Touchett, esq. late of Lloyd Jack, Cardiganshire, to Charlotte Eliza, only daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Davies.-The Rev. John Williams, M.A. Fellow of Jesus Coll. Oxon. to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Birley, esq. of Belsay house, Leamington.-John Jones, esq. of Vedw Lwyd, to Anna, fourth daughter of the Rev. Simon Lloyd, of Bala, Merionethshire.-Edward Servante, esq. captain in the Madras army, to Jane, daughter of Captain Daykin, Royal Montgomeryshire Militia.-- Macmichael, esq. of Birmingham, to Eliza, third daughter of the late Benjamin Whitehouse, esq. of Redbrook Iron Works. -Mr. Davies, of Liverpool, to Alice Lloyd, youngest daughter of the late G. Davies, esq. of Bala.-At Christ church, St. Marylebone, and afterwards at the Catholic chapel, Spanish place, Wm. Buckley, esq. of the Madras army, to Emma, eldest daughter of the late G. W. Smythe, esq. of Acton Burnell, in the county of Salop.-Harry Mainwaring, esq. eldest son of Sir H. M. Mainwaring, bart. of Over Peover, to Emma, daughter of the late T. W. Tatton, esq. of Withenshaw, both in the county of Chester.-Sir Baldwin Leighton, bart. of Loton Park, to Mary, eldest daughter of Thomas Netherton Parker, esq. of Sweeny Hall, near Oswestry.-Edward D. Bennion, esq. surgeon, to Miss S. Roberts, of Union Place, Oswestry.-The Rev. William Squire Mirehouse, M.A. to Eliza Brunetta, only daughter of the late G. A. Herbert, esq. of Glanbafren, Montgomeryshire.-Robert Parry Pugh, esq. only son of John Wynn Pugh, esq. late of Garthmaelon, near Dolgelley, to Anne, second daughter of the late John Jones, esq. of Cwymbychanbach, near Machynlleth. -Mr. William Price, of the Broak Oak, to Miss Craven, of Brunnington.Wm. Jones, esq. of Aberhirnant, to Anne, fourth daughter of Owen Owens, esq. of Bala.-Robert Anwyl, esq. of Bodgynwch, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr. Tho. Williams, of Plas Ashpool, Denbighshire.-W. Owen Stanley, esq. son of Sir John Thomas Stanley, bart. to Ellen, youngest sister of Sir John Williams, bart. of Bodlewyddan.-Frederick Brandstrom, esq. solicitor, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Mr. George Matthews, Tynyrhelig, Newtown.-Major-General the Hon. Henry King, to Catherine, daughter of the late Rev. E. Phillips, of Lampeter, Pembrokeshire. Deaths. December 18, Stansall Williams, esq. veterinary surgeon, Bath.-At Brecon, Griffith James, esq. land surveyor.-At Cardigan, Capt. E. Penrose.—January 1, at Peniarth, Merionethshire, Owen, third son of W. Wynne, esq. of that place. -January 3, Mrs. Williams, of Gwyssaney Hall, near Mold.—December 30, Mr. David Hughes, surgeon, St. Asaph.-January 4, Mr. E. H. Williams, of the Stamp Office, Bangor.-January 2, at Treiddon, Anglesey, O. Prichard, esq.-January 12, William Williams, esq. of Bryngoleu, near Pwllheli.January 7, at Carnarvon, Joseph William, fourth son of Captain Haslam.-January 13, at Nannerch cottage, Thomas Mostyn Edwards, esq. of Kilken Hall, Flintshire.-At Stourbridge, Dame Elizabeth, relict of the late Sir John Evans, knt., of Erbistock Hall, Flintshire. -January 12, Mary Bate, of Worthenbury.-January 4, at Greenwich-park, aged 46, Captain Benjamin Backhouse, formerly of the Royal Welsh Fusileers.-January 11, at Tredwr, Cardiganshire, D. Rees, esq. м.D.-January 7, aged 102, Mr. Hugh Evans.January 22, aged 69, Griffith Griffith, esq. Dolgelley. - January 26, at Aberystwith, John Nathaniel Williams, esq. of Castle Hill.-January 17, at Balaam's Heath, near Munslow, Shropshire, Mary Sargeon, aged 104 years.— January 12, at Llandovery, Thomas Bishop, esq. solicitor.-January 12, at Bwll Glas, Mold, William Matthews, esq.-January 31, at the Bell Inn, Brecon, B. Williams, esq. of Troscoed, Breconshire.-At Plasbach, Kilie Ayron, Cardiganshire, Margaret, second daughter to the late Rev. D. Jones, rector of that parish.-February 3, at the rectory, Trowbridge, in his 78th year, the Rev. George Crabbe, L.L.B., the distinguished poet. He was the oldest living British bard, and has added to our national literature many poems of almost unequalled vigour and beauty.-February 8, at Trevorgan, near Cardigan, Evan Davies, esq.-February 17, Thomas Picton St. George, only son of the Rev. St. George A. Williams, Carnarvon.-February 3, at Barmouth, aged 85, Mrs. Owen, relict of the late Watkin Owen, esq.-February 4, Mrs. Jones, widow of the late Rev. Thomas Jones, of Carmarthen.- February 6, the Rev. J. Herring, minister of the Baptist connexion, Cardigan.-February 9, at the Ferry Side, Mrs. Margaret Bowen, eldest daughter of Thomas Edwards, esq. of Berthllwyd.-January 23, on the North Parade, Bath, Elizabeth, relict of the late Thomas Brereton, esq. of Pickhill, Denbigh.-February 23, at his house, 41, Berkeley square, London, aged 70, Owen Williams, esq. of Craig y don, in the county of Anglesea, M.P. for Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire.-July 28, in India, G. P. Lloyd, esq. of the 2d regiment of B. N. Cavalry, Brigade Major at Cawnpoor.—February 20, at Monmouth, Lieutenant Burton, R.N.- At Cardigan, Mrs. Thomas, wife of the Rev Griffith Thomas, vicar of Cardigan. -At Dolgelley, Mrs. Price.-February 22, at Mynydd Ednyfed, near Criccieth, the Rev. O. Jones, M.A. late rector of Criccieth.-At Harlyn, Cornwall, Mrs. Peter, relict of H. Peter, esq.-March 3, at the Cottage, Bangor, Mrs. Owen, relict of the late Rev. T. E. Owen, rector of Llandyfrydog, Anglesey.-Feb. 13, Sarah, second daughter of the late Mr. Christopher Llewelyn, surgeon, Llanymynech.-February 13, at Mwrog Cottage, Ruthin, Mrs. Jones, aged 82, late of Argoed Hall, Mold.-February 27, at Fir Court, Churchstoke, in her 66th year, Miss Margaretta Maria Downes. This lady, from her early infancy, was afflicted with the dropsy, to be relieved from which she underwent operations one hundred and fourteen times!-February 27, in London, John Ennis, esq. formerly of Oswestry.-March 2, Edward Edwards, esq. solicitor, Oswestry.March 7, at Mount-hazel, ́near Carnarvon, the Rev. G. B. Lewis.-March 4, at Corwen, Mrs. Morgan, widow of the late Richard Morgan, vicar of Llanfawr. -January 7, at Old Ford, Richard Evans, esq. of Queen street, Cheapside, aged 39. He was born at Lanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire, an obscure locality, which also claims the honour of being the birth-place of the late Dr. Rees, editor of the Encyclopedia. Mr. Evans's powerful and active mind overbalanced the energies of a delicate and weak constitution, predisposed to the insidious attack of consumption: during a protracted and severe illness his unexampled patriotism and anxiety to promote the diffusion of useful knowledge amongst the Welsh, continued unabated to his last breath. In the vicinity of one of his warehouses he had established a little colony of Welsh, consisting of more than twenty families, supplied with medicine and medical attendance at his own expense. Lectures were also delivered in the Welsh language, once a week, on Mechanics. At the time of his demise, Mr. Evans was president of the Cymreigyddion, and conservator of the ancient Welsh мss. of the Royal Cambrian Society. He has left a widow, but no children, to deplore his irreparable loss.-July 11, abroad, aged 37, Lieut. William Williams, formerly of Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, and late of the Brazilian Naval Service.-February 13, at Great Malvern, after a long and severe illness, Sarah, the lady of Harford Jones Brydges, bart. of Boultibrook, near Prestigne, Radnorshire.-February 12, after a short illness, in the 65th year of her age, Elizabeth, relict of the late John Williams Hughes, esq. of Tregib, Carmarthenshire, and daughter and sole heiress of the late Richard Phillips, of the Platt Mills in the same county. PRICES OF SHARES OF CANALS IN WALES. Brecknock and Abergavenny, 80; Glamorganshire, 290; Monmouthshire, 193; Montgomery, 80; Shrewsbury, 250; Swansea, 165. FOREIGN FUNDS. Closing price, March 28. Austrian 90; Brazilian, 45; Buenos Ayres, 20; Chilian, 16); Colombian, 1824, 12; Danish, 671; Greek, 28}; Mexican, 6 per cents. 31; Peruvian, 11; Portuguese, 50; Prussian, 1822, 100; Russian, 1822, 97; Spanish, 1821 and 1822, 134; ditto 1823, 13; Dutch, 424; French Rentes, 69. ENGLISH funds. Bank Stock, shut; 3 per cent. cons. 83; 34 per cent. 903; 3 per cent. red. shut; 34 per cent. red. shut; 4 per cent. shut; Long Annuities, shut. ON THE NECESSITY FOR A COMMERCIAL CODE, AND OF MERCHANT-JUDGES. To the RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORD BROUGHAM AND VAUX, MY LORD, In my last letter to your lordship, on the expediency of "An universal State Insurance, as combined with the establishment of a more vigorous and effective Rural Police, and as conducive to the gradual reduction of the Poor Rates," I took occasion to advert to the policy of adopting those portions of the French preventive and judicial system of Police, which the exigencies of the times seem to require, and which appear to me to be the least discordant to our habits and institutions. Pardon me for again presuming to request your lordship to cast another glance across the channel, for the purpose of comparing the French and English systems of commercial jurisprudence. To that enlightened judge and statesman, who has not disdained to introduce into his Bill for the creation of courts of local judicature, the preliminary "Conciliation" of the French code, in the place of our old "Imparlances," originally intended for the same benevolent and conciliatory purpose, nothing I am persuaded will appear contemptible or unworthy of consideration. merely because it is French; but every suggestion for the improvement of our civil polity will be measured by its own intrinsic merit, without reference to the quarter from whence it comes. Fas est et ab hoste doceri:-but, thank God! France and England are no longer enemies. There now exists no contention NO. XV. X between these two great countries, but the honourable rivalry of striving to surpass each other in the sciences, in the useful arts, and in general civilization and improvement. But if any one, through the leaven of national jealousy, should object to the introduction of any reform whatever from France into our institutions, I would beg leave to remind him that the entire fabric of that venerable, but gothic and antiquated edifice, the Law of England, as based on the feudal system, is of Norman architecture, and principally constructed of materials drawn from that country. I do not mean to dispute its perfect adaptation to the purposes of the times in which it was built, but tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis; and it must be admitted that many of our old feudal laws and customs are as little congruous with the prevailing ideas, and improved civilization of the present day, as the paved hall, the donjon-keep, the loophole windows, and turreted chambers of the ancient Gothic castles, are reconcilable to modern comfort and convenience. There can be no disgrace then in having it said of us a third time, that "Gallia causidicos docuit facunda Britannos." Let France and England borrow reciprocally of each other whatever may be worthy of imitation in the political institutions hitherto peculiar to either. To those foreigners who visit England to study our Constitution and our laws, there is nothing which seems so astonishing as that the first commercial country in the world should have remained to this day without any regular, properly digested, and uniform system of mercantile jurisprudence. The want of a commercial code seems indeed to be pretty plainly admitted by ourselves, in the recourse which is had to the trial of all mercantile questions of importance before a special jury of merchants; by the modern institution of the anomalous jurisdictions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Courts, and by the constant reference to what is called "the custom of merchants," whenever it happens that no case in point can be found amid the countless volumes of our often confused, and sometimes contradictory Reports. But, independently of the objections on the score of expense and uncertainty, the advantages resulting from a special jury of merchants, and from the Insolvent and Bankrupt Courts, appear to be principally confined to the metropolis. It may be worth while, then, my lord, to inquire whether any part of the French Code of Commerce might be advantageously introduced into this country, for the amelioration, both in principle and practice, of our Lex Mercatoria,' if indeed, at present, we can be said to have any such law. I am induced to solicit your lordship's indulgent attention to the comparison I am about to make, not only with a view to the improvement of our law-merchant, but with the further object of improving also the public revenue to the extent of at least a million a year. The compilers of the "Code Napoleon," or, as it is now called, "Le Code Civil des François," have deemed it expedient to frame for the commercial community of France, a system of mercantile legislation peculiar to itself, as a body of merchants and tradesmen, to which they have given the name of the " Code du Commerce." The distinguishing features of this code are, the institution of commercial courts, presided by merchant-judges, elected by, and out of the principal" Commercants" of the district, the cheapness and prompt despatch of business in these courts,-the rules which the code prescribes for the mercantile conduct of persons engaged in commerce,--and the provisions which it enacts, in cases of failure and bankruptcy. I propose to consider the advantages of the "Code du Commerce" under each of these four heads, and first, of 1. Commercial Judges. In every district of France, corresponding in extent with the limits of our English counties, there sits in the principal town, a "Tribunal du Commerce," specially and exclusively destined for the decision of all commercial questions, and for the recovery of all debts between tradesmen and merchants. This, in some sort, domestic forum, is composed of at least three judges (the number of course proportioned to the population,) who are merchants or opulent tradesmen, elected by a majority of the "notables commercants" of the district. These electors are directed to consist of those heads of firms who have been the longest established in business, and who are, at the same time, the most recommendable for their probity, regularity, and economy. The list of the electors is formed out of the names of all the commercial inhabitants of the district, by the prefect of the department or province, and, before the day of election, is submitted to the revision and approbation of the crown, in the person of the Ministre de l'Interieur, who, as your lordship is aware, is the Secretary of State for the Home Department, so that, though the election is popular, the crown still retains its proper power of control over the formation of the electoral assemblies. The functions of these judges being purely honorary and gratuitous, they remain only two years in office, and on their retiring in rotation, their places are filled up by the election of others. As the judges thus chosen reside in or near the town where the commercial tribunal holds its session, and, as it frequently happens that either themselves or their relations are interested in the point at issue, an equal number of supplementary judges |