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TO THE PEOPLE OF EXGLA1SD, UPON THE SUBJECT OF ~ THE LAND.
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Mr Fbiesds,—I write this letter upon Wed...
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WE*^7*3Sp ;' '
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He JiWlIm Mw, AND NATIONAL TffiDES' JOUR...
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TOLxTno. 430. LONDON, SATUKDAi", FEBRUAR...
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Jfoitigir fitteHiswwte
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FRANCE. Another week of humbug has passe...
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INDIA AND CHINA-MOST IMPORTANT NEWS. A T...
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THE ALLEGED HORRIBLE MURDERS ON BOARD TH...
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<• - ' ' '& DREADFUL SHI#RECK-LOSS OF TH...
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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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To The People Of Exgla1sd, Upon The Subject Of ~ The Land.
TO THE PEOPLE OF EXGLA _1 SD , UPON THE SUBJECT OF THE LAND .
Mr Fbiesds,—I Write This Letter Upon Wed...
Mr Fbiesds , _—I write this letter upon Wednesday , the 4 th of February , the day npon which I enter into _xuy fourteenth year of acquaintance-ship with yon ; and , however the indolent and . careless may revile me for my vanity , or mock me for my ambition , I have the vanity to suppose that , if necessary , I eonld go over my past thirteen years' service with becoming delight ; while my ambition tells me that in that long
penod I hare daily strengthened that confidence which the working classes , from a knowledge of my Parliamentary services , were in tiie outset ready to repose in me . I shall not , however , travel over the beaten ground of what has been done , but I shall at once bring yonr _niinds to bear npon the position that we now occupy , to accomplish , the most advantageous of my several projects , with the _single exception of the one great and glorious one , the People ' s Charter -. I mean the possession of the land .
Amid the most fiery agitation for the Charter , I have said , over and over again—Lock op the land today , and I wonld not give yon thanks for the Charter to-morrow . In my first speeches , in 1835 , 1 pointed cut how you might in a very short time possess yourselves of the national debt , or of the land of the country ; while it took a long period io prepare your minds fir knowledge of a subject npon which all had aa interest in keeping you ignorant . You confided j nme , until at length we have established an associa tion which promises to its members aa much social comfort as they can achieve or expect without the possession of political rights ; and , therefore , I select
the land as the subject of my present letter . Since jou decided that the rules should be enrolled , your directors have met almost daily to accomplish your wish ; but finding , as the law stands , that there will be some difficulties thrown in the way of making out title , and as Mr . Boberts has proposed a plan which would give you not onl y social benefits , but also the advantage of political power , we have , and I think you will say wisely , refrained from diminishing any of those powers which are abiolutely necessary for the completion of our object . As the rules are enrolled in the first instance so they most stand , and we have preferred doing the work firmly and _subitanttally , to patching it hereafter .
Anxious , however , that not a moment ' s delay should take place in the practical development of our scheme , we have unanimously resolved upon purchasing . £ 5 , 000 worth of land , the moment that such * thing advantageously presents itself . Yon will see by the balance sheet of my accounts , which I publish this week , that there is now in hand abont £ 4 , 300 , which does not include this week ' s receipts , and , therefore , we have within £ 500 of the prescribed amount— £ 5 , 000 . This £ 4 , 300 includes the Expense Fund , which , as treasurer , I have _theughtitniyduty
to amalgamate with the Land Fund , in order that we may the more speedily be able to go to work ; and I think that fund will be more legitimately and profitably expended than if it was allowed to remain in my desk . I promised you that before the month of May expired , I would see one hundred freemen lodged in their own castles ; I now repeat that promise : and I might add twenty-live to the origi gal number , inasmuch as it is our intention to purchase five thousand pounds' worth of land , and to make a contract for building the necessary cottages , to be paid for out of the weekly receipts , or out of funds which I can
borrow . However , I am resolved that no exertion of mine shall be wanting to make the experiment as speedily and as complete as possible . I am now speaking the desire , the unanimous desire of my brother directors . We propose that , in the first instance , if Mr Boberts' plan is not complete before allotment , that the land shall be purchased ia the name of some one individual who will have no difficulty in making a lease to the several occupants , and who shall then assign the estate to the trustees and directors for the benefit of the society . The directors , with the consent of the shareholders , can select that individual ,
but it shall not 6 e Feargus O'Connor . I have made myself now more thoroughly master of what the increased expense would be of leasing the several locations , than I was when the Conference assembled , and 1 find that the exact cost of each lease would be 10 s . I stated that it would be two guineas , but I was unmindful of the fact ol co-operation . It would take two guineas , and more , to get one lease , but for a hundred leases we can have a printed form , which tsaves all the expense , except ten shillings stamp duty ; j the instrument for one being the same as the _instrn- j ment for all , and only requiring the insertion of the same and the amount of rent .
Now , I would rather pay this additional fifty pounds myself than have an imperfect enrolment , or any great delay for want of enrolment ; so that , from this brief statement , the members are to infer , that £ 5 , 000 worth of land will be purchased as soon as the directors hear of a suitable bargain in a suitable situation ; bdeed , we have already been in treaty for about 269 acres of prime land . We have to request , therefore , that all secretaries transmitting money , will also transmit , from the local papers , advertisements of land to be sold , when the most suitable and eligible will be selected for purchase .
I believe that no _ciircumstances could be more favourable to our object than those whieh Sir Robert Feel ' s new measures present ; and that is one of my many reasons for according to them my almost unqualified approval . After a hard week' s work , from which I derive but little profit , I am always solaced by the reflection , that I have done something towards the improvement of the working classes and of the varied _correspondeace that I receive , none gives me half the pleasure as that which brings remittances for the Land fund , because , in that , I see true progression , as well as the realisation of the grand principle of restriction , and also a rapid
approach to politieal power ; for , rest assured , that men once possessed of property will not long rest satisfied without political power to protect it . You will understand , then , what we mean—we mean , that as the rules in their present form might throw some obstacles in the way of making oat title in case of mortgage or sale , that we will wait for the development of Mr . Roberta' plan , in preference to a hasty eorolment , which might hereafter place difficulties in our way , and also , because it proposes to confer the vote upon the occupant ; but wo likewise propose that any delay consequent upon our desire to make the first step firm , shall not for a single day
postpone onr practical operations ; and that the extra cost upon this earlier development will amount to 50 for leases . _Thesameexpensewillnotbeincurred in any subsequent location ; but the fact is , that as spring approaches , we think that a month , or even a fortnight of the mornings of spring , is worth more than three times £ 50 . It would not be judicious to incur an additional expense of £ 50 , or even £ 10 , for the difference between _November and January , while the difference between the 1 st and 15 th of March it incalculable ! We are determined to take advantage of the early season for building and for early crops ;
indeed , although we do notthrostourselves very prominently before you , wehavenot been idle , inasmuch as we have been looking for beneficial contracts for the supply of every kind of seed which will BE ENGAGED , and no produce no pay . And here I Buy tell you that upon that subject , as the landowners have been the law makers , they have protected their interests well ; because if a seedsman supplies seeds which fail , he is liable to the payment not only of the seed , but of the value that the crop would have beea o £ Peel ' s tariff will reduce the price of almost all eeds to little or nothing .
You will see by my balance sheet , that no money was lodged in the bank from the time of the Conference to the end of last month , and I wish to inform you of the reason , although so man would ask for it . The reason then was , that , according to the rules , the deposits were to be lodged in presence of one ef the Trustees , and I held the funds until the enrolment idiould have established _Trnsteeship ; but as _therulesare notyetenrolled , I then thought it my duty
to lodge the funds as of old . 1 don't know tbat I have any thing to add further , than that I see my way more clearly before me than I did , as to the rapidity with which we can go on after the first location . It ' s very hard to argue against the theory of such muddle-pated fellows as Carpenter , James Hill , and O'Brien ; but it did appear to me a piece of wanton folly , if not knavish ignorance upon their part , to attempt to convince the working classes , tU what other men did with land , WE COULD
Mr Fbiesds,—I Write This Letter Upon Wed...
m DO WITH IT ! Now , did jou ever hear or read of such fools ? However , people ignorant as themselves will read , and become mystified , and the only answer to those scribblers is-PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATION . Sanguine as I have been about the project , I have never ventured , I haven ' t dared to express one-half , nor yet one-tenth part of my hope in it . I believe that section No . 1 is not yet quite complete , and as soon as it is , the ballotjwill take place from amongst the members who have paid np in full , and then section No . 3 will commence . Now , one thing I must keep before vou . This association could not have been
considered in existence before the middle of July—£ 100 had scarcely been received up to that time , so that it is little more than half a year in existence , and we are now prepared to locate over 100 members . Now then , is this , or is it not , a disappointment of a new description—the disappointment of commencing operations at least twelve months before the most sanguine had anticipated ; while the fundi * not only undiminished by a single fraction , but there is a large amount—more , I think , than two-thirds of the Expense Fund , of WHICH I AM THE TREASURER—untouched , and ready to be applied to the purposes of the association .
Now , the application of this Expense Fund to the purchase of land will not , in the least , retard our banking and insurance projects , because I feel convinced that I can always raise a sufficient amount of money for such purposes , when the money-mongers see that we have become landlords . Again requesting the several secretaries to transmit all advertisements of estates to be sold , and congratulating you upon our forward and proud position , and being firmly resolved upon dining with the hundred freemen on their own land before the month ef May expires , I am now , in the fourteenth year of my servitude , as I was in the beginning , and will be to the end , Your faithful , true , and fondest friend , _Feaeois O'Co . vkor . February 4 , 1846 .
We*^7*3sp ;' '
_WE _*^ 7 * _3 _Sp ' '
He Jiwlim Mw, And National Tffides' Jour...
He _JiWlIm Mw , AND NATIONAL TffiDES' JOURNAL .
Tolxtno. 430. London, Satukdai", Februar...
_TOLxTno . 430 . LONDON , SATUKDAi " , FEBRUARY 7 , 1846 . „ «*¦ _^ _S _^^ 1 _" ~ . _£ _ , ¦ ' Five Shilling * , » SiSpcnce pel . _Quaker ,
Jfoitigir Fittehiswwte
_Jfoitigir _fitteHiswwte
France. Another Week Of Humbug Has Passe...
FRANCE . Another week of humbug has passed in the French Chambers . The deputies continue their prosy harangues on all subjects , save and except the one important subject , the welfare of the French people . First , we have a battle-royal between the two rival artful dodgers , Thiers and Guizot , on the question of the French University , which resulted in nothing beyond the admission by the doctrinaire chief , that the dissolution of the Council , of the University , by the royal ordinances of the 7 th ef December last , had been done with a view to propitiate the Pope , who would otherwise have opposed the break-up of the Jesuit establishments in France . An admission not
likely to add to the popularity of either the minister or the Catholic Church . The next subject discussed was M . Berryer ' _s amendment , the object of which was to deter ministers from declaring , that in the event of a war between England and the United States , France would remain neater , and to call upon them to declare iu each circumstances that " froe bottoms make free goods . " In the course of his speech M . Berryer declared tbat an alliance with either the United States or with Russia was preferable to one with England . So that this Legitimist speechmaker is as much infected with the absurd Anglophobia as some other fools we could name . On a division , M . Berryer ' s amendment was rejected by a majority of seventy-eight in support of the
original address . On Monday an amendment similar hi spirit was brought forward by M . Remusat _, and also rejected by a majority of sixty-eight . When the discussion on tiie address will terminate no one has the least idea . Really , the French nation is made to appear supremel y ridiculous by these contemptible discussions . Louis Philippe has gone into mourning for the death of his brother-tyrant , the Duke of Modena . The old hypocrite of the Barricades is doing all he can to conciliate the "legitimate " tyrants of Europe , in the vain hope of conserving his throne for his hopeful "sous and grandsons . " The Parisian gore-and-glory-mongers are somewhat appeased by the recent butchery in the Parana . The National says , _V Our seamen covered
_themeelves with glory . May the fresh blood which has been shed on the hanks of the Plata efface some of the stains inflicted by the cowardly policy of our government . " Nothing like blood for effacing stains ! We wish the scribe in the National had his bellyful of " glory . " The expedition agaimt Madagascar is being urged with the most extraordinary activity . We read that " the Neptune , of the line , Captain Penaud , is not only to carry out an immense quantity of gunpowder , but to take 500 , 000 cartridges and 30 cases of Congreve rockets . " So that soon France will be gratified with more " glory , " aud—more blood ! The Paris papers have been commenting on Sir R . Peel ' s proposed measures , the " magnitude " of which seems to have astounded them ; and no wonder , when they contrast them with the puny doings of their own government . The Paris journals , while welcoming Peel's
freetrade measures , do not , however , approve of France imitating England . None of them hint at an ; reciprocity on the part of France . The Preste , says , that though the avowed object of the reduction of duties on cotton , woollen , and i linen cloths is to induce other countries to do the same , yet it is probable that in this respect " each nation will consult its own advantage , convenience , and position , before considering itself bound to a reciprocity which for most ef them would be perfectly illusory . " The Journal des Bebats takes , also , care to relieve those who might be alarmed at the idea of some secret understanding between tbe French and English governments on the subject of reciprocity , that the reduction of duties is perfectly spontaneous on the part of England , and without any bargain or promise of any kind on the part of France .
SPAIN . The ministry and a great number of their supporters are at loggerheads respecting the alleged intended marriage of the Queen to that imbecile tool of the Jesuits , the Neapolitan Count Trappani . The best way to untie this gordian knot of the Queen ' s marriage would be to cut it by Bending the Queen and her precious mother packing . Could not the Spaniards exist without their _lollypop-sucking Queen f The Clamor Publico has been seised for merely appearing with a black border on the anniversary of Zurbano _' s death . Contrary to the general expectation of the
inhabitants of Girona , only one ofthe prisoners condemned to death on the 24 th was shot outside that town on the 27 th ult . The remainder had their punishment commuted to banishment for different terms of years to the presid . it * . Letters from Barcelona , of the 28 th nit ., announce the sudden return to that capital ofthe Captain-General . from Girona , his presence being deemed necessary , in consequence I of the alarming appearance of affairs . It is added , that the inhabitants of the town of Reus had refused to pay the new contributions , and that troops had been sent there fron Tarragona .
_GERMANT . GREAT PROGRESS OF COMMUNISM—PERSECU . TION ASD AGITATION . As we anticipated last week , the reported insurrection in Berlin has turned out to be a hoax . Still the author was , perhaps , only a little in advance with his intelligence , as things cannot go on long in Prussia as they now are . Our readers must not , however , expee t the revolution to commence in Berlin : Old Prussia is hardly likely to commence , although , no doubt , it will participate in the struggle . If , however , the Prussian revolution is pot as yet , we have authentic intelligence of a movement in Gallicia { under the tyranny of Austria ) . Vienna letters , of the 21 rt nit ., announce that great agitation exists in that country . _Thecerrespondentof the Times says : — " _Communisme ia propagated with great industry and to an alarming extent in that province . The authorities , made aware of the progress and the state of
this lamentable _conspiracy , have arrested , not all who were denounced to them as implicated in it , but a * many as could be contained in the permanent _Srisons and in the numerous houses and buildings ired for the occasion and turned into temporary ? risons . How tins will end i » man can _fortell . " n this _last _ sentence , the evidently frightened correspondent is out in his reckoning . It does not need the power of prophecy for any rational man to be able to predict that the " end" will be a struggle of the " have-net ' s" against the "haveairs , " in which something more than "throne and altar" will be overturned . The first French Revolution was but a joke compared with that revolution which is now maturing tlurougbsut Germany . The state of the German manufacturing population is most deplorable . The avera ge working wages ofthe cotton manufacturer in Germany , which are , perhaps , the b _^ tpaid _, -we believe , do not exceed 5 s . per week . Ia many _losalities , such as Saxony and
France. Another Week Of Humbug Has Passe...
parts of Rhenish Prussia , the average would not be so high . Iu Silesia , the chief seat of the linen manufacture , the workmen are much worse off Bonce the movement of ' the masses now going on , for , with the elements of education , they cannot fail to perceive tha wide . gulf betwixt their gains and those of their employers . Hence the success of Communist doctones throughout Germany . The " have-not ' s " are determined to have something , and they will _ITVS j i _& ° ? S edni 5 rriag » between the son of the . Archduke Stephen and the Grand Duchess Olga , daughter of the Emperor Nicholas , is at an end ; one of the principal considerations that induced Austria to break off the match was its utter unpopularity m Hungary . Criminal _proceedings , it is said .
nave neen commenced against John Ronge , on . account of a pamphlet he published some time ago ; but if , as is probable ( for ho is wise in his generation ) , the work was printed out of Silesia , he may laugh in tecunty at _tlieefforts ofthe government . Ronge has proposed , at a meeting of the members of the new church that he has founded , that in future the persons who profess his creed shall call themselves Members ot the Universal Christian Church , and not German or Christian Catholics , as hitherto . Ihe ceniorship in Germany is as ridiculous as it is tyrannical ; we read in a contemporary that a book was licensed lately which waspublished a hundred and hfty years ago . The same paper states that " lu 1 ru * sia , the works of her greatFrederick are forbidden , as being too liberal ! The papers contain a story ofa journal which was forbidden by the censor , because it contained , among a list of arrivals at an hotel
, the name of a certain Pitchpatch , which the censor took for some impertinence of the editor . It turned out , however , that such was thc real name of a stranger traveller . The editor , and Mr . Pitchpatch also , appealed ; the censor ' s prohibition was taken off , the functionary rebuked , and Mr . Pitchpatch sojourns in Germany , rejoicing in his euphonius name ! " The late riots in the eastern provinces of Prussia were accompanied by a circumstance that threw terror into the heart of Berlin . It was found out by the inquiry that a great number of soldiers and officers of the army are initiated in ihe riotous conspiracies of these provinces . Repressive measures are employed against this danger ; new orders are men , prohibiting under grievous penalties the soldiers and officers to exhibit the least interest in the political and religious questions agitated among the people .
SWITZERLAND . We learn from Berne , Jan . 25 th , that James Midler was tried for the murder of M . Leu , on the 20 th July last , by the Criminal Court of Lucerne . A great crowd had assembled to hear the trial . As « ral testimony is not admitted in the Courts of Lucerne , there was nothing made public but the act of accusation , and the pleadings on both sides . Muller _was condemned to be executed . He has appealed against the decision of the Court . Letters from Berne of the 26 th state , that almost the totality of the members of the commission of revision belonging to the opposition have signed the declaration that a constituent assembly alone can satisfy the wishes and interests of the country , and insure the return of tranquillity , and this opinion is gaining
ground in the masses of the people . The Council of State was not free from inquietude , and had held two sittings in one day , imposing upon its members secrecy as to its proceedings and resolutions . Thc deput y from Baden , M . Itzstein , has announced his intention of putting questions to the government on the subject of the arrest , within the territory of Baden , of the late Councillor of State , M . Baumann , who was charged with being _imphcatod in the murder of M . Leu . According to a letter from Lucerne , Jacques Muller has denounced fourteen persons , all holding an honourable position ia society , as having instigated him to commit the murder of M . Leu . Coiuiunism is making rapid strides in the Canton of Zurich , and the government is consequently in groat alarm .
POLAND . In addition to the wholesale arrests of the Communists in Gallicia , formerly a part of Poland , though now under the iron yoke of Austria , important news has beeu received from what is called " Prussia Poland , " also a part of Poland . The persons compromised in the Polish plot had been transferred to Grandentz , and the authorities imagined that they had thus prevented every explosion of violence and discontent . This hope bas been disappointed ; on the night ofthe 18 th ult . an attempt was made to gain possession of one of the Gates of Grandentz , and to deliver the prisoners by force ; it is said tbat this attempt proved a failure . Throughout most of Poland famine prevails , and the country is in a deplorable state .
ITALY . Letters from Italy , under date 22 nd instant , announce the death of the Duke of Modena . He died on the evening of the 21 st , after an illness of seven days , aged sixty-seven years . His son is to succeed him under the name of Francis the Fifth . Letters from Leghorn of the 23 th ult . state that the Pontifical Government apprehended another movement in _Romagna . The political prisoners confined at Civita CaEtellana having attempted to escape , the guards fired ou them , and killed and wounded several of them . At Imola , a detachment of Carabineers and Swiss soldiers having met in the streets a band of young men singing patriotic songs , fired upon them , and killed two and wounded some others . A letter from Rome mentions a report that Renzi , one of the chiefs of the late attempt at insurrection in the Roman states , has been delivered up to the Papal Government by that of Tuscany .
UNITED STATES . THE OREGON QUESTION . Two packet-ships bave arrived this week from New York , bringing further accounts of the yet continued discussions in the American Congress respecting the Oregon question . The packet-ship Stephen Whitney arrived at Liverpool on Sunday . The papers brought by her report the progress of the debate in tbe House of Representatives , in committee of the whole , whether notice shall be given to Great Britain to terminate the joint occupation of the Oregon territory or not . The question had been taken up and argued , day by day ; but it appeared to make very little progress , and its termination a thing quite indefinite . In the meantime the
negotiations between Mr . Fakenham and the American Minister had net been renewed , and the question therefore remains in statu quo . In the Senate , Mr . Benton ' s bill for raising mounted riflemen , and building forts on the route to Oregon , has been read an d passed . The shi p Yorkshire arrived at Liverpool on Tuesday , bringing later intelligence . The Senate had refused to discuss the question of giving Great Britain notice with regard to the joint occupancy of the Oregon until the 10 th of February . On the 12 th ult ., Mr . Fairfield , from the Committee of Naval Affairs , reported a bill appropriating the sum of 11 , 190 , 000 dols . for the addition to the United States navy . On a motion that the notice to terminate the joint occupancy of the Oregon be made
the special order for the 27 th cf January , Mr . Calhoun and other senators urged further delay ; and the queition having been put to the vote , the order was delayed to Tuesday , the 10 th of February . On the same day , the Senate made an important decision . Mr . Allen asked leave to introduce a resolution , declaring that Congress would adhere to and be governed by the policy which Mr . Munro had suggested in reference to foreign governments interfering with the political concerns of the people of this continent . Mr . Allen said , that President Polk had recently , in his message , assumed the same ground ; and that he considered it the duty of Congress , by resolution , to sustain the Executive . —Mr . Calhoun objected to the granting of leave to
introduce the resolution . He was not prepared to vote on it . He suggested that the request had better be laid on the table for the present . —Mr . Allen _saidhe did not anticipate any opposition to the introduction of the resolution , adding that he wished it to be understood that he should consider thc vote now to be taken as final on the resolution . The vote was then taken by " yeas " and nays , " on laying on the table , and decided in the affirmative , as follows : —yeas , 28 ; nays , 23 . Important news had reached the States from Mexico by the arrival of the United States ship St . Mary ' s , at Pensacola , from Vera Cruz . By this arrival it was stated that Mr .
Sudell , United States minister at Mexico , had either been insulted , or not officially received by the authorities—that a revolution was on the eve of _explosion , one principle of which was to be war with the United States . From Texas news had been received that a body of United States troops had advanced to the Rio del Norte . Great anxiety exists fer the arrival of further news from Mexico , as present indications would lead to the inference that a war with Mexico , or at least great difficulty , was now extremely probable ; and such a state of things would undoubtedly embarrass the Oregon question , as well as any movement for the purchase of California .
India And China-Most Important News. A T...
INDIA AND CHINA-MOST IMPORTANT NEWS . A THREE DAYS' BATTLE-GREAT SLAUGHTERS The gore-and-glory-mongers have now the certainty of gratify ing their favourite taste . The great question of British interference with the affairs of thc Punjab bas been decided b y the irruptioa of the
India And China-Most Important News. A T...
Siks intothe British territory . On the 12 th and 13 th of De _^ mbera'Sfkh army , amounting to 30 , 000 men , with _severity guns , crossed the Sutlej , and marched _itt once towards Ferozepore . Here they were kept in check for some days while the British army was concentrating , the Governor-General being still at some distance qn his march from Umballah . On the 21 st a battle , or rather a aeries of actions , began at Ferozepore , which had lasted three days , day and night , when the despatches left , and was not yet concluded _, ihe _Governor-General led the centre , the _Commander-in-Chief the right , and Sir John Littler the left . The slaughter was very great . The Sikhs had lost sixty-five guns , and thc British were occupying the Sikh _eamp . The centre and right , it is added , hold their ground well . The left was hard pressed . - The despateh whicli brought this most important , though miperfectinformation _. left Umballah _onthe 26 th , and arrived at Bombay on the 3 rd ult ., just in time for the recall of the steamer , which had sailed that morning after a long delay .
ANOTHIB ACCOUNT . The news is , that the battle took placo at Ferozepore ; the Governor-General led the centre , the Commander-in-Chief thc right , and Sir John Littler the left . . The centre and right held their ground well ; the left was hard pressed . The troops had stormed one position , and were preparing to attack the other , when the despatch left . The slaughter was very great . FEOU THE . " BOMBAY TIMES , " EXTRA . Saturdat , 12 a . m ., Jan . 3 . —A despatch arrived this morning from the Governor-General from Ferozepore , which mentions that a battle had taken place at that place . Our forces had stormed one of the enemy ' s positions , and wcre preparing to storm the other when the despatch left . Sir H . Hardinge led the centre , Sir H . Gough the right , and Sir John Littler the left . The slaughter was very great . Further particulars have not yet reached us .
The Alleged Horrible Murders On Board Th...
THE ALLEGED HORRIBLE MURDERS ON BOARD THE TORY . _TRIAi OF CAPT . JOIINSTONE . At the Central Criminal Court on Thursday last , Captain George Johnstone , of the shi p Tory , whose case has excited such extraordinary interest , was placed at the bar before Mr . Justice Williams and Mr . Justice Cresswell , on an indictment charging him with the wilful murder of Thomas Reason . There were other indictments , but the charge , in the first instance , was confined to the murder of Reason . The Attorney-General , Mr . Bodkin , and Mr . Clerk , were for the prosecution ; Mr . Jervis , Q . C ., and Mr . _Huddlestone , appeared for the defence . The prisoner , who seemed in a better state of health Jhan when he appeared before the magistrate
at the Thames Police-court , was accommodated with a chair , and seemed during the proceedings to pay particular attention to the evidence , more especially where it seemed to go against himself . He is notbyanymeansamanofunprcpossessingappearanco . The Attorney-General rose to state the case . He detailed the facts which have : already frequently appeared in our columns , and after a brief comment proceeded to call the following witnesses : — Arthur Gilmore Spence examined by Mr . Bodkin : I was on board the ship Tory on her voyage from Hong Kong to _England . She belonged to Liverpool , and I was apprentice on board . The prisoner was captain of her , and the crow consisted , on an average , of twenty-seven . _ No unpleasantness arose on the
outward voyage . We left Hong-Kong for England in May , 1845 . We had a man named Reason , an able seaman , who joined us at Singapore . The mates were William Henry Rambert and William Mars . The cargo was very valuable , consisting forthe most part of tea . When we had passed the Cape , the wind was favourable , and we made f oe St . Helena . The captain assigned a reason for passing the island , that his chronometer were wrong , and that he was , therefore , out of his longitude , He asked the crew if they were favourable to a ran for Ascension , and they said they were . This might be a run of six days . The provisions were very low and the allowance o water was a quart . The usual allowance is from six pints to a gallon . I was laid up at the time , and did not hear much murmuring among the crew ; but
they seemed to think that the captain had some private reason for passing the island of Madeira . After missing the island of Ascension , the mates were called down into the cabin , and , after a consultation , it was determined to proceed on tho 'homeward voyage . I find by the logbook that this was on the 20 th September . The allowance of water was , after that , further diminished to a pint a day , and the bread to half a pound a day , till it was altogether consumed . This was very soon after the captain had determined to make for home . We fell in with a French barque at eight on the morning of the 23 rd . I remember the fact of Rambert _' _sj umping overboard , although I did not myself see him do so . But from that day we went on pretty comfortably till we made
the Island of Fayal , at five o ' clock oh the 22 nd of October . The captain went ashore , and I accomcompanied him . Reason ,. David Johnson , Henry Thompson , Slack , and the other apprentice , were ofthe boat's crew . The captain returned on board the same day , and we returned also . At this time the harbour-master was on board , inchargeoftheship _. The captain was in his senses , although he appeared to have been drinking slightly , He always appeared given more to drinking after the death of Rambert . On the day on which Reason died I was in the captain ' s cabin . It was late in the evening , nearly bedtime . The captain desired me to stop m the cabin . A charge was brought against the deceased Reason by a man named Morris . The deceased had said
" that he would have law when he came to England , " or words to that effect . The captain then desired Reason to be sent for . He came down then . Barry Yelverton and William Dunn , the cook , were in the cabin , as well aa a foreigner , Julian Cordiavello . . The captain was more than half drunk . He had been taking brandy and water before . I did not remain in the cabin till Reason ' s death . To the best ef my knowledge the captain took hold of him and shook him on the sofa , where he desired him to sit . He struck him over the side with the point of the bayonet . I can recollect that he spoke some words to liim first . I think he said you are a d — d mutineer , sir . Reason did not answer . I did not see the captain do an ything more while I was there .
There was a boy on board named Glover , and soon after I left he came and called me , I went down te the cabin again , and saw the captain and Dunn there . Reason was lying down alongside the sofa , and thc cook informed mc that he was dead . I disbelieved it , but afterwards found that he was _daad . The captain looked as if he were more in possession of his senses than before I left the cabin , and he appeared calm and unmoved . The body was carried out and buried on the following morning . I read the burial service over him . I find an entry in the log on the 24 th October , signed by the captain . I made that entry by the captain ' _a desire . lie told me that Reason had died in a fit , and Dunn told me so also . 1 had a conversation with the captain
before , and he desired me to say that ho had died in a fit . I wrote the false entries because I knew thc captain would put an end to any one ' s existence who refused to obey him . He said to me " that if I disobeyed him , tl should not have long to live . " Julian Cordiavello , examined b y Mr . Clerk-Joined the ship at Liverpool for the outward and home voyage . He recollected the death of Reason some three days after the ship left Fayal on her return . He remembered his being in the cabin at about midnight , with others . When Reason came in the captain told him to sit down on the sofa ; he had then a cutlass in his hand . He said , " then you want law—I'll give you English law , " and he struck him on the forehead with thc cutlass . He then
seized Reason by the collar , and shoved him from side to side . The captain then threw the _cutlasB on the floor , and called the boy Jenning to bring the bayonet . He struckhim twice with it , and tho man died immediately . Mr . Justice Williams—Where did he strike him ? Witness—On the breast . He called Dunn , and the man was discovered to be dead . The body of Reason was thrown overboard . Barry Yelverton was next examined , and said he was an apprentice on board the Tory , and waa in her on the voyage from Hong-Kong . The night on which they expected to make Ascension , he asked Reason if he thought they would reach land before the next nurning ? His answer was , he did not know ; but if they did so , he would put a blue shirt on the
forearm , so that some man-ol-war _' _s-raen wouia come on board and learn how the men had been treated on the voyage by Cap tain Johnstone . That was al that witness heard Reason say . Witness told this to the captain after the Tory fell in with the French barque , from which they obtained provisions . About an hour after witness went on deck , and saw the captain and several other of the officers armed . The men were all aft , and thc captain was cutting at them . Among the men aft wcre Reason , Lee , and Cone , and these were the men the cap tain was cuttin g at then . They were in irons at the time at the break tf tbe poop . Thev were cut on the head , and witness saw all the three bleeding . The same night the three were hauled into the topB , but before this they had an anchor shackle placed on the neck of
The Alleged Horrible Murders On Board Th...
each . They were hauled into the tops by ropes . Shor ly after _tnis Rambe rt jumped overboard . He recollected the ship bemgoff Fayal , and the captain going on shore to the British Consul ' s . Witness went with him , but remained on shore by the boat till the captain ' s return . The captain appeared to be rather intoxicated when ho came back About two days after he recollected Reason , who was now first mate , being sent for into the cabin . At this time the captain appeared to be very intoxicated Morris was sent for a little before , and asked if he had heard of any plot against his ( the captain ' s ) life . IIe answered all that hehad heard Reason , "Cone , and Lee say was that on arriving in London they would have
law for him for what he had done to them . The captain , on Reason coming into the cabin , said he would have his law now and cut the latter several times on the head . Reason was . sent on deck after this , and again sent for about four hours after , and cut at in a singular manner . He also pitched him about with his hands . The captain also stabbed Reasonrn the left breast twice . About ten minutes after Reason died . The dead body was afterwards placed at the foot of the cabin , when the captain thrust the cutlass into it at the shoulder , saying he would serve the whole of them in the same _wax _^ JK * witness was cross-examined at _some leng _^' out nothing was elicited thatmaterwll ynfle _^ _tedhisevidenee in chief .
David Johnson called and examined—Said he was a seaman on board the Tory . He joined the ship at Hong-Hong . He remembered the death of Reason . On the evening before Reason died tho deceased came to witness ' s berth , and said that the captain had called him . He saw a cut across his forehead , and the blood was upon it . Reason was called by Julian , and went away . After that witness never saw Reason alive , but next day he saw the dead body about eight o ' clock , when he saw four of the ship ' s company carrying it along the deck . Witness saw thc body bare , and noticed several stabs . Franklin Tucker was next examinedand deposed
, as to Reason . The last time he saw him alive was on the morning of the day of his death ; he was going down into the cabin , and ho had several cute on his head . The next time he saw him was about two hours after , when he saw him brought up or deck dead . Witness afterwards examined the body , and it was much cut on the head and body , apparently with a cutlass . Wm . Dunn , the cook of the ship , was next examined—He deposed to the main features of the evidence already given . The witness corroborated the evidence of the preceding witnesses relative to the death of Reason .
James Glover , the steward , followed in the examination , and deposed as to the cutting and stabbing of Reason on the night in question . His evidence was mainly in confirmation of that of Yelverton and Julian . Henry Slack was next called , who briefly deposed to having heard Reason called into the cabin by the captain on the evening before his death . Henry Jame 3 Stephen , a boy , the son of the female passenger , Mrs . Thompson , was examined as to the captain threatening wncn m i * ayai to --am _uieui all , " and also as to tho death of Reason . He did not see Reason struck , but saw him-after his death . He had two wounds on his breast .
James Sinclair , the carpenter , was called , but counsel for the Crown declining to put any question to him , Mr . Jervis examined him at some length . Ilis evidence , which in substance was thc same as that given before tho magistrate , waste the effect—that tho men were very discontented , and had threatened among themselves to do some bodily harm to the captain , and that Reason and % man named Curteis , were going to take the ship to Amerioa . Peter Curteis was called , and denied that he had ever threatened the captain ' s life , or heard the crew say that they would take the ship to America , as had been alleged . He saw Reason go down to the cabin the night before his death , and he was one tbat helped to bring the body up next morning . On going down to fetch it , he saw the captain standing over the body , with the point of his cutlass in the body . This closed the case for the prosecution .
After some consultation , it was arranged that Mr . Jervis should address the jury in the morning , on the opening of the Court . One ot the officers of the Court was then sworn to take charge of the jury till the morning , and the Court adjourned . Friday . —The . judges took their seats shortly after ten o ' clock ' , and the prisoner was immediately placed at the bar . Mr , Jervis then rose to address tho jury . The learned counsel said the main point upon which he rested tho defence ofthe prisoner was that his mind had become in such a state , that when he killed the deceased he was not criminally responsible , and that it would be the duty of the jury to acquit him upon
that ground . He wished them to understand that he did not mean to contend tbat the prisoner was in point of fact a madman , without any lucid intervals , but tbat what had occurred on board the vessel had the effect of rendering him subject to paroxysms of madness , and that in one of those paroxysms he destroyed the deceased . The evidence for tho proseoution clearly proved the prisoner ' s conduct t « >»;• £ been most outrageous and extraordinary . He appeared to have attacked _thejerew without any provocation , cutting them most cruelly , and acting altogether in a manner totally unaccountable . He was the captain of a vessel containing a valuable cargo , said to be worth eighty thousand pounds , with an unknown crew , whom he had very good reason to
believe were in a mutinous state . He knew that there was a scarcity of provisions and water , and he might very naturally suppose that this would increatc the discontent of his crew ; and , while things were in this state , he was led to believe that the crew intended to destroy his life and seize _^ _vessel and cargo . What was the immediate effect of this ? Why , from being a kind , and mild , well-conducted man , he was at once changed to a state of _wildness , and intemperance , and apparently to be regardless of his actions . He became furious and raving . The three men whom he supposed to be concerned in the mutiny , he put in irons ; and while in that condition , according to the testimony of one of the witnesses , lit cutat them fifty times ; and afterwards , with a
| drawn cutlass in his hand , he pursued the chief mate Rambert , wounded him , and eventual drove liim into the sea ; and his whole conduct at that time , he should submit , was such as to show that he was then clearly not accountable for his actions . It might be said that alter this , which occurred in the month of September , the prisoner conducted himself perfectly quiet aud calmly for a month , and until the vessel had sailed from Fayal ; but he should contend that the blow upon the mind of the prisoner had been struck , his reason was affected , and the moment the chord was again struck , a paroxysm of madness was the consequence . If the _uriaoner really desired to gratify any vindictive
feeling , would lie hare sent for the man into his cabin , and destroyed him in the presence * of a number oi the crew ? He first sent for him at seven o ' clock , and then , without any provocation , he attacked him aud cut him in a most brutal manner . At twelve e _' clock the same night ho again sent for him , and immediately , and without a word being said , again attacked him , and while several persons were standing by , stabbed him to death . Wore not these the acts of a madman—ol a person bereft of reason and judgment ? He did not mean to deny that afterwards his mind recovered , and that at the present time he might be perfectly sane , but the exoitiug cause had passed away , and this was the manner in which that would be accounted for .
Mr . Justice WiUiams having summed up the evidence , the jury retired at one o ' clock , aud at twentyfive minutes after two they returned into court . Mr . Straight , the deputy clerk of arraigns , then inquired whether they had agreed upon their verdiot ? The foreman replied ; We find the prisoner guilty , but that he was not at the time in a sound state of
mind . Mr . Justico Williams : Am I to understand that you think he was not in a sano state of mind when he committed the act ? If so , that would be a verdict of not guilty , on the ground of insanity . Is that what you mean to say , gentlemen ? Thejury returned no answer , and did not appear to understand what was said by the learned judge . Mr . Justice Williams said if they had not apreed upon what verdict they Bhould declare , they had better retire . The jury wished to know what would bo the
effect of finding such a verdict as that mentioned by thc Court . Mr . Justice Williams said thejury had nothing to do with tho consequences of any verdict they might deliver . Thejury then again deliberated for a short time , when , Mr , Justico Williams said they had bettor retire and discuss the matter . Accordingly , thejury again left the court . They were absent about half an hour , when they again returned , and gave a verdict of Not Guilty , on the ground that the prisoner was in a state of insanity atthe time he committed the offence .
The prisoner was then removed , the usual order being given that ho should be kept in safo custody until her Majesty ' s pleasure should bo made known _reipeotinghim _.
<• - ' ' '& Dreadful Shi#Reck-Loss Of Th...
<• - ' ' ' & DREADFUL SHI _# RECK-LOSS OF THE CATAllAQUE _^ MIGRANT SHIP - FOUR HUNDRED mD FOURTEEN LIVES LOST .
The following particulars of the loss of the above vessel are taken from- the Fort Philip and Hebart town papers , received at Lloyd ' s : — 5 " It is our melancholy duty to lay before the pub- > lie the particulars of the most awful shipwreck winch has ever occurred in these colonies—the total . i ' wreck of the emigrant ship Cataraque upon tlio ironbound coast ot King ' s Island . . '' The following particulars are from Mr . Guthrie , the chief male , who , with his eight _fellow-survivors , ' reached the shore almost in a state of nudity , having : \ lost overything they possessed . ¦ _^
"The Cataraque , Captain 0 . W . Finlay , sailed ; - from Liverpool on the 20 th April , with 369 emigrants , ' and a crew , including two doctors , M . 0 . Carpenter , and Edward Carpenter ( brothers ) , of forty-six souls . _,. < The emigrants were principally from Bedfordshire , . _^ l Staffordshire , Yorkshire , and _^ _% _thamptoIlshire _. _•? _v _' _•? _N About 120 of the passengers were married , with _^ families , and in all seventy-three children . Onthe * _^ 3 rd of August , at seven in the evening , the ship wa 9 hove to and continued lying to until three , a . m ., of
¦ ith . At half-past four , it being quite dark and raining hard , blowing a fearful gale , and the sea running mountains high , the ship struck on a reef , situate on the west coast of King ' s Island , entrance of Bass ' s Straits . No opportunity had offered for taking an observation to enable the captain to ascertain the ship ' s course for four days prior to the ship striking , and from the dead reckoning kept it was presumed that the vessel was in HI degs . 22 min . East longitude , arid 32 deg . 17 min . South , which would make
her about 66 or 70 miles from King ' s Island . Immediately thc ship ship struck she was sounded , and four feet water was in the hold . Tho scene of confusion and misery that ensued at this awful period it is impossible to describe . All the passengers attempted to rush npon deck , and _manji Buccdft _^ _jjgh _^ doing bo , until the ladders were knocked ____ mfi * * * workings of tha vessel , when thc _shnSaJwom men , women , and children from below were terrific , calling on the watch on deck to assist them . Tne crew te a man wcre on deck thc moment the ship struck , and were instantly employed in handing up the passengers . Up to the time the vessel began breaking up , it is supposed that between 300 and 400 were got on deck by the extraordinary exertions of
the crew . At this time the sea was breaking over the ship on the _larboard side , sweeping thc decks , every sea taking away more or less ot the passengers . About five a . m . the ship careened right over on her larboard side , washing away boats , bulwarks , spars , and a part of the cuddy , and literally swept the decks . At this critical period the captain gave orders to cut away the masts , hoping the vessel would right to enable the crew to get on deck the passengers left below . Everything that could , under the circumstances , was done to get the vessel upright , but all to » o purpose . The passengers below were now all drowned , the ship being full of water , and the captain gave _thoso on deck directions to cling to that part of the wreck then above water
until daylight , hoping that the spar would be of some service in making a breakwater under her , and thus enable the survivors to get onshore in the morning . When day broke wc found the stern of the vessel washed in , and numerous dead bodies floating around the ship , some hanging upon the racks . Several of tho passengers and crew ( about 200 altogether ) were still holding on to the vessel . The soa was breaking over , and every wave washing some of them away . About four in tho afternoon the vessel parted amidships , at thc fore part of the main rigging , when immediately some 70 or 1 * 0 were launched into tlie tumultuous and remorseless waves . The survivors ran ridge lines along the side of the wreck to enable them to hnld tyn . Tlio ,. _» , * . _( . .-. j *
urn upper Welt nwnegan to orean * up , anu wasn away . A buoy was now made , and floated towards the shore ; but it could not bo got nearer than twenty yards , owing to its getting entangled with thc sea-weeds on the rocks , and there was no one on shore to catch it , and secure it on the sand . The fury ofthe waves continued unabated , and about five tho wreck parted by the fore-rigging , and so many souls were emerged in the water , that Wily 70 were left crowded on the forecastle , who wcre then lashed to the wreck . The sea continued breaking over them , the wind raging and the rain heavy all night , and thus the poor creatures continued . Numbers of them died and fell overboard , or sunk and were drowned at the place where they wcre lashed .
" When day broke the following morning , it was discovered that only about thirty were left alive . The sea was now making a clean breach into the forecastle , the deck of which was rapidly breaking up . About this time , while numbers were helplessly clinging to the bows , and continued dropping off without tne possibility of recovery , tho captain tried to reach the shore , but was unable to accomplish so arduous a task , and with some assistance he regained the wreck . The lashings of the survivors were now undone in order to give them the last chance of life . Mr . Thomas Guthrie , the chief mate , now on thc _spritsail yard , was washed out to the bowsorit . He saw the captain and second mate and
steward clinging at the bows , with about eighteen or twenty dead bodies on the fragment of the wreck . Mr . Guthrie was now driven to a detached part of the wreck , but soon found it impossible to live with such a sea breaking over , and , seizing a piece of plank under his arm , leaped into the water , and was carried over the reef , and got on shore . He found a passenger , who had got on shore during the night ; and ono of the crew , John Robinson , plunged into the water when ho saw the mate on shore , and , partly swimming and partly driven , reached land ; five other seamen followed , and landed dreadfully exhausted . Almost immediately after the vessel totallydisappeared . Thus , out of 423 souls _. on board , only nine wero saved . "
The names of those saved are Mr , Thomas Guthrie , chief mate ; Solomon Brown , emigrant , John Roberts , William Jones , Francis Milan , John Simpson , John Robertson , and Peter Johnson , able seamen ; and William Blackstock , apprentice . The following is a list of the passengers furnished by Dr . Patterson , the emigration agent , with the exception of eight or nine , whose names it was impossible to make out correctly , the paper from which they were taken being in a mutilated state : — "Thomas and Ann Allen , and four children ; William and Ann Allen , and two children ; 11 . Appleby , single woman ; Ann and Harriet Arnold , single wo-I man ; James Burke , W . and Mary Bennett , and four I children ; James Baxter , S . Baxter , Samuel and i _Eliia Bennett ; Page and Charlotte Bennett ;
William and Hannah Bishop , and two children ; Joshua Black , single ; Patrick and Catherine Black , and five children ; Mary Ann Booth , single ; John and Mary Brady , S . and H . Brown , and four children ; Patrick Brothers , single ; Edward and Elizabeth Burke , and three children ; Becher and Elizabeth Bmhby , and six children ; Samuel Bushby , single ; Margaret Campbell , single ; Benjamin and Sarah Couter , and four children ; Robert and Mary Chuck , and one child ; Susan Chuck , single ; Jonathan and Anne Julia Clarke , and one child ; Thomas Collins , single ; William Coudell , single ; James Cook and Anne Cook , and three children ; William and Anne Cook , and six children ; Joseph and Martha Cottcrell , and two children ; John and Rebecca Copoland , and five
childrea ; John Crcmford _, -single ; George and Ruth . Daisley ; Gilbert and Anno Daisley , and two children ; Thomas and James Dawson ; Mary Duffy , single _; Bridget Duffy , single ; Mary Pitzpatrick , single ; George and Anne Findling _, and one child ; Stephen and Hannah Floyd , and two children ; Geo . and Mary Foils , and six children ; Emanuel aud Mary Anno Franklin , and two children ; Edward and Anne Gardner , and seven children ; John Gilmore , single man ; Elizabeth Gilmore , single woman ; Thomas Grey , single ; William Green , single ; Isabella Anne Houghton , single ; Ellon Houghton ; William and Anne Ilay ; Joseph and Anno Hoybert ,. and three children ; Robert and Emma Howe , and two children : Joseph and Mary Hodgkins _, and five
children ; Jane Hopkins , single , and Thomas Hopkins , single ; George and Elizabeth Watts ; Margaret Williams , single ; Thomas Wheian , single * , Thomas and Ann White and child ; John and Eliza J . White ; John and Jane Woods , and soven children ; Mary Wood , single ; W . Woods , single ; W . andM . A . Woods ; J . and Elizabeth Hignell , and two children ; R . and Agnes Woods , and seven children * , Elizabeth Woods , single ; Ann Irwin , Binglo ; William and Sarah Izard , and four children ; Patrick Jones , single ; Mary King , singlo ; M . A . Loveridgc , single ; John Loveridgc , single ; Patrick and Catherine _Maginn , and seven children ; Bridget and Michael _Magina , both . single ; Anthony and Edith Mery , and nine _children ; John Miller , single ;
Benjamin and Mary M Caffry , and seven children ; Mary and Susan Caffry , both single ; Mary and John M'Quillen , both single , - William , Ann , and Bernard M'Donald , all single ; Jacob aad Eliza Newell , and one child ; James Oliver , single ; John and Ann Paterson , and five children ; Amos and Fanny Pearce , and seven children ; Thomas and Elizabeth Pettingall , aud one child ; Miles Quin , single ; Patrick . Roilly _. _lsingle _' _, ; ' W . and Mary Rowbottom , and two children ; William and Fanny ; Rutter , and two children ; John and Hannah Ryman and three children ; James and Hannah Rollins , and six
children ; Ephraim and Sarah Safford , and four children ; John and Sarah Savings , and threo children ; Charles and Rebecca Knott , and seven children ; Jaro . es and Martha Sharby , and two children ; Elisabeth Sheridan , singlo ; W . and Deborah Simmons , and seven children ; Catherine , Mary , and Hose Smith , all single ; Thomas and Susan Smith , and one child ; Catherine and Dennis Sullivan , both single ; Josiah Smith , singlo ; 11 . and Mary Tegart , and seven children ; Margaret Tegart , single ; William and Sarah Todhill , and four children ; William and MaryiWaldock , and four children _; Emily Walton , single ; Charles and Mary Ward . " Most of the ship ' s papers and the mail { except thirty-five letters ) wore lost .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 7, 1846, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns4_07021846/page/1/
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