to a certain extent inconsistent therewith; find that the third charge of the presentment is not proven. But in consideration of the explanations and modifications offered by the respondent in his answers in reference to the first charge; and in consideration, also, that the respondent now only asks toleration for his opinions, and does not claim for them the authority of the Church, or any right to enforce them on those subject to his jurisdiction, we, the College of Bishops, feel that we shall best discharge our duty in this painful case by limiting our sentence to a declaration of censure and admonition; and we do now solemnly admonish, and in all brotherly love entreat, the Bishop of Brechin to be more careful for the future, so that no fresh occasion may be given for trouble and offence, such as has arisen from the delivery and publication of the primary charge to his clergy complained of in the presentment."

15. SHOCKING MORTALITY ON BOARD A TRANSPORT-SHIP. — On the morning of Thursday, the Great Tasmania, transport, arrived at Liverpool from Calcutta. She was known to have on board a large number of troops, and rumours immediately spread throughout the port that she was one vast lazar-house. A steamer was engaged, and the vessel communicated with. When the officials went on board, the ship presented a shocking spectacle. There were, or there had been, within her decks, beside the crew, upwards of 1000 officers and soldiers, with women and children. More than 300 of these unfortunates were in the last stage of prostration from dysentery, scurvy, and fever-reduced to mere skeletons, their VOL. CII.

bones and sinews merely covered with skin, and their faces, pallid and emaciated, more like those of corpses than living beings. About 140 were in such a fearful condition, that had the arrival of the ship been delayed but a few days they must have died. Many of them lay on the bare decks with most scanty covering, others, fortunate enough to be provided with hammocks, lay without any other covering than their ordinary apparel. The stench on the decks was sickening-below, pestilential. Immediate steps were taken to afford relief to the sufferers, and to remove from the ship her plaguestricken freight. A large quantity of beef, bread, and vegetables was sent on board. Spring carts were sent down to the beach to convey the sick to the infirmaries, and sixty rugs. This supply of clothing was insufficient even to cover the unfortunates, many of whom were consequently placed in the carts half naked. One died on the way. He had on nothing but a pair of drawers and a flannel shirt-both saturated with wetand so, it was said, he had lain for weeks exposed to the weather. Three others died before the following night, and three corpses were

removed from the ship. Others died in days or weeks after. How many may be said to have been restored to perma

nent health?

From the evidence of the military officers, it appeared that the troops embarked on board the Great Tasmania consisted of portions of nearly every European regiment in the late East India Company's army. They were all men who had taken share in the "strike," or whatever it may be most properly called, on occasion D

of the transfer of the Company's army to the Crown. The same reckless spirit of insubordination which had characterized this outburst continued to actuate the men when their demands had been, so unexpectedly, acceded to. Many were discharged at distant stations, and the whole course of their march thence to the place of embarkation was a continued alternation of riot and starvation. The condition of those at Calcutta was in no degree better-continued drunkenness and debauchery wasted their constitutions. Thus, this once formidable force, which had broken the strength of the great mutiny, by exertions without a parallel in history, debilitated by exposure and the climate, and now ruined by the wildest excesses, waited for embarkation, spectres of their former selvesbroken-down debauchées. That nothing might be wanting to complete their folly and misery, most of them had bartered their clothes, overcoats, and blankets for the means of low indulgence. The Indian Government, moreover, were placed in a state of great perplexity by having this crowd of nearly 10,000 mutinous soldiers thrown upon their hands. They were bound by their contract to send them home, and it was necessary for safety and decency that they should be got away as soon as possible. But to this end every requisite was wanting. There were neither ships for transport, nor stores suited for the home voyage, nor (what was of vital importance to such a ragged, demoralized, and broken crew,) medicines or medical officers. The Great Tasmania was one of the few vessels available for the service. She had been formerly en

gaged as an emigration ship, and was then licensed to carry 400 passengers; nor was any person allowed to embark who had any contagious or dangerous disease. On board this vessel were now packed more than 1000 adults, all in the lowest physical and moral condition, and without proper clothing, bedding, or covering. There was but one medical officer, aided by a dispenser, on board. The ship sailed from the Hoogley on the 9th November. A fortnight afterwards the beef was found to be bad, and was condemned by a committee of officers and the surgeon. (Indian beef is altogether unsuited for ship purposes.) Next the beer became undrinkable, and was thrown overboard. On the 29th December the biscuit was examined, and found so bad that 36,000 lbs. were condemned; part was thrown overboard and part kept for ballast. In consequence of this deficiency of provisions the floating misery put in to St. Helena, where some fresh provisions were obtained, and the sick somewhat relieved. On the 14th February the water ran short owing to leakage, and the crew, officers, and soldiers were put on short allowance: then the tea and coffee was reduced; then the beer and grog were stopped. Every part of the equipment was bad: the lime-juice-so essential in such a case- -was bad; the pickles and preserved vegetables, invaluable as anti-scorbutics, gave forth an offensive smell.

The consequence of such a state of things to such a crew may be imagined: fever, cholera, dysentery, broke out; the men lost the power, and even the inclination, to assist themselves. At starting every man had his hammock, but

at every muster they were found deficient 50 or 100-the men, in fact, threw them overboard to save themselves the trouble of bringing them up to muster (or perhaps of cleansing them); the decks became foul with all the fœtor of disease; then came scurvy, the terrible consequence of foul air and bad food. During the voyage nearly 500 men were affected, and became so debilitated that they could scarcely be prevailed upon to take food. When the ship put into St. Helena on the 22nd January there had been many deaths; many succumbed to scurvy in February; and when the ship entered the Mersey on the 15th March, the survivors issued from her as the survivors of a plague-stricken city. In all about eighty persons perished on this disastrous voyage.

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16. MURDER AT STAMFORD.An old lady of some property, and eccentric habits, residing at Stamford, has been found murdered, under horrible circumstances. The neighbours observed that the house of the deceased (whose name was Elizabeth Pulley) had not been opened for two days, and this circumstance giving rise to alarm, notice was given to the police, who, with a clerk to the deceased's solicitor, proceeded to the house. The front door was locked; but by scaling the garden wall entrance was gained to the house by the back-door, which was found open. On entering the kitchen, the body of Miss Pulley was found lying on the hearthstone in front of the fire-place. The deceased was fully dressed, a small bonnet lay against the head, and by her left side, between the body and the fireplace, was an upright brass candlestick, which seemed to have fallen from her hand. The clothes were

partly burnt off, and the body was also much injured by fire. Materials for fire were arranged in the grate; but they had not been lighted. The various articles about the room did not appear to have been disarranged. In the breakfast-room, opposite the kitchen, there was on the table a bottle containing sherry, with a wine-glass, which had been used, by the side of it. About three glasses of wine had been taken from the bottle. The other rooms in the house presented no noticeable indications, though some drawers appeared to be in a confused and tumbled state. The observation of the examiners does not seem to have been very acute, for, notwithstanding some circumstances which should have aroused suspicion, they came to the conclusion that either the deceased had had a fit, and, in falling, had set her clothes on fire, or that she had accidentally set her clothes on fire and been burnt to death.

When, however, inquiries were made into the deceased's effects, a cheque for upwards of 5001., and another for 1161. 16s. 6d., were missed; next, it was found that some jewellery, which the deceased was known to wear, was gone. Indications of violence appeared on a diligent search. What was thought a human bone, but proved to be a tooth, with human hair adhering to it, was found among the ashes; then pieces of burnt cord; and then it was found that all the plate, of which the deceased was known to possess a quantity, had disappeared; and also her desk, in which she was accustomed to keep small articles of value. It was now thought that she had been murdered, and that the murderer, after plundering the house, had set fire to her clothes, pos

sibly hoping that the destruction of the house would conceal his crime.

There was a cabinet-maker in Stamford named Corby. On the very day on which the body of the deceased was found, Corby's workmen observed on a shelf in the workshop a rose-wood writing-desk, with brass binding. Curiosity induced the men to examine the desk. Besides the usual contents of a desk, there were found in this, six gold mourning-rings, one inscribed "Thomas Pulley," another "Elizabeth Pulley;" a large gold coin, a large silver coin, numerous other remarkable coins of gold and silver, wedding and guard rings, and other articles, all of which were recognized as having been in the possession of Miss Pulley. There were also two gilt china ornaments, part of the deceased's furniture, on the same shelf. The men replaced the desk; and Corby came in soon after. He took down the desk, and took it away, with the observation, "These ought to have gone home; they have no business here." The china ornaments disappeared before the following morning. On searching his house, after Corby had been taken into custody, the police found the lock, screws, escocheon, and the ornamental brass of a writing-desk in the ashes of a fire in Corby's shop. Various other small articles which had belonged to the deceased were also found. The workmen talked about what they had seen, and Corby was arrested. The larger of the two cheques had been found on a renewed search, in the deceased's house, and that for 1167. 16s. Id. was found to have been presented by Miss Pulley herself at the Stamford bank. She

received in payment one 107. note issued by the bank, and the rest in coin. No such sum of money was found in the house; but Corby had paid some arrears of rent with such a note. It was found also that Corby had given to a woman a pair of boots, which were identified as a pair which had been sold by the maker to Miss Pulley.

The inquiries into the perpetration and circumstances of so terrible a crime were protracted to a great length, and every result tended to prove conclusively that Corby was the murderer, and that he had committed the crime on the night of the 16th March. All speculation on the subject was, however, cut short by the determined suicide of the accused. He was confined in a cell in Stamford gaol, and, having conducted himself quietly, was subjected to no special surveillance. On the morning of the 19th of April-an exact month after the discovery of Miss Pulley's corpse-it was discovered that he had hanged himself. He had torn a strip about a foot in width from one of his sheets, and having twisted it into a kind of rope, had attached one end to an iron stancheon of the window (which he had opened for the purpose), the other end he had tied securely round his neck, with the knot under his left ear. He had then climbed into a window-seat and thrown himself thence. Although it is probable that his death must have been very gradual, there was no appearance of any struggle, and a turnkey who slept in an adjoining cell had heard no noise. He had written on the cell slate a letter to his wife and children, which contained neither an admission nor denial of his guilt.

About a month after this, a