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    « nd 8524 . With reference to these , he would remark t&k fc- on account of the time these pupil teachers are under instruction , many -were included in the return of last year , who had been apprenticed in preceding 3 ears . The increase of the vote this year was to be attributed to' the augmented number of schools , schoolmasters , scholars , pupil teachers , and other departments of the educational staff . Some extension Tiad also been made in < th « 'cap itation grants for the current year , involving an increase of 28 , 000 / . in the expenditure ; and a few granta of a novel character had been added , including one for the improvement of industrial and reformatory schools .

    . Sir John Pakutgton made some remarks in favour of a more definite and comprehensive scheme of national education .- *—Mr . Barxes , in moving that the vote be reduced to the same amount as last year , complained that the education provided by the public money is not cnjdyed by the . children of the classes for whom it is intended , and that parents are indifferent as to sending their families . —Mr . Milker Gibson , though regretting that the aid of the state should still be withheld from schools conducted on the secular principle , would oppose the imendment , because , he did not wisli to restrict the ( peration of the system . —A similar course was taken by tfr . W . J . Fox for the same reasons . —Mr . Liddell vished to see the salaries of the pupil teachers raised . t-Mt . Miles thonght the present system susceptible of nany improvements . —Mr . Edward Ball , supported the

    . mendment , as he conceived the sum proposed was luch too large . —Mr . Crossley also approved of the mendment , and complained of the unequal appropriaion of the grant , four-fifths of which , he observed , are lonopolised by schools under the supervision of the Jhurch of England . —Approval of the increased vote , ritb some objections to points of detail in the plan purled by the Committee of Council , were expressed by ir Stafford Northcote , Mr . Alcock , and Mr . Henet ; and ultimately , after a brief reply from Sir George [ ret , the amendment was withdrawn , and the vote as agreed to . On the House resuming , the Oxford University rut . was considered as amended in committee . The West India Loans Bill , and the Aldershott imp Bill were respectively read a third time , and tssed . _ The House adjourned at a few minutes before two clock .

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    PALMER AT STAFFORD . ( From our Special Correspondent . ) Stafford , June 12 , 1856 . A . RIS danced on the edge of a volcano ; Stafford pro-) ses to eat , drink , and make merry on the eve of an tecution . Publicans hope to sit at the receipt of cusiin while a great criminal is preparing for his last drop , bunds of beef have been provided that for size would Dt disgrace a hippopotamus , and perhaps equally tender . [ is own peculiar honours , too , will be paid to bold Sii ) hn Barleycorn . Nor will any man , -with money in is pocket , be compelled to pass the night of expecta-[> n in dull sobriety . It is not often that such felitous occasions present themselves—when they do they ust be duly improved . Similar preparations are being

    ade in . family and commercial hotels , though on a ale commensurate with their greater importance . tplentur veteris Bacchi pinguisquc Jerinai—they are anufacturing their wines and laying in supplies of im . The extortions practised by the Londoners during e three glorious nights of " blazes" are to bo exited in Stafford . Mendacious fame relates in a ige whisper how sixty beds have already been engaged tho " Dodo" for a pound a piece , while the narrow fa and uneasy chair are each valued at a crown . In vino ~ itcts . Writing from the comfortable hostelry yclept o "Vine , " your correspondent must turn a deaf ear such Pactolian fables , and confine himself to unpoutic : ts . There will be no difficulty in procuring

    aceoinadation for Friday night . Many thousands will no iibt be poured into the town , but of these very fow will er dream of retiring to rest . The majority of spectars are not expected to arrive before niidniyht , and by ro or three o'clock in the morning every uvenue to the loI will certainly l > u crowded . His doomed probable at at least 50 , 000 persons will bo assembled within ght of tho scaffold . To preserve order in this excited ul heterogeneous boat , l' 2 O policemen -will bo » tntioned ; the most commanding points , and strong barricades o to bo erected to prevent undue pressure mid to break o force of the mob . Immediately in front of tho Lodgeite tho gallowa-trcc Avill rear its unhallowed form ,

    aiblo to a considerable distance ) on either side . r ithin a few yards and nearly opposite ) , workmen aro isily occupieel in constructing a gallery for tho reprentatives of tho press , who tiro greatly beholden to ojor Fulford , tho governor of the gaol , for his uniform urteay and coiiHidoratenoss . Facing tlio long , dull , id-brick wall , that keeps out hope , but shuta in shame , nrow and despair , stands a neat row of cottages with nail gardens in front , now groen with beans , cabbages , « 1 cauliflowers , bordereel with the homely elaisy or tho unty London-prielo . To-morrow pride- -will have a 11 . Cabbage anel cauliflower must give way to rows ' benches , blossoming with " a bold peasantry , their

    country ' s pride . " Within the gaol itself no one will be permitted to enter , save two local reporters and the representative of the all-dreaded Times . Every rule , however , has an exception , and this is not an exception to that rule . Only officials and the chosen three are to be admitted , we are told ; but rumour speaks of-passes from the Secretary of State for a few "bloated aristocrats , " who desire to indulge a morbid curiosity by intruding upon the last moments of a fellow-creature , whose hour-glass has run down to its last grains of sand . The good people of Stafford , indeed , say that Palmer has himself alone to thank for his condemnation . Why did he not confide in the good faith , intelligence , and kindly feeling of his old

    associates ? Why , there is scarcely a small burgess in the place who did not wish him well . At Rugeley the feeling was certainly unfavourable . The sporting doctor , who knew Lord Derby and remembered Lord George Bentinck , was an object of envy to his immediate neig h , bours . He who lived in that snug , unpretending cottage , with its latticed casements , could each morning , like the fool , breakfast on a nod from a real great lord . This was the sin that could not be pardoned . The man who had done this thing must snrely die . Not so at Stafford . Here he had obliged many , offended none . To the small tradesman , the groom , the ostler , the female domestic , he was invariably kind , gentle , and lavish . Even at Tamworth they speak gratefully of his open

    hand . He would come down by express from town , alight at that station , and sometimes spend a sovereign in treating porters , constables , and commons , before proceeding on to Rugeley by the slow train . It was the same everywhere . Not long since it happened to your correspondent to be passing a weary hour at Cremorne . Round and round the platform circulated the monotonous throng , as if working on a moral treadmill . And their aspects were gloomy , like dwellers in the regions of sorrow . Sadly your correspondent gazed on the careworn grubs , who , crawling in the artificial light of coloured lamps , deemed themselves butterflies disporting in the rays of the sun , and mistook the smell of gin for the aroma of flowers . Then a perambulant syren approached him , and said :

    " Why so grave to-night ? You look as if you were going to be hanged with William Palmer . " " Peace be with him !" " So say I . I am sorry for him , poor fellow . I knew him well . " " You knew him ? Come . Tell me all about him . What can I offer you ?" " Well ! I don ' t mind a glass of brandy-and-watcr ; but I can't tell you much , except that he was a very nice gentleman , and quite a man of honour . " " What made you think so ?" " Oh , he us flfl to come to a house where I was barmaid , down the Walworth-road . He used to order a private parlour . Sometimes a thin , light-haired young gentleman came to see him ; and one or two others . " " Well ! but what had that to do with his honour ? Everybody pays for his room and his beer , not because he likes to do it , but because he must . "

    " Yes ; but one day he said to me , ' Mary , says ho , ' I'll lay you 15 to 1 in half-crowns thut such a horse wins . ' ' Anything you please , sir , ' says 1 . So said , so done . I thought no more about it , till one day he comes in all smiling like , and counts out fifteen half-crowns , one by one ; and , says he , ' Mary , you have won the bet . There ' s your money . ' Now , that ' s what I call honourable , and 3 'ou won't make me believe he ever did no murder . " Again : on arriving at this place late at night and obtaining a bed near the station , your correspondent

    receive no actual payment , but the criminal ' s dress alone is worth 501 . to the Messrs . Tussaud , and the rope would fetch a guinea an inch , were it thrice the real length . Among other rumours , men say and believe that the prisoner has received the present of a Bible from his leading counsel , accompanied with a touching note bidding him despair of mercy on earth , and exhorting him to make his peace with Heaven . It is thought that he will confess at the last moment . A whisper has gone forth , that he has promised the benevolent Mr . Wright to address the people from the scaffold . But for his family ' s sake he is more likely to die and make no sign . Mr . Wright , however , has evidently acquired great influence over his mind , and has succeeded in arousing what little moral feeling he possessed . Herein lies his weak point . He can hardly be said to hav e any moral feeling , to such a degree is it dormant and lethargic . While quite a young man— -and those ¦ who knew him well insist that he cannot now be

    less than thirty-five years of age —he was noted for his sharp practice at cards and all games of chance . His conversation ran only on such subjects , coupled with horses and facile women . When no other pastime was obtainable , he could content himself with pitch and toss , provided the stakes were sufficiently high . But his honour was not to \ e relied upon . He would take every advantage , and screw his adversary down to the strictest rules , while he invented by-laws for his own use . His friendship—if such it could be called , which referred only to the extent of a man ' s usefulness to himself—was disastrous to all . who experienced it . His love was fatal , cither to the object of

    his lust , or to the obstacle that impeded its fruition . Years ago be formed a criminal attachment for a young married woman of great personal beauty . The husband , naturally prone to drink , was encouraged in the pernicious habit . One day he was urged on to the most frightful excess , and when he refused to plunge into deeper bestiality , was twitted as a milksop , and dared to go on . Inflamed with rage and liquor , the wretched man drained off another glass of . ardent spirits , staggered out of the house , and full down a corpse . He had died from excessive drinking , said his neighbours , and the Staffordshire BaJhshcba was comforted in the foul embrace of her husband ' s murderer .

    Such are the stories people now tell of one whom they lately envied and marvelled at , though they neither loved nor respected him . The f . traily , in general , was not deemed any honour to the place . The surviving daughter alone has entirely escaped the breath of censure . And yet for how many years lunger would their presence have been borno , and his crimes passed undetected , had not the insurance-office refused to pay the policy on Walter Palmer ' s life . This sum of money would have relieved the guilty man from his most urgent liabilities . His friend ' s death would not then have been necessary for his temporary extrication . But the office dared him to proceed , against them ; and to gain a few days' brentliing-tiino ho took the life of his most confidential associate , lias not Mrs . Walter Palmer a claim on the office for this policy , now that the grand jury has ignored the bill against William Palmer ?

    Walter Palmer ' s death was certainly accelerated by gin , but then his intemperance was of old date , and well known to the office . However , this is not to the point . It is more appropriate to mention that this morning tho Kev . Thomas Palmer , tho solicitor , and ( Jeorgo Palmer , took leave of their wretched brother . Tho Vicar of Ilugeley has also been with him , but with what success is not known . According to report , the family intend to fix their future residence i : i Italy . Will they take the vows in olden fashion , as . aune the tonsure , and make an edifying end ? Tho poor little boy , at least , an yet enjoys the bliss of ignorance . Some day tho terrible tale must reach his ears , and then he will l > u fain to proceed to America and content himself with the office of 1 ' re . siiLmt . Mat it I * no matter for idle jesting . The child is now in bad hands , though no doubt kindly treated . Ho is living with his gnuielmother , under tho moral surveillance ol tho noted . Jeremiah .

    naturally fell into conversation with tho waitress , who brought him a cup of privet-leaf tea . The maiden —so to speak—was wurm in her praises of William Palmer . lie was a perfect gentleman , very kind , and so liberal , he never seemed to earn about the change . " Whs he civil-spoken ? " " Oh , yes , sir ; he was "—( hesitating' )— "just such another as you , sir . " Tho ambiguous compliment stopped further conversation . On the subject of compliments , a very eloubtful ono took placo yesterday . While reconnoitring the place reserved " for tho press , an unknown voice exclaimed , in a

    One of the most in > i » reasiv « incidents connected with this sad history , was Palmer ' s return to this placo uftor his condemnation . Il liael Htruck midnight . Not a star was to he seen . Tint rain fell drizzling and damp . Tho prisoner walked from Llio station to tho gaol in tho mielst of smiio . sixIcon or t > yonty policemen , and followed by a multitudes e > f people in sole ; mn Hilence . Not a sound was heard but tho oecunie > iml clauk of tho chains and tho measured step of this crowd , impressed into discipline .

    too familiar accent : " Weel , sir , I ' m thinkin' he'll gang to Aulel Scratch . " " A uld Scratch ! Ah ! a Caledonian divinity , I pres-Bunie ?" " I dinna ken what yo . mean by n . Oauledemiim eleoveenity , but if yo ' rc pokia' yen- fun at ine , ye'll get yer heed crackit as weel as yer jokes . " "No offence , my ge > oel num . Come , let us have some beer , and don't look ho savage . Perhaps you'd prefer n drap of mountain elew from your native heath ?" " Eh ! that ' s weol saiel , my mem . Anel sac yc kcnn ' el I waur Scotch . Wool u wesel ! It ' s jint on twaP year sin ' I canio e )' er the llorder . Yc uuiun hiio an unco guiel lug

    So still wero the * Htreot . s , that two sighs wore heard to escape ) from Palmer m lie passed the house of tho vonorable Dr . Knight , the kiuel-hejartcd guardian of his wife , where the few happy moments of his troubled career we-ro pnsHcel . Tho . sound was ho mournful that many sobbed audibly , and tho crowd medted away . Krieluy Afternoon . Time presses , whilo matter hourly accumulates . It is impossible te » preserve any sort of method . All that can be eleiiies is to jot down each particular as it rises on

    e > ' y our ain . Hut may bo ye ' re frao tho North yer ain bcT ?" Apropos to the North . It is saiel that a letter him boon rewivud from Aulel Hiekio dc « lurini $ > the intention of the writer to bo present at tho execution , with a view to shoot tho hangman . Iinaginj ( pawnio throwing away hifl money on hu « 1 i a philanthropic piece of Quixotism ! ltather is it credible that that mim was a true Northern who offered hia services gratuitously . True , he would

    tho reeollee : tion . At tiight e ) 'ch ) ck precisely tho prison-boll will te . ll A 3 tho proewHion sets out from thes inner compartment of tho building . Walking ule . wly to the gate , tho prisoner will ascend tho steps of tho drop —» inovenble machine attached to iron hooka in tho solid masonry on oithor

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    - J _ * j . £ " . " ¦ ¦ ¦ - - : . ¦¦ ... 7 ^^ 1 ^ , 1856 . ] THE LEAI ) EB , ___ 557

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 14, 1856, page 557, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2145/page/5/