[Saturday, 
THE FIELD. 
HORTICULTURE. 
Letters from Saintea state that since the last vintage a 
considerable amount of business has been transacted in the 
Chareute Interieure. Several brandy merchants have 
purchased white and red wines to send into Brittany and 
the centre of France. The prices have varied from 45f. to 
50f. the cask of 240 litres for white, and from “Of. to 80f. 
for red wine. Brandy is quoted in Paris at 210f. the 
hectolitre, being a decline of 5f. 
THE WEATHER. 
Canterbury. — Sixteen w inters have rolled by since Can- 
terbury witnessed so deep a fall of snow as the past week 
has displayed. The streets have been almost impassable, 
notwithstanding the exertions of the scavengers; still busi- 
ness lias suffered but little, the greatest drawback being 
the non-arrival of the post until hours after the proper time, 
and the railway trains impeded in their progress, mid the 
traffic entirely suspended for a short period. No serious 
injury to life or limb, as we have heard, has occurred in this 
neighbourhood. 
Deal. — During the last week a greater quantity of snow 
has fallen between Deal and Dover than has been known 
for many years. On Tuesday night the road was quite 
impassable, neither the mail nor coaches being able to travel 
for two days. Opposite the Royal Standard the snow 
drifted from 5 to 6 feet deep ; in many places it was from 8 
to 10 feet deep. One single conveyance passed from Dover 
to Deal during the two days. Messrs. G. Adams and Gibbs, 
of Dover, daily supply the meat contract for the troops of 
both towns. On Wednesday morning Henry Masters the 
“Boniface,” left Dover with his pony and curt loaded with 
meat. As he advanced greater difficulties continually beset 
him, no trace of the road being left ; sometimes he" was a 
mile out of the road to the left, and then a mile to the 
right, at times his pony and himself also rolling in the snow 
together. He, however, with great perse verenee, surmounted 
the difficulties, and at Inst reached Wnlmer barracks, both 
horse and man being nearly beaten. Such nn encounter 
Jew men ever experienced." He got over about 17 miles 
in hours, the distance by the turnpike-road being eight 
miles. 
WORK AND WAGES. 
Wigan. — There are at length signs of an early termina- 
tion of the strike of the factory operatives of this town. 
On Monday morning last a great number of hands went 
to the mills, all of which arc now running with the ex- 
ception of one small concern, and several of them have 
their full complement of workers. As far as can be 
ascertained, about 4,500 persons have resumed work, 
leaving about 1,000 still on strike. It is said that many 
of the operatives have returned to their employment under 
the impression that in a week or two they will receive the 
advance they asked for; but this general resumption of 
work is move probably owing to their being “at th'furend," 
as some of them expressed themselves when going to the 
Jactories on Mouday morning for the first time since they 
were reopened. The recent veiy severe weather, added 
to the scarcity of food, cannot but have prompted a con- 
siderable number of them to this course. This unfortunate 
strike has now lasted fifteen weeks. 
Cotton Spinners’ Dispute at Glasgow.— Some time 
ago we stated that a few employers, extending in all to a 
control over seven mills, had "determined to lower the 
wages of their workers— that the respectable masters of 
the trade gave no countenance to the proposed scheme for 
reducing prices— and that, encouraged by this, the cotton 
spinners had resolved to withdraw the workers from the 
mills where the reduced scale was proposed, trusting to the 
trade, and to the public at large, for support during the 
struggle. So far no settlement has taken place, and" the 
seven mills continue closed with the sanction of the entire 
uuited cotton spinners of Scotland, who are exerting them- 
selves actively to raise the means of support for those w ho 
are thus thrown Out . — North British Mai!. 
SCOTLAND. 
Burning the Czar.— On the evening of Monday last, 
the Emperor of all the Russias was publicly burned (in 
effigy) in the market-place ot Cupar. He was carried to 
the place of execution in a cart drawn by an ass, and ac- 
companied by a band of music and torch-bearers. The 
demolition of the autocrat was greeted by the hearty cheers 
of the bystanders . — Edinburgh Advertiser. 
Important to Scotch Shipowners —A very impor- 
tant case to shipowners, and especially to emigrants and 
emigrant agents in Scotland and England, was, in the 
month of December, decided by .Judge Kane in the 
United States’ District Court, at Philadelphia. The 
American ship "Wutaga, front Glasgow and Cork, arrived 
at Philadelphia, with about 200 passengers, most of whom 
bad received tickets at Cork, engaging to laud them at 
New York. But they were all compelled to leave the 
ship at Philadelphia, and presented a miserable spectacle 
on the wharf— men, women, and children— half-clothed 
and poorly fed, and thus exposed to all the inclemency of 
the season. This was in the evening, and Mr. Mathew 
the British consul for Pennsylvania, being applied to im- 
mediately called upon the mayor, who kindly listened to 
Mr. Mathew’s request, and the consul holding himself re- 
sponsible, the exposed and suffering immigrants were pro- 
vided with a shelter and food. Mr. Mathew did not how- 
ever stop here, for he caused the case to be taken before 
Judge Kane, in the Uuited States’ District Court- and 
the facts appeared to be about as follows : — The 
ship, Wataga, cleared from the port of Glasgow for 
Philadelphia, with a cargo of merchandise. After 
having been out at sea for a number of days, the 
yesM.1 sprung a leak, and put into the port of Cork 
Ireland, in distress. Whilst being repaired at Cork, 
the master entered into a contract with one Brenan, for 
the purpose of allowing him to ship as many emigrants 
between decks a- the laws of Great Britain would allow. 
” hen the master received a certain sum, it was also agreed 
that Brenan was to put on board provisions, cooking- 
range-, water-casks, &c„ for the use of the passengers he 
was to ship for the voyage. Brenan then gave a ticket to 
each passenger, and on the body of each ticket it expressly 
t at. , that the ship Wataga is hound for Philadelphia : and 
on the back of the ticket he wrote, “On the arrival of the 
" ataga at Philadelphia I undertake to forward the within 
mimed, free, to New York,” and signed his name. The 
passenger* were safely landed in Philadelphia, when the 
master told them that his contract was fulfilled. They 
insisted on being taken to New York, and lienee the trial. 
The respondent’s counsel contended that the ship was not 
liable for the contract of the master, because it was a con- 
tract without the scope of bis authority ; the ship being a 
general freight ship the master had no implied authority 
to change her employment to that of a passenger-ship ; 
that if the ship was liable at all it was only for the trans- 
port of the passengers to Philadelphia. On the second 
day Judge Kane decided that in a foreign port a master of 
a ship was the owner’s general agent, and that the ship 
was bound by the contract entered iuto with the master, 
even though the port for which the passengers contracted 
to be taken is far beyond the port for which the vessel is 
cleared. He therefore gave a decree against the ship for 
a return of the passage-money, and reasonable compensa- 
tion for board, and appointed an authority to assess the 
amount. Thus it will be seen that these poor Irish immi- 
grants were cared for in their distress, not only by the 
British consul, Mr. Mathews, but also by Mr. C. Gilpin, 
the respected Mayor of Philadelphia ; while grent credit 
is due to the prompt action of Judge Kane and the United 
States’ District Court, under the circumstances. Seldom 
has a difficulty of the kind been so speedily settled. 
Price of Bread in Edinburgh. — According to the 
price of wheat in the Edinburgh market, the 4lb. loaf will 
be sold at 10., ready money, or if paid within a month; 
and 1UJ., credit . — Edinburgh Advertiser. 
IRELAND. 
Cultivation of Wheat. — Accounts from Tipperary 
state that all the lands in the south riding of that courtly 
which were under potatoes last year are now sown with 
wheat, and that scarcely any land remains untilled, except 
that which is lying under the late turnips. The farmers, 
it would seem from this, are at length tired of the repeated 
failures of the potato, and hence the preparation lor the 
wheat crop as the most profitable substitute for the old ami 
favourite esculent. 
RAILWAYS AND TELEGRAPHS. 
Cape of Good Hote — A prospectus lias been issued 
of a company for constructing railways at the Cape of 
Good Hope. The proposed capital is’ £600,000 in £20 
shares, and application is to be made to the Colonial Go- 
vernment for a guaranteed dividend — the preliminary 
deposit to be returned, less expenses, in the case of non- 
success. The first work contemplated is to consist of 
a single line of 40 miles from Cape Town to Wellington. 
Electric Telegraph Company.— The Directors gave 
a supper at Radley’s Hotel on Monday evening, to 135 of 
the clerks employed in the metropolitan stations. The 
health of Mr. J. L. Ricardo, M.P., the founder and chair- 
man of the company, and the directors was drunk with 
enthusiasm. It may be interesting to mention ns a proof 
of the progress of the company's operations since its 
establishment in 1846, that the total number of employes 
in London is 310, and in the provinces 940. 
Railway Accidents.— On the Wednesday afternoon, 
during the snowstorm in Lancashire (see “The Field" 
of January 7, p. 17), ns a Lancashire and Yo/ksliire train 
to Manchester and Liverpool was passing through the 
Bellfield cutting, near Rochdale, the latter portion of the 
train, destined fo^ Liverpool, went off the line, breaking 
the coupling chains, and ran upon the up rails. A luggage 
train in the opposite direction, with two engines, coining 
up immediately, ran into the Liverpool carriages, breaking 
three of them up, but fortunately, as both trains had nearly 
got clogged up when the collision occurred, neither of them 
was going fast. One gentleman had his head cut severely, 
and other passengers were bruised and shaken, but not 
dangerously hurt. They were taken to Rochdale, and pro- 
vided with lodgings and medical assistance until the 
Thursday evening, when the trains having been dug out 
of the snow in which they had been imbedded after the 
uccident were able to proceed. Another collision took 
place at half-past 4 on Saturday morning (the date of our 
last number). The mail train to London, from Edinburgh, 
came up while a coal train was across the line between 
Wigan and Newton-bridge, on the North Union Railway, 
and dashed into it, breaking three of the waggons to 
pieces. The mail train was detained three hours by the 
blocking of the line, but, except from slight bruises and 
scratches, the passengers fortunately sustained no injury. 
Experiment before iiis Royal Highness Prince 
Albert at Windsor. — On Wednesday afternoon an ex- 
periment for the purpose of testing the efficiency of a 
self-acting break, invented by Major Robins, took place 
on the South-Western and Windsor line. The merit of 
this invention consists in its being able to effect a stoppage 
of the train w ithout manual labour, within the short space 
of 15 or 20 yards, the break being self-acting and w orked 
entirely by the engine-driver. The experiment was wit- 
nessed by Major Robins, the inventor; Mr. Lacy, director ; 
Mr. Joseph Bentic, the locomotive superintendent; Mr. 
Scott, traffic manager; Mr. Godson, inspector; aud several 
officials connected with the different railways out of 
London, who travelled by the train, which consisted of 
16 carriages, drawn by a powerful engine. His Royal 
Highness Prince Albert came expressly from the Costle to 
see thj result of the experiment, attended by Lord Byron 
General Drummond, Col. Biddulph, the Hon. and Rev! 
Gerald Wellesley, and many other gentlemen of the 
Royal household. The experiment proved completely 
successful, and elicited unqualified expressions of approval 
from his Royal Highness Prince Albert and the noblemen 
nnd gentlemen present. Had this invention been in practice 
only a few hours previously, it would have prevented a 
serious accident that occurred on this line, by which several 
cattle, the property of Mr. Minton, the Royal butcher 
were destroyed. ' ’ 
Bombay Railway. — “The railway and the electric 
telegraph are attracting many native chiefs from the 
interior to Bombay. The young Ilolkar has just been 
here incognito, and we have now encamped on the island 
with 2,000 of his followers, the Rajah of Dhar— Rao 
Jeswunt Powar, a Rajpoot chief with a revenue of about 
65,000!., but principally remarkable for being the head of 
the great family of Powar, of which (as antiquaries 
suppose) Porus, the antagonist of Alexander, was a mem- 
ber. He has been admiring the gunnery practice of the 
Indian navy, the war-steamers ready for launching in the 
dockyard, the stcuin machinery of the Factory and Mint, 
and, above all, the railway, and will return to his capital 
impressed with a high idea of the arts and resources of the 
British in India." 
COURT OF CHANCERY, Westminster, Jnn. 11. 
(Before the Lobd Chancellor). 
Tins was the first dny of Hilary Term, nnd tho Lord Chan- 
cellor entertained the judges, Queen’s Counsel, Ac., at breakfast, 
and took his sent upon tho bench shortly before two o’clock, ac- 
companied by Yico-Clinncellors Kindcrslcy, Stuart, aud Wood. 
The eases brought before Ids Lordship present no features in- 
teresting to the renders of “The Field.” 
|)ofe gntcllinciuc. 
BOW STREET. 
Tiik GnKAT Cab Rodbbry in the Strand.— Joseph Floyd, 
a cab-mnstcr nnd driver, nnd Edward Siuies, another cabman, 
were brought before Mr. Jurdinc, at Bow-street, on Tuesday, 
charged with being concerned in the robbery of nonrly 2000/. 
worth of jewellery, tho property of Mr. Alexander, wholesale 
manufacturer, 16, Hatton-gnrden. Mr. Wontner, of Skinner- 
street, who attended for tho prosecution, explained the circum- 
stances which led to the apprehension of the two prisoners. Last 
Saturday, a man named James Boyd, the prosecutor’s coachman, 
was examined before Mr. Henry, in connection with tho same 
lobbery, the property in question having boon Btolen from a 
brougham, of which ho had the charge. Tho prisoucr, together 
with a woman who was examined with him, was remanded for a 
week, and while in the Houso of Detention ho made certain dis- 
closures to his brother, which tho latter thought proper eventually 
to communicate to tho police. Mr. A. S. Pike, tho nephew (if 
the prosecutor, stated that tho prisoner Boyd drove him to tho 
Strand, in a brougham, on the 13th of December, and pulled up 
near the Lowtlicr-arcade. Witness stepped out to make a 
business call, and on his return, within half an hour afterwards, 
he missed a parcel of jewellery, worth upwards of 1800/., from tho 
inside. The coachman professed to know nothing of tho robbery, 
and every effort of the polico to trace the property had failed up 
to the present time. Boyd, however, was given into custody last 
week for steal' 0 ? a ring belonging to his employer. Charles 
Boyd deposed that he wns a seaman, having a pension, and living 
nt 32, CnroliEC-strect, Camden Town. James Boyd, Mr. 
Alexander’s coalman, was his brother, and the prisoner Simes 
luulbeen on very intimate terms with him during the last six or 
eight months. Wi ,nes3 had often seen them together. Yesterday 
(Monday) witness went to seo his brother in the House of 
Detention, nnd in consequence of information which ho received 
from the latter, relative to the robbery, ho proceeded to the cab- 
stand m Brydges-strcet, to look out for Floyd. After a short 
time Floyd drove his cab on to the stand. Witness went up to 
him nnd said, “ I am the brother of Mr. Alexander’s coachman, 
who is in prison, nnd I wish to know what you mean to do about 
him.” He replied, “ I don’t know anything at all about it.” 
Witness said, “My brother has told mo all about the robbery; 
that Simes took the parcel out of the brougham, and that Floyd 
conveyed it away in his cab, nnd that the stolen property sold 
for 95/,, FJoyd and Simes keeping all the money instead of 
sharing it, ns agreed, with him (James Boyd) nnd the woman.” 
Floyd, on hearing this, said that he had only one share, but 
Simes kept two shares. He acknowledged that the propertv 
fetched 95/., and said, “I will find your brother a counsel.’’ 
Witness afterwards went to Simos, ami found him in bed at his 
lodgings in Liquorpond-street. He asked Simes what he meant 
to do about his brother Jim. Simes replied that he could not do 
anything for him. Witness said, “Then I shall have Floyd 
locked up.” He replied, “You’re a fool, then. Floyd had tho 
money, ond lie is the only one that knows anything ubout it.” 
Witness said ho was aware of all the circumstances of the robbery, 
upon which Simes remarked, “The property only fetched 95/., 
nnd your brother had G /. more than his share, besides 6/. for you 
(meaning witness) because you were out of employ.” Mr. 
Jardine (to Mr. Wontner). — You hove shown sufficient grounds 
for n remand, ond they can be brought up again with the other 
prisoners. Mr. Edwin, a solicitor’s clerk, applied for hail on 
behalf of Floyd, who, ho said, was a respectable cob- master. 
The application was refused. 
Stabbing a Wife.— William Entwisle Willis, a law writer, 
Cl years of age, was brought up in custody from King’s College 
B Ho8pitol, charged with stabbing his wife in the thront, and sub- 
equently attempting to commit suicide, on Christmos-day lust. 
Mary Willis, the prosecutrix, of 5, Lee's- buildings, Chancery- 
lane, stated that she hod been married to tbe prisoner about 23 
years, ond within 12 months after her marriage he was committed 
for seven days from the Hatton-gnrden l’olicc-court for assaulting 
her with a poker. They had lived together very unhappily ever 
since, and had had six children. For the last three or four years 
they lmd slept in separate beds, nnd for more than 11 months 
past lie had not contributed a penny towards her support. She 
had worked for her own living, ond had paid the rent of their 
lodgings herself. On Christmns-eve she went to bed shortly after 
12, and about two hours afterwards wns aroused from her sleep by 
her husband, who came into tho room without a light, nnd got 
into her bed. He said, — “ Poll, I am come to you, fur I am so 
cold.” She replied merely, — “Then, why come to mo if you nro 
cold?” In the next moment sho received a violent stab from a 
sharp-pointed knife, which severed her cur and entered her 
throat; and, in raising her hand to resist him, she received a 
severe cut upon her fingers. She then called, as loudly os sho 
wus able, to a Mr. Hyatt, who lived at the bottom of tho house, 
exclaiming, “ My husband has stabbed mo.” Hyatt and his son 
cume to her assistance, the prisoner, in the meantime, having 
gODe back to his own room. A surgeon was sent for, nnd her 
wounds were dressed under his direction. The next morning 
her daughter found the carving-knife produced in her (witness’^ 
bed, stumed with blood. Hyatt deposed that, on being called up, 
ho went to Mrs. Willis’s room, and found her bed linen saturated 
with blood, there being also a large pool of blood upon the floor. 
He sent his son for n constable and surgeon, and then entered tbe 
other room, where lie found tho prisoner lying on the bed, 
wrapped up in some of the bed-clothing, and also bleeding con- 
siderably from some wounds in his throat Witness spoke to him, 
and the prisoner Baid, “if she is not dead my hand must bo 
nervous.” Witness added, that tho prisoner and his family had 
been living in tho house with him nbout five years, and they were 
often quarrelling, chietly in consequence of the drunken hnbitsof 
the man, who spent nil his money latterly upon drink. Mr. 
Henry. — Is the prosecutrix a well-conductcd person ? Witness 
said he never knew anything to the contrary of her. 8ho appeared 
a huid-working woman, although occasionally indulging in a 
glass. Tho Prisoner. — IIuvo you never seen 1 or lifted upstairs 
in a stoto of drunkenness, by her own children ? Witness.— 
Never; but I have often seen you in that predicament. Mr. Jones 
a surgeon, who was sent for to attend Mrs. Willis iu the night* 
described the wound in her thront os a vory dangerous one being 
close to the artery. If it had been a little deeper it must fiavo 
been fatal. Mr. Tuvlor, tho house-surgeon of King’s College 
Hospital, deposed to having attended the prisoner while in tho 
hopitol. Ho had several skin wounds in tho throat, inflicted by 
a razor apparently, but none of them of a dangerous character. 
Tho prisoner said ho should reserve his defence for tho trial. In 
tho meantime, hnving had nothing better that rice-water for 11 
days, ho implored the permission of tho magistrate to havo a 
glass of beer. Ho felt that he Bliould die of exhaustion if it was 
withheld from him any longer. Mr. Henry said tho medical 
men had no doubt wisely directed that ho should bo kept with- 
out beer, and tho order must bo odhorod to. Tlio prisonor was 
then committed for trial. 
MARYLEB0NE. 
Robbery.— ■ A man nomed Brown , a privoto in tho 2nd 
battalion of Grenadier Guards, was, together with a young 
