JANUARY.]

nious co-operation, or impaired their usefulness: and I should have been seriously grieved if the period of my archiepiscopacy had been chosen as the period when freedom of opinion, within the reasonable limits hitherto deemed allowable, was for the first time denied to our clergy in a case where it is not denied them by the Word of God or the declared doctrine of the Church of England."

census of 1851, is declared to be upwards of 2,000,000, or oneeighth part of the population of England, and a fourteenth of that of the United Kingdom; that its taxable property, by a Parliamentary return of the session of 1847, is declared to be 6,463,3631., or more than oue-tenth of the whole rateable property of England; that its contributions to the national exchequer, whether from Customs contributions or from payments of the various branches of the inland revenue, far exceed the average of the population area of the United Kingdom; that its position with regard to industry, wealth, intelligence, and population, is second to no other county of the United Kingdom: that on all these grounds, this meeting is of opinion, that in any measure of Parliamentary Reform to be introduced by the Government, or enacted by the Legislature, the number of members returned from this county should be largely increased, in order that its influence in the House of Commons may correspond to the magnitude of its interests and to its importance as a portion of the United Kingdom."

The Archbishop of York expressed his satisfaction that so large a number of the clergy" agree in regarding the judgment as a wise and just sentence,' in accordance with the principles of the Church of England; and he added "the expression of his sincere hope, that it may be considered by all parties as a final settlement of the point in dispute, and thus tend to promote the peace and harmony among ourselves which the times and the circumstances of the Church require.' An address was lately presented by "the clergy and Mr. Kershaw, M.P., moved the adoption of a petition laity of the parish of Frome" to the Marchioness of Bath expressing grief and alarm at her intention to by the inhabitants of Manchester, in favour of the principles lately adopted by the Manchester Parliamentary appoint Mr. W. J. E. Bennett, late Incumbent of Reform Association, and promulgated to the country. Knightsbridge, to the Vicarage of Frome, and beseech-The petition was adopted; and the business wound up ing her to reconsider her intention. The prayer was with a resolution to open a subscription to advance the enforced by reference to the most recent of Mr. Bennett's

works, in which among other things, he declares that question of Parliamentary Reform.

Alder

The Leeds Reformers held a meeting on the same if the decision of the Judicial Committee in the Gorham day. Alderman Wilson presided. Mr. Edward Baines case be not reversed, the faithful pastors of the Church said, that though not prepared to go so far as the Manof England will, within ten years, be ejected from her chester resolutions, he was willing to sink any differences communion by the law, "and although not loving the peculiarities of Rome, compelled to seek salvation within at present for the sake of unanimity of action. her bosom; "when Protestantism will sink into its man Carbutt moved a franchise resolution founded on the Manchester programme; and Mr. David Green proper place and die, and whatever is Catholic in seconded him, in a speech in favour of universal suffrage. the Church of England will become Roman.' The Mr. Henderson and Mr. Frith moved that "manhood Marchioness of Bath made the following answer, dated suffrage" should be demanded of the Legislature. The the 3rd inst. and addressed to the Rev. W. Calvert, amendment was put to the meeting, and the numbers vicar of Frome :-"I have received with sincere regret for and against it were so equal that the Chairman could a communication signed by yourself and others, relating not decide the majority. Another division was taken, to the appointment of the Reverend W. J. E. Bennett and the amendment was declared lost. The original to the vicarage of Frome, in my gift. In reply, I beg proposition was then affirmed. Resolutions in favour to inform you that the appointment is already made, of the ballot, triennial Parliaments, and no property and cannot be revoked." On receiving this reply, the petitioners addressed a memorial to the Bishop of Bath qualification, were then passed unanimously. and Wells, praying him not to grant institution to have also been held at Nottingham, Derby, and other Meetings on the subject of Parliamentary Reform Mr. Bennett. The Bishop has returned for answer that places. he is satisfied that Mr. Bennett is firmly attached to the Church of England and repudiates all Romish doctrines; and that therefore, as it would be acting uncourteously to the Marchioness of Bath, whose firm attachment to our Church is so well known," to refuse institution, he adheres firmly to his intention of instituting Mr.

Bennett.

The toast of "The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster" was proposed and drunk at the celebration of the opening of schools adjoining the Roman Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, Hackney, on the 13th

inst. Mr. Sheriff Swift was in the chair.

The approaching sitting of Parliament has led to several meetings on the subject of Parliamentary Reform.

He

The Constituency of Sheffield held their annual meeting with their representative, Mr. Roebuck, on the 13th inst., when he addressed them, as usual, on the political topies of the day, and responded to queries put to him. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed by acclamation. The portion of his speech relating to cur foreign relations and our means of defence made a great impression, and was vehemently cheered. had much anxiety on this subject, because he felt that we lived on the eve of stirring times. Among my fellow-countrymen," he said, "and among those for whose politics I have the greatest regard, with whom I have the greatest sympathy, with whom I daily act in the House of Commons, there is a feeling which I believe is The Westminster Reform Society, which has been in I am sure he will permit me so to do, my friend Mr. an erroneous one. Now, Mr. Cobden-I call him, and abeyance for two or three years, was resuscitated by a Cobden-not long ago, when that wonderful, and in my meeting of its members in Exeter Hall on the 20th inst. notion horrible catastrophe, happened in France, said, It was explained, that the suspended action of the 'That is the consequence of an army.' But supposing society was owing to the necessity for repose to the that you are living in the country and in an isolated public mind after the Corn-law repeal, and to the house-that you learnt to-morrow morning that the deadening effect of the Great Exhibition on all ques-house of a neighbour in the same situation as yours had tions "merely political." But now that a dissolution been entered and rifled and its master killed-should of Parliament is expected, the society will be put in you think it wise to open your doors, to take away all working order, and made ready for action. mittee, named from the different parishes in the city, was appointed; and it was remitted to them to revise the rules and regulations now existing, and report to a future meeting to be held soon after the meeting of

Parliament.

A com

pistols and bury them in the garden, and expect that your bolts, to draw the loading from your guns and you were to be quite safe from moral force and public opinion? Now, that is our difficulty at present. I acknowledge the evils and horrors of an overwhelming security. There are mischievous feelings abroad, and army; but I say to my country, do not be in a fatal despotism is triumphant in Europe now. Constitutional government, liberty, and truth, have their sacred sphere only in England. If England be invaded and crushed, that liberty and that truth must fly across the Atlantic for protection. Europe would be a continent of slaves; a darkness would come over mankind; and that torch of truth which is now held up almost singly by the glorious arm of England would be reversed and extin"That the population of the county of Lancaster, by the guished. Shall such a thing be? And shall I,

The Council of the Manchester Parliamentary Reform Association assembled on the 20th, to draw up their claims on Parliament for a share proportionate to the wealth and population of Lancashire in the new distribution of Parliamentary franchise which is to be made by Lord John Russell's Reform Bill. Mr. George Wilson was in the chair. The following resolution, embodying the case of Lancashire, was moved by Mr. Bright, and unanimously adopted :

62

representing the people of England, tell you not to be
alarmed, not to expect encroachment, not to expect
that real aggression? I will do no such thing. Be
prepared!
Have a national army, and, let soldiers
say what they like, if the thing be properly done, we
shall give a good account of anybody who comes here.
Now, am not going to terrify my countrymen-I am
not going to hold the hand, and say, 'For God's sake,
do not come here!'-for that is the language of most
people who are so terribly afraid that they should give
courage to their opponents. I say, be not afraid, but
be ready; and if they do come, let them never return.”
A Meeting of the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of
London, was held at Sion College on the 22nd, in con-
sequence of a requisition addressed to Archdeacon
Hale, for the purpose of petitioning Parliament to Dis-
continue the Endowment to Maynooth College. The
speakers were Archdeacon Hale, Dr. Croly, Dr. Worth-
ington, Dr. Vivian, the Reverend Messrs. Hartwell
Horne, E. Auriol, J. Gelling, Ellis, Dale, Cox, Ram,
and Redwar. The following declaration was adopted.
1. That the rapid increase of the Papal power throughout
the whole extent of the Queen's dominions, and the facilities
now possessed by the Church of Rome for the dissemination of
her doctrines among all orders of the community, is a well-
grounded cause of alarm to all who duly appreciate the value of
that deliverance from Romish error which was wrought for our
Church by the good Providence of God at the period of the

Reformation.

2. That although it may now be, in a political point of view, a matter of difficulty that the Government of this country should at once depart from that line of policy under the shelter of which Romanism has made such rapid advances, it is nevertheless incumbent upon us firmly, but humbly, to express our opinion of the erroneous character of that policy, and our conviction that the full exercise of the supreme authority of the Pope over the clergy and laity of the Romish communion in England and Ireland is incompatible with the supremacy of the Crown, and has endangered not only the Established Church but also the stability of the Throne.

3. That whilst we deeply lament the circumstances in which Roman Catholic Ireland is placed, and are justified in avowing that the granting political privileges to Roman Catholics has conferred no benefit upon that country, either in social improvement or the increase of its wealth, we are also of opinion that the attempt to improve the character of the native Roman Catholic priesthood, and to attach them to the English nation and Government, by affording them the means of education at the College of Maynooth in the place of education in foreign seminaries, has not less signally failed. 4. That when we call to mind the condition of England and Ireland at the time when the first proposition was made to establish a Roman Catholic seminary at Maynooth, and are therefore bound to give credit to the statesmen of those times for believing themselves justified by the peculiar circumstances of the case in advising a Protestant nation to take under its protection and to contribute to the support of such an institution, we still hold the opinion, that the measure was wrong as respects not only political expediency but also religious principle, and that it is the duty of Parliament no longer to support that institution by endowment or by grant; being firmly convinced in our own mind, that the conduct of the Legislature in respect of religion is a part of our moral duty as a nation, and that neglect of duty and disregard of the pure faith of the Gospel causes nations, not less than individuals, to incur the displeasure of Him " by whom kings reign and princes decree justice."

It was resolved unanimously, that a petition framed on this declaration be presented to the House of Lords through the Bishop of London, and to the House of Commons through Sir Robert Inglis.-An overflowing meeting in the Town Hall of Reading, on the 19th adopted petitions to Parliament for the repeal of the Maynooth College Endowment.

A meeting for promulgating the General Revival of Diocesan Synods was held on the 22d. The Reverend T. Collins, Rural Dean of Ripon, presided, and the speakers were the Honourable John Talbot, Mr. F. H. Dickenson, Lord Lyttelton, the Reverend Canon Trevor, Sir Walter James, the Honourable and Reverend W. Howard, and the Reverend Messrs. Scott, Gunner, Hamilton, Carter, and Smith. Resolutions were unanimously adopted to the effect that Diocesan Synods are necessary for the well-being of the Church, and the spiritual interests with which it is connected; that the present mode of diocesan government by the sole and unlimited mind of the diocesan, is inconvenient and injurious to the Church itself, inconsistent with the true principle of episcopal authority, and

opposed alike to Scripture precedents and the practice of the primitive Church in the best and earliest ages; and that a Diocesan Synod would be a source of great help and assistance to a Bishop, in suggesting plans of usefulness, in supplying details of diocesan information, in maintaining his own rightful authority, and in supporting by its united co-operation such local and diocesan plans and arrangements as he may deem necessary for the welfare of his people. The meeting invited all churchmen to unite with them in the promotion of this object, and adjourned to the 29th of April, the meeting to be held at Gloucester.

NARRATIVE OF LAW AND CRIME.

MR. Joshua Edwards, a respectable merchant in Liverpool, Committed Suicide on the 22nd ult., by taking prussic acid. It appeared, from a coroner's inquest, held on the 7th inst., that he had recently become embarrassed in circumstances, and had been particularly distressed since the receipt of a letter announcing the dishonour of a bill for 10007., of the firm of which he was the head. A verdict of temporary insanity was returned.

At Guildhall, on the 27th ult., Mrs. Dawson, alias Phoebe Blakeney, residing near Maida hill, appeared on discharge of her bail, for re-examination on the charge of having committed Wilful Perjury in the year 1833, by taking an affidavit in Doctors' Commons to the effect that she was the only lawful daughter and the next of kin to the late Mrs. Elam, the widow of Lieutenant Elam, of the 8th Garrison Battalion.-On a former examination it appeared that Lieutenant Elam married a Miss Hood or Wood, in 1807; that a separation took place, and in 1828 Miss Georgiana Elam was born, and in 1829 Lieutenant Elam died. That the late Lord Portarlington lived with Mrs. Dawson, then a friend of Mrs. Elam's, and at the death of the latter in 1833, she took charge of the child, Miss Elam, and administered to the property of Mrs. Elam, sworn at under 50007., as her daughter, and only next of kin. It was alleged for the defence that Mrs. Elam was fiftyeight years of age when she died, and not forty-eight as stated in her burial certificate, and that during the several years she was separated from her husband she lived with Lord Portarlington, who had been also living with Mrs. Dawson, who, it was contended, was Mrs. Elam's daughter, by Robert Blakency, her former husband. It was also stated for the defence that Lord Portarlington was sixty-two, and Mrs. Elam fifty-three years old, when Miss Elam was brought forward as his lordship's child, in 1828, the year in which she was born, and the defendant's counsel pledged himself to prove that Miss Elam was purchased by Mrs. Elam, and palmed off upon Lord Portarlington for the purpose of obtaining money from him, he being highly delighted at the birth of the child. On this, as on the previous occasion, a variety of evidence was offered tending on one part to show that Miss Elam (who was present) was the child of Mrs. Elam, and on the other that she was a changeling. The case was finally remanded, and Mrs. Dawson was allowed to depart without renewing her recognizances, on a pledge that she should be forthcoming at the next examination.

A Mutiny has broken out among the Convicts at Woolwich, on the alleged ground that the authorities had broken faith with them, as certain periods had been fixed when, if they conducted themselves well, they would be sent out of the country and obtain tickets of leave on arriving at their destination. In several instances, it appears, the period had been exceeded, in consequence of the difficulty in finding localities where such convicts would be received. Symptoms of insubordination had been observed for several days, which led to measures of precaution. On the 30th ult., on the return of the convicts on board the Warrior convictship to dinner, they rushed down and took possession of two of the decks, defying the guards or any of the military to come near them. Captain Stopford, superintendent of the dockyard, was immediately communicated with, and the aid of the guards of the Artillery

ham in Suffolk, has been committed to prison on a
charge of Attempting to Poison his wife. A child and
a servant-girl were also made ill by drinking things pre-
pared for that purpose. It appears from the evidence
taken by a magistrate, that Baldry put arsenic in beer
and coffee which he gave to the woman. The poison
affected her, but not mortally; apparently the greater
part had remained in the vessels used, in the form of
sediment. Her mother noticing the sediment, on one
occasion preserved it in a bottle, and a chemist proved
that it was arsenic. Baldry told a man that he had
given his wife some powders," as he had found they
did himself good: he offered this man the bribe of a pig
not to say anything about the matter; remarking that
he would give the doctor, who attended his wife,
another pig if he also would keep silence. Mrs. Baldry
had some money, which she refused to let her husband
have, and in consequence he had treated her harshly.
A case settling the Liability of Railway Conpanies
for Luggage, was decided at the Marylebone County
Court on the 10th inst. A lady named Goodman,
residing at Uxbridge, brought an action against the
Great Western Railway Company, for 35l. 14s. 3d.,
being the value of some luggage lost at the station. It
appeared from the statement of an omnibus conductor,
named Long, who was brought up on a habeas corpus
expressly to state the manner in which luggage was
stolen, that it was customary, on the arrival of the
train, for the porters to bring out the passenger's
luggage, and that any omnibus conductor might get
hold of it and drive off. The company, in this case,
did not deny the loss or the value of the luggage, but
contended that the company were not liable, as it was
expressly stated in their bye-laws that every first-class
passenger would be allowed 1121b., and every second-
class passenger 561b., free of charge, but that the com-
pany would not be responsible for luggage unless booked
and paid for. The plaintiff in this case had not com-
plied with this bye-law. In support of the plaintiff's
case, it was stated, that in order to test the "bye-law"
she had actually applied to the station-clerk to book her
luggage, and this had been refused. Mr. Amos (the
judge) said it would be a most extraordinary thing if
the company could enforce such a law as this, made by
themselves, and compel passengers to book their luggage
to ensure the responsibility of the company. A verdict
was at once given in favour of the plaintiff for the
whole amount, and costs.

A Board of Examination has been sitting at Gosport on the 30th ult, and several following days, for the purpose of Examining the Preserved Meats supplied by contract to the Navy, the Admiralty having cause to suspect their purity. The examination has disclosed some horrible facts. The canisters containing the meat are upon the average about 101b. canisters. On the first day 643 of them were opened, out of which number no fewer than 573 were condemned, their contents being masses of putrefaction. On the second day 779 canisters were opened, out of which number 734 were condemned. On the third, 791 canisters were opened, out of which number 744 were condemned. And on the fourth, 494 canisters were opened, out of which 459 were condemned. On subsequent days the examination was continued, with similar results. The condemned canisters contained such substances as pieces of heart, roots of tongue, pieces of palates, pieces of tongues, coagulated blood, pieces of liver, ligaments of the throat, pieces of the intestines, and other garbage in a state of putridity. The examining board and party were compelled to use profusely Sir W. Burnett's disinfecting fluid to save themselves from the effects of the pestilential exhalations. This stuff was supplied to the Admiralty and delivered into store at Clarence Yard last November twelvemonth, warranted equal to sample and to keep sound and consumable for five years. It was brought by the contractor from Galatz in Moldavia, where he has a contract for tallow with the Russian Government.

Giovanni Kalabergo, an Italian, who has for many years carried on the business of a jeweller at Banbury, was Murdered on Saturday night, the 10th inst., about three miles from that town. He was in the habit of travelling to the neighbouring villages in a light cart;

on the above evening he was returning to the town, accompanied by a nephew, a young man who has been in England only two months. About half-past five o'clock, Kalabergo's body was discovered on the road at Wilscot Hill; it was yet warm; he had been shot through the head with a bullet; the cart was a little distance forward on the road, untended. The nephew came into Banbury with an improbable story, that he and his uncle were attacked by robbers, who killed his uncle. But Kalabergo's pockets had not been rifled. The nephew was taken into custody, and attempted to escape by leaping from the window of a public house, but was immediately re-taken. He has been committed for trial at the next Oxfordshire assizes.

The little town of Loughrea, in the county of Galway, has been the scene of a horrible Domestic Tragedy. On the night of the 15th inst., Mrs. Cosgrave, the wife of the head constable of police, during the absence of her husband from the barracks, sent her maid on a message, and having secured the door, proceeded to the bed where her children, two boys, aged respectively 4 years and 9 months, were sleeping, and murdered them by cutting their throats with a razor. The head of the elder child was nearly severed from the body, and the wound upon the neck of the other was such as must have produced immediate death. She then attempted to put an end to her own life by the same means, but did not succeed in doing so. Her husband is supposed to be insane since the fatal occurrence, and remains strictly guarded by some of the police. No blame attached to any party beside the unhappy woman herself, nor can any cause be assigned which might lead to the commission of the fearful deed. She is described as having been a person of a morbid and brooding disposition, much prone to novel reading, and she lived in a very secluded manner during the last nine months, but her conduct to her husband was most affectionate.

A Parliamentary Return has been printed, showing, in a tabular form, the Business Transacted in the County Courts in the year ending the 31st of December, 1850. In the year there were 396,793 plaints entered, and the number of causes tried was 217,173. The total amount for which plaints were entered was 1,265,1157., of which it appears that judgment was given for 647,5867., and that there was paid into court, to the credit of the plaintiffs, by the defendants, before trial, 88,3301. The number of causes tried were about 55 in the hundred of the number of plaints entered. The amounts claimed by the plaints which did not proceed to trial were in most cases paid directly to the plaintiffs by the defendants, and were not, therefore, recorded in the books of the court; while in other cases the plaintiffs had not proceeded with the suits. The total amount of Judges' Fund and officers' fees is returned at 205,6877. There were 769 causes tried by jury out of 217,173. The Courts sat 8153 days. There were 14,393 executions paid without levy, and 30,832 enforced. Of 13,086 commitments ordered, only 5,693 were carried into effect.

Thomas Bare, the person who Killed his Wife in Marylebone, has been tried in the Central Criminal Court. The evidence was nearly the same as that given before the Police Magistrate. For the prisoner it was urged that the Jury might return a verdict for the lesser offence of manslaughter. The attack on the woman was preceded by a hasty quarrel; the instrument of the homicide was a file, not a knife: circumstances hardly consistent with a deliberate intention to commit murder. The Jury consulted for some time, and then convicted of manslaughter. Mr. Baron Platt seemed, from his address to the prisoner, to have been hardly satisfied with the lenient verdict: he passed a sentence of transportation for life.

Mr. Ramshay, the late Judge of the Liverpool County Court, has caused a notice to be served on the treasurer of the Court, prohibiting him, at his peril, from paying to the new Judge his quarter's salary which is now due, and another notice on Mr. Pollock himself, prohibiting him from receiving it. He has also served notice on the Earl of Carlisle, that he intends, on an early day in the ensuing term, to apply to the Court of Queen's Bench for a quo warranto to restrain Mr. Pollock from acting.

At the Worship Street Police Court, on the 20th,

waiting close on the spot for a considerable time, at a most unseasonable hour of the night, without being noticed by any of the police.

The sentence on Sarah Ann Hills, convicted at York for the Murder of her new-born infant, has been commuted to transportation for life.

Rogers, a journeyman painter, of Jane Street, St. Luke's, charged his son, a boy twelve years of age, with Robbery. The father stated that the prisoner was the youngest of his several children, and that his evil courses have kept the family in constant distress and privation. He had repeatedly broken open his father's drawers, and carried off the contents to turn them into money; and several times when the father had fallen asleep in his chair after his day's work, the young reprobate had cut off his waistcoat pocket with all his wages in it, and disappeared till he has spent all the money. In the same manner, while his mother was lately sitting at work, he stealthily raised her dress, cut out her pocket, carried off all her money, and disap-competent to its management, and was under the influpeared for several days. Shortly after he came home on the last occasion, he was intrusted with a shilling by a friend of his father, and was sent out to make a trifling purchase in the neighbourhood: but he never returned; and nothing was heard of him until the following evening, when the owner of a fruit-stall in the same street came and complained that he had gone off with another piece of silver given him to get changed. He had a glazier's diamond which he tried to sell; and the father found, on examination, that his drawer had again been broken open and this diamond stolen. A lad produced the diamond in court, and stated that the young thief had sold it to him under pretence that his father had done with it. It appeared that the prisoner had been once before summarily convicted and imprisoned for six weeks. He was committed for trial.

At the Insolvent Debtors Court, on the 17th, John Mills, described as an author, who applied under the Protection Act, was opposed by two creditors named Magniss and Thompson. The opposing creditors were holders of bills of exchange given by the insolvent, and the question was, what reasonable expectations the insolvent had for contracting his debts. His wife was in expectation of money by the death of a relative, and a friend expected a chancery suit to be settled. He had made himself liable for debts, and had sold for 1207. furniture which had cost him more than 3007. Mr. Magniss had discounted bills for the insolvent, and admitted that he had charged 30 per cent. as discount. The insolvent said that Mr. Magniss had charged him 60 per cent.-Mr. Commissioner Phillips said that if the opposition stood alone he should pay little attention to it, but he looked at the schedule and saw the manner in which some of the debts had been contracted. He should give no assistance to gentlemen-and it should be made public-who took, by their own admission, 30 per cent. They were their own insurers, and need not complain. Mr. Thompson, the other complainant, said he was in the same "boat" as the other. He had charged 30 per cent.-Mr. Commissioner Phillips: Do not call it boat, call it craft.—Mr. Thompson said he had lost 10007. by the persons from whom he took the bills of the insolvent.-Mr. Commissioner Phillips had no doubt bill discounters ran great risks-it was part of their profession. They were their own insurers, and were not, under the Prisoners' Act, entitled to any protection. This case was under the Protection Act, and upon the face of the schedule it was clear that the insolvent had incurred debts without reasonable expectations of payment. He had no authority under the act to name a day for the final order, and therefore it must be adjourned sine die without protection.

At a very early hour on the morning of the 16th, a Robbery took place in St. Andrew's-road, Newingtoncauseway, most extraordinary in its extent and success. Some thieves effected an entrance into two empty houses, and from thence walked each way amongst those which were inhabited, until they had succeeded in tearing from their settings, and carrying away, the coppers from no less than ten adjoining houses. The thieves also abstracted several live ducks from the yards, a quantity of bacon, as well as dressed and undressed food from the larders, and other articles; with the whole of which they got clear off. To effect these robberies must have occupied at least two hours (and it may be observed that several attempts had been made), while the weight of the coppers alone was not less than three or four cwt., which it must have required a horse and cart to remove, and this must have been kept

A Commission of Lunacy has been sitting during the greater part of this month to inquire into the sanity of Mrs. Catherine Cumming, an aged widow-lady residing at St. John's Wood. The inquiry was promoted by her married daughters, Mrs. Ince and Mrs. Hooper, who alleged that their mother, having a considerable property at her disposal, was not, from her state of mind, ence of persons who profited by her imbecility. The circumstances of the case were excessively complicated, involving many family quarrels and legal disputes and transactions, of no public interest. The allegation of insanity, or of incapacity to manage her affairs, was denied on the part of Mrs. Cumming herself; and an investigation of enormous length took place, in the course of which a host of witnesses were examined on both sides,-relations, friends, acquaintances, servants, solicitors and other legal advisers, and medical men; and the mass of evidence, reported at great length in the daily papers, was accumulated of the most confused and contradictory kind. After sitting for sixteen days, the proceedings of the Commission were terminated by a verdict finding that Mrs. Cumming was of unsound mind, and incapable of managing her affairs, and had been so from May 1, 1846. It has been announced, however, that Mrs. Cumming is to institute proceedings to set aside the verdict, in consequence of the opinion, formally delivered by her counsel, that the verdict is manifestly against the evidence. This " monster inquiry has been carried on at the rate of 350l. per day; the total expence being 56007.

At the Clerkenwell Police Court, on the 24th, Ann White, a miserable, dissipated-looking young woman, was put at the bar for final examination on the charge of having Murdered her Infant Child, of nine months old. On her first examination, it appeared that she had resided in Somers'-town, with her two children, one seven years old, and the deceased; that they were frequently left by her without food, fire, or, clothes, and otherwise so utterly neglected that her landlord eventually deemed it his duty to call in a constable, with whose assistance the poor sufferers were removed to St. Pancras workhouse, and she was shortly afterwards found rolling about drunk and taken into custody. The deceased and the other child were speedily examined by Mr. Robinson, the parochial surgeon, who found them sinking rapidly from the combined want of food and general neglect; that they were in a state almost impossible to describe, and swarming with vermin. Everything which humanity could dictate was immediately bestowed on the little helpless creatures; but death happily terminated the sufferings of the one, and the other is recovering. The board of St. Pancras, on the former inquiries, had declined to prosecute, and were severely censured by the magistrate, who said that, in a matter of such atrocity, importance, and nicety, a meanness ought not to exist, especially with a parochial body, and he wished them to review their decision. It now appeared the parish-officers had profited by the recommendation of the magistrate, as the clerk to the vestry appeared as public prosecutor, and called another witness, who proved almost unheard-of brutality by the accused towards her poor children. The magistrate, at the conclusion of the examination, said it was a most painful case, and committed the prisoner to Newgate to take her trial.

An action has been tried at the Marylebone County Court bearing upon the subject of Medical Fees. The plaintiff was Mr. Brown, a consulting surgeon in Oxfordsquare, and the defendant was Mr. Bankes, a gentleman residing in the same neighbourhood. Mr. Brown stated that, on the 23rd of May last, the defendant asked him to go immediately to his sister, Mrs. Haffenden, of Layton Hall, Notts, who was dangerously ill. He did so, the distance from town being about 150 miles. The usual charge is 10s. 6d. per mile, or 15 guineas per day, and 7s. 6d., for 300 miles, was not a large sum.

The old