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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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> - The Northern Star. ^ ^ \ ™A^
> - THE NORTHERN STAR . _^ _^ \ _™ A _^
V _ Imper Ial ^Arltanroifc
v _ imper ial _^ _arltanroifc
House Of Lords, Mokday, Feb. 24. "Lord C...
HOUSE OF LORDS , Mokday , Feb . 24 . "Lord _CamfbeU . introduced _-J . _MU , of which he had given fiOtice last session , for the abolition of deodands , a species of exaction which he characterised as most absurd , _capritions , and insufficient . The low ) CHASCEMiOB hy no means disputed the justice of these epithets as applied to the system of deodands _, bat suggested that , they formed a part of the casual revenue of the crown , it was expedient that the Eoyal assent should be obtained before the bill was further proceeded witt . _Thepri-dI- * ses _oftheHoiiseof Coimnons were also in some measure afiected , and it might be doubted whether those corporations to which deodands accrued would not have a claim for compensation .
lord _Cahsbell admitted that theBojal assent would he necessary , hut denied the force of the two other ob-3 eetions to his bill , which was ultimately read a first time . "Loid _DA-mousa ; then presented thereport of the "Board of Trade upon seraal-raUirays , upon which a convereatiou ensued , in which lord Fitzwilliam and lord Campbell took part . Their lordships "then adjourned .
"TcEsnAY , Feb . 25 . The Loim _Cffa-scEtwR gave notice that , on Friday next , he would move the second reading of the Bail in "Error _BiD . lord _Bboushas gave notice that on Thursday week he would lay upon the table a bUl to transfer the jurisdiction in _divorce'CaseS from theh * lordships' House to another
tribunaL Some pefitiens-were presented , after which the "House adjourned .
THcnsnAY , Feb . 2 * . ' In reply te questions put by lord Beaumont , in reference to the unfortunate expedition -from Corfu to _Cala-In-ia , ana the d _^ radinjj suspicions to -nrliich the British Government was hi _coiiseqiienee exposed , The'Earl of Abebbees said , that owing to the state of afiaiis in Italy representations were made to the British Government wliich led to thc issue of a v-arrant to open the letters of Mr . _Waizml . They were sent to liis office , ana neimmediately determined that no agent of aforeign Government should cither see the letters or know that they were in existence , and in his communications he named no writer ,-aud took care not to compromise the safety of -any individual . These precautions proved successful , and mot a single individual had suffered in
consequence of the information so communicated . In feet , Mr . Mazzini had induced his friends to abandon the enterprise contemplated . With respect to the conspiracy at Corfu , he had communicated no information what ever , forhehad not the most distant idea tliat any such enterprise was in contemplation . One of the Bandieras arrived . aMJorfu , where he expected to find his brother . Failing in this , lie went to _JTalta , and from thenee to Greece . - . From Greece he once more arrived at Corfu , on the 5 th of Jane , and the whole ofthe enterprise was arranged . between that day and the 12 th , only one week , when they left for the coast of Calabria . There was , therefore , no _possibiUty that the British Government could have known anything about it . He believed it to
"be wholly untrue that cither the Austrian or "Seapolitan Government had taken any steps whatever to induce the parties to enibark in the enterprise . The immediate application to lord Seaton to send the Medea steamer after the conspirators , was a proof that they were anxious to prevent any such enterprise , and he only regretted that lord Seaton had not felt it to be his Auty to coaiply _irith -the request _^ in which case the unhappy men would have been rescued from the consequences of-their own -misguided rashness . He felt these accusations -keenly , however groundless they might be ; bnthe only hoped , when the day should come when he would have to answer for every action of his life , that any charge which might , then he made against liim , would be as -wholly groundless as those to wliich the _, Noble lord
hadalluded . lord Beaumont expressed liimself perfectly satisfied with the explanation , and the House soon after adjourned .
Souse Of-Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On T...
SOUSE OF-COMMONS , Monday , Feb . 24 . On the motion thatthe House should resolve itself into a committee of ways and means in order to consider of the sugar duties , _"M-C .-JL Gibson moved . as an amendment , "That no arrangement of the sugar duties ivill be satisfactory and _perniaaent-ivhich does not involve an equalisation of duty on foreign and colonial sugar . - ' The Eon . Gentleman observed ,, that since the Act of Jast year the sugar trade had been in a most unsatisfactory state of suspense . It was true that the sugar duties were voted annually , but still _partiesjrarchased largely upon the implied _nndcr-Etanuicg . _thut the trade was not tube exposed to continual extensivefiuctuations . The great question , Jhowever , was , whether the whole of the community was to be heavily taxed , -aotibr the henefit of the revenue , but ofthe _TTest
India colonists . By the protection of 10 s . given to them , the British community was compelled to pay no less than £ 2 , 300 , 000 onthe 230 , 000 tons . _of colonial sugar estimated to be consumed in the ensuing year , and this for the promotion of private and not of public interests . This amount of protection . actually exceeded all the value of thelabonr expended on the production of sugar in our "West India colonies . He had uo wish to do the slightest injury to the colonies , hut he _frml y believed they would prosper more under a system of free and open competition . Even if he ' were wrong in this belief , he would stUl stand upon the justice of his case . He called upon tlic House to abandon a system of legislation so injurious aiid to free themselves from the domination of the monopolist classes , tothe _lasfanglieuefitofthecountrj _* . Mr . JEwabt seconded the motion .
"Mr . Gibson ' s amendment was supported hy "Mr . llicardo , Mr . TBIiers , lord Howick , "Mr . Cobden , and Air . Bright ; and opposed by Mr . James , _Sjr _G . Clerk , Mr . Miles , air . Gladstone , Mr . labouchere , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , and lord Sandon . The House divided when Mr . Gibson ' s amendment was negatived by a majority of 211 to St .
Tuesdat , Feb . 25 . Mr . "Wallace moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal so much ofthe Act 1 Wm . "TV ., c . 69 , as provides that there shall be thirteen judges ih the Court of Session iu Scotland - and to extend thejurisdiction ofthe stipendiary county judges called sherifls , by giving them the power of _awarding the punishment of transportation , in the event of the judges of the Court of Session heing reduced below the number of thirteen . The motion was opposed by the lord Advocate and after some discussion Mr . Wallace withdrew his motion
Sir It . Lvgijs moved for various papers relating to the new regulations for the negroes captured hy our cruisers and landed at Sierra Leone ; and drew the attention of the House to the hardships which were inflicted by those regulations . A proclamation was issued by the governor of that colony onthe 13 th of last June , in pursuance of an " order from the Colonial Secretary , for the purpose of encouraging emigration to the West Indies , and bv that proclamation all those liberated Africans who declined to emigrate were deprived of all the allowances usually granted , and left in consequence without food , clotting , or implements of husbandry—in short , amongststrangers and utterly unable to help themselves . The regulations _feB / so severely on the children that they were easily _indneed . to emigrate , while the adults had no alternative between emigration and starvation . This was iudeed Tonferring a boon onthe West India planter , but a at ter ' caiesacrificeto the negro . These regulations , he feared , would lead to the revival of the slave trade between the _? oastoi * Afi-ica and the Mauritius .
Some discussion followed , and the motion was _agreed-to . Dr . Bowjjisg moved for a copy of correspondence relative to the _Ishuc and _witharawal of an ordinance of the Governor of Hang-Kong , dated the 21 st of August last , for the registration of the population of that colony , and for establishing , ? poll tax on the inhabitants to cover the expenses of the said _n-jnstration . Great dissatisfaction was excited _amoun t-both fhe British and native residents by this attempted inquiaric _^ , and it was ultimatelv withdrawn , . " The motion was opposed by Mr . Hope on behalf of the Government , and after some _diseussiga was withdrawn .
Sir James _CiUHAH moved for leave to bring in a hill for the better regulation of medical practice throughout the umted Mngdom . The first object ofthe bill would be , to have a central establishment of a council of health , which , would have tiie superintendence of medical and surgical eaucation , and which would be accessible to the Government for consultation upon matters havin" reference to the public health . Thc second object was , to secure for all medical practitioners equal facilities of practice , and to secure for the public general equality of attanment . The third object of the KUwas , thattheseatialnments having been ascertained by . "* _* Skamination , there
should be such a . registration as would give public notoxiety _* , that -tiie parties examined had come up to the reg . mre 9 Standard . The Bight Hon . Baronet then entered into a Statement of the points in which his present bill differed from that of last year together with the reasons which induced him to adopt the alterations , amongst the principal of which were , that he did not propose to repeal the Apothecaries' Act , except so far as related to the parties who would be registered under his bill ; and he proposed that it should be a n * dsdemea _* o . o * ar _ftv air , one _Ui pretend to be a physician , surgeon , or other medical practitioner , who was not duly qualified . leave was given to bring ih the bin .
The Hight Hon-Baronet then obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable her _Majesty to grant new charters to certain Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons . Mr . Bellew moved for copies of the correspondence which took place relative to the . dismissal of the Earl of LUCan from , and Subsequent restoration to , the in .-igistracy - and also for a copy of the commission appointing the said Earl of _Lucau lord lieutenant of the county of Mayo . Motion agreed to . The remaining business on the paper was postponed , and the House adjourned .
Wzdxesday , Feb . 26 . - D- - _^ _r ; : EcEETO - * wfehed t 0 drsw " -he attention of the Bight Hon . Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department to aishockhig circumstance which came out ? n _evi-Lm _^^ _T _T f _? _!******* - _K appeared that , in _^ _£ 15 _^ _-ifP _^ _^^^ vards of the metrop olis ( one _--asmstaneed in the nei ghbourhood of Clerkenwell } , it Ho n _^*^ ihem - ne ¦ riSned to know if the _lliKht _%£%££ _?** _^ _^ _ptanymeasuresto prevent
Souse Of-Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On T...
Sir J . _Ga . \ nAM said he had only been aware ofthe facts stated through a newspaperof , ttJs , moniiug . _^ The case ,, iTma _^ e _^ clearly but _^ was one iii whicli he " should be inclined , certainly , ' to interfere —( loud cheering ) ; but , as the law stood , -he apprehended there would be great . difiiculty found to stand in the way of an effectual inter _, fereuce upon the part of the executive . On the motion for the House resolving itself into a committee of ways and means on the sugar duties , lord J . _itossEtL contended , tliat at least one-half of the diderential duties was appropriated by the planter and that it was _impossibleby artifiuial distinctions to "keep out slave-grown produce , as was apparent from the amount of importation from "Venezuela . He would admit that the principles of free trade could not be immediately
applied to the West Indian colonies , owing to obstacles bf a temporary nature arising from the Act by which the negroes were emancipated . One of these obstacles was a deficiency of labour , which was sought to be corrected by the introduction of free labourers from the coast of Africa . _X-ow , a gradual introduction of labour would be beneficial , no doubt ; but the importation of large numbers of negroes from the coast of Africa , with the view of suddenly lowering the value of labour , might be attended with many disadvantages , and more particularly with the fearful one of creating a dangerous preponderance of the black over the white population . He could not perceive the wisdom ofthe financial plan proposed by the Bight Hon . Baronet , which rendered it hopeless to £ Jtrid of the income tax at the end of three years . They were sacrificing revenue to the extent of £ 2 , 300 , 000 which might have been applied to the reduc' tion of the silk and spirit duties without any loss to the
revenue , while commerce would have been extensively benefited . He thought that they -should gradually approach towards -free trade principles hy imposing for a limited period a moderate differential duty , until they should he at -length in a position to abolish it entirely . TheXoble lord concluded by moving , " That " it is the opinion of this House that the plan proposed by her Majesty ' s Government in reference to tiie Sugar Duties professes to keep up a distinction between foreign free-labour and foreign slave-labour sugar , which is impracticable and illusory ; and , without adequate benefit to the consumer , tends so greatly to impair the revenue as to render the removal of the income and property tax atthe end of three years extremely uncertain and improbable . " The motion was opposed by the ChanceUor of the Exchequer , Mr . Gladstone , Sir James Graham , aud Sir _TLPeel and supported by Mr . "Labouchere , Mr . Macauley , Mr . C . Wood , lord Palmerston , and Sir C . Napier .
The gallery was then cleaved for the division , when the motion of Lord John Russell was negatived by a major ity of 2-38 toli 9 .
TnuBSDAT , Fed . 27 . The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock . Lord Saxbon presented a petition from the sugar refiners of Liverpool , complaining of the hardship they would undergo if the Government plan for the reduction of the sugar duties should be carried into effect , hi consequence of the large stock of sugar which they had on hand , and praying the House to give them relief . They also prayed tbat no duty might be imposed upon molasses , and thatahigh duty might be imposed upon foreign and colonial refined sugar . Mr . Miles presented a petition from Somerset against the poor-law clause in the law of settlement . Mr . R . Palmer presented a petition , signed by 150 farmers of Bucks , against the malt duty .
POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE . Mr . Wakiev . presented a petition from the inhabitants of Finsbuiy , agreed to at-a public meeting . The petitioners stated— "That they learn with mortification and disgust that there exists at the General Post-office a secret spy system , under which letters are broken open , seals counterfeited , and post-marks falsely imposed , in order to deceive the persons to whom such letters are directed , and to whom they are afterwards forwarded , while the information thus obtained has , in some cases , been used to promote the despotic interests of foreign Governments . They also state that they had read with indignation , the statement made by their representative in his _, p lacein Parliament , that his correspondence had been
clandestinely intercepted and secretly opened , under Government authority , at the Post-office . That" the ouly excuse for the eicercise of such power towards 3 Ir . Buncombe , would be that the Government had good reason to deem him capable of conduct which _,-if true , would , in tlieir opinion , render him totally unfit to continue thc representative-of a free and independent constituency ; that they therefore feel it due to themselves , as well as to Mr . Duncombe , to demand from the House of Commons such an investigation into the proceedings toward him as should either justify the implied suspicions of the Government , or fully establish the innocence of a long-tried and faithful representative . " ( Hear , hear . ) In answer to a question from an Hon . Member ,
Sir B . Peel said , _thatthe was in communication with several persons connected with banking in Scotland , and he thought he could not he prepared to bring "in a Bill on tlic subject , or to state the intentions of tbe Government , until after Easter .
CAME LAWS . Mr . _Baicnr presented potitions , numerously signed by farmers and landholders in Horsham , Sussex , Alnwick , in _Northumberland , from the western side of the Severn , Gloucestershire , and-Ruislip , in Middlesex , all ' praying for the abolition of the game-laws . Thc Hon . Member then said , the motion which he had given notice of bringing on that evening , was a motion for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the game-laws ; and in bringing the motion before the House , he acknowledged that hewas fullysensible of the importance and difficulty of this question . He regretted extremely that it could not have all-the weight in the House from his advocacy which it might have had in other hands . But he was so convinced of the importance of the
question , and of flic necessity of some alteration in the laws respecting game , that he considered he should be _neglecting'his duty , if he had hesitated for a longer period to bring the question under the notice of the House . He had observed that for several years past , a considerable portion ofthe convictions which had taken place at pettysessions , more especially in the agricultural counties , were for offences against the Game Act—( hear , hear , ) and thousands of thepoorest ofthe population had been fined and imprisoned for such offences . " It frequently happened too that violent outrages , aud ferocious encounters / took placebetweengamekeepersandpoachers , endingfrequently in theinflictiou of serious injuries , andnotunfrequentlyin death . He found also that tbe last sentence of the law bad been frequently put into operation on unfortunate
individuals whose calamities had been brought upon them through the laws for the preservation of game . It was because he had a deep sympathy for tiie poorest classes ofthe people , and because he had a deep reverence for fhe sacredness of human life , that he asked the attention of the House to the motion which he was about to propose , and he felt certain that no considerable number of members would refuse to 3 ccede to such an inquiry looking back to former legislation on this subject , he felt justified in mating this proposition , as there had been frequent instances of late years of the appointment of committees to consider the game laws . - In the years 1 816 and 1823 , Select Committees had been appointed to inquire into tills subject ; and in 18 _' 28 , there had been a
Select Committee of the House of lords , ' appointed for the same purpose . The Committee of 1818 appeared to have been appointed for the immediate object of obtaining such evidence as might induce the legislature to abolish the qualification then existing , wliich was the possession of a considerable portion of landed property , and of _throwing open the right of killing game to all persons who should purchase a Government . certificate . In 1823 the . object of the Committee was to obtain such evidence : as should induce thc Government to legalize the sale of game , and in 1828 the Select Committee ofthe House of lords was ap pointed with thc same object . Though the immediate objects of these Committees were such as he had stated , no one who had read the evidence adduced before them could
ftul to be convinced of the fact that the real Cause Of their appointment had been the prevalence ; Of poaching , and the frequent recurrence of those disastrous encounters between gamekeepers and poachers , which they had of late years so deeply to deplore . ( Hear . ) Mr . Bright then gave a number of cases of hardship under the Game laws , and referred especially to a ease of a man detected with a snare in his hand on the grounds of the Bev . Geo . Chetwode ,. who had been sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment for the same , during which his wife and children had suffered the greatest hardships . Jtwasawellkiiownfhct , that thekillingof game was heldto bo no disgrace in fhe rural districts . . He was in possession of a number of facts that illustrated in a remarkable degree , this state of public opinion . There was a person
near Aldborough , in the county of Suffolk , a most noted poacher , who carried on a large . trade in tliat way , and cuip _' . _ujj'j frwi thirty to forty , persons . The men thus employed were aU regular poachers , while the head of the body , to keep up appearances , had a regular game certificate , and had a connection with several noted sellers of g In London , to whom thc supplies were regularly _dispatchid . . The depredations of this party were principally earned on upon the estates of Lord Itendlesham and the Earl of Hertford , and they had a regular protective association , and subscribed funds for the purpose of defending any of them that might happen to be prosecuted for an infringement of the Game laws . The head ' of this pwr tv was _JOusW'ive'i a _Yespwtabh-* ptscson in the neigh
bourhood where he resided . There was another striking instance showing this state of the public mind . He had lately read in a Yorkshire newspaper , a Honcaster one he believed , in the obituary column , that a person had just died , who was described . as a noted poacher , but in all other respects an upright and respectable man . So trustworthy . was _Je considered , . that on more than one occasion he- was , ' on being , convicted , sent to Wakefield with his own commitment in . his pocket , and he never , failed to deliver himself into custody . [ Great laughter . ) Mr . Bright then proceeded to discuss ihe " right of property" in game . He could not conceive how any wild animal could be considered property . No
one could identify a hare or a pheasant ,.. as he could a pig or other domestic animal : yet , to claim property in anything , it was considered necessary that , its owner should be able so to establish bis right . But if game was property , why had there existed a former law , denying the rig ht of cither buying or selling game 1 It was generallyheld that that which was considered property should be that wluch was recognised to be an object of baiter . Tbe Game law of 1931 , prohibited the talc of game ; and the fact of such a law liaving existed was . aii admission tliat game was not " property . " But if game was property , then wild animals , he maintained , ought to be protected at _ the publie expense , tiie
Souse Of-Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On T...
rr i "T * i- ' v - , ** ( T ' , ; same as were the wares of a shopkeeper ;! and the public ought , to-be- rated = to , _support-a-pohcefortbat purpose . * To show the effects which flowed from the operation pf the Game laws , he would refer to a' return which he had moved for last year , and also one funiisfied on another motion of an Hon . Friend . "From _ these returns It appeared , that , during the year previous , there bad been brought before various assizes and sessions for poaching above 4 , 500 cases . Of those tried , 40 had been' transported , and U 2 imprisonedfor various periods ; while the remainder were fined in various sums to an average of about £ 2 each , punishments monstrous and cruel compared to the offences committed . It was " further shown , that , from 1883 to 1843 , there had been no less than forty-two g ' ameheepers hilled , some by accident ; butin twenty . five
instances with deliberate wilfulness . This was a dreadful state of things and one that ought to be put an end to . From returns furnished from the manufacturing districts respecting the number of deaths occasioned by machinery , it was shown that the annual deaths from this cause were , in lancashire , one in every 30 , 000 employed ; while in proportion to the number . of gentlemen . who had game licenses , ( about 60 , 000 he believed ) , the number was four , or double thc proportion , ( Hear , * hear . ) Sueh were the results , which he was sure he . understated . It was one of these murders which had called his attention to the subject , that at Khowsley , where a gamekeeper had met a poacher and exchanged shots , in which the gamekeeper fell the victim . Of the five engaged in this transaction , one was hanged , and the other foiir werc transported . It was this case that had led him ( Mr . B . J
tothe consideration of the whole question ofthe Game laws , and induced him to bring the subject before the House , The system of game-preserving was a system of terrorism , inimical to both farmers and labourers , and one wliich should be . put an end to . The Hon . Gentleman then made a pointed reference to -the member for Gloucestershire , Mr . Berkley , who had published a pamphlet in which he recommended poachers to be met with "punches on thc head and Wows before words " and expressing himself that he did not expect much opposition to his motion for inquiry uuless it came from that quarter . After shewing up the & _aHne system , in describing which he occasioned much merriment , the Hon . Gentleman sat down by moving for a Committee to inquire into the operation of the Game laws .
Sib J . Graham , who spoke in a very low tone of voice , said he had listened with great pleasure to ; the speech just delivered by the Hon _?* Member for Durham ; He was pleased at its tone and temper . He was sure that it would be met in the same spiritby the House , and that the result would be a full and dispassionate enquiry . Tho fearful circumstances that had transpired during the last few years had convinced him ( Sir J . Graham ) that enquiry was necessary , an inquiry , which , he hoped , when _gone into , would be _condueted in an honest and impartial spirit . After referring to . -the recent '
alterations in the law , which he d escribed as removing all the feudal restrictions that had formerly existed in reference to the killing of game , conferring the right to destroy tliem upon every person , without regard to their position in society , providing that they took out a license . He expressed himself that it was not the intention of the Government to offer any opposition whatever to the motion of the Hon . Member * . He thought that if the motion , did not lead to a change in the law , it would at least lead to a better understanding among all classes .
Mr . Vee non Smith approved of the motion , and went on to show that the convictions under the present Game Laws were nearly double to those under the law of 1831 . Mr . Darby said that Sir James Graham bad done well in acceding to the motion of Mr . Bright , though he did not expect so much good from it as that gentleman might expect , . _* . _- ' ¦ ; - ' ;;' Mr . F . H . G . Berkelet said it was hot his intention to oppose the appointment of the Committee ; though he did think that the agitationwhich had been ' occasioned since it was known that' the present subject was to be brought forward , was not at all creditable . Tile landlords had been called "tyrants , " and the Hon . Gchfleinah who introduced the motion pretended to be" the "farmer ' s friend . " He denied that the Game laws
tended to produce crime more than the other laws that existed relating to' the protection of property . He placed poaching en the same footing as smuggling , and thought thc law might be improved in some respects , though he held it to be beneficial in the whole . The laws were not more stringent here than * in other countries ; as the United States of America for instance , where very severe laws existed , against hilling wild animals under particular circumstances . ' ' _**• "' "'• . * Mr . _Agiionbt expected great good from" a full inquiry into the subject ; and' that the exaggerated statements which had . gone abroad -with respect to the preservation of game would be set at vest . Col . _SiBiHoitPE said , thc speech of the Hon . * Member for Durham seemed to encourage the depredationsof the poachers ; but he suppqsedthis was part of the system pursued by the Anti-Corn law league , a class for whom , thank God ! he entertained no high opinion . Mr . _Gbantlet Berkeley maintained that the farmer
always took his land with the knowledge that there was game upon it , and that : allowance was made on that account . The poacher , generally ' speaking , was a riian who was receiving good wages , and not , as had been represented in that House , a person borne down by distress . He read a statement to show , that crime abounded more in those districts where game was not preserved , than in those were it was rigidly maintained . Mr . B . Escott thought the existing law severe , and that there ought to be an alteration , ' ' * ¦ s Messrs . Wakley , Cobden , and Newdegate . having briefly addressed the House in favour ofthe committee ,
Sir Robert PeeIi said he was glad at the spirit which had been exhibited in the discussion ; ' and though he did not see the Game Laws could be very well _inteiforeii with , without touching upon the rights of property , stiti he thought good ' * would be produced by such , an enquiry ¦ ' being goneihto . If it produced no _pother result than an improvement in the proceeding ' s of landlords , in relation to the preservation of game , it would indeed be something . He ' thought the practice of game-preserving was carried much too far . If gentlemen would abate in this respect , greater good would be produced than by any course that the House could pursue . ' ; Several other members having spoken ' , the ; motion was put _^ and unanimously agreed to . - The House _' having disposed of . the orders of the day ' "shortly afterwards
ndinnvnprl . ...... adjourned , FRIDAY , FEB . 28 : Captain _PucnELL presented a petition complaining ofthe _opening of Mr . Duncombe's letters , and praying for a Parliamentary inquiry . '' Mr . Milner Gibson presented a petition' from a foreign gentleman resident in this country , but whose name , from the noise in the House and in the gallery , it was impossible to hear , praying the House to interfere with the powers ofthe Executive Government when exercised in co-operation with foreign Governments in their endeavours to control the actions of foreigners resident in this country . He stated that if the proceedings of foreigners in this countiy were
to he regulated by the rules adopted by the'Austrian Government , it must put an end to all freedom of discussion on political topics , and of that liberty wliich was the peculiar _boaat of England . That it would further the ends of foreign espionage , and would render nugatory all the efforts to promote freedom in the world , and would convert "that which was merely intended ior legitimate efforts for the improvement o _' l a country into a colourable act of conspiracy and high treason . He , therefore / prayed the House , to interfere , and in some way modify the use of the powers of the Executive Government in their control oyer foreigners , and collusion with foreign States . ;;'
POSI-OFFICE _ESriOSiQE . . On the reading of the order of the day for going into a Committee oi'Ways and Means , :: . Mr . Duxcombe rose to move , ' _** _, That certain officers belonging to her Majesty ' s Post-office do attend this House at its next meeting , for the purpose of informing this . House under what authority they had been parties ; $ 9 t ! _j § detaining , delaying , or opening any post letters of Tlionias Slingsby Dimcoinlie _, Esquire _, a Member of this House . ! ' The Hon . Member said he very much regretted that the . little . progress wliich had been made in public . business on _Tuesday evening last had prevented him from bringing _forward the motion of which lie had given notice . . In again calling , as he felt himself compelled to do , the
attention of the House _tOjthe very gravesubject wliich had already occupied too much of itstime ; he thought that he should be able to prove that no blame on account of that occupation of time was attributable to himself , Not being able to bring the question forward the other evening , lie had no alternative but to take the earliest _opportunity of setting this question again : fairly before the public . _iNow what occurred oil a former occasion ? He was told iii tlic - firet place tliat he had no evidence fit all of liisVlettei'S having been intercepted at the Post-office ; and , secondly _, that even if he did possess information enabling nim to prove that interception of . , his . " letters had taken place that information could only have been obtained by comiptine * the officers of tliat
establishment . The Noble Lord the Member foi * Newark \ Loi ' u 3 . _M-allYiCVS _) , " _&»* * _NVhom \\ e _entei-taincd a deep respect , said that if what he had stated was true . he was a degraded man ; while the Hon Member for the University of Oxford said that no innocent man would complain of the . opening of his letters , , He need not state what was the inference to ; , be drawn from the latter statement . If the House wouid give hini the opportunity—and even after thedisplay of injustice which took place on thc previous evening he stillliopcd they wouldnot refuse it—lie _\ yould prove thathe was' innocent as regarded the imputation which hung over him on account of the opening of his letters . Now , lie asked , what had occurred in re- '
_feroneo to this subject ? He did -the other evening , awl he did now , _altogether , disclaim"any personal hostility to any individual oh the opposite benches , what he said then he would again state , that whatever responsibility attached to the fact of liaving opened his letters , must be shared by . all of her Majesty ' s Ministers , that they must all bear ah equal share of responsibility with . respect to- . it . ~( Hear , hear . ) He was obliged to address himself to the Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State'foi * the Home Department , because if any person . 'issued . warrant for that opening of his letters- he must have been the person' who issued it . "Whatever offence his observations gave to that beneli , tho whole _o'f the
Souse Of-Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On T...
Ministry _" niust _^ _sliare it among them . ( Hear , _hear . ) Now-what _hadr occurred inreference" tc _; tliis " question _'« When he presented to the HouBe the petition _, of M . _Mazi 5 ini , _'EeJcertainly"then knew nothing at all of his lettere having been opened . As far as he was concerned the House should now know all thc truth . When he presented , Mr . Mazzini ' s petition he knew nothing of the openin _< _r of Ids letters , he did not even suspect that the Governmen t would have perpetrated so mean and base an act as that of opening'liis letters : That was on the 14 th of June . He said tliis in answer to tiie Hon . Member for Pomfret , becanse that Hon . Gentleman said that ha ( Mr . Duncombe ) niiist have tr _^ _wn when he presented M . Mazzini ' s petition ,
that his letters had been opened . He knew nothing of that sort . On the 24 th of June he presented the netition of M . Stolzman , he knew nothing even then , and did not suspect that his letters had been stopped . On the 2 d of July he received some information from M . Mazzini in the * interim , with respect to _cer--tain parties connected with the Post-office . He understood there was a general rumour , a common subject of conversation in the establishment , which was simply this , —that the clerks . and sorters , and sub-sorters , were in the habit of saying , "What is the use of Mr . Duncombe ' s making a bother about the letters of foreigners , he had much better look afterthe villainy that is being perpetrated towards his own . ! ' And- he should be able to prove that if they would allow him the opportunity of a
Committee . On hearing this lie certainly pricked up his ears—( Laughter)—he asked M . Mazzini if lie could produce the persons who could prove these conversations . - He said he couid , but told him that in the meantime , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) had better make a motion in the llouse for a Committee of inquiry into the working of the inner or secret office of the Postoffice . He therefore gave notice of a motion of that sort , and said that if he could only get a Committee of Inquiry , that lie would ascertain the names of parties wluch w * 3 _"e notorious m the Post-office , and that lie would have the whole thing out . He gave notice of a motion of inquiry into the working in this inner office , and into the duties of the persons employed in it . with a view of ascertaing by what authority they
acted . WeU , how was that met ? He had said , in introducing that motion , that the question was no longer between M . Mazzini and the Governmrnt—it was no longer between hun and the Right Hon . Baronet , but it was a question between the people of England and her Majesty ' s Ministers , and that the p eople wished to know whether these letters were the property ofthe Secretary of State or not . The Right Hon . Baronet then said that he agreed with . him ( Mr . Duncombe ) that the question had gone so far tliat it could not stop there—that it was a question between the Government and- the people of England , and that it was quite right that the people of England should be satisfied on the point , flow did he propose to satisfy them ? Instead of adopting the
proposal made by him ( Mr . Duncombe ) , he moved an amendment that a Secret Committee should be appointed . The Right Hon . Gentleman named that Committee—he named his own jury—reserving to himself at the same time , the right of appeal from tlic decision of that tribunal , and of course he ( Mr . Duncombe reserved to himself equally the right of appeal ; and in exercise of that right he had called the _attention ofthe House as early as he could during the present session ( the report being presented late in the last session ) , to what he considered the unsatisfactory and evasive character of that report . In doing so lie had suljjectedliunself to a number of insinuations ; and he could get no satisfaction whatever on the subject . Amongst those insinuations the Hon .
Member for Pontefract had told hini ( Mr . Duncombe ) that his name had been associated with persous who had been under the sentence of the law . He asked the Hon . Member to name thom , and he mentioned Mr . Lovett . Well , what was thc case of Mr . Lovett ? He ( Mr . Duncombe ) certainly had taken up his cause , and-the consequence was , that during the incarceration ' of Messrs , Lovett and Collins at Warwick , their treatment was modified , and , instead of being treated as felons , they were treated as political prisoners ought to be treated . But would any one say that was a justification of the Government opening his letters . Before that time he had never heard of Messrs . Lovett and Collins . Then the . Hon : and Learned Member for Bute had stated that he ( Mr .
Duncombe ) had been in correspondence with certain persons who had threatened to burn the town of Sheffield . The Hon . and Learned Gentleman defended those individuals ; That Hon . Member was their counsel , and he defended them with so much ability , tliat they got four years' incarceration in ' the House of- Correction . ( Loud laughter . ) Wiis there any proof that he ( Mr . Duncombe ) was connected with those individuals ? He had never heard their names , nor had he ever held the slightest correspondence with them . Was there in that , then , any ground for opening his letters ? The first time lie had ever been connected with the Chartist parties was in 1841 , just previous to the general election , when he presented a petition for them , praying for
an amnesty to all political prisoners , and signed by 1 , 700 , 000 individuals . These political prisoners hao been imprisoned for _jvolitieal offences committed during the period that his Noble Friend was in office . Iu the year . 1841 , in the month of June or July , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) moved an humble address to her Majesty , ' praying : that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to order that the case of those prisoners _sliould be taken into consideration with a view to their release . _: Well , what was the result ? The House was . equally divided upon'the motion , and upon the i casting vote of the Speaker that address was _. rejccted . Was that any reaon why his letters should have been , opened ? ( Hear , and a laugh . ) Then , again , in the year I 8427 in the month of May , he presented a petition upon the national condition , signed by ; 3 , 300 , 000 members of the working classes . There'were great differences of opinion as to the truth of the allegations contained in tliat petition ; ' many
said that the expressions contained m it were foolish and indiscreet , and that they could not be proved . Perhaps so ; butthe petitioners prayed to be called to the Dar of this House , but that prayer wasrejected . Next , in the year 1842 an outbreak and strike took place in Staffordshire ; and the opinion expressed upon that occasion by the Right Hon . Baronet , the Secretary tor the Home Department , was , that he , thouglit ; the whole thing had been very much exaggerated , and that there was nothing whatever political in it . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) apprehended that his letters were opened upon political grounds , and in connexion with supposed political offenders—he assumed that such was the case . Well , in 1842 the manufacturing districts were in a frightfully disturbed state ; but at that time the . conduct of the . working classes was extremely creditable to them . - For three days it had been stated that that town was ih possession of what
was called the mob ; but notwithstanding that , such ; wasthe respect and regard of the people for private property , that : not even a pane of glass was broken . Therefore there ' could have been no reason for opening his letters then ; yet he was in a position to prove that . at : that very time his Ietters'had been opened at the General Post-office . He had now with him in the House some letters he had received at that time ; but there were no letters of a treasonable character amongst them , so that if any such were sent to him at that time , the Right lion . Baronet must have kept them himself . ( Great laughter . ) Amongst the letters of a " suspicious-looking character" that he then received—( a laugh ) , he now hold one in his hand , whicli certainly appeared as if . to
use the . technical phrase , it had been ' operated upon" —( loud laughter ); aud if closely exam hied , he believed . there , could be no doubt that it had been " operated" upon .. ( Laughter . V This letter he would now read : it was from Mr . Feargus O'Connor—( a laugh ) , and it was written during the Nottingham election , when MivSturge was a candidate for that borough . \ The Hon . Member then read the letter , the substance of which was to this effect : — " Isnatch a moment from the excitement of the day to send you a word , or two upon that which is doing here . There never was so much excitement—so much excitement as is to be witnessed here . ( Laughter . ) And hut for it the Tories would be triumphant . ( Laughter . ) A , number of men have come in from
Derbyshire , sent m by the Tories , to personate , not dead , but living , voters . But they have been detected , though trying to represent the real Simon Pure . I must now stop , in order to make all right here , and then be off to a village , four miles off , to make all right there . " Tho writer then called attention to a placard he enclosed , and concluded by saying that " if _Ilobhouse was the author' of it , he shouk ? never again venture to show Ids nose in Nottingham . " ( Laughter . ) That was the sort of correspondence which he . had received during the whole of that time . in the course of 1842 he had no communication whatever with Mr . Feargus O'Connor ; and , ' therefore , he should be glad to know upon what grounds his letters were opened . ( Hear . ) If he could prove that they
had been opened * by the servants ot the Post-office , lcfcthem'show their authority for opening his letters . ( Hear , hear . _)^ If they produced tlic authority , then it would'be for them to justify it . Either the _Governnientliad issued warrants for the opening of his letters , * or they had been opened'without warrants . ( Hear , hear . ) If they had been opened without a warrant , then , no doubt , a breach of privilege had been committed ; He did not now , nor did he on the former occasion make this a question of _pm-ik _^ c That v / as _' _.-a question which thc House would decide when it heard the evidence . —After other observations of similar import , the Hon : Member concluded
by moving his amendment as above . ' J _^ r _^ _D'fs nAKij enteral Into a defence of liis conduct against the _aspersions . whicli had been thrown out against him ; 'Improper motives wore , invariably ; _imputed to gentlemen on that side of the House , ' who spoke or voted -in support of the lion . Member for Finsbury . ; Whatever' tlic nature of tlic question ahd though it did not involve any party or- political principle- yet still the * ' -Hight Hon . Gentleman at tiie head of the Government ,- notwithstanding Iris _lar-m majority in thc House , expected his usual supporters to qoine to the rescue , as if tlic Government . were in the ! last throws of-dissolution . Now he protested that the expectation of this thick and thin support on all questions , was neither founded in practice nor
Souse Of-Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On T...
fair play . It was in fact , though . _perhaRB _. _jinmtei _^ _tibnalftyfanhyr _^ 'degrading to those who exercised it , as to those who endured it . He would refer to a recent case , that of a motion proposed the other night by the Hon . _Member-for Finsbury , who- cahed for an investigation into a practice , that had been carried on . both by the present and the preceding Governments , and _therclovc not a party _question . Circumstances were developed ; during - the debate which arose on that motion which showed the temper of the Government ; and how that they conceived a division , unless accompanied by a great majority , would be attended with great , embarassment . At this juncture gentlemen were sent for from the country , to come to the rescue of a Government'that was t in order tht there miht be
never in peril ( laugher ); a g great party triumphs where no party principle was at stake . Those who did not yield easily to this kind oft Ministerial whipping were of course looked at m tlio light of refractory members , and no doubt he had been viewed in that light . Now he condemned this practice as unworthy of a great statesman ; and he thought the Right Hon . Bart , at the head ofher Majesty ' s Government , ought to be the last _pGK" ° » to make hbnself a political Martinet . He ) Mr . D'lsraeli ) condemned the tone with which Members like himself were met on questions of this kind , seeing . that on . all measures involving the political principles of ; the Government a ready and overwhelming maiority could be fouad . On all great
questions he had given his support to the Government , and never misinterpreted the motives oi the Right Hon . Bart , or charged him with looking to new allies—to " a coalition" for support . After speaking at great length , and in a very eloquent and sarcastic strain , in reference to the conduct of Sir Robert Peel and the Ministry on this question , which he characterised as altogether unworthy of a wise and strong Government , he concluded a -remarkably able speech , which was received with great cheering throughout , by seconding the amendment . ; Sir J . _Ghahasi entered into a lengthened defence of lus conduct hi the opening of letters , and called upon the House to resist the amendment which had been proposed . He reiterated his former statements ecret
that every facility had been afforded to the S Committee to arrive at a correct conclusion . Nothing was kept back , tliat could in the least degree prevent it from arriving at a proper knowledge , oi' all that the Government Lad done . in respect to the opening of letters . , The report of the committee had exonerated liim from all blame ; and he did not see any reason why that decision should be disturbed . He entertained no ill feeling towards the Hon . Member for Finsbury , and he could solemnly declare that in the exercise of the objectionable power , he had been actuated only by a dee p sense of duty and responsibility ; and that he must say tbat he entertained the highest respect for the Hon . Member fbr Finsbury ; He could assure him and the House that he ( Sir J . Graham ) had never any reason to doubt that the Hon . Member was not a " loyal and dutiful subject" ofher Majesty .
LordHowicK was of opinion that nothing which had been stated by the Right Hon . Baronet who had just sat down , was applicable to the case of the Hon . Member for Finsbury . Nevertheless , he regretted the subject . had been again brought forward . He would much rather have seen a bill introduced to do away with this obnoxious power ; and then thc matter , would hav'e been set atrest . The decision ofthe Secret . Committee was far from being * . satisfactory and the'Right Hon . Baronet was wrong in supposing that he was released from giving any further account . It would be much more to the credit of the Right Hon . Gentleman if , instead of resisting the motion , he would openly , and fairly tell the House and the country whether or not he had issued warrants to open the letters of Mr . Duncombe . Lord Sandon , as a member of the Secret Committee , briefly defended its report . Mr . _Warbukton said a few . words on the same
subject . - . Lord John Russell defended the vote he had given oh a former occasion . In reference to what had been said about the report of the Secret Committee , he stated that that committee was appointed to inquire as to whether the power given to the Government had been fairly and duly exercised ; not , as to its validity . ThcRight Hon . Baronet the Secretary for tlic Home Department having declared that nothing had been elicited to impugn thc loyalty or lower the character ofthe Hon . Member for Finsbuiy , he ( Lord John Russell ) could not consequently vote for the present amendment . : _¦¦ -. i - Mr . M . Milnes shortly addressed ; the House in favour of the amendment .
Mr . _VT . _Waiiso * _- * . informed the House that since the last debate 011 the subject , he had looked more carefully into the . law of the question ; yet instead of his former position being shaken it was very coiwideraWy strengthened . It was still , his decided opinion thatthe power exercised by the Government , was an illegal and unconstitutional assumption . He maintained thatthe opening the letters of a subject called for a more calm" and dispassionate discussion . As yet there had been no denial of the charge ofthe Hon . Member for Finsbury , respecting the opening of his letters by _ the Home Secretary ; and unless some more distinct and satisfactory answer was given to the House , the Government would be disgraced in the eyes ofthe world . :,. .. ' .: _,.-.
All ' . _Aglionbv supported , the amendment . The opening ofthe letters of -a Member of this House was not only _^ a breach of privilege but palpably illegal . It was liis hope therefore that the Hon . Gentleman would persevere iri liis . ' amendment . * . Some impatience being _manifested' at tliis . state of of the debate , and there being ' several calls for a division , Mr . Hume thi * eatenedto move an adjournment if thc debate was hot allowed quietly to proceed . Mr . Lewis thought the speech of the Home _Secretajy would be far from giving satisfaction to the country . He believed that , all the gentlemen practising in Westminster , Hall with the exception of the Solicitor-General , admitted the opening of- Members letters to be illegal . He deeply regretted the Right
Hon . Bart , 'had not given a full and satisfactory explanation . / .,: _* _-..... The Earl of _Li . _vcowf thought tiie Home Secretary had been foully aud unfairly aspersed . Mv ... Duncombe ' s character had been fairly cleared of any . imputation ; and it would be highly , injudicious to call persons to the bar of the House . .... Mr . Bernal thought all would , have-been settled amicably if the warrants had been produced on which the letters of Mr . Duncombe had been opened . , Mr . Wakley was of opinion that his Hon . colleague had . been unfairly treated ; and he trusted it would operate as an example not to put much trust in committee reports , and especially in Secret Committees . The public Would never rest satisfied until the whole subject was fully settled . The House was bound to grant the inquiry , unless it suffered itself to lie under the imputation of tyranny as well as dishonesty . . SirR . Peei . considered thc power of _onenine
letters ought to be maintained . If the . Government were to acquiese in the request to cali witnesses to the ; bar of the House , every person who presented a petition would make out a prima facie case , and claim a similar privilege . Every member ofthe Government was as responsible as his Hon . colleague ( Sir . J . Graham ) , in as far as the present charge was concerned . It was not from want of courage , or from a _feOliii " of dignity , but froin , a sense . of duty , that the Go ° vernment both last year and now , declined to answer the question about the opening of these letters II the practice of examining eyidence . on the question was conceded , it could not be restricted to the case oi tliellon . Member for Finsbury , a dangerous precedent would thus be laid down . After sonic further observations oi a similar character , the Right Hon . Baronet concluded , arid the House divided , when there appeared— . For the Amendment of Mr . Duncombe 113 Against it ;; 100 ¦ ... _••••»*• i _. _, . 1 ( 50
Majority against the Amendment ......... 75 •?¦ " th _5 S otion that the Honse do go into a Coin-J : r ° L _SiPRto . _K * Hogg proposed an amendment to tne ettect ol abolishing the discriminating duties on h , ast Indian sugar , not refined , in order to assimilate them to those of thc West Indies * , or in other words to put anend tothe distinction made between clayed and Muscovado sugars . , , _- v * _* H _j- _!* ' R ? l _H _- _&> Mr - IIawes * and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had addressed-the House , the motion was by consent withdrawn . The House then went into Committee , 'and-immediately after adjourned .
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Wedves-Oav. —Book Stealing.—John Rentlan...
Wedves-oav . —Book Stealing . —John rentland , alias Smith , alius Campbell , described as a medical student , from Edinburgh , Svho was fully committed for trillion a charge of stealing several books i ' vom the library ofthe University College , in _Gbwcr-strect , was again placed at the Wr , _chargea with ' stealing several volumes of different medical works ' from the library , of St . George ' s Hospital , the property of the governors and directors-of the " instil tution _, which books he had sold to a bookseller in t '
oveiitry . street . Mr . Henry William p uiW , a member ofthe council , and the librarian , identified several valuable books , the stamp being cut cut , that * had been tiiken since Christmas last from the library . The prisoner said _llOtbmg iii big _di-foiice _, attd be was _committ ' cl . —Serjeant Newman , E division , said , that since he apprehended the prisoner , he had found a great many books ' . that had been stolen from tbe Middlesex and King ' s College Hospituls respecting which witn esses would be in attendance on a future . lay to -jive evidence .. Tile prisoner was _accordingly oraereu to he further ran aiidpd ' _* ' ¦ ¦ '
_SOUTHWARK . MoKD . vv .-A _Wou _* -Hi : _sitB . _ iVichara _Cobley , who formerly carried on extensive business . in " * . Tottenham court-road , was brouekt before Mv . Cottingham , charEed Willi . disturbing the congregation at a dissenting chapel in the Borough-road , called thc ' Surrey Tabernacle . " and nbuMiig the minister during the service . _Itappeared tliat the delomlant _aseeiuled to the gallery during tlicperform mice of thc afternoon service . He stood up in the most prominent place , and soon rendered himself conspicuous by launching put into denunciations against the minister bestowing tiie epithets "hypocrite" a _„ d "blasphemer ' '
Wedves-Oav. —Book Stealing.—John Rentlan...
_onbini , and . mdng . offleis . expressions of _themost offensive _, description . The defendant said that the minister of the chapel was ; a " wolf in _^ _heepjs . clothing , " and that he knew it . 'HeprdcceaedtVihdulge ' m personal andi other reflections'which indicated an unsound state of mind ; declaring also , that while he lived he should p ' trfist in lifting up his voice against evil-doers .. The magistrate said thatth _* _-Me-AdMit _Tiwist be _vestvainedby the strong aim of the law , otherwise he would repeat the offence . He was then held to bail , himself in . _jElOO / ' and two sureties ot £ 5 Q each , arid in default was committed .
CLERKENWELL . TrasoAY . — _M-STKOPOI . 1 _WN _3 iuve-Yards . —Horrid Abominations at the Spa-fields Bok . ial-gb . ound , —On Tuesday this court was crowded with respectabldtradesmen and other housekeepers residing in _Exmouth-street and its vicinity , in consequence of its liaving become generall y known that an application would be made to the magistrate relative to _Spa-fields burial-ground . Reports of the most revolting and disgusting character have been circulated for some time bach throughout thc neighbourhood and intense excitement has prevailed in consequence . — Mr . Watts , pawnbroker and silversmith , residing in Ex « mouth-street , stated that , as the representative Of a large body , of the ratepayers of Clerkenwell , many of whom were present , he came forward to beseech the interference
ofthe court for the suppression of practices of a mostabo . minable nature which _prevaUed in Spa-fields burial _, ground . * The burial-ground was not quite two acres in superficial extent . Such a space was commonly estimated as being capable of affording a decent interment to about 3000 human bodies ; but what was the fact 1 It had wn a b \ mal-gYO \ uuUor the last fifty _ycavs , and the average yearly number of bodies interred , or brought into it , _was 1500 . There had been thirty-six burials in one day , but not a bone was seen on the surface , He could produce evidence whicli would leave no doubt , horrible as the thing was , that human bodies had been commonly burnt there . The stench proceeding from what was caUed the " bone-house , " in . the graveyard , was so intolerable , that many of tho residents in Exmouth-stveet _, which abutted
on the place , had been obliged to leave it _altogether . One lady was present who had been obliged to leave from the stench . The custom was to disinter thc bodies after , they have been three or fuur days buried , cllOD theni np , and . burn them in the _boue-howsc , __ Inspector Penny , of the 6 division , came forward _, md stated that a petition , signed hy 150 ofthe inhabitants of Clerkenwell , having heen presented to the magistrate of this court on the subject , his worship put thc matter into his hands . He went there , and in this " bone-house " found a large quantity of coffins _hi-oTsen \\ p , and some o £ them burning . The wood was perfectly sound , and -some of it appeared to be quite fresh . Had been there several times since , and had seen parts of coffins burning ; the smell was shocking , intolerable . There werc coffins of
every size there , children ' s and men ' s , —Reuben _lioom _, who had been grave-digger in the burial-ground iii _question , but left about two years ago , in consequence of a dispute , stated that he had been there as grave-digger for six years . Had repeatedly dug up dead bodies _in-terred but a short time , to . make room for others , Had fre . ( uicntly dug up twenty corpses to make a grave of seven feet deep . The bodies that had been interred ei ght feet under ground were a few days after rooted up , and just covered hy the surface * , the stench was intolerahle . —A lady , who lived in * a house abutting on the graveyard , stilted that she was obliged to leave , from the intolerable smell proceeding from the hone-house . They burnt the bones at r . ight , and sometimes they began to " burn at
eleven o ' clock at night , and continued at it all night , The smell was Rightful . —Catherine Murphy : Lived in a _itouse from the rear of which there was a view of the graveyard . Had seen the grave-diggers throw up parts of a human body , and then chop it up with their shovels . Saw one of them seize the upper pari of a corpse by thc hair of the head . On this occasion she could not refrain from crying out , " O , you villain , to treat the corpse , so , " upon which he threw it into the grave again , and threw the clay on it , The smell was horrible . —Mr . Combe advised the parties to lay a full statement of the matter before thc Board of Guardians , who would , he felt convinced , bring the parties under his jurisdiction . —The parties thanked the inagig trate , and left the court .
Aberdeen.
_ABERDEEN .
Co-Orera*No-N R .—-A General 'Meeting Of...
Co-orERA _* _no-N . — -A general ' meeting of thc members of the Aberdeen Association of Producers was held on the evening of Wednesday _, ihe 19 th Februaw , at eight o ' clock , in the Hall , No . 1 , Flour Mill-fane , wlien a report _irorn the directors , showing thc rapid progress and flourishing condition of the association , was read to the members , together with a balance sheet , showing the actual state of their affairs . From the report it appeared that the weekly returns had increased from £ 14 to upwards of £ 32 a weeh , and that the average weekly return since the commencement was £ 27 5 s ., and the total amount of sales £ 745 . The balance sheet shewed a clear _surpluu , whieh , after laying aside five per cent , interest on
their capital , enabled them to place to tlic credit of members , three per cent / on the gross amount of all purchases made oy them at the shop ; thus increasing thc value of their shares in many cases from five to ten , and even of fifteen shillings , in the short space of half a year . It was also shown that there was a _considerable number who never paid any money towards a share , but merely purchased ! their goods at the shop ; and" in all cases ' where such purchases had amounted to the sum of £ 8 , the parties had been placed on the list of members . The report also shewed that the directors had opened a Savings' Bank in conncctiou with thc A ' ssociat ' um .
wluch it was anticipated would be of great service to _, aJl of the working class who wished to effect a weekly " saving out of their earnings , or tolay by for any given purpose , as any sum would be received from sixpence to fifty pounds , and would be repaid at any time , on demand of the depositor . The conduct of the directors was highly approved of by the members , who then proceeded . to the election of ' a salesman for the next six months , when their present excellent and efficient _nalesnian , Mr . Patrick Ironside , was _unanipiously elected . " Five new directors were then chosen in the places of those whose term of office had expim _., and the meeting broke up highly satisfied with tne promising state of their affairs .
¦ .: ¦ , ., TODMORDEN . _^ Mn . James Cooper , of Manchester , lectured in the Mechanics' Institute large room , on Thursday night , the 18 th ult ., on ' * _Knowledge , the true wav to freedom . " The lecture gave general satisfaction ' .
Liru Op Voltaine.—Lord Brougham Is Prepa...
_Liru op VoLTAinE . —Lord Brougham is preparing * Life of Voltaire . ' . He is _wi-iting . it in English and in brench—and the work is to be brought out in the two ; languages , . simultaneously in London and in Paris . —Mr . 'Macaulay , it is understood , intends deyotirig Ins leisure for the next two voars , to thc completion of his History , of the Revolution of 1683—and in consequence , the Edinburgh vnll be deprived of his contributions during that period . l . Forei 6 _* . \ Cattle . —A fatal cattle disease lias just broken . out at Lacken , a . few miles from Brussels . 1 wenty head of cattle have already perished . The veterinary surgeons . = designate the disease typhi ® charloKneux .: In connexion with this factwc may
state that the Commissioners of the Customs have received a letter from . Mr . Cardwell , one of thc secretaries of the Treasury , to the etfeet that he was commanded by their lordships to state to the board , that _infoi-niation has been received from various quarters ol the prevalence of an infectious disorder among cattic liv several . parts of theContiuent _, and to desire that they would give directions to their officers carefully to examine any cattle imported into this country and 111 the event of then * appearing to be infected ; wf * K ani' disorder , not to permit them to be landed _without inspection and report as to their soundness by some ; . competent person , and to report the circumstances and their ; actual condition immediately to the hoard .
Northern Circuit. - .Cakusis, Feb. 24.—B...
NORTHERN CIRCUIT . - . _Cakusis , Feb . 24 . _—Bcrolauy . —John Gillespie was charged with having , on thc 10 th day of December last , committed a burglary in the house of Joseph and John Grindal , at "Wi gton , and having at the tm \ c committed such burglary , cut and wounded Joseph Grmdal . The jury returned a verdict of Guilty . . His lordship sentenced the nrfsoncr to be transported for life . ¦ '
Deaths. A* '- T≫"_ It. Ir. 1.-'¦*.«.. -:
DEATHS . A * ' - T >"_ it . ir . 1 .- _'¦* . _« .. _-:
Civ •: -"-". -•"• , °" Mvuuuy Mgnv , --R...
civ : - _" - " . _- _" , ° " _Mvuuuy mgnv , _--ruary 17 , _iYlr . j . _iWlte _, m the sixty . fourth year ' of his ago . His _remfiins werei interred on Monday last , followed to the grave by his bcrch , yed widow , his several sons aiid daughters , and a number of his political friends arid admirers . Mr , Twite was a democrat of forty years standing , and joined the-Chartist ranks at the com mencement of the agitation . He _was'for several ? wn * *?! r . i * , x * , ? niis _«< _-ath , treasurer to the Hath Uiaytists . In private , as in publie life , he wa » . respected by all who knew him , and has departed this life deeply lamented by a large circle of friends .
Death op thbRev . _Stdxet SMinr _.-We regret to announce . the death of the Rev . Sydney Smith , who , alter an illness of some weeks ' , duration , expired at his ¦ residence in _( - _. reen-street ; _shortlybefoi-eeleven ocock on Saturday ; evening . Dr . HolkuulandMr . Uibbcrts ( sons-in-law of the deceased ) were both in attendance on their lamented relative at the time of ins death . Miv . Smith had attained his 74 th year ¦ ii /* Hin the b , S Le _^ s » on _ti'e 2 oth ' _ifcmii a s v * thc J " ot , 1 , fe' _« t son of Richard _lboiim , a firm and uiidcviating advocate of the rights pi thc many .. .. .
Hvl ^S ^Ugal M'Gowan , Of % ^Reat Windmill
HVl _^ _UGAl M'GOWAN , of % _^ reat Windmill
N ~ . ""J"*"""*"» ""* Vwy Westminster, A...
_n _~ . "" J "*"""* " » ""* _vwy Westminster , atthe Othcem the same Street and * Parish , for the Pro . . prietor , _FEARGUSO'COXXOK , Esq _^ and published by Wotu * Hewitt , of No . is , _Charies-stveet , Brandonstreet , Walworth , in the Parish of St . Mary , Newington , in the County of Surrey , at the Office , No . 340 Strand , in the Parish of 3 t , "M ary . k .. Strand in the City of Westminster Saturday , March _. 11 _^ 5
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 1, 1845, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_01031845/page/8/
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