insurances by the desire of William Milne. He was not sure if he had the policies. There were three of these, all effected at Peterhead. He did not know the terms of the policies. He did not know that the sums insured were made payable to him on the death of M'Donald. He did not expect to get the sum insured by these policies on M'Donald's death in consequence of his death happening as it did-viz. as he believed, by his own hand. He had the remains of an old pistol at home; he broke it about four months ago, in consequence of having let it fall; it was smaller than the one found near the body. He had no gunpowder, nor bullets, nor moulds for the latter in his possession.

In the second declaration, dated 24th of November, prisoner further stated that he purchased a pistol in Peterhead two years ago, and that he had it repaired by Murison. Having been shown a parcel of gunpowder, he stated that he now recollected that he had a small parcel of gunpowder purchased from M'Leod, the merchant, to make up some ointment for a girl named Reid. He had not opened the parcel; he purchased it on Friday last from M'Leod. He had not used any of that gunpowder, although he used a good deal in making ointment for his patients. A fortnight ago the girl Reid got some ointment from him made up with gunpowder. In a third declaration, dated 1st of December, prisoner adhered to his former statements, adding that he did not hear the report of a shot on the Friday evening, and that he did not give any paper to M'Donald on the Monday, when he met him coming from Peterhead.

The following evidence was then given in exculpation:

The Rev. James Robertson, minister of St. Fergus, deposed to the prisoner being in the manse between 6 and 7 on the Saturday evening, and staying a considerable time.

Martha Cadger, servant to prisoner, remembered his going out to the manse, and coming in about half-past 7. Witness had occasion to look at the clock to see if it was time to feed the pig, when it was between 25 minutes past 7 and the half hour, and Dr. Smith immediately came in. He went out again in about 10 minutes. She went out after him, and on going to feed the pig saw him come from the stable with a spade in his hand, with which he went round to the front garden. Witness found some dahlia roots next morning lying in a box in the garden. This box had been in the house on the Saturday.

Mr. Adam Gray, brother of the Provost of Peterhead, deposed to selling a pistol to William M'Donald in September, 1848, for which he paid him 4s. 6d. Witness had previously had the pistol for five years. On being shown the pistol he deposed it was his firm belief that it was the pistol sold by him to the deceased. He recognised it by the notch that was on it. There was a notch on the iron that was not on the pistol when he sold it, but it might have been put on after. It might not be the same pistol, but the characteristics were the same as those of the pistol he sold to M'Donald.

The evidence having been completed, the Solicitor-General for the Crown, and the Dean of Faculty for the prisoner, summed up and commented upon the deposi

tions, according to the Scotch form of procedure; the former endeavouring to show that the death of the deceased was not caused by his own hand, that the prisoner had ample motives to the deed, and that the short distance of the spot where the body was found from the places where the prisoner had called that evening, rendered the question of time of little importance; the latter admitted the existence of motives, but argued that the prisoner, if he really had perpetrated the crime, must have contemplated it before he effected the insurances, which the evidence circumstantially disproved; that there was not the slightest evidence, direct or circumstantial, to connect the prisoner with the deed.

The Lord Justice Clerk, in charging the jury, said if this were a case of murder, according to the indictment, it was certainly the most atrocious one that was ever brought before that Court. At an early period of the trial, however, he had taken up the im

pression that, unless there were more evidence brought than appeared likely, there was not enough to infer the guilt of the prisoner or to substantiate the fact that a murder had been committed. Since hearing the whole case, that impression had been strengthened and confirmed. He, however, could not relieve them from the responsibility of judging of the case for themselves, and they would, therefore, form their own opinion on the evidence, and return their verdict accordingly.

The Jury, after an absence of about 10 minutes, returned into court with a verdict of "Not Proven," by a majority.

The Lord Justice Clerk asked whether the difference of opinion was as to "Not Proven" or "Not Guilty?" to which the Foreman replied that it was between "Guilty" and "Not Proven."

The verdict was heard with much indignation by the persons in and about the court, and the accused was conducted from the court with difficulty.

PUBLIC GENERAL ACTS.

I. AN Act to explain and amend an Act

of the last Session relating to the Duties of Assessed Taxes, and to authorise Justices of the Peace in Ireland to administer Oaths required in Matters relating to Income Tax.

II. An Act to apply the Sum of Eight
Millions out of the Consolidated Fund
to the Service of the Year One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.
III. An Act for raising the Sum of One
million seven hundred and fifty thousand
Pounds by Exchequer Bills, for the Ser-
vice of the Year One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.

IV. An Act for punishing Mutiny and
Desertion, and for the better Payment
of the Army and their Quarters.
V. An Act to admit Foreign Ships to the
Coasting Trade.

VI. An Act for the Regulation of her
Majesty's Royal Marine Forces while on

shore.

VII. An Act for extending the Time limited for putting into execution the Act of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Years of her present Majesty, for the better Management and Control of Highways in South Wales.

VIII. An Act further to amend an Act relating to the Valuation of rateable Property in Ireland.

IX. An Act to authorise the Inclosure of certain Lands in pursuance of a Report of the Inclosure Commissioners for England and Wales.

X. An Act for granting to her Majesty additional Duties on Profits arising from Property, Professions, Trades, and Offices.

XI. An Act to amend the Laws relating to Ministers' Money, and the Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act.

XII. An Act for raising the sum of Sixteen millions twenty-four thousand one hundred Pounds by Exchequer Bills, for the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four. XIII. An Act to amend the Acts relating to the Militia of the United Kingdom. XIV. An Act to continue her Majesty's

Commission for building new Churches. XV. An Act to empower the Commissioners of the Admiralty to construct a Tunnel between her Majesty's Dockyard at Devonport and her Majesty's Steam Factory Yard at Keyham, and to acquire certain Property for her Majesty's Service.

XVI. An Act to amend the Act of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Victoria, Chapter Sixty-one, and the Act of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Victoria, Chapter Fifty-four.

XVII. An Act to make further Provision for defining the Boundaries of Counties, Baronies, Half Baronies, Parishes, Town Lands, and other Divisions and Denominations of Land in Ireland for Public Purposes.

XVIII. An Act for the Encouragement of Seamen and the more effectual Manning of her Majesty's Navy during the present War. XIX. An Act for facilitating the Payment of her Majesty's Navy, and the Payment and Distribution of Prize, Bounty, Salvage, and other Monies to and amongst the Officers and Crews of her Majesty's Ships and Vessels of War; and for the better Regulation of the Accounts relating thereto.

XX. An Act to repeal an Act of the Fiftythird Year of King George the Third, Chapter Seventy-two, and an Act of the Eighth Year of her present Majesty, Chapter Twenty-one; and for making Provision for the Appointment and for

Remuneration of a Stipendiary Justice for the Division of Manchester in the County of Lancaster, and of Clerks to such Justice and the Justices for the Borough of Salford; and for other Purposes.

XXI. An Act to apply the Sum of Eight Millions out of the Consolidated Fund to the Service of the Year One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four. XXII. An Act to enable the Collector General of Dublin to levy Money to repay a certain Outlay by the Corporation for preserving and improving the Port of Dublin in and about repairing the Quay Wall of the River Liffey, and for future Repairs thereof, and for repairing and rebuilding Bridges over the said River. XXIII. An Act for raising the Sum of

Six Millions by Exchequer Bonds and Exchequer Bills.

XXIV. An Act for granting to her Majesty an increased Rate of Duty on Profits arising from Property, Professions, Trades, and Offices. XXV. An Act to amend the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1852. XXVI. An Act to assimilate the Law and Practice existing in Cases of High Treason in Ireland to the Law and Practice existing in Cases of High Treason in England.

XXVII. An Act for granting certain ad

ditional Rates and Duties of Excise. XXVIII. An Act to alter and amend certain Duties of Customs. XXIX. An Act to alter the Duties of Customs on Sugar, Molasses, and Spirits. XXX. An Act for granting certain Duties of Excise on Sugar made in the United Kingdom.

XXXI. An Act for the better Regulation

of the Traffic on Railways and Canals. XXXII. An Act to facilitate the Apportionment of the Rent when Parts of Lands in Lease are taken for the Purposes of the Church Building Acts. XXXIII. An Act to place Public Statues within the Metropolitan Police District under the Control of the Commissioners of her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings.

XXXIV. An Act to enable the Courts of

Law in England, Ireland, and Scotland to issue Process to compel the Attendance of Witnesses out of their Jurisdiction, and to give Effect to the Service of such Process in any Part of the United Kingdom.

XXXV. An Act to repeal certain Provisions of an Act of the Fifth and Sixth

Years of her present Majesty, concerning the holding of Assizes for the County of Warwick.

XXXVI. An Act for preventing Frauds upon Creditors by secret Bills of Sale of Personal Chattels.

XXXVII. An Act for establishing the

Validity of certain Proceedings in her Majesty's Court of Vice-Admiralty in Mauritius.

XXXVIII. An Act for the Suppression of Gaming Houses.

XXXIX. An Act to indemnify such Persons in the United Kingdom as have omitted to qualify themselves for Offices and Employments, and to extend the Time limited for those Purposes respectively.

XL. An Act to continue an Act of the last Session of Parliament, for extending for a limited Time the Provision for Abatement of Income Tax in respect of Insurance on Lives.

XLI. An Act to continue the Poor Law Board.

XLII. An Act to continue certain Acts for regulating Turnpike Roads in Ireland.

XLIII. An Act to continue an Act of the

Seventeenth Year of her present Majesty, for charging the Maintenance of certain poor Persons in Unions in England and Wales upon the Common Fund.

XLIV. An Act for regulating and main

taining the Harbours of Holyhead, and for vesting them in the Admiralty. XLV. An Act to amend the Dublin Carriage Act, 1853.

XLVI. An Act to continue certain Acts relating to Linen, Hempen, and other Manufactures in Ireland.

XLVII. An Act to alter and improve the Mode of taking Evidence in the Eccle

siastical Courts of England and Wales. XLVIII. An Act to authorise the Inclosure of certain Lands in pursuance of a Special Report of the Inclosure Commissioners for England and Wales. XLIX. An Act for the Settlement of Claims upon and over the New Forest. L. An Act to continue an Act of the

Twelfth Year of her present Majesty, for amending the Laws relating to Savings Banks in Ireland; and to authorise Friendly Societies to invest the whole of their Funds in Savings Banks. LI. An Act to confirm certain Provisional Orders made under an Act of the Fifteenth Year of her present Majesty, to facilitate Arrangements for the Relief