If I may ask, what's the meaning of the phrase "..There are two exhibitions at Exeter College, Oxford, attached to the Truro [school]" Would these be some sort of scholarships? Julia ................................................................................................. WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER 12 December, 1856 . A CHRISTMAS TREE AND MAGIC LANTERN . Will be exhibited on the 23rd instant, at the Polytechnic Hall, Falmouth, in aid of the fund of the Scripture reader's Society. The doors to open at Four p.m. . Admission to Christmas Tree, 6d., to Magic Lantern, 3d. . . . . . . . A BALL Will be given at the GUILDHALL, Bodmin, in aid of the FUNDS of the East Cornwall Hospital, on Tuesday the 23rd of December, 1856. . Lady Patronesses, Right Hon. Lady VIVIAN..............Lady ONSLOW The Hon. Mrs. BRUNE.................Mrs. AGAR ROBARTES Mrs. GRAVES SAWLE...................Mrs. GILBERT Mrs. PEARD Stewards The Worshipful the Mayor of Bodmin The Right Honourable Lord VIVIAN Sir Henry ONSLOW, Bart. T.J. AGAR ROBARTES, Esq., M.P, W. MICHELL, Esq., M.P. C.B. GRAVES SAWLE, Esq., M.P. C.G. PRIDEAUX BRUNE, Esq. Edward COLLINS, Esq. Colonel GILBERT Captain PEARD, R.C.R. Captain WYMOND HAMLEY, R.N. Lieut. LIDDELL, R.N. Lieut. NORWAY, R.N. . Dancing to commence at Nine o'clock Ladies' Tickets..........5s///Gentlemen's Tickets........6s. Tickets to be procured at Messrs. LIDDELL's LIBRARY, and at OLIVER's Royal Hotel. Dated Bodmin, December 10th, 1856 . . . . . . . ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF CORNWALL The TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Members of this Society, for the Election of Officers, &c., for the ensuing year, will be held at the Horticultural Room, at the Royal Institution, Truro, on Monday the 15th day of December instant, at Noon. . . . . . . ORANGES FOR SALE A Cargo of ORANGES of fine quality from Figueira, arrived at Falmouth. For particulars, apply to G.C. And R.W. Fox, and Co., Falmouth. Falmouth, 9th of 12th Month, 1856 . . . . . . TRURO GRAMMAR SCHOOL HEAD MASTER - CHARLES DURNFORD NEWMAN, M.A. WADHAM COLLEGE, OXFORD Terms for Boarders, 40 Guineas Per Annum . Boys at this School are prepared for the Public Schools and Universities, for the Naval, Military, and other Professions, and for Commercial pursuits. . The regular course of Instruction includes the Classics, Mathematics, French, and the various branches of a sound English Education. All studies are under the immediate Superintendence of the Head Master, who took honours at Oxford in Classics and Mathematics, and who has had more than twelve years' experience in the management of a school. . Drawing, Music, Dancing, and Drilling on moderate terms. . The climate of Truro is very mild and salubrious, and is well suited to persons of delicate constitutions. The greatest attention is paid by Mr. and Mrs. Newman to the comfort and health of the Boarders, who enjoy, at a remarkably cheap rate, the advantages of residence in a private family, together with those of a good Grammar School. . There are two exhibitions at Exeter College, Oxford, attached to the Truro Grammar School, of the annual value of GBP 30 each, open to all (boarders as well as day boys) who have been at the school for three years. . A quarter's notice is required before the removal of a pupil. The school will RE-OPEN after the Christmas vacation on Monday February 2nd. . Further particulars may be known on application to the Head Master; or to Mrs. Heard and Sons, Booksellers, Truro. . . . . . . LOCAL INTELLIGENCE . CALLINGTON - An amateur concert was given at Golding's Assembly-room, for the benefit of the Reading-rooms, on Tuesday last, which was fashionably and fully attended. The amateurs of the town were assisted by the Liskeard Glee and Madrigal Union, and by some gentlemen of Launceston and Landulph. The pieces performed, both vocal and instrumental, elicited much applause, and several of them were heartily encored and kindly responded to. . ST. JUST INSTITUTION - On Monday last, an admirable lecture "On the Writings of Quarles" was delivered at this institution by Mr. R. BOYNS, jun. . TRURO TOWN COUNCIL - A meeting of the council took place on Tuesday last, when there were present the Mayor, Mr. E. MICHELL, and Messrs. CHAPPEL, ROUSE, JOB, PASCOE, THOMAS, HALL, HEARD, PASSINGHAM, BARLOW, UGLOW, CLYMA, STOKES, GATLEY, S.T. WILLIAMS, SOLOMON, and SPRY. (part cut out as boring - regarding a donated clock) . The council next resolved itself into a watch committee for police matters; when it was proposed that WOOLCOCK, who had been in the force seventeen years, with only one complaint alleged against him during that time, should be made a sergeant, and his pay increased from 14s. to 18s.6d. per week; that police constables PAPPIN and GAY should have their pay increased to 16s.6d. per week each; and that the pay of the superintendent, Mr. NASH, should be increased to 31s.6d. per week; also that the two policemen then to be appointed should receive 14s.6d. per week for the first twelvemonths, and 16s.6d. per week afterwards; and that all the police should allow 6d. a week out of their pay to form a fund applicable in cases of sickness, or of any of the force being disabled. . This proposition was moved by Mr. Stokes, and seconded by Mr. Spry. Mr. Heard moved the following amendment: That in the present embarrassed state of the revenues of the council, it is most improper to charge the town funds with any further increased fixed salaries; but there being no seconder, the amendment fell to the ground. A division was then taken on the original motion, when there voted for it Messrs. Rouse, Job, Pascoe, Thomas, Hall, Passingham, Barlow, Uglow, Clyma, Gatley, Stokes, S.T. Williams, and Spry; against it, Messrs. Chappel and Heard; Mr. Solomon did not vote. . William MARTIN, of St. Cleer, and George BIDDICK, of Probus, were then elected policemen in the place of PRATER, who has been appointed to Falmouth, and VINCENT, who was dismissed. . In the course of the meeting a long conversation took place in reference to the clauses in the police act relating to the superannuation fund; eventually it was thought desirable that the matter should be deferred till a future meeting. . APPOINTMENT - We observe that Mr. Edwyn ANDREW, M.B., son of Mr. B. ANDREW, of St. Austell, is the successful candidate for the post of assistant-surgeon to St. Pancras Infirmary, and has had the honour to be elected without one dissentient vote. We understand that this is a position of considerable responsibility, as well as a wide field for experience, there being little less than four hundred beds. . THE CUSTOMS - Mr. Richard GILL, of Penryn, has been appointed extra clerk to the customs of London, and has passed the usual examination. . DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN - On Monday last the death of Mrs. Elizabeth CURGENVEN took place at her residence in Lemon-street, Truro. She was born on the 1st of May, 1752, and consequently at the time of her death was in her 105th year. She was eight years old at the time of the death of George the Second, and has therefore lived in five reigns of the Sovereigns of England, and through a period of vast changes and events of momentous historical importance in the world's history. Mrs. Curgenven was the widow of a naval officer, Capt. Curgenven, and was sister of the late Rev. J. POMERY, vicar of St. Kew, in this county. We are informed that although she had arrived at this extraordinary age, she retained the unclouded use of her intellect and faculties until the day of her death. . COMPLAINT OF A ST.AUSTELL BUTCHER - We stated that last week, Mr. Richard WILLIAMS, butcher, of St. Austell, was fined at the petty sessions 10s. for persisting, after several warnings, in hanging meat outside his door on market days. Mr. Williams now writes us a letter, admitting that he was fined, but stating that the place in question is within the boundary of his shop front, and that there is a strong feeling expressed by the respectable inhabitants of the town in his behalf. He says,"I am a native of this town, of the age of fifty-three, and have been a butcher about thirty-four or thirty-five years, have kept a shop for that business during nearly the whole of those years, and have exposed goods for sale during that time in a much worse way than on this occasion."] . He states that other shopkeepers are allowed to hang out what they please; that he called three respectable witnesses to testify that in his case it was no encroachment on the footpath or any nuisance, there being a policeman's word on the contrary side; and he encloses in his letter a very small crook which he says is one of those he hangs meat to. He complains that there is an animus against him with certain persons, and that he was consequently fined and published in the West Briton. . We know nothing of the actual merits of Mr. Williams's case; but the presumption is that the magistrates would fully inquire into it, and decide according to the best of their judgment. . FALMOUTH POLICE - On Wednesday, before the Mayor Mr. S. BLIGHT, and Messrs. CARNE and ELLIS, magistrates, Amelia PEARCE was charged with being drunk and fighting with another woman, for which she was sentenced to a month's imprisonment in the borough jail. . Richard SMITH, belonging to the "British Queen," was charged with an assault, but the complainant not appearing, Smith was discharged. . Two sailors, called Thomas PEARCE and Frederick OLIVER, were taken to the lock-up for creating a disturbance in the street, and damaging goods in the window of Mr. GENN, jeweller. They compromised the matter by paying GBP 2.15s.for the damage; Mr. Genn did not press the charge. . THE ST. AUSTELL POLICE - We have received the following in reference to the police of this town: . "Sir, A letter having appeared in your paper of the 28th ult., in which it is stated that the policemen can never be found when they are wanted, except at some petty quarrel or a public-house, this charge is grossly false, as well as the malicious charges made against them respecting their conduct on the 5th of November last. I hope after this, that "Pro Bono Publico" will be sufficiently honest not to withhold his name, unless his object is to do the policemen an injury just at this time when the New Police Act is about to come into operation. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN WESTLAKE, one of the Policemen of St. Austell." . STEALING FROM A PAWNBROKER - On Tuesday last, a woman named Betsey FRANCIS, was committed on a charge of stealing a coat from a pawnbroker's shop at Redruth. She took the coat from the shelf where it had been placed, while the pawnbroker turned his back to write the ticket, and immediately took it to another pawnbroker's, and pawned it, where it was discovered by the police. . AN EXPERT THIEF - On Monday last, a woman named Elizabeth CHAMPION, living at Camborne, was committed to Bodmin by Mr. J.P. MAGOR, county magistrate, on a charge of stealing a silk handkerchief from Mr. COCKING, of Redruth. On the prisoner's lodgings being searched, a large quantity of wearing apparel of every description was found in her possession, including silk dresses, bonnets, ribbons, shawls, stockings, mantles, broadcloth and clogs, with a host of other articles, many of which have been identified by the shopkeepers of Redruth. . CHARGE OF STEALING TIN - At the West Penwith Petty Sessions, on the 3rd instant, before Colonel SCOBELL, Mr. D.P. LeGRICE, and Mr. T.S. BOLITHO, a charge was preferred by Edward HARVEY, of St. Just in Penwith, against John THOMAS, stamps foreman, William WATTERS, John ROWE, William CASLEY, and James TASKUS, miners, for stealing 14 cwt. of tin, his property, on the 22nd of November. Mr. DOWNING of Redruth appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr. MILLETT for the defendants. . As there was no evidence against Taskus, he was discharged. . Edward HARVEY stated that he streamed a river belonging to Mr. WARREN, of Tregeseal, in St. Just; he did so under a written grant from Warren dated April 7th. On the 2nd of last May he received a notice from Warren that he was no longer to stream in that river. He had then about sixty sacks in his working house, and notwithstanding the notice, he went on working till September, Warren not endeavouring to prevent him. . Mr. Bennett owns stamps at Pendeen, and witness took the tin to John Thomas, the foreman of the stamps, to be dressed. The tin, it appeared from further evidence, was afterwards removed. After several witnesses had been called for prosecutor, Mr. Millett said it was a case of disputed ownership of the tin, and he called John BENNETT, the lessee of the stamps under Mr. John BORLASE. He said that in consequence of a notice from Warren that the tin in question had been illegally moved from his estate at Tregeseal, he gave directions that it should not be given up. . On the 16th or 17th of November, his foreman, Thomas, told him that Harvey had been over and taken away the whole of the tin then dressed, 5 or 6 cwt., and he told Thomas they should want assistance to secure the tin for Warren. . On cross-examination by Mr. Downing, the witness said the notice by Warren was given him at Hemmings's Three Tuns Inn; Messrs. S.H. JAMES, R.V. DAVY, J. BOYNE, S. HIGGS, and W. BORLASE were there. Witness informed Harvey that the tin was to be removed to Penzance. He declined to answer some of the questions, but he said persons told him the tin was to be safely lodged at Mr. Davy's. . Mr. Millett declined calling any of the other witnesses in attendance. Mr. Downing, in his speech, threatened to indict certain pursers, &c., for conspiracy. The magistrates committed the four defendants for trial at the next assizes; they were bailed by Mr. W. BALL and J.B. COULSON in GBP 100 each. . FIRE NEAR LAUNCESTON - On Thursday the 4th inst., a fire broke out on Tiphill farm, near Druselton, about three miles from Launceston. It threatened to be very destructive in its consequences, as there were several mows of good corn on the farm and near it. Much damage was, however, done, not to the the corn, but to the house at Tiphill, and the adjoining one belonging to Mr. BANBURY. Both were literally burnt to the ground. . It seems almost miraculous that not one ear of corn was touched; but this, in a great measure, was owing to the wind. By great exertion, the flames were overcome; but not till the abovementioned damage had been done. No injuries of a personal nature have been sustained; and it is hoped that no cattle have met with any injury. The fire caused considerable alarm. It is said to have originated with the flue of Tiphill house catching fire. . MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT - Intelligence has been received that Mr. John HICHENS, assistant-surgeon of H.M. Steamer, "Sphinx," and son of Mr. John HICHENS of Redruth, was drowned in the Bay of Buhtri, in the Bosphorus, on the 6th ult. He went on shore to spend the day at a village in company with the purser. They dined together, but afterwards separated, and the purser returned to the ship. Mr. Hichens was seen on the quay in the evening, waiting to go on board. Nothing more was known of him till six days afterwards, when his body was found drowned, with the money he had in his pocket. The night was very boisterous and it is supposed a gust of wind swept him off the quay when no one was near to assist. . Before going to the Black Sea, he had been in the Baltic, and was present at the assault of Bomarsund, and at most of the naval attacks on Sebastopol, Eupatoria, Kinburn, Kertch, &c. He was twenty-five years of age, and his parents were anticipating the pleasure of seeing him after a long separation, when the afflicting intelligence arrived of his death. . FATAL ACCIDENT - An accident, terminating fatally, occurred on Saturday morning last at Tregolls, the residence of Sir Samuel SPRY, near Truro. Masons were employed there, and scaffolding erected, but it appears not securely. The men had returned from their breakfast, when on mounting the scaffold, a portion of it gave way; through which a mason called George HALSE, a youth named ALLEN, son of Joseph ALLEN, carrier, and a lad named TRENERRY, son of David TRENERRY, a mason, were precipitated to the ground from the height of between thirty and forty feet. Another man called DUNN, a carpenter, who was on the scaffolding at the same time, saved himself by laying hold of a pole. . The mason, George Halse, had his thigh and several ribs broken, besides internal injuries. The two lads also were thought at the time to be seriously injured, but we have since been informed that they are not very much hurt. Halse was at once taken to the Royal Cornwall Infirmary, where he died on Wednesday morning last. It is stated that the mason, Trenerry, before he left the place that morning to go into Truro, had cautioned the others not to go upon the scaffold until it was better secured. An inquest was held on the body of George Halse, before Mr. J. CARLYON, on Wednesday, when a verdict of "accidental death" was returned. . COMMITTAL FOR MURDER AT SEA [condensed] During a S.W. Gale on Sunday night last, the "Mars." from Dundee, Capt. James BURN, master, arrived at Mount's Bay, having been nearly nine weeks out from Cuba. The brig was laden with rum and sugar, and was leaky. She stood off and on in a very critical position, and in imminent danger, a Mousehole boat with branch pilots named PERRACK and HARVEY went off, and succeeded in boarding the brig, and in bringing her safely into the harbour on Monday. . A rumour soon spread that the captain had ill-treated a boy on the homeward voyage; and on Tuesday an information was laid against the captain by some of the crew, and he was taken into custody. . The first witness called was the mate of the vessel, John BLAIR, of Dundee, who stated they sailed from Dundee on the 5th of April last, and put into Lowestoffe about the 20th of May, and there took on board the boy ROBERT BEERCROFT, who was about fourteen years of age, and healthy, although not strong. . The ship arrived at Guatemala on the 14th of August. The boy was of good character, and was very well treated by all hands on the voyage out. He was a little backward in his work at times. They left Cuba the 9th of October on their homeward voyage. The boy had been ill in St. Jago for a short time, but he had taken some medicine from the captain and was well again. . Five days out, he complained of a headache, and could not do his work. He did it as well as he could because the captain called him out to do it, and if he did not get along the captain would give him a wallopping. He beat him five or six times on different days, with a bit of rope's end. The captain gave him a dose of salts and two doses of caster oil during the days he beat him. He had the second dose of castor oil on the 21st October, and the boy then said to the captain, in my presence, that he had eaten nothing for four days. . [About five or six o'clock, the boy brought a lamp up to James ALDRIDGE, the man at the helm, who then lighted it. At that time, the captain called the boy down to wipe up some oil the boy had spilled while trying to light the lamp. The boy was then beaten, and when he came on deck said he could not go down again. The captain called several times for the boy, but did not hear what the mate told him. The captain told the mate to beat the boy, and the mate refused. The captain then called the boy to bring him tea, and the boy called down the companion that he was not able to do so. The captain was about as far from the boy as the mate was, and so should have heard him. . The mate carried down the meat himself and put it on the table, believing the boy was incapacitated. The captain said "let the boy do it." He had been drinking. . The mate carried down the tea. The captain then went to the deck and beat the boy with a rope - a bit of rattling line, about his sides.] . I called out, "do not strike the boy any more; he is not able." The boy said, "I must die." John DAVIDSON, the man at the wheel, helped him to his berth. I saw no more of him until half-past seven the next morning, when I saw him lying on his face, dead. The body was stiff, and one side of his head was all blue in a solid mass; his legs were blue in stripes, and his sides and body blue and red. He had nothing but his shirt on. There was blood in his mouth. The captain was there, and I said "the body is in an awful mess." The captain said "so he is." He then told me to sew him up in some canvas, which I did, and at noon the body was put over the side with a piece of chain attached to it. . James ALDRIDGE, the cook, said the boy was well when they left Cuba early in October. About nine or ten days afterwards, he complained of a sick headache; I could see that he was very ill. During the voyage out, and until his death, he was cruelly used by the master. I have heard his cries in the cabin, when there was no one there but the captain and the boy. . On the day before his death the boy said to me he had eaten nothing for four days. [He confirmed the evidence given by the mate, about the extended beating given the boy just before his death, and confirmed the captain had been drinking, but might not be considered completely drunken. When the boy protested that he could not get the grinding stone from beneath the long-boat, and asked the cook to do so, the captain said "d..n your eyes, you are better able to get about the decks than I am, you had better jump overboard." Heard the captain tell the mate to beat the boy, and heard the mate refuse. When the captain called the boy into the cabin, heard the boy screaming, but did not hear what was said because of the wind blowing hard. The captain kept a piece of tarry rope, about an inch and a half round and two and a half or three feet long, in the cabin for the purpose of beating the boy. The captain would send the boy into the cabin for this piece of tarry rope, for the capta! in to beat him with.] . Four seamen on board were called who gave evidence in corroboration of the preceding. John DAVISON gave the most compelling testimony, citing the boy could not walk, nor go down the companion ladder after being beaten by the captain. The captain was drunk at the time. James DRYDEN said he saw marks on the boy's body, as if by a rope. He found the boy lying half in and half out of the roundhouse; the boy said he had been beaten by the captain, and that he wanted to be laid out on the deck for fresh air. It was raining. He had no coat, and his drawers were hanging over his legs; he could not bend his legs. As it was raining, Dryden decided to put the boy in his berth. The boy had lost all feeling and control of his legs, and could not lie on his right side or back because of wounds. . He said to the boy, "you are dying." The boy replied, "yes, Jim, I'm dying, but the master won't let me lie long." I told him to lie still, and said I would have the captain punished when I got to England. The boy said, "you will - you won't forget to have him punished when you get home." . I left him in his berth, and the next morning saw him dead. That night we secured some casks that had got adrift; the captain was then intoxicated. He was a fine boy, and civil to the master and the ship's company. . John SOMERVILLE and William ANDERSON gave corroborating evidence, after which the depositions were read over and signed, and the charge was altered from one of beating and ill-usage to a charge of murder. On Wednesday the prisoner was brought to Truro, and lodged in the borough gaol, and on Thursday he was conveyed to the county prison at Bodmin, to await his trial. . ADMIRALTY COURT (Before Dr. Lushington) This was a suit promoted by Mr. R. NEWMAN, of St. Mary's, Scilly, against Mr. R.C. VENN, of Port Adelaide, to obtain possession of the brig "Empress" of the burden of 257 tons. . Mr. Newman alleged that he purchased her in the early part of the year 1847 of Mr. GREENWELL, of Sunderland, for the sum of GBP 2,700; that, having duly obtained a British register, he navigated her to the Mediterranean; that in July, 1850, he appointed his son as her master, who in December, 1851, sailed from London with a general cargo of merchandise bound for Algoa Bay, and thence on a trading voyage as to the master should seem most advantageous for her owner's interest; that the brig never again returned to England until she arrived in London on the 5th of July, 1855, when she came in charge of Mr. WOODWARD, as master, and the plaintiff arrested her. . Mr. Venn, in his answer, stated that in February, 1853, having been informed of the arrival of the brig in Port Adelaide, and, being desirous of purchasing a vessel of her description, he obtained an interview with the master, who represented that he was Richard NEWMAN, and that he was sole owner. Mr. Venn agreed or purchase her for GBP 2,000, and on the certificate of registry being produced, which described Richard Newman the master and sole owner as being one and the same person, a bill of sale was drawn up, and, on the money being paid, duly executed. Upon the completion of the purchase the certificate of registry and also the bill of sale were produced, and delivered to the authorities of the custom-house at Port Adelaide for the purpose of her being registered de novo. The authorities, having inspected the same, granted a new certificate of registry. . Shortly after the sale, Richard Newman purchased another vessel at Port Adelaide, and for upwards of 5[?] years traded therewith to various places in that locality. . After Mr. Venn had purchased the "Empress," she made several intermediate voyages, and in February, 1855, sailed for London. The cargo having been discharged and the crew paid, she was arrested. Mr. Newman, sen., on one occasion, saw Mr. Woodward, to whom he admitted, as alleged by Mr. Venn, that he had authorized his son to sell the vessel, but as he had never sent him the money, he meant to have the ship again. That was the first time that any intimation was given that Richard Newman, the sole owner, and Richard Newman, the master, were not one and the same person. . Mr. Venn submitted that Mr. Newman, sen., having omitted to have the name of his son duly endorsed on the ship's certificate as master, was wholly answerable for the consequences of such neglect, and could not now claim possession of the brig; that after her purchase, her various sailings and arrivals were duly advertised, but Mr. Newman, sen., took no steps to assert his pretended claim, which he might have done by communicating with his agents in Australia and elsewhere. . Dr. ADDAMS was heard for Newman; the Queen's Advocate and Dr. DEANE for Mr. Venn. . The court reserved its judgment on the first hearing, which was on the 28th of November, but a decision has since been given favourable to Capt. Newman, as the following report, which appeared in Saturday's London paper, shews: The Empress - Possession - Sentence -. . The question that arose in this case was whether Mr. Richard Newman, of St. Mary's, Scilly, had given his son, Mr. Richard Newman, jun., power to sell the vessel to the party proceeded against, Mr. R.C. Venn, of Adelaide, in Australia, who had given him GBP 2,000 for her. Dr. Lushington said the sale had been brought about by the fraudulent representations of Richard Newman, jun., that he was the owner of the vessel. It was, in fact, a sale effected by forgery and fraud, and such a sale could never divest the original owner of his title. It was no doubt a great misfortune to Mr. Venn to have parted with his money; that was a misfortune to which all persons were liable who became the victim of forgery and fraud. The court must decree possession to Mr. Newman, sen., but it was certainly not a case for costs.