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i 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[DEc. 23, 
thus rendered as light as day. Several pretty arches of 
laurel, &c. were erected through the park and the two 
entrance-gates to the drive were tastefully decorated with 
shrubs ; cannon were fired from the beautiful eminence 
west of the gardens and from the Castle-hill of Bridge- 
north, and bonfires were lighted on the hills. The re- 
flection of the torches and bonfires on the windings of the 
Severn added not a little to the beauty of the scene. 
Bristol.—On Friday morning Mr. William Prichard 
secretary to the Bristol Union Fire-office committed 
suicide by taking prussic acid. An inquest was held when 
evidence was given that deceased had for some days 
been subject to great depression of spirits and mental 
alienation. The Jury returned a verdict “ That the 
deceased committed the act’ whilst labouring under tem- 
porary insanity.’ Mr. Prichard was in his 44th year, 
and has left a widow and six children. 
Carmarthen.—Her Majesty’s Special Commissioners 
have employed the concluding week of their stay in South 
Wales in investigating the state of the trusts and taking 
other evidence. They held sittings on Thursday and 
Friday in last week at Swansea ; on Saturday at Bridgend ; 
on Monday and Tuesday at Cardiff; and on Wednesday 
at Merthyr Tydvil, where their proceedings finally closed. 
It is understood that the subject to which their attention 
has been mainly called by complainants is the adminis- 
tration of the turnpike laws. 
Chatsworth.—We copy the following article from the 
Derbyshire Courier respecting the missing crystal noticed 
in our last :—‘‘ We are truly happy to learn that the 
piece of crystal abstracted from the conservatory at Chats- 
worth during the fée of Saturday evening week has been 
returned along with a letter bearing the London post- 
mark, of which the following is a copy :—‘ December 11, 
1843.—To Mr. Paxton.— Having observed in a late Derby- 
shire paper that a small brown crystal was missing from 
the conservatory at Chatsworth, the same having come 
id lly i I ion I herewith return it to 
you as directed without wishing for the offered reward.’ 
The return of the article so foolishly abstracted is a highly 
gratifying circumstance. It must be very pleasing to Mr. 
Paxton, whose generous desire that the public should be 
gratified had induced him to pledge himself to the Duke 
of Devonshire for the good behaviour of the parties ad- 
mitted, to find that the only unpleasant result of his Grace’s 
kind accordance of the request has been obviated. ‘To us 
and doubtless to all the inhabitants of the district it is 
not less pleasing to find that the abstraction was not the 
act of any one residing in the county which has been 
honoured by the visit of her Majesty. We have the best 
authority for affirming that the behaviour of the visitors 
on the occasion to which we refer was in the highest 
degree creditable and satisfactory. Not a plant nor evena 
leaf was removed or destroyed, notwithstanding the great 
concourse of persons who visited the conservatory and 
gardens.” 
Chatham.—A. court-martial was held in the Royal 
Marine barracks on the 1ith, for the trial of Capt. W. 
Clindon, on charges preferred by the Admiralty, for 
irregularities whilst on the recruiting service. The Judge- 
Advocate read the following charges against the prisoner : 
—1l. For having unlawfully demanded from John Gilby, 
a recruit, rejected at the head-quarters of the Portsmouth 
division of Royal Marines on the 9th May, 1842, a sum of 
money amounting to 1/. 11s. 11d. or thereabouts, for ex- 
penses attending the rejection of the said John Gilby, he, 
the said Captain William Clindon, well knowing that he 
was himself alone liable to the payment of such expenses, 
in accordance with the tenth article of the Recruiting 
instructions. 2. For having on the 12th of October, 
1843, received from the said John Gilby, by Post-office 
order, the sum of 19s. 9d. in discharge of the above-named 
demand, he Captain William Clindon not being lawfully 
entitled to the same; such conduct being in both instances 
unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman, 
and tending to bring the corps to which he belongs into 
disrepute. The prisoner pleaded not guilty to both 
charges. After the evidence for the prosecution had been 
heard, the defendant read his statement, in which he 
alleged that he had erred through misconception, and had 
derived no personal advantage from the transaction. The 
finding of the court will not be known until after it shall 
have been laid before the Admiralty. 
Harwich.—It is rumoured that the Board of Ordnance 
contemplate the removal of their establishment at this 
place to the opposite shore of Languard Fort; and that 
the magazine is also to be removed thither, as from its 
proximity to the town, in the event of a railway being 
constructed it will no longer be considered eligible. The 
Jand on the Harwich side belonging to the Board of Ord- 
nance has been for many years totally abandoned to the 
ravages of the sea, by which many acres of valuable land 
have been lost to the Crown. 
Liverpool.—Several scenes discreditable to a court of 
justice have recently taken place in the District Court of 
Bankruptcy in this town, before Mr. Commissioner 
Skirrow.=, Last week a dispute’arose between the Com- 
missioner and an attorney, which ended in the latter being 
given into custody by the Commissioner, though engaged 
in the literal performance of his professional duties. In 
consequence of these scenes the profession have to a con- 
siderable extent come to a determination to settle every 
case by promise or by arbitration, in preference to 
issuing fiats, under the present composition of the Court. 
At the same time the principal firms in Liverpool have 
presented Mr. Charles Phillips with an address, expressing 
in flattering terms their approbation of his conduct in every 
respect since he had received the appointment. 
Manchester.—Another of the meetings for which Man- 
chester has now become famous in connection with the 
Anti-Corn-law movement assembled in the Free-trade 
Hall on Thursday night, for the purpose of receiving the 
report of the Great League Fund Committee on the pro- 
gress of the subscriptions, and to hear addresses from 
Mr. Bright and Mr. Fox. Both these gentlemen spoke 
at great length, as did also Mr. Wilson, who presided on 
the occasion. A list of subscriptions entered into at the 
meeting was read, which amounted to 20,419/. 6s. 4d. 
Monmouth.—A remarkable proof of mistaken identity 
has just occurred in this county. A man named William 
Morgan at the Jast assize was convicted by a jury and 
sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and hard labour 
for an assault at Dixton on the 24th of April last. He 
has now however been liberated, as it has been esta- 
blished beyond the possibility of doubt that Morgan was in 
Usk the whole of.the day on which he was said to have 
committed the offence—that persons who could have 
proved it refused to attend the trial to give their evidence 
—and from not having the means to employ a lawyer he 
knew not how to compel them. On the case being laid 
before Sir J. Graham the poor man was set at liberty. 
Newport, Isle of Wight.—The old Banking Company 
lately carrying on its business in the names of Sir R. Bas- 
sett, Roe and Blachford has declared its inability to meet 
the demands of its creditors. ‘The event has surprised 
the island, following so quickly on the bankruptcy of the 
Kirkpatricks. ‘he firm had for some time ceased to issue 
promissory notes. When the last bank failed public con- 
fidence in private banks was so completely destroyed that 
Messrs. Roe and Blachford found it impossible to keep a 
single note afloat, and declined business; a new joint 
stock company was formed on the premises, and they were 
appointed directors, so that the losses will be limited to 
investments and deposits only, The amount of the latter 
however is said to. be immense. It is said by the local 
papers that the high style of living of the surviving part- 
ners was calculated to lull suspicion, although it is believed 
the concern was insolvent at the death of the late Sir R, 
Bassett, or even so far back as that of Mr. R. Clarke. 
Oaford.—The very Rey. Dr. Jeune, Dean of Jersey, 
was yesterday elected Master of Pembroke College, by the 
casting vote of the Vicegerent, the votes for Dr. Jeune 
and his opponent, the Rev. C.F. Parker, of Ringshall, being 
equal.—The local papers state that at the recent audit 
of M. P. W. Boulton, Esq. of Great Tew, the amount of 
damage sustained by his tenants by the calamitous hail. 
storm of the 9th August last, which destroyed nearly 
30,0007. of property in this county, was returned to them 
tothe amount of nearly 3000/. J. H. Langston, Esq., 
M.P., acted in the same liberal manner to his tenants, 
whose losses were little less than 2000/7. 
Sheffield.—On Wednesday week Messrs. Parker, Shore, 
Brewin, and Rogers, of the late Sheffield Old Bank, bank- 
ers, appeared in the Leeds Court of Bankruptcy for their 
certificates under the fiat issued against them in January 
last. The solicitor for the bankrupts produced a letter 
from the assignees in which they said that the bank- 
rupts had afforded every facility to the winding up of their 
affairs, and had given a faithful account of the whole of 
their property which they had yielded up for the benefit 
of their creditors. Mr. Hill of Leeds, Barrister, on behalf 
of several of the Sheffield creditors opposed the granting 
of the certificates on the ground principally that the bank- 
rupts had manifested great carelessness in the way in 
which they had carried on their business, and had conti- 
nued to do so for some years after they knew that the bank 
was in an insolvent state. Mr. Blackburn of Leeds, soli-+ 
citor, also opposed the granting of certificates to the 
bankrupts on behalf of a creditor for 5007. The solicitor 
of the bankrupts contended that although they had com- 
mitted errors of judgment in some of their business 
transactions, they had fallen a sacrifice to the pressure of 
the times, especially from the losses in the American 
trade, by the manufacturers of Sheffield, the contraction 
of the trade itself, and by the establishment of joint-stock 
banks ; but they had made all the reparation in their 
power by yielding up every shilling’s worth of property 
they possessed. Mr. Parker sacrificed 70,000/. besides 
not getting one sixpence profit from the bank during the 
last twelve years. The other partners had also made large 
sacrifices. After a good deal of argument on both sides 
the Court said it might be considered that the bankrupts 
had passed their final examination, but adjourned the final 
decision on the granting of certificates. From some ob- 
servations however which fell from the Commissioner, it 
was understood that the adjournment was only formal, 
and that the certificates were virtually granted. 
Windsor.—The ceremony of consecrating the Queen’s 
new private chapel at the Castle by the Bishop of Oxford 
took place on Tuesday in the presence of her Majesty, 
Prince Albert, the visitors to the Queen, and the members 
of the household. The apartment which has now been 
appropriated for the permanent private chapel of the 
Sovereign was used occasionally for a devotional purpose 
in the reigns of George IV. and his late Majesty, but 
during the reigns of those monarchs and indeed up toa 
late period it was likewise used as the music-room for her 
Majesty’s private band. Her Majesty’s warrant having 
been read by the registrar, Dr. Phillimore, the ceremony 
of consecrating and dedicating the chapel was then per- 
formed by the Bishop, assisted during the service by Arch- 
deacon Clerke and the Hon. and Rev. C. L. Courtenay. 
The ceremony occupied upwards of an hour. 
Railways.—The following are the returns for the past 
week :—London and Birmingham, 14,3887. ; Great West- 
ern, 11,784/.; South Western, 4800/.; South Bastern, 
2830/.; Eastern Counties, 2348/. ; Northern and Eastern, 
1535/.; North Midland, 3983/.; York and North Mid- 
land, 1359/.; Greenwich, 688/. ; Croydon, 2161. ; Brigh- 
ton, 3254/.; Blackwall, 592/,; Hull and Selby, 9087. ; 
“Midland Counties, 24947. ; Grand Junction, 64311.—The 
works of the South Eastern Railway between Folkestone 
and Dover are progressing rapidly towards completions 
and the contractors are under heavy penalties for the per- 
manent station at Dover being shortly ready. The traffic 
of this line for the past week is 2830/., even though labour- 
ing under the disadvantage of being imperfectly opened, 
and scarcely any one of its resources brought into 
action. Itis intended to put on some steamers of efficiency 
to maintain the communication with the French ports.— 
By a communication from Coventry in the Times it 
appears that the manufacturers and traders of that city 
are making great complaints of the conduct of the Bir- 
mingham Railway Company towards them. By this rail- 
way there are two kinds of trains by which goods may be 
conveyed—the passengers’ train by which the charge is 
9s. 4d. the cwt., and the luggage train by which the 
charge is 2s. Gd. the ewt. In addition to the morning 
trains there are now night luggage trains which arrive at 
London in the morning. These would be of great service 
to the people of Coventry if they were allowed to avail 
themselves of them. The weavers bring in their work 
towards the end of the week, and it is chiefly sold on 
Saturday, and must be in London on Monday morning. 
Nevertheless the directors of the company will not allow 
the night luggage trains to stop at Coventry, and the 
manufacturers of that city being obliged to send up their 
goods some way or another are forced to make use of the 
passengers’ train, and consequently pay the company at 
the rate of 9s. 4d. instead of 2s. 6d. per ewt.—On Wed- 
nesday a special general meeting of the Croydon Company 
was held to consider the propriety of extending the line 
to Epsom, There was an unusually large attendance, as it 
was supposed some opposition would be shown to the pro- 
ceeding suggested by the directors. The chairman stated 
that the proposal was by no means a new one. It ha 
been suggested by the projectors of the railway in 1836. 
It had been urged that the amount of traffic did not war- 
rant the Croydon Company in extending their line to 
Epsom. At the present moment the traffic would yield 
49,8787. per annum. Included in this was 23,000/. for 
goods. Then 26,0002. might fairly be reckoned upon from 
passengers. The expense would be 170,000/., say 
200,0002. ; even then an annual profit of 18,500d, would 
be realised after taking the most reasonable view of affairs. 
The directors of the’ South Western Railway were about 
to petition for powers to extend their line to Epsom, 80 
there would doubtless be a severe parliamentary contest. 
It was very true that the extension of the Croydon line 
would cost 170,600/. and that of the South Western only 
50,0002., but that was no evidence that it could be worked 
cheaper when completed. The great question for Par- 
liament to consider would be the accommodation of the 
public. The Croydon Railway proposed carrying pas 
sengers to Epsom for two shillings and it would be im- 
possible for the South Western to carry them for less- 
The chairman concluded by proposing—‘ That it is the 
opinion of this meeting that it would be of great advantage 
to’ the shareholders of this company and to the publi¢ 
generally that a railway shall be formed from the London 
station to the town of Epsom.’’ Mr. Fitch seconded the 
resolution which, after some discussion, was carried. 
Another resolution empowering the directors to make 
application to Parliament and to take whatever measures 
might appear desirable was also agreed to. 
; IRELAND. 
Dublin —On Thursday the Landlord and Tenant 
Commission adjourned for the Christmas holidays, t0 
resume the inquiry on the 3d January, Arrangements 
are in progress calculated to render the labours of the 
commission very effective, in the way of a full disclosure 
of the whole land-tenure system in Ireland. A committee 
including Sir Colman O’Loghlen, Mr. John O’Connell, 
M.P., Mr. Moriarty, and other members of the bar, hav@ 
undertaken the task of receiving communications on thé 
subject of land-tenure, in order to analyse and prepat® 
evidence to be submitted to the commissioners. The pre 
liminary intervention of those gentlemen, totally uncot- 
nected as they are with the commission, will greatly 
abridge the labours of the comrhissioners. Lord Devo 
during the short Christmas recess will proceed to New- 
castle, his seat in the county of Limerick.—A meetin§ 
was held at the Mansion-house last week, to consider the 
best method of effecting a safe and expeditious communl- 
cation between London and Dublin. The Duke of Leinstety 
the Earl of Devon, the Earl of Charleville, and several © 
the leading gentry were present. Resolutions were adopté 
expressing the concurrence of the meeting in the views 
stated in the reports of Sir G. Back and Captain Fair 
and of Mr. J. Walker civil engineer, recommending that 
the ports of Dublin and Holyhead should be the ports of 
arrival and departure for the mails between the tw 
countries, and declaring their opinion that the present 
untimely evening departures of the two mail-packets tO 
Liverpool is capable of very great improvement as regards 
the conveyance of both mails and passengers, and that 
the Council of the Chamber of Commerce be requested to 
urge in the proper quarter the necessity of an alteration 
in both these departures.—The usual weekly meeting of 
the Repeal Association was held on Monday. A letter was 
read from Mr. O’Connell, suggesting that the sum of 201. 
be given by the Association to the butler Larkin who so 
courageously defended his master’s family in the late 
outrage at Finnoe, and complaining bitterlygof the mem=- 
bers of the Landlord and Tenant Commission. In con 
nection with the latter subject, Mr. O’Connell suggested 
that the Association should appoint a working Committee 
to advertise for information, put themselves in communi~ 
cation with as many of the Clergy as possible, and tender 
