of bankruptcy and the inconvenience of any inquiry into the state of his affairs or other proceeding before a court, while enabling the vote of a majority, at a meeting called by himself, to relieve him from his liabilities to all his creditors, was apparently intended for the encouragement and protection of specially deserving cases; for instance, to encourage honest debtors to come forward at an early stage of insolvency while they could offer terms with which the general body of their creditors might reasonably be satisfied, and which could be accepted by a majority, notwithstanding the possible ill-will or cupidity of individual creditors. It could not have been intended to reproduce the continued annual increase of insolvency which occurred under the similar provisions of the Act of 1861, and the fraudulent character of which has just been proved by the Act of 1868. Unless majorities of creditors exercised with great care and judgment the absolute powers intrusted to them, insolvency would naturally be increased by the removal of all its disagreeables (from imprisonment for debt down to the nominal stigma) encouraging speculation, trading on insufficient capital, and generally loose principles and practice in questions of debtor and creditor. The fact that majorities of creditors too commonly exercise their powers by handing them over to canvassing agents leads necessarily to an incalculable amount of direct or indirect fraud. The first step in canvassing being to obtain a list of the creditors, an agent acting for the debtor has so far the best chance, and if he cannot himself collect enough proxies to carry the resolution, he may perhaps arrange with other agents who have canvassed on their own account, and are in the same position. The system begins from the beginning of difficulties; almost every person who has a bill of sale registered or a judgment against him receives a number of circulars; one of these, which claims to be the original, is rather long; the writer does not presume to infer that his services are required, but as such things as bills of sale may lead to bankruptcy and "the destruction of comfortable homes," he offers the assistance of his long and extensive practice in "arranging for an extension of time for payment of debts, or for a composition of the same," observing that "the Bankruptcy Act of 1869 has extended considerable advantages to debtors and creditors, and its liquidation clauses afford the former an easy method of arranging their affairs and relieving themselves from their difficulties without the objectionable publicity and suspension of business which happened under previous Acts." 66 (Signed) E. C., "Accountant in Bankruptcy." A postscript, stating that "no charge whatever is made unless business is actually done," and that money can be advanced the day after application, is followed by this: "Caution: Several persons, who really have no knowledge or experience, are copying this circular, with the object to extort fees. Mr. C. conceived the idea of sending to persons who have bills of sale or judgments issued against them, some eighteen years since, therefore all others are only copyists." The senior registrar of the London Bankruptcy Court recently notified to the public ("County Courts Chronicle," 1st June, 1881), that the writer of another circular headed with the Royal Arms, who also described himself as "Accountant in Bankruptcy," with the addition, "and an officer of the court," is not the "Accountant in Bankruptcy," or an officer of the court; in fact, he is only a "copyist" who has improved on and explains one or two points in the above original. His "office aims at effecting an arrangement with creditors, whereby the trader continues in business uninjured, and there is a fund from which loans can be granted to pay the composition, or to enable the debtor to purchase his estate in the unusual event of liquidation. Consultation free. N.B. The new and very stringent Bankruptcy Bill, now being passed through the Houses of Parliament, will come into operation shortly." However little attention such circulars may deserve, the idea of sending them being conceived eighteen years ago, or soon after the commencement of the Bankruptcy Act, 1861, and of arrangements and compositions to which a majority of creditors can bind a minority without any examination into the debtor's affairs, seems to agree very well with the enormous annual increase of compositions under that Act, and with their extraordinary reduction by such simple provisions as that persons helping to carry deeds by signing them as creditors should prove that they are creditors; the present Act of 1869 is, perhaps, correctly stated to offer greater facilities to debtors than previous Acts. The pro-mised result of compositions is that comfortable homes are not disturbed, the trader continues in business uninjured, the amount of composition being no more than he may borrow on the security of his property, leaving him, say, one-third of that property, with freedom from all liabilities; a very tempting prospect to a man whose property consists of goods bought on credit and who, perhaps, by such composition would be better off than he ever was before. All these may appear idle promises "to extort fees"; but debtors have appeared in better circumstances after compounding, and there can be no doubt that agents of this class learn by experience how resolutions of majorities of creditors may in most cases be carried. As pointed out in a former report, there were in the first two years of the present Act many more declarations of insolvency by debtors seeking adjudication of bankruptcy than since; arrangement or composition was soon found to be easier and more profitable; in a year or two agents are generally acquainted with any means by which new legislation may be evaded. While this class of agent is all for the debtors and composition, another and very similar class represents itself as all for the creditors and liquidation by arrangement, its aim being the profits to be made by trusteeships; and between them touting for proxies has become, as is generally well known, a regular business under the present Act. A striking illustration was afforded a few months ago in the conviction of an individual who had for years successfully carried on that business in all parts of England, the only peculiarity of his proceedings being that he frequently changed his name and address, and that instead of being satisfied with the more or less lawful profits of trusteeship, he appropriated the whole funds of liquidations in which he represented the majority of creditors, sometimes declaring dividends payable in various places by purely imaginary persons, for no apparent purpose but to amuse himself at the expense of the creditors. Many creditors must have known in that case, and must constantly know, that they have been defrauded; but frauds of that gross character occur chiefly in the thousands of smaller insolvencies, and in these are most severely felt by the smaller creditors, whose debts may not be insured in the ordinary way of trade, who do not understand the subject, and who cannot afford to place themselves in the hands of solicitors. As submitted in former reports, it is not the interest of the majority of trade creditors to devote time, trouble, or money to the chance of getting a little more salvage from the wreck of insolvent estates; an average amount of bad debts being an incident of trade as much allowed for in prices as the incidental expenses of trading, the majority of creditors would probably feel, as some traders bave expressed, that they are not more likely to look after such matters personally than to carry their own parcels; they can employ their time more profitably. Applying the figures of the year 1880 to a simple illustration in a former report, we have 10,298 estates estimated to average £450 "gross value," and which, if wound up by arrangement, would probably not produce £300 available assets, subject to reduction by costs and other deductions to perhaps £160; if the creditors could hope by their own exertions to procure a tenth more assets and a tenth less deductions, the result would be an average gain of about £40 per estate, or say, 40s. per creditor, some large creditors gaining much more while many small creditors would hardly gain forty pence. Large debts generally occurin large failures, and are mostly due to creditors in a large way of business, who would not be tempted by the remote possibility of gaining even £40 to give their personal attention during several years to the winding up of a large insolvency. Very large cases, being generally intrusted to respectable and experienced trustees, need not be considered; there are always comparatively few of them, and the returns for the year 1880, including an unusually small proportion, afford the best illustration of the prospects of creditors in the great majority of insolvencies. Such prospects would not induce the majority of creditors to take more trouble than needed to hand their proxies to agents, leaving them to settle the question of arrangement or composition with the debtors; 3,757 compositions were accepted in the year 1880, of which 102 were over 10s. in the £; 1,009 from 2s. 6d. to 5s.; and 2,095 from 1d. to 2s. 6d. The amount of annual loss by insolvency has been shown from former returns to have varied considerably, reaching about £25,000,000 in more recent times, and averaging, as estimated in my last report, about £20,000,000 per annum during the then last five years, 1875-79. The amount being of secondary importance, and purely speculative, depending on the possible results from thousands of estates not yet wound up, and respecting the great majority of which nothing will ever be known, I did not think it necessary to explain that those figures were only intended to suggest in round millions a very rough estimate of probable minimum loss, so far as it could be estimated from the ascertained results of comparatively few cases, with the considerable margin that should always be allowed in such estimates. Want of this explanation appears to have led to some misapprehensions; among others to an impression that the accurate maximum loss of each year may be worked out by a rule which perhaps might serve for the purposes of a very rough estimate of minimum loss in the year 1870, and with some allowance, in one or two other years the estates of which were of considerable average size; but it is clear that no rule which would apply to such years could apply to the remaining years in which the average of assets was much smaller, because, as frequently explained, the rate of costs, expenses, and every other element of loss is very much greater in smaller than in larger estates. The amount of loss, as shown for each year by that rule, proves, however, that my estimate for the above five years was, either by mistake or misprint, at least a million too low; correcting it to about £21,000,000, and estimating the loss for the year 1880 at about £14,000,000, the average for the last six years would be about £20,000,000 per annum. So far as they may represent the state of trade the returns for the year 1880 show a satisfactory decrease in the better class of insolvencies, and consequently in the amount of loss; but, as before observed, bankruptcy statistics refer to the working of the bankruptcy law rather than to the state of trade, and the returns show no improvement in the points to which attention has been directed in this and former reports, among others the constant increase of petty arrangements and compositions of almost nominal value. The rate of costs in closed bankruptcies was higher than in any preceding year, being 41 per cent. of net assets, or 3 per cent. more than in the year 1879, and 11 per cent. more than in the year 1873, when the assets were of about the same average. This is accounted for partly by the assets of two large bank. ruptcies being entirely absorbed by costs, chiefly of litigation; partly by the closing in the last two years of estates that have been a considerable time in hand, and partly by the fact that in the early years of the Act a larger proportion of estates were undertaken by creditor trustees without remuneration, or by solicitors under the provisions of section 29 of the Act, at a moderate percentage, including their professional charges. The balance of unemployed funds in bankruptcy on the the 31st of December, 1880, was £308,907; judging only by their relative assets in the last two years, there would be not quite four millions between bankruptcy and liquidation, the whole of which fund is in the hands, or under the control, of the trustees, except £14,467 unclaimed dividends &c., in bankruptcy, lodged in the Bank of England. Like the former estimates, the above supposes that the same trustees who in bankruptcy need to be considerably pressed to perform their duties, perform them as regularly in liquidation without any supervision or chance of the results of their administration being known. The amount of unclaimed dividends in bankruptcy affords, moreover, no index to the probable amount in liquidation; general rules require trustees in liquidation to reserve dividends for all persons who appear as creditors in the bankrupt's statement, or who may notify that they claim to be creditors; the amount of unclaimed dividends may be largely increased by imaginary claims, and various other means to the advantage of trustees, but, without reference to that possibility, considerable funds must remain in their hands that in bankruptcy would be distributed among the persons who had proved that they were creditors. OBITUARY. In our Obituary column last week, we noticed the death of Mr. W. C. A. WILLIAMS, of Monmouth, who, we are glad to learn, is still living. The error arose from confounding Mr. W. C. A. Williams' name with that of the late Mr. T. J. A. Williams, of Monmouth. MR. FENTHAM HEDGES. Mr. Fentham Hedges, barrister, died at his chambers, 2, Old-buildings, Lincoln's-inn, on the 1st inst., from accidental poisoning. Mr. Hedges was the son of the late Mr. Killingworth Hedges, of Sunbury. He was born in 1853, and he was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, where he graduated second class in jurisprudence in 1875. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's-inn in July, 1878, and he was an equity draftsman and conveyancer. Mr. Hedges was found dead on the morning of the 1st inst., and upon a post mortem examination, a quantity of cyanide of potassium was discovered in his stomach. He was in the habit of occupying his leisure time with chemical experiments, and it is supposed that, having become faint through the fumes of the chemicals, he inadvertently drank the poison. A coroner's inquest has been held, at which a verdict of "death by misadventure was returned. Mr. Hedges was unmarried. LEGAL APPOINTMENTS. Mr. THOMAS CALTHORPE BLOFELD, barrister, has been appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, in succession to Mr. John Worlledge, deceased. Mr. Blofield was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in the second class of the classical tripos in 1859. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's-inn in Hilary Term, 1859, and he is a member of the South-Eastern Circuit, practising locally at Norwich. He was for several years one of the staff of the WEEKLY REPORTER, and he was appointed recorder of the borough of Ipswich in 1878. Mr. HENRY BARRELL BRADLEY, solicitor, of Folkestone, has been appointed a Perpetual Commissioner for taking the Acknowledgments of Deeds by Married Women for the County of Kent. Mr. R. CHAPMAN, solicitor, of 92, London-wall, E.C., has been appointed a Commissioner to administer Oaths in the Supreme Court of Judicature. Mr. THOMAS HERBERT EDWARD FOORD, solicitor, of 16, Philpot-lane, E.C., and Forest Hill, Kent, has been appointed a Commissioner to administer Oaths in the Supreme Court of Judicature. Mr. HERBERT JOHN LLOYD, Solicitor, of Carmarthen and Haverfordwest, has been appointed a Perpetual Commissioner for Carmarthenshire and the Town and County of the Town of Carmarthen for taking the Acknowledgments of Deeds by Married Women. Mr. MORRIS OWEN, solicitor, of Carnarvon, has been appointed a Perpetual Commissioner for Carnarvonshire for taking the Acknowledgments of Deeds by Married Women. Mr. FRANCIS SCOTT, solicitor, of 63, Aldermanbury and Hounslow, has been appointed a Commissioner to administer Oaths in the Supreme Court of Judicature. Mr. JOHN WHITHAM, solicitor, of Ripon, has been ap pointed Registrar of the Ripon County Court (Circuit No. 15), on the resignation of his partner, Mr. John Frederick Augustus Coppen. Mr. Whitham was admitted in 1876. BIRMINGHAM ACORN HOTEL COMPANY, LIMITED.— Petition for winding up, presented July 30, directed to be heard before the M.R. on Nov 5. Robinson and Co, Lincoln's inn fields, agents for Rowlands and Co, Birmingham, solicitors for the petitioners MANUFACTURERS' FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, LIMITED.-Fry, J, has, by an order dated July 25, appointed William Henry Fox, 17, Austin Friars, to be official liquidator. Creditors are required, on or before Sept 30, to send their names and addresses and the particulars of their debts or claims to the above. Oct 28 at 12 is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the debts and claims SAINT BRIDE'S WELSH SLATE AND SLAB COMPANY, LIMITED.-By an order made by the M.R., dated July 16, it was ordered that the above company be wound up. Marsland, St Swithin's lane, solicitor for the petitioner SWISS UNSWEETENED PURE MILK COMPANY, LIMITED.-Petition for winding up, presented July 29, directed to be heard before Cave, J, on Aug 17. Talbot, Bennet's hill, Doctors' commons, solicitor for the petitioner UNITED SERVICE SUPPLY ASSOCIATION, LIMITED.-Creditors are required, on or before Oct 1, to send their names and addresses and the particulars of their debts or claims, to Everitt Everitt, and Lieut-Col Francis Ottawa Shearman, 15, Leicester sq. Oct 27 at 12 is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the debts and claims [Gazette, Aug. 5.] BOURNEMOUTH AND SOUTH COAST STEAM PACKET COMPANY, LIMITED.-V.C. Hall has, by an order dated July 13, appointed Frederick Henry Cridland, Observer chmbrs, Bournemouth, to be official liquidator COMEDY OPERA COMPANY, LIMITED.-By an order made by the M.R., dated July 30, it was ordered that the above company be wound up. Lowless and Co, Martin's lane, Cannon st, solicitors for the petitioner ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC COMPANY, LIMITED.-Fry, J, has, by an order dated July 29, appointed Dalton Easum, 302, Regent st, to be official liquidator. Creditors are requested, on or before Sept 30, to send their names and addresses, and the particulars of their debts or claims, to the above. Oct 28 at 12 is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the debts and claims ENFIELD STUD AND RACE COURSE COMPANY, LIMITED.-The M R. has fixed Aug 19 at 11, at his chambers, for the appointment of an official liquidator GROSVENOR CO-OPERATIVE STORES, LIMITED.-By an order made by V.C. Hall, dated July 29, it was ordered that the voluntary winding up of the above stores be continued. Sydney, Coleman st, solicitor for the petitioners LAGER BEER BREWERY, LIMITED.-The M.R. has, by an order dated July 5, appointed John Henry Champness, 10, Basinghall st, to be official liquidator PROVINCE OF BRESCIA STEAM TRAMWAY COMPANY, LIMITED.Petition for winding up, presented Aug 8, directed to be heard before Cave, J, on Aug 17. Bellamy and Co, Bishopsgate st within, solicitors for the petitioners SANKEY BROOK AND ASHTONS GREEN COLLIERIES COMPANY, LIMITED. By an order made by the M.R., dated July 30, it was ordered that the above company be wound up. Sharpe and Co, Bedford row, agents for Peace and Co, Wigan, solicitors for the petitioner SUMBURGH MINING COMPANY, LIMITED.-Creditors are required, on or before Oct 3, to send their names and addresses and the particulars of their debts or claims to Joseph John Saffery, 14, Old Jewry chmbrs. Oct 31 at 11 is appointed for hearing and adjudicating upon the debts and claims WHEAL ELIZABETH, LIMITED.-Petition for winding up, presented Aug 4, directed to be heard before Cave, J, on Aug 17. Beall and Co, Queen Victoria st, solicitors for the petitioners [Gazette, Aug. 9.] COUNTY PALATINE OF LANCASTER. VICTORIA SAW MILL AND WAGON COMPANY, LIMITED.-Petition for winding up, presented Aug 6, directed to be heard before the V.C. on Aug 22, at his chambers, 21, Old sq, Lincoln's inn, at 10.30. Houghton and Myres, Preston, solicitors for the petitioners [Gazette, Aug. 9.] FRIENDLY SOCIETIES Dissolved. LOWER SWELL AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY, Lower Swell, Gloucester, Aug 6 ST. GEORGE'S COURT, UNITED SHEPHERDESSES' SOCIETY, Friendly Societies Hall, Castlegate, York, Aug 6 [Gazette, Aug. 9.] MAGEE, JAMES, Upland rd, Peckham Rye. Aug 30. Lindsay v. Thomson, Bacon, V.C. Hamlin, Staple inn MALYEAR, HARRIOT, Upper Richmond rd, Putney Park. Oct 1. PEARSON, ANN, West Bromwich, Licensed Victualler. Aug 31. SMITH, EDMUND JAMES, Whitehall pl, Land Agent. Sepr 21. Macken v Smith, Hall, V.C. Hardisty and Rhodes, Gt Marlborough st WILLIAMS, EDWARD, Rhayader, Radnor, Esq. Sept 1. Williams v FEARN, JOB, Slaley, Derby, Retired Farmer. Oct 1. Wardman v [Gazette, Aug. 2.] CREDITORS UNDER 22 & 23 VICT. CAP. 25. LAST DAY OF CLAIM. BARKER, SAMUEL, Sheffield, Merchant. Sept 21. Burdekin and Co, Sheffield BAYFIELD, ELIZABETH, Highfield, Godalming, Surrey. Aug 24. Mellersh, Godalming BLANTERN, WILLIAM, Ellesmere, Salop, Gent. Aug 20. Salter, Ellesmere BROWN, GEORGE, Thrumpton, Nottingham, Miller. Aug 22. Marshall, East Retford CLAYTON, WILLIAM, Sheffield, Engraver. Aug 29. Webster and Styring, Sheffield COLSTON, JOSEPH CARTER, Woodstock terr, Stroud Green rd, Chemist. Aug 22. Harris, Leicester DICKINSON, THOMAS, Beverley, York, Gent. Aug 31. Kirkpatrick, Market Weighton HARRISON, JAMES STOCKDALE, Lancaster, Esq. Aug 31. Swainson and Co, Lancaster HAZELL, WILLIAM, Farnham, Surrey, Manufacturer. Aug 27. JONES, JOSEPH, Abberley Hall, Worcester, Esq. Oct 15. Tweedalo and Co, Oldham JUKES, ARTHUR, Suffield Lodge, South Tottenham, Civil Engineer. CHRISTOPHER, Ramsbottom, Lancaster, Retired PHILLIPS, LUCY RACHEL, Finsbury Park rd, Hornsey. Sept 10. Price, Walbrook RICHARDSON, ELIZABETH, St John's Wood rd. Aug 31. Mullings and Co, Cirencester ROBERT, WILLIAM THOMAS, Tancredston, Pembroke, Farmer. Aug 31. Price, Haverfordwest ROGERS, EDWARD, St Martin's, Salop, Farmer. Aug 20. Salter, Roos, ALEXANDER, Gt Pulteney st, Golden sq, Gent. Aug 31. WALKER, JOHN, Stamland, Halifax, Cotton Merchant. Oct 1. WATKINS, JOHN, Montpelier sq, Colonel in the Honourable East India Company's Service. Aug 31. Waddilove and Nutt, Godliman st, Doctors' commons WHALLEY, THOMAS, Woodville, Dunham Massey, Chester, Commis--sion Agent. Sept 3. Minor, Manchester [Gazette, July 26.] CREDITORS' CLAIMS. CREDITORS UNDER ESTATES IN CHANCERY LAST DAY OF PROOF. BASHAM, GEORGE, Staple inn, Holborn, Solicitor. Oct 1. Hannay v Basham, M.R. Gemmell, Essex st, Strand BRERETON, FRANCES, Little Massingham, Norfolk. Oct 1. Dew v Brereton, Hall, V.Č. Iliffe, Bedford row CHILTON, RICHARD HOLBROOK, Farnham, Surrey, Draper. Oct 1. Knight v Scammell, V.C. Hall. Ward, Farnham COWLEY, CHARLES, Hove, Sussex, Farmer. Oct 1. Souch v Cowley, V.C. Hall. Woods and Dempster, Brighton GILBERT, GEORGE, Hilldrop crescent, Islington, Gent. Oct 1. MacGregor v Hudleston, V.C. Hall. Bramall, Lombard ct, Gracechurch st JOHNSON, ELIZABETH, Birmingham. Sept 10. Woolley v Wadhams, M.R. Clarke, Birmingham JONES, JOHN, Knighton, Radnor, Retired Cattle Dealer. Sept 30. Jones v Davies, Fry, J. Peters, Knighton NEW ORDERS. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE. The foliowing papers for the Vacation Judge are required to be left with the officer in attendance at the Royal Courts of Justice (Room 136), on or before the Monday previous to the day on which the application to the judge is intended to be made: 1. Counsel's certificate of urgency, or note of special leave granted by the judge. 2. Two copies of writ and two copies of pleadings (if any), and any other documents showing the nature of the application. 3. Two copies of notice of motion. 4. Office copy affidavits in support with exhibits, and also the affidavits in answer, if any filed. Mr. Justice Cave will sit as Vacation Judge to hear urgent applications in chancery cases in the Rolls Court on Wednesday, August 17, at 11 a.m., and on every following Wednesday until further notice-vide further partionlars in printed vacation notice. On Tuesday and Thursday in every week Mr. Justice Cave will attend Judges' Chambers, Royal Courts of Justice, to hear summonses in the Queen's Bench Division, when applications for ex parte injunctions or for special leave to serve notice of motion, or other urgent applications in chancery matters may be made to his lordship. The time of making the application should be arranged with his lordship's clerk at judge's chambers. On other days application may be made to Mr. Justice Cave at his lordship's residence, Manor Park, Chislehurst. Kent. Chancery Registrars' Chambers, August 9, 1881. LEGAL NEWS. In Callahan v. Stanley, California Supreme Court (June 15, 1881, 7 Pac. L. J. 672), says the Albany Law Journal, the lessee of farming land covenanted that the "stubble" should belong to the landlord. In an action by the landlord's assignee to recover damages for having been prevented from grazing his sheep on the land, held, that evidence was admissible to prove that by the custom of the locality of the leased premises the word "stubble" included whatever was left upon the ground after harvest. The court said: "It was the duty of the court to construe the contract in such a way as to render it operative and effectual to carry out the purpose of the parties as expressed in the language and terms which they used. As a general rule, the words of a contract are to be understood in their ordinary and popular sense rather than according to their strict legal meaning; but if they are used in a technical sense, they should be interpreted as usually understood by persons in the profession or business to which they relate; or, if they have a special meaning given to them by usage, the meaning should be followed. In such a case evidence explanatory of the words is admissible, not for the purpose of adding to or qualifying or contradicting the contract, but for the purpose of ascertaining it by expounding the language, and so enabling the court to interpret it according to the actual intention of the parties, and the law and usage of the place where it is to be performed. If there was an existing usage among farmers as to the meaning of the word 'stubble' when this contract was made, it must be inferred that the contracting parties, being farmers, contracted with reference to it, and that they used the word in the broader meaning which was given to it by that usage, and not in the ordinary or popular sense. Evidence of such usage and meaning was therefore admissible to define and explain the peculiar or PRIVATE BILLS.-London and South-Western Railway, local meaning of the word as it was used in the contract." Rotherham and Bawtry Railway. AUG. 9.-BILLS READ A SECOND TIME. Ecclesiastical Courts Regulation, Metropolitan Board of Works (Money), Central Criminal Court (Prisons), Corrupt Practices (Suspension of Elections). BILL IN COMMITTEE. Public Works Loans. BILL READ A THIRD TIME. PRIVATE BILL.-Kingston and London Railway. HOUSE OF COMMONS. AUG. 4.-BILLS READ A SECOND TIME. Corrupt Practices (Suspension of Elections), British Honduras (Court of Appeal), Pedlars (Certificates). BILL WITHDRAWN. Exemption from Distress. AUG. 5.-BILLS READ A SECOND TIME. National Debt, Indian Loan. BILLS IN COMMITTEE. Corrupt Practices (Suspension of Elections) (also read a third time), Conveyancing and Law of Property. BILLS READ A THIRD TIME. PRIVATE BILLS.-Bagct Estate, Croker Estate, Manufacturers and Millowners' Mutual Aid Association, St. John's Hospital (Bedford). British Honduras (Court of Appeal). AUG. 8.-BILI, READ A SECOND TIME. Patriotic Fand. BILL READ A THIRD TIME. Conveyancing and Law of Property. AUG. 9.-BILL READ A SECOND TIME. Bills of Exchange. AUG. 10.-BILL IN COMMITTEE. Patriotic Fund. (See Randall v. Smith, 63 Me. 105; S. C., 18 Am. Rep. 200, and note, 204; Jones v. Hoey, 22 Alb. L. J. 297.) The trial of Thomas Colclough, stamp distributor, in the Queen's Bench Division of the Irish High Court, charged with having forged and issued stamps to the value of several thousand pounds, terminated in the Commission Court in a verdict of "Guilty" on all counts. Mr. Porter, Q.C., counsel for the prisoner, applied that judgment should be deferred and sentence arrested pending the appeal on a legal point arising in the amendment of the trial. The prisoner was first arraigned on an indictment which alleged that he feloniously and with intent to defraud forged a certain die. To that he pleaded "not guilty." Then jurors were called, and after the Crown had exercised their right of ordering jurors to stand by, and after some challenges by the prisoner, the jury were sword. The Crown stated that they intended to try the prisoner on another and a different indictment, on which he had not been arraigned, and to which he had not pleaded. The prisoner then pleaded to the second indictment and the trial proceeded upon it. Counsel said it was clear that that course of procedure was erroneous. Until the prisoner had pleaded to the indictment on which he was to be tried, the jury should not have been called and empannelled. As he did not plead until after the jury were sworn, the whole proceedings were void. Mr. Justice Barry observed that counsel might bring a writ of error. Mr. Murphy, Q.C., counsel for the Crown, remarked that these frauds commenced in 1871, and had gone on increasing until 1879. He could prove the facts by witnesses. Mr Justice Barry said they could be proved by affidavit. The prisoner was then put back. Several witnesses proved the issue of the forged stamps. When the police reached the prisoner's office they found a die for 1s. 6d. stamps, and a stamping press, and apparatus for taking fac-similes. They also found paper with the arms torn off and seven stamps torn up. SALE OF ENSUING WEEK. Aug. 18.-Messrs. PRIOR & NEWSON, at the Mart, at 1 for 2 p.m., Corner Block of Buildings (see advertisement, July 30, p. 4). To Surrender in the Country. Brown, James, Pulham, St Mary the Virgin, Norfolk, Butcher. Pet Aug 4. Grimsey. Ipswich, Aug 23 at 11.30 Halford, Law Rooks, Bradford, York, Butter Factor. Pet Aug 6. Lee. Bradford, Aug 19 at 12 Serrell, Campbell, Ilminster, Somerset, Esq, Pet Aug 4. Batten. Yeovil, Aug 30 at 11 Walters, William, Eirw, Porth, nr Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Grocer. Pet Aug 2. Spickett. Pontypridd, Aug 20 at 10 Wibberley, Brian, Sturston, Derby, Miller. Pet Aug 4. Hubbersty. Burton-on-Trent, Sept 27 at 1.30 Williamson, Edwin, Ashton-under-Lyne, Boot Manufacturer. Pet Aug 6. Hall. Ashton-under-Lyne, Aug 25 at 11 BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED. TUESDAY, Aug. 9, 1881. Cresswell, Edward Engleheart, and Frederick Robert Barnett, Liquidations by Arrangement. Auty, James, East Ardsley, nr Wakefield, York, Farmer. Aug 18 at Beaumont, Alfred, Huddersfield, Warehouseman. Aug 17 at 11 at offices of Johnson and Crook, Market wall, Huddersfield Blunsdon, William Baker, North Moreton, Berks, Farmer. Aug 18 at 2 at the Lamb Hotel, High st, Wallingford. Hedges and Co, Wallingford Aug 24 at 2 at Aug 18 Brown, Thomas, Birmingham, Fruit Salesman. Aug 19 at 11 at offices of Ansell, Waterloo st, Birmingham Bye, Edmund, Westhall rd, Forest hill, Builder, 111, Cheapside. Pettiver, College st, College hill Cartwright, Joseph, Castle Donnington, Leicester, Baker. at 11 at offices of Fisher and Co, Asby-de-la-Zouch Cheever, William Cannell, and Frederic Pooley, Liverpool, Wine Merchants. Aug 18 at 2 at the Cannon st Hotel, Cannon st, Harris and Gorst, Liverpool Cowburn, Samuel, and Sidney Cowburn, Manufacturing Chemists. Gomersal, York. Aug 17 at 3 at offices of Carr and Cadman, Crown st, Cleckheaton Culy, Ephraim, March, Cambridge, Farmer. Aug 15 at 11 at offices of Sidney and Ollard, York row, Wisbech Daniel, William Edward, Short Heath, nr Wolverhampton, Licensed Victualler. Aug 19 at 12 at offices of Baker, Bridge st, Walsall DartLall, Henry Thomson, Cheltenham, Seedsman. Aug 26 at 11 at offices of Heath, Regent st, Cheltenham Dealtry, John, Holcroft Culcheth, nr Warrington, Butcher Aug 24 at 3 at offices of Storer and Lloyd, Fountain st, Manchester Deane, Thomas, Radley, Berks, Farmer. Aug 19 at 3 at Crown and Thistle Hotel, Abingdon. Challenor and Son, Abingdon Dodds, Edward, Western hill, Durham, Engineer. Aug 24 at 11 at offices of Marshall, Market pl, Durham Draycott, William, Hinckley, Leicester, Butcher. Aug 10 at 12 at offices of Cowdell, Borough, Hinckley Dury, Joseph, Merthyr Tydfil, Coal Miner. Aug 15 at 12 at office of James and Co, Merthyr Tydfil Easterbrook, Nicholas James, Kingston-upon-Hull, Cabinet Maker. Aug 10 at 3 at offices of Chambers, Scale lane, Kingston-uponHull Freeman, Charles, Dagenham, Essex, Farmer. Aug 18 at 2 at. New Exchange bldgs, George yd, Lombard st. Freeman and Bothamley, Queen st, Cheapside French, Edward, Witney, Oxford, out of business. Aug 19 at 11 a offices of Kilby and Mace, West st, Chipping Norton Fulford, Caroline, Clifton, Bristol, Greengrocer, Aug 19 at 12 at offices of Stanley and Co, Royal Insurance bldgs, Corn st, Bris tol Gentle, John, Bow rd, Ham and Beef Dealer. Aug 15 at 3 at offices of Dashwood, Mark lane Gostling, William Thomas, Brighton, Bookseller. Aug 17 at 3 at offices of Nye and Greenwood, Serjeant's-inn Gregg, Harry, Weston st, Southwark, Provision Dealer. Aug 16 at 1 at offices of Hanson, King st, Cheapside. Wetherfield, Queen st, Cheapside Grieves, James, Mincing lane, Commission Merchant. Aug 17 at 12 at City Terminus Hotel, Cannon st. Wickens, Palmerston bldgs, Old Broad st Harris, John, Dunmow, Essex, Butcher. Aug 23 at 10 at offices of Snell, Gt Dunmow Harrison, James, Horncastle, Lincoln, Cattle Dealer. Aug 22 at 11 at offices of Tweed and Co, Saltergate Hill, Josiah, Coventry, Warwick, Corn Dealer. Aug 18 at 11 at offices of Goate, Little Park st, Coventry Hodge, William, Bristol, Grocer. Aug 13 at 12 at offices of Sprod, John st, Bristol. Essery, Bristol Holden, Jonathan George, Wigan, Lancaster. Innkeeper. Aug 23 at 11 at offices of Johnson, King st, Wigan Hopkinson, Nathan, Pimhole, Bury, Lancaster. Aug 22 at 3 at offices of Anderton and Donnelly, Garden st, Bury Howard, Cyrus, Birkenhead, Chester, Baker. Aug 20 at 11 at office of Bleakley and Downham, Hamilton sq, Birkenhead Johnson, Joseph, Llanaelhaiarn Carnarvon, Settmaker. Aug 19 at 12 at offices of Allanson, Bron Seiont, Carnarvon Kemp, Richard, jun, Gorleston, Suffolk, Carpenter. Aug 24 at 12 at offices of Blake, Hall quay chmbrs, Gt Yarmouth. Palmer, Gt Yarmouth Keppler, John, Commercial rd East, Baker. Aug 22 at 3 at offices of Morris, Paternoster row Kerstein, George Henry, Cardwell ter, Holloway, Baker. Aug 15 at 3 at offices of Ogle, Long acre King, George David, Millbrook, Southampton, Grocer. Aug 19 at 12 at Creditors' Association, Arthur st East, London bridge May and Co, Adelaide pl Lawley, William. Grove hill road, Denmark hill, out of business. Aug 18 at 3 at offices of Curtis, Old Jewry chbrs Marshall, Edwin, Wakefield, York, Fruiterer. Aug 17 at 3 at offices of Lodge, Townhall chmbrs, King st, Wakefield Martin, William, Saint Helen's, Lancaster, Painter. Aug 30 at 3 at Crescent Hotel, Liverpool rd, Saint Helen's. Tremewen, Man chester Mills, James, Hulme, Manchester, Japan Furniture Manufacturer. Aug 8 at 3 at offices of Simpson and Hockin, Mount st, Albert sq, Manchester Aug 19 at 3 at Mobbs, William, Leicester, Photographer. Aug 19 at 3 at offices of Nicholson, Senior, Batley, York, Flock Merchant. Aug 23 at 2 at Anderton and Aug 18 at 3 at the Station Hotel, Batley. Walker Nunn, Cornelius, St, Mary's rd, Commercial Traveller. Aug 19 at 12 at offices of Plunkett and Leader, St. Paul's churchyard Nuttman, Richard Jonathan, Maple rd, Penge, Clothier. 3 at offices of Noton, Lombard st Orton, Thomas, Ravenstone, Leicester, out of business. 11 at offices of Fisher and Co, Ashby-de-la-Zouch Parr, Jonathan, Westleigh, nr Manchester, Coal Miner. 3 at offices of Taylor and Sons, Church st, Leigh Popple, Robert, Scarborough, York Builder. Aug 25 at Aug 18 at Aug 19 at Aug 15 at 3 at offices of Cornwall and Watts, Queen st, Scarborough Posener, David, Commercial st, East, Tobacco Pipe Manufacturer. Aug 24 at 2 at offices of Lee, Greshamn bldgs, Basinghall st Rodda, Walter Alan, Stratford, Essex, Builder. Aug 12 at 3 at offices of Dashwood, Mark lane Russell, James, John Lemmon Russell, and Hezekiah Russell, Union rd, Tufnell park, Photographers. Aug 19 at 2 at offices of Gregory, East st. Chichester Russell, Robert, Mumbles, Glamorgan, Licensed Victualler. Aug 18 at 3 at the Adelphi Hotel, Wind st, Swansea. John, Swansea Shemilt, John David, Leigh, Stafford, Farmer, Aug 17 at 3 at at offices of Welch, Carolina st, Longton Simkin, Henry, Bedford terrace, Kensington, Grocer. Aug 18 at 2 a offices of Warde, Chancery lane Simpson, John Wilkinson, Hurworth, Durham, Butcher. Aug 17 at 11 at offices of Barron, High row, Darlington Standbridge, Edwin, Lancaster, Watchmaker. Aug 22 at 11 at office of Clark and Co, Church st, Lancaster Stephenson, Charles, Leeds, Grocer. Aug 19 at 11 at Law Institution, Albion pl, Leeds Sugden, William, Bradford. Aug 18 at 11 at offices of Hutchinson and Son, Piccadilly chbrs, Piccadilly, Bradford Sykes, Charles Ernest, Slaithwaite, nr Huddersfield, Draper. Aug 13 at 10.30 at offices of Ainley and Hall, New st, Huddersfield Taylor. Mary Jane, Gateshead, Confectioner. Aug 18 at 12 at office of Maw, jun, Market pl, Bishop Auckland Walker, John Booth, and Jane Walker, Huddersfield, Timber Merchants. Aug 15 at 3 at Pack Horse Hotel, Huddersfield. Mills and Bibby, Huddersfield Ward, Alfred, Ilkley, York, Outfitter. Aug 24 at 10.30 at Guildhall Coffee Tavern. Gardiner and Jeffery, Bradford |
