when they might secure representatives of sound
principles.

From the Revenue Returns to the 15th of October, it
appears that the net produce of the revenue for the
year preceding that date, was £48,743,043; and that for
the year preceding 10th of October 1840, it was
£48,272,335; the increase on the year being £470,708.
For the quarter ending 10th October 1850, the revenue
was £13,192,458; for the corresponding quarter of 1849,
£13,610,561; decrease £418,103. This decrease is
accounted for chiefly by the repeal of the duty on bricks,
which, in the corresponding quarter of 1849, amounted
to £240,000; and by the diminution of £179,719 on the
Stamp duties, owing to two causes. Last year the
discount previously given on receipt and certain other
stamps was reduced, the reduction taking place on
October 10, 1849. This created a great demand
immediately before that date. On the other hand, the new
Stamps act, reducing the duties, has come into operation
this month, and the public have very generally put off
to the new quarter the purchase of stamps for legal
documents.

A return to Parliament just issued contains a list of
Sinecure Benefices in England and Wales, with the
name of the patron and incumbent, and the annual
value and population of each. It appears that there
are fifty-seven sinecure benefices, of which eighteen are
in the diocese of Norwich. The annual value of these
benefices ranges from £10 to £1125. In some of the
places there are no churches, and in others the churches
are in a dilapidated state. The population in some of
the sinecure benefices exceeds one thousand souls.

The Sales of Encumbered Estates were resumed at
Dublin on the 22nd; on which day seven estates were
sold, of the aggregate value of £50,000.

The Committee of Prelates appointed by the Synod of
Thurles to carry into execution the project of establishing
a Catholic University in Ireland, on the model of
the Catholic University at Louvain, have resolved that
regular monthly collections, on the plan of that for the
propagation of the faith, be made throughout the kingdom
by local committees, of which the parochial clergy
are to be ex-officio members. They have published a
long address to the Catholics of Ireland, insisting on the
grave evils to faith and morals of separating religion from
secular education, and calling loudly for support to their
projected establishment.

Mr. Herbert Watkin Williams Wynn has been elected
member for Montgomeryshire, in the room of his uncle,
the late Mr. Charles Watkin Williams Wynn.

On the 4th, Mr. Loftus Wigram was elected member
for the University of Cambridge without opposition, Mr.
Cowling having previously withdrawn from the contest.

Mr. Booker, a protectionist, has been elected member
for the County of Hereford, in the room of the late Mr.
Bailey.

NARRATIVE OF LAW AND CRIME.

Mr. Cureton, of the British Museum, was Robbed and
nearly Murdered in an extraordinary manner on the
20th ult. Mr. Cureton lodges on the second floor of a
house in Aldersgate Street. In the afternoon three
men, fashionably dressed, inquired for him in the lower
part of the house, and were directed to go up-stairs;
they did so, and in about a quarter of an hour descended,
and left the place. A few minutes later, a Mrs. Wilson
took some milk for Mr. Cureton's tea, and on entering
his room she found him extended on the floor, insensible,
his face quite black, and blood flowing from a wound
in his forehead. Seven hours elapsed before Mr. Cureton
was restored to consciousness. He then intimated that
he had been robbed. It seems that the three men
pretended that they wished to purchase a crown-piece of
William and Mary. Mr. Cureton showed them one.
While two of the gang were inspecting it, the third stood
by the door—probably watching if any one ascended the
stairs. Mr. Cureton turned to ask him to be seated; at
that instant an instrument was pressed round his throat,
depriving him of all power; and he was struck a violent
blow over the right eye which made him fall senseless.
Then, it appears, the villains ransacked the place;
carrying off a watch, a diamond pin, a box of cigars, and
old coins worth from £300 to £400 as antiques, but not
so many shillings if melted down for silver. It is
supposed that the vice in which Mr. Cureton's neck was
grasped was formed of two "life-preservers" tied
together at one end. Fortunately the villains missed the
most valuable articles; having overlooked a number of
gold coins while sweeping away the silver ones. Two
rewards were offered for their conviction—£50 by
Government and £50 by Mr. Cureton.—On the 2nd
instant the police produced Henry Denham, a rough-
looking young man, at the Mansion House, and charged
him with having been concerned in the robbery and
outrage. It seems that this person is a thief, and has
been convicted; and the police had received information
that he was one of the robbers. Mrs. Wilson, who lives
in the house where Mr. Cureton lodges, and who
admitted the three men on the 20th of September, stated
that she could not swear to the prisoner, but she believed
that he was the last of the three who entered the house.
The noise of the violence and robbery had attracted the
attention of Mrs. Edwards, who lives in the first floor;
and as Mr. Cureton was usually very quiet, she went to
speak to Mrs. Wilson about the noise, but could not
find her. Mrs. Edwards saw the three ruffians descend
the stairs; but, unfortunately, did not particularly notice
them. Denham protested his innocence, and said he was
an out-patient at St. Thomas's Hospital at the time of the
robbery. He was remanded and brought up for further
examination on the 9th, when he was again remanded for the
production of additional evidence; and the magistrate
directed him to be placed in the infirmary as he
complained of illness. While he was being removed, the
magistrate was informed that a gentleman was in court
who had recognised him as one of a gang who made an
attack on him similar to that which had been made on
Mr. Cureton. The prisoner was again placed at the
bar, and a gentleman presented himself in a state of
great agitation. He stated that his name was Thomas
Miller, a colourman in Longacre; that about a month
ago an attempt was made to rob him as he was returning
home about midnight; he was seized by three or four
men, who caught him round the throat with an instrument
like a walking-stick, made of gut or some pliable
substance; he felt suffocated, and was thrown with
violence on the kerb-stone, one of his teeth being broken
and his chin severely hurt. Alderman Gibbs: Look at
the prisoner at the bar, and say whether you know
anything about him? Witness. I have no hesitation in
saying that the prisoner is one of those who attacked
me. I have a recollection of his face from the strong
reflection from the gas-lamp upon it. My recollection
was so strong that the moment I looked at him at the
bar I was almost ready to sink. The Prisoner. Oh,
Lord! Oh, Lord! how wicked! Alderman Gibbs: Do
you apprehend that he was the man who put the instrument
round your neck? Witness. I do. Alderman
Gibbs: Did you lose any property? Witness. No; my
pockets were tightly buttoned up. I struggled, and
struck one of my assailants, and I think I must have
marked his face with my knuckles. Alderman Gibbs:
How many were at you, to the best of your belief?
Witness. I believe there were three at me, and that
one was on the look out. When I was assaulted, it was
a quarter past twelve o'clock to a moment. The
Prisoner. Oh, it's a cruel thing—a most cruel thing.
No sooner does one charge fail than another wicked
charge is brought on. Oh, I was not out of my bed at
the time he speaks of. I was seriously ill at the time,
and I can prove it. Witness: I wish to see the prisoner
with his hat on his head. The prisoner put on his hat.
Witness (having looked steadfastly at the prisoner). I
cannot alter my opinion as to his identity. The Prisoner:
It was only a few moments ago I had my solicitor here.
Why was not this charge brought forward in his
presence? Oh, you may as well hang a dog as give
him a bad name. I know nothing at all about these
wicked charges. The prisoner was then removed from
the bar. On the 16th Denham was re-examined, and
committed on the charge of assailing Mr. Miller.

A coroner's inquest, held on the 24th of September on
the body of a young man named Stendon, who was found
dead on board the Lady Sale, a merchant brig, when