27 OCTOBER 1849, Page 2

tbt gfletropolis.

The Committee of Aldermen appointed to make provision for the suit- able reception of the Queen has held daily sittings for the settlement of the order of procession on the river, Szc. An official announcement was made, and received with great manifestations of delight, that the young Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal would accompany the Queen on her visit.

The Gazette of Tuesday contained orders by the Board of Health re- specting several more Metropolitan churchyards, directing the observance of the regulations as to inhumation and the covering of the surface soil with a coating of lime; and also an order to the Churchwardens of St. Benet's Sherehog, in the City, directing the closing of their burial-ground for a certain period.

We understand that the Government have serious intentions of taking into consideration the question of removing Smithfield Market; and that a Committee, composed of practical men, will be directed to report upon the practicability of such a course, after the fullest investigation into its several bearings.—Morning Chronicle.

A meeting was held in the Hanover Square Rooms on Monday, to con- sider the means of obtaining a cheaper and better supply of water for the inhabitants of London. Mr. Charles Lushing,ton, Member for Westininster, presided, and opened the business with a few brief statements; one of which was, that between 60,000 and 70,000 houses in London are left wholly without any supply of water. Dr. Lankester, Dr. Aldis, and Dr. Allison addressed the meeting on the disease-increasing results of the present state of things; and were followed by Mr. Tabberner, Dr. Buckland, and others, with remarks on the best way of proceeding to find a remedy. Dr. Buck- land especially attacked what he deemed a geological fallacy in some plans that are before the public—the assumption that it is possible to supply the Metropolis from perforations or Artesian wells, descending to the strata of earth under what is called the basin of London.

This supposition be had refuted in his Bridgewater Treatise; and he challenged every man in the room of any experience in these matters to gainsay a single word in the book, or to affirm against it the possibility of obtaining a sufficient quantity of water from the subterraneous sources of London to supply in an adequate manner the inhabitants of this city. Let them remember, that since the perforation of the first Artesian well in the Metropolis, fifty years ago, no instance had occurred of such a well being made without lowering the water in the wells in the vicinity some ten or twenty feet. He saw in the resolution, that the service of the water for the Metropolis was to be placed with a publicly elective body. That was no business of his, and be would not mix himself up with com- mercial or political considerations in discussing matters affecting the health and life of every individual in the Metropolis. He would give his services unpaid at the call of the public, and he would undertake in a public lecture which he would give to prove the incorrectness of the categorical assertion made in this prospectus, that " an abundant and inexhaustible supply of pure water is provided for this great population, and for ten cities more of equal magnitude, in the water-bearing stratum of chalk immediately under our feet." He would give this lecture in the Royal Institution of Great Britain, if no other place were afforded to him. He would refer to the opinion of Sir Henry De La Beebe, one of the first geological authorities in the kingdom, and he had no doubt that his view of the case would be supported by him and many others equally competent to judge. The chalk stratum under the Metropolis is not a cover for an abyss of water, but yields the water contained in its crevices; and if many Artesian wells are bored, this sup- ply will be reluctantly yielded to steam power at an enormous cost. He eon- chided by proposing that the impugned sentence be expunged from the prospectus. The Chairman explained, that the prospectus alluded to was not offi- cially before the meeting, and that the meeting was not asked to pledge itself to any specific plan.

The practical result of the speeches and deliberations was the following resolution, which, with some others of a formal nature, was unanimously adopted- " That it is desirable that each of the Metropolitan parishes should organize a local movement in support of the Metropolitan Water Supply Association; and also that a public subscription be forthwith entered into for the purpose of defray- ing all necessary expenses in carrying into effective operation the proposition of the Association." The Committee appointed last week by the meeting for securing the nomination of a Welshman to the vascint nee of Llandaff, met at Free. masons Tavern on. Wednesday-. Mr. R. Lawrence, the Chairman, stated that a letter was written to Lord John Russell on Monday night, re. questing an early interview for the purpo.se of presenting the me, ria14 but no answer had been received. Mr. Williams, M.P., stated tht, he had written to the Premier pressing on him the claims of his cowl. trymen to the same privileges which are unhesitatingly accorded to the New Zealander and to the Hindoo ; urging that-the "Colonial Bishops are peremptorily required to possess a competent knowledge of the language of the distant people among whom they are appointed to minister; yet this inestimable boon has for years been withheld from the peaceable, religious and loyal people of the Principality of Wales." Lord John Russell hal replied, acknowledging the receipt of Mr. Williams's letter, and statinR that he "he would give due consideration to the remarks contained in It was resolved to ask the Premier for an interview.

The trial of Frederick George Manning and Maria Manning, for the murder of Patrick O'Connor, the Customhouse-officer, commenced at the Central Crinniem Court in the Old Bailey, on Thursday. Many persons assembled at the cotut- entrance early in the morning, and on the opening of the doors immediately filled all the space allotted to the public except the gallery. This portion of the court was kept thinly occupied for a considerable time by a very high charge for ad- mission; but it became full as the trial went on. The want of room was so press- ing at last, that some ladies and gentlemen were even placed in the dock [a larger space in the Old Bailey than in any other court] along with the prisoners. AneeT

the persons of distinction present were Lord Howden, Lord Strangford, Count Cal loredo, the Austrian Ambassador, Baron Koller, Secretary to the Austrian Embassy,

the Swedish Minister and his Secretary, the First Secretary to the Prussian Legi_ tion, the Marquis of Hertford, the Marquis d'Azeglio, (Sardinian Charge d'Affaires,) and Admiral Dundee. The Judges were Chief Baron Pollock, of the Court of Exchequer, Mr. Justice Mauls and Mr. Justice Cromwell, of the Court of Com- mon Pleas.

Manning entered the court first, decently dressed in black: Mrs. Manning ass attired in a dark close-fitting dress, with a gaudy shawl, and she wore a hand- some white lace veil in place ofany bonnet. The prisoners took their places at the opposite ends of the dock, without any sign of recognition: Manning was restless during the trial, and looked furtively at his wife; Mrs. Manning first stood and afterwards sat like a statue, never once turning eye on her husband: he appeared in better health and spirits, she in worse, than of late. Sir John Jervis, the Attorney-General, with Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Bodkin, and Mr. Clerk, appeared for the Crown; Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Charnock for Manning; Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Parry for Mrs. Manning.

There were two indictments, one founded on the Coroner's inquest, the other original; and each in several counts charged Manning with the murder as prin. eipal, and his wife with aiding and abetting to commit the murder. Manning an- swered the arraignment with a loud firm reply of "Not guilty." On Mrs. Man- ning's arraignment, her counsel claimed that she as an alien be tried by a jury coin. posed partly of aliens; but the Judges calling first for her plea, she said, "Not guilty," in a voice scarcely audible within a few feet from the dock. The point of law about alienage was then argued. The Attorney-General con- tended that the 7th and 8th Victoria cap. 66 sec. 16, which gives a woman who has married a natural-born subject "all the rights and privileges of a natural- born subject," had by implication repealed the old law of Edward III., which entitled the alien wife to a jury de medietate lingua. Mr. Ballantine reminded

the Court, that this old law was reenacted by the 6th George IV. cap. GO, and

that in the latter act there is an express reservation of the privilege in question; and he argued that the law of Victoria could not by mere implication sweep away the express privilege. The other counsel " assisted" the Court with their lore, and with arguments; and, after deliberation for nearly half an hour, the Bench decided that the act of Victoria was an answer to the application: they deemed

that under that act an alien woman on marriage would be considered exactly as

if naturalized by act of Parliament, or as if herself a natural-born subject. On Mr. Ballantine's proceeding to take some other technical step, it was agreed that he should be enabled to reserve the point for the consideration of a court of ap- peal. Mrs. Manning paid great attention to the arguments, but on the decision against her did not exhibit the least emotion. The Attorney-General then opened the case ; clearly stating the law; and de- tailing in simple chronological order' and in a fair moderate spirit, the case for the prosecution. Not a single point of fact can be found in his opening speech which has not already been given fully in the police reports.

The same witnesses, whose examinations in the Police Courts have been very fully abridged in our columns, were then called, and repeated their evidence.

This part of the proceedings presented only one new incident worthy of note.

Hannah Freeman, the girl, twelve years old, who washed Mrs. Manning's steps sad some of the rooms in her house, had repeated her former evidence with an air of simplicity and truthfulness remarkably impressive; but Mr. Bailantine cross- examined her in a manner that erased this impression, and showed her to boa thief and consummate liar. She looked aghast at the first question, and then ex- claiming, "Well, I'll tell the truth, for it'll go farther," she admitted in succession

that she purloined from Manning's house an egg, a razor, a purse, and a pair of stockings, and she did not deny the stealing of a dress, a petticoat, and a smelling- bottle. She left the dock with her credibility reduced to zero. The evidence had not been completed at six o'clock on Thursday evening; when the Court ad- journed, and the Jury were taken to the London Coffeehouse for the night. The case was resumed yesterday; and the court was similarly crowded by the public, and attended by persons of distinction. The evidence for the prosecution

being ended, Mr. Sergeant Wilkins opened the defence on behalf of Manning.

It was neither more nor less than an adherence to Manning's first accusation of his wife—" the defence set up by the prisoner at the time of his arrest, M which he had persisted ever since." There was no shrinking by Manning or his cotui- sel. It was asserted that he had been the dupe and instrument of his wife, who had employed him on various occasions for purposes the drift of which he was

wholly unacquainted with. The lime was purchased by Mrs. Manning's desire,

and the crowbar too; and both were bought with publicity, and of known dealers, rather than secretly of old storekeepers or sellers of things for criminal use. There was no sort of agreement between the husband and wife: Mrs. Man- ning committed the murder herself; and it would be shown that she ISM fully capable of the act—was a woman of consummate wickedness, and capable of con-

cealing her actions in a most extraordinary manner. Her motives throughout

had been feelings of cupidity. Mr. Wilkins deplored his lacerating and agonizing task of crimination: he besought the Jury to throw aside all prejudices, and notto yield to those impulses—good, divine impulses—which usually interfered in favor of a woman, but treat the matter as a pure abstract question of reasoning between, two human beings. Mr. Wilkins also warned the Jury against the influence et "a depraved press," and asked them to treat with contempt its dicta—to push them entirely from the sight with ignominy and Eoglieh indignation. Mr. Ballantine, for Mrs. Manning, commented on this unparalleled line of e fence: a husband, who ought to be the protector of his wife at the cost of his me was her denouncer—was endeavouring to save himself by consigning her to the scaffold! God forbid that he should imitate that example, as it seemed to oe expected he would. He would far rather never enter that court, er any others than in the presence of a fellow creature awaiting his doom—who might be lea

from that court to the seafffild, and might soon have to appear before his Creator

he would use such terms as had been applied by his learned friend to the female prisoner. He would doehat which was his duty as an advocate; but if his duty as advocate required that be should cast upon the male prisoner the sort of observa- tions and accusations which had been made against the woman, he would feel that his profession was a disgrace, and that the sooner be abandoned it for one some- what more creditable, the sooner he would be a respected, an honest, an honour- able, and an upright man, and placed in a position better to respect himself. fie should accuse no one, denounce no one; he should simply endeavour to show the Jury, that, upon the evidence, there was ample ground for them to say that the charge was not made out against his client, and thus save the country from the dreadful exhibition of a husband and wife suffering death upon the same scaffold. Mr. Ballantine then reviewed the evidence; endeavouring to show that it was con- sistent in every part with the fact that his client was not present at the murder, but that she might have shrunk troin disclosing the crime, believing it to be in- stigated by her own criminal intimacy with O'Connor.

Both Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Ballantine paid a willing tribute to the fairness and justice of the mode in which the Attorney-General opened the ease.

In a brief reply, the Attorney-General said, he thought Mr. Ballantine was not justified in complaining of the course taken by the learned Sergeant, who had but done his duty to his client: it was the more manly course boldly to state the charge as he had done, and the grounds which supported it, than to do the same thing by insinuation.

Chief Baron Pollock summed up. He assented to the view of the law pro- pounded by the Attorney-General, and acquiesced in by the counsel for each pri- soner. If the violence was the act of either of them, with the previous consent and concurrence of the other, then they must bring in a verdict of " Guilty " against both. But if they believed that the act was known to one only, and that no previous consent was given by the other, then the verdict should be against that person. With regard to the proofs, he said, "it is not necessary that a crime should be established beyond the possibility of doubt; for there are doubts more or less involved in every human transaction." The Jury retired at six, and remained absent till a quarter to seven. They returned a verdict of" Guilty" against both prisoners.

Mr. Justice Cresswell had placed the black capon his head and begun to speak, when Mrs. Manning poured forth, in a vehement manner, such expressions as these—"I want to say a few words. I have been convicted very unjustly by jury of Englishmen. If I had been tried, as I demanded, by a jury of half foreign- ers, the result would have been different. 1 have not received justice, but have been treated most cruelly in this country. I have had no protection either from the Judge, or from the prosecution, or from my husband I am quite inno- cent of killing Mr. O'Connor. He was very good to me. He was more to me than my husband. He has been my friend and my brother ever since I have been in this country. I have known him for seven years, and he wanted to marry me. Then why should 1 kill him ? . . . I think that lam not treated like a Christian, but like a wild beast of the forest, and the Judges and Jury will have it upon their consciences for giving a verdict against me. . . . . If I had wished to commit murder, how much more likely is it that I should have murdered that man, [point- ing to her husband,] who has made nip life a hell upon earth ever since I. have known him, than that I should have killed O'Connor, who would have married me the next month—yes, the next week after I became a widow P'

Manning eyed his wife intently, bat opened not his mouth. Mr. Justice Cress- well resumed--" You have been convicted of the crime of murder," and was again interrupted by Mrs. Manning's passionate exclamation—"I have not, my Lord; I will not stand here to hear that said." She attempted to rush from the dock, but was detained, and the Judge proceeded calmly to complete the sentence. He doomed each of the prisoners to be severally hanged by the neck till they were dead." Mrs. Manning again attempted to address the Court, but the officers stepped forward to remove her: taking in her hand some of the rue which ac- cording to usage is placed before the prisoners, she threw it among the barristers below her, and exclaiming, "Base, shameful England !" strode out of the court. Manning seemed prostrate; but retained his self-possession, and bowed to the Court as he retired.

At the Central Criminal Court, on Monday, Mr. Thomas Ashton Cockayne, Deputy Master of the Western Grammar School at Brompton, was tried for an assault on Policeman Charles Angel. The case was by no means made out; and the reluctant admissions of Angel showed that he is a bad character and has had bad associates. The defence was cut short by the Jury acquitting the accused, as they did not believe Angel. The Court pronounced that Mr. Cockayne's C114- raeter was without a stain in reference to the intrusions charge. The Recorder told the Polies Inspector to report to the proper authorities that a Jury had re- fused to believe Angel on his oath: such a man was is very improper guardian of the public. [Angel has since been dismissed front the Police Force.] On Tuesday, John Harpur Jones was tried for a misdemeanour in having un- lawfully threatened to publish certain libellous matters with intent to extort money. The prosecutor was Mr. Francis Robert Newton, a young man not yet of age, a Lieutenant in the Royal Marines- He was the chief witness. While stationed at Woolwich, last year, Mr. Newton became acquainted with Mr. Jones; who introduced him to a Mr. Gray. The three played at cards in the barracks; and Mr. Newton lost certain sums of money—on one occasion, 32/. 10s. to the de- fendant; en another, 98/. to Gray. The prosecutor did not pay his losses, but gave 10 Us. The defendant frequently applied for the money, but in vain; and eventually he received a latter from a lawyer intimating that the I 9 U had been improperly obtained, and demanding its restoration. Some negotiation ensued, in the course of which "the respectability" of Gray and Jones was much qnes- tioned; and it ended in Newton's continued refusal to pay. Soon afterwards, Newton lied leave of absence. Jones wrote and denounced his conduct to his com- mander, Colonel Park. He also wrote the letter to the prosecutor which formed the subject of this trial. In this letter the defendant stated that he had written . to Colonel Park, detailing what had occurred; and if that did not produce the de- , sired effect, he intended to publish a hundred copies of the circular which he en- ' closed, and he should send one to every officer at Woolwich as a preliminary step to further publicity. This was the circular—" To be sold cheap, a long over-due I 0 IJ of Lieutenant Francis Robert Newton, of the Royal Marines, given for a lengthened card account; of which he has never had the honesty to pay one penny. Applications to be made to Hemlock Court, Carey Street" Colonel Park recalled Newton, and required some explanation of his conduct; and the indictment of Junes immediately followed. In his cross-examination, the Prosecutor admitted that he had played at cards with his brother officers, and, though he had only his pay for income, had lost as much as 101. at one sitting The charge of foul play was not made out: when Newton lost the 32L 10s. to Jones, he wanted to play for 131. a game at Searle', but Junes would not play for more than 2/. After Mr. Ballantine had spoken in defence,—urging that the charge of false play had not been supported by the least evidence, and that the letter was Only a demand for a debt,—the Recorder briefly summed up; and the Jury almost immediately returned a verdict of " Not guilty." On Wednesday, James Weston was put to the bar to plead to indictments Charging him with the murder of his wife and child. Mr. hellurdo, the prison surgeon, stated that the man was not in a condition to plead: he hart been insalle during the whole period of his incarceration. The Jury gave a verdict accordingly. , In the case of John William Bird, the person accused of forging a certificate 'nab he was a surgeon, the same procedure occurred: the Jury was satisfied that be was of unsound mind.

Stephen Alfred Gordon alias Dowland, aged seventeen, was tried for attempt- ing to murder Sarah Frances Ewiugs. It appeared from the evidence thet the prisoner had seduced the girl, but promised to marry her; and she had declared that she would state her case to a relative of her own unless he did something for her. lie decoyed her at night to Dulwich Wood; having so contrived that her absence should not be noticed, and that his meeting her should not be known. In the wood, he cut her throat with a razor, knocked her down twice with a pis- tol, heather on the head, and tied, leaving her insensible. The case was clear, and the prisoner could make no available defence. He was found guilty of wounding the woman with intent to murder her.

James Wentworth alias Green, the man whose swindling exploits were re- cently mentioned, was tried for forging two bills for ea and 75/. with intent to defraud Mr. Reginald. He had got possession of a house belonging to Mr. Regi- nald, and gave the bills in payment. The prisoner was convicted, and sentenced to be transported for fifteen years.

The two Bartons and Hanbury were tried for the robbery of the railway-parcels in Bedford Row. The evidence was similar to that already reported, and all were found guilty. Old Barton was sentenced to he transported for fifteen years, and Hanbury for seven; but as the youth appeared to have been used by the father as an instrument, his sentence was only six months' imprisonment.

On Thursday, IIenry Watson, the man who is charged with drowning his in- fant, was put to the bar. But Mr. Millurdo declared that he was insane; so he was removed from the dock.

Three convict burglars escaped from Woolwich arsenal on Saturday, by scaling the walls. It is said that some bystanders who witnessed their escape, instead of attempting to impede it, cheered the robbers as they descended the wall.

John Garry is in custody, and has been examined at the blansionhouse, on a charge of defrauding a pawnbroker's shopman by means called tl:e "dulling rig." Garry took to the shop what appeared to be a valuable chronometer, which he represented to have cost 80/. or 901.; and he got au advance of 12/. upon it. At- tempting a second fraud with a silver watch, he WAS detected. The " chrono- meter" turns out to be of the value of 50s.

Francis Williams, a ticket-taker at the Richmond railway-station, has been held to bail by the Magistrates of that town on charges of defrauding the Railway Company. Passengers, when late, frequently enter trains without taking tickets, and pay the fare on alighting; it was Williams's duty to receive money in such cases, and account for it to the cashier. It was suspected that lie appropriated money thus received; and a number of persons were sent by train, and paid their fares to Williams, to test his honesty: he did not account for the cash.

At the City Police Committee, on Saturday, Cullum, a cattle-drover, was sum- moned for exercising his worldly calling on Sunday. By law, cattle mum not be driven within one mile of Smithfield before eleven o'clock on Sunday night. On the 7th instant, sorne foreign cattle were landed at Brewer's Quay, and at twenty minutes past eight the defendant drove them towards Tower Hill. It appeared on admeasurement, that the quay is nearly two miles from Smithfield; so the pro- ceeding was taken under the old act of Charles 11. For the defendant, Mr. Young, a solicitor, said, that by the alteration of the tariff in 1845, a number of persona had embarked their capital in bringing foreign cattle to the English market: a market was held at Ilarliugen on Friday, at which English dealers heught cat- tle; they were shipped in the evening on board steamers; and as weather varied so did the time of their arrival on Sunday in the Thames. By the vessel pitching, and the cattle having to stand during the whole voyage, they were rather in a dis- tressed state when landed; and in order that they might go to market in a proper condition, and not suffer from cruelty, it had been arranged to drive them to a temporary place of shelter out of the City, and give them foal and rest. This was all that had been done in the present instance: it was a "work of necessity." Aldermeu Kelly and Hunter agreed in that view, and diemissed the con-lid:init.

The invest on the five persons who perished in the Kenilworth St. eel. sewer was resumed and concluded on Monday. The evidence was entireiy thet of scientific men on the generation of the gases which destroyed the buffo se.s. The views of all were opposed to Dr. lire's hypothesis that the gas-lime plaeed over the sewer had poisoned the air within it. The witnesses were five. blatheileworthy Gurney, a surgeon, stated that he had found nothing peculiar in the commits of the sewer: the labourers had perished by iuhaling sulphureted hydrogen, but Mr. Wells and the Policeman had died from choke-damp—a mixture of curbside acid and nitrogen. The only way to make sewers safe was by ventilming them with a current of air before men were allowed to enter them. Dr. Miller, Pr llessor of Chemistry fa King's College, Mr. Richard Phillips, and Mr. Dugald Campbell, Demonstrator of Chemistry in University College, at the instance of Mr. Cubitt, who built the sewer, examined its couteuts and the strata of earth above it. Each gentleman gave his oral testiinony, and to conjoint report was read. There was no percolation throngh the brick-work of the sewer: the mortar and brisks were analyzed, but no traces of matter from the gils-lime were limed. 111 the lime itself prussic acid was imperceptible. The accident was not produced by the lime, but by the bricking up of the sewer end the want of ventilation. Dr. Lyon Playfair, Chemist to the Commissioners of Woods anl Foreets, stated that he bad made his investigations by direction of the Commissioners of Seweis. He agreed with the witnesses who had been just exinnined as to the cause of the accident : the gas-lime had nothing to do with it. It was a misnomer to call this piece of work a sewer—it was rather an elongated cesspool, which had re- ceived the filth of three houses for two years ; and from this putrescent mass gases had been generated sufficient to kill the whole Commission of Sewers and all its officers: these gases had struck the men dead in an instant. In sumnaing up, the Coroner pointed out that two of the deceased leliourers had been cautioned tot to miter the fatal sewer; they had been aware of the (Jaeger, and were not trapped into the place. The sewer had been built properly, at least according to the regulations of the Coinmissioners of Sewers; but it hid nut been properly cleaned. The Jury deliberated for nearly two hours, and then found, that the deceased had perished " frem the inhalation of noxious gas generated in a neglected and unventilated sewer." They also attached this opinion to their verdlet, but the Coroner said he cruld not register it—" The Jury un inimouuly consider that the Commissioners and Officers of the Metropolitan Sewer e are much to blame for having neglected to avail themselves of the unusual advantages offered from the local situation of the Grosvenor Canal for the purposes of flush- ing the sewers in this district."

ISPGuire, who was robbed at Chelsea, and supposed to have been murdered, has been discovered. Ile was met by an acquaintance at Deptford, and wae brought to London. He professes to know nothing of the police proceedings in hi ease: his loss, he says, made him desperate; but he attempted to forget it, and, making no complaint or inquiry, went into Kent, getting is livelihood by hAN king littler books.

A great fire occurred at Fish Street Hill on Tuesday evening. It originated in the extensive premises of Messrs. Bodes and Co., wholesale druggists, which ex- tend from King's Head Court to Lower Thames Street. The alarm was increased by several explosions. A large portion of Mesers. Baiss's premises weie destroyed, and fifteen of the surrounding houses were more or less damaged. The fire was caused by spirits of nitre accidentally igniting while a clerk was pouring the liquid from one vessel into another.

The large amount of some 30,000L salvage hats been obtained from the ruins of the great fire at London Wall. Bales of wool when exposed to fire have their ex- terior charred, but a large mass of the material within escapes damage: hence the present salvage.