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Sir,— My client, Mr. James Walker, has consulted me with reference to the serious damage to several bales of silk stored in his warehouse, occasioned in consequence of the overflowing of water from the cistern on the first floor. lam instructed that the overflow is due solely to the defective condition of the ball-tap, to which your attention has been repeatedly called. A large portion of the goods on my client's premises has been completely spoiled by being saturated with water, and he will hold you responsible for'all the loss that he may sustain on this account. The damaged stock must be quickly removed, and I write you now to suggest that you should at once appoint some person to inspect the goods on your behalf, so that you may be satisfied as to their actual condition. If you should feel inclined to purchase them at their selling price before the damage occurred, my client will be glad to settle the matter on that basis ; but, if not, he will dispose of them for the best price he can obtain, and sue you for the difference. Your prompt attention and reply are desired. Yours truly, To James Lowe, Esq. William James Stiff.

Dear Sir, — Thomas Walkeb's Proposal. The Board think it strange Mr. Walker knows so little as to his brothers and sisters, for he does not even state whether they were older or younger than himself. It may be that he left home at an early age, and has had very little communication with his family since; but, if so, my Board think that the circumstance should have been stated in the papers, say in your own agency report. They also think it strange that he can give no information as to the disease for which he was formerly in St. George's Hospital for three months. Will you therefore make further particular inquiry upon those points? It would be desirable also to learn how long ago it is since his father died, and to obtain, if possible, more precise particulars as to the cause of his father's death. Yours truly, To Mr. S. Wilkinson, Gravesend. James Millson, Actuary and Secretary.

Deab Sir, — James Bakeb. This person's family history is so unfavourable that he cannot possibly be accepted at the ordinary rate of premium. I cannot say positively what the extra premium would probably be if he should be personally found a good life ; but I should think it would not be less than from ten to fifteen years additional, and I could hold out no prospect of the premium being reduced after the lapse of a few years if he should keep in good health. I have written to- Mr. Adams to this effect. Yours faithfully, To Mr. S. Wilkinson, Gravesend. James Millson, Secretary.

Dear Sir, — King Street Houses. By the instructions of Mr. James, who has, we understand, consulted you, we beg to hand you herewith proof poster and also proof of proposed particulars, for your approval. Kindly return these at your early convenience, together with draft conditions of sale. Yours truly, To Wm, Green, Esq. Walters and Holmes.

(c.) At the rate of 150 words per minute. Takes 5 minutes. Gentlemen of the Jtjby,—The prisoner at the bar has been indicted by a grand jury of Cortland County for one of the gravest crimes that can be committed in our land—that of taking the life of a fellow-man without authority of law. His liberty, yes, his life is here in question ; the protection and security of society may be in question. It is incumbent upon you, therefore, to give to this case the most serious and the most thorough consideration,, in order that you may find where the truth lies. I need hardly say to you, gentlemen, that you are to approach this case without fear or favour, without prejudice and without sympathy.- It is not your province to temper justice with mercy. You are sworn here to decide this case well and truly upon the evidence that has been given, and if, upon that evidence, under the rules of law which I shall lay down to you, the people have not shown that this defendant has been guilty of a crime, then, gentlemen, your oaths will compel you to set him free. If, on the other hand, under the rules of law which I shall give you, the evidence shall establish that the prisoner is guilty of a crime, then your verdict must so state, and you must leave to the Court and to the law the responsibility of its punishment. There are certain facts which stand here upon undisputed evidence, to wit: that on the 24th day of September, 1889, in the town of Preble, in the County of Cortland, in the State of New York, this defendant, Eobert W. Griswold, shot one Dennis O'Shea, and that upon that day he died by reason of the wound. To answer for this act he is here charged by criminal indictment, and his answer is, gentlemen, that his acts were without guilt; and the trial of the issue raised by this charge and this answer you are now about to close. In determining the guilt or innocence of this defendant I will submit to you five questions for your consideration. First, was the defendant legally responsible for his act? Second, was his act justifiable? Third, was there an intent to kill? Fourth, was the deed done in the heat of passion and with a dangerous weapon ? Fifth, was there premeditation and deliberation ? Eecurring, then, to the first question, "Was the defendant legally responsible for his act?" section 20 of the Penal Code reads that " an act done by a person who is an idiot, imbecile, lunatic, or insane, is not a crime." That section is modified by the next section, which reads that 4—E. lα.