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Northern Star (1837-1852), 22nd January 1842, Edition 2 of 4, Page 3, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      THE GOODNESS OF NATURE WITHHELD FROM THE POOR . O earth , the basis of out noble form , Foster'd with thy firuiti -where ' er we roam , If -we frsm pole to pole thy wonders traoe , We find thee labouring to support our race ; Thou sprsadst tfcy carpet green beneath our feet , And smiling shows us all thy meadows sweet , Bids us perambulate thy loTely scene , Thy shady bowTs , and thy forests green , Thy flowery paths , thy rugged mountains high , Thy furrow -d fields , which all our wants supply ; Ah ; do those furroWd fields supply the poor , Whose hungry cries for charity implore ? Do they receive the share of nature ' s spoU ?

      Do they receive the first fruits of the sod ? If o , sordid wretches gr * p tteir nghtful parta , Destroy their blessings and their happy hearts ; Thev roread their direful dteds the earth around , Infecting all-aad lesve a deadly wound ; The -x * ind ia want , the poor cannot withstand , Thev hesdlonf fall—death grasps them in its hand . O & ^ d . ' 0 God reverse this shocking state , AnTburl the -wicked to their gloomy fate , And raise the poor , uphold them with thine hand , S-rum to them their honest rightful land ; j > t t-qnal laws their motto ever be , The tyrants bind—and set the people free . J . R . Leeds .

      Untitled Article

      TEETOTALISM . List to me Cb&itiBts ain an a , K ^ ep fr * e bad hibbsts , mak a law , Jsaemair drinking , mane ava , It is the devil , For aft behind there is a craw , Their lies the eveL That iH brewed drink ye ten faweel , Ddcs o ^ er owr sober senses Bteel , Ciald , stem poverty it mats us feel , Wi a her force , Despised , neglected , forced to reel , Fra bad to warse . YThen drunkards hae the stoup at hand Wi xnedde ot at their command , Tna'd strike althow they coudnie stand ,

      When temper fail them , I had pick a pie * * i * e » or land , Thow nane did gale them Gae -Dictnre ain tha ' s deed wi drinX , What is his fate , just calmly think , . Anlti clntty laughs , and geiea a wink , An nichers fain , When ance he has them on the brink , Then a ' s his ain . S&e keep aw&" ye black deceiver , Ye gie to ub bat little pleasure , Those that prise the hae treasure , Deith at the last , The last resource , thejrope or razor , To calm the past .

      Yes , drinking brings us a' to rum , The sinecures ar paid off brewin , The suffrage dowd by dearly looin , That deadly pot , Erect be too bate up an be do'in , An mend thy let Away wi drinking , I intend it , Griff putting in the pin -will-mend it , Happy will I be , God send it , To bide me their , For since sae monnie ills attend it , I'll Tia . iT drink mair

      Sae now 111 bide ye a adieu , A my gude wishes gang wi yeu , When ye * v 3 made up your minds be true , Sae yell bt blist , Yeald nas for Whig or Tory crew , Bnt stand the tesS . B- Stewabt Edinburgh , Nov . 18 41 .

      Wl&Tzl An5 33f*Tttral Xtiftuttoitt*. \

      WL&tzl an 5 33 f * tttral Xtiftuttoitt * . \

      Untitled Article

      KIB . SHZia . TO 77 ' . —The Poos Law . —A meeting of the ratepayers of the parish of Kirkheaton , comprising the following townships—Kirkheaton , Lepton , I ) aHon , and Whitley—called by the churchwardens , overseers of the poor , and guardians of tie above-named townships , for the purpose of petitioning against the New Poor Law , was h ^ -W on Friday , the 15-. n of Jan-uary , in the parish of Kirkheatonj one of ths churchwardens in the chair , at -which the following resolutions were passed unanimously : — ** 1 . Teas , it is the just and inalienable jight of the Tatepayers of England to appoint the distribution oi the money arising from their pariah rates , wb . etb . ei ibr the u ? e of the poor or otherwise , 2 . That the New Poor Law Amendment Act has taken away that right , and placed the expenditure of the rates in the hands of persons non-resident , who consequently cannot be proper judges of the real

      secessties of jhe poor , and who have also mach increased the expenditure of the rates by the many salaries paid to clerks , Telieving-oScers , andkors , & . c , which offices were formerly performed by the rctepayws themselves . 3 . That thJ 3 meeting is of opinion that persons living * t a distance cannot be proper judges of the wants and requirements of the poor in their several localities ; therefore , we deein the three commissioners of Somerset House an unnecessary incubas , and their salaries and expence 3 a wanton waste of the taxes of tie country , 4 . That tlie whole syfitem of union of parishes is bad in itself , both fox the guardians sad poor , the former hsring to leave their homes at a great distance and expence , and the latter often fail in the very attempt to obtain relief , having to tell their tale of woe to Birangers , who cannot possibly be acquainted with their case . 5 . That the Poor Law Amendment

      Act is unjust and oppressive in its nature , and contrary to the true spirit of Christianity and the eon-Kitiition of our country , and therefore ought immediately to be repealed , and the 4 Sd of Elizabeth bs returned to . 6 . That a petition be Eent to Parliament , requiring the immediate repeal of the ^ se-s ? Poor Law . Amendment Act , and embodying the ¦ above resolutions . 7 . That the petition be sent to the "Wtst Riding representatives , to be presented to Parliament by them , and requesting their support to iae prayer thereof . " The above townships . form a oeasderable part of the Huddersfield Union ; the

      Btetmg was attended by the churchwardens , overseers of the poor , the poor law guardians , and the printiDal ratepayers of the parish ; the greatest nnanindty of senvlmeni and ef feeling prevailed , and Jnifij of the principal ratepayers who had formerly thought the New Poor Law might do some good , expressed their conviction of the utter impracticability of its working in those districts . It is expected the whole of the parishes forming the Hudflersfield Union will follow the example so nobly set DJ the inhabitants of Kirkheaton , &c .

      Untitled Article

      A STE 05 G Sso-w-stoxm and wind drove no less than fourteen vessels ashore , on Thursday , upon the Sonderland coast . Tha damaae they sustain > d jf great , and two of the crews were saved by the cfe-boat . Yxskee Eloquesce . —Tie following is the close ° ? * speech by Mr . Lawrence , of the Indiana LegisttJnre : — v # I am instructed , Air . Speaker , by the People who elected me—the bone and sinew of the tountry—to voie to compel the banks to come up to the chalk ; ves , Sir . ' to march np to the rack , fodder

      er no fodder . ' Now is the time—aye , even the accepted tiaae . Let not & moment be lost in putting * hains upon the mousler . Let ns now , while we *» Te a democratic Hour-e , pnt our feet npon her Deck , and teach her that the people are able to regu-« e the bank , and not the bank the people . To p 3 y osots is honest , and to enforce their collection is just and right . It is democratic doctrine ; and 1 consider no man a democrat who is not willing to Wmpel the banks 'tostand up tothe chalk , or to walk on * of the ring '"

      Kesdal , Ja * j . \ i . —A public meeting w& 3 held in * he Town-hall , Kendal , on Wednesday last , for the Purpose of taking into consideration the best means of relieving ifce distress now prevailing in that wwn . The meeting vraa attended by the principal ^ inafaciurers and gentry of the town . Mr . Waktfield , ° f . & * igwick-hcuBe , in the chair . It was agreed to *** ae a public subscription and to distribute the funds Jf « aJ and eoup to those who are unable to proenre " ^ accessaries of life . A committee wa = pappointed ** " * collectors chosen to go rouad the town , and a uoscription was likewise entered into "in the room , ^* hea upwards of £ 400 wa 3 raised . The subserip-^ on already amounts to upwards of £ 600 . Ht two Atots , —On a certain morning , about * a period of these events , a donble knock at the liter ' s street-door announced the arrival of the general post . The letter bore the Leek mark , and F ^ SfcJoint communication from Miss Martha and

      « uss fi&nnah Hnssey , to their nephew Algernon , fnese ladies were , of a truth , the strangest -women ^ the whole county of Siafford . Tall , upright , * ad thin , they -were by no means less remarkable * ° r * rococo style of costume , to -which they h * d ever shown a positive pr . eier . ence . Their manners were one , their thoughts in common , and their ao-*« atB vibrated by the same chord , or a kind of c * ta-Phonic sound , the one attuned to the other ; for ? l * ttha , the elder by half an hour , invariably leadnjS oS in every eenwnce , was reverberated bj Htonah widi the fidelity of Echo herself . Their hate became dingy in the same month , their eomsiodes were bought und abandoned on the same <**! s , while their very laces failed in corresponding Jtiches . Th * y were ever in difficulties bj ever doing ' all for the best f and nothiDg is tbeir opinion Was done perfectly unless it was thrown into a world of perplexitj by what they termed " an error on the £ ght side . " —** Save me from my Friends , " in Bent-* yt Miseellanjffor January ,

      Untitled Article

      A Law-suit how pending in Tenessee , between two families , aas run for such a length of time , that it takes six men of the strongest memories in the State to remember when it was began .

      EPITAPH 03 A POOB-LAW C 0 MHISSI 0 NEE , Beneath this stone a man doth lie , Who strove the flesh to mortify ; Wasting away to skin and bone The flesh of otliers—not his oicn . Ome « a . The Jews m Peussia . —The Augsburg Gazette d the / tn inst ., states that a modification of the present laws respecting the Israelites in Prussia is much spoken of . It is said , that not only will they be permuted to enjoy the worship of their religion to the fullest extent , bnt that they will ba restored to the possession of several civil rights of which they were heretofore deprived .

      Another Offbkce !—No less than one hundred , and sixty eight gentlemen have given the usual notices of their intention to apply to be admitted axtrrniesof the Court of Queen ' s Bench during the present ( Hilary ) Term . There are also thirteen notices for re-admission to practice . — [ Mobe Locusts to eat up honest tradesmen . } M What is the matter , uncle Jerry , " said Mr . , as old Jeremiah R wa 3 passing by , growling most ferociously . " Matter , " said the old man , stopping short , " why , here I ' ve been lugging water all the morning for Dr . C ' s wife to wash with , and what d ' ye s ' pose I got for it ?"— " Why , I suppose about mnepence , " answered Mr . —— . " Ninepence ! she told me the Doctor would pull a tooth for me sometime V

      Amebican Cocktship . —If a girl has a lover down at Ann Arbour , of course she marries him to soon as her friends consent ; if they object , then she goes to bed , and remains there until they gire their consent , which jgenerally ocurs in less than a fortnight . It is found by that time to be less expensive , and more agreeable , to call in the lover than ibe doctor . The late Accident upon the Gbeat Westesn Railway . —The avarm created in the minda of the public , consequent upon the lato dreadful accident ia the Sonning catting , was manifested in the decreased number of passengers who travelled by that railway dur ng the week succeeding the fatal

      catastrophe ( compared with the former ) , which , it will be rem ^ mbjred , occurred the day before Clmstmasday . During the week ending Sunday , December 26 vh , thenutnoer of passengers was 25 , 294 , and tho ainonnt received for their fare 3 wa 3 £ 8 , 672 ] 9 s . Thisweek-, itshouldbeobserved , includeotheremainder of the Friday ( the day of the accident ) , and the subsequent Saturday and Sunday . The reiurns for the week ending Sunday , the 2 d of January , give 22 , 908 passengers , and their fares at £ 6 . 389 17 s . 8 J ., making a decrease in the number of passeugera oi 3 . 386 , and in tne amount received by the company of £ 2 . 283 Is . -id .

      Important Decision . —In the Court of Queen ' s Bench , Ireland , a judgment has b ° en pronounced ¦ w hich cannot fail to astonish and afflict hundreds of highly respectable families in the northern districts of that kingdom . A Mr . Smith was convicted at the last assizes at Armagh of bigamy . His counsel , Mr . Whiteside , objected that his first marriage wa 3 not valid , having been c-lebratcd by a Presbyterian clergyman between an Episcopalian Protestant and a Presbyterian . Judge Cnimpton , before whom the case was tried , reserved the point for the decision of the Irish Judges , who , oa Tuesday last , pronnunced their judgment , in presence of a very crowded court . There were ten Judges on the bench , eight of

      whom decided that a marriage celebrated between an Episcopalian Protestant and a Presbyterian , by a Presbyterian clergyman , was not valid , and therefore ihat Smith must be discharged out of custody . ' As * . bis judgment will operate retrospectively as well as protectively , in a country where some thousands of families have been so married , and where the fruits of such marriages are exceedingly numerous , it . is impossible to estimate tha amount of suffering which it may occasion . It-opens a door to the widest and most heartless profligacy , as it leaves it at the option of any person so married to desert bis family and the partner of his bed under the . hypocritical pretext of flying from a state of fornication .

      A Female v iliage . —The village of Madana ( says the Augslur ^ h Guzcite ) , -which is about fourteen German miles ( sixty English ) from Hutschak , m Wallachia , offers a- the present moment a curious | ethnographical singularity , having been inhabited ! by women only for the 1 ast thirty years . At one ' period , this feminine population amounted to 2 , 000 . i The ladies did not live as warriors , like the Amazjns l of old , but they avoided all contact with men , and j drove away from their territories all who approached i -with mv . rinionial intentions . This anti-social set-¦ tlercen ; is now supposed to be on the decline ; at j least no more recruits are made from the disap'• poiuted or the'love-crossed , and the members of the

      population" are rapidly decreasing . Tkese women j are nearly all Mahometans . I The Last Fall of a D rv . vkard . —On Friday j evening . - Mr . Payne held an inquest , at Guy's Hosj pital , on the body of Maria Hay ward , aged 52 . , George Hayward , husband of deceased , said that labour nine o ' clock on Thnrsday evening last , he ! came home , and being the worse for liquor , he lay 1 down on his bed . His wife , with her bonnet and shawl on , was " sitting singing on a chair before the fire . She was intoxicated , and had beeu so ever since " boxiDg-day . " He fell asleep and awoke at

      ekven , and hi 3 wife was sitting on the chair singing . He asked her to come to b ? d , and she replied , "No , I shan't . ' He again fell asleep , and did not awake until four o ' clock next morning . He called deceased , not finding her in bed , and receiving no answer , he go ; up , and found her with her Ieg 3 doubled under her , and her head , face downwards , under the grate . She was dead . She was addicted to gin drinking , and having had her haad fractured whilst a girl , a little liqaor had a great tffVct npon her , and would make her fall head foremost . Verdict , " Natural death . "

      Richard Oastler , —A subscription is getting up , under the best auspices , for Richard Oastler—now locked up in the Fleet . We wish it every success and shall aid it in every manner in cur power . But this we beg leave to say , that vre object 10 a single farthing , if it ba dropped inio the . plethoric pocket oi the plethoric Mr . Thomas Thornhiil . It would be too much of a good thing tha ; this overgrown personage should have his purse replenished bj the

      subscriptions of men , -who are , in every point of view , less opalepj than himself , It is useless to = ay that he would not accept it . Mr . Thomas Thornhiil like all other gentlemen as knowing as his swilling paunchery upon the turf , would take 3 haifpenny for any consideration -whatever , which would not lead him into mischief . The subscription for ilr . Oasiler mast-not be allowed to degenerate into a subscription for Mr . Thornhiil , however voraciously he may gape for it . —The Age .

      Fatal Accieent caused by Workhouse Separation . —On Tuesday m « rning a child of colour between two and three years of ago , named John Joaes , was brought into the London Hospital , ¦ with his thigh fractured ia A shocking manner , lie accident occurred nnder the following affecting circumstances .: —it appeared that the little sufferer and his mother were ii . inates in S :. Georg- ' s workhouse , Old Gravel-lane , Ratchff-highway , and in acccordance with tho usual rules they were domiciled in different parts of the building , but t ! : e child happening to catch -Sight of its pareut , overjoyea , ran towards her , and in doing so fell with such violence as to cause the above accident .

      A Backer ' s Beqcsst . —A dymg banker thus addressed his , eldest sou : — " You may suppose you are going to inherit a large fortune , but you are mistaken . I have no property , and the baui is iasolvent to tue amount of £ 200 , 000 . On the deavh of my father , who died of a broken heart , I found the bank was- hardly solvent . I at first resolrtd to close the concern , and pay off the creditors , but I afterwards determined otherwise . I proved my father ' s will for a quarter of a miliion , and set np a

      large establishment . This gave me the reputation of wealth , and increased the business of the bank . 1 have lived in splendour , as you know , for m 3 ny years . All your brothers are handsomely provider 1 ' or , and to you , as my eldest son , I now leave the ba . r > k . ^ 1 have appointed jou sole executor to i&y will . You have ouly to prove my property for any amount you may think proper to naise ; and if you manage your affairs prudently ; the bank m 3 y last out jour timo as it has done mine .

      Alexander the Great . — "Alexander had a nobleman in his court , who Etood so high in the favour of his nobles and people , that the King grew jealous and fearful of his popularity , studyiughow he might decline it , and bring him to contempt , bnt could find no colour or api occasion , because he was so stroDgly _ fixed in the people ' s liking , and was a man of so great a desert , that no crime could be charged upon him . The King , unbosoming himself to the counsel and care of a friend , one Medms ( the ' finality' man of his day ) , had this advice given him : —' Sir , ' quoth he , ' let not this man ' s greatnes 3 trouble son . Cause him to be accused of some hekious crime , though falsely , and we will find some means to make him ouiitv , so firmly and formally ,

      that the brand of it snail stick upon him lor ever . ' ' , —Life and Reign of Richard the Third , by G . Buck Esq . Who can read the ab&ve atrocious plot without tbinkin > j of our brave , noble , and illegally-expatriated Frost \ Take the following as companion to the above , tuad let the _ " Restorative Frost Committee" especially , mark it well ; it may be of service to them : — ** it is currently reported that Lord John Russell , a Bhort time previous to his qnitting the Home-office , upon the mention of Frost by a certain nobleman , said , urlanguage remarkable for the measured tone in which it was uttered— That man Frost possesses a peculiar talent for mischief ; he iB altogether a dangerous character , yet ( after a pause ) am not without bopee of being shortly able to ttop hit career I '

      Untitled Article

      A Suicide Maniac—There is at present attached to the establishment of a gentleman residing in Kent , a man who has a singular penchant for ending his own existence . Ho has made five attempts to deprive himself of life within the last three years , all of which , however , have , through some providential interfereBce , been rendered futile . Ho is possessed with the idea that he ia M doomed" to destroy himself , which idea took possession of his mind at the commencement of the time above specified , when he made an attempt to hang himself in one of the outhouses , but was discovered and cut down by a fellow-servant ere life became extir < -- . Seven months afterwards he attempted to dto , . himself in the horse-pond , but in this instance his life was rescued

      g' a Newfoundland dog belonging to his master , is " mania" then remained nHgatory for twelve months , at the expiration of which period be swallowed a qnantity of some deleterious drug , the nature of which was never ascertained . This attempt nearly cost him his life , and he was only recovered by the most strenuous exertions . The fourth attempt occurred duriDg last summer , whilst in attendance on his master near tne sea-Bide . He was missed from his usual post , and some time afterwards his body was washed on shere by the tide . It was at first conjectured that he had accidentally fallen from the cliffs , bnt on his recovery he acknowledged that he had thrown himself into the sea . He is at the present time recovering from the effects of his fifth attempt . One day . last week he wa 3 sent to the neighbouring town with the letter-bag , but not hav

      ing returned long " after the time he was expected , a servant was despatched to ascertain the cause of his protracted absence . The servant shortly returned , and stated that the ill-fated man had attempted to poison himself , and was then lying in the town to -which he had been sent , in a most deplorable state . He had purchased a dose of laudanum at a chemist ' s , entered a public-house , and calling for a glass of brandy and water , had emptied the contents of the phial into the beverage , and drank it . However , his usual good fortune did not forsake him ; the chemist of whom he purchased the drug was sent for to attend him , and by a timely application of the stomach-pump the unfortunate suicide-maniac was eventually restored to consciousness , but it will be some time before he will recover from the effects of his last deleterious potion .

      Juvenile Smokers—Boys were formerly accustomed to shave , for an " early crop on lip and chin , " that they might rank with men ; but now-a-days they endeavour to attain the stamp and rank of virility by sporting a pipe or a cigar . The raspberry puff is abandoned for the " puff direct , " supplied in the shape of a penny Cuba , and every little Jack Homer becomes a—smoke-jack ! Delightful , deluding , and attractive weed of a thousand virtues the dinnerless operative , or rather inoperative , being idle , lulls the sharp gnawings of hunger by a cozy whiff ; the gourmand takes it as a peristaltic persuader , aad finds it as efficient as Abernethy ' s ; the

      fat man takea it as a corrective of corpulency ; the thin and sanguine one as a soother ; the happy man as a recreation , ' the miserable as a solace ; the medical student as a disinfecter , and generally in large doses , for he , poor fellow ! is so much exposed ; while the ladies and gentlemen of that celebrated piscatorial bazaar in the East , called Billingsgate , take it medicinally , to keep off the damps and fogs of early dawn , arising from its proximity to the river . In fine , every one makes a plausible excuse for his indulgence in the pleasure he delights in . Indeed , fashion appears , like an old boatswain , to " pipe all hands . "— " The Philosophy of Smoking , " in Benthy ' s Miscellany for January .

      Good Appetite . — " The tonic properties contained in Parr ' s Life Pills invariably restores the stomach to a healthy longing for food , or , in other words , it produces a good appetite , so much envied , but bo seldom enjoyed in the invalid ; the gently stimulating powers it possesses assists the Btomach to properly digest the food it receives ; the balsamic powers it bestows on the system , produces that delightful feelvng of good spirits , so Viry desirable , and disposes both mind and body to healthy exercise ; everything under its influence soon wears a joyous aspeot , and the varied duties of life are performed with pleasure . Is in addition contains a fine sedative quality , and instead of long and weary nights , gives sound and refreshing Bleep . If the stomach and bowels require it , it acts as the mildest and most agreeable pu'gative , and by its cleansing powers totally eradicates a redundancy of bile , and completely removes all obstructions of the intastinal canal . "

      Serious Accident through Snowballs . —Thursday afternoon , between four and five o ' clock , as gome boys were amusing themselves in Salisburysquare , Fleet-street , by throwing snowballs , a lad named Cooper , aged ten years , received one of them in-his eye . The ball having been thrown with considerable violence , literally crushed tho poor boy's eye in its socket , and inflicted a severe wound above the lid , whence the blood flowed profusely . On being conveyed to the house of a medical gentleman iu the vicinity , the wounds were dressed , but there is scarcely a hope entertained that the lad will ever recover the use of his eye . There is little doubt but that , in the hasty construction of the snowball , a sharp stone had been inadvertently introduced , and was thus the cause of the accident .

      Remarkable Sagacity of a Dog—Oa Monday morning ,-as the Usk ( Newport ) steamer , Captain Parfitt , was proceeding through the lock at Cumberland basin , on her voyaga to Newport , a man named Hobbs attempted to get on board . The Captain informed him that if he would go to the corner of the pier he would take him in , » ut if he attempted to jump on the paddle-box he would ctrtainly be drowned . The man , however , persisted in'endeavouring to jump on tho box , and was precipitated into the lock . The paddles were instautly stopped , and almost before the plunge of the man in the water

      was heard , Captain Parfiu ' s dog ( a fine animal of the Labrador breed ) sprang overboard , and diving in search of the drowning man brought him up by the shoulder , and conveyed iiim to one of tne lock gates , where he could bold on in security . As soon as he saw he could leave the man in safety the don swam after , and returned with his hat in his moutfi , and placing his fore-paws on one of the cross timbers of tbe gate , patiently awaited alongside the man until a boat was brought , which conveyed the rash adventnr * ,. ind bis canine deliverer safely to the shore . — Bath Chronicle .

      Pride and Charity . —We are all called upon to make sacrifices . If we only give away that which we have no use for , there -would net ouly be no merit —no exercise of generous benevolence—in giving , but it could seldom happen that we should give it at all , Thus , I fear , the poor are , for the most part , much more charitable than the rich ; for if the working man be called upon to subscribe , on the average , one shilling per week towards the less fortunate of his class , he gives away ( after deducting the heavy amount of indirect taxation to which he i 3 subjected , together with the serious loss he sustains by ibe necessity of making gmalj purchases , ) » t least one-tenth of his whole yearly income . BesideB , be gives away that which must very materially trench upon his means of subsistence , while the rich are only called upon to be less costly in their choice of luxuries . —Parley's Penny Library .

      Two starved Farm Labourers , who came from AsMord , Kent , were brought before Mr . Rawlinson , at Marylebose , chaTged with stealing a quartern loaf . On entering a baker's shop one of them asked for a " big one , " broke i /' iu two , handed one-half to his hungry comrade , and both commenced eating it with great avidity . They had n o money , could get no work , and took the bread to save themselves uoui starvation . Dreadful Fire akd Loss op Life at Dublin . —On Thursday morning week , about a quarter to four o ' clock , Constable 91 A , the policeman on duty in Bride ' s-alley , discovered a fire in the house of Mr . Boyd , cabinet maker and upholsterer , No . 8 , in the above alley . The iira ( tho origin of which has not beeu ascertained ) , first broke out in the lower part of the house , and , at the time the policeman

      gave the alarm , bad penetrated to almost every part of the premises . At the time the fire broke out there were eleven persons sleeping in the house , and nine of them , after great exertion , were saved ; but , melancholy to relate , two women , named Rebecca Spell , aged about sixty years , and Julia Grace , aged oineleea , fell victims to the devouring element . These two ill-fated females , it appeared , slept in the top back room , and were not missed until about eight o ' clock in the morning , when their bodies were discovered amongst the ruins of the building ; they were frightfully bnrned , and it was with difficulty they were recognised . By eight o ' clock the fire was eutirely subdued . The property consumed was not of much value , but every particle of furniture , &c , was destroyed , and the house is now a complete wreck . —Dublin Morning Register .

      Father Mathew . —A Miracle—The following extraordinary statement is from the Limerick Chronicle , a paper of Orange principles , and therefore not at all likely to disseminate auythiBg of this sort for an object : —** Tho Rev . Mr . Mathew arrived in this city last evening by the Cork mail , en route to Loughrea , and put up at "Moore" Hotel . Immediately after his arrival became known , hundreds of persons vi&ited him at the Hotel , where he administered the pledge . One circumstance which came within public observation we may mention here as illustrative of toe effects of breaking the temperance pledge : —A man named Moneyham , a teetotaller , who worked at the Butter Weighhouse , got drunk on Christmas-eve , and next day be

      came paralyzed , hie le ! t arm , side , aud thigh , being perfectly inanimate . He vras removed to Barrington ' s Hospital , and remained there under the care of the surgeons , without improvement , until last even * ing , when his friends , having beard of Father Mathew's arrival in town , went to the hospital , and brought him out of his bed on a man ' s " back to where the Rev . Mr . Mathew was staying » a crowd had collected round tho door , when tbe unhappy invalid was brought into his presence . ? . ad the Rev . Gentleman administered to him the plr . dge again in a kind and impressive manner , aad thV . man instantly stood up , was assisted by his friend ? , to dress , and , to the astonishment of all , walked ir p William-street to bis home , followed by a crowd o . people . " Ji , '; $ ; i

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      fendaut sy nunishment-the other , to fill his own pocket' Therei was another gentleman who had been also mpsfe anxioas about his trial , who had used every means in his power to excite prejudice against him-ithe editor of . the Anti-Socialist Gaaette ( and anti-social enqagh it was ) , who had even the audacity to address a letter to his Lordship on the subject Of the trial ; The Court—What is that 1 addressed a letter to me . '—if any letter had been brought to me oil the subject I would have thrown it on the fire . The Defendant—It is a printed letter , my Lord . The Coiurt--O 1 well , 1 have never seen it , nor was I aware that there was such a thing in existence . " - ¦ ' ' '¦ ' ¦' - ' :. ' ' ' ¦ ¦ ¦"'" .. '• ¦ - ' ¦ -. ' "'¦ . : :: ¦'¦ V-..

      The defendant was aware , if his Lordship had Been it , his sense of justice was such that he would have actsd as he had said he wosld . In that letter , he ( the defendant ) had been denounced because he had said that Robert Owen was tha man who first awakened in him the wi&h for free inquiry ^ &c . ; attacking him , the writer thought to kill two birds with one stone ; to punish him , and through him to inflict a stab on the social system , of the principles of which he was as ignorant as a sucking babe . It was true thathe ( the defendant ) had so spoken of Robert 0 vven , yrho , ; whatever were his religious opinions was decidedly one of the most benevoleat and moral , of men-rone from whom he had ever learned a reverence for truth and a hatred of falsehood . The

      defendant dwelt at , some length on Mr . Owen ' s Opinions , and then said he would now at one * proceed to comment on the remarks of the Learned Counsel who was opposed to him . He had asserted that he ( the defendant ) thought all men Who were opposed fcd ; him dishonest meiij he dented jhe repudiated such a charge , and he defied that Learned Counsel to point out a single . ' line' in any' of his writings that would justlfy him in making it , for there were many Christian writers whom he hoBoured and revered for their talents , their learning , and their sincerity ; he abhorred only the meddling hypocrites , who went about from town to town , and village to village , engendering strife ; he loved all good men of any creed or of no creed at

      all , and Who ; , if there was a work of God , were the noblest works of God . He could admire talent , ho could admire virtue , wherever he found it . He now much wished to disabuse their minds of the impression whichthe learned counsel sought to introduce , viz . that he was a vain conceited person , who thought himself a great philosopher . He . thought himself no such thing ; but he did think himself an hori ; st man , and he thought that was the happiest state of society in which the people had paid more attention to the laws than they did to the lawyers . The learned counsel had saia that his intentions were to oppress and destroy . He denied it . He had never in his life oppressed or destroyed , nor had he wittingly ever hurt a living thing . Such were not

      his objects , and in ' publishing the Oracle of Reason he only declared in favour of the riijhts of jnari and free discussion . If there were l , 0 Q 0 religions , 999 of them must be wrong , and the whole thousand might be . He only claimed the same right which the Unitarian did , which the Christian did , which the Quaker did—the right of free inquiry and oi expressing their honest convictions . It was said by Mr . Smith , that he might publish whatever he thought proper , but then the law was to pounce down upon him , so that if what he had done was morally right it might be legally wrong . He would however , contend that what was morally right ought to be legally right . The learned counsel said that he wished to reduce men to a level with the brutes .

      Nothing could be further from his intentions ; he wished to raise them from their present position , which was almost on a level with the brute , to their proper situations Tne poet had said , "What a yiece of work is man ! how noble in reason , how infinite in ' faculty' ! in form and moving how express and admirable ! in action how like an angel ! in comprehension hoyr like a God—the glory of the world , the paragon of animals . " This was what roan should be , but never yet h * d been . This was the rank to which he would raise him , and if learning , if instruction was to brutifyi then he would brutify him , but not otherwise . For , show him an ignorant people and they showed him an enslaved people . He was charged with a wish to destroy

      society , and to bring about scenes similar te those which disgraced the French revolution . Thelearned gentleman bat little understood him , or he would not have spoken of him ashe had that day—liis mind was so crippled , Cabined , and confined , that he could riot understand him ( the defendant ) . The Learned Gentleman clung to his own principles , but would not allow him to exercise his . The learned gentleman lovod Christianity—he loved philosophy . The learned gentleman thought It impossible for there to be atiy virtue without religion , he ( defendent ) thought there might be a raceof moralists as far above the present race a ? giants were above dwarfs . What 1 did the Learned Gentleman so debase the human race as to say that there was no love of virtue—no

      respect for morality—no hatred of oppression , unless by religion ? Who would not die for the wife of his bosom ? Who would not serve his friend 1 Was there no one who would do a single good act without the hope of reward , or the fear of punishment horeafter 1 He ( the defendautj knew it to be far otherwise , and if it had been necessary he could have produced for himself a character for morality and integrity , which , perhaps , would have stood aa high as any . But let them not suppose that , while thus he professed his love of nature , he would for a moment strike down law . No ! he was as tremblingly alive to- it as Was the Learned Counsel ; society would be destroyed without laws , but it was one thing to have laws and another thing to have good

      ones ; and while it Was necessary to respect the laws , and those who uprightly administered them , there was a duty that they owed to themselves , that of resisting bad oues . Supposing that Luther , Calvin , Knox , Socrates , Aristotle , and a hundred otherssupposing they had acted on the principle that laws are not to be resisted , what would have been the results 1 If Luther had not acted as he did , he ( the defendant ) would riot have been standing in a Proiestant country , and yet he was to be persecuted for holding his opinions ; and , because he held some which were inimical to the opinions held at present , he was tobesWept from the earth . For the free expression of his opinions they had no more right to hurt his little finger than they had to cast him into a dungeon , or send his body to the stake . Their cruel fathers , the Catholics , sacrificed whole hecatombs of men in Smithfield and elsewhere , in the name of religion , for the service of God , and

      because their opinions were held to be detrimental to society ; and , in more ancient times , the best of men had been sacrificed—religious men—if , to be religious , meant to act righteously and well , to love truth : and hate insincerity ; and they , the Jury , would be imitating the conduct of their cruel forefathers if they punished him for the exercise of his opinions . He contended for the entire freedom of thought and opinion . Supposing they thus persecuted him , they might force him to hold his tongue , but that would make him hug his opiuions closer to his heart , and cherish them the more they wished to rifle them from him . The way to maintain good opinions Was not by persecution or prosecution , but by JBtreducing better arguments . Mr . Soufhwell then quoted a great number of authorities , ancient arid modern , and at nine o ' clook , there being rio probability of his closing bis defence for several hours , the Court adjourned until ten o ' clock on Saturday

      morning . On Saturday , at ten o ' clock the trial was resumed , and the defendant proceeded , with his address . He contended that he had as much right to the enjoyment of hiB opinions as any other member of society , though he did not agree with any of the existing systems of religion His opinion was , that to be moral and honest was to be entirely just , and that was necessary to guide their conduct . His opinions were the same » s some of the noble Greeks and and Romans , Who not only disbelived in all the religions then taught , but bad none at all ; yet their characters were held up even in modern times as examples of what men ought to be , and they were as honest men , aud as little disposed to do mischief , as

      any one oi the jury . He then entered into a disqui sition on the characters of Thales , Epicurus , Aristotle , Zeno , and others . They were , in fact , Atheists , as he was , fox all men were Atheists whoi contended for the eternity ^ of matter . The defendant contended that a great many learned and soientifio men of modern times held the same opinions , only they thought iE prudent to withhold those opinions from the uneducated and vulgar , arid hid behind a thick veil of mystery the opinions they wera compelled to entertain ; . The learned counsel had laid to his charge an inconsistency which be should be ashamed of , in statipg that he had said the universewas an effect . What hecontended for was , the game a 3 Aristotle had held , that the universe

      is nccesarily something not produced . It was others who said ik was an effect . Wha ^ ver opinions , they might entertain of hi 3 prudeaee , they could not doubt hi » honesty and sincerity ; for he declared most solemnly tbay he had never in his life wittingly told a falsehood , nor ever in his life knowingly giTeri pain to any human being . The difference between him and the pereoas of whoa ho had been speakiag wai , that he thought expression ought to be given 46 whatever be considered truth . They liked the light for themselves , but kept the people in ! darkness he" wished the light to shise on all alike . And it wai impossible any longer to . keep knowledge boxed uj in cabinets , as it were : it would cut out a toad fo

      itself , and there was uo resisting it , and ther jfor < it was folly to be persecutiug a man for the pu ' olica tion of hi » opinions in the 19 ih century , as tb ay die in the dark ages of the 10 th centary . The clerg ) were sufficiently numerous and well paid to contenc against error , and the proper way to put < downbac opinions was to combat them by good op ; uions , anc not by the halter , the dungeon , arid t'je scaffold The defendant , after proceeding iri th , 8 strain ibi some time , quoted extracts from No . 87 of the Tract for the Times , in support of predeatio' ation , and saic that he could plead the same justifi' ^ ion for enter taining and publishing hiB opinions , if their doctrine wereBOUud , thentherewas nomerit or demeritinwhat ever opinions he might hold , an / i he would beg th Ivrj to reflwion the feet thai these dootmes wet

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      spreading , and th&tif a junction should tajce place between the Puseyites and the Roman Catholicswhich was far from . iajprobable--let them consider themselves , a 3 Protestarite , might be placed in the same situation he then stood in ; and , if they condemned him , ' they eithtr did not understand the principle of Protestantisa ' , or they did not act npott it . He proceeded to enter on the Bubjecfc of r ; ligious fanaticism , arid to make lar ^ o extracts fro m various worka on this subject , and tbe . n to endeavour to justify the descriptionhe had given of the Bible in the libel . He read extracts from cei tain parts Which he considered exceptionable , and afier referring to the laws relating to blasphemy , he concluded by making a _ powerful appeal to the Jury to h « jnonrab ! y acqui * him , and thus set an example which would set at rest at once and for ever the system of persecution for opinion's sake .

      , The Learnsd Recorder havingcharged the Jury ma short address ; they retiredi and in about tea minutes returned . with a verdict of griilty . The defendant was then sentenced to twelve monthB' imprisdiurient in the first class , and a fine of £ 100 , and to be further imprisoned till the fine be paid .. ' ¦ ;¦ - ¦;• ' ¦•; " ¦ . , ' : . ; ¦ . ¦; . ¦ .. - ¦ ¦ ¦ . ' , ' ; ; , ¦ ¦; .. : ¦ . The trial lasted altogether fifteen hour ? , and the speech of the defendant occupied nearly tea hours . : "'¦ •¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ •• ¦ ¦ - ; - ¦ ¦' - . ¦ ... ¦ : ¦ ¦ ' " ¦ ' ¦ ¦¦ . ' •¦¦ .

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      Explosion and Loss of Life at a Fisewobk Manpfactoby . —On Friday , an inquest was held at the Coburg Arms , Coburg-street , Lambeth , before Mr . Carter , Coroner for Surrey , on the body of William Robert Jones , a fine child , four years of age , Moses Harris deposed , that he worked for Mr . Jones , the father of the deceased , who Was an artist in fireworks , No . 9 , Webberrstreet , Waterloo-road , when about four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon an explosion took place in the composition room . The shock was very terrible ; the whole of one side of

      the room was blown into the yard . Witness wa 3 knocked down by the falling bricks , and was rendered insensible for some time . On recovering , he was shocked at discoverias the deceased under a quantity of bricks . Mr . William Jones , the father of the deceased ^ said that when the explosion took place there was -about six pounds of composition on the premises . He considered that the uafortuRate catastrophe arose from spontaneous combustion , owing to the dampness of the ro « iri , as no fire bad been kept there since last August twelvemonths . Verdict , " Accidental deathv "

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      From the London Gazette of Friday , Jan . 14 . BANKRDPIS . : - William Henry Apsey . Rbtherhithe / ship broker , to Burrender Jan . 21 , at twelve , Feb . 25 , at eleven , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Buaingball-atreet Solicitor , Mr . Cattlin , Ely-place , Holborn ^ jj official assignee , Mr . Alsager , Birchinrlane ; Benjamin Ward , Charlotte-terrace , New Caf , Tiainbeth , boot / manufacturer , Jan . 21 , at half-past one , Feb ^ 25 , at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy , BMlngball-street . Solicitor , Mr . M'Duff , Castle-streer ^ Holborn ; pfBieial assignee / Mr . Alsagar , Bircbin- ^ lana- " . ; ' \ ' ;\ -::. ; . ; ¦ - ¦ . . ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦; .- * " : ^\ . ' " : ' - -r . - ¦ George Novra ,. Red Lion-square , importer of foreign gooda , Jan . 21 , at one , Feb . 25 , at eleven , at the Court , ' . - ' of Bankruptcy , BasingbaH-street . Solicitor , Mr . Spyer , Bread-street buildings ; official assignee ,, Mr . Green > Aldermanbury .

      John Denniss , sen ., and John Denniss , Jan ., Tooleystreet , linen-drapfirs , Jan . 28 , at one , Feb . 25 * at eleven , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Basinghall-street . Solicitors , Messrs . Sole , Lothbury ; official assignee Mr . Lackington , Coleman-street Buildings . ^ dWard Evans and Andrew Evans , Birmingham , painters , Jan . 24 , at two , Feb . 25 , at eleven , at the Waterloo Rooms , Birmingham . Solicitors , Messrs . Patker and Webster , New Boswell-couxt ; and Mr . Harrison , Birmlngnam . AraorSppor , sen ,, and Amor Spoor , jun ., Newcastle-upon-Tyne , builders , Feb . 14 , at eleven , and 25 , at one , at the Bankrupt Commissidn Koom , Newcastle . Solicltora , Mr . Hoyte , Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; and Messrs . Shield and Harwood , Queen-street , Cheapside . . ¦' - ¦¦ . ¦ ' :. ' - >¦¦¦ ' ¦'¦; .. ' .: v . ¦¦ ¦ " . ¦' . ¦' . ' : '¦ . ¦' .. ' ' . ¦

      John Elliaon , Leeds , nail manufacturer , Feb . 4 , and 25 , at two , at the Conimissipners Booms , Leedf . Solicitors , Messrs . fiuahworth , Staple Inn ; and Mr . Battle , Selby , York-flfre . Williarn Povey , Ashton-under-Lyne , Lancashire , grocer , Jan . 27 , Feb . 25 , at twelve , at the ConimiHsioners * Rooms , Manchester . Solicitors , Messrs . Clarke And Medcalf , Lincoln ' s Inn-flelda ; arid Mr . Higginbptwiri , Ashton-uride-Lyne . ¦ : Joseph Lano , sen ., Stockport , Cheshire , cotton manufacturer , Jan . 25 , Feb . 25 , at three , at the Commissioners' Rooms , Manchester- Solicitors , Messrs . Coppock and Woollam , Stockpor t ; and Mr . Coppock , ClevelaBd-row , St . James ' s . Humphrey Tugwell , Fawley , Hampshire , farmer , Jan . 24 , Feb , 25 ; at eleven , at the Star Hotel , Seuthainpton . Solicitors , Mr . Walker , Southampton-Btreet , BIoomsbury-Equare ; and Messrs . Deacon and Long , Southampton . ; ; ; . : : ¦ .. ' ¦ '

      William Carpenter , Chlppenham , Wiltshire , innkeaper , Feb . 8 , ar ten , 25 , i » t two , at the White Hart Inn , Chippsnham . . Solicitors , Mr ; Pinniger , Chippenham ; and Messrs . Pinniger and Westmacot , Gray > Inn-square . [ '¦¦ - v- ; \\ ¦ ' •¦ ¦ ; ¦ : ; . '¦ ¦ : ¦ ' . v . - John Sutcliffe , Halifax , grocer , Feb . 3 , at two , 25 , at ten , at the White Lion Inn , Halifax . Solicitor * , Messrs . Craven end Rankin , Halifax ; and Messrs . Wiglesworth , Ridadalo , and Craddock , Gray ' s

      Innsquare . .- .. . ¦ ¦ - ;¦ - , ¦ . - . - . " . . ; . ¦ .. ; ¦ . . . ' . ... . ... :. ..- : . - .. Samuel Clough and William Thompson Clough , St Helen ' s , alkali-manufacturers , Jan . 25 , Feb . 25 , at twelve , at the Clarendon Booma , LiverpooL Solicitors , Messrs . Adlington , Gregory , Faulkner , and Foliett , Bedford-row ; and Mr-Johnson , St . Helen ' s . Robert Wilcock , Lower Alletbwaite , Lancashira * banker , Jan . 27 , Feb . 25 , at eleven , at the Cpmmer . cial Inn , Kendal . Solicitors ^ Messrs . Johnson , Son , and WeatheraU , ' Temple ; and M » . Hitchcock , Mancheater . ' ¦ ¦ . •• • ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . '¦ .- ¦ "¦'• ' ¦ ¦ . - ¦ :: '¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ " ¦ ¦

      PARTNERSHIPS PISSOLVED . C . Hunt ^ E . Hunt , W . Hunt ,-and E . Henley , Liverpool , merchants ; as far as regards W- Hunt . T . K . nigbt . J . Napier , and J . Wilson , Manchester , mannftcturers ; as far as regards J . ; Napier . H . Thompsoa and A . Mackenzie . J . Lloyd , and T . Lloyd , Manchester , general merehants . N . Roueton , G . Wilson , and J . Hartley , Leeda , carriers ; as [ -tutasiregards J . Hartley . F . M . Gillariders , T . Oglivy , G . C . Arbuthnot , J . Jackson , P . Ewart , and E . Lyon , Liverpool ; as far a » iregards F . M . OiJlandera . F . M . GlU&nders , T ; Oglivy , 0 . C . Arbuthnot , J . Jackson , G . Gillaridera , and A . 8 . Gladstone , Liverpool ; as far as regards F . M . Gtfllandera . C D . Sommers , and J . C . Sommers , Manchester .: general commission agents ; T . German , T . Pettyi ' It : [ Kay , Jan ., i \ Clough , aud J . Fwfeer , Preston , flax spinners ; as faras regards J . Kay , Jan .

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      From the GazetU of Tuesday , Jan . 18 . , ' . - .. ¦ BANKBOKTS . -.. ¦ ¦ : ' ; . . ' George Bishop , merchant , St . Mary-axe , to Burrenrender , FeU i , and M ^ rch 1 , at twelve , at the Court of ^^ BaBkruptcy , BasingnaU-Bteeet Mt . Twcqvaad , CopthallBuildings , official asiigQee ; SoUdtors , MesMF . Swain ^ and Co . * Frederlck ' s-plaee , < EKd Jewry . George phadwick , publican , Heywowi , Lancashire , Feb . 1 , and March 1 , at two , at th » Couimissioneiar Rooms . Manchester . Solicitvas , Messrs . Hill and Mathews , Bory-court , St Maty-axe ; ; Mil Upton , Manchester . v \ ' : / . ' . ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ .. ¦ - . "' . ¦¦ : . ¦¦¦ - ' , , : - John Burnie , merchant , TpkeDhbttSB-yard , Feb . 4 , at two , and March 1 , at eleven , at the Coah of Bankruptcy , BasinghaU-Btreet . Mr . Edwards , official assignee , F / ederfek > place , Old- Jewry ; Solieiton ^ Messrs . Wateon and Co .. To konhonse-yard .

      Jonas Henry Bobberds , paper maker , Norwicn , Feb . 1 , and Ma , cb I , at eleven , at the office of Mesaft Foster , Untbank , Townley . and ^ Bobbeiclai soUcitora , Norwich . Solicitors , Messrs . Foster , Uathaak ^ Tcwri ^ - ley , and Robberds , Norwich ; Messra , Sharpe , Field * and JacksoH , Bedfprd-rotr , London . Joha Edmund Hall , and Henry Toon © , lace maoafacturers , Nottingham , SJth January and Ut March , at twelve , at the George tho Fourth Ibo , Nottingham . - Mr . RowJand Yallpp , pffioial assignee , Furnival ' s Ina , London ; Sillcitors , . Meamfc W . an * & Parsoit jua , Nottingham . — ' ¦ ' ¦ : ^ ' r-r ' / : : ^ . , ' ' . < V ; . ' : ; - ¦ ~ ^ Henry SuaderlRnd and Georga Wrigge , 4 e * le « s ia cotton warps , Huddfe » aeld , 4 th Fftb ., at twelve ; and 1 st March , at ten , at the . White &w * u Inn , Hoddefafield . Mr , Char ted Lsver , offiaal assignee , K » rSroad , Bedford-row ; : SoUcitorsi Messrs . Barker and England , HudderaSeid ; '• : . . RicbaidaoB

      Bsnjamin BradehaT and G « pige , «» nvass manufacturejB , Jan .: 25 , and March l , at two , at the ^ owmissionwa ' Rooms , Leeds . Solicitors , Messw . Knapper arid Woplbright , Liverpool ; Payne , Eddison , and Pordj Xeedsi and Mr . Armstrong , Staple La ^ , liondon . ... ' ¦ ¦'¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ' .- ¦ .. , ' ¦ ; ¦ ¦ ' ¦¦ '' m . - ¦ . ' - . ' - "¦' Thomas Gkiaen , licensed ^ icttuitor , Farringdou , Bet ' Kshiie , Jan . 31 , and March 1 , at eleven , at the Be' linn , Wiltshire . Solicitor , Mr . BransoMnb , Wineofiice-conrt , Fleetstreet . Charles Qftrrard Eoglish , hotel keeper , Yorfeplace , " Vauxhall-bridge-road , Feb . 1 , at one , and March 1 , at elevefl , at tie Court of Bankruptcy , BaainghaH-ttreet . Mr ; Grabam , oflacial assignee , Baringhall-atreet . ; Solicitor , Mr . Wathen , Bedford-9 q , uare , Thomas Buckle , draper , Barnard Castle , l > urhani , Jan . 27 , aid March 1 , at eleven , at the Waterloo Inn , Barnard Castle , Durham . Solicitors , Means . Jackson and Hswiteon , Kirby Stephen ; Mr . Barnes , Barnard

      Castle . . . ¦ . : ¦ :- - . -:. ;¦ ¦ ¦¦; . ¦ . , ¦ - . ¦ - ¦ . ; . ' Francis William Hartley , cbemM and drnggisfc , Halifax , Jan 28 , at twelve , and March 1 , at two , at the White Lion Inn , Halifax . Solicitors , Messrs . Hitcnin and Lonsdale , Halifax ; Meaws . Jaques , Battye , aii « t Edwards , Ely-place , Holborn , London . Robert Clough and Bartholomew Maaiere Galas , alkali manufacturers , Ppulton-cum-Seacombe , Cheshire « Feb . I , and March 1 , at one , at the Clarendon-roomi , Liverpool . Solicitors , Messrs . Ch »« ter and , Tomlia , Staple Inn , Lsndo ' n ; arid Meura . DaveDJport ^ Collier , and Davenport , Liverpool .

      Robert Pariah Bosk , roachjne maker , Leeds , Feb . 4 , at ten , and March , 1 , at twelve , at the CommlssionersV Booms , Leeds . SoUcitors , Mr . Walker , Fmuival * Inn , Londonj and ^ ^ Mr . Blaikbora , Isede .

      ¦¦ ¦¦ ¦ In ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ '¦ ¦ ' ¦- ¦¦ •• ~

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      PROSECUTION FOR BLASPHEMY . ^ At . the Bristol Epiphany Sessions , before Sir Charles Wethefell , ReeTorder , Charleg Soiithwell late a Socialist missionary , was tried tor writing printing , and publishing certain blasphemous libels , \ a . f work called "The Oracle of Reason . The libels were certainly some of the most gross which have ever appeared in print , and the defendant consequently has excited but little sympathy , as he himself appears new to fee ! , for it was riot a mere right of publication of opinion , but he wished to establish his right to fly in the face of the laws , religion , and feelings of the whole community : still considerable interest was taken in the proceedings , and the hall was filled during the whole of the lengthened period they occupied . The trial commenced at half past twelve o ' clock on Friday , and was adjourned at nine till ten the following mornnmg , and was not coucluded till half-past four .

      i ; Smith and Mr ; Skinner were the counsel for the prosecution . Southwell defended m £ \ . * 8 sl 6 ted by Mr- Hetherington , of London . Mr . Skinner having opened the pleadings , _ Mr . Smith stated the case . The defendant stodd at that bar to answer for the publication of a series of blasphemous libels which had appeared in a work published by him , entitled "Theoracleof Reason , " cf which he was the editor , printer , and publisher . As tar as he had been iuformed from papers put forth by the defendant since the preferment of the indictment , his defence would riot be a denial of the publication / but very much in the nature of the libels themselves—that he would impugn the law—condemn this / prosecution as most impoliticsubversive

      , of liberty , aud particularly of the liberty of the presB —endeavouring to exotie in their minds , and those of the auditory , a contempt for the law arid all the authorities of the country . The defendant appeared to take his ground on the right of all men to publish their opinions on all subjects , without the slightest control . Would , hoTrever , hewouldask , any mariof ordinary observation say , that writing as the defendant h » d , with the objects which he had avowed , was a fair discussion of opinions 1—was it riot obvious that his : intentions were mischievous and wicked , calculated to lead to deeds of violence , and every evil work 1 And what an absurdity it was to impute to the law which restrained such oonduot the title of being oppressive .. !• They talked of liberty .

      and , forsooth , of religions liberty ; Liberty ! how was that name abused by those men 1 their application of the term meant absolute independence , which was inconsistent with liberty , and destruotive of all the links that bind society together . Liberty was nut absolute independence , for to be absolutely independent a man might go into the street and knock his neighbour down at bis own "will , or force his way into any man ' s house , because it was his pleasure to do so ; bat this was not liberty ^ : for liberty was reciprocal . A man wishing to have his own rights respected must respect the rights of others . True liberty must be within bounds , and the man who broke them was no longer a freeman , but a pest to society , who would destroy that very

      liberty of which he speaks so loudly in praise . But ¦ w ere there no oiher dangers by which liberty might be menaced but physical ones ? What was there more powerful than the press ?—what a ma terial influence had it in irainirig up and instructing the youag ! How necessary was it , therefore ,-that ' it should be properly conducted , and how dangerous it would be if , instead of its being used as an instrument for the instruction 6 f youth in the paths of virtue , it should be employed to promulgate all that is evil ! Why , it would be calculated to break dovfu all the barriers of virtue , and to introduce the grossest delusions . If there was any one department of civil liberty which more than another required proper restrictions , it was the freedom

      of the press . He trusted he should riot be mistaken ; no one venerated the freedom of the press mors than he did , but he still thought that if it was not kept withiri its proper limits , instead of being one of the greatest benefits to mankind , it would become an instrument of torture . The Learned Gentleman thon alluded to the libels in the indictment ( the language of which is unfit to be repeated , and to which we shall only allude by saying that they denied the existence of God and the blessed Saviuor , and calumniated the Bible , the Prophets , and Apostles , in the most coarse language ) , and said , if sentiments such as were contained in those libels were permitted to be propagated as being true , what would become of society , what

      would become of the sanctity of an oath , and of all the forms under which justice was administered ? The defendant had divested himself of all moral responsibibility . This was his teaching of philosophy forsooth ' . but he ( Mr . Smith ) would ask what was to become of society , if Such doctrines were allowed ? With such doctrines , if he could escape the punishment of human laws , what hold had they on any man ! What hold was there on him who insisted on his absolute right to do as he pleased , and thathe feared neither God , Devil , nor a human tribunal ! What was it that rendered sacred human tribunalo , but the belief in a responsibility here and hereafter—the belief in an Omnisoient Eye watching over us . and the powers of conscience ! This

      was the foundation of all civil Government ; for if once individuals were brought to believe that there was no God , no future state , that mau is of the same nature as the brute , and that , when he dies , he sinks into the grave a nonentity , what was there to restrain such a man within the paths of virtueY Nothing . ' What wa 3 there to chock his bad passions but the mere fear of human punishment ! It wag well known that thieves I . and others calculated on the commission of crime by the chancas of impunity , but did they know how many there wore wnom the fear of punishment hereafter restrained 1 Let the jury look at the danger of the introduction of such doctrines into their families arid schoolsteaching the youth of this country to believe that

      their fathers , in inculcating Christianity , were knaves aad tyrants , arid they , who could believe them , fools , dolts , and idiots . What sort of children would they have—what sort of schools—what Bon of clerks and shopmen ! Such a course would lead to the grossest delusions , and be destructive of all moral restraint . What confidence would they place in the integrity of such a man ! What a state of ruin , and misery , and crime would ensure . Would there be any of that virtue—that liberty he speaks of ! No . Man would be hating man , and hateful to each other .. He would therefore call confidently upon them for a verdict cf

      suilty , in order that all the law allowed might be done to prevent the contamination of the public by the further publication of such blaspheiriies . God forbid that it should be thought that he sought to persecute the defendant . No Brich thing ; if he could be stopped from the commission of such offences he should be glad if he were at once allowed to return to his home . This , however , conld not be done ; and he therefore called on them in the name of God , in ' the name of justice , to do everything in their power to put a stop to such a torrent of blasphemies as had been published by ihe defendant .

      Stephen Rogers , clerk to Messrs . Brice and Burges , jun ., clerks to the magistrates , deposed to haying purchased some copies of the libels of the defendant at his shop . Cross-examined . —I am not here to say what is or what is not a libel , but I think a libel is that which isnottrue . Wilham Reynolds , mayors ojHcer , and Harry Bar ^ css , a police sergeant , also proved the purchase ef copies of the libels . The libels were then read , which closed the case for the prosecution . Tho defendant then rose to ask the Court whether it did not think it right to stop the case , as riot a tittle of evidence had been given of his haying published a blasphemous libel j it had not been defined what blasphemy was .

      The Recokdeh said the jury were to judge from the pernval of the matter whether it was blasphemous or not . The objection was therefore disaliowed . "' - . . , " : / . '¦' . ¦ ¦" , ' ¦ .. ¦ : ¦ ¦/ . ¦ : " The defendant then commenced his defence , and said he fully agreed with the Learned Counsel for the prosecution that they were living in au age of eomparative enlightenment and civilization ; there were no longer any secret tribunals , and he would freely own that it was the privilege of every man to have an open , fair , and honourable trial ; he spoke thus , lest it might be said that he did riot prize , as he really did , the privilege of trial by jury . It was the custom , and on these occasions more especially , to appeal to the passions and to vulgar prejudices ;

      le regretted that the Learned Counsel had not stepped out of the custom , because , when they were excited , reason was lost— -engulphed as it were , and men did things which , in their cooler momenta , they would shudder at . He trusted , however , that they would cast prejudice aside , and giving him a calm and patient hearing , judge of his intentions and motives by his general conduct ; and he was sure , if they did so , they would honourably acquit him . It bad been truly said that prejudice was the spider of the mind ; and he might add that , like the spider , it wove its web in desolate and woro-out habitations The defendant quoted the authorities of Jeresay Bentham , Pitt , Burke , Erskine , &c , on tie duties of jories , contending that they were to be the judges of the law and the fact , both of guiltineaa and non-guiltisess . Prtud was be of these authorities ,

      because civilization would be checked , and : they would have nothing but a mental and physical despotism were the power of juries abridged or destroyed : he called on them , therefore , to judge him calmly . If they thought this , they would accord him an acquittal ; Before he proceeded to another portion of his d efence , he would briefly allude to the means which tad been taken Out of doors to raise a prejudice against him . First , there Was a rev . gentleman—a Uev * . Mr . Bromley , he believed ^ -rwho , while he was in his cell with this trial hanging over his head , had the good taste to deliver a set » f lectures , prejudicing the public mind against him , which lectures were heralded forth by placards in some Bucb words as these— "Th « Rev . — Bromley will deliver a lecture on the Infamous Blasphemies of Charles Southwell . " Bat , perhaps , the reverend gentleman had two objects in view ; the one , b / prejudicing the public mind to increase big Oh » d « -

      Untitled Article

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 22, 1842, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct414/page/3/