The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

T, T FAHLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS, THE House of Lords during the past week has presented a, contrast to the Commons in the paucity of members attending it. Very frequently the business of the afternoon has been gone through with less than a dozen noble lords pre- sent, and the absence of the lawn sleeves on the Episcopal Bench has been singularly remarkable. The old Marquis of Westmeath had a series of notices on the paper, relative to innovations in the Church of England services, and to the many changes of vestments which have become customary in churches within the dioceses of the right rev. prelates. The venerable peer I have alluded to has nearly completed his 81st year, and is in the estimation of the House of Lords what Mr. Whalley is in the Commons, that is to say, he exaggerates grievances which, on inquiry, are found to be based upon trifles. It was, however, considered rather pusillanimous on the part of the bishops to absent themselves at a time when explanations were really desirable. The only two who faced the inquiries upon this occasion were the Bishops of j Carlisle and Cashel, the former refused to state what were his impressions upon innovations said to exist, because such matters may be brought before him in his official capacity to adjudicate upon, and the Bishop of Caehel merely stated that he had heard of no innovations in his district. The noble marquis has, however, declared his inten- j tion to persevere in his inquiries until he gets some direct answer from the great dignitaries of the Church. One event of the past week should be noticed, namely, the familiar face of Lord Brougham, who has again taken his seat amongst his peers. This venerable nobleman is now in his 88th year, his fine massive head is still covered with a profusion of white hair, his features are more strongly marked and more characteristic than ever, and his deeply bronzed complexion J testifies to much out-door exercise in a sea wind I and hot sun. He walks slowly, and with evident feebleness, and his frame is much bowed and bent with the weight of years. As he shuffles, rather} than walks, from one peer to the other, each one seems to shake him by the hand as a fond, familiar friend whom they are delighted to see once more amongst them. If not some of the fire of youth, at least a, specimen of the 11 old man eloquent" appeared when the subject of corrupt practices at elections was brought before their lordships. He took an ooportunity of inveighing against this unconstitutional system, and called for more stringent measures against both briber and bribed. To turn. to the business as transacted in the Rouse of Commons, it has been rather peculiar on account of the determined opposition to the Re- form Bill, and the many manoeuvres to postpone it. First, there was the "talk out" policy. Now, to a, looker-on the House of Commons presents a very odd spectacle when a determined "talk out" sets j in. This was done by the Ministerial side on a Wednesday morning sitting, when a motion was on against the Government, and the Opposition w-as found to be strong. I heard a member say on retiring that evening, "We will be quits with them before the session is over:" and they have done it successfully upon two occasions latterly. Many people have wrong ideas about the manner in which talking against time is dome. Some think it is more conspicuously artificial than it is. Others think the fact is less obvious than it really is, and that there may be some doubn about whether the measure is being talked out or not. Both suppositions are erroneous. When a bill or resolution is being talked out every one knows it. A speaker who has, perhaps, never received a cheer before, is greeted by his party with thundering •" Hear, hears," and the side against which the manouvre is being practised receive with "Oh, ohs," every member who rises; the spectator from above will see whole rows of the op- j posing side stooping forward and laughing simultaneously at the member's determined efforts to be heard, just as rows of per- sons in the pit of a, theatre lurch forward and laugh at the jokes of a favourite comedian. The speakers themselves take care not to show the least sign of want ef seriousness, if they did it ■would be too much for the House to bear. Thus, on the llth inst., Mr. Mnglake, on the Ministerial side of the House, asked for some explanations as to the course pursued by the Government in Continental affairs. Mr. Gladstone replied; and here the matter would have ended upon ordinary occasions, but the Opposition commenced talking against time they did not want the Reform Bill to come on. So, one after another, Mr. B. Coch- rane, Mr. Sandforo, Sir G. Bowyer, Lord Cran- borne, Lord J. Manners, Lord C. Hamilton, Mr. Whiteside, and a, host of small fry, kept up a debate for five hours. The Ministerial members were at last determined not to hear, and amid continued cries of "Divide, divide," "Agreed, agreed," the last speech came to an end, at half- past ten o'clock. The House then got into com- mittee upon the Eeform Bill. The Opposition would not permit a single mause of this to pass without fighting it, and Mr. Walter Eunti rose to propose a, rating franchise for counties instead of a, rental one, as in the bill brought forward by the Government. A long dis- cussion followed, and of course the old arguments were raised, the Opposition accusing the Govern- ment of favouring the manufacturing interest over the agricultural community, whilst the Govern- ment stuck to statistics, and endeavoured to show that the new bill had been carefully prepared, in order to represent numbers as well as classes, j Half-past twelve came, and the Government pa,rty tried to force a division, -Wbich the Tories resisted. Mr. Gladstone in vain reminded them of the late- cess of the session, and the extent of business to be transacted. They would scarcely hear him, however, and, ia the midst of great confusion, Colonel Gilpin moved that the Chairman report nrocress," which, in other words, means the ad- fourkment for that night. The Government were determined to try their strength, and resisted, and when the numbers were announced-254 in favour liT ti,. adioarnmee,, and 303 against it-the Government cheers were astounding. on <T0 on," was cried, but immediately Colonel trior moved that the Chairman leave the chair." The Chancellor of the Exchequer again pleaded the indulgence of the committee, and asked them not to waste valuable time m these unnecessary divisions; but it was all to no purpose, again they divided, when the numbers were 212 for the adjournment, and 2f).4 against it. Scarcely had the tellers announced, the division, when the voice of Mr. Bagge was heard from the gallery, moving "that the Chair- man report progress, and ask leave to sit again." To this Mr. Gladstone felt obliged to submit, as, according to the rules of the House, the Opposition oould have kept dividing all night on the mere question of adjournment. On Thursday the debate came on again. You could see that both parties had assembled in large forces; that Mr. Brand and Mr. Hugessen, the Ministerial whips," and Colonel Taylor and Mr. Whitmore, the Opposition, were working hard, i It was known that the division would occur before the dinner hour, and wagers were made as to numbers. The Tories thought they would be in a minority of ten, the Ministers expected twenty. At length the electric bells were set ringing, the sand-glass turned to run three minutes, the lobbies, refreshment and smoking-rooms were scoured for stray members, and the Baron Rothschild was wheeled along in an invalid's chair. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, the ayes were told to go to the aig'tti, the .to the left, and away raahed mast iof the members like schoolboys at a sham elec- tion. In the midst of the uproar the loud voice of Mr. Hunt, the stalwart giant who represents tion. In the midst of the uproar the loud voice of Mr. Hunt, the stalwart giant who represents Northamptonshire, was heard complaining that the question had been improperly put from the ehair. Hats on" was shouted on all sides, it being one of the Parliamentary rules that after a question has been put and on speaking to a point of order the head should be covered. Mr. Bou- verie, who spoke seated, and with his hat on, told Mr. Hunt that he did not seem to know how questions should be put in committee, I and then rushed over to convince him privately that the chairman was right. Mr. Dodson justified the way in which he had put the question. Order, order, was called; and once again members proceeded to the different lobbies. But then there was heard an extraordinary cry for the Sergeant-at-arms. A stranger in the lobby! was shouted. Mr. Hunt looking around him, said, I see no one. Where looking around him, said, I see no one. Where is he ? Presently the Sergeant-at-arms, with his sword by his side, came to the bar of the House with a criminal, in the form of a gentleman. The unhappy person had been sitting under the gallery, and, half sleepily, wandered into the division lobby, instead of going out of the House at the words, Strangers must withdraw." Of course, there was much merriment at the intruder's expense. All he had to suffer, however, was that of being detained in solemn custody until the division was taken. At length members returned to the House. Every seat was filled, and a crowd assembled at each gangway, who defied the tellers to pass through and record the numbers. Bar, bar," was shouted on all sides, and rushing and scram- bling through the mass of human beings came the tellers. The Government cheered immensely when they found the division was given to Mr. Brand, as it was a, certain sign of victory. But when he gave out" Ayes to the right, 273; Noes to the left, 280/' the cheer was taken up by the Opposition and a roar of applause followed. Another division took place the same night, but unimportant as far as party strength was con- cerned, Mr. Gladstone having accepted some amendment on a clause as suggested by Mr. Banks Stanhope, to the effect that land qualification should be admitted into the franchise without the necessity of house occupancy. Mr. Bright, Mr. White, and others of what are termed the progres- sive party, were indignant at this, and absolutely walked out of the House in an apparent fit of disgust. But no night in the Session has the excitement been so great as it was on Monday. The fifth clause of the Reform Bill was then brought before the committee; this was to extend the franchise to householders who pay a rental of £ 7 in boroughs. Lord Dankellin had an amendment to the effect that, instead of being a rental, it should be a rate- able qualification. Mr. Gladstone contended that if this was carried it would be fatal to the bill. The debate went on, the Government were not over- anxious in the first instance; dinner-time arrived, and members talked to empty benches; then, as ten o'clock arrived, there was a rush—every one knew something was coming', but from what source I was unable to discover. It was dinned into my ears, Ministers will be beaten." I losked and wondered, because the county franchise clause, on which their fate was to be decided, had passed, and this borough qualification was thought on all sides to be less objectionable. Presently, Sir Robert Peel rose, and railed against the Government, and attacked individually several members of it, stating that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had told him that the Government was Lord Palmerston's without Lord Paimerstom to guide them; and concluded a long speech, in which he hit right and left, by expressing his intention to vote for the amendment, stating that he preferred this to giving an insincere vote for the purpose of bolstering up a scheme which he believed that House and the country had sufficiently proved to the Government was not one which could be creditable to the nation, or which would in any degree promote the interests of the people. After this in vain did Mr. Bright and Mr. Yilliers defend the Government; the Opposition knew they were strong, and were desirous for a division. It came at last, after both Lord Dunkellin aud Mr. Gladstone had wound up, and when the numbers were given to the Opposition tellers the cheering was enormous; but when silence was I restored, and they gave out ayes to the right, 304, noes to the left, 315, the Opposition knew no bounds. They waved hats, they clapped hands, they shouted, and the cries of Order" from the chairman could not for some minutes be heard. It was a victory on the part of the Opposition not expected twelve hours previously. Sir Robert Peel carried the day, and well may the Chancellor of the Exchequer say, Save me from my friends." But in both Lords and Commons Tuesday was the eventful day. The Lords met at five o'clock, and long before that hour the ladies (God bless them), gifted with natural curiosity, filled the galleries, the lobbies, and the ambassadors' seats around the Peers' House. There was not much cere- mony to be witnessed, however; there were merely a few words from Earl Russell to the eiieet that, consequent upon the division upon a previous I night in the House of Commons, a Cabinet Council had been called that afternoon, and their delibera- tions would be submitted to the Queen, and await her Majesty's reply, and as this would naturally cause some delay, he moved that the House adjourn until Monday. | A similar crowd met in. the House of Commons to hear Gladstone's announce- ment. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and many of the leading nobility were in the Peers' Gallery. Just such an announcement as that in the Lords was made to the Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, I may add, was vociferously cheered, both on his entrance and during his short speech. The right hon. gentleman, how- ever, looked haggard and careworn, whilst his colleagues seemed quite to enjoy the fun of going through a new ceremony.

Christian Olifius, an old man, and. Ellen Hoiighfcoza, were tried on Friday at the Central Criminal Court for abducting a young girl named Tolley. The evidence of the prosecutrix was of a very singular cha- racter. Eventually both the prisoners were found guilty. Olicis was sentenced to two months' impri- sonment, and Houghton to a week's imprisonment. Collision in the Channel.-At two o'clock on Sunday morning the French lugger Eugene, coal laden, from feunaerland, came in collision off Dungeness with the brig F-Ilen. The lugger sank immediately. The captain and crew were just able to scramble on board the brig, and were landed at Dover utterly destitute. They were received at the Sailors' Home, where they are lodged, clothed, and fed, and from whence they will be forwarded to Calais. Alleged Illegal Marriages.—The Venerable ThornaB Thorp, B.D., Arcudeaoon of Bristol, created some consternation by a statement ma,de in his charge on the occasion of his visitation at Bristol last week. The ves. archdeacon, atter stating that he had given notioe in convocation of a motion for the production of a copy of the original Prayer-book, said that he had no hesitation in declaring that to publish the banns of marriage after the second lesson, as was done in many instances at present, was illegal, and every marriage that took place after banns so published was void, and every clergyman who had so published them was liable to 14 years' transportation. The proper time at which the banns should be published was just before the offertory sentences were read. He had no doubt, however., that an Act would be passed to indemnify all clergymen who had errad in this respect, and to recog- nise the validity of the marriages* which had been aftex'toanne .so published.

) REPORT OF THE JAMAICA COM- 1 MISSION. We have received the report of the Jamaica Com- mission (without the evidence), dated Spanish Town, April 9, and a despatch of Mr. Cardwell thereupon to Sir Henry Storks, dated Jans 18. The report occupies 41 pages, and is signed by the three Commissioners. It is a summary of the principal evidence, as well as a statement of the opinions of its authors. The Commissioners describe the disturbance at St. Thomae,- in-the- East as having been planned with a view to resistance to lawful authority; and state that is originators did not generally belong to the working class, but were free settlers, who wanted to get land without paying rent, and that the magistrates had not the confidence of the labouring people, nor such as they were oouid be expected to have it. A large portion of the report is occupied with an inquiry into the suppression of the outbreak. The Commissioners approve the original proclamation of martial law, and applaud the military arrangements for checking the riots as prompt and judicieus, but the punishments inflicted under martial law are con- demned as excessive. The total number of deaths caused by those engaged in the suppression was 439, and the number of dwellings burned, 1,000. The num- ber of persons flogged cannot be stated with accuracy. "The whole number subjected to this degrading punishment during the continuance of martial law could not have been less than 600. The twining of wire into the cats is confirmed, and the flogging of women by the authority of courts-martial and Captain Hole, an infliction which is to be reprobated." The case of Provost-Marshal Ramsay, against whom so many charges of fiendish cruelty have been brought, is men- tioned, but the Commissioners decline to make any remark on his conduct, because he has yet ta, stand his trial on a charge of wilful murder. Considerable space is given to the case of Mr. Gor- don, and his relations with Paul Bogle and the other negroes at Stony Gat are minutely investigated. The opinion of the Commission is summed up in the follow- ing passage:— Although, therefore, it appears exceedingly pro- bable that Mr. Gordon, by his words and writings, produced a. material effect on the minds of Bogle and his followers, and did much to produce tha,t state of excitement and discontent in different parts of the island which rendered the spread of the insurrection exceedingly probable, yet we cannot see, in the evi- dence which has been adduced, any sufficient proof either of his complicity in the outbreak at Morant Bay or of his having been a party to a general conspiracy against the Government. On the assumption that, if there was in fact a wide-spread conspiracy, Mr. G. W. Gordon must have been a party to it, the conclusion at which we have arrived in his case is decisive as to the non-existence of such a conspiracy. The Commissioners discredit the story that the blacks were going to rise at a future time, and attach no importance to the reports of drillings and threaten- ing letters. The Commissioners, placing themselves in the posi- tion of the Government of Jamaica in the month of October, forbear to blame it for the protraction of the rule of martial law; but they observed that from and after the 80th of that month, when the governor had formally declared that the rebellion was subdued, that the leaders of it had been punished, and that the people of the diatricfe were desirous to return to their allegiance, there could be no necessity for that promptitude in the execution of the law which almost precludes a calm inquiry into each man's guilt or innocence." The Commissioners consider that from that date no more courts-martial should bave been held, but that prisoners in custody should have been handed over to the ordinary tribunals. The Commis- sioners terminate their report as follows: Upon the subjects proposed for our inquiry we have come to the following conclusions :-1. That the dis- turbances in St. Thomas's-in-the-East had their im- mediate origin in a, planned resistance to lawful an. thority. 2. That the causes leading to the determina- tion to offer that resistance were manifold:—(1.) That a principal object of the disturbers of order was the obtaining of land free from the payment of rent. (2.) That an additional incentive to the violation of the law arose from the want of confidence generally felt by the labouring class in the tribunals before which most of the disputes affecting their interests were car- ried for adjudication. (3.) That some, moreover, were animated by feelings of hostility towards pelitical and personal opponents, while not a few contemplated the attainment of their ends .by the death or expulsion of the white inhabitants of the island. 3. That though the original design for the overthrow of constituted authority was confined to a small portion of the parish of St. Thomas. iii-the-East, yet that the disorder in fact spread with singular rapidity over an extensive tract of country, and that such was the state of excitement prevailing in other parts of the island that had more than a momentary success been obtained by the in- surgents, their ultimate overthrow would have been attended with a still more fearful loss of life and property. 4. That praise is due to Governor Eyre for the skill, promptitude, and vigour which he manifested during the early stages of the insurrection to the ex- ercise of which qualities its speedy termination is in a great degree to be attributed. 5. That the military and naval operations appear to us to have been prompt and judicious. 6. That by the continuance of martial law in its full force to the extreme limit of its statutory operation the people were deprived for a longer than the necessary period of the great constitutional privi- leges by which the security of life and property is pro- vided for. Lastly. That the punishments inflicted were excessive.—(1.) That the punishment of death was unnecessarily frequent. (2.) That the floggings were reckless, and at Bath positively barbarous. (3.) That the burning of 1,000 houses was wanton and cruel. All which we humbly submit to your Majesty's gracious consideration. (Signed) H. K. STOEKS, Lieut.-General. RUSSELL GURNEY. J. B. MAUIE. Charles S. Eoundell, Secretary, King's-house, Spanish Town, April 9.1886. Mr. Cardwell, in his dispatch, expresses the general concurrence of the Government with the conclusions at which the,Commissioners have arrived. He reviews the circumstances under whioh Governor Eyre main- tained the duration of martial law to its utmost sta- tutory limits, but with the strongest disposition to make every possible allowance for his difficulties he expresses his full agreement with the Commissioners, that by the governor's act the people were deprivsd for a longer period than was necessary of the consti- tutional securities for their lives and property; that convictions were procured on insufficient evidence that the punishment of death was unnecessarily fre- quomt that the floggings were reckless and barbarous, and the burning of houses wanton and cruel. "Her Majesty's Government have arrived at these conclusions with the greatest concern they are desirous of recog- nising every consideration which can extenuate the condemnation it necessarily involves. But their prin- cipal anxiety must be to prevent the recurrence in any future case of proceedings like those which they have disclosed. It appears to them to be evident that even in the first excitement of the disturbances, and still more at some later period, if martial law was to be allowed to continue, instructions ought to have been issued to the officer to whom the actual conduct of the operations was intrusted, which would have rendered such an abuse of power impossible." Her Majesty's Government do not impute to Mr. Eyre any personal cognisance of the severe measures adopted, but, inas- much as it was his bounden duty to restrain them within the narrowest limits, and to inform himself of what was being done, they "cannot hold him irre- sponsible either for the continuance or the excessive severity ct those measures. Of Mr. Gordon's case Mr. Cardwell says that her Majesty's Government concur in the opinion that the evidence on which he was convicted was wholly insufficient to establish the charge on which he took his trial." The proper course would have been to arrest him on considerations i of public safety, and reserve him for trial before a regular tribunal. But his trial by court-martial, and his execution by virtue of the sentence of that court, are events which her Majesty's .Government cannot but deplore and con- demn." Mr. Cardwell states that copies of the Commis- sioners' report, with the evidence, have been communi- eated to the War-office and the Admiralty, who are the proper judges of the conduct of the officers engaged in the recent transactions. Sir Henry Storks is to cause careful investigations to be made in the cases of civilians. "Great offences ought to be punished," and the Queen's Government will rely on the Go- vernor for that purpose, and await his report of what he has done. The dispatch concludes with, the following refeseE.ee to the PoEiliol, 011 Mr. Eyre; — "It will be evident from what I ha,r, e, already said thac her Majesty's Government, while giving to Mr. Eyre full credit for those portions of his conduct to which credit is justly due, are compelled, by the result of your inquiry, to disapprove other portions of that q 10 coEduct.^ They do not fee], therefore, that they should discharge their duty by advising the crown to replace Mr. Eyre in his former government; and they cannot, doubt that, by placing the new form of govern- ment in new hands they are taking the course best calculated to allay animosities, to conciliate general confidence, and to establish on firm, and solid grounds the futiare welfare of Jamaica."

OUR CITyn ARTICLE. WE have again 1:0 notice an improvement in the course of monetary affairs, in spite of the events transpiring on the Continent. The continued in- crease in the reserves of the Bank of England has had the most favourable effect, and prepared the way for a, return of business to its usual channels. Money is to be had on easier terms, advances having been offered occasionally at two or three per cent. below the Bank rate; and although this has not been altered, while we write, the position of the Bank is felt perfectly to warrant a reduc- tion. The return for the week ending Jane 13 showed again a, very large arrival ef gold, the increase m the bullion on the week being £ 1,202,934. Besides the receipts from America, to which so much of this is due, the confidence of our Conti- nental neighbours is returning, and the capital which they so hurriedly withdrew a few weeks back is begining to flow again into this country. The total amount of the bullion in the Bank's coffers at the above date was close upon fourteen millions and a half—equal to the store usually in hand under ordinary and prosperous circumstances, and such an amount as is generally accompanied by a rate of discount of not more than 5 per cent. But the reserve of notes remains very low, notwith- standing an increase of £ 561,925 on the week. The bankers who withdrew so largely from the national establishment at the time of the panic have kept their supplies well in hand, ready to meet any public demand that might arise; and until confi- dence is completely restored the notes will return but slowly. There was a decline of half a million in the other securities held by the Ba.nk, show- ing a corresponding diminution in the pressure for accommodation. On the face of these returns it would appear that the Bank might safely have relaxed its rate when-they were compiled. Many had been looking forward to such an alteration, and disappointment was felt and expressed in these quarters when it was found no change had been made. Terms not very complimentary to the Bank authorities were freely indulged in, fi,S is usually the case under similar circumstances. But it was not very diffi- cult to guess at the real reason of the Bank's in- action, and this was made clear from the reply given by the Chancellor f the Exchequer to Mr. Grant, who interrogated him on the subject in the House of Commons. The simple fact was that the powers granted by the recent Treabury letter, and which, although not exercised, have been a source of strength and confidence to the Bank and all similar institutions, would cease to be in force on the redaction of the Bank rate below 10 per cent. Such a, movement would at once make the Govern- ment note a. dead letter, and therefore it has been delayed. No doubt the delay has caused great inconve- nience in many quarters, for there are few whose margin of profit will perm- iu them. to borrow money for business purposes at the rate of 10 per cent. But there is something more to be regarded than the supply of the temporary wants of commercial men, however important that may be in itself. The credit of the country has to be restored—the confidence and security of our own public to be established. The directors of the Bank of England have doubtless felt it incumbent upon them to retain all available strengthin their hands, not only to meet any further emergency that might possibly arise, but also in order that the establishment may stand in an unimpeachable position before the world. We sometimes, as we have already re- marked, hear the conduct of the directors criticised in very free terms, but it must be remembered that they are responsible not only for the position of the Bank as a bank, but, to a great extent, for the credit of the country with foreign nations. The Bank of England being the national es- tablishment, its affairs are not only of na- tional importance, but also the test and measure of the commercial standing we are to occupy in the eyes of other lands. To have lowered the recent rate prematurely, sacrificing their extra powers, and afterwards, perhaps, to have found themselves compelled to raise it again, and to apply for another Treasury note, would have done more mischief than was caused even by the original panic, and might, indeed, have made matters ten- fold worse than before. Whether the Government were right in affixing at so high a rate the terms on. which extraordinary advances might be made, is an open question. It is considered by many that. the matter should pro- perly have been lej.'t" in the hands of the Bank directors, who certainly have not shown any dis- position to err on the side of laxity. But the right or wrong, the prudence or the reverse, of the Go- vernment restriction can only fairly be judged when the circumstances of the case are recalled, and when it is remembered that the Treasury letter was issued in face of the panic and pressure of Black Friday." Happily the circumstances of the time have since become different. It is not the fault of the speculators that panic has not returned again and again. Their nefarious operations are still pursued, although in some cases they have recoiled upon themselves. At the last settlement it was found that some of the "bears" had been "very hard hit," having to buy up or. borrow the shares they had engaged to deliver, at prices considerably beyond their calcula- tions. They are not likely to suffer without despe- rate efforts to recover their losses, and the public must again be warned against their manoeuvres. One of the latest dodges has been the dispatch of circulars to the shareholders of one of the foremost joint-stock banks, with the intimation, Sell bank shares at oKec. From a Friend." The shareholders in question do not appear to have taken the alarm, but. adopted the most sensible course, by forwarding the documents to the London office, that the senders might be traced, if possible. One of the causes which operated to weaken the position of the discount and banking estab- lishments that have lately fallen, was the recent decision of the Court of Common Pleas, that rail- way companies and similar corporations have no power to accept bills. This decision, in fact, rendered a mass of the securities held by those establishments mere waste paper. We observe that now, in the case of a bill accepted by the International Contract Company, and Negotiated by Overend and Co. the secretary has denied the liability of the company, on the ground of this decision. He pleads in his affidavit almost the very words of Chief Justice Erie, who decided the case; as he maintains that the bill in question is a document altogether foreign to the purposes for which the defendants' company was incorpo- rated and exists, and not within the powers of the company or the directors thereof to make or give, and that, the same does not biad the company or the shareholders thereof." It is somewhat start- ling to find a company pleading thus against their own acceptance, but the law has been distinctly I laid dows, and everyone should knew it.