounts were produced by him of an expenditure on the road, in one vear, exceeding '2501, a part of which remained unpaid at the time of our inquiry, and the road, after an apparent expenditure 01'251. per mi:e, was complained of as nearly impassable. Large sums were levied Oil the parishes in the hope of keeping upen so im- portant a communication, but both the gales bad been attacked and that whic1! it was most difficult to protect, bas been twice pulled ùown. The iuIJabitanls of the adjoining parishes com- plained that they had the double burthen of p<ying tolls and maintaining the roads. Iu this trust we detected a singular and provokinj fralld prac- tised on the public. The toll fixed by the Act of Parliament is at one uniform rate lùroughout the year. In the adjoining trust of the county of Radnor, an addition to the usual toll is made in the winter months, and we found that the toll-board bad been surrep- titiously altered, and the same additional toll demanded, at olle of the gales in the Llangerrig Trust. This had been effected by pasting together on one board slips of two printed toll tables, combining the highesl rates chargeable under the two. Acis. Around the town of Rhayader, whether in one trust or in the other, the s,,i»e illegal demands for toll, in the cx.se of a carl passing the gates with a different loading in the same dav, were habitually exacted, as we have had occasion to s'ate with respect to Carmarthenshire. With the exception of the six miies of the Hanger) ig Trust which are situate in Radnorshire, and a small portion of road which is situate in the Mortimer's Cross Trust, belunjiiriw to the county of Hereford, all the turnpike-roads in this county are comurehended in one Act of Parliament. The Radnorshire Trust was created in 1776. Before that time, the only communications were either in deep hollow lanes, or by tracks over the hills. Considerallle sums of monev were borrowed when the trust was first created, \\hicll still remain an InclJrnbrance upon It, hut the science of engineering was, st that lime, so little undei stood, that the roads, as originally laid out. have been, in great measure, abandoned. New lines baçe been constructed, and, (or that pur- pose, additional sums have been borrowed. A large debt has been incurrtd, the maintenance of the roads has been thrown opon Ihe parishes, and great dissatisfaclion was found to prevail. We found, by a reference to the Act of Parliament, that almost every existing line of road in tbe county was included in it. Some lines, indeed, are named in tbe Act, which ilo not exist even as tracks, and which no one, by the description giten, could mark out or define. The object had been fo. give to tho: trustees the power of making a road without incurring the expellsP of a new Act, if. it should at any lime he thought desirahle lO do so IJutthe existence of ihsse roads as turnpike-roads, though a larjje ponioll or them are never superintended by tile trustees, has crpated great embarrassment since the provision in (he General Highway Act, to which we have before alluded, withdrew them from the charge of the parish snrveior. It was the practice of the trustees to expend money in laving out and improving a line of road when so improved, the parishes were looked to for the annual surface repairs. This they were not univ iliiug to under- take so long as the* received some aid from the trust, and super- intended tbe expenditure of whatever money they contributed, It was only when required, according to the 4th and 5th Victoria, to pay money into the hands of the treasurer of the trust, that the discontent arose. \Ve found an opinion prevailing thai money: was not always laid out in [he parish which bad raised iI, an:1 that if it were, th" expendilure was careless and improvident. How far these charges were well or ill founded we were unable to ascertain. A persun who fur several years had aClerl as sur- veyor had left the country, and had taken his account-books with him. ft appeared that he had rented a farm, which had with- drawn his attention from his duty as surveyor. The persons who said they had been employed by him claimed monev from the trust, as to which there existed no means of knoiviug whether the claims were just or nol. Tbe last annnalacconnl returned to the Clerk of the Pe ice was made oat from statements furnished by this surveyor, which were thought to he incorrect. A!I.tnt we ascertained, which we could depend upon with certainty, was, that tbe present surveyor laid out uo trust-money whatever upon the roads. What was done towards their repair, was provided for by the parishes under his superintendence, but the forms of obtaining money under the 4th and 5th Victoria, which requires it to be paid into the hands of the treasnrer, were no longer com- plied with; the provisions of that statute, and of the^General Highway Act, were alike disregarded j the parishes requitin ?, generally, that tbe money should be paid directly to the workmen t'mplolerluncter their own immediate supervision. In this trust the gates are not extremely frequent, and a reduc- tion of the loll on lime, which the trustees have adopted, has proved satisfactory, though in this case as in others of a similar character, the benefit has be"n obtained by setting aside lite law. There are five gates and one bar belonging to this trust, closely surrounding the tou n of Rhayader. Two of tb. se gales are upon the old roads 10 Aberystwith and Llanidloes, which the creation of the new line of communication b) Llangerrig, to which we have already alluded, has rendered nearly usel. SS, These roads have been practically abandoned by the trust, though the turn- pike-gates continue to exist upon them Both these gates together with one at the eastern end of the town, which became obnoxious because it was '0 placed as 10 requ re payment of tolls from persolls who eame upon the turnpike-road, at a sliort (lib- tance from the toll-bar, were destroyed hI au organized lIIon alld the toil could only he collected under th-e protection of police and a militan force. The annual income of this trust amounted in 18-12 to 1 957/ collected at S3 gates. The debt amounted at the ti.ne of oar inquiry to 12,0811., 0f which fiODt. was due to the Exchequer Bill Commissioners, and h *s in a regufa course of repayment. Or. he above sum LOOM. was borrowed at 41, and 46S/. at 4 per cent. Another claim upon the trust, amounting to no less a sum than 8,JOOI., appears to have been made, and to have been partially recognized by a portion of the trustees, at a meeting held for the purpose of taking the claim into consideration but the trustees now relying upon the legal opinions they have taken, refuse to acknowledge the nebt, snd there can be no doubt that, according to the facts stated in the evidence of the treasurer of the lruSI. the claim cannot lawfully be sustained. We refer to his evidence for an account of this singular, and most irregular and unau- thorized transaction, by which the whole management and juris- diction of not less than 28 miles of tbe road in the Radnorshire Trust were made over for a time to the trustees of the Montgo- meryshire Trust, and esiablished as a turnpike-road, chiefly at the cost of an individual, without any interference oil the part of the Radnor-hire Trust. The object which the projector of the work had in view was to open a communication with the Mont- gomeryshiie Canal, in which be was a large proprie or. The lolls now collected on this line of roan. after so large an expen- diture, would barely suffice to keep it in repair. ° We have sta'ed that a small portion of the turnpik.road is in another trust. The two principal approaches to the count v town, which happen also to lead to an important mass of lime rock' befongtoasmat) trust in Herefordshire. It thus happens that the tolls collected at two of the most productive and important gales in the county of Radnor, are altogether withdrawn from ihe funds and the purposes of the Radnorshire Trust. It forms no part of our rluly. to suggest alteration in the arrangements of trusts out of South Wales, but we think that if at any time a readjustment of turnpike trusts should take place, bevond the limits of that district, the immediate approaches to dIe county town ooght, in justice, 10 he.lllc1o(!ed III the Radnorshire Trust. Tile inhabitants now complam Ihat Ihe gates al the ontskivts 01 the town, aeiug in different Hosts, do not clear each other. There exists, under the powers of the Radnorshire Road Act a separate system of rnads, called the Wveside District, the whole of which roads are situate in the county of Hereford. We doubt theretore, whether it falls within the strict limit of oar duties to eu er upon the consideration of that portion of the trust. BRECONSHIRE TReST. The system which has been adopted in Breconshire for the ma- nagement of turnpike- roads, differs essentiahyfrotn that which pre- va.ls in any otbercountv in SoutbWales. There is one Act of Par- liament for the whole county but. by the provisions of the Act, lli- roads are divided^ into nineteen different districts. The Act cone lams also a provision for creating new branch roads, by enabling the trustees to erect toll-gates 011 roads about to be improved, charging the interest of money borrowed f..r the improvement of the new branch upon the tolls arising from that road only The new road is in this manner. prevented from becoming an encum- brance on the tolls of the older roads. Under this power a new line of road has been made from Crickhowell toTalgirth for which purpose 6,ÜJJI. was borrowed in the first instance but this sum not being found sufhclent, an addlllOn,l SUIII of :2.G00t. was b rrowed. and a claim, prior to that of all other creditors on this branch, was given to the lenders There were three turnnike- ga'es, which produced about 1801. a-year, but the creditors had consenled to the removal 01 one of tbe gates, and a diminution in the amount 10 be received hereafter from the tolls must be ex- pected to I :ke place. 1\0 delailed account of the ir.collle and expenditure of this branch of road is made to the Secretary of ■Ktate. The clerk of the Breconshire Trust has omitted to in- ch) Ie ihe required particulars in his annual statement. Thp general Breconshire Trnst, considered apart Irom the branch road we have described, contains 183 miles of road, on winch there were ä3 gates and bars. On the 13th day of Sep- tember, IS43, the trustees ordered nine out of the 33 to lie dis- con'inued, hut as several of these were bars, at which little money was received, the consequent rednction in the amount of the annual receipts of the trust was not expected to exceed 200/. The whole amount received Irom the different toll-gates was in L-)H.6,476/. The Act of Parliament which, as we have said, recognizes nineteen separate districts, requires that the toll col- lected in pach distiict should be laid out on the roads within its limits. The course pursued appears 10 be ibis:—The who e arnp"¡¡¡t received for loll is put together into one fund, out of which is paid the interest of the debt ( which debt amounts to 3.°,7-1: t.); 500/. is then set apart as a sinking fund a propor- tionate and rateable deduction is made on acconnt of these augre- caie payments from the money collected in each district, arnfthe remainder is (as required by the Act) laid out on the roads in the district in which it has been collected. It has been found that some of the districts are so unproductive, and the receipts so iii ioequale le the objects to be provided for. that the trustees have, iindei the guidance and aulbo itv of an opinion of counsel, determined to charge the main line of road, in which the largest amounts of tolls are teceived, with (he expenses and salarirs of the officers. In this trust one gate only had been destroyed. Such as were likely to become obnoxious had been taken down by order of the trustees. It is to be observed, however that Ihe tin no ike-roads are maintained hv the monev arising from the tolls The farmers are not called upon to mainl„in the roads and the complaint, so frequent in the counties we bad before visited, of having not only .o pay tolN, hut IIlIilllaia tbe roads !«; Td n,0t r econs're. Several representations ,T?r», P it* ,,rt<cSure of '"Us i« particular dis- /ef r V" r Cvrfir °r adjoining trusts. We 'r ™V >]r- Lawrence, and to that of several S of good, on :he road Itad.ng t0 the county of Glamorgan. The f&te* of tolls tre higher than in any trust we bare yet noticed in South Wales, viz., 9d. for a horse drawing a carriage on springs, 6d. in carts and waggons, and 2d. for a horse when ridden. The trustees having once raised the tolls to this scale, are unable to make any reduction without the consent of the creditors. It is worthy of notice, however, that when the tolls were raised to 9d. per horse IIn spring carriages, the trustees were a .vare that such a rate of toll would he prohibitory on stage- coaches. They exercised a power, iherefote, which the Jaw did not give, of continuing the former rate of 1011 on stage-coaches, limiti'ig the increase to carriages travelling post, and to those of private per SOliS. W e refer to Ihe evidence of Mr. John Jones, tbe Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, for an accouut of tbe operation of a local Act, passed in tbe year 1821, respecting bridges, which is sai,1 to be pioduclive of great local benefit, but which is altogether peculiar to thio; county. GLAMORGANSHIRE TRUSTS. Several of the principal trusts in Glamorganshire are included in an Act of Parliament passed in the vear ISO,), which was amended in the vear 18IH. The several trusts comprised in this Act are as distinct as if each one existed under a separate Act of Parliament. There is no combined system of accounts, no general superintendence or management. The trust'es who act in one trust seldom attend the meetings in another. Treasurers, clerks, and survevors, are appointed for each respectively. One uniform rale ot toll is provided by the Act for all the trusts. It amounts to Gd, a horse, equally, whether drawing carriages on springs, or carts and waggons; 2d. is paid for a horse when ridden. There is no exemption is favour of lime. But in the Swansea Trust the trustees have taken upon themselves to set aside the authority of the statute, and have exempted carriages laden with lime from the payment of toll. Illtue Bridgend Trust, the trustees put a more just interpretation on the jaw, and, when petitioned to adopt a similar course, came to the following reso- lution — Y"ur ComlllÏltee believe Ihat il i. not legal to exempt f,orn loll any article ur bc""t not exempted by ihe leui^iatnre, nor to reduce the toll oil any arti, !e or beast fouiiing part of a ctassof articles or beasts liable to 1\.11 uirter the same head, unless you proportionally reduce the loll on all animals or article, in the same class; that as the tax in the Gla- morganshire Act is on the beast nul drawing, ur 011 tlie bea.-t drawing any wa^tjon, &c., yon thust reduce the tolls on ail beasts not drawing, or on all b, asls drawing any waggon, Sic., if you iedlice the toll on any one beast not drawing, or on any one beast drawing, a waggolt conveying any one particular species ot goods. The difference in the course adopted by two sets of trustees, acting under precisely the same law, affords a remarkable proof of the uncertain operation of the present system, and its inade- quacy to give eflect ;o the intentions of the Legislature. In the amended Act, passed in 1831, there is a special pro- vision in favour of stage-coaches. It is provided that they shall at) be liable only to the payment of two tolls in each district each time of passing, notwithstanding any change of horses which may have takell place. It is important to observe, with reference to the Swansea dis- trict, that between that town and Llanellv, four tolls are paid on eleven miles of road, two 10 the Swansea Trust, one at Loughor Bridge, and one to the Kidwelly Trust. The trustees have been deterred from anv attempt to diminish ihe amount of this acknow- ledged pressure, bv considerations which were stated to us by Mr. Vivian. The Committee were very desirous to abolish the Loughor Gate, if they could have done it; but it the I,author Gale had be n abolished, all the oilier country urates i" the district He Su similarly circumstanced, that then the Poutaidnlais Gate must have been abolished, and others also; all,1 the consequence is, that the income of the Trust might have been diminished to su 1, an extent, that instead of three qtiailers toll, we should have been obliged to impose ihe fuIt toll. Between Swansea and Neath, a distance of nine mitps, three gates are payable. This pressuie arises from the circumstance of the Wych Tr..e Trust being established, by a separate Act of Parliament, between Ihe towns of Neath alld Swansea. The dilfjcullY which the existence of a separate debt created, under the provisions of the Wych Tree Act. hIs thwarted a 11 tbe attempts which have been made 10 consolidate the trusts, and thereby to provide for Ihe rellioval of tht.) Wych Tree Gate, as is cleàrly stated in Ihe evidence of Mr. Viviall. The Wych liee Trust was constituted about 60 years ago; it was for the pui po-e of b'liMiug a bridge over Ihe river fawe, and making the avenues anù approaches to Ihat bridge; consequently il included not only the bri Ige, but abont five miles uf road, Ih"1 IS, about two miles and a half on ea, h ,¡ 'e of the bridge. The e"pe,,<1il",e in Ihe repairs of this road was paid by the W, ch Tree Trllot; and, daring the last few years, a very consider a hie sum hits been ex pended in impi overner.ta Upllll that road. S" th"I1 the expiiation of the Ihir.1 pe, ind of 21 years. Ihat is now a boil I t.. c!o e, we find I hat there i.-i a debt of ;{,05il. on the U'y cli Tree Trust. By the geneial Turnpike Act for the county, of IS'2/, there was a clause giving a power of cons' lid,,tins; the )dl Tree with the Swansea Trust, wiiem ver Ihe bOlld, 011 the U ych Tree Tiu;t were paid utl; it Wits tlie wish 01 the neisiibo'Hiiood here thai the gate at the Wych Tree Bridge should be removed, and that the turnpike road should be in- cI<K1 •-<I, II ought to be, in theSwansei Trust and the Swansea Trnslees considered that Iney mii<l)l boi row the money to pay ott the debt upon the Wych Ti ee 1 < list, aod Illen consolidate it. Hut un uk ing a 1 e 14:1 i opinion noon it, we found ihat that was not exactly v\ hat was content plated by the Ad; Ih"llhe dense in lite Act conn tempi ated, of cou rse, ihat the<1ehl for the Wych l'ne Trust should be paid f orll the surplus of the Wych Tiee I1111 Is, aud that ihen the W'yrli Tree Tru-t was 10 ineree III the Swansea luist. On finding, f,om the opinions of let;al men, that this could not be d. ne, the Swansea Tinstees decided upon applying to PaftianH nt in the next session for power to enabie them to consolidate and the Swan sea trustees then, in oidei lo remove the \V)ch Tree Gate, arranged to relll t;,at Iple from llie Wych Tree Trnst Ul1lil they could get Ihal ACI p.,se.1. The receipts from turnpike lolls in the Swansea Trust are sufficient to provide for the repair of the roads (77 miles) with- out any application for aid from the parishes; although three miles of road äre within the town of Swansea, and require an annual ouliay of nearly lOM, per mile, and, as we were informed by the surveyor, "nearly half the wear and tear of that road paIs nolhing to the gate." It appens by a statement made to ns by the sa'ne person, that the arrangement made for giving effect to a clause introduced into all recent Turnpike Road Acts, has not proved adequate to ils object. "There is a clause in the act that none of the tells taken under this act shall be laid oul in the amendment or repair of Ihe branch loads except the tolls taken u,*on tiiat bianch road is the provision in Ilia' clause abided by ? —l'hr opinion is. that it is not strictly abided by a 1 we have renied the lolls it is impossible 10 say vvhat has been collecte9 1\1 the branch roads therefore, so much has beeu given as 10 enabie lId 10 keep 1 litm in decent repair. s The management of the Neath Trust appears to be more care- fully attended to than it was at an earlier period. The trustees have maintained the roads without aid from the parishes, and they have removed some gates and bars. Notwithstanding the diminution in their revenue which may result 1'1'0111 this slep. they hav e uudertaken to pay off the debt of one of Ihe creditors. The allairs ol the Bridgend Trust have recently undergone a minute and rigid investigation on the part of a committee of the trustees appointed for the purpose, of which Dr. Nicholl, her Majesty's Jodge Advocate General, was Ihe chairman. It ori. ginated in petitions allo memorials from the inhabitallls of several of Ihe neighbouring parishes, complaining of the pressure arisiiif from the tolls. It turned out, on investigation, that the allega- tions in these petitions, concerning Ihe number of the gates, could nut be strictly substantiated; nevertheless we think il important to give, in his own words, the expfanalioll given 10 us uy Ihe chairman of the committee, as it shows how imperfect the control over the toll-colleciors at piesent is, and how necessary it must be to restrain, within narrower limils, the existing powers of lev "ing money 11'0111 the public: — A pair of posts at the ell trance of Llanharran road, put up two or three years ago by the lessee, without any authority whatever from the trustees, cante to the knowledge of the t.ustees, and they instantly in- sisted that o 11 should not be collected there. Another pair of posts were put up on Brynua-gwynnon Common in 18-li by the I. s.-ee Hullen without any authority whatever; and they were removed without coining to the knowledge of the Commissioners. I do not believe that any single trustee ever knew that th se posts existed. I constantly go that Jllle of and I never kntw ;tnyiliiug of those post* and never ob^rvt-rt lliun. Of toother four pahs of posts-at one, tolls have not, a« far as we c"nl,1 learn, been collected ;.1 all within the last few yearo; at three, tolls are occasionally collected. At none of the- p. sts are there t,,1I boards, or chains, or huts for collecting tolls, and we con. s-der them perfectly illegal, and ni l included in the lease 10 the lessee. We only demise to hiin all the gales and bars,' there is not a woid said ot chants and po-ts: and we require in our Report, that every one of those p >sU as well as the Ty Mt ri haiit u'*te shall be instantly removed as illegal. We ctnnol find out the histoty of the erection of several of these p<sts, one pair certainly was put up as long ago as 1805, and waj probably intended as a substitute for another pair which was not re- moved, and lite Ty Merchant gate ",a, int-nded as a substitute for allolher pitir; but the lessee Hnlien, as h" Mated 11Ie olher day to us, acts upon the principle of taking toll wheiever he can yet it. Everyone of tho«e posts is mentioned in our Repoit, and we have explained the circumstances, but no complaint had ever been made, either to us as commissioners or magistiates, of those exactions before the memorial was presented." In the Oowbridge Trust, tbe roads have been repaired since I fell) without any Hid from tile parishes. The money received frOln tolls exceeds the interest of the delil in a greater propo: tion than in any trust in Glamorganshire. There are oirlv three turn- pike-gates in fifty miles of road, and it is only on account of the near approach of the gales at the exlremilv 01 this trust to those of the adjoining trust, that any complaints have arisen. Arrange- ments have recently been made for the establishment of a sinking fumt. ° The Cardiff Trust consists of 30 miles of road. comprehending a branch road of three miles, called the Ely Branch, and the Caerphilly Trust, though ostensibly a dislinct'trust, is under the management of tlie same trustees. "Though a liit;h r*te of toll is taken in the latter trust, the farmers are called upon to assist in maintaining the road. In this trust, as in others, in which a separate branch has been established it is proved that the pro- visions of the Act of Parliament, which require a distinct appli- cation of the money to the road on which the loll has been levied, are inadequate 10 carry out the intention of the Legislature. .Much cOlllplaillt was made of Ihe existellce of a chaill at Radyr, which requires the payment of toll from a number of persons when tbel have passed only 200 yards upon the turnpike-road. The Llanttissent Trust is in a less prosperous condition than those we have last noticed. It contains 39 miles of road, and the trustees had eslablishe d no less than eight turnpike-gates and lour chains; but of those, as. we were informed bv the clerk, lliey now propose lo abolish six The annual amount of toll collecied did not exceed 50lf. In this trust three gates had been destroyed by acts of violellcer Idlhorlgh lime, coal, aud culm, are by the Act of Parliament, exempt from the payment of tolls. A tnrnpike-gate is maintained between Newbridge and the Gla. morganshire Canal, on a road respecting which much doobt has existed whether it is included in the Act of Parliament. The arrangement of the trusts in the neighbourhood of the im- portant town of Merthvr-Tydvil, is rendered inconvenient if. the highest degree, as «ell by their position as by their number. The Breconshire Trust has esiablished a gale within tjie limits of the borough. The Merthyr Trust joins the Breconshire, and leads through the town in a direct line towards Cardiff. This ro id is intersected by the Abernanl and Rh^dybleu Trust, which fends in a transverse direction from; Abergavenny towards Swansea. The Llantrissent Trust and the Aberdare Trust come info contact with it on the west the Cardiff and Caerphilly on the south and east. The inevitable result is a frequent and ha- rassing demand for the payment of loll. In three of these trusts the Acts of Parliament authorize the trustees to take Od. for a horse drawing a carlon nairow yvheels. In one of them this toll f had.been reduced to 6d. wilhin a few weeks before our arrival. On the other two it was still taken, and no exemption existed in favour of coal or lime In one of them the truslees are empow- ered to take double toll for all carriages passing on Sundays, and during four months in the year, a like addition is demanded on a 1 carriages laden wilh limber. Mr. John Miller, a brewer, whose establishment is about a mile and three quarters west of the town, told us there were four turnpike-gales within six miles Several, persons," he said, "gave me orders for beer which I should have had to take through those gites. I said, Y()u h ui better go to the Rurnney people, and get your beer of them, because; the small profit we get upon it will not pay for tlie gales For other illustrations of the extreme pressure and inconvenience resulting from this jnxla-po.sition of rival trusts we refer to the statements of Sir John Guest, and others, which will be found in the evidence. An attempt was made to conso- lidate, bv Act of Plrliamenl. the Abernant Trust with that of Merthvr-Tydvil. The road in the former trust is incomplete it finished, it would open an important communication beiween Swansea and Abergavenny, shortening I he cii., ance (as we were told) not less than I8 miles. The object which the trustees had in view by Ihe consolidation was to rsise money on the security of the tolls of the combined trusts for the purpose of finishing the road. The Bill passed the House of Commons; but, as we were illformerl oy Sir John Guest, an ubjection was made ill the Honse of Lords to allowing one trust to pay the dehts of another The finances of the Merthvr Trust were in good cir- cumstances, and, therefore, it was thought they ought not to be saddled with the expenses of the other trust." It remains for us to notice the Aberdare and Newmili Trusts, which, bv the accounts we receifed from their respective officers, appear to stand on altogether a different footing from any of the oilier Glamorganshire Trusts. We weretold by Mr. Wawie, that there was neither clerk nor surveyor to the Aberdare Trust he was virtually treasurer he had been told 15 years ago, that if he would take the ollice lie/might go through the gates loll free, and be said, let it be sff There are ten miles of road in the Trust. In die year 1844 lliey collected 169Z. by tolls, demanding 9d. for a horse drawing, without any exemption for lime or coal. The whole of the receipt, be it what II may. IS laid out url die roads under rhe direction uf individuals living in the lIeighbourhood. who overlook the expenditure, and render a regular account. Under their superintendence the work is sdid to he effectually done. The road h good, and die parish- ioners are not called upon to contribute either money or labour towards lis re mirs. The money advallcerl for ihe original establishment ol the r""d is consideied and treated.tsanift. \Ve were in ormed Dy M:. Wayne that tJie deed-poll holders have nevtr received one lartiiing from the time the road has been made to the present moment. They are cliieflv men wh/ Ii ivej lived in the vM!ey— in.ii-masters and so on,— and they waive their claim to interest." The parishioners of Llanwonno had been relieved fiom all ciiari;eof mainlaininjl the road, which had t ee11 productive ot so mueh bt ncfit that ihe money udvanced had been viiiu .lly treated as a gifi to the Trust. i he roiui in i In- ]Ve w Mil I Trust. comprising about eight miles, as we were informed, was principally made by Mr. Crawshav, UlIt of bis own funds, 10 i"acilll:1 e the communication between his own residence and Merthyr. This account was confirmed by the clerk to the t-its', who lo'tl us "that M r Crawshav li.ul his house at Mei.sol; lie had a diiffculty of access up the hill. Mr. Richard ndl was illlfresled in the propertv at Tre-forest, and pointed out the convenience this line would be." Tlie clerk expressed a 'lelief ihat the su >scr ibei s ex peel ed, al the lime, to receive interest Oil the money advanced but others disseired from this opiiroi!, and consider* d that the money advanced by Mr. Crawshay was expended without the expectation of ai. y relu rll. N 01 wi, h,ta nrl ing 'hf' oul "n oi" "uov e 40001., the road, though ad milted to be an use fu I line of communication, remans not only unfinished, bin in some p ,r:, nearly impassable. The to:1 received ill the last year amounted only to Wl which annual sum aftonls the ulJlymeaus which can be looked to, either 10 repau the ex- isting rojd, lo complete that which is unfinished, or to satisfy a debt <\ Lid, amounts, ilJdudlug a lIuminal arrear 01 intt rest, aud monev due to ihe treasmer, lo little slioit of !(),)<)/. Li is necessary tor us, before we close this portion of our report, lo expl-'in somewhat in detail the situmim and circumstances of the Runniey Bridge Tr. st. The great line of mail-coach com- munication bitween Bristol and Milford Haven passes over th is bridge, which connects the count lesof Monmouth and O iam organ. It was cuiisi rucie 1 under a permanent Act of Parliaim m, which was amended ni 18H), for the purpose 0f borrowing addiuonal money and increasing ilie tolls. It appears th.a the construction ot the bridge was originally entrusted to a conlraclor, who eilher hud nol the requisite knowledge, or sutlicient means lor the enure completion of lite- work. lor i: was washed away by a flood before M was finished. At a cost considerably exceeding 4,OOill., a ,Ion" hridge, with a 'lI'gle arcil, has heeu erecled, aud the charge of that debt is now entailed on the public, although it is slated ih.it a more commodious and equally substantial bridge might have been erected for half the cost. Of this money ],v<) vva, expended in obtaining the two acts of P arliament. S xpence per horse is taken, if drawing a carriage on springs; -ljd. lor a horse in cait or waggon; 2d. when ridden: liie act authorises a double toll on Sundays. At the end of the bridge, on tlie Monmouthshire si e,stand two turnpike houses with the gate bet ween ihe in. At one ol l lieni t he britl ge toll is demanded at ihe other I he loll for the Newport TurnpiheTrust. Imme- diately at the (her end of the bridge Ihe Card iff Trust begins, and as the law noiv s ands,'here is no reu-on whatever why the commissioners of that trust should not order a third toll-house to be erected, and a third toll to bedemanded at the other end of the bridge. A propositi >n has been laiii'y made to relieve the pubiic from the heavy charge created by the loll on this bridge, by dividing th debt ot the bridge between the Newport a d Cardiff J rusts, and throwing the rep.tirs ot the bridge as a joint charge on the two counties ol Glamorgan and Monmoulli. In order to accomplish this object, ihe expense ofa new Act of Parliament wou.d have t" he incurred. ( To be continued).
PAVING COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.
PAVING COMMISSIONERS' MEETING. A Special Meeting oftlie above body was held at our Town-Hall on Monday last. The following Members at. tended :—The Mayor,in the chair, Messis. O. G. Williams, R. Aubrey, M. J. Michael, T. Glover, J. Richardson, Geo. How, and Dr. Bird. The MAYOR stated that the first business to be transacted by the meeting would be tbe signing of a Bond to Mr. Thos. Walters, for the sum of 10001. lent by him to the Paving Cominissionei s. The CLEHK then, at the Mayor's leqnest, read over a resolution passed at a former meeiingof the Commissioners, to the effect that Mr. Walters's offer of the above SIII11, for payment of interest and other debts, be accepted, and that the Commissioners g ve him a bond for the amount. The MAYOR then added, that Mr. W. Walters, on behalf of his father, attended the inee.ing, and had brought with him the one thousand pounds, which he was ready toadvance on the secniiiy of the lates. Mr. AUDREY expressed a doubt whether the Commis- sioners had the power, nnder their present act, to raise the money in the way proposed. Mr. Aubrey referred to a Counsel's opinion, taken some time ago, which, he considered, questioned the authority of the Commissioners to borrow money. Mr. \V. WALTERS thought that Mr. Aubrey must be mis- taken. Tbe opinion to which allusion had been been made threw no doubt v\hateveron the authority of the Commis- sinners. Mr. MICHAEL was of opinion titat, if Mr. Walters was so far satisfied of the power of the Commissioners as to ad- vance the money, they (the Commissioners) sin uld most undoubtedly be satisfied, for if there were any doubts about the matter, Mr. Walters underwent the risk. After some further conversation, Dr. BIRD moved, and Mr. (). G. WILLIAMS seconded, a resolution to the following effect I hat this meeting do execute a mortgage of the Paving and Lighting Rates o Mr. Wallers, as a security for the payment of the interest on 1000/. borrowed of him." The resolution was carried. Messrs. AUBREY and GLOVER expressed their intention to decline signing the bond. The MAYOR observed, that if the minority declined acting, after any resolutions had been" carried by the majority, public business could never be proceeded with. Some further discussion having taken place, the bonds were signed. Resolutions were then agreed to-- Thai cheques be drawn far OSOl. being debts and interest due nom the Commissioners lo this date, and also for the pavment of taxed debts and costs in the action brought against the Commis. missioners hy the Executors of the lal« Rev. Evan Griffith." It vvas ilien agreed — fnat the bi'I of Mr. William Wallers, solicitor, in the suit in Chancery against the Commissioners, be referred to the Town Clerk and to the Clerk to the Commissioners, to examine, and thai the amount, when taxed, be paid, together with Mr. Walters's charge for preparing the bond for lCOlJl." It was also agreed — That the sum of lOtJl. be paid to Mr. Wm Walters on account of legal expenses connected with the new Dill." Dr. BIRD then rose to move a resolution. He o' served that there were a great number of ratepayers who were in arrears with the piesent rate (for 1843). 0f these there were many unable from poverty to pay, while there were others who, though they were fully able, declined for vaiious reasons to pay them, and saying that they did not mean to pay them. He (Dr. H.) was of opinion the Commissioners should enforce the payment of the rates, and proceed in the first place against those defaulters who were able to pay. Dr. Bird referred to the Water Works as owing 15/. in rates, and concluded by moving a resolution, directing the Clerk to proceed against that Company. 1 he MAYOR thought he could save the necessity of pass- ing that resolution, as one which was virtually I he same had been agreed to at a former meeting of the Commissioners, and amongst others against whom wai rants had been issued was the Water W'oiks Company. In answer to a question fiom the Mayor, Mr. BRENTON said, that the distress warrants issued against the goods of the parties who had refused paying the rates had not yet been signed by the Magistrates. Alter several additional observations from various members, Dr. Bird withdrew the proposition. NEW RATE.—The MAYOR now stated that it would be necessary to raise one additional rate under the powers of the old Act. The<*ollector (Hrenton) had endeavoured to get III as m ny arrears as possible, notwithstanding which, they had no funds to pay for cleaning the streets and to- wards other ordinary expenses. Had he (the Mayor) not paid the scavengers out of his own pocket, he would ha\e been obliged to stop them altogether. In answer to a question by a Commissioner, Mr. BRENTON said, that there was about 2001. of the old rate available, the payment of which depeuded upon the result of the proceed- ings taken. Mr. AUBREY made some observation, with regardko the unequal assessment of the present rate, and suggest^fl that a Committee should be appointed to revise the assessment. After which, Dr. BIRD moved a resolution to the follow- ing effect :— "Thatanew paving and lighting rate for 1841 be declared forthwith, and that a Committee, consisting of the May. r, Mr. Michael, Mr. Aubrev, Dr. Bird, and Mr. Richardson, be appointed to review the assessment made, and ascertain that there is an equal and fair assessment, and thai they have power to add lo their number, bcc." Mr. GLOVER objected to Dr. Bird's proposition, and moved the following amendment "That it is not expedient at present to levy a new rate, the available amount of the rate of 1843 now due, being about 20'J/. together with a balance in the bank of (JGl." He (Mr. G.) thought it quite preposterous to impose a new rate upon the town, vvhiie the fifth part of the old rate re- inained uncollected. Did the Commissioners suppose that people would pay it ? The MAYOR observed, tint if they would not, distresses mnsi issue. Mr. GLOVER would have no objection to Dr. Bird's leso- Itnion, provided a clause were inserted to the effect "that the rate should not be collected for two months." It had been given out to the public, ilia* there was an available balame, while at the same time it remained uncollected and a new rate imposed. Mr. MICHAEL observed, that, by MI. Glover's amendment, it would appear as if the balance were available by merely calling lor it, whereas its collection depended upon the result of the proceedings against the puties. Mr. GLOVER: —It will be so with the new rale. The arrears ate quite as available as the new rate will he. If parlies refuse paying the arreais, they can refuse the new rate upon thesameprincipie. Mr, AUBREY and Dr. BIRD having addresseJ a few ob- servations to the meeting. Mr. O. G. WILLIAMS said that, in his opinion, the Com- missioners had no light to assess the town before the o!d rate was collected, so far as practicable. There were some people V* ho I egularly paid their rates, while various others declined doing so, and if a new nteweie made, Mr. Brenton would collect from those who paid regularly, as such a course would "hring grist to his mill," and leave the arrears of tile old rale nllcollecled. He would support Mr. Glover's amendment. After a lengthened discussion, Dr. BIRD assented to in- troducing into his proposition a clause to the effect—Ihat the colleciion of the new rale do not commence for six weeks, upon which Mr. GLOVER withdrew his amendment. The resolution was then unanimously cariied. A esolntion was also agreed to that the Commissioners should advertize for a collector of the next rate." Some additional unimportant business having beeu trans- acted, the meeting separated.
f THE REVENUE.
f THE REVENUE. Abstract of the Net Produce of the Revenue of Great Britain in the Quarters ended on the 51h of April, 1843, and the 5th of April, 1844, showing the Increase or De- crease on each head thereof: — Qrs. ended April 5, r r. 1843 1844 increase Decrease. r ±\ £ £ £ Customs 4,219,587 4.(504.4-17 384.910 — E*0lse 1,7(57,373 1,852,(589 8,j,316 — StaraPs 1,593,126 1 ,539,011 45,885 — Taxes 1-12,098 141,085 1 987 Property Tax.. 1,885 232' 1,992,859 107.G-7 — Post-OHicc 1 !4,000; 174,00:) 30 00G — Crown Lands 35,010 (>5,0)0 30,000 — Miscellaneous.. 541,550! 41,292 — 500,254 10,328,522 10,513,9a3i 085,725 5J0,264 Imprest & other Moneys 10,907^ 54,2441 37,337 — Repayments of Advances foi Public Works 124,048 226,28.1 102,23G — 10,409,477 10,794,511 825 298 500,264 1- Deduct Decrease 500,261 Increase on the Quarter. 325,034 Abstract of the Net Produce of llie Revenue of Great Britain in the Years ended on the 5ih of April, 1843, and t he 5th of April, 1844, shewing the Increase or Decrease on each head thereof: — Years ended April 5, T „ 181> 1844 Increase Decrease. f. £ £ £ Customs 18,799,791 19,458,129 658,335 — Excise. 11,105,51<; 11,880,423 474,607 — Stamps 6,4*4,739 6,472,040 — 12,690 Taxes 4,2(55,537 4,192,473 — 73,064 Property Tax 2,456,288 5,365,887 2,900,59!; — Post-0 llice 007,000 622,000 15,000 — Crown Lands 117,500 147,501; 30,000 — Miscellaneous.. 797,774 1,134,477 336,703 — 44,934,148 49,263,629 4,415,244 85,763 Imprest & other Moneys 502,601 205,865 — 296,739 Repayments of Advances for Public Works 642,058 927,483 285,425 — 46,078,810 50,396,977 1,700,669 382,502 Deduct Decrease 332,502 Increase on the Year 4,318,167 the Revenue Iables, made up to the 41h inst. (the 5th being Good Friday), exhibit a considerable increase both in the cor- responding quarter and on th- year—the former, of 325,031/. and on the latter, of four millions three hundred and eighteen thousand one hyndred and slity seven pounds.—This increase is the more gratifying, as it arises from sources which shew an augmentation of comfort among the productive classes of the commiiriilv. The Customs exhibit an increase on the year of £ 65S,335 On thequarterot. 384,910 The Excise, on the year of 474^607 On ihe quarter of 85,316 1 he Post Ollice, on the year of 15.00!) On the quarler of 3Q (J00 Deduct Decrease- Stamps £ 12.699 Taxes 73,004 Altogether the Quarter's Revenue is a matter of congratulation, and may be taken as an indication, though a faint one, of slowly- reviving trade and prosperity throughout the country. The Property Tax produced £ 5,305.837".
THE COUNTY COURTS BILL.
THE COUNTY COURTS BILL. On Wednesday the Bill for the more easy recovery of small demands in the (bounty Courts of England was piinied. It contains no fewer than 122 clauses, with several schedules annexed. By ihe pieamble it is declared, that "sundry Acts of Parliament have been passed fiom time to time for the more ease and speedy recovery of small debts within certain towns, parishes, and places, and it is expedient that the provisions of such Acts should be amended, and that one rule and manner of proceeding for the recovery of small debts and demands should prevaii thronghont England." It then states, that as the proceedings of County Courts which now possess authority over debts to 40s. are dilatory and ex- pensive, it is expedient to alter and regulate the maimer of proceeding, and that the Courts established under the re- cited Acts of Parliament, or such of them as ought to be continued, should be liolden after the passing of this Act as branches of the County Courts under the provisions of this Act, and that power should be given to her Majesty to effect these changes at such times and in such manner as may be deemed expedient, with the advice of the Privy Coullcil; and that it shaft be lawful for her Majesty, by and with the advice of her Pi ivy Council from time to ti n t order that this Act shall be put in force in such connt^jr counties as to her Majesty, with the advice aforesaid, from time to time shall seem fit; and the Act shall extend to those counties concerning which any such order shall have been made, and not otherwise or elsewhere. The following appear to be important provisions in this Act, which was introduced bv Sir James Graham and Mr. Manners Sutton on Fiiday night — See. 43. And be it enacted, that all pleas of personal actions, where the plaintiff claims any dellt, or claims any damages, arising out of the breach of any express or implied agreement or claims, 10 recover the possession or value of any goods or chattels unlawfully taken or kept from him, and where the debt, or damage, or value of the goods chimed is not more than 151" may be holden in the County Court without writ, wherever the cause of action mav have arisen, and all such actions brought in the said (Join t shall be heard' and determined in a summary way, according to the provi- sions of this Act; provided always that the Court shall not have cognisance of any action in which the title of any cor- poreal or incorporeal hereditaments, or to any lull, fair, mar- ket, or franchise shall be in question, or atisingoutofor re- lating to any will or settlement. ° Sec. 78. And be it enacted, that whenever the Judge shall have made an order for the payment of money, the amount shall be recoverable, in case of default or failure of payment thereof, foithwith or at the time or limes, and in the manner hereby directed, by execution either against the body or against the goods and chattels, or first against the goods, and if no goods, or not sufficient to satisfy the claim, shall be found, then against Ihe body of the party against whom such order shall be made; and the Clprk (If the said Court, at the request of the paity prosecuting such order, shall issue uixtfrthe seal of the COllrt a writ of fieri facias or capias, as the case may be, as a warrant of execu- tion to one of the Bailiffs of the Court, who, bv such war- rant, shall he empowered to take in execution the body (if not privileged against arrest) of the party against whom such order shall be made, or to levy, by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of such party within the jurisdiction of the said Court, such sum of money as shall be so ordered and also the costs of the execution, and all constables alld other peace officers wilhin their several jurisdictions shall aid in the execution of everv such warrant." It is further provided, that persons shall, in default of pay- ment, be committed to the Debtors' prison, and the term of imprisonment is regulated by the following provision: And be it enacted, that no person shall remain in custody under any warrant against the body issued under this Act longer than 40 days for any sum not greater than 40s. or longer than one day for every entire shilling contained illlhe sum mentioned in the wairant when such sum is greater than 40s." This section will require amendment to prevent a long inipiisonineni, as il will be in the power of persons to keep back executions until the detainers have nearly ex- pired, and then to put them into force. Persons who negtect to appear when summoned are liable to be fined 51., and to to have Ihe fine enforced by the sale of their soods. The 1101 h clause is a prohibitory provision to ihe bringing of actions in the Supeiior Courts under 15/. ''And be it enacted, that if any action shall be prosecutfd after the commence- ment of this Act in any of her Majesty's Courts of Record at Westminster, or in the Court of Common Pleas at Lan- caster, for any cause oilier than those lastly hereinhefore specified, tor which a plaint might have been entered in any COllrt holdell under this Act, alld a verdict should be found for the plaintiff for a sum less than 1M" the said plaintiff shall have judgment to recover snch sum only, and no costs, and shall have execution only against the goods and chattels of the defendant; and if a verdict shall not be found for the plaintiff, the defendant shall be entitled to his costs as between attorney and client, unless in either case the Judge who shall try the cause shall certify on the back of the re- cord that the action was fit to be brought in sucii superior Court." There is no time mentioned (in the event of the Bill pass- ing) when it shall come into operation, further than that her Majesty shall direct, with the advice of the P,i.y Council when it shall take effect.
MISC ELLAN E 0 U S.'
MISC ELLAN E 0 U S. RAILWAYS. The "report," just published bv the Select Commitiee on Railways, consists of twenty" pat a- IYraphs and sixteen resolutions. The committee, adver;iu« to the gi eatly-inci eased number of applications for railway bills, as compared with those of former vears-! he much- diminished opposition (not to say thegrowing favour) shown to them by the owners of ).,ndedpropertv-)he enormous and redundant capital ill the country, which it is of so much inoilleiit should be app.op.iated to domestic investment-and the distressing expe.ience of late times, which has rendered capitalists little disposed to lay out their money in foreim securities declare then conviction that the time has now arrived for atlaclnn-, beforehand, to the legislative sanction which is asked for by the parties lo such new bi'ls, on their own behalf the condition which mil be deemed necessary tor the public good. The committee, at the same lime, sug- gest that it would be to lake all unwise and eiroueous esti- mate ot the publ c interests in this matter, to regard rail.oad interests as opposed to, or even distinct from those of the public convenience." They recommend that upon parties applying for new lines of railway, there should be attached immediate liabilii es with regard to accommodation trains minimum expeduion for travelling, fo, third-class passe,i-eis. The contingency under which the government (upon" the committee's proposition) should inleilere, in the case of ex- tant and working companies, is set forth in Resolution 3. We conceive that they are equitably devised. They provide, that if, al the end of a term of years lo be fixed, ihe annual divisible profit upon the paid-up share capital of any such line shall be equal to a per centage lo be fixed, it shall" be in the option of the government either—1st, to purchase the line at the iate of a number of years' purchase, to be fixed at such diusitde profits; or, 2dly, to revise the fares and charges on the line in slIdl a llIallner as, in the judgment of the government, shall be calculate,I to reduce the said divisi- ble profits (assuming the ad inteiirn continuance of the same quantity and kinds ot anuual liatfie) to the said per centre; but wilh a guarantee on the part of the govei nmenl, to sub- sist while such rate of fares and charges shall be in force, 10 make up the divisible profits to the said per ceutage." ¡ AMERICA AND THE IRON TRADE.—Among the articles of British manufacture affected by the American tariff are the following:—Iron, in bars or bolts, 15 dollars per Ion; made by rolling, 20 dollars; railroad iron, if laid on the road, 10 dollars, but if not, 20 dollars; pig iron, 7 dollars; chains. chain cables, &c., 50 per cent; old or scrap iron, 6 dollars per ton iron wire from No. 14 to 25, silvered or plated wires, spike-rods, nail plates, rolled and hammered iron in sheets; hoop-iron, rolled or hammered for bands iron cables or chains, mill irons and cranks, wrought iion spikes and nails, cut iron spikes and nails, and similar manu- factures of iron, 30. Screws, called wood screws, 30 per cent.; steel, 1 dollar 50 cents, per 1121 bs. BIRTH IN A MAIL COACH.— On Sa'urday evening a lady, who had just arrived in London by raitway fiom Folkestone, started for Norwich by that mail, which goes from the Belle Sanvage, Ludgate-hill, and after travelling outside a few miles on the road, she complained of sudden illness. Fortunately there was room in the coach for another inside passenger, and the coachman, John Edes good naturedly assisted her therein, where there were three gentlemen seated. The lady now appeared to have re- covered, and all went on well nnil they arrived within about five miles of Newmarket, when certain painful ejacu- lations having escaped her lips, the gentlemen hailed the driver, who, on opening the coach door, to his surprise dis- covered that his tour inside passengers had increased to five the lady having given birth to a fine boy. On their arrival at Newmarket, she was taken out of the coach and placed ill an apartment provided for her at the hotel, and she is now going on well She is the wife of a gentleman named Andeiton, residing at Norwich. EXTKIORDINAKY SUICIDE. — An inquest has been a 1 0n tl,e b0l'y "f !l fine young woman, named Charlotte Gnftn, late housekeeper in the house of iiersplf't atn s,l;Ke°"» Fleet-street, who destroyed h is( If by swallowing a large quantity of laudanum. Much was excited in this case in consequence of deceased J"V *r atlri!JUted thp rash act to her having been seduced by Mr. C. ociatcnley, a clergyman, and brother to her I-omm! I10 TiiS °!' "le l>ren,ises at time the act was committed It subsequently appeared, however, from the statement °f deceased's sister, that the unfortunate girl hud i i ,>l'evi,0,s ,0 lle' connexion with Mr. C.Scratchley, but that she had lived with that gentleman as his wife for wo or three years. On Mr. Scratchley's turning his alten- tion to the church, the connexion was shaken off, and this cncuinstance had preyed much oil the mind of deceased. The jury I etlll ned the following verdict:—" We find that eceased, Charlotte Griffin, committed suicide while in U^r Lf temporary insanity, induced by the cruel and beatHess conduct of Mr. Charles James Scratchley, B.A., and we are compelled to express our strong disapprobation of the flippant and unfeeling manner in which that gentle- mans evidence was given on the night of Monday last." The verdict was received with evident marks of satisfaction "y a densely-crowded conrt. ANOTEIKK ATIEVJPT AT MURDER. — On Tuesday, great excitement prevailed in the nei-hbouihood of Gravel-lane, Southwark, by a report that a woman, named Sycamore, had been bai baronsly treated by a man with whom she cohabited in Silver-street. It appeared that the wretched woman, who had been separated from her husband for 14 years, resided n a miserable apartment situate in the attic story of the above li use. About half-past four in the afternoon the neighbours were alarmed by her cries for assistance, and. on a number of persons running up stairs, they discovered ihe poor woman y'nn on the floor in a state of insensibility, having been beaten in so dreadful a manner all over her body that lite was scarcely perceptible. The police were immediately caHed out dnring Ihe interval her paramour had contrived to escape observation. 1\1r. Odling, surgeon, High-stieet, was sent for, and that gentleman directed her removal to Guy's Hos- pital. The police then commenced an active search after the perpetrator of the outrage, who.. it appeared that he had made his escape by means of the small attic window, with a view °f dropping from the roof into the street; but finding a impracticable, he clambered along some slan ing roofs of the adjacent houses, umil he could get no further, when a scuffle ensued between him and the police before thev were enabled to secure him. They eveutually succeeded, and he was conveyed to the station-house. The unfortunate woman has long been the victim of this man's brutality. On being conveyed to the Hospital, it was found that her head and body presented one contused mass of bruises, evi- dently produced by the blows ot a blunt weapon (supposed to be a poker found in the room nearly bent double). Not the slightest hopes are entertained of her recoveiy. DREADFUL FIRF. IN OXFORD-STREHT, AND SIX LIVES LOST.—On Thursday night, a fire, attended with great de- struction of property and loss of life, broke ont in the Rose and Crown wine-vaults, the corner of Gilbert-street, Oxford- stred. The alarm was speedily given, and messengers sent offforenKmes. At that time two children were sleepin- in the upper pari of the building. There were also two women and three men servants in ihe place, as well as Mrs. Williams and her sister. Such was the force of the flames, that in less than three minutes the fire had extended to the bar amongst the spirits, which, once on fire, spread with the most surprising rapidity up the staircase to the upper apartments. The ex- citement which followed was most painful to describe. At the: counting house window a young woman named Fritcbley made her appearance, and before sufficient time had elapsed to pro- cure a ladder she was compelled to throw herself to the ground to escape suffocation, and, fortnnateh, the only injury she received was a few bruises about the knees. The en-ines now arrived rapidly, hut no sooner had the first got into work, than one of the vats of spirits burst, and the liquor becoming ig- nited it rushed forth through the windows with terrific violence By the time the engines were got into full play, the flames had reached every room in the building, and were rushing through the windows and roof, extending half way across the street, causing the most fearful apprehension to beeutertained for the safety of the contiguous buildings. The fire continued to blaze most fiercely until a quarter past one o'clock, when the firemen got the the complete mastery over it, and no further destruction of property occurred." In the course of another half hour it was entirely extinguished, not, however, until almost every part of the building and its valuable con- tents were destroyed. In searching the ruins at four o'clock, *7 ,vy,r a °,y SUI,P0SP«1 the potboy, and those of Mrs. Williams, her two children, and two female servants, were found so burnt as to resemble logs of charred wood.- 1 he origin of the fire could not be ascertained.—^The total damage must amount to a very serious sum. A great number of other buildings are damaged, more especially those of Mr. True lock, potato merchant, adjoining, and Mr. Godfried, tobacconist, opposite both premises are extensively damaged' ■7 fi,re,i'n'1 tl,e stock b.V removal, &c. The premises of Air. Mash, Oxford street, and Mr Coolbaker, in the same street, were likewise much scorched by the heat of the flames —The police were of the greatest service to the firemen in keeping back the many thousands of persons who hail been drawn together to witness the progress of the conflagration. Later Particulars.—As soon as the ruins were sufficiently cooled the brigade men got over the roof of the adjoining houses, and by raising the ladders reached the party wall of the premises, and upon looking over it saw what appeared to be the body of a man lying on the floor of the second story front. At first the ruins appeared in such a tottering condition as to render it dangerous to approach. Ladders, however, having been placed over tie most dangerous portion of the floor, the fire- men found the body to be that of the potboy Jacob, who ap. pcared to have died from suffocation, for his hands covered his face, and he was lying flat on the floor, not much burnt. The firemen having lowered the remains down the front of the Iwilding into the street, they proceeded tomakefurthf-rsearch and in the course of another hour and a half they found the remains of five other persons — three women and two children They were discovered entangled in the burnt rafters in the back floor, but it was impossible to recognize them, all trace of human form having been destroyed, each servant having a child clasped in her arms. The body of Mrs. Wjtjiams was subsequently found dreadfully burnt.—The loss of life appears to be, Mrs. Williams, aged 27 Eliza Williams, years- Wm. Williams, 8 months; Sarah Hodgson, cook; C. FltZ, nursery-maid; and Jacob Pickering, potboy. All the bodies were placed in shells, and removed to St. George's Work house.—Mr. Williams was from home when the fire broke out but returned about one o'clock, just as the flames were got under. His stale of mind can be better imagined than de scribed.—An inquest was held on the bodies on Saturday, before Mr. Higgs, deputy-coroner for Westminster, at the Malpas Arms, Charles street, Grosvenor square, when, on the conclusion of the evidence, which accorded with the above particulars, the Jury immediately returned a verdict of "Ac- df-ntal Death," with a recommendation to the police that iu all cases of fire they ought 10 direct their first and chief efforts to the saving of the lives of the inmates. Ex Uxo DISCE OMVES.—Wesee a Parliamentary Report has just been published "On Smoke." As this tide is so very ambigious, could anv of our contempormies inform us which measure of ihe Session is the subject of the report? We will do as much tor them in a similar embarrasin^nt — Punch.
HYMN TO SPRING.
HYMN TO SPRING. THOU comest once more, fairest cliilil of (he Sun Willi all that is lovely 10 t>I:i«1 deri our cjes; While Ihe ocean that heaves, alld Ihe livers that run, Flash bark (lie elhereal lit;lit of Iby SkIes. F! "Wi-r- follow thy footsteps, ^><1 blossom* bnds Arp scattered ;throar1 from Ihy Th' re is health on the mount*iin»t ami joy in ij/e vvoortg • H*il 11,1 i 1 tr> the*- beantiflll Spring Tholl COIUPst once Innte, alld rhy voices awake III snalchl's of melody ever) where, Glvl choristers call fro'M (lie forest and brike To lll<- LHk who makes vocal tht* tftuiulons air; The tinkle of waters* i. heaid ill Ihe bo vve is, And gig-hs Iik»* the tones of the *eph>r h n p's siting1 Thbee mnrmurs low to Ihe amorous flowers Hail I hail lo thee beautiful S pi jug J Sunny Summer haih charms in the freshness of morn In the n lory and pomp of voluptuous noon* And who comes with hlA (rnilrice and corn, Kejoireth my heart with hi. bnuniiful booll; Even Winter is welcome, the 1.lId and the free Who walks o'er th* eaith like a conquMnt; king; Bnt thv presence halh always a blessing fo( me: Hail hail to thee beautiful Spring (John Critchley Prince's Flours 1("71h the Muses J. BANKRUPTS from Friday's Gazette. To Shi render in HasinghaU sIred, PHILIP PHILLIPS, piinlaeller, Soniltainpion Streel, Ooveiit caiiten April 17 M.,v 17. All. Foor.l. Pinners' h11, 0ld Bma.l st,eel, Cily. CKANCIS JOHN PEGLKR, woollen draper, lleailing Bert shire AMILII May 17. Ati^„ Wood and Fraser, Dean sheet, Soho. 'C' P" JAWKS KING, lea rl.aler. limine row, Cny, April 17, HJay jr. Allj. I)av\es an Sons, An^el rourl, Thro<$mor!un-street. WILLIAM RIBSON CLIFT, coa« h bioke., Cro,3 lane, Hi»h Holborn A in il 30. M.ty Att. Jones. Maik Une. ° NEV I i.i.i! Bm no leal her seller, Beech street, Rarhiean, April 18, :\lay 21, Ait. Slenniiii. Staple's Inn. AI.PHF.I) JOHN SACK, c-lit-miat, High street, Wliitechapel Inril IS M,y 11. Alt. Raw lings, Cro9by-h.,ll Ch,„„bers, Bi!,bop«gRl« "ire"' Willi li. 1 WKOMGE HENRY DARBY LA WR ENC R, merchant, Hornsev. Mi.ldleaev A p111 III, Mav IS. All. Blunt and Co., Loihbury. JEFPKRIKS HRIUI NSH A VV, publican, W an,|,W(irt| Snrrtv Anril III, May 15. Alt. James, Ua^injli^ll M.eei. }' To Surrender in the Country. THOMAS COLLINS HUDSON.linen DRAPER Leominster. Herefordshire, April li, May II), at the BirminRliain Dlstain Court. An Baitleet MICHAEL DEVINE, Erocer, Liverpool April IS.MayB.nt the Liverpool District Con. t. Att. (:lIh 1""l1e, Liverpool. K JOHN BROWN, groeer, VVeyiiionlli, April IS I.. Fv. Coun. Ait. Tcnell, e
Jk COPPER ORES, " .:
Jk COPPER ORES, Jk COPPER ORES, Sold at POOL, April 4th, 1844. TJ MINES., 21 CWT. PURCHASERS. PRICE. East VVH. Crofiy 107 William;, Foster, and Co £ j li » JJJ'to 73 Freeman and Co. 2 7" Ditto 53 English Copper Co. "T 5 13 L? Ditto 5i English Copper Co., Sim's, WiilyainV, Nevill, Druce, & Co., and Williams, rosier, and 4 14 0 DITTO 47 Freeman and Co 13 6 Dlllu — 46 Vivian and Sons .64" UI"; Sinu, Willvams, Nevill, Drucei & C 4 12 » Longclose 67 English Copper Co. < 6 DIM Ditto 0 LR> B I>|lto 3S Williams, Poster, and Co. C 14 » Dillo. 36 0110 » IJ- 0 Dolcoatli 91 Vivian and Sons, Vnd ,Si7,is, Wi'llyairis* ? „. Nevill, Druce, and C0. 5 3 0 Ditto 91 Vivian and Sons, and Williams, FosteV, 3 0 ,V UNCI Co 56 Dillo 70 Preemaii and Co. 7 li 0 Ditto 5-2 Sims, Willyams Nevill, Druce! and Co". 2 7" I)itto ill Freeman oi (Jo. 7 Ui 1 •• •• 3,i Willyams, Nevill, D, iice, and Co. 1 14 IJitto 33 JJIITO M '2 3 0 Camborne Vcan 83 Williams, Foster, anil Co* 5 IRT » Ditto 71 Dilio FI 6 <> Ditto .63 Vivian and Sons "496 •• 6!> UFOWN Copper Co.,&Williams', Foster, Co. e Itf 0 Ditto. 56 Vivian and Sons 2501 Stray Parle Ditto 5 T) S°l)iuoV.h Basset 'gg Willyams, Nevill,'iirocej and Co". 4 Hi <j Dilto 53 English Copper Co!, Free",INN ami Co. ° anil Sims, Willyams, Nevill, Druce, rv. a,1(' Co..» r. in MILN M",S* WI|L>'AM9. Nevill, i)*ruce,*an<l Co". 14 I <» IJlttO o Ditto or xr 0 Par Con sols 100 Vivian anil Sons (j DITTO .87 Ditto I 7 „ DITTO .7') Diito A IJ H Fowey Consols.. S3 Williams, Foster, and Co. 4 N It Ditto ru vv"!?' WLLLR" N01 11 Druce,and Co. 4 3 0 vv WI' 1 *'1 Miliums, Fosur, and 3 3 li West Wb. Jewel 90 freeman ami Co. j .q onto 82 Duto •• J » J frewavas 75 English Copper Co. # Duto.7o Ditto •• 'I •• •• 54 English Coppei Co., & Siins, William's* n. NevilJ, Druce, and Co. 3 5 (i P P V •* I!3 SIMS, WiUyams, Nevill Duice.and C*' 4 S 0 E.I»t Pool 64 English Copper Co. t I P Ditto 41 !■ WLI. Harr.et 61 ENGLISH Copper Co'. 3,7 0 T0tal 2.816 AVERAGE Prodi.ee, 7*Quantity of fine Copper, 201 tons 17 »wt 0 ar- OL Sale, 114.605 I.;s. 61.-Avera.;e St to I is. 0,1.
-\\ \ J METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL,…
J METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL, kept by JOHN JENKINS, Wind-street, Swansea. I — 0 I App. Latitude of Observatory 51" 37" 10 N. Longitude 3,,55,,SOW. I Height above Level of ilie Sea 40 feet. v I A I !BA)!OM)';T)'.R HYCH"M)")')<. TH K I: Mo M I'.TK K. Pl.tlVIOM ATK». I j 9 A.M. 3 P.M. I 9 A.M. 3 P.M. 9 A.M. I 3P.M. I QUHFLSUT OL i |a.M. P.M. Kam. Temp, Temu. i I 1 Pressure. of Pressure. oi" Air. Dew Air. Dew Dry. VVe(.: Dry. VVet.j Min. Max. In. Tenth*. H unci. j i Mer- M«'r- j i j A! I | I 2 30-33 | 51 30 20 53 49 47 54 52 45 44 51 50 43 55 0 0 „ 0 3 29 98 52 2 'J 91 52 54 5! 53 50 51 53 51 50 j 12 j fiO 0 0 0 | I 4 S2 j 50 -81 52 49 46 55 AO 49 48 53 51 38 60 0 0 „ 0 | 5 "82 I 50 .82 50 51 47 55 52 49 47 53 51 j 42 54 0 „ 1 0 j 6 30-10 I 49 3J.10 50 51 48 52 49 49 47 54 52 j 34 53 0 „ r> „ 2 | 7 ,28 49 ,31 51 51 48 55 51 53 52 55 I 53 | 38 56 0 0 0 j 1 8 I ,53 ( 50 58 53 51 48 56 53 51 50 57 I 56 j 39 60 0 0 .0 1 8 I '5'. 50 ,58 53 51 48 56 53 51 50 57 I 56 i 39 60 0" 0 ,n Astronomical Phenomena for the Ensuing IVeek:— j; On tho 15111, at 8h. 52m. P.M., the Planet Ilersehell will be in conjunction with the Moon. |i It i 1! High IVater in Steinsea Harbour and at the Passu IiOI( TII E ENSIII:II(; \I" EEl\ v |)1YS .S»'.isiin IIub.h,^ l'lin h^nii^ yll»-n. Even, flight*. 7/^7 H. M. II. 11. f. M Saturday April 13 3 III 3 48 I t S 4 3,/ r, S tr"Ty '• U 4 12 4 15 1' i 31 ? 53 P i" ay •• •• 11 4 S-» 5 l.i 15 II o to tf 3 > Hie3.laj ,a 5 33 5 5„ I; 3 6 7 ill Wednesday 17 6 7 6 *3 17 6 7 27 7 4.1 I "ursday ,8 B 3S ($.4 18 -2 7 58 8 14 P"'U> V1 19 7 11 0 '« 8 20 8 W .MOON'S Ace.—Xew Moon, 17tU DNY, 8I1. Iilm. eve 1.
------iBatftfts.
iBatftfts. every desel-iptA[ supplies of every ion of Cra in very moderate last week, and tMS morning we. have only a uf English tlte principal 7'he firrttt"t,)ne pi-ev,l,g (it of tl,e, coll,"t"y ittarkels itiditeeci Factors ask 1',tthet* prices at tile' colitilieliceittent of bitsitiess, waich were 1)(irtia!ly with b.V the IIillei-s. 7/1 e ,nd of stziitples also being somewhat iittprovei, sales proceeded mure and a supplies of On:l f, y 1, 7, c""Ll„ue, to receive v;-r,/ limit*'1 i* hi Ua'gf'0:nIr>l(i>irl, as well as 0!her parts and the trail" preZulXnn'f^ ^r' '°ilh i" "s" PRICE OF G IIA I N. — Per Imperial Quarter. Maple 3°) 3* 5 K.r. g S p,lle — Small lleaiis$1) « i z '1>:L »2 S — — Harrow 3. — o*e. "1* l eed Oats It* Barley, gr.ndnu 27 "28 Fine -2U Ditto, line ii.al.ni- .34 33 Poland "a. •H P,alt 5? Fine .u M L, Potato ii l,°S 1 .10 31 Fine -i'i I'MR'll, per Sack ol"2ai>Z/ e3t •'>0s- Seconds 40j. to 45s. PRICK OF SEEnS. s. s. s. t So In,,iip, Swedes, pei b,„l,. -to Clove,, Ked, p,.r cm 76 vi ;r sV"i? 131 twh 5» • Mustard, Brow. is New Hamburg dU .id ,7 White lo 12 French 5J (0 per'quarter ,tl 5? I'i'retoil Si 'J — Caraway 57 tU 1 ares, wi.iter, per bushel 1 tj C01 lander 15 -ii A V li li A U Ii L'KICIi OF CORN, ue Or Fo. the Week ending March 3J, 1841, and by which ,poi tatioll is regulated. *• d' «■ d. d Wheat. 5U 3 Oats .19 S |lea„s .3| 2 barley.32 Kye .33 3 Peas .31 ,) PKICli OF MKA/R.— SMITHFIEI.D, Aprils. The supply 0/ Beasts being short, Lent being over, and the butchers having been pretty well cleared cut on Saturday, it was eviuent particularly as the Dead Markets were not so abu.iUant as 0/ late and business was brisk at an unprovtine in prices for the best description,, choice Scots maUino is n>e vaZ J"" 77 T'6 in dema,ld< without an increase i« value.—Sheep aud Lambs were very short, and there wn* « aood demand for both. Last wee): the highest rate of -is ud for Mutto* loruru^it 0bta^t'\ to-day that prt,i Wfljr rjali^ive* lot pi une Downs. Lamb got up on Friday, as usual on the market luZT'V0 E«*Ur .Su"U'r ^><1 to-day may be quoted "arly a* high, tht choicest having made 7s.—For Calves, though only U2 t'L rd wis not much competition, but all were disposed of, the delicaie ones realising a croirn, the top figure of this day se'nnight. — Th" demand ,rot- Ptqs was jit,),Ie)*ate, i,-t of the advance of the season •' still the dairy fed maintained 4s. 6d. To sink the offal —per Slbs. Beef "2s. Hid. to 4s. 0 1. Veal s,| .„ r.. 0, MUTTON.. 3, OD.TO-A. DI.JPO.K. • Lam" o,. 0 1. lo 7s. ud. NISVVGATB iii,f Lil.ADBVH%I,L.-By the Carcase. Beef. 2,. Od. to 3s. 4d.j Veal. ,|s. „d to Is. 4<1. Mui.1", 2s. (id. to 3s. till. I Pork. 8d. to 4s. Oil. 5s. tll. to (is. tll. PRICE OF TALLOW A NO SOAP, per ewe. row,, Tallow 41 if Alelled Slnff 3'' 0 Curd ditto !,o 0 Yellow liussia — 0 Ditto Kou^h 2i! 0 Palm „ 0 Ditto So ip IS 0 leliow So.p — 1, t;,eaves 14 0 H hue duto.. 0 | Mullled dilto.. 52 0 (L)ie^s 5 0 BRISTOL PRICE CURRENT.— Apt il 5 =' &. II. lll| || li Ii. S. M.isc. veryJJrou-mperc.) — to— Fiuedillo D,y Hrown 1 Ve.yhne 45 Middling.. — — HL,,i j d. (Juod inid.ilin^s 4 — Jamaica (per gal.) 2 4 3 6 'i"e-. s — — Leeward Isle 18 2^ S,oUas" « *4 I.OUVNUOII. £ £.11' Jamaica (per ton.) ,5 0 COfl'KK..St. Uo III 1,1 go o 0 III « Jamaica, triage (per cwt.) (in 03 Cainpeacliy 6 I) t) ri ^'dtnary US 70 1 uslic, Jamaica i 0 0 # lll"u Cuba o t¡Hh; dillu 78 88 Oil,. (r," t"") ..51055 0 •"oiid'llo 1-0 125 hicily y rtj t) PHICli OF LEATHER. I1'' lb' d- d■ IL>. lb. d. d- Crop Hides 3u?<>35.. I/«12 (•erinan Horse Hides l.ittilG Dim, iluio 40 48..li l.i Ho,se Biais jj |3 Ditto ditto 50 tio.. 15 17 Call Skins, 51 6|23 '"14 ^o.eigo Hides 30 3->lu II Ditto (common).. — '23 Ditto ditio 40 4.').. 10 II Unto ditto 40 j-, ik 1<J S Hulls, English Id 20..IJi I5i Ditto ditto 4', 17 22 Ditio onto :¿1 21;1;) It, D1110 duto ,s -.0 Dmo duto 2:; Jo..lj ¡¡ Irl510 Skills.11 Jij Duto d iin>(extra; 34 30..15 is VVel,h Skins 27 3', n 1.1 I),Ilo, Forei-u Id 20..t3 I I.J Ditto djuo J- ,1) J8 Ditto oiiu, *2 2. 12 14 D1U0 ditto 45 50!! *21 23 Dilto ditto 28 30.. 13 1", Ditto ditto 51 5,j -a 2^ Unto iiiliotexi" .j(,|3 Hi Kips, English and VVcbh" 13 1* li. Saddlers Holes o7 4 >lo | 14 |,mo, Petersburg ti S 17 Jf Common ditto 3^ 40..13 Mi Ditto ditto 9 i„' <j 18 Shaved Hides 1, 2i |U Ditto, Easl India ills «t> .-■lloe duto 20 23..13 1 Ji Seal akuio, La.ge d'U" — Dilio, Small ..|rj I? V e ill Hides .14 13,} Hull ditto .10 li shoulders English ..10 l.nAiisl, Horse Hides ..12 13 Ditto, Fo.eian ..7 10 Welsh ditto .II 13 IJellies, En^iisll ..lui I'l f atia..ish dilto.14 20 Ditio, Forewn 7 10 I .VJ. VVuhouiiiutU,—«. to—6. ud.ea. # I Printed and Published by AII.LIAM COLKTENAY JILHRAY AND DAVID REf-S, A. No. 58, WiMb-STiiBbT. SWANSEA. I SATURDAY, ApRIL 13, 1844. I