18 DECEMBER 1852, Page 8

C41. 311rtruptio.

Meetings to oppose the Derby-Disraeli Budget were held this week, in Southwark on Monday ; and subsequently in Lambeth, Westminster, Finsbury, Greenwich, and Deptford. In fact, there was a general paro- chial, civic, and borough insurrection in the Metropolis, hostile to Mr. Disraeli's plan. Last, not least, came the Court of Common Council, on Thursday ; when the following resolution was passed—

"That the present House-tax being of recent imposition, the proposition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to double it, in order to provide a fund for the reduction of taxes on articles of consumption, (any corresponding be- nefits from which to be derived by the consumer being extremely uncertain,) is unwise, unjust, and injurious; and this Court do therefore petition both Houses of Parliament against such contemplated measure."

As was to be expected, the Jamaica proprietors are by no means satis- fied with the West India " boons " of Mr. Disraeli's Budget. On Tuesday they bad a meeting at Willis's Rooms ; Mr. Yates, Chairman of the Liver- pool Jamaica Association, presiding. Mr. Girod, one of the delegates from Jamaica, presented a memorial for the consideration of the meeting. It was proposed to adopt this memorial, obtain as many signatures as possible, and present it to Lord Derby. This was met by a very decided opposition. Mr. Smith, another delegate, thought that the time bad arrived for the adoption of a much stronger and more determined course.

He proposed, therefore, that instead of asking further assistance from the Government, the House of Assembly at Jamaica should be urged to take a course in reference to their local supplies, the effect of which would force the Government to appeal to the colonists for assistance, instead of the colonists applying to them. He moved a resolution, to the effect that the time had arrived when the Assembly of Jamaica should refuse to levy any further taxes on the ruined inhabitants of that island, until the Government of this country consented to afford them that relief to which they were justly entitled.

Mr. Moss seconded the amendment ; and a warm discussion ensued. The amendment was disapproved of ; Mr. Marshall taking a prominent part against it.

Although they might feel disappointed at the Chancellor of the Exche- quer's statement, he had reason to believe that the Government would shortly do something for Jamaica ; and he thought it would be injudicious to take steps which might appear hostile, and which might probably have the effect of deterring the Government from proposing any measure of relief. They had had quite enough of Lord Grey's Colonial administration.

The original resolution was carried on a show of hands ; a committee was appointed ; and the meeting resolved itself into a Jamaica Association in London.

An application has been made by Mr. Murray, the publisher, for an in- junction to restrain Mr. Bogue from selling copies of a work called "Switzerland and Savoy " ; on the ground that the contents were pirated from a book published by Mr. Murray called "A Handbook for Travellers in Switzerland and the Alps of Savoy and Piedmont." The argument was based on the great coincidence of the two books, in words, arrangement, and even errors. The defence alleges that the passages are common property. Sir Thomas Kinderaley has reserved his judgment

About a year ago, a Mr. Grows was killed by a railway accident at Arundel, resulting from negligence. His relatives sued the Brighton and South Coast Railway for compensation ; and on Wednesday a Special Jury in the Court of Common Pleas awarded them 20001.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Monday, Stephen Hamilton Sleigh and Henry Owen were indicted for obtaining 1001. by false pretences from Mr. John Hall Davis, a physician. Mr. Davis attended Mr. Owen's family ; Mr. Owen introduced to his notice a projected "Annual Bonus Life Association" ; Mr. Davis agreed to become a director, and wished to be appointed physician to the society. He was asked for 1001. as his share of money to be advanced by the directors to set the scheme afloat ; and he gave a check for that amount, and Owen made use of the money. The alleged fraud consisted in this : certain rules were shown to Mr. Davis as certified by Mr. Tidd Pratt ; but there were other rules in the prospectus, for an annual distribution of the profits by ballot—a kind of lottery. Mr. Tidd Pratt stated that he would not have certified rules to that effect, as he thought they were illegal under the Lottery Act. The prosecutor's evidence was not very satisfactory—it was "inferior," said the Recorder. It was quite clear that he joined in the scheme with a very strong hope of making a good thing of it—he thought if he were appointed physician to the company it would extend his practice. He admitted that, in September, he had written to the defendant Owen, and that in this letter he asked him how the "bonus" was going on ; and at the same time said that he had beard from several of his friends that the plan was a kind of lottery, but that should it answer he should be glad, and if it did not he should be taught a lesson which he should not forget; after writing this letter he continued his connexion with the company until the month of October.

At the close of the ease for the prosecution, the Recorder expressed his opinion that the evidence would not justify a conviction. Mr. Clarkson, counsel for the prosecution, bowed to this intimation, and withdrew the case. A verdict of "Not guilty" was then given.

George Bellamy, the young man who stole 7000/. worth of jewellery be- longing to Mrs. Goodwin, pleaded guilty : he was sentenced to seven years' transportation.

On Tuesday, Mr. Robertson, a bill-broker, and Robert Hills, his clerk, sur- rendered to take their trials for stealing a promissory note for 3501., the pro- perty of Mr. Milner. The counsel for the prosecution (announced that he wished to withdraw the case ; as Mr. Milnes was now convinced that there was no felonious intent—Mr. Robertson had only attempted to get possession of the bill believing that he had a right to it; the act was rash and indis- creet, but not a theft. The Recorder, from the depositions before the Magis- trate, thought that the felonious intent could not be made out, and he di- rected an acquittal.

Tooley, the man who killed Alexander Downes at Pentonville, was placed at the bar on Thursday. He appeared perfectly imbecile, and made no an- swer when the indictment was read. Mr. M‘Murdo, ;he prison surgeon, pronounced him insane. A verdict was given that the accused was not dn a fit state of mind to plead, and he was ordered to be detained in custody " during her Majesty's pleasure."

Henry Horler, a young man, was convicted of the murder of his wife, by cutting her throat while she was in bed. The man's counsel could only sug- gest that he was not a responsible agent when he did the deed, his mind having been unhinged by injuries which he imagined he had received from his wife's relations. Sentence of death was pronounced by Mr. Justice Wightman, amidst the wretched prisoner's screams for mercy.

Amelia Elizabeth Burt, a married woman of thirty, was tried for the mur- der of her child, by throwing it from Hungerford Bridge. In this case also it appeared that the poor creature was of unsound mind, and she was accord- ingly acquitted on that ground.

Launcelott Harrison, a captain in the merchant-service, was convicted of cutting and wounding a Lascar seaman, on the homeward voyage from Cal- cutta, with intent to maim and disable him. The evidence showed a very bad state of things generally on board the ship.

At the Surrey Sessions, on Saturday, the Reverend Daniel Donovan, a Roman Catholic priest of Bermondsey, was tried for assaulting Mary Mur- phy. The woman had been confined three weeks, and was sitting by the fire with her infant when Mr. Donovan came in. He was very angry with her. She and her husband had become Protestants; and the infant had been bap- tized by Dr. Armstrong, an Irish Protestant who has converted many Roman Catholics in Bermondsey. Mr. Donovan inquired about the infant's bap- tism ; and then abused the woman, and struck her three times with his um- brella. Further, he incited the landlady to turn the Murphys out of the house - and the landlady subsequently took away the bed on which the woman slept. The witnesses called for the defence in some measure corroborated Mrs.. Murphy's statement, though they softened it. It appeared also from Mur- phy's admissions that she obtained money and other relief from Catholics as well as Protestants—Donovan had given her money. The Jury convicted Mr. Donovan ; but both they and the prosecutrix recommended him to- mercy. On that recommendation, the sentence was not imprisonment, but. a fine of 51. The fine was immediately paid, amid the execrations of the mob and the dreadful howling of the women. They were in a state of such excitement that it was found necessary to send out both the priest and his accuser privately through the gaol.

John Thompson, a youth of eighteen, was convicted of defrauding pawn- brokers, by pledging worthless rings made up so as to resemble gold, and having an imitation of a French legal mark on them. He was ordered to, be imprisoned for six months.

Count Scheer Thoss has been committed for trial by the Marlborough Street Magistrate, for fraudulently obtaining money and goods in exchange for "Austrian land bonds," which are really of no value either in Austria or at Pesth, whence they were issued.

Mr. Moinier Leschallas, a paper-maker and rag-merchant of Budge Bow and Chatham, has shot himself dead with a pistol, in his warehouse. He had been suffering from mental delusions for some time, and attempted once before to kill himself. A paper-mill of his had been destroyed by fire, and he conceived the notion that he was becoming a ruined man, though in fact he could have retired from business on an independence. Figures made no impression upon him in removing this delusion : when stock was taken and it was shown that ho was in a prosperous state, he said the account had been " conjured up to deceive him.

tThe Goldsmiths' Company have this week sent to the Metropolitan Police Courts their annual donation of 201. to each poor-pox.