3littrapi1io.

A special general Court of the East India Company was held on Wednesday, Sir Frederick Currie in the chair, for the purpose of sub- mitting to the Court a resolution, agreed to by the Directors, making grant of 20001. a year to Sir John Lawrence. The chairman moved the resolution, prefacing it with a sketch of the career of Sir John, now so well known to the public, intermingled -with a -warm eulogium on his conduct in the Punjaub. Captain Eastwiek, the deputy chairman, se- conded the resolution, amplifying, in his speech, the sketch of Sir Frede- rick Currie, and giving an interesting view of the position of Sir John. "On 'the 21st of October 1857, he himself writes—' When I look back on the events of the last four months, I am lost in astonishment that any of us are alive, but for the mercy of God we must have been ruined. Had the Sikhs joined against us, nothing humanly speaking could have saved u. No man could have hoped, much lees foreseen, that they would have with- stood the temptation to avenge their national independence.' It must not be supposed, because the danger pawed away, because the bold policy of Sir John Lawrence was successful, that no danger from the Sikh nation existed. We learn from those on the spot that the question of the Sikhs being for us or against us trembled in the balance. No doubt the thought crossed the minds of many veteran warriors of the KhaLsa race, but they were without leaders, an undying hatred of the Poorbeyas and Mahoniedans burned in their hearts, the deaire of plunder and of wreaking vengeance on Delhi, the scene of so many atrocities against their forefathers, urged them ; the asso- ciations connected with the names of Lawrence, Edwardes, Nicholson, and a host of others were a tower of strength to the English cause and at this critical moment Sir John Lawrence threw open wider the rank; of our ser- vice and gave employment to all who would enlist. Amid the universal distrust of the natives of India a weaker man would have hesitated to adopt so hold a measure, the tide might have turned, and the vessel of the State been stranded' but we all know the result of this move of Sir John Law- rence, and we have only now to take precautions against the returning Sikh wave. There was another formidable danger which menaced the Punjaub, and might well have induced caution in denuding the province of troops. It was to be expected that the turbulent Mahomedan tribes on the frontier would seize the opportunity for invasion, but no dread of responsibility for his own special charge could divert Sir John Lawrence from the far larger considerations of the safety of the empire. He saw that the recapture of Delhi was the turning point of the struggle, and no man will say that with- out his extraordinary exertions and the aid of the troops and munitions of war furnished from the Punjaub Delhi would have fallen. It must not be forgotten that all the time Sir John Lawrence's own position was one of ex- treme anxiety and danger. He had only the newly-raised Sikh levies and a diminished European force to keep in cheek thousands of disarmed mu- tinous Sepoys. In speaking of Sir Sohn Lawrence, I am aware how much he was indebted for the peace of the province to the vigilance and firmness of the heroic men who served under him ; but details would occupy too much time. In order effectually to nip incipient mutiny in the bud mea- sures of extreme severity were necessary on some occasions." Mr. Crawshay moved, as an amendment, that the Court should not assent to the resolution of the Court of Directors. In support of this proposition, he impeached the conduct of Sir John Lawrence. He had been guilty of acts of flagrant and insolent disobedience to the Company. It is a law that the Government of India should not identify itself with missionary exertions ; yet, through Mr. Robert Montgomery, he had issued what is called the "Punjaub circular," containing the following passages-

" The sufferings and trials which the Almighty has permitted to come

upon His people in this land during the past few months, though dark and mysterious to us will assuredly end in His glory. The followers of Christ will now, I believe be induced to come forward and advance the interests of His kingdom and those of His servants. The system of caste can no longer be permitted to rule in our services. Soldiers and Government ser- vants of every class must he entertained for their merits, irrespective of creed, class, or caste."

"The native Christians as a body have, with rare exceptions, been set

aside. I know not one in the Punjaub (to our disgrace be it said,) in any employment under Government ; a proposition to employ them in the pub- lic service six months ago would assuredly have been received with cold- ness, and would not have been complied with but a change has come, and

and I believe there are few who will not eagerly employ those native Christians, competent to fill appointments."

"I consider I should be wanting in my duty at this crisis if I did not endeavour to secure a portion of the numerous appointments in the judicial department for native Christians, and I shall be happy (as far as I can,) to advance their interests equally with those of the Mahomedan and Mao candidates—their future promotion must depend on their own merits. I shall, therefore., feel obliged by each missionary favouring me with a list of the native Christians belonging to them, who, in their opinion, are fit for the public service."

Those passages contain falsehoods, and are a libel on the Company, a

flagrant violation of their orders. Sir Frederick Currie said that officially he lmew nothing of the Punjaub circular, nor is there any evidence of its authenticity. The law was that no native of India or natural born sub- ject of the Queen could, by reason of his religion, colour, or place of birth, be disabled from holding office under the Company.

Mr. Crawshay's second charge was that Sir John Lawrence had in suppressing the mutiny, been guilty of acts oftatrocious cruelty,"relying chiefly on the treatment of 'the disarmed regiments. Mr. Jones seconded

the amendment, and Mr. Lewin supported it. Mr. Crawshay insisted on a division, when his amendment was negatived by the whole Court, the trio above mentioned excepted. The original resolution was

agreed to,

Mr. Ayrton, one of the Members for the Tower Hamlets, met his constituents at the Beaumont Institution on Tuesday evening, and fought over again for their benefit, the battles of the past session. The only portion of his speech which has a general interest was that which related to the relations between France and England. Ho pictured Eng- land as imperious' arrogant, and exacting ; France as burning to wipe out the stains of Waterloo and the occupation of Paris ; and then he

nroceeded- r These are things which a foreign nation never could forget. (Cheers.) It might suit France to dissemble her purpose ; but when he saw her slowly, but deliberately and persistently consolidating all her strength he could not but believe that the day would come when we should hare to answer for the past, and woe be to us if, when it did arrive, we should not be able to answer with a strength equal to the force which could be brought against us! (Cheers and some expressions of dissent.) France looks upon us, not fa a poor nation struggling for the necessaries of life, but as a people fabu- lously rich. The belief of every military man on the Continent is that the greatest prize that could ever fall to victory in war would be the occupation of London; that every soldier would obtain from it as his share of the booty more gold and silver than he could carry away, and that he would achieve for himself imperishable renown in the contest. If this were a correct survey of their view, it was necessary that we should see that the money which we expended year by year should be properly applied for the protec- tion and security of the country ; for the army which we had got now would not be of the least service for the purpose of defence. (" Oh, oh ! ") It was not a question of 100,000 men lauding on our shores all at once— which was said to be impossible ; but, being within two or three hours' steaming distance it was the possibility in fourteen or fifteen days of 400,000 or 500,040 men being landed and occupying the whole of the southern part of England that we had to consider. (Some laughter and general expressions of dissent from the speaker's views.) Well, he was speaking his own opinion. The only way of meeting such an emer- gency is by organizing a really national defence, and he referred to the fact that there are in Great Britain upwards of 2,000,000 men between the ages of twenty and forty who might be made available for the defence of the country, but who are at present utterly unsuited, from want of training, to such a purpose. Ile also pointed to the navy as a mighty means of pro- tection, and to the 200,000 trained seamen who are engaged in the home and foreign mercantile marine.

The meeting, which laughed at these extravagant views, adopted a vote of general confidence in.Mr. Ayrton ; but the speakers all expressed strong disapproval of the course he took in interpolating in the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, the clause legalizing the conveyance of voters.

There has been a long inquiry held this week in the Hall of Clement's Inn, before Mr. Commissioner Winslow, to ascertain the sanity of Mr. Lawrence Ruck, of Pantlludw, in Merionethshire, now residing in Moor- croft House, a Lunatic asylum at Hillingdon. Mr. Ruck was present throughout the inquiry under the charge of Dr. Stillwell, but he showed no symptons of insanity. Mr. Buck is a gentleman of property. Ile has been married seventeen years, and the inquiry was instituted at the in- stance of his wife. According to the statements placed before the jury by a number of witnesses, including Mrs. Ruck, who was subjected to a severe examination, Mr. Ruck beg-an to show signs of unsoundness in 1855. He drove about the country at all hours of the night ; and had strong notions of the mineral wealth of his estates. In 1857 his delusions took another shape. Most of the evidence is unfit for our columns. In general terms we may say that he accused his wife of undiscriminating and unblushing in- fidelity. His unfounded delusions on this head were expressed in the coarsest language. He imagined persons were pointing and laughing at him, and that railway servants taunted him with his dishonour, lie also accused a friend of attempting to poison him, a charge for which there was no foundation whatever. He had two illegitimate children ; this fact was unknown to his wife until in a moment of mad confidence, he confided to her his conviction that their mother, Mary Jones, had murdered them. He assaulted a neighbour and acquaintance, 'Mr. Thurston, a Deputy-Lieu- tenant, at dinner suddenly and without any reason. For none of his delu- sions was there any foundation. At length he was confined at Mooreroft House, and as late as June last he persisted in his delusions. Under examiation by Mr. Winslow, Mr. Ruck gave sensible and coherent replies. He said he was in an agitated state of mind when he conceived these delu- sions, but that since they had been investigated by his solicitor they were entirely removed from his mind. He was satisfied his suspicions of hiti wife were "-purely imaginary." He did not know, he believed that Mary Jones had not destroyed the children. He had never seen them. It was shown that Mr. Ruck had torn up his clothes, one of the commonest symptons of insanity. He told Mr. Winslow that no doubt Mary Jones tore them up. He denied that he had assaulted Mr. Thurston, whose veracity he impeached. "If my wife had not issued this commission and had allowed me to institute this inquiry, everything would have been arranged satisfactorily. I have lived in this country all my life, and I could not understand that such a thing would have been permitted as the sending me to Mooreroft in the way in which I was sent there. I suspected my wire on insufficient grounds, and now that my suspicions are removed I am satisfied." He had for some years lived unhappily with his wife, and been in consequence very wretched. That was owing to her refusing his having intercourse with her. He desired to be separated from her, because he understood that she did not wish to live with him. Dr. Conolly and Dr. Forbes Winslow who had heard Mr. Buck's replies still thought that his delusions had not entirely passed from his mind and that it would be dangerous to let him go without supervision. So far the case had proceeded on Wednesday. The evidence given on behalf of Mr. Ruck on Thursday put a somewhat different face on the matter. Mr. Fisher, a barrister, who married Mr. Ruck's sister, said that the first intimation he had of Mr. Buck's insanity was in November. He went to Reading, and finding that Mr. Ruck had been placed in Mooreroft House, he expressed in strong terms his surprise. At first he was not allowed to see Mr. Ruck, but eventually he saw him. He was of opinion that Mr. Buck never had been mad. Ile told Mr. Ruck that his notions about his \rife were "bosh." He thought it would be great cruelty to keep Mr. Ruck in confinement. Mrs. Fisher said that she had never heard of in- sanity in her family. Mrs. Ruck, the alleged lunatic's mother' confirmed this statement. The suggestion of hereditary insanity came from Mrs. Rusk, her daughter-in-law. Mr. Wainwright, solicitor, deposed that he saw Mr. Ruck at Moorcroft House. He saw him in November, April, and May. Mr. Ruck was then under the delusions about his wife: he treated them more as suspicions than as facts. He was told afterwards that he should not see Mr. limck, but he threatened to move the Court, and then permis- aim was given. He saw him, and by Mr. Rock's instruction, investigated the eases of alleged infidelity, and satisfied Mr. Ruck that they were ground- less. Mr. Wainwright did all he could to prevent the issue et a commission. He thought there was great impropriety in bringing a case of this kind before the public. One Randall, and his brother, formerly attendants at Mooreroft House, were examined to show that Mr. Ruck believed like any other gentleman, that he was "perfectly sane" all the time he was in the asylum ; and that Mr. Ruck was prevented from writing to any one except his wife. Dr. Tuke, proprietor of a lunatic asylum, said he had seen Mr. Buck, and believed that he is now free from his delusions. Dr. Seymour, eight years a commissioner of lunacy, said that Mr. Ruck is now fit to manage his own affairs, that if he abstained from drink he would remain sane ; and that it would be worse than harsh to return him to Moorcroft. If the investigation had come earlier it would have had a large share in his recovery. A number of distinguished medical gentlemen corroborated the opinions of Dr. Tuke and Dr. Seymour. The inquiry was again adjourned, Elizabeth Bertram was brought before the Worship Street Magistrate charged with deserting her child. This is the poor woman who left the little girl at the house of a Mr. Musters at Delston, whence the child was sent to the workhouse. It was now shown that Bertram did not desert the child. She left it at the house of its reputed father, and a note with it saying—" As you have left off paying for the child, and I cannot let it starve, I have brought her to you." Neither Masters nor his servant stated this fact when the complaint of leaving the child was originally made. The Magistrate said that, taking the fact of the note into consideration, he fully believed that she did not intend to desert the child, but, on the con- trary, left it where in her opinion, it had most right to find protection. Bertram (sobbing).—" His mother asked me to leave it there, but I should not have brought it to town had not my husband desired me. I say it is the child of Mr. Masters." The poor woman was discharged ; and she subsequently started back to Birminghani with her hapless child and two sovereigns.

During the proceedings Mr. Ross, the relieving officer, desired to put in the following statement, but the Magistrate said he could take no notice of it-

" When about fifteen years of age I entered the service of- Mr. Richard Masters, of Foleshill, Coventry, with whom I resided at many places until twelve months ago. Walter Boucher Masters, my master's son, seduced me. I gave birth to a female child on the 2:14 of September 1852; she was christened and registered as Annie Louisa Masters. My maiden name was Turner. The child's father did contribute to its maintenance until after my marriage, nine months ago. He got married when our child was four months old. I and my husband came to London with the child, and I left it at its father's, with a note begging hint to do a father's part by it."—ELIZABET71 nmernsms' Samuel Foreman and Mary Foreman, man and wife, appeared at the Man- sionhouse to answer a curious charge—the wife with an attempt at suicide, the husband with aiding and abetting. In turned out that on Saturday the woman was not sober, and in reply to her husband's mild reproaches, said that if she knew what would poison her she would take it. He laughingly named oxalic acid. 'Whereupon the mother sent her son to fetch two penny- worth, and the husband " thinking " no chemist would serve the little fellow allowed him to go. But the boy brought back the poison, and then the hus- band " thinking ' his wife would not take it allowed her to have it, advising her, however, to throw it into the fire. She disappeared, but presently the boy brought the paper in which the poison had been, and the husband found his wife suffining from its effects. He sent for a policeman and finally by the aid of the doctor the woman's life was saved. The Lord Major dis- charged the husband with a lecture, but remanded the wife to give her "time to reflect on her highly criminal conduct."

Spurling, the recruitino sergeant, who so shamefully cheated the soldier's widow, has been deprived' of his situation and uniform, and is to be prose- cuted as a rogue and a vagabond by the parish officers.