The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

THE REDUCTION IN O UR MILITARY FORCES. I A correspondent of the Daily News, signing himself A superior Officer, who has seen hard service, writes ae follvws I see by the published circular that we are to have 6,000 Foot Guards—the highest number on the war establish- ment-with all their absurd paraphernalia of pipers and piper-majors, to garrison London and Windsor, the only duty which they ever perform, during peace; whilst the regiments on which we are meet dependent for all foreign emergencies, and which require 'double the amount of train- ing of any other infantry-I mean the Rifle Brigade and 60th Rifiez-are to be reduced to 5,000 men, and that one. third of their officers (the very iudividuals who took and defended the, Sebastopol rifle pits) are to be dismissed. And what a moment is chosen for this fearful trifling with the best intcrocts of the country Italy is a volcano ready at any instant to break forth. Spain is another, and a more dangerous one for us, as threatening our peaceful relations with France. The Austrian army is at the full war estab- lishment, and they continue pouring troops in enormous masses into the north of Italy.. Four thousand men passed through Frankfort from Mayence or.e day last week, en route for the Tyrol. America seems breaking up; and let any man read the account given by the ITimes correspondent of the late review at Moscow, and of the magnificent ap- pearance and overxvhelmning numbers of the Russian troops present, and say whether it is at a crisis like this that our War Department -ahould be carrying out oiae.of those penny wise and pound foolish" schemes by which England has been ever duped and fooled, and thereby pending some of her stanchest defenders to seek their bread in the wilds of Canada or in the gold fields of Australia ?

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK AND LOSS OF LIFE. We have this week to record a very melancholy shipwreck in this county, attended by a sad loss of human life. At an early hour on Tuesday morning a large brig, apparently a foreigner, was observed to be running ashore towards Ham, in the parish of Dunnet, and soon after to strike on a rock. There was a strong gale blowing and a heavy sea rolling at the time, and the greatest fears for the safety of the crew were at once entertained, Soon after striking, the vessel drifted off again, and was carried towards a deep pool op- posite what is locally known as Donald's Cave," where she stuck fast. In a very short time the masts went overboard and the vessel assumed the appearance of an entire wreck. Being deeply laden the heavy knocks she gave against the ledge of rock soon stove in her bow, and the vessel soon after lay with her stern at a great height and the bow under water. A large crowd of people soon gathered opposite the scene of disaster, but as no boat of service was to be found nothing could be done to save the crew for several hours after the vessel was driven ashore. With felings of the most intense agony they observed one after another of the hapless men washed over board and covered beneath the waves and their poignaucy of sorrow was greatly increased when a female was noticed on board. For a considerable time she maintained her position near the stern, holding 011 by some lashings, but the waves at last appeared to have mastered her, and she too was observed to be carried away by a billow and to sink under the water. At length about three hours after the vessel struck, a boat was brought from Searfskerry, a fishing village on the estate of Mr. Traill, M.P., for the county, and five men heroically ventured on the waters, to make an effort to save the remainder of the crew, now re- duced to two. The names of the fishermen are:-Donald Thomson, James Murray, David Lyall, John Nicholson, and John Dunnett, whose efforts, we are glad to say, were crowned with success, and the two men were safely landed. They proved to be foreigners, and as none of them could speak English there was great difficulty in obtaining the particulars. The vessel turns out to be the Ahto, of Vasa, in Finland, Captain Jeavelin, from Liverpool to Vasa, with a cargo of salt, anchors, chains, molasses, rum, and gin. The captain's wife, who also unfortunately perished, was on board, and, out of eight of a crew only these two, John Lanstroun and Buckmann, were saved. The captain, who perished, is represented as being 54 years of age.

SALTAIRE,—On Saturday, the birthday of Mr. Titus Salt, the great alpaca manufacturer, together with the an- niversary of the public opening of his magnificent estab. lishment of Saltaire, at Shipley, two or three miles from Bradford, were celebrated by three thousand of his work. people in a manner worthy of themselves and their liberal and enterprising employer. They went in procession to his residence, and conducted him to St. George's Hall, at Bradford, where they presented him with a bust of himself accompanied by an appropriate address. ROYAL ELOPEMENT.—The arrival of the new bride, the Princess Amalia, at the Hotel de Louvre has given fresh stimulus to the Spanish Embassy and there is some talk of a grand concert and ball in honour of the bridal party, at which Queen Christina in person is to preside. The young princess is decidedly the but favoured of all Don Francisco's daughters-smal1 iu stature, and more clear in complexion than the rest. Her education bas been wholly French, and she will thus carry French modes and manners to the Court of Bavaria. The first visit made this morning by the Prin. cess was to the superior of th..Saeré Cceur, at which con- vent her two sisters, Josefa and Isabella were pupils. The fair bride expressed great interest in visiting every spot connected with the escapade of her sister, Donna Josefa, and laughed heartily at the recital of honest Soeur Ste, Marie de Bonne-Nouvelle, who wis the sub-governess at the time of the elopement, and the very person stationed by the two young ladies to look from the window into the court- yard to watch for their Royal mother's carriage, which was soi-disant, to arrive at eight o'clock, and to take them to a soiree at Princess Wolowski's, while they manufactured together, from the sheets of the led in the very next room, the rope with which Donna Josefa let herself down over the wall into the arms of Garowski, whose signal, the lighting of a lucifer against the bark of an elm tree beneath had been witnessed a few minutes before by the good sister herself, little dreaming that the action indicated more than the pre- sence of a careless smoker lighting his cigar. The angle of the wall where the carriage had stood which bore the fugitives away-the street down which they drove beneath the gaze of the whole convent-were all visited with great emotion by the young bride, aud it was observed that she returned to the hotel with a pre-occupied countenance and thoughtful brow. The Pavilion Notre Dame de Grace, which, ever since the event here recorded, has been closed from the public, was thrown open for the occasion, and the whole scene enacted over again with the piquant verve and entrain which nuns know so well how to give, and in this instance rendered doubly entertaining by the part ofthe dupe, which the narrator herself had been involuntarily compelled to play. CARELESSNESS IN DISPENSING MEDICINES.—We have been favoured with the following reminiscence r. Welsh, a barrister and a bencher of the Inner Temple, some time after I became King's Counsel, and joined the body of Seniors, told me the following as having happened within his own personal experience. lie was travelling in the mail from London to Bath, to join his wife and return with her to town after a short stay. There was a young man in the opposite corner of the mail, who during the night appeared to be sutferiug from pain and disease of some kind. When the mail stopped at Chippenhamhe got out, saying he should procure some tincture of rhubarb at a ehymist's or apothecary's which was close by and in sight. Mr. Welsh from the carriage saw him go there; he returned, took his seat, and said he was much easier. lIe appeared to fall asleep, and on arriving at Bath, when Mr. Welsh aud the other passengers got out, he wa discovered to be quite dead. Very shortly after Mr. Welsh returned with his wife, travelling post, which gave him an opportuutty of making some iuquiry at Chi ?peiibam, which he determined to do. On toppi.? to chango horses he went into the shop. The ma.ter was behind the CouRter, and Mr. Welsh per- ceived that he was in the deepest mourning. Air. Welsh asked to look at the tincture of rhubarb, relating the cir- cumstance that had occurred in the journey down. The cliymist or apothecary became much agitated, and brought the bottle which was labelled tincture of rhubarb-It turned out to be laudanum. On ascertaining this he threw up his arms, and in an agony of grief and horror indescribable cried out, My God then I murdered my wife It ap- peared that a carelcss apprentice, on the arrival of article from Apothecaries'-hall, had made a mistake, and put the laudanum into the bottle for tincture of rhubarb. Shortly after Mr. Welsh pnssetl through Cbippeuhamthe wife had complained of pain and disordered bowels during the night. The chymist got up and gave her what he imagined to be tincture of rhubarb, and in the morning she also was found dead. This account I had from Welsh's own lips; and as far as I know-it lives only in my memory- it may be re- lied on as a fact, and an interesting and instructive one I think it is." OPENING OF THE OLDHAI LYCEUM,—The opening of the Oldham Lyceum took place on Thursday. It was to be celebrated by a proeession and lunch in the morning, and by a tea party and soiree in the evening. Among th guests invited and who honoured the ceremony were- Lord Stanley, M.P., Sir J. K. Shuttleworth, Mr. W, Brown, M.P., Ir. Jomes Heywood, M.P" Mr. J. Fox, M.P., Mr. J. M. Cobbett, M. P., Colonel and Hcutenant. I Colonel Burns (sons of the Scottish bard), the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, and the Mayors of Manchester and Ashton. under-Lyne. The procession, which included the authori- ties of the borough, the guests, and most of the leading inhabitants, formed at the Town-hall soon after 12 o'clock, and L >>rled by a band of music proceeded through the principal streets to the new building, which is situate in IT nion-strcet. The building is an exceedingly handsome erection of stone, in the Italian style of architecture, in two stories with underground roomsfor schools, and attics for class rooms, above which is an observatory, command- ing;m extensive range of the country. The two principal sforics contain an exceedingly fine newsroom and lecture- hall, besides club, board, and other rooms. The cost of r lie building bas been upwards ()f £5,000.

ALLEGED MURDER BY CRUELTY AND -STARVATION. On Monday afternoon Mr. Brent, deputy coroner for West Middlesex, roeumed and concluded an adjourned lengthened inquiry, at the Elephant and Castle, King's- road, Camden-town, touching the death of Richard James Ryley, the illegitimate offspring of a young female named Emma Ryley, who was alleged to have been barbarously murdered by systematic cruelty and starvation. The in- vestigation created much interest in the neighbourhood, and the facts disclosed produced quite a sensation of horror and disgust throughout the court. The unfortunate de- ceased's body, or rather skeleton, as viewed by the jury on the opening of their inquiry, presented quite a shocking appearance of starvation. The evidence of several witnesses, taken at great length, went to prove that the deceased had been most brutally treated, and, indeed, tortured to death. It appeared that the mother, who was stated to be eighteen years of age, tI diminutive-looking person, was eonfined in the workhouse, and c fortnight after her the general rule of the house, which allows ^patients to remain a month in the house-she demanded and, of course, obtained her discharge. A kind-hearted man named Wright, residing at 2, Haverstock-street, Ifampstead- road, and his wife, who knew his mother, at once volunteered to give both herself, her child, and its father shelter until they could get married and settled more comfortably. She acquiesced in this arrangement about a week, but during this period she evinced signs of great carelessness and neglect to- wards her unfortunate offspring. She then, it seemed, at the instigation of her mother, who was described as a most vile character, left W riht's, taking with her the child, and lived the most wretched and depraved life. In com- pany with her mother, the latter carrying the perishing infant, she was at all hours of the night, and sometimes at two or three o'clock in the morning, seen walking the streets, her wretched parent participating in the wages of sin she obtained by such means. Indeed it was found by her friends that she was beyond reform, and they did all in their power to get the deceased from her to prevent its perishing. Its grandfather, even after all her bad conduct, allowed her to continue under his own roof, and took the child from her, but the same night, in company with her mother and a mob, she attacked the old man's house, and forced him to give the deceased up again. After this she continued her craelty towards the hapless little creature, both starving, beating, aud keeping it in a filthy condition. A young female, who lodged in the same house, proved that the child sometimes was left a whole day without food. The mother frequently left it in a starving state all night, and the little food it ever got consisted of some bread and water. On one occasion she was likewise seen to throw the poor child under the table. At length Wright, his wife's other child's father, finding that the deceassd was being systematically murdered, insisted on the mother giving the child up to their care or going with it into the workhouse. Both these she refused to do, when Wright upon that, in company with the mother, went in search of the cruel parent in order to give her into custody, feeling that was the only way of saving—if it was not too late-the child's life. They found her wandering the streets with the child in her arms at two o'clock in the morning. They informed two police constables of her cruelty, and called upon them to take her into custody, but this the constables refused to do. So things went on again for several days, and the attention of Mr. Jefferies, district parochial surgeon, was called to them, and he thinking the child was gradually sinking from pure want, insisting on the mother taking it to the workhouse, but this she neglected to do, and two days after death, terminated the hapless child's existence. Mr. William Edward Jefferies, M.R.C.S., of St. Augus- tin's-road, Camden-square, on being sworn, stated that he performed the post-mortem examination. He found exten- sive excoriations about the lower part of the body, which in all probability arose from fonl napkins left on the child for a considerable time. The deceased was likewise very emaciated. On examining all the internal organs, he did not discover a trace of disease, but they all looked very pale. The heart was likewise particularly bloodless. After the examination he could come to no other conclusion than that the child died from the want of food [sensation]. All the organs were in a fit condition to have performed their usual fnnc- tions. In conclusion, Mr. Jefferies remarked that the child looked extremely squalid and emaciated. It was urged that had the police interfered at this time on the poor child's behalf, its life might have been saved. The deceased's mother, who appeared wholly unmoved throughout the proceedings, said that she had been very des- titute through the father not allowing her any means of sup- port. Evans, in reply, proved, as did others on his behalf, that he supplied the mother with adequate means of support, besides which he offered to marry her and make her a homo, but instead of this she preferred leading a dissipated life. The investigation had been adjourned for further evidence, and as the accuccd had ctated that she was able to bring forward witnesses who would exculpate her fioui the heinous charge. Upon the reassembling of the jury, The mother was recalled, and she stated that she was unable to give the deceased its natural nourishment from the breast, as she had very little milk even upon leaving the workhouse. She generally fed the deceased on arrow-root. An aged female, who gave her name as Margaret Ryley, who stated that she was the deceased grandmother was next sworn, and she said that she did all she could to get the child food. Wben the deceased came out of the workhouse she further said that it was a poor sickly little thing, and very ravenous. In conclusion, she made most conflicting statements, and ended by saying that neither herself or her daughter ever starved or ill-treated the child. A young female, named Jones, who had lodged with the deceased's mother and grandmother, on being recalled, fur- ther stated that the man, Evans, the father, gave the mother money on one occasion for its support, but she went and spent it in drink, became intoxicated, aud was found at six o'clock in the morning in that condition in a coffee-house. The witness also said that the mother brutally ill-treated the child, and that she frequently thrcatentd to tell the police of her. A nurse from the workhouse infirmary where the deceased was born proved that when the mother and child left the house both were in good health, and the former appeared to have sufficient milk for the deceased's support. Emma Livermore, on being sworn, deposed that she lived in lodgings with the mother and grandmother of the deceased a fortnight. They were at times in much want. On several occasions the mother applied for relief at the workhouse, when she was offered admission, but she refused to go in, saying she would not bury her days in the workhouse. On several occasions the father also offered to take the child. She (witness) considered the child had been half starved, but she could not say who was to blame for it. Susan Lambert, the wife of an engraver, who lodged in the same house as the deeeased's mother, in the King's road, was next called and she stated that she frequently supplied the child with food, as the mother complained she had none to give it. At the same time, she hardly ever saw the child, but she used to give it fcod, hearing that it wanted it. Police-constable Henry Duncan, 233 S, on being sworn stated that between twelve and one o'clock on the 4th inst., be observed Evans, the father of the child, another man, and a fellow constable coming down the King's-road. While they were speaking about the child they saw the grand- mother come along with the child under the shawl. lie (witness) looked at the child, but could see nothing the matter with it. He then offered the grandmother, if she thought the child was neglected, to take the child to the workhouse but this she refused, and went into her lodg- ings, after storming Evans about more money. The mother was not at home at the time. The Coroner, in summing up, observed that he considered tLe ease was one of most flagrant neglect. There could not be a shadow of doubt hut that the child had been very badly neglected, and that neglect had caused its death. The question now was as to whether the negligence had assumed a culpable and criminal appearance. With respect to the man Evans, he considered that, so far as he was able, he had done his duty by offering her and her child a home. Ta conclusion the coroner said that he thought such a case of cruel neglect on the part of the mother should be made an example of; throughout she had evinced the greatest carelessness and neglect, and the verdict would be either one of wilful murder or manslaughter. If lie was a juror lie should not be backward in sending such a case for trial at the Old Bailey. The court was then cleared of strangers, and after some deliberation it was thrown open, when the jury announced as their verdict one of manslaughter against Emma Ryley, the inhuman parent, who was committed to Newgate to take her trial, Jr. Davis, the summoning officer, accompanying her there, the proceedings not having terminated until near ten o'clock.

A CHILD OVERBOARD,—GALLANT CONDUCT or THE CAPTAIN.—As the Isle of Wight steamer Pearl was running between Cowes and Ryde, on Wednesday, a little girl, three years old, fell overboard from the forepart of the ship. The mother of the girl attempted to jump in after her, but was resumed by the passengers. The sea was very rough, and the c? ild was carried away, so that the paddlwh?el?? just passed harmlessly by her. The vessel was going at full speed at the time, and in a moment the child was seen floating abaft the paddlewheel. The [commander of the steamer, Captain Galpinc, pulled off his hat, coat, and shoes, jumped into the sea, caught the child, and held her up until a wherry, which hdppened to be close at hand, came by aud picked them both up, whence they were put on board the steamer, which had been stopped and backed as quickly as possible. The poor child soon recovered. The agony of the mother while her infant was in the sea was most distrtsoing..

SENDING THREATENING LETTERS TO THE BAN K OF LONDON. On Saturday John Pringle, a well-dressed, gentlemanly looking man, a native of Glasgow, was placed at the bar before the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House, in custody ot Knsseu, a city detective ffioer, upon a warrant charg- ing him with having in the city of London, on the 13th day of September inst., unlawfully written and sent to one Benjamin Scott a certain letter directly offering to prevent the publication of a certain matter touching (livers persons, traders in the city, under the firm and title of the Bank of London, with the intent to extort from them certain of their moneys." Mr. Bodkin, instructed by Mr. T. Tyrrel, solicitor to the Bank of London, appeared for the prosecution. The Lord Mayor inquired of the prisoner whether he had legal assistance. Prisoner.—No, my Lord. I regret that owing to the hurried manner in which I have been brought from Glasgow to London I have not been able to avail myself of legal assistance. The moment the warrant arrived in Scotland and I heard of the fact 1 was most anxious to have an opportunity of explaining the whole thing to your Lordship, and I came at once without any hesita- tion. Mr. Bodkin then opened the case as follows :-My Lord Mayor, I regret in one sense that the prisoner has not a legal advisor here, for he may be one of those persons who may experience that "a little learning is a dangerous thing;" but, however, as he is in some degree acquainted with the law, I think he can hardly doubt that this is a case in which no extent of legal assistance could prevent him from suffering the consequences of what he has done. I appear here on behalf of the directors of the Bank of London, who really might have treated this matter, if they had coneulted their own convenience and position, merely with the contempt]that perhaps, a great many people will be disposed to show towards it, but they feel that commercial establishments, especially those of a monetary description, depend so much upon their credit with the public, and it is of such importance that that credit should be maintained, that they have been advised to bring this matter forward and I am sure you will see that the document which I shall trace to be in the prisoner's handwriting, and to have been sent by him to the secre- tary of the bank, abundantly justifies the present proceed- ing. With respect to the statement of the prisoner, that he could not do better than come up here, he must be perfectly well aware that he had no alternative but to do that, when the warrant issued for his apprehension, and that it was his duty to come, and that if he had not yielded to that duty, whatever force which might have been necessary to carry out your direction would have been used for tho purpose of bringing him here. The prisoner appears b have an acquaintance of the name of Lawson, who, I understand, tried a considerable time ago to establish or to form some banking company in London, and I believe he contemplated calling that banking com- pany "The Bank of London." He entirely failed in get- tingthat degree of support which was necessary to carry his obiectinto execution, and lbelieve his nosition in life would made it not remarkable that he should fo have faÜd Now, however, that a bank has been formed, and is in most successful operation, called the Bank of London, Mr, Law- son imagines that he has been injured, and that he has a right to interfere with and ta annoy the directors of that bank, because they call it that which he says he intended to call his, if he had been successful in establishing it, and to such a pitch was this carried that an action was actually brought against the directors of the bank of London, for having appropriated or stolen the title which this man con- templated giving to a bank that never was formed. The action was immediately scouted out of court, and I cannot help thinking that hat ought to have been a sufficient in timation to these parties that their proceedings were really futile and absurd. As far as I can judge, from the know- ledge we have of the matter, the prisoner appears to have been the active person, urging and provoking Mr. Lawson to continue his course of annoyance. I shall show the prisoner to be the writer ot the letter upon which these proceedings are grounded, and of its libellous character not the slightest doubt, I apprehend, can be entertained. It is addressed to Mr. Scott, the secretary of the bank, and is as follows "220, Hope-street, Glasgow, Sept 12. Sir,-Referi-iiii to my former letters (for the bank have been pestered with several letters, which they have put aside as being unworthy of notice), I think it right to inform you I have this morning received an advertisement or small poster from Mr. Lawson, which is as follows Shortly will be published a Warning to the Promoters of Joint-Stock Companies, particularly Banks, being an account of some extraordinary antecedents of the Bank of London. By William John Lawson.' As neither Mr. Lawson nor I have yet been remunerated in any shape or form for our labours and outlays in connexion with the Bank of London and, as the publication of his thougts and views ou the subject may have the effect of making your bank, like the Royal British, prematurely shut up, I request you will, as soon as poi«iMe, consult with the manager and directors of the Bank of London on the subject; and if you and they choose to make some reasonable proposal, and, as earnest money, to remit something liberal, I will use my influence to prevent anything damnatory from appearing. I con- sider you have acted neither wisely nor well in not long ere this admitting the facts (which cannot bo disproved) as to your taking from us the title of the Bank of Lon- don,' and availing yourselves of our labours and outlays in getting up thereof, and compromising matters and if you do not forthwith do this, you will regret it, as Irr, Lawson and others, proceeding or his writings will, I fear, soon blast your bank. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, "J. PRINGLE. "Benjamin Scott, Esq., secretary, Bank of London." It is utterly impossible to doubt that there is a letter of a libellous character, and that it offers to suppress the publication of certain matters upon having what he calls something liberal sent to him as earnest," and being afterwards remunerated for that which he professes to have the power of preventing from appearing. When I have proved the letter to be in the handwriting of the pri- soner I apprehend you will call upon him to find bail for his appearance at the next session of the Central Crimi nal Court, when he will be indicted under the act of Par- liament. Mr. Benjamin Scott was then sworn, and said,-I am secretary to the Bank of London, which was first -,in- nounccd by prospectus in February, 1855, and which opened for business in the following August. I had re- ceived several letters from the prisoner previous to the one which relates to the present charge. I received the letter in question by post on the 13th inst., at the bank in Threadneedle-street. I believe the letter to be in the handwriting of the prisoner. The Lord Mayor (to the prisoner).—Do you wish to put any questions to the witness ?■ Prisoner.—I wish to ask you, my Lord, whether that letter should not be read in connexion with the correspon- dence to which the witness has alluded ? Tho Lord Mayor (tQ the witness).-You have received other letters from him ? Witness.—-Many letters. There can be no objection to the reading of any letters I have received from him. Prisoner.—Did not those letters import that [r. Law- son and I had a claim upon the Bank of London for the title ? Witness.—Yes, that was the import of the letters. The Lord Mayor.—The letters imported a claim of Nrr. Lawson and the prisoner for some remuneration for the title of the bank? Witness.—Yes, they were with reference to an alleged claim for the title. Prisoner.-Is it not perfectly impossible calmly to con- sirler the letter which forms the ground of this complaint otherwise than merely as urging the settlement of that claim ? The Lord Mayor,—That will be a matter to be determined by another court. (To the witness.)-.In any correspon- dence that you have had with either Mr. Lawson or with the pri?o,ir did yon in any way agree or negotiate for the purpose of admitting any claim for the title of the bank which you have founded, calling it the Bank of London ? ot in any way. I have never admitted any such claim, nor do the directors of the bank admit it. Mr. Bodkin.—Arc you aware that there is any founda- tion for any such claim? Witness.- There is no foundation for such a claim. It has been decided by the Court of Common Pleas that no such claim existed. I may add that I am instructed by the directors to appear simply under public grounds. Prisoner.- You know that the prospectus of the Bank of London was brought out by Mr. Lawson aud myself; that it was lodged at the Board of Trade, and that every possible means were used to prevent the title from bcingf adopted by any other company, and that a large sum 0 money was paid by me in the matter. Witness.- I know nothing of it. The Lord Mayor.-Are you aware that the prisoner and Mr. Lawson have deposited the title of a bank of that kind at the Board of Trade ? Witness.—I am only aware of it from what I have heard from the prisoner himself. The Lord Mayor.—When did you learn that? Witness.-I heard it some six weeks perhaps after the Bank of London had been projected by myself and others, in consequence ofa communication from Mr. Lawson that he had a claim for having established a bank of the game name. The Lord Mayor.—Do you mean after the advertise- ment of the Bank of London had appeared ? Witness.—Yes, after the proper preliminary steps ha been taken for founding the 1 i ank of London, I had a claim from Mr. Lawson, who stated that he had founded a bank of that name, but of the cireumstance; I know- nothing excepting from the assertion of Mr, Lawson. Prisoner: Do you know sow that the present chairman of your bank, Sir John Yillicrs Shelly, was canvassed to b chairman of my bank? Witness No, I know nothing whatever of the fact. The Lord Mayor: That is totally irrevalent to the present inquiry. You can follow your own views with regard to putting questions, and I will try as far as I can to assist you, but the charge against you here is for writing and sending a threatening letter to Mr. Scott. Prisone I am quite aware of that, but I shall be able to show your Lordship that I have acted in the matter nierelv in a commercial point of view, and in a way that any com- mercial person would act. (To the witness.)—Do vou on your conscience believe that from the first to the last of this correspondence I was ever influenced by any personal feeling towards yourself? The Lord Mayor I am bound to pnt the other side of the case. It is necessary that I should put this question to the witness, as I have brought you from Glasgow upon my warrant. (To the witness.)—Do you believe that that letter is in the nature of a threat, for the purpose of damaging the bank, and injuring it in the eyes of the public. Witness: That was my opinion certainly when I read the letter, and that was the opinion of the directors, who instituted these proceedings upon public grounds to prevent such things for the future. The Lord Mayor: That is really the charge that you will have to answer. Prisoner: Was there not from first to last on my part an earnest desire expressed for the prosperity of the bank ? Is there not expressed in every letter of mine an earnest desire to secure the prosperity of the Bank of London ? The Lord Mayor: That is a defence. Tou might get the rest of the correspondence, aud then it would by-and-bye be left for the Court to :infer how far'this is a damaging letter. The letter by itself evidently cSnvevs a threat of certain consequences—such as blasting the credit of all establishment, which of course depends as much as any other upon the breath of public opinion. We might have assertions made with regard to the notes of the Bank of England, and such things have been done in former times. After all the credit of a bank is entirely the breath of public opinion, and if that ere lit be undermined, it matters not how. We know that great injury must be sustained either by the public or by individuals. The prosecutors allege that this letter is of that effect and it is for a superior court to determine whether it is so or not. Prisoner.-I would scorn such an act as a threat. I did not wish in the slightest degree to make one. G. Russell, the detective officer, was then sworn and said I apprehended theprisoiier at Glasgow upon a warrant which I produce, and took him before the magistrates there. I produce a copy of the proceedings which there took place. The letter in question was produced before the magistrates, upon which the prisoner said that he wrote it and enclosed it in a sealed envelope, and sent it by post to Jrr. Scott, at the Bank of London. The letter was then formally put in evidence as read by Mr. Bodkin in his opening speech. Prisoner.-Did not the justices say that they considered it all a. mistake, which could easily be cleared up after- wards? Officer.—No they said nothing of this kind. The Lord Mayor.—It was not necessary that the form- ality of taking you before the magistrates at Glasgow should be gone through, but I thought it right to give in- structions to the officcr who was entrusts i with the war- rant for your apprehension to afford you the opportunity of being taken before the magistrates there, in order that you might give an answer to the charge which might be satisfactory to them. In executing a warrant of this description upon a class, I thought that that was a fair and proper mode of discharging my duty, with a due regard to the liberty of the subject. The opinion of the magistrates at Glasgow, however, can avail very little. We must put our own construction upon a letter of this kind. Prisoner.-I wish the deposition taken before the justices to be read. Mr. Goodman (chief clerk).—We have nothing to do with that here. You may call for it in another court if you wish it Prisoner.-There is a statement in the deposition made by me to them. The Lord Mayor.—-You can make the same statement here if you like. It is my intention to remand you, and I shall probably send you for trial hereafter. Would you like to be remanded instead of being sent for trial at once, in order that you may get legal advice ? Prisoner.—I thank you, my Lord; I should. The Lord Mayor.—I will accept bail, yourself in X 100 and two sureties in £50 each. The prisoner, who did not succeed in procuring bail, was, at the rising of the court, removed in custody. The prisoner was again brought before the LJrd Mayor on Wednesday at the Mansion-house. Ir. Bodkin, instructed by Ir. T. Tyrrel, the solicitor to the Bank of London, again appeared on the part of th prosecution and Mr. Marshall attended for the prisoner. Mr. Bodkin said lie did not intend to offer any further evidence in support of the prosecution, and asked for a committal of the prisoner upon that which bad been already add uectT. Mr. Marshall then submitted that the prisoner ought to be at once discharged, as the charge upon which the war- rant had been issued did not come within the terms of the act of Parliament. No doubt, the prisoner had been guilty of great indiscretion and impropriety in writing the letter upon which a criminal charge against him had been preferred, but he had committed no offence which was made felony by the 7th and Sth of George IV. Mr. Bodkin No, not a felony. You are referring to the wrong act of Parliament. If the circumstances had been strictly construed, and the prosecutors bad been disposed to act with anything like vindictiveness, I think they might have been justified in treating this as a charge of felony, but they have adopted the present course, thinking it will be sufficient to put an end to the annoyance they have ex- perienced at the hands of the prisoner, and show, in respect to other monetary establishments, that this system cannot be permitted to continue. The charge is a misdemeanour under Lord Campbell's Act, and not a lelony. The prisoner intimated his desire to address the court, and proceeded at some length to urge the unfairness of de. priving him of communicating with his friends. He com- plained of unprofessional zeal having been shown against him by Mr. Bodkin, and was proceeding with some warmth when- The Lord Mayor reminded him that he could only be heard to address himself to the facts of the case. Prisoner I am placed in circumstances of great diffi- culty. The only person I have seen was a gentleman who was permitted to look at me for a few minutes through the gaol gratings. Except those prison companions, the Bible and Prayer book, I have not seen a page of print (laughter). Here I go to the defence, which I wrote this morning as soon as it was light. Here is the precious document. The prisoner then read from the paper of which he had spoken as having been written by him in prison, the following statement, which he was most anxious should be taken down in the notes of the chief clerk "DEFENCE PRELIMINARY.—1. No copy of the charge or statement made by [r. Scott, or of the Lord Mayor's warrant issued thereon, or of the charge made against me in any shape or form, has ever been handed to me 0r to any one in my behalf, 2. All legal questions as to concurrent and cumulative jurisdiction, and as to libel and the publication thereof are reserved. 3. On the merits, as stated by me in my statement, or signed declaration taken before the justices of the peace in Glasgow, and which I request may be produced and put into court here, I now again repeat, that iu writing lIIr, Scott the letter founded on, which was one of a series, reasonably urging the settlement of a reasonable claim, I deny that I was actuated by any improper feeling, or that I committed any criminal act whatever. Of the clause in the act of Parliament alluded to by the prosecutor, I was net aware, but neither in its spirit nor its letter was that -I;t ever intended, or can by any fair construction be held to apply to a case like the present. "4, I am not the author of the printed advertisement called a warning alluded to in the said lelter, nor have I ever written a single article hostile to the Royallritish Bank or the Bank of Ion Jon. To see both prosper has ever been my wish and desire. "5. As I am as anxious to meet and see the issue of this case as rr, Scott can be, my word and personal recog- nizance should he taken as readily as his. "0. If I had been guilty, which I am not, and had been convicted by a British jury, which I feel sure I never will be, I could not have endured more painful disgrace and loss, or more severe treatment and greater incarceration or hard- ships than I have. "Lastly. As at this rate no one who writes a letter to another urging settlement of a just ehim is any longer safe against summary arrest and incarceration in black holes and gaols, both of which I have been thrown into, I now, in the sacred name of justice, and by my rights as a Biiti??, subject, and for the sake of British freedom, demand a hearing and a full and fair trial before a jury." The Lord Mayor: Are you prepared with bail? 1 shall require two securities in the sum of £ijû each, and your own security to the amount of LIOO ? The prisoner; I am a stranger here, and have had no opportunity of com- municating with my friends. The Lord Mayor: That is quite out of the question. You have had full opportunity, and the circumstances have been made known to the world since your first examination. A gentleman of the legal profession here stated that he hed for many years known the prisoner, was accepted as bail, and the prisoner was therefore liberated.

Fur. or A CHAPEL.—A fine new building in Bury New-road, Manchester, in the Gothic style of architecture with a spire, erected as a chapel for the Independents, fell on Wednesday morning at .5 o'clock, owing to some defects of construction. Fortunately no one was near at the time, and, as it was isolated from the surrounding dwellings no loss of lifc was consequent upon the disaster,

SIR JAMES GRAHAM UPON AGRICULTURE* ,jIbe ,iiiiiiial exhibition f st') ek -,iid in coiinexioii with tile Fast Cilinberl,,itid Agricultural Soc.etvwa«h(.M Upon the Castle-gTeen. Carlisle, beneath the waU. of the old border fortress, on Saturday last. Tli(, Iio,, was all one in every respect; the y?itors more numerous than at any previous exhibition of the same kind, and the interest of the occasion was greatly augmented by the presence of Sir James Graham anllmany of the leading gentry and agriculturists of the county and neighbourhood. The display of horses was pro- nounced by competent judges to be superior to any before exhibited upon the Catle-green-a remark which can only be appreciated by those who have been in the habit of frequenting the East Cumber- lalld Agricultural Society's shows. The Chairman then proposed the Members for the City," remarking that a salutary rule of these societies, and an essential one to their success, was to avoid all political discussions at their meetings. Silo J. Graham, in the course of a long speech, ill returning thanks, said, Sir J. Maxwell hopes that the Ltnperor of Russia may reign over a free and loyal people, That lie will voign over a loyal people, a cordial people, I fully hope and believe. That he will reign over a free people I do not expect, and as an agriculturist J do not much desire it. for if there be danger to a foreigner one thing is obvious namely, that that danger must arise from freedom on the part of the cultivators of the soil. Excuse me if I record a sentimcnt which I read the other day-a sentiment which denoted great and profound wisdom. Montesquieu, in visiting England nearly a century ago, was stmek with the superior produce of England in comparisou with that of France, and he wondered at ll that superiority on perceiving our climate so very inferior, He saw at ouce that our soil was not nearly so good as that of France, and he makes this reflection, That the produce ofland de- pends lcss on the fertility of the soil than on the freedom of the cultivator." A profound observation, general as conceived by him, true to the letter in its application. Now just reflect for a moment. What is the immediate cause of the immense produce of the United States of ? Why, the freedom of the cultivator ? What is the distinguishing mark of the success of the yeomanry of Cumberland? The freedom of the cultivator. What is the advantage of long leases-aii advantage which I have always contended for ? The freedom of the tenant. (Cheers.) And I iiei-er shall entertain the slightest apprehension of foreign rivalry till I see that all Europe possesses that freedom. It is, as Montes- quieu says, not on the fertility of the soil, but on the relative freedom of agriculture it depends, and it is our boast that in this country especially we do enjoy to the greatest extent a fair division of the land. Gentlemen, I should be sorry to read yon a lecture upon agriculture, but there are three or four points to which, without impertinence, without presuming to dictate to t h ose who know their business so wel f I may advert. I once at one of these meetings ex- pressed an opinion which was much criticized at the time, and w f,icii has been condemned. I said, in my opinion we ploughed too much and grazed too little and I particularly adverted to the circum- stance, which agriculturists in Cumberland cannot fail to observe, that in competing with the southern counties and with other milder and more genial climates we laboured under great disadvantage-that here the growth of wheat was more difficult and un- certain, while we have immense advantages in the growth of green crops and grass. Here the high price of meat renders the feeding of sheep extremely remunerative, and next to draining it is one of the most certain methods of improving the land. I also adverted to a species of culture which might have been of great benefit to the county. I allude to flax. It was said, when I talked of draining more, and growing corn less, and of introducing flax, which is more expeditious in growth and better adapted to the varymg necessities of the farmer, that I was in- fluenced by selfish motives; but if such motives and views could be imputed to me then, at this moment no such motives can be attributed. Gentlemen, I still adhere to both those opinions. I do yet think that you grow too much corn, that you graze too little, and also I am of opinion that the introduction of flax to your rotation would be a most valuable change to your cropping. I can speak with con- fidence when I say that in every second rotation of five years flax would be found to answer, and that in a large portion of this country it might be intro- duced once in 10 years with the utmost advantage. One word on another point. I am an advocate for the utmost degree of freedom in the conditions of leases. (Cheers.) I do not think it wise to hamper tenants in their leases; still I do think there is too great a tendency to grow potatoes in this country. We have had an awful warning. It is a tender plant; it has become an uncertain plant; and we have only to look across the Channel, where in the course of a few years no less than 2,000,000 of our fellow-citizens have paid the penalty of death or exile for their too great dependence upon that precarious article. If you grow potatoes, relying upon the railroads for facility of exporting them, you will make the most fertile land perfectly sterile. It is a gambling trans- action. If you plant upon good land the crop is always doubtful, and the loss severe. If it is a good crop it impoverishes the land to an extent which no ultimate advantage can compensate. I am therefore extremely anxious to discourage the growth of pota- toes on a large scale. Then as to grass. I am satis- fied that as one of the conditions of leases in Cum- berland it is most importan t that even on the best land there shall be a given proportion—and that a considerable proportion -laid down in permanent pasture. That is essential to the interests both of the landlord and tenant; I should say more for the tenant than of the landlord. Other toasts having been given and responded to, the assembly separated.

MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE.—A HUSBAND. WIFE, AND CHILD DROWNED. One of the most distressing accidents which it has been our duty for a long period to record took place on the river Avon, Bradford, Wilts, about six or seven miles from Batb, on Saturday last. The catastrophe, it appears from the best information which has reached UB, occurred in the following way :-It seems that a very respectable tradeeniin, lr. Tanner (who carries on the business of an ironmonger in the town of Bradford), possessed considerable mechanical genius, and within the past few months had devoted much time in constructing an engine by which to propel a small boat \a rowing one). Having accomplished his desire in this respect, he hr.s frequently of late used his "steamer" as a pleasure boat on the river Avon. On Saturday last he unfortunately took Mrs. Tauncr (his wife) and only daughter, about three years of age, out with him on an excurtion to Staverton, a village about one mile from the town of Brad- ford. They steamed up th; re safely, but on their rdurn. near the Wood," about three-quarters of a mile from their home, the accident to which we refer occurred. It was stated at first that the boiler had burst, but this was not the fact. It appears that by some means or other Mrs. Tauner fell overboard, and her husband, in his endeavour to rescue her from drowning, sprung to the side of the boat, which being very "crank" naturally, rendered more so by means of the engine, capsized, burying himself and his helpless little daughter under water. We learn that no one was present to witness the deplorable calamity except a shepherd's boy, too young and feeble to render any assistance; con- sequently, after a short struggle, the father, mother, and child s:mk to rise no more. A shooting party were not far from the spot where the disaster occurred, and were attracted thither by the agonised cries for help of the deceased, but ere they could reach the boat the unfortunate family met their untimely grave. The accident took place about six o'clock in the evening, Mr. Tauner about two hours before being in his shop serving customers. A search was at once made for the bodies, which were found, brought to their house, and laid ill shells. On the person of fr. Tanner were found a gold watch and some gold, &e., but we are not aware if the former had ceased to move. Besides the little girl who thus Met her death, Mr. Taancr had onebov, an infant about four months old. This catastrophe has thrown a gloom over the town, as both Mr. Tauner and his wife were considered must amiable persons, and Mrs. Tanner's father had but a few hours left her ho --e, where he had been on a visit. Mr. Tauner was not more than thirty years of age, and it is worthy of re- mark that his friends had frequently urged him to learn the art of swimmicg before he commenced his excursions, a.nd had he done so this calamity might not have happened.

A crjcs of cheap musical soirees, for the benefit of the working-classes, was commenced on Saturday evcning last, in the schoolroom belonging to St. Mary's Church, Kirk- e'ale. FIGHT BETWETN GERMAN SOI.DIF.KS AND LABOURERS. — Ou Sunday evening a body of Wesleyans held their an- nual camp" meeting on Fordham-heatli, which was at- tended by a large concourse of country people, and a cor- poral and six privates of the British German Legion, qnar- tercd at the Colchester camp. After the service, from some unknown cause, but w'thont tbe slightest provocation, the labourers commenced a most wanton and ferocious assault upon the soldiers with stones and sticks, when the latter in self-defence took off their belts and used them sans cerenionie about the heads and faces of their foolish assailants. A re- gular melee enucd. in which stones, belts, and shillelaghs were wielded with great obstinacy on both sides, assuming tbe aspect of some Irish faction fight, or town and gewu row, tdlat length the BoldicJ were compelled to beat a hasty retreat before the greatly superior forces oftheir op. ponents, who hurled after them a terrific volley of stones.