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IMMENSE DEMONSTRATION.
INAUGURATION, OF THE STATUE OF FEARGUS
O'CONNOR AT NOTTINGHAM.
MONDAY was a great day
for Nottingham�indeed for all England, for on that day the Statue
the working-men of Nottingham erected to their departed champion, was
inaugurated. The statue, of Darley Dale stone, is the
work of Mr. Robinson, a sculptor of Derby. It does him the highest
credit. Admirable as a likeness, correct in detail, it is, as a work
of art, an ornament to the town, and, as an evidence of political
gratitude, an honour
to the country. It is situated in the Arboretum, or public garden of
the town, which is, next to the Market-place, the most commanding
site that could have been selected, and where the spot was granted
by a vote of
the Town Council, although after great opposition and long
discussion. The statue rises on the highest point in the grounds,
forms one of the most conspicuous objects of the magnificent park in
which it stands, and is
elevated on a commanding pedestal. On the base is inscribed "Feargus O'Connor, M.P. Erected by his Admirers. 1859." On the
opposite slope; obliquely fronting the statue, stand the two Russian
cannon which the
Government presented to the town of Nottingham. Of the beauty of
this public park, it is hardly possible to speak too highly, no
other provincial town having such a public promenade. On Monday that
beauty was turned
into grandeur by the assembling of a stupendous concourse of the
working classes, who gathered to be present at the inauguration. It
is difficult to estimate their numbers, as the masses were
frequently broken by the
shrubs and flower-beds which they surrounded, making them appear
like islands of verdure in a living sea; there could not, however,
have been fewer than from 12,000 to 15,000 persons present. The
Times, and other
daily papers, describe the multitude as "a vast concourse." The
numbers would have been far larger, however, had not the most
assiduous steps been taken to prevent it. The Arboretum Committee
forbade the delivery
of any address on the unveiling of the statue, and, although some
railroad companies had promised to run special trains for the
occasion, and even gone so far as to advertise them, at the last
moment they rescinded
their resolutions, and nothing could induce them to appoint such
trains. Had the meeting been for any exhibition of servility or
adulation to the railway classes, every railroad would have provided
the alluring facilities. Had not these obstacles been thrown
in the way, there would probably have been a much larger assembly present; but, as it was, the
gathering proved to be one of the most noble that ever honoured a
public
commemoration of the kind in a provincial town, and the prohibition
as to delivering an address, was, of course, a dead letter.
Shortly after two o'clock, the committee, with Mr. Ernest Jones, on
whose right and left were Mr. Henry Wilson and Mr. Robinson, the
sculptor, entered the Arboretum, and, on presenting themselves
beneath the
statue, were loudly cheered. At the same moment the veil was removed
from around the monument amid deafening acclamations. Mr. Marriott
opened the proceedings by a few brief but pertinent remarks, and
concluded by calling on Mr. Jones to address the assembly. The
latter gentleman, on mounting the pedestal of the statue, was
received with enthusiastic cheering, renewed again and again. When
silence was
restored, he spoke as follows:�
"Fellow-countrymen,�The statue we inaugurate this day commemorates
two facts�the greatness of a man, and the greatness of a people. You
have placed this stone here to honour O'Connor. Men of Nottingham!
you have done honour to yourselves! You have done honour to all
England. It commemorates not only the merit of the dead, it
commemorates the worth of the living. It tells two tales:�the one,
that there is still
political gratitude among the people�that noblest of all
virtues�that virtue which honours the dead, from whom no more can be
hoped; and encourages the living, from whom their all is still to
be expected. But let us
turn from the marble to the man. You mighty thousands who surround
this monument, what do you gaze at? A perishable stone? No! you
are looking at truths eternal as the world, that shall be higher and
stronger
still when this granite has crumbled into dust. We honour the man
who builds a perishable temple. A Tite is famed for erecting the
palace of usury; the name of Wren has risen with the aspiring dome
of St. Paul; and
Michael Angelo still sanctifies the glories of St. Peter. Si qu�is
moumentum, eircumspice. But how much more should you honour the man
who is departed! Granite and marble perish, however nobly built. The
Zealander shall seek for the site of St. Paul's, and St. Peter's
shall mingle its dust with the ashes of the Capitol. Not so with the
work of O'Connor�he was the architect of truth�he built not with
bricks or stone, but
with the thoughts of man; and he who erects fabrics in the human
mind, raises a monument more. . . |
. . .
durable than can be fashioned from the mountain's granite heart.
There were many, in his lifetime, who assailed the departed
patriot�some, more cowardly and no less cruel, attacked him after
death. Their shafts recoil harmless from this recording stone.
He worked for us, he lived for us, he died for us; he joined us
rich�he left us poor. The manufacturer, the landlord, the
banker, and the merchant, leave their millions behind them, and are
honoured by servile generations. They got their wealth from
the poor�he got his poverty from them. He bequeathed no
wealth, but died in utter penury�the noblest attestation of his
honest life. Yet what am I saying? He died rich,
immeasurably rich, if riches can be measured by the legacy he
bequeathed. He left no acres, and no mills�no temples, and no
palaces; but broad domains in the field of knowledge, fructified by
his intellect, and fortified by his energy. He taught the
English people truths they but obscurely knew before. There
are some who have said: 'Granting his honesty, his was still a
wasted life. He toiled, and strove, and suffered�and what good
has it done to him or unto you? He drew the workman from his
toil, from his wages, and from his home; he plunged him in the
stormy sea of agitation�and what result has come? Beware,
then, working men! how you follow the beckoning of the agitator.'
Ah! the poor false reasoner! I tell you, never was a truth
propounded that did not make the world richer than it was before.
It never dies, though its utterer may perish piecemeal; and, though
no fruit may seem to grow from its teaching, it has leavened mankind
none the less, and the great heart of humanity will swell sooner or
later with that germ of truth, and flash some bright new glory on
the world! Christ died in obloquy and martyrdom, but
Christianity mounted from His ashes. Believe me, no great man
has ever toiled and perished, without doing good. To such men,
to hopeless martyrs, who passed unrecognised and perished unaided,
we owe�aye! every liberty we have�free press, free speech, free
meeting, the right of petition, union and combination, religious
toleration, the right of possessing arms, and trial by jury�things
we think little of, because we are born to their daily use; but let
any one touch the smallest of them, how dearly, how preciously, you
would value them! These things, all these, we owe to the
O'Connors of other days. Had it not been for the Wickliffes
and the Hampdens, the Russells and the Pyms and the Cromwells of the
past, you dared not have stood here this day. Had it not been
for men like O'Connor, and for none more than him, the liberties
your fathers conquered, you would not have kept. I know no man
who has done more for humanity. You must not measure a man's
life by the successes of other ages, but by the difficulties of his
own; and none of England's heroes had such difficulties to contend
with as beset O'Connor. That which was common in the days of
Sidmouth and Castlereagh, is impossible now. Thank O'Connor,
and the kindred spirits who worked in the same path, and seemed to
pass away without results produced. Trades unions and
combinations are unassailable by law. Thank the political
agitators who frightened tyranny from violence, and yet sank
themselves! The noble army of martyrs is the most victorious
host that ever saw the light. Here stands the effigy of one of
its noblest soldiers. Illustrious seedsmen, who never gather
the harvest they sow: but time developes it; through the spring-time
of tears and sorrow it grows over their graves; it ripens to the
smiles of hope, till other and far later generations celebrate the
happy harvest time. How few then think of the good old
seedsman of the bygone day! You have remembered him.
This monument is the record of a people's truth. This monument
is a foundation stone of coming freedom. It gives the advanced
minds of our country confidence in you,�confidence that there are
qualities worth struggling for in England's people�confidence that a
people which can honour the memory of the dead, will struggle for
the emancipation of the living. And now to him, the subject of
this day's celebration, let us pay the homage due, and with
uncovered heads bow in solemn silence to the memory of O'Connor."
Every head was uncovered at the words, and that stormy
approbation which even the solemnity of the scene had failed to
repress, sank in sudden silence, while many an eye glistened and
many a heart beat quick at the impressiveness of that magnificent
and overpowering spectacle.
The Arboretum Committee having forbidden even a dinner or
tea-party to be held in the grounds or buildings, Mr. O'Connor's
friends assembled at four o'clock at a banquet in St. George's Hall.
The large T-shaped table occupied all the Hall, and was completely
crowded. Mr. Taylor, of the Arboretum, provided the repast,
and for elegance of arrangement and choice of viands, the
entertainment was deserving of the most unqualified commendation.
Mr. Ellerthorn occupied the chair at the banquet. The memory
of Feargus O'Connor, and the healths of the Committee . . . . |
. . . and sculptor were drunk, the first in solemn
silence, all the company rising. An admirable brass band
performed during the dinner, and some vocal music enlivened the
proceedings. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Marriot offered a few remarks.
After the banquet, the public was admitted, and the room was
soon filled. Mr. Dean Taylor was called to preside, and made a
forcible and eloquent speech. Mr. George Harrison then
addressed the meeting; after which the chairman called on Mr. Ernest
Jones, who, on rising, was greeted with a perfect storm of applause,
and spoke for nearly an hour. The company did not separate
till a late period. A letter was read from Mr. Thomas Allsopp,
expressing that gentleman's deep regret at being unable to attend.
___________________
COMMEMORATIVE DINNER
OF THE FRAMEWORK
KNITTERS, CIRCULAR
BRANCH.�This trade
resolved to celebrate the day by a dinner, and a social meeting
afterwards. Mr. Ernest Jones, in response to the invitation
with which this body had honoured him, attended and delivered an
address, which was much applauded. A resolution was
unanimously passed, thanking the Nottingham Committee for having
erected a statue to the memory of O'Connor. A true and
healthful spirit seems to pervade this important body of men.
___________________
THE NEW PAPER.
FRIENDS!
are you taking any steps with reference to the new Paper, in either
of the ways suggested last week? I do not address you at any
length now, inasmuch as the space is occupied by the report of the
great Nottingham demonstration; but allow me to impress on you that
the issue or non-issue of the new paper depends on your kind
exertions, either by obtaining shareholders to the extent of 500l.,
or by means of the Testimonial.
Some friends have written wishing that the proceeds of the
Testimonial should all be devoted to myself; but I would observe,
that, if partly devoted to the issue of our new paper, they would be
employed more beneficially for me than they could in any other way;
but it is, of course, only a part that I could afford so to apply.
I venture to make these observations, as on the speed with
which the paper shall now appear depends its success.�Your faithful
servant,
ERNEST JONES.
___________________
CHANGE OF ADDRESS.
All letters for Mr. BLIGH
are, in future, it is requested, to be addressed to him at 11,
Norfolk-gardens, Curtain-road, Shoreditch, London.
___________________
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
THE CONFERENCE.
The conference at Zurich does not
go on a bit the more smoothly for all its lengthy delay. Count
Colloredo's pretension to be regarded as sole president of the
meeting met with opposition, on the part of M. de Bourqueney, and
thus caused another hitch which has only been repaired by the
agreement suggested by the good-natured, all-conciliating
Frenchman,―that the conferences should take place alternately at
each other's rooms, for they are all residing at the hotel Bauer,
and that the day on which Colloredo went up the three stone steps
which lead to Bourqueney rooms, along the stone passage to the
right, Bourqueney should be considered as chairman of the meeting;
and those days on which Bourqueney descended the three stone steps
and turned down the boarded passage to the left, Colloredo should be
regarded as the president of the palace and throne accordingly.
The Plenipotentiaries of France and Austria held a Conference
on the 23rd, which lasted two hours. They have regulated the
settlement of the affairs of Lombardy with the consent of the
Sardinian Plenipotentiary. The arrangement is expected to be
confirmed by the different sovereigns. The affairs of the
Duchies will be treated of directly between the Courts of Paris and
Vienna.
FRANCE.
Peace is still the order of the day in the upper
regions of the Government, and war the constant subject of dread
amongst every class of citizens in Paris. The augmentation of
the garrison of Lille to a force of 60,000 men gives immense cause
of uneasiness as to the motive of such a peculiar illustration of
peaceful intentions; while the order for the immediate formation of
a permanent army of manoeuvre, of which the head-quarters are to be
in Algeria, adds to the impertinent curiosity which induces inquiry
into the ultimate meaning of such peaceful demonstration.
A ROGUE'S
HEAD.�A
curious case occupies all the heads connected with law, physiology,
history, or moral philosophy, belonging to the University of Paris.
The professors of the Sorbonne, in particular, are the most animated
and zealous in the debates, and the most interested likewise in the
result. Everybody knows that Cardinal Richelieu was buried at
the chapel of the Sorbonne, where a splendid tomb, one of the finest
productions of the kind ever beheld, records the grief of "History"
under the features of the beautiful Duchess d'AguilIon, his
mistress, and the despair of "Religion" represented by the Princess
de Conti, who was his mistress likewise. But, in one of the
hottest days of the revolution, the people, heedless of "History"
and defiant of "Religion," broke open the tomb, and bearing the head
upon a pike through the streets of Paris, tossed the carcass, about
which that head had been so entirely occupied during life, into the
common sewer which runs from the Rue St. Jacques down to the river.
The head was not lost, although the body was�It was bought after the
day's fun was . . . . |
――――♦――――
PAGE 2.
. . . over, and the mob, finding dead game but poor
prey after all, had retired to consult upon a more stirring chase
for to-morrow, by a member of the assembly, who obtained it from the
sans culotte to whose possession it had fallen. This
gentleman died at a good old age, leaving numberless curiosities
behind him, amongst which figures in his will, as the most
conspicuous of all, "The head of Cardinal Richelieu to my beloved
son." For some years the State has been endeavouring to
negotiate for the possession of this skull, but no inducement can
compel the owner to part with it. Every temptation known in
the like case has been held out�the Legion of Honour�a consulship
for the son �a presentation to Saint Denis for the daughter�nothing
will succeed, and at length it is resolved to attach the detainer of
Richelieu's head before the Tribunals; as, according to the opinions
of the greatest legal celebrities, the remains of a statesman belong
clearly to the State. Of course the puns and quolibets are
flying about on all sides; but the obstinate owner of the skull
declares that the State may take his own head instead, but the
Cardinal's shall remain his for ever.
A DESIRABLE ACT.�The
French Government has adopted a very praiseworthy measure. All the
horses and mules of the artillery, except those which are required
for its effective force, will be lent out gratuitously to the
agricultural population, in order to be serviceable in farming
operations�on condition, however, that they be well fed and taken
care of, and never be ridden or driven for mere pleasure, or be
employed in the postal service.
The Moniteur of yesterday morning announces that the
promised disarmament will commence on the 20th of September.
It may be of a more limited nature than we were led to expect by the
observations of the Parisian press when the Emperor's decision
became known. It appears that only those soldiers will be
discharged whose period of service expires in 1859. Their
number is comparatively small. Furloughs of three months only
will be granted to those who are entitled to them by the regulations
of 1832, and who form a more numerous class than the language of the
Moniteur would lead us to suppose. Lastly, the same
privilege is accorded to those who can show that they are
"indispensable for the support of their families." We confess
ourselves a little disappointed with the extent of the measure.
The disarmament may be more apparent than real. It may be but
temporary for the greater number of the men whom it will affect, and
it may be permanent in a small number of cases only where a
discharge would have been obtained in the regular course of military
service.
ITALY.
PIEDMONT.�In
Piedmont the Government propose to adopt an electoral law on the
basis of a deputy for every 30,000 or 35,000 inhabitants.
ROME.�A letter
from Rome of the 14th communicates the Pope's answer to an autograph
letter of the Emperor Napoleon, in which he was called upon to
assume the honorary headship of the proposed Italian Confederation,
and to consent to the adoption of certain reforms in the
administration of his temporal dominions. The Pope declines to
have anything to do with the Confederation, unless the deposed
Princes be restored. He will not accede to the proposal of a
separate administration for the Legations of the Romagna. He
consents, however, to the secularisation, provided that his subjects
shall not object to it, as he alleges they did in 1849.
The deputation appointed to present to the King of Sardinia
the medal which has been struck by a private society, in
commemoration of the words pronounced by his Majesty on his opening
the session of the Piedmontese Parliament of the 10th of January
last, had the honour of an audience on the 20th. Count Mamiani,
president of the committee, reminded his Majesty of the memorable
words:� "We are not insensible to the cry of grief which we hear
from every part of Italy." His Majesty replied as follows:―
"I thank you for your beautiful present. Ever since it
has been in my power, I have consecrated my efforts to the great
national cause. I have it constantly before my mind; I live
for it, and am ready to die for it. Difficulties and
misfortunes arise which must be surmounted, and they certainly will,
for I have witnessed the courage and discipline of which the
Italians are capable. Under present circumstances it has been
impossible to go further, as I might have wished. In the midst
of past sorrows, I have found great consolation in seeing that the
Italians have understood me, and have not entertained a doubt
concerning me. The masses, blinded by excessive enthusiasm,
are sometimes led astray. I might have pardoned such false
steps, but I repeat that I have nothing to reproach them with.
It seems incredible that some countries that are unfavourable to us
do not, or will not believe that there is nothing obscure or
insidious in my policy. Frankness and straightforwardness are
its companions�perhaps it is the going straight to the object in
view that creates displeasure. The Italian question is very
clear, and it is no doubt on that account that they will not
understand it. The union, perfect order, and wisdom which the
people of Tuscany, the Duchies, and the Romagna now display are
admirable. I certainly did not think that Italy was incapable
of acting so; still the spectacle of such an attitude affords me
great pleasure. Have, therefore, faith in me, gentlemen, and
be assured that now, as well as in future, I shall do everything in
my power to promote the welfare of Italy.
LOMBARDY.�A
letter from Milan says:�Complaints are raised here at the delay
which has taken place in arming the national guard. That force
is now organised; it has four legions, making together about 12,000
men, but not more than 2,500 muskets could be mustered. An
application was made to the Government, and 10,000 excellent ones
will, it is said, be shortly provided, a contract having been
already entered into for that purpose.
SWITZERLAND.
The embarkation at Naples of the
4th Regiment of Swiss troops has been effected in the best possible
order, they having previously received the whole pay due to them.
1,669 privates and fourteen officers will be received at Marseilles
by the Swiss Consul.
BELGIUM.
The Antwerp Fortification Bill has
passed the Belgian fifty-seven Chambers by a majority of fifty-seven
to forty-two.
GERMANY.
The municipal authorities of
Frankfort�the Federal town and seat of the highest constituted
assembly of Fatherland�have felt themselves compelled to request the
Diet to interdict the carrying of side arms by the garrison soldiers
when off duty. If such a step be not taken, they are afraid
there will soon be no soldiers left to garrison the place. At
present, the Prussians are attacking the Bavarians in front, having,
at the same time, to ward off the Austrians on either side, and to
keep a good look out on the Frankforters from the rear.
The armament of the Prussian fortresses on the Rhine
continues, just as though peace had not been concluded. The
annual autumnal manoeuvres this year will be carried out on the
grandest scale.
AUSTRIA.
The ministerial crisis in Austria
is at an end. A Cabinet has been formed under the presidency
of Count Rechberg, which, from its composition, gives promise of an
able and energetic administration of affairs; but disappoints the
hopes of the Reform party, as the new ministers are all staunch
Conservatives, and little disposed to promote the liberal measures
so loudly demanded by the popular voice. The most remarkable
men in the new Cabinet are the late Governor of Gallicia, Count
Golouchowski, who will undertake the Home Department; and the late
ambassador at Paris, Baron Hubner, abandons the diplomatic career,
and assumes the direction of the Police. It is very
significant that the two most important members of the ministry
should be placed at the heads of those departments; for it is in the
sphere of those departments that those evils exist which the people
wish to see immediately abolished. The objects which occupy
the attention of the Superior Council of Austria, in the way of
internal reform, are�first, as respects the finances, then the free
exercise of the Protestant religion, the regulation of Jewish
affairs, and the regulation of municipalities. The subject . .
. . |
.
. . of the representation of the provinces is reserved for the
present. There appears to have been a fear in the Court circle
of too rapid progress being made in these measures of reform; but
the new ministers will, of course, put on the drag.
_________________________________
THE FATE OF ITALY.
TUSCANY.
ANNEXATION.�The
National Assembly have unanimously voted the annexation of Tuscany
to Piedmont, amid the acclamations of " Viva it R�!"
PROCLAMATION TO THE TUSCAN ARMY.
The following proclamation has been addressed to the Tuscan army by
M. Ricasoli:�
"Officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the
army of Tuscany,
"Your country has not forgotten you, oh brave men who under
the national banner are now encamped on the banks of the Po, as
advanced sentinels of that Italy which will never know how to resign
herself not to be entirely independent. If the peace, which
surprised you ere you had well arrived on the field of battle,
prevented you from accomplishing the vows which you made on setting
forward, do not, therefore, suppose that your duties as soldiers are
over.
"The fate of Tuscany, as of all Central Italy, is far from
being settled; now, while in the great cities the representatives of
the country are giving expression to the desire of the populations,
you must prepare to support them, if need be, by arms. Already
the provinces on the banks of the Po are leagued with Tuscany.
The defence will be common. You will defend on the Po and the
Appenines the same cause for which you rushed to fight with such
generous ardour in Lombardy. Show yourselves in your camps the
worthy rivals of your brethren in the cities. By their concord
and their civic virtues they are setting a grand example.
Imitate them by your military virtues, and then the destinies of
Italy will be assured. You will have at your head General
Garibaldi, one of those tried and valiant warriors of whom Italy is
above all others proud, and also a man of order and discipline�one
who will render less painful to you the separation from the brave
and loyal captain who has hitherto commanded you. You will be,
as proud to obey him as we are to have chosen him to command you;
his noble examples, his eloquent words, will strengthen you in that
spirit of resolution, that obedience to your chiefs, that strict
observance of discipline which give power and victory to the armies
of great nations. Thus, and thus alone, Central Italy, armed
and united, may, thanks to you, obtain the respect of Europe, and
furnish the Emperor Napoleon with reasons to support our cause.
"Soldiers, the Tuscan Government watches over you; for you,
who are leading the hard life of camps, it will redouble that
solicitude which it owes to all the citizens confided to its care. It sees with joy those bonds of fraternity which every day unite you
more and more to those populations whose welcome guests you are. May
these cordial relations be the harbingers of a still closer union
between peoples that the Appenines alone divide. You will hasten
this desired consummation if you show yourselves such as your
country hopes and expects to see you, if you show that you can bear
high and keep unsullied that national banner which you have sworn to
carry wherever there are enemies of Italy to be found.
"August 15, 1859.
The President of the Council of Ministers
and Minister of the Interior,
"B. RICASOLI.
"The Secretary-General of the Tuscan Government,
"CELESTINO BIANCI."
MODENA.
BANISHMENT AND ANNEXATION.�The National Assembly, after having
proclaimed the forfeiture of Duke Francis V. to the ducal throne,
voted the following resolution, announcing:― "The Assembly decrees the annexation of the Modenese State to the
Monarchial, Constitutionals, and glorious Kingdom of the Dynasty of
Savoy, under the magnanimous sceptre of King Victor Emmanuel." It
further adopted the proposal to confirm the dictatorship of Signor Farini.
DEFENSIVE LEAGUE.�A defensive league has been concluded between the
States of Central Italy. Prince Hercolani, the Delegate of the
Government of the Legations, has signed the act of accession to the
League.
A FORMIDABLE
RUMOUR.�The Paris
Pays communicates
the startling intelligence, that on the arrival of M. Farini to
assume the dictatorial government of Parma, a portion of the troops
proclaimed their fidelity to the Bourbon Duchess, and took
possession of the small fortress of Bardi, intending to hold it for
their Sovereign so long as there shall remain any chance of her
restoration. The Pays also announces the equally surprising news
that a French division, commanded by General Boubbaki, have arrived
at Parma.
Should this intelligence be confirmed, confidence in the success of
the Italian movement would be considerably lessened. The presence of
French troops in Parma seems to foreshadow the armed intervention of
France in the actual crisis, for the restoration of the expelled
dynasties. Yet the official and Governmental press in France is
unanimous in repelling the imputation of such a policy to the French
Government.
General Garibaldi passed in review on the 18th on the excise ground
of Modena, a part of the eleventh division of the Italian army, and
declared himself much pleased with its appearance. He afterwards
visited the military hospital and spoke most kindly to several of
the wounded soldiers.
The National Assembly, in its sitting of the 23rd, unanimously voted
the following decrees:―
1. The confirmation of the dictatorship of Signor Farini, giving him
full powers to contract a loan of 5,000,000 lire. 2. The
erection of a monument to commemorate votes of the Assembly
decreeing the dech�ance
of Francis V., and the annexation of Modena to Piedmont. 3. That the
Volunteers who served in the late campaign for the independence of
Italy have deserved well of their country. 4. That the Dictator be
charged to negotiate with the several foreign Powers for the
restitution of the political prisoners which Francis V. carried away
with him on leaving the country. The Assembly was afterwards
prorogued.
_________________________________
FOREIGN NOTES.
The first electric telegraph has now been set up in Persia. It is
sixty leagues long, and extends from Teheran to the camp of Solfania.
We have to report the adoption of a veritable reform at Hamburg. The
senatorial families have abdicated their privileges, and a more
democratic constitution has been established.
In Germany the movement for the creation of a central power exhibits
considerable determination and activity.
A letter from Bologna, in the Opinione of Turin, says that, Signor
Alberto Mario and his wife (late Miss Jersey M. White), while
travelling under the name of Martinez, were arrested. They had
attempted to provoke a Red-Republican rising. They have been treated
with respect, and will be set at liberty on condition of their
quitting the country.
VICTOR HUGO AND THE
AMNESTY.�The following is the declaration made
by M. Victor Hugo, in reference to the amnesty proclaimed by the
Emperor of the French:�"Nobody will expect from me that I can grant,
in what concerns myself, a moment of attention to this thing called
an amnesty. As France is now situated, a protest absolute,
inflexible, and eternal, is my duty. Faithful to the engagement
which I made in my conscience, I will share to the last the exile of
liberty. When liberty returns, I will return.�VICTOR HUGO, Guernsey, Hauteville-house, Aug. 18, 1859."
A telegram dated Augusta, Georgia, August 9th, says:― "The continued
rains induce fears of injury to the growing cotton crop," It is
stated that a numerous body of the Congressional constituents of Mr.
Sickles had signed an address, calling upon him to resign his seat
in Congress. |
LOUIS BLANC, THE
AMNESTY,
AND THE
FRENCH EXILES.�
Louis Blanc writes, in reply to communications from some of his
countrymen, to say that in his opinion the amnesty granted by the
French ruler may be fairly hailed as a blessing by many among the
exiles, whom their forlorn position in a foreign country or family
ties of a specially urgent character, justify in returning to their
native land. The amnesty, being unconditional, no sort of stain
whatever attaches to the act of availing oneself of it, more
especially if it be for the purpose of fulfilling domestic duties
not less imperious and sacred than those arising from political
convictions. No man, therefore, conscientiously influenced by such
contingencies, is obnoxious or to blame for seizing the opportunity,
though reluctant to receive the boon. M. Louis Blanc, however,
reiterates his opinion that Frenchmen who have strong and obvious
motives for believing that their return, besides being unsafe, would
be of no avail either to their cause or to their country, are
perfectly entitled to remain where they can speak out their mind,
and enjoy the ennobling protection of the law. To serve France in
France, he says, is for us now plainly impossible. To serve her
abroad is the only chance we have left, at least so long as the
policy of the Empire remains unchanged.
The King of Sardinia has intrusted to two Lombard artists the
execution of two paintings, one the battle of Solferino, the other
the taking of San Martino, an episode of the same battle, in which
the Piedmonts were the sole actors. A marble monument, recording the
heroic defence of the city of Brescia against the Austrian troops in
1849, is also to be executed by a native artist.
UNINTENTIONAL HOMICIDE.�At Saint Gall, in Switzerland, a
few days
ago, young workman and workwoman having married, went with their
friends to a public-house to eat the wedding feast. When the mirth
and fun were at their height, the report of a fire-arm was heard,
and the young husband, to the consternation of the party, was struck
in the head by a ball and fell dead. The same ball before hitting
him grazed his wife's neck, and after passing through his head,
lodged in in the shoulder of one of the guests, wounding him rather severely.
It
turned out that the fatal shot was fired by a workman named Boppart,
but quite unintentionally. He being a friend of the newly married
couple, and being about to join the wedding parity, of which his
wife was one, thought fit to fire his gun in their honour, but by
mistake he charged it with a ball cartridge instead of with one of
simple power. Boppart was so affected at the fatal event and at the
comments made on it by the townspeople that the day after he drowned
himself in a pond.
_________________________________
CELEBRATION OF THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN IN ALGIERS.
The journals in Algeria state that the successes of the French in
Italy have afforded great pleasure to the Arab populations under
their rule, and in their honour an influential Arab chief, the
Khalifa of the Mina, Ben-Abd-Allah ould Shel Arabi, who is a
commander in the Legion of Honour, gave a few days ago a grand f�te
to the French authorities and the native chiefs of his district:―
"General Hugo, commanding the subdivision of Mostaganem, accompanied
by the sub-prefect and mayor of that town, arrived early in the
morning at Bel-Assel, the khalifa's residence. At about a league
from the house, they were met by the aghas and caids of the
district, mounted on magnificent horses, and carrying the long Arab
muskets; the Arabs were accompanied by flags and music, and
presented a brilliant appearance. Near the house was an Arab camp,
containing a great number of tents. The khalifa had caused a
sumptuous banquet to be prepared for his guests; and when they were
seated sheep roasted whole suspended on long poles, and a multitude
of dishes containing meat and fowls, &c., were brought in in stately
procession. The caids collected in the courtyard in groups of ten or
twelve, and the dainties prepared were distributed to them; those of
the Sahel, having attained a certain degree of European refinement,
fed themselves with a spoon, but one spoon served for several of
them�each taking a mouthful with it in turn, and then passing it to
his neighbour. At the khalifa's table, after the repast was
finished, a toast was drunk with enthusiasm to France, the Emperor,
the Empress, and the Imperial Prince; and the caids outside joined
in applauding it. The whole party then proceeded to the camp, where
a grand fantasia took place. It consisted, as usual, of races of
charges of imaginary enemies, accompanied by the incessant firing of
muskets, wrestling, and feats of strength. After these rejoicings the party returned to the khalifa's residence, where a supper as
plentiful as the preceding meal was prepared."
The next day the French General passed the Arab chiefs an their
goums in review, thanking them in a brief speech for the interest
which they manifested in France, and they responded by cries of
"Long live the Emperor!"
_________________________________
INDIA.�DREADFUL STATE OF HINDOSTAN.―THE
REVOLT NOT QUELLED.
The insurgents still hold out in Nepaul, whose ruler, Jung Baliadoor,
screens them.
Between Phileebeet and Gurwall the rebels are now scattered, but
they are not likely to descend to the plains at the foot of the
Himalayas, as a strong body of police, composed chiefly of Sikhs, is
stationed at the points through which Oude is approachable from the
hills. They are beset by formidable difficulties on the south, and
alarm seems to have driven them frantic.
We occasionally hear of some skirmishes with small bodies of
insurgents. Burjore Sing, and his brother-in-law, Chutter, at the
head of about five hundred rebels, were lately in the vicinity of
Jhansi; the whereabouts of the former having been discovered by
Catania (Adjutant of Police), an attempt was made to catch him in
the dark, but it failed. A small detachment of the 24th. Madras
Infantry, and one of military police, horse and foot, under Major
Davis, went in search of the enemy; but after knocking about for
some time, on the 19th June the little force reached Joarum at one
o'clock p.m., when the two rebel leaders were eleven miles off
across the Dessaum river, close upon the border of the Tehree State.
Leaving all the heavy luggage at Alipore, Major Davis made a rapid
march at two o'clock, and got up to the attack about five. Overtaken
in a dense jungle the rebels fled in all directions, about ten being
killed, and fifteen taken prisoners�amongst the former was Burjore's
foster brother, perhaps the real leader on the occasion. It is
believed that he was shot by Major Davis just after he had fired at
Lieutenant Hawthorne. He wore a lot of valuable ornaments, which
will make a considerable addition to the prize property.
A correspondent of a north-west contemporary gives some particulars
of a late attack by a small force under Major Meade on the enemy's
position at Girias�: "Major Meade returned yesterday from a
successful dour against the rebels. He started on the evening of
the 30th June with 250 men, including 40 of H.M.'s 92nd Highlanders,
marched 30 miles during the night, and reached the enemy's position
at Girias� a little after sunrise. He commenced the attack
immediately, and after five hours' fighting cleared the hill on
which the rebels had taken up a very strong position (300 feet high,
covered with a jungle, and two miles in length), and stormed their
village (a large stone built one of great strength). The enemy were
between 400 and 500 strong, with 100 sepoys; of these 80 or 100 were
killed, including all the head men. But unfortunately some women and
children were accidentally smothered by the smoke, and perished in
the village. This was not the fault of our brave soldiers. The
enemy had got into a strong loopholed house, and would not give in,
and no one had any idea there were any women or children there. Our
loss was twelve or fourteen killed and wounded. It was a most
successful affair, and ought to have the best possible political
effect among the unruly Thakoors and their rebel followers."
It is surmised that some of the Nepaulese may try and raise an
insurrection, or some of the Nana's emissaries may be sent to try
and get the Raj for the Nepaulese�as there is no doubt he and the
Begum are assisted by these Paharies.
It is said the whole of the Court of Nepaul, except Jung Baha-door,
sympathise with the rebels, and, were it not for Sir Jung, would
give them an asylum at Katmandoo.
The Bombay Overland Times states:�"We received information yesterday
of two important actions having been fought near Sanger within the
last month, by Lieutenant Roome, of the 10th Native Infantry, with
certain rebel bodies, consisting, as we suppose, of the d�bris of
Tantia Topee's force. Lieut. Roome, than whom the service does not
contain a more gallant soldier, is commanding, we believe, a
detachment of the 10th Native Infantry, and of Mayne's Horse at
Basonda, and is said . . . |
――――♦――――
PAGE 3.
. . . to have surprised Adeel Mahommed on the
23rd ultimo, in the neighbourhood of Goonapora. The
attacking force consisted of 160 men of the 10th Native
Infantry, and 100 of the horse. Roome left Basonda on the
22nd, hoping that the rebels, said to be 2,000 strong, and
amongst them 800 mutineers, would await his attack if made with
so small a force. The rebel leader had taken up a strong
position in the hills about a coss distant from Gooriepoora, but
seems to have wanted courage at the last moment to sustain the
assault. Our little column advanced carefully, though
rapidly, upon the position, to find it abandoned.
Lieutenant Blair with the cavalry went in pursuit, and cut up
100 of the enemy. The column was fired upon on its return
at the village of Gooriepoora, when Roome gave orders to storm
it, an operation which was performed without loss, and the
supplies of an army collected therein destroyed. On the
27th information was brought into Basondah that another leader,
Surferaz Khan, with 300 Sepoys, was again encamped at
Gooriepoora; and Roome marched at twelve o'clock that night to
come upon the rebels just as they were preparing to march in the
morning. The cavalry were at once let slip, but the rebels
made for and secured the hills. A few only were cut up.
These were all Bengal Sepoys, and showed a good deal of
discipline in their tactics, for after the first charge they
took up a position in the rocks where the horse could not
follow, and kept up a steady fire of musketry and abuse upon the
assailants. The infantry finally dislodged them from the
ground they had taken, killing a large number of them, and
capturing all their horses and baggage animals. Among the
dead were Sepoys who had fought at Mooltan and Guzerat, as were
evidenced by the medals that were found upon them. The
effect of these operations has been to reduce the district to
the semblance of loyalty. The villagers had previously
refused supplies, and vaunted that they did not recognise the
English Sirkar, and would sell nothing to the troops. It
is hard to see the end of this state of matters. We are
reaping the whirlwind, and know not when our work will be done."
RAJPOOTANA.�Extract
of a letter from Rajpootana, 2nd July;�"Colonel Evans and
Lieutenant Tyrwhitt thought the business was over, and dismissed
almost all the troops, retaining only two levies and a couple of
companies. On the night of the 20th (the day that the head
quarters of the Beloocha Battalion marched on their return to
Hyderabad), the Nuggur Parker Rana made a successful attempt to
escape, overpowered and cut down Evans's and Tyrwhitt's guards,
cut the tent ropes, seized the treasure, and liberated the
prisoners. The new levies bolted. The two companies
of Beloochees, however, must have stuck to it; for they were
fighting till sunrise, when Johnson's Beloochees returned and
cleared the place, pursuing the rebels into the hills, with
severe loss, and killing many of the liberated prisoners.
Another field force has gone out from Deesa, and they will be
obliged to maintain a force at Nuggur Parker for some time to
come."
EUROPEAN LEVIES
OF THE LATE
COMPANY.�There is
every reason to believe that eight or ten thousand of these
troops will demand their discharge, in terms of the general
order that has been published. It is impossible to say
whether a new bounty would have led these men to re-enlist or
not. It was surely imperative, however, for Government to
have ascertained that fact beforehand, and if a bounty would
have retained them, it was sheer madness to refuse it. We
have lighted upon evil times in India, and there is no man in
the country who seems to understand the epoch but Sir Charles
Trevelyan, whom the Madrassees are ready to immolate for his
uncomplimentary minute upon Indian juries.
The Overland Bombay Standard states, with reference to
Oude and its frontiers:�On the 1st ult., Captain Renny, with a
detachment of the 3rd Sikh infantry and a troop of native
cavalry, gallantly surprised a body of rebels at Chainpore, on
the edge of the jungle under the Nepaul Hills, capturing twenty
of them (including Sepoys of the 42nd, 60th, and 67th Native
Infantry), with three elephants, two camels, seventeen horses,
and a large quantity of arms. On the 14th ult. Major
Vaughan, 5th Punjaub Rifles, attacked, with a force from Sidonia
Ghat and Bhings, a body about a thousand strong, in a pass
leading into Nepaul, and defeated them with considerable loss.
Meanwhile a smaller party, under Captain Cleveland, Moradabad
Levy, went in pursuit of the Atonah Rajah, who was encamped with
200 men in the jungle. The Rajah himself escaped, with the
loss of about 25 men, and his own tents, baggage, &c.
During the return march of the Sidonia Ghat force (1st Punjaub
Cavalry and 5th Punjaub Rifles) an attack was made, on the 18th,
on a body of rebels in the Sun Puttree Pass, about 100 being
killed. These encounter are said to have decided Beni
Madho, who was collecting a force in Dang, to remain quiet.
The Begum and Khan Balladeer Khan are at Bootwal, in a fort:
they have about 100 men with them. The Begum has money,
and supplies all the rebels with clothing and money to purchase
supplies. Khan Bahadoor Khan is very ill, and cries day
and night; he has no followers with him. The Nana is about
eight koss from Bootwal, with 2,000 men. They are regular
Sepoys, and are very strict in doing duty and keeping guard.
There are 4,000 Budmashes, men from Lucknow, and elsewhere, at
the foot of the hills, who plunder, as they have no money.
They have plenty of women with them, who came also from Lucknow,
whom they have robbed of their jewels. It is the intention
of the rebels to go towards the Santhal district, when they
leave their present locality. It is also reported in the
Nana's camp, that Ferose Shahs had gone to Cabul, to get
assistance from Dost Mahomed.
We believe, however, that Captain Wheler, 2nd Gwalior
Infantry, has drawn a cordon around Feroze Shah, and is closing
on him rear Seronj.
The rebels are more troublesome at Sanger and Lullutpore than
ever, and there are more detached posts around than last year.
Those about Sauger are a compound of Boondela Budmashes and
Sepoys, under Jeswunt Singh.
They have closed the northern road, between Sauger and
Chutterpoor, and lately looted 240 grain carts. They carry
their plunder to an old fort, deep in the jungle, which was
dismantled by Brigadier Wheler, and to which they have
constructed a good road, providing themselves also with carts,
&c., for the convenience of transporting their booty.
___________________________
ROYALTY.
The Queen has held a two days'
review at Aldershott; the Prince of Wales has visited the Bass
Rock, and great preparations are making for his sojourn at
Oxford.
______________
THE METROPOLIS.
HEALTH
OF LONDON.�The
population of London is apparently more movable than any other
city population. It sends out emigrants, it is recruited
to a large extent by immigrants, and in the changing seasons of
the year thousands come and go. In the present week many
of its visitors are gone; thousands of the inhabitants are away,
yet these waves of the vast population produce little
disturbance in its vital phenomena. Deaths and births
suffer no interruption. 1,188 persons died; 1,781 children
were born in the week ending Saturday, August 20th. The
deaths, it is gratifying to find, are below the average.
In the corresponding week of 1849 and 1854, 2,230 and 1,883 of
the people perished; but the deaths in the corresponding week of
other years, after due correction for the increase of
population, were 1,185. Diarrhoea is decreasing; the
deaths in the week were 240. The east and south districts
suffer most severely. Ten persons died of cholera, eight
children and two men. Last week the births of 917 boys and
864 girls, in all 1,781 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1849-58 the average
number was 1,555.
______________
SEDITIOUS BALLADS�The
Constitution of Wexford states that, on Wednesday
evening, Sub-Constable Ginn arrested two men, named John and
Martin Sullivan, on the charge of singing and disposing of
seditious ballads in the public thoroughfares. The ballads
were forfeited to the authorities; the men being let off by the
mayor, on promising to immediately leave the town. |
ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.
LISKEARD�Mr. Bernal
Osborne was returned on Saturday without opposition.
HULL.�Mr. Somes
was elected by a considerable majority on Saturday last, the
numbers being:�For Mr. Somes, 2,068; for Mr. Lewis, 1,579.
BERWICK.�Mr.
Majoribanks was elected on Saturday after a very sharp contest.
At noon the two candidates stood equal, and at the close of the
poll thus:�Majoribanks, 335; Hodgson, 334 majority for
Majoribanks, 1.
________________________________
THE BUILDERS' STRIKE.
On Saturday the usual meeting of the Executive Committee of
Operative Builders was held at the Paviors' Arms,
Johnson-street, Millbank, and was very numerously attended by
the operatives. This day completed the second week of the
masters' lock-out, and the third of the strike by the men at
Messrs. Trollope's. The men are still sanguine that they
shall be able to accomplish the object they have in view, while
on the part of the masters there are no signs of giving way.
As an evidence of the antipathy in which such a declaration
is held, and as a proof of the determination to resist it, the
committee and conference of the operatives of the building
trades, on Saturday evening, issued a placard, signed officially
by their secretary, full of sarcasm, and calculated to throw
ridicule on the Association of Masters, who thought they could
induce men to accept it as the terms upon which they should
employ their labour. This placard is headed in full
capitals, "The Odious Document."
It has been already stated that the operatives have sent
delegates into various parts of the country to address the
workmen of the building trades, with a view to prevent them
coming to London to supplant those who are out of employment;
and the reports of those places already visited, made at the
Paviors' Arms on Saturday, are stated to have been most
favourable to the cause of the men. It is stated, meetings were
held at Brighton, Windsor, and other places, at which the
operatives were most enthusiastic, and large sums were
subscribed. At present, therefore, there does not seem to be
even a remote prospect of a termination of this struggle between
"capital and labour."
The number of the "locked-out" operatives is stated to be
greatly exaggerated, the actual number not exceeding 16,000.
On Tuesday afternoon the master builders of the metropolis met
at the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, and sat for a long
time in consultation with closed doors. The reporters of the
press were excluded, and at the end of the meeting they were
informed that the masters had decided not to open their shops
for the present, and then adjourned till Tuesday next.
The adjourned meeting of the delegates of all the trades unions
in London, was held on Tuesday night at the Shaftesbury Hall,
Aldersgate-street. Mr. Gray was called to the chair. Mr. Potter,
the Secretary, at the request of the delegate from the
engineers, said the masters had been successful in getting in a
certain number of men to Messrs. Trollope's, and as fast as they
had come the society had induced them either to go back to the
country or to leave the shop they came to. The number of men
locked out at present amounted to about 10,000, and of those 547
were masons, 1,077 bricklayers, 2,816 carpenters, 662
plasterers, and the remainder consisted of painters,
stone-cutters, &c. They struck a dividend amongst them of
1s.
1d. each, and there was no difference made between the skilled
and the unskilled workmen. Trollope's men were paid 12s. for the
skilled men and 8s. for the unskilled. They expected the
dividend to be declared next week would be larger. When the
delegates had concluded, the Chairman of the Engineers moved a
resolution to the effect, "That the meeting exceedingly
regretted that a portion of the iron trade that had been locked
out had issued the circular stating that they were not
recognised by the conference, when such a statement was not
correct." Mr. Heep having seconded the motion, it was carried
unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at a late hour.
THE TRADESMEN'S DOCUMENT.
At
the Westminster Police-court, on Saturday last, Thomas Ball, an
Irish labourer, was charged with obstructing the foot and
carriage ways. William Norris, 125 B, said that at two o'clock
that afternoon he found the defendant in Stafford-row, Pimlico,
in front of a new building in the course of erection by Messrs.
Trollope, with a large board before and behind him, on which
were large placards. Above a hundred persons were round
defendant, reading the placards, and considerable obstruction,
both on the foot and carriage way, was consequently caused. Witness told him to go away, when he replied that if he paid him
his day's wages he would do so. Witness, of course, said he had
nothing to do with defendant's wages, and induced him to move
on, but he again and again returned, and witness found it
necessary to take him into custody. A gentleman on horseback in
the road complained of defendant being there with his boards. The following is a copy of the placard:
"The Odious Document�The Agreement�'I declare I am not now, nor
will I during the continuance of my engagement with you, become
a member of or support any society which directly or indirectly
interferes with the arrangements of this or any other
establishment, or the hours or terms of labour; and that I
recognise the right of employers and employed individually to
make any trade arrangement in which they may think fit to
agree.�Fellow-workmen, the above is a copy of your badge of
slavery."
The "document" bore date the 18th of August, 1859, and the
signature of "G. Potter, Secretary, by order of the executive."
Appended to it was the form to be signed in the presence of
masters or foreman, designated the "counter stamp," and the
instruction, "to light your pipe with." Defendant said he had
been sent out with the boards, and did not know he was doing
wrong. He stood in the road. Mr. Arnold, in consideration of his
ignorance of the law, informed him that if he stood anywhere
with an attractive placard, be it upon any subject it might,
and thereby caused an obstruction, he was liable to a penalty of
40s., and committal for a month in default. It was immaterial
what the matter contained in the placard was; but the exhibition
of it in this instance had collected a crowd, and blocked up the
thoroughfare. He (the worthy magistrate) would not now punish
the defendant, but having told him what the law was, required
him to enter into his recognisances of 20l. to come up for
judgment if ever called upon, which he would be if he repeated
the offence.
______________
OXFORD.�An
open-air meeting of the operatives in the building and other
trades at Oxford, was held near the Martyrs' Memorial, Oxford,
on the evening of Monday last. Several members of the London
Conference attended as delegates, being supported by a large
body of the working class. Mr. Banks (mason) of Oxford, moved,
and Mr. Stingo (joiner) of London, seconded a resolution,
pledging the Oxford operatives to assist the movement. The
motion having been strongly supported by Mr. Facey (painter),
of London, was carried without dissent. Another resolution was
then carried, pledging the meeting to endeavour to prevent any
of the workmen of the neighbourhood going to London at the
employers' solicitation during the struggle. During the progress
of the speakers, subscription lists were handed round by those
interested in the cause, and sympathy for the men was evinced by
the response of many of the bystanders who had no connexion with
the building trade.
______________
THE JOURNEYMEN
BAKERS AND THE
SHORT
TIME
MOVEMENT.�The
journeymen bakers held another meeting on Saturday at the
Cowper-street Institution, City-road, in furtherance of their
renewed movement for shortening the hours of labour from
eighteen to twelve hours daily, and to substitute day for night
labour. There were about 700 operatives and their wives present,
the majority of whom came to the place of meeting in a
procession, headed by a band playing military music. The Rev.
Mr. Stowell was called to the chair. Mr. Ayton moved the first
resolution, to the effect that the present system was not
consistent with reason, justice, or humanity, the operative
baker being compelled to work an unlimited number of hours, at a
fixed remuneration, . . . . |
. . . . without proper time for natural rest, whereby he
became morally and physically incapable of discharging his
duties as a Christian, a parent, and a citizen; and it was,
therefore, the opinion of the meeting that a limitation of the
hours of labour to twelve hours each day would be beneficial
alike to the masters and the men. The resolution was carried
unanimously.
TENANT EVICTIONS IN MERIONETH.
A very important meeting has been held at the
County Hall, Bala, for the purpose of explaining those
privileges which the British constitution has provided for the
people, and of sympathising with those tenant farmers who have
been evicted from their farms in consequence of a firm adherence
to their political principles. The chair was occupied by J.
Jones, Esq., J.P., of Fachddeiliog.
The Rev. John Williams, of Liandrillo, moved the first
resolution�"That this meeting is of opinion that it is very
important that all registered electors should consider that the
destiny of the United Kingdom is intrusted to them�that the
right to vote is sacred�and that so important a trust should be
discharged according to their conscientious convictions."
Mr. Thomas Jones, of Llandderfel, seconded the resolution, which
was agreed to.
O. Richards, Esq., M.D., of Bala, proposed the second
resolution:�"That any attempt to encroach upon the elector's
right is an infringement upon liberty, and to be deprecated as
treason against the fundamental principles of our constitution."
The Rev. J. Parry, in seconding the resolution, protested
against the doctrine which was so shamelessly paraded during the
election, that the landlord had a right to his tenant's vote,
and he again reminded them that it was a sacred trust which the
constitution had provided for them for the benefit of the
country at large. (Cheers.)
The Rev. Lewis Edwards, M.A., moved the third resolution:
�"That this meeting having viewed the harsh proceedings which
the recent contest has given rise to in this neighbourhood, and
regarding the object thereof, an attack upon freedom of
election, and to terrify tenant voters into a slavish submission
to the dictation of the landlord, pledges itself to use every
fair and constitutional means to defeat those ends."
Mr. David Jones, of Llandderfel, seconded the resolution.
The Rev. David Rowland, of Llidiardau, also spoke to the
resolution.
The Rev. Michael D. Jones moved the fourth resolution:― "That this
meeting, deeply sympathising with those tenant voters, who, in
consequence of having refused to vote at the dictation of their
landlord, and contrary to their conscientious convictions, have
thereby incurred serious losses, resolves to appeal to a British
public for a subscription (from a penny upwards) to mark its
sense of such treatment, and to present the sufferers with a
memorial of the sympathy and regard off their countrymen."
Mr. Simon Jones, in seconding the resolution, spoke at
considerable length on the necessity of their frequent meetings
to impress upon the electors the necessity of knowing the
correct value of the franchise, and of preventing it becoming a
dangerous instrument in the hands of a local Bomba. It was well
to look upon it "as a favour," but they should remember that
Herod's wife asked for the head of John the Baptist "as a
favour."
(Hear, hear.)
A vote of thanks having been voted to, and acknowledged by the
Chairman, the meeting separated.
________________________________
CRIMINAL STATISTICS.
�From a review of the criminal statistics of the last 15 years,
it appears that 1848 was the most productive of committals in
England and Wales, the total having risen in that eventful
twelve months to 30,349. In 1855, the total was 25,972, and the
operation of the Juvenile Offenders' Act and the Criminal
Justice Act, giving magistrates power to convict summarily in
certain cases, is seen in a reduction in 1858 to 17,855
committals for trial by ordinary process at sessions and
assizes. This is the lowest point reached in the whole period
under review. The convictions in 1844 were 71 per cent.; in
1855, 76 per cent.; and in 1858, 74 per cent. The proportion of
the sexes in the committals was as follows:―1844, males 81� per cent.,
females 81� per cent.; 1855, males 77 per cent., females
23 per cent.; 1858, males 78 per cent., females 22 per cent. In
Scotland. 1848 was also the worst year, but the number of
committals in 1858 was greater than in 1844, the operation of
the acts already mentioned being limited to England and Wales. The total were, in 1844, 3575, and in 1858 3782, the convictions
being 77 and 75 per cent. respectively, and the proportion of
female commitments 26 and 27 respectively. The decrease of crime
in Ireland is very remarkable, the total committals having
fallen from 41,989 in 1849 to 6308 in 1858.
Another extraordinary feature in the returns relating to Ireland
is the small proportion the convictions have uniformly borne to
the committals, the per centage having been only 41 in 1844, 47
in 1848, 58 in 1852, 57 in 1855, and 52 in 1858. It will be
seen, however, that even in this respect the administration of
justice in Ireland has improved, greater care being probably now
taken with regard to the commitments, while juries give a fairer
consideration to the cases before them. The proportion of the
sexes in 1844 was 69 males committed to 31 women; in 1858, 66
men to 34 women. Crime, unhappily, seems therefore to be on the
increase among the female sex.
ST. GEORGE'S EAST.�A scene of a most disgraceful character was
witnessed last Sunday afternoon in the parish church of St.
George's-in-the-East. The Rev. Hugh Allen, who has recently been
appointed by the vestry to the afternoon lectureship, preached
at the service which commenced at half-past two o'clock, and in
the course of his sermon alluded to clergymen who did not preach
the gospel, and more than once mentioned the Pope of Rome,
allusions which tended to excite the minds of many persons
present who were opposed to the religious teaching of the rector
of the parish (the Rev. Bryan King) and his curates. At the
close of this service the churchwardens endeavoured to clear the
church in order that preparations might be made for the ordinary
four o'clock service, but upwards of 100 persons refused to
leave and crowded round the altar. This portion of the church
was decked out in ultra-Romanistic style, with crosses, candles,
and coloured cloths. At five minutes before four o'clock the
doors of the church were thrown open, and an excited and riotous
mob rushed in, shrieking and howling, towards the altar. In a
few moments afterwards a clergyman came from the vestry, and was
accompanied by six or eight young men, who acted as choristers,
and who were habited in white robes. The clergyman himself, who
was stated to be the Rev. Mr. Jennings, the curate of Stepney,
had a large black beard and moustache, which rendered his
appearance very remarkable.
He wore the Oxford master's hood, and upon his scarf at the back
of his neck was woven a cross. As soon as he appeared in the
church there was a great uproar, cries of "Oh, oh," and hisses. The rev. gentleman, who appeared to be quite unmoved, proceeded
with his choristers to the front of the altar, where they all
knelt with their backs to the congregation. The Litany was
intoned by the priest, and the responses were made by the
choristers, but while they sung others said them in the usual
plain style, with very strong voices, in order to spoil the
effect of the choir, while another set of people vociferated
remarks which are not to be found in the Liturgy, and jeered the
clergyman by imitating the noises of a goat. At the close of the
Litany service, the clergyman rose, bowed to the altar, and
retired, at which time nearly the whole of the congregation
hissed, yelled, and indulged in them most hideous noises. A
gentleman who was present, and who appeared to have been worked
up to an extraordinary pitch of excitement, shouted at the top
of his voice, "Pray don't tear down the altar," an indirect
invitation which would have been forthwith acted upon had not
the churchwarden stood at the gate and guarded the entrance.
At the close of the service hundreds of persons assembled in the
churchyard for the purpose of hooting the clergyman as he left
the sacred edifice, but he, disappointed them by getting out by
a more private way. |
――――♦――――
PAGE 4.
A PUBLIC MEETING will be held at PHILPOT HALL,
Philpot-street, Commercial-road East, on Monday next, August
29th, to take into consideration the best means to obtain
effective Reform in Parliament, when
ERNEST JONES will address the meeting. Commence at eight o'clock
precisely.
___________________________
OUR LETTER-BOX.
GLASGOW.�Subscriptions for the Testimonial Fund received
by R.
S. Hamilton, Stationer, 39, Nelson-street, City, and
Henry Carrigan, John-street Lane, Bridgeton, Glasgow.
NORWICH.�A Testimonal-sheet lies at Mr. I. L.
Hawkin's, St.
Michael's Coslang, Church Alley.
J. PICKFORD.�Thanks. This leaves 2s. 5d. due.
WELLINBOROUGH.�A
Testimonial Sheet on behalf of E. Jones,
Esq., lies at J. Smeather's, broker, High-street,
Wellinborough, where all
subscriptions will be
thankfully
received.
D. CHALMERS.�Many thanks for the eight shillings for
papers. We
assure you your papers were posted at the
usual time, and the
fault is entirely with the post.
___________________________
THE CABINET NEWSPAPER.
__________
LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1859.
___________________________
HORRIBLE TYRANNY TOWARDS THE POOR.
WE have frequently of late had occasion to notice the constantly
increasing rapidity with which one act of intolerable oppression
of the poor succeeds the other. This week, however, in north and
west, two cases occur,
which are heartrending, and ought to fill every one worthy of
the name of man with the hottest and most unbounded indignation. The one affects only one family directly, but is a deliberate
insult to an entire parish, and,
indeed, to the entire people. The other affects many families. The scene of the former lies in Sutherlandshire, on the estates
of the Ducal House of Sutherland, already so notorious for its
doings. The latter has been
enacted near Aberdare, in Wales. The first we quote from the
Times�the last we have from an old correspondent of our own. No
words we can add, can heighten the picture given in the
following description of
FEUDAL TYRANNY IN THE
HIGHLANDS.�An
occurrence (says the Edinburgh North Briton) has taken place at Applecross, in
Ross-shire, the seat of the Duchess of Leeds, and mixed up with
the matter there is a
gallant Captain Chisholm, who surely must have followed the
profession of arms in one of the South Sea or Cannibal Islands,
if his conduct on the occasion alluded to may be taken as a
specimen. The statement is on
the authority of a Highlander, who seems to be well acquainted
with the circumstances. He says:�"This neighbourhood has been
the scene of the greatest excitement among the people during the
last few days, in
consequence of a most heartless eviction of a poor man and his
family from their house. Some time ago there came a decent,
honest man, a tailor, to reside here, with the intention of
prosecuting that vocation. For
this purpose he obtained permission from a poor woman to occupy
a part of her house, where he had been quietly and steadily
working for the surrounding population. There was no complaint
made against him; he
was charged with no crime. Suddenly, Captain Chisholm, the
factor for her Grace the Duchess of Leeds, ordered himself and
family to cease work and quit the country. This request he very
naturally declined to comply
with. The people interceded on his behalf, and sent in a
petition, numerously signed, to the factor, begging that he
would permit the man to remain, as a tradesman of his
description was much needed. The captain
was inexorable, and on Tuesday morning he sent down two gillies,
without any warrant or legal process whatever, to drive him out
of the house. The poor tailor they made short work of. They
found him quietly sitting
down to his breakfast, when they seized him and pitched him
outside the door, sending his humble breakfast after him. They
next turned upon his wife, who was lying sick in bed. They
dragged her from her bed
screaming, and sent her outside, bruising and discolouring her
arm. Her infant child, who was sucking at her breast, was then
taken out and laid upon the ground. Their whole effects were
thrown out after them, and the
door locked. The people stood by horrorstruck at such cruel
treatment, and could only express their sympathy for this
afflicted family by raising a small subscription in their
behalf. Towards evening one of these gillies
was sent through every house in the neighbourhood, warning the
people that if they gave shelter to the tailor or his family
they would be at once deprived of their lands. All were
terrified, not only to give shelter, but also
even to acknowledge this poor man as he wandered houseless by
the roadside. In this extremity accommodation was provided for
him in the parochial school-house, where he now finds shelter
from the elements; and
a number of the people assembled and erected a tent for him on
the minister's glebe, where he and his unfortunate family may in
the meantime find a cover until some better be provided."
We do not pause to ask what our readers will say to this, but
proceed at once to another case of
OPPRESSION AT ABERDEEN.*
DEAR SIR,�Hirwain Common has been on fire. The most brutal
attack upon the working men was committed here last week that
ever was heard of. No one can find a right or title to this
common. Some of the
cottages have been built six or seven years, some more and some
less. Some of the people had notice to leave two or three months
ago, but did not believe that any one had a right to drive them
out, as we have been
paying poor rates, and had quiet possession. But last week a
body of policemen, with swords by their sides, brought a gang of
ruffians, who threw out the poor people's things, and then
pulled down and set fire to their
houses. There are a great number of other hardworking honest men
in dread of being served in the same manner. It is a set of
people who call themselves "Blinkers," who meant to get us away,
that they might take
possession themselves. There is no protection here for the
working man. The fences of the gardens were all thrown down
belonging to the cottages they destroyed, and the gardens
exposed to the stock, which was a
great loss to the families.
Dear sir, we should be very much obliged if you would give us
some advice, so that we could bring our case before the Queen. We
hear that the Brinkers have given us a very bad character to
the Commissioners, but
we are quite ready to prove it to be false. We are all willing,
if any one could find a proper owner, to pay a small
ground-rent. We should be much obliged if you could make our
case known in the Cabinet.�Yours,
sincerely, CHAS. HUBBARD.
Hirwain Common, near Aberdare.
*Ed―should read 'Aberdare'.
Such acts as the above make one thrill with indignation. Is it
possible that Englishmen, Welshmen, or Scotchmen can stand
quietly by, and see such tyranny perpetrated with impunity? A
meeting has
just been held to reprove the tyranny of Mr. Price towards his
wealthy tenants; let far larger and more demonstrative meetings
be held to stigmatise this treatment of the poor. We would also
suggest that a fund
be subscribed to the proceedings, with a view to test the
legality of the acts whereof we complain. We shall be happy to
receive any assistance through these columns. |
THE
PROSPECTS OF ITALIAN FREEDOM.
IT is very evident that Victor Emmanuel is secretly encouraging
the proceedings in the Duchies and Legations His commissioners
have paved the way for what is now occurring, and they resign
their Sardinian
commissionerships to accept the dictatorships of the "revolted"
states. Garibaldi is a lieutenant-general in the Sardinian
service, and, without apparently forfeiting his position under
Victor Emmanuel, consents to be
appointed commander-in-chief of the armies of Central Italy. These facts speak for themselves; and, if we couple therewith
the coolness said to exist between the Piedmontese King and the
Emperor of the French, it
seems not at all difficult to arrive at a conclusion as to the
turn matters are now taking. The unanimity with which the
Duchies and the Legations all decree their annexation to
Sardinia also savours of a previous secret
organisation, instigated under Royal auspices; and such a
proceeding may well thwart the projects and irritate the
feelings of that precious liberator of the oppressed�Napoleon
Bonaparte. Another point highly
deserving of notice is the rumour that the affairs of Lombardy
being settled at the Zurich Conference, with the assistance of
the Sardinian Plenipotentiary, those of the Duchies and
Legations are to be treated of by the
Emperors of the French and Austria only. We hope and believe
that the Italian people themselves will have a little to say
upon the subject, perhaps at the cannon's mouth, with Garibaldi
as their leader. Every hour is
now fraught with vital importance, and the only safeguard of the
Italians lies in arming and drilling to a man,�the more so, as
50,000 French are still in Northern Italy.
__________
THE REVOLT OF HINDOSTAN.
WE direct the attention of our readers to the news brought by
the last Bombay Mail. They will thereby see that the revolt is
far from over; but that fighting, although on a small scale, is
going on in almost all the old
quarters. In one instance, a native force, little superior in
numbers to the British, resisted the latter for nearly an entire
day. The Nepaulese openly favour the insurgents; the Sikhs are
notoriously disaffected,�they are
80,000 in number, and but little will be needed to enact the old
tragedy anew.
__________
NAPOLEON'S "CLEMENCY."
THE "amnesty" of Napoleon has been justly spurned by Victor Hugo
and Louis Blanc. The despot doubtless thinks he is strong enough
to allow his foes and victims to return. But no!�he does not
think so,�for he
fears one man, and that is�LEDRU ROLLIN. Strong must be his
position, who dreads the presence of one solitary exile! But
the infatuation of the tyrant is doubtlessly as great as his
crimes. Possibly he reckons on
"gratitude!" The gratitude of the lamb to the wolf, after the
latter has tortured and tormented it for years�wrecked its home
and murdered its kindred. We tell the bloodstained usurper, that
if hatred was engendered by
his cruelty, it will be rendered by his clemency more intense.
The vacant chair at the domestic hearth caused tears of rage and
anguish; but when that chair is filled by the pale, worn-out,
death-stricken cripple who
shall be restored to it, we are much mistaken if those tears do
not ere long change to a rain of blood�and that, from imperial
veins. Every restored exile will be as a ghastly beacon for
vengeance, a living monument of
atrocious cruelty, a breathing reproach to the people who
allowed such things to be, and bent the knee before the monster
who had enacted them.
__________
LABOUR AND TRADE.
TO THE
EDITOR OP THE
"CABINET
NEWSPAPER."
Sir,�The case of John Wandless is heard at Bishop Auckland on
Friday, the 19th inst., the case having been put off from time
to time since March last. Mr. Johnson something like split the
difference between the
miners and himself and the bindings. The miners of Binchester
Colliery were bound under a monthly agreement for some time back
at the following rates of prices:�6s. per score of coals, each
score to consist of twenty-one tubs, and each tub to hold twenty
pecks, or six cwt. weight of coals in each tub. This was the
monthly agreement.
The yearly agreement, touching the same clause, runs thus:�The
said R. S. Johnson, as such agent of such owner aforesaid,
agrees to pay the said parties hereby hired, and a fortnight
upon the usual and
accustomed day the wages to be earned at the following rates,
namely, to each hewer for every score of coals wrought out of
the whole mine, each score to consist of twenty-one tubs, and
each tub to be of the same
size and dimensions as the tub now used and adopted at the
Binchester Colliery, and which said tubs shall not be altered or
varied in size without the privity and consent of the parties
hereby hired at and after the
following rates, viz., in the whole mine 6s. per score, &c. The
blank place that is left in the clause is for the cubic inches
according to the size that Mr. Johnson sets the tubs through the
year. The tubs have grown
from 22,182 cubic inches to the large size of 27,793 cubic
inches, so that the miners of Binchester Colliery lose on every
half score of coals, which makes the sum of 3s. for that half
score for the miner, 15� cwt. Six
cwt. is the standard weight for twenty pecks of coals, Mr.
Johnson was solicited to put the standard weight of twenty pecks
on the pit heap. The question may be asked, how many cubic
inches does the coal peck
contain? I answer as many as the coal king chose. The miner has
no protection for his labour by Government; he is solely under
the control of the coal kings. They can make their coal peck
from eight quarts to the
wonderful size of nineteen quarts, and still stand at the
standard weight of six cwt., because the weight is never fetched
on to the heap to test the weight of coal in each tub. The
number of cubic inches in a coal peck
for the standard of six cwt. should be 1,109,096 decimal cubic
inches. Miners! I call upon you in the name of God to come
forward and petition your Government for them to pass an act to
enforce all coal kings to place weights on their pit heads,
instead of cubic inches, so that you may get justice, for your
coal kings will never do it until they are forced to do so by
Government.
P. P. P.
__________
BLUE QUARRIES.
TO THE
EDITOR OF THE
"CABINET
NEWSPAPER."
SIR,�The
miners of the county of Durham, with their brethren of
Yorkshire, Lancashire, Scotland, and all the south of England,
being united to try to better the condition of . . . . |
. . . themselves and their children by trying to get
the Legislature to pass their petition, the miners of
Northumberland, wishing to start a provident society,�which the
miners of Durham cannot see clearly through,�the
petition, that is now before the Commons, provides such steps,
and likewise to mend their condition politically. According to
Mr. Hunt's report the number of collieries in the United
Kingdom, and the tons of coal and iron
ore raised, will, at a farthing per ton, make ample funds for
the miner and the widows and orphans. The following is an
account of Mr. Hunt's report:―
|
No. of Collieries. |
Tons of Coals. |
Value. |
Durham & Northumberland �
|
275 |
15,853,481 |
�3,963,371 |
Cumberland � � � |
28 |
920,137 |
230,034 |
Yorkshire � � � � |
383 |
8,302,150 |
2,075,537 |
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire
� � |
198 |
4,710,750 |
11,776,687 |
Warwickshire � � |
17 |
356,500 |
89,125 |
Staffordshire � � � |
548 |
6,680,780 |
1,670,195 |
Lancashire� � � � |
380 |
8,050.000 |
2,012,500 |
Cheshire � � � � |
35 |
695,150 |
173,862 |
Shropshire� � � � |
57 |
749,360 |
187,310 |
Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, and Devon
� � � � � |
96 |
1,125,250 |
281,313 |
North Wales � � � |
81 |
1,022,500 |
255,624 |
South Wales � � � |
352 |
7,495,289 |
1,873,823 |
Scotland� � � � � |
417 |
8,926,249 |
2,231,563 |
Ireland � � � � � |
74 |
120,750 |
30,188 |
Total |
2941 |
65,008,649 |
�16,252,162 |
This is the report for one year at the pit's mouth, when raised,
when it is estimated that, at the place of consumption, when
freight, &c., have been paid, its value is raised to nearly
30,000,000l., and by the time it
reaches the consumer this amount is still further enhanced. The
capital invested by colliery owners is estimated to amount to
45,000,000l., and in connexion with the coal trade a further sum
of 47,000,000l.
may be added as the value of shipping engaged in the conveyance
of coal, including a proportionate share of the costs of
railways, canals, and docks used alone for purposes of coal
traffic. These sums form a grand
total of 92,000,000l., of which 31,000,000l, may be apportioned
to Durham and Northumberland, 40,000,000l. to other parts of
England, and 21,000,000l. to Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The Hetton Coal Company is
believed to derive a profit of 35,000l. or 40,000l. per annum,
and two or three other large establishments average about the
same sum.
There is likewise raised 8,040,959 tons of iron ore for coal
alone. At a farthing per ton, it gives to the miners, or will
give if they will assist the few to get the petition forward,
67,717l. 6s. 10�d. Allowing the miners to be
off work by sickness and accident at the rate of 5 per cent.
they would receive 10s, per week, allowing 8,334l. for deaths,
and to be distributed amongst the widows and orphans of those
who may lose their lives by accidents in following their
perilous occupation. I think this will let the miners see
something, if they will take notice. It is strange that
the men are so lax to their own interests. Miners of
Durham and Northumberland!
come forward, and do your own share of the work that is to be
done. Each has a portion to do, if it be ever so small. We have
influential friends in London, who have promised to support our
cause both in Parliament
and out, if you will support your own cause. If it has to fail
by your not coming forward, do not blame any one but yourselves. After this appeal, I hope you will be up and doing. Let us have
to say that the miners are not
so dead to their own interests as has been said of them in
former times.
JAMES
WATSON.
__________
THE AGRICULTURAL
LABOURERS AND THE
HARVEST.�Farmers in the west of England, and especially in Devonshire,
have experienced great inconvenience by reason of the scarcity
of labourers, which has in many instances retarded harvest
operations. Several reasons
are given for this scarcity. Many labourers have
emigrated, others have been attracted
to the
railway works, where they get much higher wages, and a large
number of young labourers have enlisted in the army. The farmers
complain bitterly of the apprenticeship system, to which cause
they mainly attributed
the present scarcity of labourers. There can be but little doubt
that another cause is the smallness of the wages paid to the
agricultural labourers. In many cases there have been
improvements in this respect, but even
now 12s. per week is about the highest sum paid to the labourer,
while in some instances 9s. per week only is paid. It must,
however, be borne in mind that the labourer has other small
privileges, such as a supply of
cider daily, and, in some cases, a plot of ground, at a nominal
rent, for the cultivation of vegetables, &c. Still there can be
no doubt but that one cause of the present dearth of able-bodied
labourers is the lowness of the
wages which are paid. The weather for harvest operations in
Devonshire and the other western counties has been favourable on
the whole, and the cereal crops are good and of excellent
quality. Potatoes are in some
places affected by the disease, but the yield is abundant. The
recent heavy showers had a most beneficial effect on the green
crops and the pastures, which were much in need of moisture. The
apple crop is abundant,
and cider, it is said, will be cheap and good.
THE STRIKE OF THE
CHAINMAKERS.�On Tuesday, about 2,000
chainmakers and others assembled at an open-air meeting, on an
elevation in a meadow at Quarry Bank, called the Poole-lane,
South Staffordshire,
to determine on the course which should be pursued by the
chainmakers of that district, who are now upon strike for an
advance of wages of 1s. per cwt.―equal to from 5s. to 8s. per
man, according to the description of
chains made. Mr. Homer, the secretary of the local union,
presided, and congratulated the men that this was not only the
largest meeting that they had held, but the one also at which
they would receive the best news
that had hitherto been communicated to them. There was every
reason to expect that they would succeed in getting the rise
they had so justly demanded. Mr. Blake, a deputation from
Messrs. Abbott and Co.'s
manufactory, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, then spoke. He said that he
had come all the way from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to bring them a
tangible expression of the sympathy with them in their movement,
of about 360 of
their fellow workmen in that northern town. (Cheers.) In plain
words, he had brought them 50l.� (rapturous cheering)�to aid them
in their struggle; and as the men whom he represented regarded
their own and the interests of the chainmakers of Staffordshire
as identical, and believed that money was the sinews of war, he
was commissioned to inform that meeting that they might depend
upon receiving fortnightly from their north country brethren a
subsidy as large as the sum he had now brought. (Renewed and
prolonged cheering.) If more should be needed, he was further
commissioned to inform them that an effort would be made to send
them more. (Continued cheering.) The meeting was afterwards
addressed by some local men, of whom John Chance and Noah Forest
were the chief. From their statement, it appeared that the
chainmakers of Chester were on strike, as well as those of
Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Cradley, and the surrounding
district; that on the previous evening, Mr. Theophilus Tinsley,
the employer of sixty men at Tipton, had consented to give the
rise, and that others were expected to follow in the same
direction. Resolutions authorising the return to work of Messrs.
Tinsley's men to-day, and of a continuance of strike by those
men whose employers would not give the advance, were passed, and
the meeting dispersed peaceably, and in high spirits, after a
sitting (standing) of three hours.
THE TRIPLE
BIRTH AT
DURHAM.�Mrs.
Weams, the wife of William Weams, of Framwell-gate, Durham, has given birth to three
children. Application was made by John Bland, Esq., surgeon, for
the royal bounty usually given on occasions, and he received the
following reply yesterday:―"Sir Charles Phipps has received the
commands of her Majesty the Queen to forward to Mr. Bland the
enclosed Post-office order for 3l. as a donation from her
Majesty to Mrs. Weams.� Buckingham Palace, 22nd August, 1859." |
――――♦――――
PAGE 5.
THE BLACK CALENDAR.
__________
The Murder near Leeds.
Another piece of
intelligence has come to the knowledge of the Leeds police.
Two men, the one named William Appleby and the other Walter
Beardow, were committed for trial by the Dewsbury
magistrates on a charge of burglariously entering the house
of Mr. Benjamin Blakely, of Batley, near Dewsbury, a few
nights ago. Appleby, a young man of twenty-seven, is a
native of Bolton, in Lancashire, but has resided for the
last ten years in Bradford; and Beardow, who is a year
older, has been previously convicted for burglary. As
is usual with West Riding prisoners, these men were
committed to the Wakefield House of Correction, there to
await their trial. When they arrived in the prison
yard, suspicion attached to them in consequence of their
answering to some extent the description furnished by the
witnesses in the Leeds murder case; and Mr. English, chief
constable of Leeds, was communicated with. Mr. English
took over the witnesses (two in number) to Wakefield prison,
and although Appleby and Beardow were then attired in the
uniform of the gaol, they were readily picked out by the
witnesses as the two men who were seen lounging about the
fields at Roundhey a short period previous to the hour at
which the murder must have been committed. Mr. Barr,
clerk to the Leeds justices, wrote to the Secretary of State
for the Home Department, asking that the men might be
brought over to Leeds by habeas corpus on Thursday
next, in order that the evidence against them might be
taken.
Attempted Murder on Plaistow Marshes.
At the Ilford special
sessions James Digby, a labourer, was charged with stabbing
a man named John Sharp in the face with a clasp knife, and
who is at present lying in a dying state in the Poplar
Hospital. Police constable 341 K deposed that on
Monday night last, between ten and eleven o'clock, while on
duty near the north side of Plaistow-marsh, he heard a cry
of "Murder!" and "Police!" Witness hastened to about
the centre of the marsh and saw the prisoner struggling with
the man Sharp upon the ground. Witness separated them,
and found Sharp bleeding from a deep wound in the left
cheek. He informed witness that the prisoner had
stabbed him with a pocket knife. The prisoner did not
deny the charge, and said, "Yes, it served him right."
The injured man was seen by a surgeon, who dressed his
wound, and ordered his immediate removal to the hospital,
whither he was conveyed in a cab. The following
certificate was handed to the magistrate:�"I hereby certify
that John Sharp is lying in a very dangerous condition from
an incised wound of the face, which will no doubt prove
fatal.� MATTHEW
BROMFIELD,
House-surgeon of the Poplar Hospital." The Chairman
(to the prisoner): Have you anything to say in answer to
this very serious charge of cutting and wounding?
Prisoner (sullenly): No, I have not. The Chairman:
Then you stand remanded until Saturday next. The
prisoner was accordingly conveyed back to Ilford gaol.
The constable, in answer to the chairman, said that every
search had been made for the knife with which the injury had
been inflicted, but it had not been found.
Dursley Murder�Confession of the Murderess.
The behaviour of this
ill-fated woman since her consignment to the condemned cell
in Gloucester county gaol, has been becoming her awful
situation. She, however, seems to have made up her
mind from the first that she must die, and does not attempt
to deny that she cut her husband's throat. Her account
of the transaction is thus narrated: That after she came
home from the public-house on the Saturday night she lay
down on the bed in her clothes; that her husband (who, it
will be. remembered, left the public-house before her) did
not come home until an hour after her; and, as she did not
open the door to let him in, he got in through the window.
She states that he then went to bed and commenced ill-using
and beating her, and threatened to kill her. She says
he was sitting up in bed and made a blow at her, on which
she seized a razor which was lying on the shelf and cut his
throat. He exclaimed, "You have killed me," and fell
back on the bed. She also says that her husband kissed
her before he died. Two petitions, praying for a
commutation of the sentence, have been got up�one at Dursley
and the other at Gloucester. No day is yet fixed for
the execution.
Melancholia Suicide of an American Merchant.
Mr. Hersey Stowell, jun.,
American merchant, of Cross-street, committed suicide under
distressing circumstances, by hanging himself. An
inquest was held upon the body before Mr. Hereford, city
coroner, when Mr. Alfred Flockton, clerk to the deceased,
stated that Mr. Stowell was a partner in a house in America,
and that by the last three mails intelligence had arrived of
the over-stocking of the American markets by this country,
and the over-shipment of specie from America, which would
cause a tightness in the money market there. This news
appeared to depress the deceased very much, and he said he
would cancel all the orders he could. He received a
letter from his partner in America which contained a very
discouraging account of the state of trade there, and he
then left his office and said he should be back at four
o'clock. He asked witness to leave a draft that was
accepted and a message at another American house, which was
done. About three o'clock, when witness returned from
dinner, he found deceased suspended from a rope behind the
door. He called Mr. John Charlesworth, architect,
whose place is in the same building, to his assistance.
He was cut down as speedily as possible, and a medical man
was sent for, but all efforts at restoration were in vain.
The jury returned a verdict that "the deceased hanged
himself whilst in an unsound state of mind." Mr.
Stowell has left a widow to deplore his loss.
Execution at Monmouth.
The last sentence of the
law was carried into effect upon Matthew Francis, convicted
before Mr. Justice Willes, at the Monmouth assizes, on the
6th inst., of the murder of his wife under circumstances of
great atrocity and the utmost deliberation. Francis,
who was a cripple, lived at Newport, sometimes working as a
sailor and occasionally as a haulier. About two years
since he married a girl of the town. They lived
unhappily together, and in February last she left him, after
a desperate quarrel, and went to live with a neighbour,
named Hawkins. There she was often visited by her
husband, who alternately used threats, persuasion, and
entreaty, to induce her to return home, but ineffectually.
On Friday night, the 11th of March, he was at the house till
a late hour, and did all he could to get the woman back; but
she still refusing, he quitted in anger, and made use of
various threats. Next day he again went to the house.
She was resolute as ever against returning, and while two or
three women were in the room, he coolly took off his coat,
produced a razor, with the blade tied back, seized his wife,
and inflicted two wounds on her throat, which caused her
immediate death. Francis was arraigned at the Spring
assizes, but the illness of a witness prevented the trial
being proceeded with. Since then he has made one or
two attempts to destroy himself�once by suffocation.
Subsequent to his condemnation, however, he manifested a
frame of mind befitting his awful situation, and paid great
attention to the exhortations of the chaplain, passing a
considerable time immediately prior to his execution in the
exercises of religion. He frequently acknowledged the
justness of his sentence, and stated that he had no further
desire to live. Several thousands of persons�a large
proportion from the Forest of Dean�congregated to witness
the awful scene. The culprit, who manifested extreme
weakness and apathy, was assisted to the scaffold, and
apparently almost unconscious, was, by the withdrawal of the
fatal bolt, launched into eternity.
A County Magistrate Fined.
At the Wolverhampton Petty
Sessions, on Monday, Dr. William Mannix, one of the county
magistrates, was charged before W. Warren and G. L.
Underhill, Esqrs., with using . . . |
abusive and insulting language to Elizabeth
Franks, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
The complainant stated that she sold baskets in
Wolverhampton market. On Saturday week she saw Dr.
Mannix passing the Market Hall, and applied to him for
payment of a small account. He replied he should do
nothing of the kind, called her an old wretch, and began to
be very abusive. She then went to her stall. Dr.
Mannix followed her, and said, "You――old wretch, I should
like to cut your tongue out of your head." He returned
five times to her, still abusing her, and on the last
occasion said, "Well old Billingsgate, have you sold any
more baskets yet?" Complainant made no reply.
She was corroborated by her husband and a girl named Roden.
Mr. Bartlett said that his client denied on his honour as a
gentleman, that he had made use of the expressions imputed
to him. The account was one of 20s. for potato
pots, an amount which he refused to pay, having never given
more than 19s. for the same articles. Mr.
Bartlett also called a boy, who deposed that on the
following Monday, Mrs. Frankel had said to him that Dr.
Mannix was a villain, and wanted hanging, and that she had
called him a rogue to his face. The chairman (Mr.
Warren) said he and his colleagues considered that this was
a case which should never have been brought into court.
At the same time they thought there must be a conviction,
and inflicted a penalty of 1s. and costs.
Gigantic Alleged Frauds at the Carron Ironworks.
The Carron works were
established as long ago as eighty or ninety years, under
special charter. The company has done a most extensive
business in manufacturing iron from the ore, and making
various articles out of the iron so manufactured. It
has been in the habit of supplying the Government, to a
large extent, with guns, shot, and other military stores.
Mr. Joseph Stainton was manager of the company for some
forty years, that is to say, from 1786 till his death in
1825. He was succeeded by his nephew, Mr. Joseph
Dawson, while another nephew, Mr. William Dawson, became
managing clerk and assistant. Mr. Joseph Dawson died
in 1850, and Mr. William Dawson reigned in his stead, and
this latter individual continues to occupy the throne of the
Dawsons and the Staintons. The managers of the company
are also partners of the company, and the government they
have set up�we speak of the history of the case as recorded
in a summons issued by the Court of Session�is well entitled
to the appellation of being a family government; for if we
take Mr. Joseph Stainton, the first manager, to be the
uncle, we not only find the central administration at Carron
falling into the hands of the two nephews, but we have a
third nephew, Mr. Henry Dawson, who governs the affairs of
the company at Glasgow, and a cousin, Mr. Thomas
Crossthwaite, who does the same at Liverpool, while the
uncle's brother, Mr. Henry Stainton, was agent at London.
So far, then, the family connection must have been complete;
and we shall now see in what way the Stainton and the
Dawsons have exercised the stewardship which has been
committed to their trust. Colonel Dundas Maclean
brings an action against the manager or managers of the
company, or rather against the company itself, which seems
to be only one of a series of accusations that affect the
management, all of which may have to be investigated.
The Colonel says that the managers did systematically, and
for a long number of years, falsify their balance sheets so
that the profits of the company might appear to be much less
than they really were, and that in consequence of this
falsification he sold to the managers twenty shares
belonging to himself for 14,000l., a price greatly
below their real value. On this account he demands
restitution, and names 20,000l., with legal interest,
as the sum which the company should pay to him. Other
individuals have similar claims arising from similar
proceedings, and it is held that Mr. Joseph Dawson, the
deceased manager, and Mr. Henry Stainton, the London
manager, now also dead, and Mr. William Dawson, the present
manager, conspired to promote these frauds, and managed
among themselves to conceal and misrepresent the true state
of the affairs of the company, in order to carry out their
design of acquiring for themselves and their relatives the
shares of the other partners, at sums far below their real
vague, and thus enriching themselves, and maintaining and
strengthening the control they had acquired over the
company's affairs. The injured parties say that the
affairs of the company have, ever since 1813, been managed
by the Staintons and Dawsons, free from that control and
superintendence contemplated by the deeds of the co-partnery.
These deeds make provision for the appointment of committees
to examine the accounts, but since the year named no
committee, as they affirm, has been appointed.
Accordingly, whenever a half-yearly meeting was held, the
practice has been for a formal resolution to be passed,
declaring that the accounts were all right. But the
accounts, it is positively asserted, were on every occasion
all wrong, and how far they were wrong may be judged of when
we say that Sir J. G. Craig, the legal adviser of the
company, declared, in 1846, that the debts of the company
were overstated to the amount of upwards of 130,000l.,
while the assets were understated to a much larger amount.
He further declared that many articles, such as Bank of
England Stock, of the value of 100,000l., were not
mentioned in the accounts at all, and though he had written
to the manager making these accusations, it is affirmed that
the account of the whole affairs, funds, debts, and credits
of the company, required by the royal charter to be made up
annually, and submitted to inspection, was not made up, or
submitted to inspection, during the whole period of Mr.
Joseph Dawson's management.
And why not? Some published letters of the Staintons
and the Dawsons will enable the public to answer the
question. For example, in an epistle which Mr. Joseph
Dawson, writing from Carron, sent to Mr. Henry Stainton, the
London agent, we not only get an intimation of the existence
of wholesale fraud, but of the manner in which the fraud was
made to work. "Dear uncle " says he, "I beg to annex
copy of the stock ledger balances, from which you will
observe that the profits amount to 15,085l, 10s. 7d.
This we propose to reduce, by transferring 2,500l.
from flask goods to pig iron, and reducing the value of the
pig iron inventory to that extent; also, by diminishing the
inventory of flask goods 1,000l., and by transferring
1,000l. from general charges to the credit of timber,
and deducting that amount from the timber inventory; this
would leave 10,085l. 10s. 7d. for the last six
months. As this sum is still rather too much, it might
be further reduced by transferring from 1,100l. to
1,500l. from general charges and flask goods to great
forge and bar iron, and by diminishing their respective
inventories to the same amount, or by transferring so much
to the credit of the insurance accounts." To which Mr.
Stainton replied that he "would rather not touch the
insurance accounts, if you can help it, as some of the
partners have their eyes upon these sums, and may think they
are becoming too large to be left at rest. I prefer
operating upon flask goods so extensively, rather than upon
general charges, as they are fully aware the profit upon the
warehouses is carried to this account, and they will expect
to see something from it. Some of them may wonder the
profit is so much upon last half-year; if anything is said
upon that subject your answer is ready�that it contains the
profit on the warehouses for the whole year; but unless the
question be asked, I would say nothing." And so, when
the balance-sheet for the year in which these epistles were
written was presented to the general meeting, the profit was
reduced from 15,0581. 10s. 7d., as it really was, to 9,585l.
10s. 7d.�a difference of between 5,000l. and 6,000l.
This difference might have been turned into great gain by
those who wished to be the gainers, and if the same
management went on for a succession of years, some handsome
fortunes, one would think, might have been realised.
Colonel Maclean declares his opinion to be, that in this way
there were concealed from the knowledge of the shareholders,
and in particular from himself, between the years 1838 to
1847�that is to say, during ten years�profits realised to
the company to an amount of greatly more than 175,000l.!
One thing is certain, that Mr. Henry Stainton must have died
a wealthy man, for it seems that the company took
proceedings against his executors to recover sums
represented in his accounts for which there were no
vouchers, sums put down as "sundry charges," "expenses of
warehouses," and so forth, and his executors, in the course
of last year, compromised the matter by the payment of the
incredible sum of 220,000l.! Mr. Henry |
Stainton must, indeed, have been rich.
As agent in London he was in the habit of paying himself, by
commission upon the sales of the company, not less than
5,000l. or 6,000l. per annum, and there were
other resources for him in the business, if the story of
Colonel Maclean is true, than the amount of his commission
and the gains arising from the falsification of the
accounts. It appears that after the death of Mr.
Joseph Dawson, a dissension arose between the Staintons and
the Dawsons, and the company gained a sum of 96,000l,
by this quarrel, for it brought out the fact that there was
a "Secret Reserve Fund" to that extent, of which the company
knew nothing, and which was fed from two corrupt channels.
First, the manager at Carron, in despatching military stores
to London, was in the habit of invoicing a less quantity
than was shipped, but the agent received payment for the
whole quantity sent; and, second, Carron consignments were
debited with breakages when there were no breakages.
So the amounts thus gained formed that reserve fund of
which, as is presumed, the shareholders would have been
entirely ignorant, but for the little feud which sprang up
between the rival members of the new Rob Roy family.
Indeed, as a whole, the narrative of frauds affecting the
Carron Company is almost beyond belief.
__________
THE LATE
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE
IN THE SERPENTINE.―An investigation has taken place before Mr.
Langham, deputy coroner for Westminster, at the Board-room
of the Workhouse, St. George's, Hanover-square, on view of
the body of the unknown female, who was found floating on
the Serpentine on Wednesday week, and removed while still
breathing to the receiving house of the Royal Humane
Society, where she died from the effects of drowning at ten
o'clock the following morning. The body of the deceased has
been identified by her relations as Emma Williams, twenty
years of age, in the employment of a Mrs. Roland, as a
sempstress, at 68, Great Titchfield-street, Marylebone. As
it appeared from the evidence of various witnesses, the case
was an extremely melancholy one, and a married sister, while
giving her evidence, was suffering under great distress of
mind, and frequently burst into an agony of tears. The
deceased was an orphan, of a naturally cheerful disposition,
steady, and respectable; but as her relatives were poor, she
was compelled to get her living as a sempstress, and had
toiled constantly at her needle, from twelve to sixteen
hours daily, with her late employer, for the past five
years, and earned upon an average from ten to twelve
shillings per week, from which she had to pay her
brother-in-law, with whom she boarded and lodged, at 30,
University-street, seven shillings per week. Recently she
complained very much of her eyes, and occasionally had been
somewhat depressed in spirits in consequence of their
weakness, and at times told her sister that if they should
fail her, as she feared they would, she could not tell what
she should do for a living, as she then would be prevented
from following her occupation, and had no friend in the wide
world to depend upon, and according to the statement of her
sister, she worked very hard that she might keep herself
respectable. About an hour and a half previous to the time
she was found in the Serpentine she left her work for the
night in her usual good health: and spirits, and about three
minutes before the supposed rash act she was seen by a young
man, named Bollenot, walking rapidly across the bridge of
the Serpentine from the direction of Kensington. It was very
dark and foggy at the time, and in consequence he lost sight
of her almost immediately after she passed him, but believed
that she jumped into the river from one of the bridge
parapets, and his attention and that of others was first
attracted by a loud splash. Immediately afterwards he met a
man and two females on the bridge. Verdict�"Deceased died
from the effects of drowning, but how she got into the water
there was not sufficient evidence to show."
THE BURY
BOTTLING CASE.�At
Liverpool, the prisoners Hardman and Booth, convicted of the
abduction of a voter at the last election at Bury, were
brought up for sentence. His lordship said he wished it to
go forth, that in whatever court he sat, on every offender
of this description, he would inflict the full punishment
allowed by the law. In this case Hardman was the prime
mover, and therefore would receive the heaviest punishment. The sentence upon him was twelve months imprisonment, and
upon Booth (who, it appeared, took only a secondary part in
the transaction) nine months.
____________________________________
THE POPLAR
POISONING CASE.�A
proclamation has been issued by Government, offering a
reward of 100l. for the apprehension of George
Frederick Royal, alias Reynolds, alias Regnold, who stands
charged on the Coroner's warrant with the murder at Poplar,
by poison, of a young single women with whom he cohabited,
named Zipporah Wright. A full description is added of the
murderer's personal appearance and the dress be wore at the
time he absconded.
SERIOUS CHARGE
AGAINST TWO TRADESMEN.�Mark Butt, a master tradesman, and Henry Baily a grocer, of
Bristol, have been examined before the magistrates of that
town, and committed for trial on a charge of criminally
assaulting Mrs. Ann Cottle, the wife of a butcher living at
Hill's-place, Newfoundland-street, Bristol.
MANSLAUGHTER BY A
HOM�OPATHIC
DOCTOR.�Mr.
William Rae, a hom�opathic doctor, living at No. 36,
Westminster Square, St. George's Road, Southwark, has been
committed for trial on the Coroner's warrant, charged with
having caused the death of Mrs. Betsy Pool, a lady residing
at Pimlico, who expired from excessive hemorrhage, a few
hours after giving birth to a male child. Bail was accepted
for the accused.
CHARGE OF MURDER
ON BOARD AN
AMERICAN
SHIP.�A
man named Charles Boutell, mate of the "Conqueror," an
American vessel, lying in the port of Liverpool, was charged
last Saturday, before the magistrates of that place, with
having murdered Peter Antonio, a seaman on board the same
ship. An inquest had previously been held on the body, at
which evidence was given to show that Antonio had died from
the effects of injuries he had received from Boutell and the
ship's carpenter; but, as the two latter were American
subjects, the court came to the decision that the case was
beyond their jurisdiction, and the jury therefore returned
an open verdict. In the mean time, however, the American
consul at Liverpool represented the matter to the American
representative in London, who communicated with the English
Secretary of State, and a warrant was made out for the
apprehension of Boutell. The prisoner's counsel asked the
Liverpool magistrates for a remand of the case until
Tuesday, which was granted.
ROBBERY ON BOARD
SHIP.�Jacob
Woodley and James Devine, seamen, were brought before Mr.
Yardley, at the Thames police-court, charged with stealing
twenty-eight bottles of ale from a cask on board the
American ship "Namlang," lying in the London Docks. Mr.
Roland, the chief mate of the vessel, stated that it
contained several casks of bottled ale amongst its other
cargo, all of which were safe in the hold at one o'clock at
noon on Friday week. About eleven o'clock at night, on the
same day, the police called the mate's attention to a cask
that had been broken open, and, on proceeding to investigate
the matter, he found that no less than twenty-eight bottles
of ale had been stolen from it. He then proceeded to the
forecastle of the ship, and saw the two prisoners, one of
whom did not belong to the "Namlang," lying down in their
berths. He searched the forecastle, and found six empty ale
bottles in the bulkhead, three, full of ale, standing by the
chain-box close by, seven more full ones in a cask near that
which had been broken into, and one in Woodley's chest. The
mate questioned the last-named prisoner as to who had been
in the hold; and he replied that he did not know, while the
other man impudently inquired "what was up?" without taking
any further heed of the matter. They were both, however,
given into custody. The deck of the ship was strewed, in
various places, with ale bottles, some full, others empty,
plainly indicating that the prisoners had been carousing in
the earlier part of the evening. They had likewise been seen
by a police-constable on a bridge in the dock after the
gates were closed�an unlawful proceeding on the part of a
seaman. Mr. Yardley committed them both for trial. |
――――♦――――
PAGE6.
THE TRIAL OF DR. SMETHURST.�THE VERDICT.
The following appeared last week
in our Second Edition:�
The summing-up was resumed on the 18th, and during its
progress the prisoner two or three times interrupted the Judge, to
correct, as he stated it, some of the assertions made by his
Lordship. With respect to no poison having been discovered at
the residence of Smethurst, the Judge remarked:―
"All the bottles were seized, and no arsenic, or antimony, or
other poison, was found in them. It would by no means be safe
to presume anything against the prisoner because he had an
opportunity of destroying evidence, and the jury must not act
entirely on the evidence which had been produced; but, if they were
satisfied that antimony and arsenic had been administered by him to
the deceased, some light might be thrown on the circumstance that no
poison was found, by the fact of the prisoner returning to the house
on the Monday evening, and having access to the parlour and
bedroom."
At the conclusion of the summing-up,
The Prisoner said: "I wish to clear up some facts."
The Lord Chief Baron: "I cannot allow you to do so, except
through your counsel."
The Prisoner: "I wish to state that Mr. Serjeant Ballantine
is acquainted with the whole of the circumstances connected with the
marriage. I forwarded to him the whole facts as early as I
could after I was arrested, and the statement is now in his hands.
It shows that my wife (Isabella Bankes) had a reversionary interest
in a large sum of money."
The jury then, at ten minutes to four o'clock, retired to
consider their verdict; and, after an absence of three-quarters of
an hour, returned into court with a verdict of GUILTY.
The Lord Chief Baron then put on the black cap, and the Clerk
of the Arraigns asked the prisoner if he had anything to say why
judgment should not be passed upon him.
The prisoner immediately commenced addressing the Judge and
jury. He said that the whole of the witnesses had distorted
the true facts of the case in such a manner that his life had been
sacrificed. Dr. Julius he especially condemned, and the assertion of
the sister of the deceased, that she was never able to see her
sister Isabella alone, except for two or three minutes at a time,
was, he said, entirely false. "She knew she had every
opportunity of being with her sister as often and as long as she
pleased, and, had the witnesses spoke truth, such would have
appeared in the evidence. With respect to the non-engagement
of a nurse, it had been put as if he objected to such a proceeding;
but nothing could be so far from the truth. He had been taken
into custody, and placed before a magistrate, charged with poisoning
his wife wife; but, notwithstanding all that was said against him,
he was admitted to bail on the first occasion. In not taking
steps to procure a nurse, he was only acting according to the
direction of the magistrates as they prohibited him from in any
manner interfering with the deceased on his return to his home, and
it was certainly true that he had said that those persons who chose
to engage the nurse must bear the expense. With respect to the
motive for the crime attributed to him�namely, his wishing to obtain
possession of the money belonging to the deceased�it was false.
He had no occasion to seek the death of the lady, as he could have
obtained her money, if such had been his object, without committing
murder. Great stress had been laid on his marriage with Miss
Bankes, and throughout the trial it had been said that it was not
his intention to remain with Miss Bankes after he had obtained all
she was possessed of. Now, the truth was, that his attachment
to her was strong, and his connection with her he hoped would have
been lasting. The marriage at Kennington Church was as much
the act of the deceased as his. It was only done in order that
she might appear to her friends as a married woman, and the remark
'that it would be all right soon,' alluded to the death of his first
wife, who was upwards of seventy years of age." The prisoner
then went on in a rambling strain, condemning everybody who had
given evidence against him.
The Lord Chief Baron, in pronouncing sentence of death, said
he agreed with the verdict; and the convict was removed from the
dock, exclaiming that Dr. Julius was his murderer, and calling on
God to witness his innocence.
__________
THE
RICHMOND MURDER.�
After the sentence of death had been passed upon Dr. Smethurst, the
warrant of the court, signed by the Lord Chief Baron, was handed to
Mr. Jonas, the governor of Newgate, for his removal to the county
gaol of Surrey, Horsemonger-lane; but as a great number of persons
were waiting in the Old Bailey anxious to catch a glimpse of the
prisoner, an ingenious mode was resorted to in order to avoid
confusion. A cab was driven to the door of the gaol, in which
it was of course expected that he would be taken away, but instead
of this the prisoner was taken by Mr. Jonas and Humphreys, the
principal warder, through the courts and by the entrance to the New
Court into the Old Bailey, where a cab was in readiness, and he was
safely lodged in Horsemonger-lane gaol before the crowd were aware
that he had left Newgate. Since the prisoner has been confined
in Newgate he has upon several occasions appeared desirous to enter
into conversation with those about him upon the subject of his
crime, and he appeared very curious to impress them with the idea
that there was no foundation for the charge of murder. There
is, however, this singular resemblance between the prisoner and
William Palmer, that he evidently has some reservation one his mind,
as he invariably declares that arsenic was not the cause of death,
and it will be remembered that down to the last moment Palmer
declared that Cook did not die of strychnine, and that it was
reasonably inferred from the observations he made that some other
description of poison had been made use of. On the way from
Newgate to Horsemonger-lane gaol, Dr. Smethurst again repeatedly
declared his innocence, and asserted, as he did before sentence was
pronounced against him, that the charge had been made up from
ill-feeling towards him; and it appears that since he has been in
confinement he has repeatedly made use of the expression that Dr.
Taylor would rather his life should be sacrificed than that his own
reputation should be in any way affected or injured.
THE PAST
LIFE OF
SMETHURST.―The
convict who at present lies in a position so perilous is the son of
a small schoolmaster, and was born in the neighbourhood of Coventry,
in the year 1801. There is, however, no pretext for the
allegation that his father was tutor to the Earl of Dysart, nor does
there appear to be any better foundation for his assertion that he
is a regularly educated medical man. According to his own
account, as detailed in-a boarding-house where he lived, he married
his present wife from feelings of gratitude for her attention to him
when ill during the period of his career as a medical student; but
there is no proof that he originally was more than a chemist, or
possessed a higher professional degree than that of the
Apothecaries' Company and a German degree. He undoubtedly,
however, carried on medical practice at Stockwell, Camberwell, and
various places adjoining London. But it was at Ramsgate where
he practised longest and was best known; he carried on business
there for several years, and it is but fair to add that, except
being considered somewhat closefisted and fond of money, he bore a
tolerably respectable character. After residing there for some
time he left for Germany, with the double view of placing himself
under the celebrated hydropathist Priessnitz, for the purpose of
obtaining relief from a lameness with which he was afflicted, and of
acquiring a sufficient knowledge of the system to enable him to
practise it. On his return to Ramsgate he not only opened a
cold water cure establishment, but published a book upon the
subject. The latter is entitled "Hydropatheria." The book is
rather respectable as a compilation, and it is somewhat remarkable
that when absent in Germany his practice was, at his request, taken
care of by a gentleman before whom he was, eventually brought at
Richmond on a charge of murder. But at Ramsgate he never got
into what is termed "fashionable practice," and he consequently
removed to the establishment of Moor-park, in Surrey. After
keeping this for several years he eventually sold it to advantage,
and led a comparatively private life until arrested on the charge
for which he has recently been condemned.
A PROPOSED MEMORIAL.�The
case of Dr. Smethurst has since the trial, assumed a new and
important phase, having called forth the opinions of numerous
scientific men, who have come to the conclusion that there was no
evidence to show that any poison whatever had been administered to
Miss Banker, and that all the appearances described by Dr. Julius,
Dr. Todd, and others, are consistent with natural disease, more
especially dysentery. The . . . . |
feeling
that the verdict was not justified by the evidence is fast gaining
ground; and it is stated that a public memorial to the Secretary of
State, for a remission of the extreme sentence of the law, will be
drawn up. Much confidence exists that Lord Chief Baron
Pollock, although in summing up he appeared to have taken a strong
view of the case adverse to the prisoner, will not oppose the
application. The brother of Dr. Smethurst is the only person
who has visited him since his conviction, and to him he declares his
entire innocence; and so impressed with that belief is the convict's
brother, who is a gentleman of some considerable property, that he
has determined no exertion or expense shall be wanting to effect a
commutation of the sentence. On Tuesday Mr. Humphreys, who has
acted as the solicitor of Dr. Smethurst, endeavoured to obtain an
interview with his client, but found that by the regulations of the
prison he could not have an interview with him without an order from
one of the visiting justices on the rota. He has written to
the visiting justices accordingly, and the request will be granted
as a matter of course. The conduct of Dr. Smethurst from the
time of his conviction to the present, has been uniform, and, though
depressed, he believes the sentence will not be carried into effect.
Tuesday, in the week after next, is the day fixed for the execution.
[ED. ― see historical note below this page].
____________________________________
The Duke of Sutherland charged with Libel.
A very extraordinary charge of libel against the Duke
of Sutherland has just been decided in Scotland, at the Court of
Session (Second Division), before the Lord Justice Clerk and a jury.
The plaintiff was the Rev. Dugald Mackellar, minister of the parish
of Clyne, in the county of Sutherland; the action involving the
character of the clergyman, whose damages were laid at 1,000l.
From the high position and influence of the defendant, who is the
sole heritor of the parish of Clyne, as he is of the majority of the
parishes of Sutherlandshire, the case has created much interest
throughout the county generally. It appeared the plaintiff was
inducted minister of the parish of Clyne in 1844; the living is a
small one, consisting of ninety-three quarters of corn, and 23l,
in money, besides manse, garden, and glebe. In that parish his
grace customarily gave a small farm immediately adjoining to the
incumbent, who resides at the manse; and this farm having been
possessed by the plaintiff's predecessors, as ministers of the
parish, for many years past, was supposed to be inseparable from the
glebe, although it still remained in the power of the duke.
Shortly after the plaintiff's induction he got possession of the
farm, and continued to possess it till Whitsunday, 1857, during
which time he expended a good deal of money in its improvement.
The Sutherland estates were at that time managed by Mr. George Gunn,
of Rhives (since dead ), who had "great power and authority," as
factor. For a time the minister and the factor were on
friendly terms; but, by-and-by, Mr. Gunn's feelings appeared to
change, and latterly he treated the minister with "dislike and
hostility." In December, 1855, a question was brought before
the local church court in regard to the repairs of the minister's
manse, when a particular small house was claimed by the plaintiff as
his property, whereas the factor maintained that it belonged to the
farm. Some time afterwards the Duke of Sutherland and the
factor obtained a decree in the sheriff court ejecting the minister
from the small house; but, shortly afterwards, he sent a letter to
the factor stating that, in the event of his being allowed to
continue in possession of the farm for a year, he would agree to
depart from any alleged claims of meliorations for any improvements
executed by him upon the farm. Mr. Gunn accepted the
conditions. Matters continued as formerly till the spring of
1857, when a new action of removal was obtained by the noble
proprietor against the minister, who, although there was no written
lease, had been under the impression that the farm was to go along
with the glebe. In course of the litigation, which terminated
in the removal process, the minister served a note of suspension
upon the noble duke, who lodged answers to the same, in which
statements appeared to the effect that "during the last few years
the complainant (Mr. Mackellar) had conducted himself in a most
discreditable and unbecoming manner for a minister and brawling with
an attacking and assaulting parishioners, for which offences he was
criminally tried and convicted in the sheriff court, and suspended
from the exercise of clerical functions in the church courts.
He has also used threatening and abusive language to others of his
parishioners, for which he was found liable to them in damages, by
all which conduct he has set the worst example in his parish,
utterly destroying his usefulness in the church, and disgusting and
dispersing the greater part of his congregation." These
statements formed the issue for the jury, who were desired to
consider whether they were "false and calumnious," and were
"maliciously inserted in the said answers, to the loss, injury, and
damage of the pursuer." In the course of the pleadings it was
contended by the Solicitor-General, as counsel for the plaintiff,
that there was malice on the part of the deceased factor, Mr. Gunn,
against Mr. Mackellar, and that the Duke of Sutherland was
responsible for the act of his representative. This point
formed the gist of the whole action. The question submitted to
the jury, by the Lord Justice Clerk, was�whether they thought there
was any proof of a malicious motive on the, part of the Duke of
Sutherland, when the jury unanimously gave a verdict of "No
malicious intention" on the part of the noble defendant.
____________________________________
Alleged Case of Poisoning by a German Physician.
Mr. William Carter, the coroner for East Surrey, held a long and
painful inquiry it the Rosemary Branch Tavern, Peckham, respecting
the circumstances attending the death of Alice Julia Wood, aged six
months, the infant daughter of Mr. Walter Wood, of Camden-terrace,
Southampton-street, Camberwell.�Mr. Walter Wood, a printer on the
Weekly Dispatch newspaper, said that the deceased was his child.
It had been ailing from its birth, and was fed on farinaceous food
by the nurse. The mother was unable to suckle the child, which
might to some extent account for its emaciated condition. The
deceased was seen by a surgeon named Westlake, and afterwards by a
physician, Simon Weil, living in Broad-street-buildings, City, who
prescribed for the child, but it died on Thursday last.�Ann Booth,
of 29, Trafalgar-street, Walworth, said that she had known the
deceased child. After its birth she attended it. The
mother was unable to suckle it on account of her health. She
last saw the child alive at half-past eleven o'clock on Monday
night, when she did not appear any worse than she had been for some
time past. She had procured four powders from Mr. Westlake, a
chemist, which were administered to the child; but Mr. Westlake
refused to give anything more without a physician's
prescription.�The coroner here inquired whether Mr. Weil was in
court, and was answered by that gentleman in the
affirmative.�Examination in chief continued: Witness was to
administer a teaspoonful every three hours of the mixture made up,
until her bowels became composed, as she was suffering from a severe
attack of diarrhoea. The medicine was made up from the
prescriptions by Mr. Smith, of Southampton-street. The
deceased was able and did take food, such as arrowroot milk from a
bottle, in her presence at half-past nine at night, when she left.
deceased in the care of its mother. Dr. Weil prescribed for
her in writing, and the mixture was made up by Mr. Smith.�Mr. Weil
said, from the first, that he thought the child could not live.�Mr.
Wood further added that two months after birth the deceased was
vaccinated, and she continued to lose flesh from that time.
The nurse Booth left his service last Monday night, and the child
was then taken charge of by its mother. On Wednesday night, in
consequence of a change in the health of the child, he sent for Mr.
Edmunds, who attended promptly. He believed that the child
died from some internal complaint.�The learned Coroner said that he
had received a letter from Mr. Edmunds, to the effect that to the
best of his belief the child had died from an overdose of opium.�Mr.
J. W. Edmunds, of Montague-cottage, Southampton-street, Camberwell,
said that on Wednesday night he was called to see the deceased, and
found, upon his arrival, the head and neck blue, and the eyes wide
open. The child appeared quite calm, and . . . |
. . . he came to the conclusion that the appearances
were far front being natural; and he was told that a physician had
prescribed for her, and upon reading the prescription handed to him,
the mixture was proved to be an antidote for diarrh�a, but the
witness thought the opium in the liquid was considerably over the
quantity that ought to have been given. He prescribed beef tea
and wine for the one, and also gave some stimulating medicine which
did not contain opium.�Mr. Smith, chemist and druggist, of
Southampton-street, said that he made up a prescription for diarrh�a.
He did not think the quantity of laudanum in the mixture would be
injurious to a child; but at the same time he should not like to
give it to his own child, for it might prove prejudicial to a child
of that age. If the infant was well, and able to eat food, no
danger was to be apprehended if the opium was rightly measured.
His opinion was that the child died from the effects of laudanum�The
jury, after consulting, decided upon adjourning the case for a post
mortem examination to be made.
____________________________________
EXTRAORDINARY BIGAMY CASE.
A lady applied to the Hon. G. C.
Norton, at the Lambeth police-court, for his advice respecting the
conduct of her husband, to whom she had not been then quite two
months married, and whose name she had so far forgotten that she
could not spell it, and had actually been obliged to go home to
provide herself with the marriage certificate to refresh her memory;
who she said had conducted himself in an extraordinary manner
towards her, and quite different to his professions before marriage.
The lady had represented that she had first met her husband at the
St. James's Hall, at one of Barnum's entertainments; that he
represented himself as the son of a nobleman, and a captain in the
army, made fierce love to her, said he would shoot her or himself
unless she consented to have him, and offered with his hand a
carriage and 2,000l. The lady went on further to state
that believing his representations she gave her consent, and they
were married at the most fashionable of all places for aristocratic
marriages, St. George's, Hanover-square, on the 28th of June, and
that though nearly two months had passed over, there was no sign of
the new carriage, nor the slightest appearance of the 2,000l.,
or any of the nice little presents so lavishly hinted at before the
commencement of the "honeymoon." On the contrary, the
soi-disant Hon. Captain William Denbigh Sloper Harrison
commenced a course most distasteful to his wife of going out
fashionably dressed in clothes purchased at her expense, stopping
out days and nights together, and coming home in garments much
inferior in texture and appearance to those he wore when leaving
home, and in addition to all making use of threats of a disagreeable
character.
Mr. Norton put such questions to the lady that if answered in
the affirmative would enable him to grant a summons against the
new-made husband, but the lady declared she was not in fear of him,
and her complaint in the end tapered to the simple question as to
whether she was compelled to supply her husband with clothes while
he was in the habit of disposing of them.
Mr. Norton told her that having married him he was entitled
to all her property, unless such portions as were settled on herself
by trustees, and advised her to call in the aid of her friends, and
make them the medium. of adjusting the matrimonial differences
between herself and her husband. The lady applicant, however,
did not approve of this mode of adjustment, and said she should
start to Brighton and leave her husband, if he should think proper,
to dispose of her household goods, amounting at least to 400l.,
and this ended the matter. Fortunately for the ends of justice
the particulars of that application obtained a wide publicity, and
that publicity will be the means of checking and no doubt
terminating the career of a heartless, prowling impostor.
On Monday evening, when the usual night charges were disposed
of, a person of slim figure, shabby genteel appearance, rather light
complexion, meagre visage, with a thin half-fledged moustache on the
upper lip, while the other parts of the face were both hairless and
beardless, and the eyes light and devoid of the slightest spark of
animation, and altogether of a most spoony-like appearance, was
placed at the bar before the Hon. G. C. Norton, on a charge off
intermarrying with Mrs. Jane Hayes, a widow lady, his former wife
Sophia being then and still alive.
Chief Clerk to the prisoner: What is your name?
Prisoner (in a thin shrill voice): William Marshall, sir.
Chief Clerk: Have you no other name than William Marshall?
Is your name not Harrison?
Prisoner: No, sir. My name is William Denbigh Sloper
Marshall.
Chief Clerk: Marshall and not Harrison?
Prisoner: Yes�yes, sir.
Both wives, persons of lady-like appearance and manners, were
present, and the prisoner, on entering the dock, cast a, hasty
glance at each, and during the investigation he frequently
endeavoured to put on a benignant smile while looking towards them
but both studiously avoided looking at him, and seemed thoroughly
ashamed of having been betrayed into marriage with a person whose
appearance and conduct seemed so thoroughly contemptible.
The first witness examined was Charles Revill, one of the
summoning officers belonging to the court, who said: In consequence
of information I received, I last evening accompanied the two ladies
now present to the house, No. 15, Princes-place, Kennington Cross,
and asked for the prisoner. I was told he was out at the time,
but was expected in in a few minutes, and the ladies went inside,
and saw his second wife, Mrs. Hayes. I went into the house
also, and in a short time the prisoner knocked, and was admitted by
his servant; and on seeing me he seemed very much surprised. I
told him not to be alarmed at me, for that I was about to introduce
him to his first wife.
Mr. Norton: Had his first wife seen him at this time?
Revill: Yes, sir, she saw him approach the front door, and at
once recognised him as the person she had been married to, and
therefore, I knew I was right in what I had said.
Mr. Norton: Well, go on.
Revill: Well, sir, on seeing his first wife he seemed
perfectly paralysed, and dropping down on the couch by her side, he
was not able to utter a word. I then told him Mrs. Hayes, his
second wife, charged him with getting married to her while he had
another wife living, and asked him if it were true, and he replied,
yes, and he was very sorry for it, and that he must be a great
blackguard for acting so. I then took him into custody.
The certificates of the two marriages were here handed to the
magistrate, and from them it appeared that the prisoner, who then
gave the name of William Denbigh Sloper Marshall, described himself
as late captain in the army, bachelor, and son to Francis Marshall,
shipowner, had been married at Paddington Church to Sophia Frost
Dawson, widow, on the 3rd of July, 1858; and that on the 28th June
in the present year, he was married at St. George's, Hanover-square,
to Jane Hayes, widow, in the name of William Denbigh Sloper
Harrison, described as a bachelor, and hon. captain in the army, son
of Francis Harrison Lord Denbigh, shipowner.
A lady, who sat between both wives, here rose, and with much
animation said: Sir, my sister beside me had the misfortune, as your
worship will see by the certificate in your hand, to marry the
prisoner, unfortunately without consulting her friends on the
subject, and soon after spending a great deal of her money, he
deserted her in a most heartless and scandalous manner. He
represented himself as captain in the army, who had seen great
service, and possessed six medals, received for distinguished
services rendered his country (laughter), and was possessed of
considerable property, but, unfortunately, had lost much of it in
speculation.
Mr. Norton: Do you know, madam, whether your sister ever saw
these Crimean medals?
Lady: No, sir, she told me she had not, for that they were in
pawn at Attenborough's, in Piccadilly. (Renewed laughter upon which
the prisoner drawled out, "Oh, how cruel!")
Mr. Norton (to the prisoner): Do you deny that you are the
person described in this certificate as the William Denbigh Sloper
Marshall who was married to Mrs. Sophia Davison? |
ED.
― a note on the Smethurst case. On 3rd May, 1859, Miss
Isabella Bankes, the mistress of Dr. Smethurst, died suddenly
following an unknown illness and her doctors came to the conclusion
that she had been poisoned with arsenic. Smethurst was charged with
her murder. During his trial the expert witness for the prosecution
was forced to admit that he had used impure copper during his
testing, and so the arsenic he found had in fact been introduced by
his own hand. Despite this flaw in the testimony, the trial judge's
heavily prejudiced summing up led to Smethurst being convicted of
murder. The verdict was denounced in the medical press as unjust,
leading to the Home Secretary taking the unprecedented step of
submitting all the facts to a well-known surgeon for an opinion as
to the justice of the verdict. As a result Smethurst was reprieved
and subsequently received a free pardon ― he was later convicted of
bigamy and served a year in jail. Smethurst took legal action to
recover the money Miss Bankes had left him in her will and having
succeeded, returned to live with his wife. |
――――♦――――
PAGE 7.
. . . Prisoner (in a whining tone): No, sir; but I am
sorry, for I know it was very wicked of me, very wicked indeed.
Mr. Norton: And do you acknowledge, also, that you were the
person who was married to Mrs. Jane Hayes, and to whom this other
certificate refers?
Prisoner: I do, sir; I know it was wicked.
Inspector Emmerson, of the P division, said he had become
acquainted some time ago with the history of the prisoner, and
wished to say that his real name was Slopes, and not Marshall nor
Harrison, and he was the illegitimate child of a female who
subsequently married a man named Marshall. This person was a
dealer in bottles, and was engaged in bottling ale and beer for
different people.
Prisoner: I beg your pardon, he was a wine merchant, and
supplied Windsor Castle, Buckingham House, and the Pavilion, with
wines and ales.
Mr. Norton: And does the fact of your father or step-father
supplying Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle justify you in
assuming the term honourable? (Laughter.)
Prisoner: Perhaps not.
Mr. Emmerson: What I state, your worship, is quite correct,
and it is singular enough that on one occasion the prisoner went
with his step-father to bottle some ale at the house of a nobleman,
and became so intimate with one of the young ladies that an
elopement was arranged, and would in all probability have succeeded,
had not one of the letters of the lady fallen into the hands of the
prisoner's grandfather, who forwarded it to the nobleman, her
father.
Prisoner: Oh, how can you say all this, you ought to be
ashamed of yourself.
Mr. Norton: You are a nice person to moralise. (Laughter.)
Prisoner (whining): Well, your worship, it's not true.
Mr. Norton: Is it true that the prisoner has a third wife?
Revill, the officer: I can't say at present, sir, but it is
strongly suspected. If your worship remands the prisoner I
shall be able to find it out by the next examination.
The prisoner was remanded for further evidence, and a more
insignificant or sneaking person never stood at or was removed from
a bar of justice.
____________________________________
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.
FATAL ACCIDENT
TO A GLASGOW
TOURIST AT THE
TROSSACHS.�We (Glasgow
Herald) regret to announce the death of Mr. James Anderson, of
Messrs. James Anderson and Co., calenderers, 170, Buchanan-street, a
gentleman well known and much respected in this city. It
appears that on Saturday Mr. Anderson had gone with several others
upon an excursion to the Trossachs. On reaching Inversnaid,
Mr. Anderson, in consequence of the regular day coach being crowded,
hired a conveyance to carry him to the Trossachs, and was
accompanied by a lady, said to be his wife, and Mr. Bissett, the
representative of an English commercial house. The road being
very rough, and in some places precipitous�and at one part more than
usually so�the horse shied and started off at a furious pace.
The two gentlemen jumped from the vehicle, but Mr. Anderson seems to
have sustained such injury that his death must have been
instantaneous, and Mr. Bissett and the lady were also very severely
hurt. The latter is not expected to live. The driver has
also sustained several injuries.
THE TERRIBLE
RAILWAY
ACCIDENT IN
AMERICA.�The
following is the account given of the terrible railway accident near
Albany, by Mr. J. D. Dexter, a journalist, who was one of the
passengers:�"About half-past six o'clock, the train, which was
running at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, arrived at the bridge.
I was sitting in the forward passenger car, about one quarter the
distance from the rear of the car, when I felt the engine apparently
strike something. Looking forward through one of the windows,
I beheld the baggage cars dashing into the chasm, which was some
sixty feet deep. I immediately clutched the window and braced
myself for the expected shock. In a moment the passenger car
in which I was, was following the baggage cars into the water; the
seats began to fly in every direction; one struck me in the head and
neck, loosening my hold and driving me with great force to the
opposite side of the car, where, fortunately, I got my arm into
another window, and held on firmly until the crisis was over.
When the car struck the bottom the seats and all the passengers
except myself were driven by the force of the crash, which was
tremendous, to the lower end of the car and into the water.
The front end of the car was broken to atoms for about one third of
its length, the rear car pitching in behind and striking the bottom
of the car which preceded it, and which stood nearly perpendicular
upon its end in the water, crushing still further the forward
passenger car, and causing it to fall back directly on the top of
the rear car, which then stood at an angle of some ninety degrees,
one end resting against the abutment of the bridge. I then
made my way out of the window to which I was clinging, and which was
some twenty feet above the surface of the water, to the edge of
which I lowered myself by means of the windows. Here I found
the passengers, shattered timbers, broken seats, baggage, etc., in
one amalgamated mass, which completely choked up the chasm. I
immediately hastened to render whatever assistance I could to my
fellow passengers, which was a work of no little difficulty and
danger, owing to the position of the fragments of the broken cars.
The scene was one which utterly defies description; the shrieks of
the wounded, the moans of the dying and agonized cries of help from
all quarters were enough to daunt the bravest. I noticed one
young lady lying partially under water, with a large piece of timber
across her neck, whom I supposed at first sight to be dead; she was
bent in the water in such a way that just her head and shoulders
were visible; on removing the timber to relieve others, I found to
my great joy that she was still alive and almost entirely uninjured.
One man, who fell under the tender of the engine, had one leg
broken, and was entirely covered with rubbish; he was for some time
wildly shrieking for help before I could ascertain whence the sound
proceeded. At length I crawled over a portion of one of the
broken cars, and commenced clearing away the wood and broken
portions of the tender, until I discovered him just above the
surface of the water, succeeding, after much labour, in extricating
him from his dreadful position."
FRIGHTFUL SUICIDE
THROUGH JEALOUSY IN
ST.
PANCRAS.�On Tuesday
afternoon a painful excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood of
Charlton-street, Somers Town, St. Pancras, in consequence of a
rumour that a married woman, named Susan Baggs, living at 70 in that
street, had committed a most determined act of self-destruction, by
leaping from the attic window of the house in which she resided.
It appeared that the husband of the unfortunate female had gone to
the Crystal Palace to witness the Foresters' fete, and that she
suspected he was there in company with another female. She was
observed subsequent to his departure to be in a desponding state.
About one o'clock she went up to an upper room, from the window of
which she precipitated herself. An alarm was at once raised,
as she had been seen by some persons to do so, when several ran to
her assistance in the back garden, where she lay in a state of
insensibility, there being a quantity of blood upon the ground.
A medical gentleman was sent for, who promptly attended. He
recommended her immediate removal to the University College
Hospital, where she was at once conveyed in a cab. Her case,
however, was pronounced a hopeless one by the medical officials,
which unfortunately proved too true, as she died in about an hour
after her admission. She was in the 27th year of her age.
ACCIDENT ON THE GLASGOW
AND SOUTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY.�An
alarming accident occurred last week to the first ordinary train
from Ayr to Glasgow, near Milliken Park Station. The train was
seen about four miles from the station approaching in the direction
of Glasgow, when the accident took place. Out of thirteen
carriages, which formed the train, eight were thrown off the rails.
The others ran down the embankment, which is six feet deep, and
maintained their position on the wheels. The last carriage
remained on the line off the rails, while the luggage van and the
carriage next the engine kept the rails. Medical assistance
being procured, only six persons were found to have suffered, and
none were seriously injured. |
COLLISION ON THE LANCASTER
AND PRESTON
RAILWAY.―About
a quarter before six o'clock on Tuesday last a collision took place
at the Maudland Station, Preston, on the Lancaster and Preston
Railway, between an engine crossing the Lancashire and Preston line
of rails, which at this point intersects the rails leading to the
above-named station, and a goods train from the north coming up at a
rather rapid rate. Fortunately no one was injured, as the men
in charge of each engine leaped off the tenders a few seconds before
the collision. Several rails were displaced, and the line was
not sufficiently cleared to allow of uninterrupted traffic for some
hours.
FRIGHTFUL EXPLOSION
OF GAS.�On
the 20th inst., at an early hour, an explosion occurred at the
residence of Mr. Wright, Earl-court, Brompton. The family
being out, and the female servants, smelling a strong smell of gas,
thought it advisable to call in George Perry, a lamplighter.
On going upstairs he tried the various gas-pipes with a light, when
a most tremendous explosion took place, blowing the roof off, and
completely burying the unfortunate man in the ruins. Help
being summoned he was extricated and taken to Saint George's
Hospital, where it was found that amputation of his leg was
necessary, and he now lies in a very precarious condition.
ANOTHER EXPLOSION.�On
Saturday last an explosion took place at the percussion cap
manufactory of Messrs. F. and A. Ludlow, in Birmingham, but happily
unattended with loss of life. At about a quarter past twelve
o'clock at noon, it appears that three of the workpeople were dining
in an outhouse, when an explosion took place They were
immediately thrown to the ground and literally buried in the debris
of thee fallen house, but several persons came to their assistance,
and in a few minutes they were extricated, and found to have
sustained no injuries beyond a few scratches. The precise spot
whence the explosion emanated is at present a mystery, as is also
its cause. We believe, however, that there was but very slight
damage done to the surrounding property.
FRIGHTFUL SUICIDE
IN ST.
PANCRAS.�On Tuesday last
in the neighbourhood of Chilton-street, Somers Town, St. Pancras, a
married woman, named Susan Baggs, committed a most determined act of
self-destruction, by leaping from the attic window of the house in
which she resided. She was at once conveyed in a cab to the
University College Hospital, where she died in about an hour after
her admission. She was in the twenty-seventh year of her age.
Jealousy of her husband is said to have been the cause of the act.
ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON
AND SOUTH
WESTERN RAILWAY.�An
accident occurred on the Windsor and Reading branch of the South
Western Railway on Saturday the 20th, to the express train, which
leaves Windsor at 25 minutes past 11. When within one mile of
Feltham the engine suddenly left the rails, dragging the whole of
the carriages with it, and, after proceeding up the line for about
one hundred yards, tearing up the medals and chairs, it diverged to
the left, ploughing its way into a stubble field, when the entire
train fell over with a fearful crash, five of the carriages being
smashed or broken. Not a moment was lost in extricating the
passengers from their perilous position, and happily not one life
was sacrificed, nor apparently any serious injury inflicted, beyond
the effects of violent shaking and extreme fright.
FATAL ACCIDENT
TO A RAILWAY
GUARD.�A
fatal accident occurred on Friday to a railway guard on the
Liverpool and Manchester line. The guard was missing at the
Goldfield station, Manchester, and at the Victoria station he was
found on the roof of the van quite dead. It is supposed that
he had been on the roof looking after some luggage, when his head
came in contact with the arch of a bridge, fracturing his skull, and
leaving him a corpse. He was a married man, and has left a
widow and family behind him.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.�Some
excitement has been caused during the past fortnight (observes the
Gloucestershire Chronicle) relative to the disappearance of a
man named Williams, who has lately been employed by the Great
Western Railway company. It appeals that about a fortnight ago
he suddenly disappeared from his lodgings and his employment, having
a considerable sum of money in his possession, and although an
animated inquiry has been instituted by the magistrates, every
effort has been unsuccessful.
Hall, the aeronaut, has died from the effects of the injuries
he received in falling front his balloon on Monday, when it ascended
from Newcastle, as already described.
____________________________________
NAVAL AND MILITARY.
WHAT A FRENCH
SOLDIER HAS TO
CARRY.�As
the knapsack question is again the subject of public discussion it
may be useful to know what a French soldier has to carry packed
inside and strapped outside. On the outside:�1. the tente abri
and tent pole. 2. A blanket. 3. A waterproof cape, with
hood. 4. A water bucket, used also as a camp kettle. 5.
A. round loaf of black bread. 6. A tin pan. 7. A quart
measure. Inside: 1. A pair of gaiters. 2. Two shirts. 3.
A pair of shoes. 4. An order book. 5. A small canvas
bag, containing an awl, five stout needles, a skein of scarlet
thread, a skein of yellow thread, a skein of black thread, a
thimble, shoe, clothes, and musket brushes, a small box containing
the tools necessary to take a musket to pieces and put it together
again, a grease box, a wax ditto. 6. Two pocket handkerchiefs.
7. 50 rounds of ball cartridge.
TRIAL OF A TURKISH
VESSEL OF
WAR.�The
trial of the second Turkish corvette, built by Messrs. Wigram and
Sons, Blackwall, took place at the usual mile of measurement on the
20th inst., when an average speed of 10.615 knots an hour was
attained. The corvette is pierced for 19 guns, and her engines
are of 150 horse power.
The Duke of Somerset and the Lords of the Admiralty have left
town on an official visit of inspection to Chatham and Sheerness.
The men of the Royal and East India Engineers are still
employed in their diving operations at Rochester-bridge, and have
succeeded in raising several of the large masses of stone which were
blown into the river from the old bridge on its being destroyed.
Some of the blocks of stone weigh upwards of half a ton each.
The diving operations are superintended by Mr. Heinke, the inventor
of the apparatus used, who has been engaged by the Government for
that purpose.
It is mentioned as probable that the colonelcy of the 5th
Dragoon Guards, vacant by the death of General Sir John Slade, will
be conferred on Major-General the Earl of Cardigan, who is the
senior cavalry general after those who have already been appointed
to colonelcies.
THE DUTIES
OF VOLUNTEER
RIFLE CORPS.�A
letter has been addressed to Lord Vivian by the Right Hon. Sidney
Herbert, Secretary at War, in which the latter observes:�"As regards
the eight days' drill every four months, or twenty-four days in the
year, which is the period prescribed by the regulations, they may be
taken together or separately as the convenience of the volunteers
may require, provided the term of twenty-four days is reached.
As regards 'days,' the Government are most anxious in this, as in
all things, to give every fair latitude which will suit the
convenience and facilitate the operations of the volunteers, who can
in very few instances devote the mornings to their practice and
instruction. The evenings may, therefore, be counted as days,
and your artillerymen will find that two or three hours' work with
the great guns constitute a very fair day's work. I hope these
explanations will meet with the views of your volunteers, whose
patriotism and public spirit deserve the thanks of the Government."
The Norfolk Artillery, which are at present quartered at
Sheerness, under the command of Colonel F. L. Astley, began their
gun practice with round shot and shell last week. The practice
they made was excellent; the precision with which the gunners laid
the guns showed the proficiency they have attained as artillerymen,
seldom or never missing the target with shot or shell, and having to
replace it every day. All those who witnessed the practice
were quite satisfied of the proficiency to which militia can be
brought. This regiment was only embodied on the 5th of April. |
THE
ARMY IN THE
COLONIES.�In
1857 there were 48,901 non-commissioned officers and privates of her
Majesty's forces in the colonies, against 47,651 in 1856, and 36,896
in 1855. The forces were thus distributed, viz.:�In North
America, 6,213; in Australia, 4,287; in the Mediterranean, 15,627
(Gibraltar, 5,144; and Malta, 7,055); the Cape of Good Hope, 11,225;
the West Indies, 3,942; Bermuda, 1,128; Ceylon, 2,339; Hongkong
1,413; and the West of Africa, 969. There are no Queen's troops in
Labuan. The amount provided for this purpose out of the
Imperial funds averages 3,182,743l. a year, and that set
apart by the colonies themselves only 337,595l. a year.
With the exception of the Cape of Good Hope, Victoria, Guiana, and
the whole of North America, the colonial expenditure in this paper
represents almost entirely an expenditure on the Queen's forces,
either in the shape of a contribution to the British Treasury, or
else of an outlay on barracks, forts, or other military works.
At the Cape there is an armed mounted police, consisting of about
400 men, which cost the colony, in 1857, 32,505l. At
Victoria there was an expenditure in 1857 of about 5,400l. on
volunteer corps; at Guiana upwards of 9.000l. was expended on
militia; the whole of the expenditure in North America is
exclusively on militia. The numbers of that force by the
latest returns were as follows,�viz., Canada, 236,427; Nova Scotia,
53,920; New Brunswick, 30,800; Newfoundland, nil; and in Prince
Edward's Island, 6,886, making a gross total of 328,033. The German
Legion is separately noticed as follows:�The German Legion sailed
towards the end of 1856, and arrived at the Cape in January, 1857.
The following is a statement of the expenditure on them, so far as
yet ascertained, including an issue of about 43,500l. as an
allowance to them to build dwellings, and an issue of 11,500l.
for outfits, viz., in 1857, 102,402l.; in 1858 (partly
estimated), 90,170l. The number of the German Legion
landed at the Cape, as reported by the Governor, was about 2,300.
In October, 1858, the Governor reported that about 1,028 of the
Legion had volunteered to proceed for service to India, and that
only 1,042 non-commissioned officers and privates remained in Cape
Colony. The numbers not accounted for must be presumed to have
quitted the corps. No later report of their numbers has been
received.
____________________________________
IRELAND
After a considerable delay the
result of the deliberations of the Irish Roman Catholic hierarchy on
the question of education have at length been made public. The
mixed system is condemned entirely, and a claim is put in for a
separate grant to Catholic Schools, as in England.
Intermediate mixed education is also condemned, and on that ground
the Queen's Colleges are objected to. This decision has
already borne its fruits. The Catholic members of the Board of
National Education are withdrawing from it, and it is beyond doubt
that the whole influence of the Catholic clergy in Ireland will be
directed to the withdrawal of the children of their communion from
the national schools.
____________________________________
LAUGHING MATTERS.
A lady observing the following
notice on a board, "Horses taken to grass: long tails, three
shillings and sixpence; short tails, two shillings," asked the owner
of the land the reason for the difference in price, "Why, you see,
ma'am," he replied, "long tails can brush away the flies, but the
short tails are so tormented that they can hardly eat at all."
"Talking of getting a good deal out of a little piece of
land," said Simson, "why, I bought an acre of old Mr. Ross, planted
one acre of it with potatoes and the other with corn." "I
thought you said you bought only one acre, Simson?" remarked the
listener. "How could you plant two?" "Very easily, sir,
I stood it up on the end, and planted both sides of it."
The landlord of an hotel entered, in an angry mood, the
sleeping apartment of a delinquent boarder, and demanded payment,
adding angrily, "And I tell you now that you don't leave my house
till you pay it."�"Good!" said the lodger; "just put that in
writing; make a regular agreement of it; I'll stay with you as long
as I live!" was the cool rejoinder.
A dandy with more beauty than brains, married an heiress,
who, although very accomplished, was by no means handsome. One
day he said to her: "My dear, as ugly as you are, I love you as well
as though you were pretty." "Thank you, love," was the reply:
"I can return the compliment, for fool as you are, I love you as
though you had wit."
An urchin in a country school was reading the verse in the
New Testament which reads thus: "And he saw Abraham afar off with
Lazarus in his bosom." The boy gravely spelt it out thus: "And
he-saw a-broom afar-off with-leather-ears in Boston."
"Did the wind blow out your way last night, Charley?"
"No, it didn't blow my way out; for I saw it perfectly clear."
"Yes, I perceive your still have a bad way about you�your old
habits." "I expect to have till after my tailor's bill is
paid�then I may hope for a new suit."
When John wants a hot bath, and hasn't the change to pay for
it, he has only to tell his girl that he has about made up his mind
to select another sweetheart, and he is in hot water directly.
"Oh, my dear, how come you so wet?" inquired an affectionate
mother of her son. "Why, ma, one of the boys said I daren't
jump into the creek, and I can tell you I ain't to be dared."
A retired schoolmaster excuses his passion for angling, by
saying that, from constant habit, he never feels quite himself
unless he is handling the rod.
"They tell me wine gives strength," said Fox, one day, "and
yet I, who have just drank three bottles, cannot keep myself on my
legs!"
Most kinds of roots and barks are now used as medicines,
except the cube root and the bark of a dog.
A Frenchman has written to say that he has invented a remedy
for the 2-thake, which will allevi-8 all pain 4-thwith.
About the only person we ever heard of that was not spoiled
by being lionized, was a Jew, named Daniel.
The gentleman who stood upon ceremony has lost his footing,
and now finds that he has slipped out of a very pleasant circle.
Profound silence in a public assemblage has been thus neatly
described "One might have heard the stealing of a
pocket-handkerchief."
____________________________________
THE CHURCH BELL.
I hate that bell's discordant sound,
Proclaiming priestcraft round and round;
To thoughtless fools it pleasure yields
And lures them from true wisdom's fields.
To blind their intellect with charms
Of cup and stole and prayer's alarms;
And when devotion's voice commands,
To fill with guiltless blood their bigot hands.
I hate that bell's discordant sound,
Spreading false worship round and round;
To me it rings of outrag'd mind,
Of direful woe to human kind,
And persecution's bloody grasp,
And Reason's martyrs dying gasp;
And all that tyranny does seek,
To keep us blinded, and to make us meek.
LUTON
WOOD. |
EMIGRATION.―The
number of emigrants who sailed from the United Kingdom during the
forty-four years from 1815 to 1858 inclusive amounted to 4,797,166.
Of these 1,180,046 went to the North American colonies; 2,890,403 to
the United States; 652,910 to the Australian colonies and New
Zealand; and 73,807 to other places. The average annual
emigration from the United Kingdom from 1815 to 1858 amounted to
109,026; for the ten years ending 1858, to 261,865. |
――――
PAGE 8.
THE CHARTIST MOVEMENT.
OLD
BASFORD.�MANHOOD
SUFFRAGE
ASSOCIATION.�Mr.
Eligh Brown chairman. After our local business a subscription
was entered into for the Testimonial, and a committee was formed to
get up a tea-party for the benefit of the Testimonial. Mr.
Richard Williamson and Mr. Eligh Brown were elected delegates to
represent Old Basford at the forthcoming delegate meeting, to be
held at Mr. Wm. Hickling's, Southwark, Old Basford, on Sunday,
September 4th, at 2 o'clock p.m. We shall be glad to see
delegates from the surrounding districts.�W. HICKLING,
Secretary.
BRADFORD.―A
meeting of the members of the N.C.A. will be held on Sunday next,
August 28th, at 10 o'clock in the morning, at Ambler's Temperance
Hotel, Market-place.�R. CAMERON.
NORTHAMPTON.―Mr.
Wilson in the chair. A number of contributions were promised,
and four persons were appointed to wait upon all known friends.
We meet next Sunday evening at Mr. Wilson's, 4, Dover-street, at 6
o'clock, when all readers of the Cabinet Newspaper and
friends to the cause are respectfully invited to attend.�H.
FLEMING,
Secretary.
TOWER HAMLET
PARLIAMENTARY
REFORM ASSOCIATION.―(Bethnal-green
Branch.).�A goodly feeling prevailed throughout the meeting (which
was a good one), at Twig Folly, last Sunday morning, Messrs.
Longmaid and Neeson being greatly applauded at various parts of
their speeches by the audience, several of whom promised Mr.
Longmaid they would join our association. On Monday night we
met at "Shipley's Coffee House," 227, Bethnal-green-road, Mr.
Longmaid in the chair. Mr. Haines read No. 2 of the "Evenings
with the people" which elicited some encomiums. A new member
was enrolled. On Monday evening week, Sept. 5th, the "Magna
Charta," or the "Bill of Rights," will be read. Discussion to
take place afterwards. All friends of progress respectfully
invited. Chair to be taken at half-past eight o'clock. J. SHIPWAY,
Treasurer J. SIMPSON,
Secretary.
NOTTINGHAM.―The
Manhood Suffrage Association met at the Fox and Hounds. Mr.
Ward was called to the chair. The testimonial committee gave
in their report, and it was highly satisfactory as far as they had
gone. Mr. Wm. Smith, Commercial Coffee Rooms, No. 7,
Hounds-gate, has kindly consented to become treasurer to the
testimonial fund; at his house all subscriptions will be received
and duly acknowledged. All friends are requested to attend
next Sunday night, at eight o'clock, to elect delegates to the
forthcoming delegate meeting at Baxford.�JOHN
KIRK,
Secretary, No. 18, Cavendish-street.
CALEDONIAN FIELDS,�Sunday,
August 21�Messrs. John-stone and Bligh addressed a large meeting in
the Caledonian and Britannia Fields on the Strike and Manhood
Suffrage. The attendance was very large, and an
excellent feeling was evinced for the building trades and reform.
Meetings in the Caledonian Fields at 11 a.m.; Britannia at 6 p.m.,
next Sunday, and at the Alma Arms, Chapel-street, Islington, at 8.
STALEYEBRIDGE.�Chartist
Meeting Room, Quarry-street, High-street.�A full members' meeting
will take place in the above meeting, on Sunday afternoon, August
28, on business of great importance to the members. The doors
will be opened at half-past five.�Wm. HILL.
MANCHESTER.�At a
meeting held in the People's Institute, on Wednesday evening, August
24, a committee of fourteen persons were appointed to manage the
affairs relating to the Testimonial to Mr. Ernest Jones, collect
subscriptions, &c. The committee will meet at the People's
Institute every Wednesday night, at half-past seven o'clock.
Send us a few more sheets.�Mr. Abbot, Mr. Rushton, Mr. Hooson, Mr.
Gill, Mr. Porter, Mr. Lowe, Mr. Entwistle, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Cunliffe,
Mr. Bowes, Hargreave, Mr. Paulding, Mr. Hemmingway.�Mr. GILL,
Chairman; Mr. HODSON;
Treasurer, Mr. J. E. BENSON,
Secretary to the Committee.
____________________________________
HOME NOTES.
PETITIONS:
During the short session of Parliament which has just closed,
popular sentiments have been expressed by means of 1,929 petitions,
having 220,459 signatures attached to them. For shortening the
hours of work in mines, 58,737 signatures have been recorded;
against excluding the Bible from schools in India, 51,118; against
certain proposed changes in the Scottish Universities, 22,946; in
favour of legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister, 10,692,
and against that measure, 3,637; against the Endowed Schools Bill,
8,070, and for that measure, 3,055; for the Ballot, 7,533; for the
regulating the measuring of gas, 7,453; for separating Protestant
and Roman Catholic children in schools, 7,011; for prohibiting the
opium trade, 4,789; for altering the law of landlord and tenant in
Ireland, 3,532; for repeal of Paper Duty, 2,898; against Church Rate
Abolition Bill, 2,731; in favour of, 193; against abolishing Church
Rates without an equivalent, 2,181; for repeal of Maynooth College
Act, 1,926; against saluting the Host at Malta, 1,950; for
ameliorating the condition of national school teachers, 1,896; for
reducing the duty on hops, 1,678; and for the removing restrictions
from free and grammar schools, 1,559. For reform in Parliament
there are 127 applicants, and for universal suffrage 1.
THE OLD
SEA
SERPENT AGAIN.�The
schooner "Arabella," Capt. Boothby, arrived here last evening from
Wells, Me. Capt. B. states that off Boon Island, Lege, he and
his crew distinctly saw, about a hundred rods from the vessel, a
shoal of whales eight or ten in number. Among them was one
answering the description of the sea serpent. The monster
several times raised his head ten or twelve feet, and sometimes
higher, from the surface of the water, then plunged it beneath; and
while his head was under water, he unmercifully thrashed the whales
with his tail. All hands and the captain were witnesses of
this sport some considerable time.
EARTHQUAKE IN ENGLAND.�About
10.15 a.m. on Saturday, August 13, Diss, in Norfolk, and
neighbourhood were visited by one or more separate vibrations of the
earth's surface. Not a cloud was visible, but many persons who
felt the vibration were also attracted by a low rumbling noise like
distant thunder. The shock was distinctly felt by three or
four gentlemen sitting in a reading-room connected with the corn
hall, all simultaneously wondering as to the extraordinary trembling
produced. A person from a village called Kenninghall, about
seven miles distant (and where the vibration must have been much
greater), with many of her neighbours, ran out of their houses quite
alarmed, and the parish of Hopton experienced the same shock.
THE DUKE
AND THE LAMPPOST.�A
lengthened correspondence between the Duke of Wellington and Sir
Richard Mayne has been published by order of the House of Commons.
The Duke and the policeman are evidently very intimate, calling each
other "Dear Sir Richard," and "My dear Duke of Wellington."
The Inspector appointed to investigate the matters gives a verdict
hostile to the Duke, and yet " Dear Sir Richard" continues the
police nuisance at Apsley House!
GOING HOME.�The
Prince of Oude and attendants left Southampton on Saturday, in the
steamship "Ceylon," for Alexandria, from whence they will depart for
India. The unostentatious manner in which the Prince embarked
in the Ceylon presented a striking contrast with the splendour amid
which he landed at Southampton about three years since.
SPARROWS FOR NEW
ZEALAND.�It
appears from the papers that in New Zealand the country, at
particular seasons, is invaded by armies of caterpillars, which
clear off the grain crops as completely as if mowed down by a
scythe. With the view of counteracting this plague a novel
importation has been made. It is thus noticed by the
Southern Cross:�"Mr. Brodie has shipped 300 sparrows on board
the Swordfish, carefully selected from the best hedgerows in
England. The food alone, he informs us, put on board for them,
cost 18l. This sparrow question has been a
long-standing joke in Auckland; but the necessity to farmers of
small birds to keep down the grubs is admitted on all sides.
There is no security in New Zealand against the invasion of myriads
of caterpillars which devastate the crops. Mr. Brodie has
already acclimatised the pheasant, which is abundant in the north.
The descent from the pheasant to sparrows is somewhat of an
anticlimax; but should the latter multiply, the greatest benefit
will have been conferred on the country." |
TIGHT ROPE FEAT AT NIAGARA.
(From the Buffalo Express, Aug. 4.)
Niagara Falls was a swarming hive again yesterday, filled and
overflowing with an immense throng of people, collected to witness
the fourth repetition of M. Blondin's daring feat of crossing the
chasm upon a cable stretched between the cliffs. The crowd
gathered was almost, if not quite, equal to that assembled upon any
former occasion; and the gathering was warranted, for the sight
which was witnessed surpassed all the previous exhibitions of the
same character. Mons. Blondin rode into the pleasure ground on this
side about half-past four o'clock, and started upon his aerial
journey after a few moments of delay in preparation. His trip across
to the Canadian shore was accomplished quickly, as he proceeded at a
tripping pace most of the distance, and only paused a few seconds
occasionally to correct his balance and obtain slight rest. All of
his feats he reserved for his return journey. Arrived at the
Canadian bank, he refreshed himself a little, and took a rest of
perhaps fifteen minutes, when he again stepped upon the rope and
tripped down the slant, airy plane, toward "the land of the free
and the home of the brave." When about half-way to the centre he
stopped and sat down, then stretched himself at full length upon the
rope, then performed a number of daring antics, and finally stood
upright upon his head, remaining in that reversed position for a
length of time which seemed a moment at least, swinging and kicking
his feet in the most reckless though ludicrous manner that can be
conceived. Resuming his journey, he proceeded but a little way when
he again halted and repeated his performance, with the addition of a
backward somersault, and one or two sudden swings round the rope,
which caused a general flutter among the hearts of the spectators,
and brought little screams from many of the ladies. Starting forward
again, he proceeded to the open space in the centre, between the
extreme guy ropes that branch off to either bank, where the cable
spans the gulf without stay or accompaniment. Here he paused again,
and laying his pole upon one of the guy ropes, he swung himself
under the cable and ran across this central space of single cord, in
the style of a monkey; hanging beneath, and swinging himself along
by his hands and feet, with great rapidity. Going back again in the
same gymnastic manner, when he had returned to the point where his
poll rested, he began a series of performances which outdid in
thrilling and startling effect upon the nerves of the spectators all
that he had done before. Clutching the rope with his hands, he swung
his body clear from it, and hung for a lengthy period of more than
ten seconds, suspended by the arms, and by one arm, over the fearful
depth of the chasm. Then he repeatedly turned such a suspended
somersault as is peculiar to boys, throwing his feet over his head
and between his arms, and hanging with the shoulder joints in a most
unnatural position. Then he straightened his body into a horizontal
position, still suspended by the arms, thrown backward as
described�an exertion requiring immense strength, and calculated to
exhaust the nervous system tremendously. After this he suspended
himself by the legs, and by one single leg, hanging head
downward�whirled round the rope�turned more somersaults�stood upon
his head again�and, in fact, performed nearly all the most reckless
teats attempted by tight rope performers under ordinary
circumstances. Twice again before reaching the bank he halted and
repeated some of these antics, seeming determined to fatigue himself
to the last point of endurance, and thoroughly satisfy the
spectators with his exhibition of daring and skill. And they were
satisfied, beyond question. The performance was wonderful, and
exciting enough for the most greedy seeker after sensations; and was
by far the greatest yet given by Mons. Blondin.
____________________________________
DESPERATE AFFRAY.
Since out last issue our quiet town has been thrown into a high
state of excitement by a report that there had occurred on the
public square of our sister town, Huntsville, a fatal rencoutre,
wherein Mr. Forester Black, son of Colonel William Black, of this
city, and Mr. Warren Sams, a merchant of Huntsville, were killed
immediately, and John Black and Dr. James Smithson, of this city,
and Constable Moody and James Sams, of Huntsville, were severely
wounded. All the above-named parties were personally known to most
of our citizens, and the utmost anxiety was felt and manifested to
know the particulars of the distressing tragedy. We proceed to give
the particulars of the affair as it has been detailed to us by
several eye-witnesses. It appears that on Friday, the 24th inst.,
some altercation between James Sams, the Son Of Warren Sams, and
Forester Black took place, in which insulting words and threatening
actions were used by young Sams towards Black. No collision,
however, resulted at this time, and it was supposed that there would
be no further quarrel. Several hours afterwards some hard words were
interchanged between Warren Sams and Forester Black, when both drew
weapons, the former a bowie-knife and the latter a revolver. Black's
pistol missed fire twice, and was discharged at Sams twice, the last
shot, as is supposed, taking effect in the head of Sams, Sams in the
meantime advancing on Black with his knife. One of our informants
states that Sams was in the act of falling when the report of
firearms from an unexpected quarter was heard, and Sams fell
instantly. Just at this time young Sams came running up with a
double-barrelled shot-gun, and discharged one barrel at the distance
of six or eight feet into the side of Mr. Black, and just as he was
falling fired the other barrel into his back, both barrels heavily
charged with buckshot. Young Sams then attacked Dr. James Smithson,
knocking him down with his gun, when Dr. D. C. Smithson, a brother
of James, advancing to aid his brother, struck at Sams with a gun,
but missed him and felled his brother to the ground. James Smithson,
who, it seems, was unarmed, wrested the shot-gun from the hands of
D. C, Smithson and chased young Sams off the ground, snapping the
gun at him in his flight. Several pistol shots were fired and
bowie-knives used by some persons as yet unknown, probably by
interested spectators. An idea may be formed of the unparalleled
savageness of this street fight, when it is considered that Warren
Sams was shot with ten pistol balls and stabbed once or twice in the
breast; that Forester Black was shot twice with a double-barrelled
shot, John Black and James Smithson wounded in the thigh, James Sams
stabbed with a bowie-knife, and Mr. Moody severely wounded in the
leg; and, further, that after the fight had ended, four revolvers were
found lying upon the ground of battle, three of which were entirely
empty, and one partially discharged. Not a sound was heard after the
shooting commenced, save the sharp, quick report of the revolver,
the stunning sound of the deadly shot-gun, and the clash of cold
steel, until Sams and Black had fallen and their lifeblood was
pouring forth through the ghastly and fatal wounds. The scene of
this tragedy was enough to sicken a manly heart. A young man in the
morning of his life, and a mature man in the autumn of his days,
lying within a few feet of each other, their lives pouring out in
torrents of blood, and four others bleeding from severe wounds; but
imagination can feebly depict the heartrending lamentations of
mothers, sisters, wives, relatives, and friends. Our informant says
but a minute or two had elapsed after the firing before the square
was covered with near a hundred women, who made the town resound
with their frantic screams and wild cries of grief. We learn that
warrants have been issued for the apprehension of several supposed
to be connected with the affray, but no examination has at this date
(June 29) been had. Forester Black was formerly a resident of this
city; was a graduate of the Lebanon, Tennessee, Law School, and had
been for several years located at Huntsville in the practice of his
profession. He was much esteemed by his brother lawyers, and had
many warm personal friends. We knew him as an intelligent, social,
generous, unselfish gentleman, honourable and high-minded in his
intercourse, whose heart was bound to his friends with cords of
triple steel. He thus, unfortunately, fell at the age of 25 years,
leaving a young wife, sisters and brothers, and an aged father to
bewail his untimely end.�Fayetteville Arkansian, July 2. |
THE MARKETS.
Thursday Evening, August 25.
The scrip of the new Indian Loan
was quoted during the greater part of the day 97⅞ to 98, but rose
late in the afternoon to 98⅛ to ⅝, or say 1⅛ to 1⅜ prem.
Consols closed at 95�. Three per Cent. Consols for money
opened this morning, 95�, ⅝, ⅜; ditto, for account (7th Sept.), 95�,
⅞. Indian Four per Cent. Debentures, 1858, 95�; ditto, 1859,
95. Exchequer Bills have again declined 1s. to 2s., closing at
20s. to 23s. prem. The foreign stock market was quiet, but
steady.
SUGAR.―Porto
Rico, 37s to 46s; Havannah, 36s 6d to 40s;
Guatemala, 32s to 38s.
COFFEE.―Nothing of
interest has transpired in the market.
TEA.�No change.
METALS.―Scotch
pig iron, is steady at 53s. Spelter firm at 21l.
10s on the spot. All other metals remain inactive.
COTTON.�American,
from 4�d to 9d; Surat, 5d to 5�d;
Egyptian, 8d to 8�d; Bahia, 7�d to 8d;
Maranham, 8⅛d to 8�d.
CORN.�Wheat,
English, red, from 44s to 50s according to weight and
condition; Salevern, 52s to 53s for superior.
Foreign was held for late rates generally. Flour in slow
request. Top price of town made, 43s; town households,
36s to 37s; Norfolk, 30s for approved
qualities. Barley realised full prices for both malting and
grinding qualities. Malt is held firmly at late quotations.
Beans and peas brought quite as much money. For oats the trade
was slow and light; Russian rather easy to purchase.
MEAT.�The weather
continues to operate against trade, which is dull. Supplies
have, however, been moderated to the demand, and prices are without
material change.
BUTTER.�1sts, 108s;
2nds, 104s; 3rds, 93s; 4ths, 84s; 5ths, 66s;
6ths, 52s.
COALS.�Best house
coals, 16s 6d to 17s; seconds, 15s to 15s
6d; Hartleys, 13s 3d to 14s;
manufacturers, 12s 3d to 13s 3d.
____________________________________
FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES.
FRIDAY, AUGUST
19.
BANKRUPTS.
ASHER WEINTHAL,
Cannon-street, warehouseman.
CHARLES THOMAS
INGRAM,
Fenchurch-street, oil merchant.
LEVI COBB,
Liverpool, eating-house keeper.
HENRY STUREMBURG
and WILLIAM
GOLDENSTEDT,
Liverpool
ship brokers.
WILLIAM LINDOP,
Newcastle-under-Lyme, brush
manufacturer.
CLEMENT EDWARD
DAVIES,
Gainsborough, spirit merchant.
TUESDAY, AUGUST
23.
BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED.
THOMAS HORNER,
St. John-street, Bridport-place, Haxton,
surgeon.
BANKRUPTS.
WILLIAM WALLYER
WALKYIER,
Sandown, Isle of Wight,
postmaster.
WILLIAM SEAGER,
Phillip's-place, Shooter's-hill-road,
Greenwich, builder.
JAMES BROADHURST,
Albert-street, Kennington, and
Carlisle-street, Lambeth, builder.
JAMES DOHERTY,
Birmingham, draper.
SAMUEL MARSH,
late of Nottingham, lace manufacturer.
WILLIAM NECK
PECKINS,
Torquay, auctioneer.
EDWARD CLEMENT
DAVIES,
Gainsborough, chemist.
JOHN LYONS,
Sheffield, steel manufacturer.
ELI ORMROD
and RICHARD
ROBERTS,
Manchester, commission
agents.
SAMUEL NEWTON,
Stockport, and Dove-bank Mills, within
Mellor, Derbyshire, cotton manufacturer.
SAMUEL MIDDLETON,
Oldham, ironmonger.
ROBERT CALDECOTT,
Manchester, boardinghouse-keeper.
EDWARD EMERSON
FENWICK,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, wine
merchant.
____________________________________
"A young minister dined with the farmer in the afternoon when
services were over, and his appetite was so sharp, that he thought
it necessary to apologise to his host for eating so substantial a
dinner�'You see,' he said, 'I am always very hungry after
preaching.' The old gentleman, not much admiring the youth's pulpit
ministrations, having heard this apology two or three times, at last
replied sarcastically, 'Indeed, sir, I'm no surprised at it,
considering the trash that comes aff your stomach in the morning.'"
* * * * "A clergyman from a distance having come to officiate in the
parish church, the betheral, knowing the terms on which it was usual
for the minister officiating to pray for the efficiency of the local
magistracy, quietly cautioned the clergyman before service that, in
regard to the town-council there, it would be quite out of place for
him to pray that they should be a 'terror to all evil doers,'
because, as he said, the 'poor auld bodies could be nae terror to
onybody.'" * * * * "I have another story of canine misbehaviour in
church. A dog was present during the service, and in the sermon the
worthy minister was in the habit of speaking loud, and, in fact,
when he got warmed with his subject, of shouting almost to the top
of his voice. The dog who, in the early part, had been very quiet,
became quite excited, as is not uncommon with some dogs when hearing
a noise, and from whinging and whining, as the speaker's voice rose
loud and strong, at last began to bark and howl. The minister,
naturally much annoyed at the interruption, called upon the betheral
to put out the dog, who at once expressed his readiness to obey the
order, but could not resist the temptation to look up to the pulpit,
and to say very significantly, 'Ay, ay, sr; but indeed it was
yersel began it.'"�Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character.
HOLLOWAY'S
OINTMENT AND
PILLS.�THE
PEOPLE'S
COMFORT.�In all bodily afflictions, whether they be obvious on the surface,
or deeply hidden in the interior, the sufferer will find relief in
Holloway's remedies. The merest scratches and foulest ulcers are
cured by this healing ointment, which does not skin over the sores,
but penetrates to their sources, purifies their foundations, and
raises sound and healthy flesh, and thus it works a permanent cure,
and prevents the recurrence of the same or any other diseases. Holloway's pills much augment the effect of his ointment. Both are
products of the vegetable kingdom, free alike from all mineral and
poisonous compounds. Mother, nurse, or patient, may put implicit
faith in the curative powers of Holloway's preparations.
____________________________________
"For the labourer is worthy of his hire."
"Thou shalt not oppress the hireling in his wages."
RATEPAYERS'
NATIONAL LABOUR
ALLIANCE, for the Payment of
WAGES
WITHOUT STOPPAGES. To relieve the rates by bettering the condition
of the Poor in the Earnings of their Labour�to prohibit the robbery
of Wages by Stoppages�to rescue the Ratepayers from paying the Wages
of the Stoppage Manufacturing Employers. General Manager, Mr.
Jeremiah Briggs, Solicitor, 5, High Pavement, and 6, Hound's Gate,
Nottingham.
___________________
REFORMER'S
LIBRARY, 240, Strand, London.�Voltaire's "Philosophical
Dictionary," in parts at 2d. each, or two vols. cloth, 6s.
Thomas Paine's "Age of Reason," and other Theological Works, 3s. The only complete edition.
Large Portrait of Paine, 1s.
"The Elements of Social Science; or Physical, Sexual, and Natural
Religion." Containing an exposition of the true cause and only cure
of the three primary Social Evils�Poverty, Prostitution, and
Celibacy. 450 pages. Second Edition. Price 2s., or in cloth, 2s. 6d.
"The Influence of Woman in Society." By J. Donaldson, Price 2d.
"Canterbury versus Rome, and Christianity in Relation to Both. Price
6d. (published at 1s.).
By Ernest Jones,
"Notes to the People." Contains "Beldagon Church," "The Painter of
Florence," "De Brassier, a Democratic Romance," &c. By Ernest
Jones. 520 pages, 8vo. Price 1s. 6d.
"Napoleon the Little." By Victor Hugo. 9d.
Felix Pyatt's Letter to Queen Victoria." 1d.
An Essay on the Nine Hours' Movement." By J. B. Leno. 2d.
To ensure
the delivery of any of the above, write direct to E. Truelove, 240,
Strand,
___________________
POLITICAL EQUITY.�EQUITABLE
SUFFRAGE SOCIETY.�The
SUFFRAGE to be
EQUAL and
JUST. Every Man to have a
VOTE, but
ONE Vote only�that is,
Equitable and Universal Suffrage.
THREE Members to be returned; whereby, every class will be
represented; namely, the Higher Class, the Middle Class, and the
Lower Class. No Split Votes. 661 Members to be returned by 220
Constituencies of Three Members each, with London Four. Every man to
vote for ONE Candidate; whereby no Class can command two-thirds of
the Constituency.
All men joining the Equitable Suffrage Society, to write or send to
the General Manager, Mr. Jeremiah Briggs, solicitor, No, 6, Hounds
Gate, or No. 5, High Pavement, Nottingham.
____________________________________
Printed by and for ERNEST JONES, and Published by him at his
Office, 17, Exeter Street, Strand, W.C |
|