harge, however, for which he was justly liable to public
censure, was the immediate infliction of punishment, on a Sunday, after
Divine Service. Such a proceeding was clearly contrary to the religious
feelings and habits of the people of this country, and could not be
reconciled with either good sense, or good feeling." Lord Hill, the
Commander-in-Chief, only felt "surprised" at Lord Cardigan's conduct; but
the _Times_ of 24 Apl. had a most scathing leading article on the
subject, winding up with "we trust some independent member of the House
of Commons will take an early opportunity of cutting the Gordian knot,
and move an address to the Crown for the removal of the Earl of Cardigan
from the Lieut.-Colonelcy of the 11th Hussars." {159}

The Electric Telegraph being now a _fait accompli_, the honour of the
discovery was disputed between Cooke and Wheatstone--both claiming it.
It was settled by arbitration, the referees being Marc Isimbard Brunel,
the eminent civil engineer, and Professor Daniell, the inventor of the
Galvanic battery which bears his name, and their Solomonian judgment was
as follows: "While Mr. Cooke is entitled to stand alone, as the gentleman
to whom this country is indebted for having practically introduced and
carried out the Electric Telegraph as a useful undertaking, promising to
be a work of national importance; and Professor Wheatstone is
acknowledged as the scientific man, whose profound and scientific
researches had, already, prepared the public to receive it as a project
capable of practical application; it is to the united labours of two
gentlemen so well qualified for mutual assistance, that we must attribute
the rapid progress which this important invention has made during the
five years since they have been associated."

On 24 May was sold by auction an undoubtedly authentic signature of
Shakspere, attached to a deed, thus described in the catalogue:
"Shakspere's autograph affixed to a deed of bargain and sale of a house
purchased by him, in Blackfriars, from Henry Walker, dated March 10,
1612, with the seals attached." The poet is described as "Wm.
Shakspeare, of Stratforde upon Avon, in the countie of Warwick,
gentleman"; and the premises thus: "All that dwelling house, or tenement,
with the appurtenance, situate and being within the precinct, circuit and
compasse of the late black ffryers, London, sometymes in the tenure of
James Gardiner, Esqre., and since that time, in the tenure o