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SESSIONS S £ T . A public convereiUoDal meeting was held on Thursday evening -week ,, at the Ship Inn , Long Lane , Bermondsey . 2 Jr . S > 'i . GS was ealled to the chair , and opened the proceedings by infcrmiBg the Assembly tbat it -was an adjourned msetirij frnn the previous -week , and tkat its object TT 23 to ecd-aToiir to effect a union between the Metropolitan K . form Association and the Chartists . Mr . SJa . t >" aBD moved the following resolution : — " That this naetticg cannst but feel , -frith horror and slsrE , the present s . wfal cistreased state of the country , in -which not only the vorkins classes , but the mannfecturcr asd the small capitally , are alike upon the brink cf rnin ; and beirg convinced that the cause of this distress is class Ipr c' -tinn , we feel Ensured that no permanent goad ^ t -rise until the People's Charter becomes the ' - - ¦ tf tie land , -vrh-ch -srould soon be scof-EtiH ^ -t - . fan fcci-fst union of - ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ middle and ¦ woifci s cli-= 5 direc ' -iBg their enus ^ for this great orjsci . "
He stood before them in rather a peculiar position , and bis motives vrers liable te be mi ? rfpre £ t-nted ; but he gloried in his position , and ¦ was determined to pcrrao an honest straightforward course , and bad eo doubt their effort * to promotes unv-n would be Euceessful . To the resolution he was sure no Chartist could oljact . He tras well a- ^ ars they onaht to enteitain z jtalcusy c-f the middle dosses , if they doubted their sincerity ; bet thay should also tsie into considtrition their peculiar circumstances . The £ r&at ebject they had in view was the attainment of the Charter , and if they were to obtain it morally , it - ^ as jib firm opinion it could not fee done withont the aid of the middle class . Distress was ravasirg the country ; tens of tbcaenda ioso in the nier&ing unknowing — here they should procure fooi fcr the dsv , stbihi mother c : & ? s , who neither toiled
nor E-un , were ' elctt . ed in fir . e linen , and fared sumptuously every day . " Such a state of thirds -was enough to miie a read's hair stand on end . The great cause cf this was that the r . izssts were nnrtprestnttd . TJr . til the Charter —as ortairefl . -this could never be removed . He W 23 a " wh-lrf tog" Chaitist ; he would not lose ens ofths points . A n * _ n cocld not lose an arm withont his whole body bring i : jaied , neither could or . o point of the Charter be abandoned without an irjury to the whrlt machinery . He eid not blame th-. m for bt : ng jealous cf the mid ale clasies , they had been so cf : en deceived by th =-i ; Dut same were es honest as themselves . Home Tooke , ' Hunt , Cobbeit , 0
Cjunor , and other greit advocates of their rights , ¦ Were uiiddie-cbss men . If the Charter was to be t-iizid mcra-jy , it iscst be oV . tiiced in tho Ecnse o : Con-mcns . Tbeir grand object , then , wcu : d be to ur ? e en those who hzd verts to pve tbom to no mm who would no : pledge himst f to the Chafer . He was weli a ^ sre the middle classes wonl'i on '? j--5 c them from in :. -rest . They fdt the s&ce picch the ^ s , tnd were Enxiocs to remove its pre .-sure . A gitat movement was beice carried on in that body . Tbc : e that a little time back " wctiid have tr ,-:. ted the Chartuts with diidain , ¦ were no ?? seen ccmins amongst them , seeing it w ^ s their last resource from the locusts who were
devouring the laud . Ttty must all be awzre tcey get the- C' arter sooclr by the aid cf the midt ' iie class , and until they joined tto honsst portion cf th-.-c ; , in his opir . icn they would never obtain it . Dr . Black seconded the resolution . He w . is suffering fnm in ' . 'i ?} jC' £ i-. ioi :, and nothing tut tLe importance of tLe meeting would have induced Lira to have att ^ sJta . Tlity' had a pointful enemy to contend s .: ^ in ? t , £ . ; -. entity ecroplfrt ; ly crgn . n z ; d . it Lad "what micht be term&d Us c ffielol organizition , perfect in all its dfcVs . ! s , embracing eve : y spot in the kingdom ; it had a j-ritstly orgii ' zition covering the whole land , as it were one great mor ^ i c ; ub ; it had another peculiar organization , its gent-e-icn ' s dabs , meeting in their aristocratic estibUitmenvs , and ptrpttcaily eec-ged in nir . t-ir .- s . rs b « tm = ~ 2 ns to rit ^ ia \ heir ^ tcendancy over
the p £ .: pis ; 'hij had also a power .-ul nr . Utr . ry organ : zition . weil ; fn : ired , s'j ^ jll . d with evciy de :-cr : p : ion of the muEi : i"E £ of vrarkic , ard Lifoidiijg E ; tuat : ons for the ycux ^ er sons cf tfce aristocracy , whose salatits they were con ; p-. i : t : l to pay ; ibtre was also their police and constbtiiia- _ i : j force ; ^~ a ttia was not all , they had also a zrcat m ' . ral-f-rce crgin zition , not only cmong the ii . i- ! a "; e but also amoEZ the wortir ; cl ££ EC-s—the feriir . i ; wLirh induced n ; en to Lew down to a ccice and a title , was one cf the uiiattst evils they had to contend against ; it inf-cted ti ! their procecdiuirs . The-power thus exercised by a priest or mati ' . trate waa enormous . He knew an honest Chartist , who recently told him that he con ' : ! do : stand with the ssme ease in tie presence cf a L : * d es of another man . This powerful
opponent , posss « ed c : these tnree complete organ-z :-tions , called themselves ia addition their mast :-rs , end the c ; untry tl . eir ccnr . tTy , ttliicg th :-m this was law , and they must obey it—this was illrgzl . and they must itfrain from it—making laws by which they could scarcely meat together , and give vert to their honest indignation , without endangering thtir liberty through the spy system . Tni 3 wa 3 a picture of the enemy they had to cope w ; th , and whit w .- ; s their position ? Had they even ens complete organization ? Were they in possession cf " a physical firce power cfScered and disciplined like that cf the enemy ? Ee said it fearlessly , bnt with an aching heart , that they were EtandiDg btfere the btst prepared 6 nemy in the woild , qiianciiing among themsulves , allowing jaalcua petty icelicgs to spell tbe cause in which th-. y were eacazeu , Q ^ iirtlling even in thsir own
localities . Good God ! -Etre they so instusible to their own position that nothing cou'd ' . nnke tbem lcok &t their reil po = llioa ? Were they longer to go en es madmen cr boys , engaged in idle spcrt . Trus , they might call the Govercment bard names , bet they imprisoned cr banuhed Trhom they pleased . They riisc d Eubscriptloas lai their deTence and snpp ^ rt , tint was that to be all ? Were they to go on so to the end of the chapter . No ! In spite of jealousy , in Epite cf ¦ wrong thinking , he would net say wrong motives , the dawn of a union was breaking over them ; and , before mazy months the great Suff .-age party throughout the land would , he bilieved , be united as a band of brothers .
Truth had only to be fearlessly proclaimed , and its ultimate triumph tras certain . They might be called dishonest ; they might be suspected , but they would still ge on , until they corquered them . He felt that the middle classes wera liable to b 9 suspected . The working men Lufered under the sting of sppreFEora in that class , and it made them irritable , but when they met in a friendly manner , like the present , error was dissipated and friendship produced . They bad only been two or three months in active operation ; and they had the satisfaction of seeing that those who were than "the most suspicions of their intentions were cow their greattst friends . This gave them encouragement to go on in endeavouring to efftct a cordial union .
Mr . Faiechild said the present appeared to him to be a mosientouE crisis . If a union could be honestly brought about , he Ehotild hail it with delight . It was what he had been looking for many a long day . The only question to consider was , would it bs consistent to unite with those men who had ever coerced the working classes . Ee thought they might safely unite ¦ with ary man , whether peer or peasant , who would go for the Charter ; tat he would"have the Charter whole and entre , name and all , or he would iie for it . He asked the gentlemen , did they mean to give them a substance or a shadow ? if they meant to give them the substance , in God ' s name he said to them , Go on and prosper . If they meant to deceive them he trusted they would fail ; bnt they must have something more than
• words , they must have actions . The middle class were their most oppressive tyrants . Ptargus O'Connor was a middle class man , but he cid not think any more of him for that circumstance , and if he deserted the principle they would immediately hurl him to the winds . Ho for one wculd say , Givo me the Charter , you may go to h—U . They had no objection to hold out the hand cf fellowship , to let the two associations run together and assist each other . Thty had the means at their command , let them use those means to assist the men now in prisoa , and he w « uld hail them as patriots and brothers . As until they did that he could not believe they were honest or trustworthy ; te did not wish to throw cold water on this attempt , for he knew that if the middle classes honestly united with them , the Charter won : d be attained in less than sis
months . The three per cent commis-. iocers wero telling them a lesson thsy would never fo-g = t . Ptel was a Chartist to the buck bone , and was makinz Chartists by wholesale . If it hid not been for the tariff and the incoma tax , tl ; ey would have heard but little cf Chartism in , that quarter . He did not expect , as Mr . ilaynard did , any good from a House of Commons like the present . Was it likely a House containing 132 boys under twenty-twe and a half years of age wcnld grant them the Charter ? He kntw they would scout the idea , after the manner in which the petition was treated ; every man who signed that document , he dare avow , had more sense than these 132 boys , and yet they taunted working men with ignorance . Was that man ignorant who could dig a
read under the Tham = s ? A pretty iipa , truly , to call that man ignorant who could make machines to trayel sixty miles an hour . If a n : iion based on principle conld be formed , he should rejoic ? , for he knew tbe Charter would be quicker obte-iaed . The diddle classes had more , funds at their disposal ; and if they meant honestly , they would not suffer one individual now in prison to be lost for want of funds , bnt would join in that merciful object tiith heart and hands , and bands too well provided with the needful ; and they would think more of the& sincerity than if they ma . de professions for seven years to come . He believed Dr . Black to be perfectly sincere . Ho thought if the middle class -were all like him they irculd soon have the Charter .
Mr . C . Westeetos hailed -with great pleasure the exertions of his friend Dr . Black , in endeavouring to procure a union among all sections of the Chsrtists Tbe chief objection be bad beard advanced against a snion was , that the middle classes , after making many professions , always bad deserted them 'when their assistance was most wanted ; and as yeomanry cavalry and in the jury box , they bad ever been their persecu tors . ( Hear . ) He admitted the middle classes bad prayed traitors ; that they bad insinuated themselves among them , and then sold them to their enemies . But ¦ was it just to eay that because some bad done this that all were equally dishonest ? As well might they say that , because certain working men had turned spies , or because some of them bad destroyed property , or committed acts of violence , that the -whole class were equally as guilty . They would , he knew , hurl tuck tbe fool asssxtkh upon the party who made it
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and ha , as a shopkeeper cr middle class maa , equally hnrled back the charge Egainst his class . Many of the middle class were equally interested in abolishing class legislation , as themselves . They wanted a union net so much for a love of them , but frem a regard for their own interest They would find that some of the men now foremost in their rank 3 were middle class men . What were O'Conscr , Frost , and that sterling and and high-minded patriot who was now forced to fly hi 3 home . Dr . M'Douall ? ( Great cheering . ) He trusted they should be judged by their conduct and not by such idle imputations ; it was a libel upon the working men
to assert they would be betrayed . Could they rob them of their intelligence or of their prinlcple ? They did not ask them to give up their organization or to pin their faith to their sleeves ; they did not even want them to join their Association , unless of their own wish ; their object was to rally round them the true and honest of the middle class . He trusted they would farm their judgment by their acts alone (" and that of your committee . ") He thousht that was a harsh remark . No association was free from some bad characters , there was always some blaek sheep in the flock ; he was only arxiuns for a good understanding that they might cooperate together .
RUFFY Ridiey wished to ask Dr . Black a question . In the pamphlets they had issued , one of the points wa 3 that " Pariir . ments were r . ot to b 9 larger though they laUfct be for less duration , than three years . " He wished to know whether , having seconded tha reBOlntion for the Charter , he , or the committee acting with blm , wera prepared to expunge that rule , and place Annual Parliaments in its stead . Dr . Black stated that they had great difficulties to contend with among tbe middle classes . If his own feelirss could hsve been consulted he would have come eut boldiy for the six points , name and al : and he waa of opinion that if a sufficient number of men of ii fiuerce could be got to take tbat standing it would
Its tho best and most msaly course . He had been a firm Chartist ever sinco tho first Convention . They had considered the point of Annual Parliaments , and found maiiy good men preferred Biennial Parliaments , and sozno few Triennial ; and to afford every facility for the junction of those men they left the point open . He had no denbt whenever the Charter was adopted , it would be settled to have Annual Parliaments ; yut m : my even cf the Chartists if they had to write the Charter over again , and to consult their individual opinions , might maka some slight alterations in ic ; but in a great combined movement it was essential they should give way on all these littlo shades of opinion to ersure union en tte whole . Tfce great majority of his association were in favour of Annual Parliaments .
air . lirppy Ridley stated that be had no doubt there individuals w < -. e actuated by good motives ; but it was the dnty of the public to scrutinise ^ tcther rheir acts would have the desired effect . Dr . B ack might , os an individual , think it pftfdtnt to fjive way on some minor point ; but he , as a member of the workin ? class , could not abandon one io ' . a of the Charter . ( We don't want you . ) tie thought th-t if tbe majority were for Annual Parliaments , it was a delusion to have tint rnlo en their pamphlets ; it was keepiDg a phantom t-efore the public to delude them , and would only have the result cf producing disappointment when it was discovered t ! at the ; : pamphlets and their prcfessions W ; T 8 at variance . He considered three years too iong for a member to bs exposed to the temptation of the Government ; too long for a man ' s honesty to be depended en . He asked these gei : tlemen to come manfully forward and advocate that complete measure of justice which would ensure the salvation cf tbe country . One Bpc-sksr had said that injustice had ever characterised the proceedings cf the middle towardB the working tla 5 S ; s : of that the Reform Bill was a fatal example . He requested them , for consistency sake , to expunga that rule from their bocks . One man gained nndtr the hor . c-s-t colours of Annual Partliaments would be worth ten men gained by a delusion . Dr . Black , explained ; in his opinion if they got the Suffrage , if the delation of Parliament w& 3 fix . d to 3 , 5 or even 100 j-esrs , if they found it did not answer , they could easily rectify it .
Mr TTheeler . briefly spoko en the necessity cf th < s R-f .-rm Association giving up such a minor point before any thing-like a iirm union cculd txist . Mr . Ruffi Ridley said he still considered tbat mla a dtlucien , but he should leave the audience to ^ eoide ; he should not have been doing his duty if he had not slhided to it ; he gave tbem every credit for t ! -: e manliness with which they liad explained their views . He should be sorry to throw anything in the wdv of a reconciliation , but he thought they should first explicitly understand each other : if they went on in their present straightforward manner he Bhould wish them everv success .
3 Ir . Stallwood entirely coincided with Sir . Ridley in his objections . Dr . Black seemed to treat the ques- ¦ ticn of Annud Parliaments lichtly , but he could not hsve sufficiently considered the subject or he would ' have seen that Universal Suffrage could not exist : without it , for tha Charter said that every man of ' twenty-one should have a vote , but if Parliaments ' were Triennial . , he could not in thousands of instances : hava it until he was twenty-fonr ; they were pledged to the whole Charter , nair . 6 and aii , and any union not based on that would be a rope of Eand . The Complete ; Suffrage men adopte 4 the whole of tha Six Points , so did the largest party , the National Charter Association , anil if the gr ; at majority of the Reform Association ; were for Annual Parliaments he felt convincsd they ccnld easily convert Ihe micoritr .
Mr . Mohtos made a very excellent speech in favour of a co-op : ration of the two bodies ; he belonged to : every association which bad for its object the destruc- ' tion Gf tyranny , and allowing cf working men to manage [ their own afLiirs . He knew that it was the Ehoe-pinch- ; ing tbem which caused the middle classes Jo lock to tho Cinrttr ; bnt had not the ense been the sj . me witli i the working men ? dU they care any thing about j Reform until the shoe pinched them ? they allowed one ' after another to be imprisoned in their cause ; they ! allowed the hand loom weavers to bo persecuted and starved ; why then r < -j = ct the middle classes when the piscbing of the shoe drove them into their raiiks ? He !
agreed with th 9 previcu 3 speakers , that the middle clisses should thow their truthfulness and love of justice ?' by assisting the incarcerated victims . I M ? . J . Duncan made a long andafele speech in favor of a friendiy spirit of co-operation existing between the j two Associations , and conclnded in the words of the battss charge of a celebrated Vendean chief , " If I j advance , follow me ; if I retreat , kill me ; if I dia , j avecge me . " Hs would say the same ; if they retreated , I let them be consigned to that political death which j they would richly merit Bat give them the English justice to be accounted innocent until they were proved i to be guilty . j Mr . Ross wa 3 anxiou 3 to have a fair understanding . He did not like the terms middle class and working I class : the sooner they forget those distinctions tha ' better . The middle men had ever looked down upon ' working men with contempt . They did not even deign to attend their meetings , but gathered into tkeir minds j
every prejudice which was sown by interested indivi- dnsls , and took no opportunity to dispel it . Tb . 6 speakers , especially the last , had spoken much about j the working classes refusing to unite . When had they ever refused a union on tko principles of the Charter ? I It was tho middle class which stood aloof in their pride and prejudice . The Chartists had ever been grateful for aisiitance , come from what quarter itwonU . But when they Eaw the names of persons on their j ooanc' 1 , the stu- ^ y of whose lives appeared to be to sow disecrd and division , it m ? do them lock with a suspicious era on the whole body . Thsse men say they arc Sturgites—they ars moral men—and they will hr . ve nothing to do with the Feargusites—this did not Icok like uuion . He thought it was useless to have meetings like the present ; if they wanted to ascertain the eentiments of the tivo bodies they should call a large public meeting , or a conferc-Ece , composed of an equal number of delegates from t-c-ti parties .
Ht . Wheeler sgreed with the sentiments uttered by Mr . Ross . Thty had never declined the assistance of the middle class , bui they would not desert tliois principles to which th = y were pledged ; he wished to understand what the gentlemen meant by co-operating with them ; if they meant they should be members of both assodatiors b . 9 conld frankly assure them they could do no such thing , for the working men unfortunately had not funds sufficient properly to support their own orga-vzitioa ; with the middle class the case was widely cV . Ujrwnt ; they possessed the means , and if disposed to co-operate , could belong to all the associations , like their friend Mr , Morton ; if by co-operation they meant assii ' . icg them by their numbers and presence -t any public meetings , he could readily assure them it would be done provided they adhered to the principles cf the Charter .
Dr . Black s * af-ed that they had three means of accomplishing their object by petitioning , by the press , and by public meetings ; petitioning was briefly useful as a means of banding together public opinion . The press , us fortunately with a few exceptions , was under tbe influence of their opponents ; their chief strength lay in public meetings ; they had that evening had a good talk , and understood each other ; prejudice was disappearing , and it was ocly by such meetings that unanimity could be produced ; they would shortly hold a large public meeting for the same good purpose . A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman , five shillings were collected for the victims , and air . llcrton enrolled himself a 3 a member of the National Charter Association .
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A MARE'S NEST . ( From the Times . ) " An investigation into circumstances of tha most alarming character , connected with a Chartist conspiracy to destroy the Qieen , has been secretly going on before the magistracy of Southampton for some time past We have taken all imaginable pains to obtain correct information on the subject . We believe our account to be correct in the main , though , from having been denied permission to look at the depositions , wo may slightly err in the details . The party through whom the notice of Government baa been directed to the investigation is earned Peirce , a grocer , in Canal Walk , Southampton . Peirce was considered some time back the leader of tbe Chartists in this town , and from bis having made himself very conspicuous in that character , was doubtless thought by the chiefs of the London Chartists , as a fit person to enrol in their secret
band . This band , tbe existence of which has long been suspected by the London police , seems to consist of a select number of the most desperate characters among the ? reat body of the Caartiste . They direct the movements of the unitiated , arrange the principal meetings , tend delegates to disturbed districts , and , as it will be seen , are sworn to attempt the accomplishment of their treasonable designs , at all hazirds , even if by the assassination of the Sovereign . It would seem that the secret conclave we have referred to considered that the destruction of the Queen would have thu effect of overthrowing the Government , and tbat they should , in the general consternation ar . d coufubion that would ensue , be able to carry out particular ends . About five months since , as we are informed , three men called on Peirce at hia shop in
Canal Walk , and after making themselves known to him as leaders of the London Chartists , and by communications which , to him were convincing , and after going into details with which we are unacquainted , proposed to him tike the oath binding him to assist in the destruction of tbe Queen ! Peivce was horror-Btruck at the proposition , beta ? one of the crowd of deceived persons who believed the acquisition of the five points to be the be-all and end-all of Chartism . The parties left Peirca with a threat of fatal corsssq ^ ences to himEsif if he divulged their visit to any party . He , however , did communicate his secret to a brother Chartist , and for the ci-cdit of that person , we hops it is true , that it was owing to hiB counsol that Peirce communicated with tho Government on the business . Peiree was sent for to London , and was
examined at the Si 2 rc-tavy ot State ' s office , and being tak = n to Newgate to see Francis , the regicide , at once pronounced him to be ona of tr ; 9 three men who hud paid him tho visit spoken of I It was deaniad advisable by tbe Privy Council fc- > let tho matter rest for a period , in order to see if any further movoment 3 v / ere in contemplation . The facu , however , of Pierce ' s revelations had probably come to the knowledge of tho Chartist leaders , for on the evening of Friday , the 2-i instant , as Pcirca waa returning to Southampton down the London-road on the Common , a fellow suddenly appeared before him from among tho trees , and presented a pistol at him , uttering , at the same time , some expressions relative to hifj Laving betrayed somebody , but at that moment a carriage approached , which from the softness of road had r . ot been heard ' till
tben , upon which the ruffian ran off among the trees towards a place adjoining , called Highfleld . Peirce made hia way home , and was too much alarmed to communicate the matter to the police . Oil tha following Tuesday Peirco wan returning home across the Houcdwell ( an open pieco of ground near tha Kighstreet , Southampton ) about eight o ' clock in the evening , when he found himself dofged by a man whom he reccgn ! z ? d as the ruffian who assaulted him on the Common . At a moment when no parson was apparently near , the fellow fired a pistol at Peirce , and the bullet passed thrsush his hat , doing him no injury . The assassin fL-. A and eBiianed . Pcirca communicated
the facts to the Home-office , and a gentleman ( Mr . Hay ; frcm thence , and subsequently , we believe , Sir James Graham , have attended the examinations of Peirco before the borough magistrates . No clue has been ; it present obtained , but a Government proclamation , offering £ 100 reward for such information as may i ( - ;>' : to the apprehension of the assassin , will be issued forthwith . As before stated , we have been refused a porusr . l of the deposition" ? , or any information , by the magistrates , who , however , seem fully impressed with a belief of the fact of Peirci Laving been shot at , a police constable and a woman in the vicinily having heard the report of the pistol at tho time . "
[ To monstrosities coming from certain quarters , we generally reply , in significant monosyllables , such as , "Buh ! pooh ! boo ! fudge ! bham I" or the like ; tut to so grave a Eubject as the assassinaUon of a monarch , and coming from so respectable a source as tho Times newspaper , we feel ourselves called upon to reply at grtater length . And as the above paragraph will be read with horror by al ) , and with surprisa by the Chartists ; and as they especially will look not only for an answer , but for complete refutations , we give that of which alone it is susceptible One morning , before eun-rise , a little after nocn , in tha middle of the day , towards evening , as I sailed over the mountain in my little boat , with my stick en my head , and my Lat in my hand , I met the man I overtook . " Good morrow , ma'cm , " Eays I . " Good morrow , Sir , " savs Bhe .
" Pray , S . r , " says I , " can you tell me if the little old woman is alive yot , that was hanged about five years p . jo upccRitcliffi highway , for drowning hereof in a shower of f .: Uhera ? " " Upon my word , Sir , I don't know , I am a stranger in thi 3 country , but if you go tu Sir Gammer Vangs , he is a neighbouring magistrate , and heil be more accurate in his dttail of tho old woman ' s demise , psrhaps ha can inf .-rm you : " " Sir , I ' m a stranger alto ; how do you go to Sir Giremer Vj . r . ga ? " " Oh , it's very easy ; first turn to the right , then to the left , then to the right aga'n , always lahiding to keep straight forward , until you meet with a great largo stone brick house , all built of flint , in the centre of an open spacfe , all alone by iUtlf , encompassed by fivo or sixaud-twenty other houst 3 : knock at the door , and there
you'll s * e Sir Gimmer Vangs . " So I accordingly went first to the right , then to the left , then to the right again , always minding to fctep straight forward till I met with the self-same great large stone brick housa , all built with flint , iu the centre of the op ? n space all alone by itself , whin I knocked at tho door , and up came Sir Gammer ' s eldest daughter , a justice of peace . Just as I was speaking to this damsel of seventy , up came her second eldeEt sister , a churchwarden to a troop of horae . " Good morrow , Sir , " says I . "Good morrow , ma ' am" says he ; " pray , Sir , " says I , " can you tell me if Sir Gamraer Vanga is at homo ? " Just as I spoke , up leaped Sir Gammer himself , out of the ner . k cf a half-pint bottle . " Good morrow , Sir Gam : i : er , " says I . " Good nior : ow , ma ' am , kindly , " says he . " Pray , Sir Gammer , "says I , " can you tell me if the little old woman is alive yet that was hanged about five years ago upon Ratcliflehighway , for drowning herself in a shower of feathers ?'' " Upon my word , Sir , I don't know ; but I don't
tumk she was hanged , becausb she was a near kinsman cf mine , and if she was , she . 'd certainly write me word ; but to ascertain , we'il offer the following reward' Lost or mislaid , stolen or strajed , eff tho lands of Ballyraggat in the Queen ' s county , a Uttle old woman , frith three white hind legs befuro , a shorn mane , cocked tail , and jolly ivory eyebrow . Any person or persona giving tale or tidings of tbe said little old woman within six calendar months of the date hereof , wiii receive as a reward , tha longest , and widest , and largest ridge of potatoes in old Girtatfs town ; first paying the rent , then tha titho and Income tax , and ihen digging them . ' " Bravo , Sir , but you bav ' nt breakfasted . " " Oh , thank you , I ate five cr six-andtwenty dczsn turkey eggs , a whole parcel of bread and butter , and a proportionable quantity of tea . " " God Sir , you're starving ! So he sent mo in a round of beit , a hamper of vegetables , a garden cf greeaa , : i jackass stuffed with a fa ot soldier , and several other delicacies , together with the London Times ; ar . d I sat down , and eat and read as if I ha < £ ' nt a momtnt to live . Just as
I had finished this p * ntle repast , up leaped a little whito grey bine mastiff lapdog , upon my white d'je-skia breeches inacio of black velvet by the Manchester fu&tian-cutters . Down , damn you , " says I . ' Don't d ; : mn him , Sir , " says he ; " there's , not a flr . er ; greyhound in existence ; it ' s not two hours ago Bince ht k'lled as fins a hara as ever you saw ; if you don't believe me , cjrne into the garden , and I'll show hi , m to you , as alive as ever he was j" so he took ma into a round , square , trianeular , hectagon , octagon , kind of a gardtn ; in one corner was a fox hatching rats' eggs , in another was an iron steel apple tree , all hung with roasted psars ; in the third was the self-same little h . iiv
that was killed about two hours' ago , as alive aa eveshe wa ? . The moment she saw me , she took fri-ht leaded over tho . garden wall ; I run after her , caught her Dy tha scut . Jnd turned her inside out , and she ran away to Print-rq-houso-square , to write an article upon morality for taif . Times , as if the devil was after her tr . il . J » ow we pledge oumlve 3 that the refutation is in , ^! f ^ " . tb ^ alle S ation > and that not auntie (/ faawrt in England , no not ong , ever entertained for one moment , the notion cf ir . jurir . g the Queen , or tho foox . sb . xdea that her death would put one more potato ' Stdf ^ lT ^ ^ ' 7 de 8 tr ° y " * Power of cotton lords , whhh , if not destroyed , will destroy her—Evening
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GREAT FIRE IN LIVERPOOL . ( From the Liverpool Times . J Early on Friday morning , the moat destructive and calamitous fire which ever occurred in Liverpool broke out in the premises of Mr . Peniston , drysalter . In Crompton-atreet As Inspector MoBsey and officer Hitchmough were going their rounds , about five minutes before three o ' clock , they discovered the fire , and on entering the premises which are situated close to Mr . Isaac ' s oil and varnish mill , thoy found a bench on fire , which they supposed communicated the flames to the roof of the shed . 'The fire was alive under the engine boiler , and the door of the furnace wide open . When they entered , there was no person but themselves upon the premises . The steam ' . in the boiler was a ' . so partly up at tho time . Information was immediately conveyed to the Fire-police Station , and three engines , under the direction of Mr . Hewitt , immediately started off , and reachsd the scene of destruction shoTtiy after three o'clouE . The wind at this period was blowing a strong
gale from tbe north , and the rain poured down hoavily . The three engines were instantly got into piay , and in a few minutes were joined by the remainder of the engines , and one belonging to the West of England Insurance Company , making in all thirteen or fourteen . All their efforts , however , availed little , for owing to the combustible materials of the preaiises , as well as the nature of the goods which they contaiued , the fire continued to gain head , and in about twenty minutes after its commencement , the warehouso in which it had commecced , and two others adjoining it , were completely destroyed . Mr . Isaac's oil and varnish works next fell a sacrifice to the flames , and tbe combustible materials in this gentleman ' s premises , caused such a volume of fliinesas excited in the beholders feelings of awe aid admiration . Henceforth the fire set at defiance all the efforts of the fi : e-po ! ico , and the continued torrents of water which , without intermission , they pouted upon the burning mass , did not appear to make the least impression upon it .
The sbeds and cooperage of Messrs . Taylor and Green were next assailed , and added fuel to the devouring element . The wind being chiefly from the north , forced the flimes towards Formby-street , which , with the exception of a range of new cottages at the top , and a dwelling-house opposite , in the occupatiou of Mrs . Bark , consisted of sanges ' of splendid warehouses recently built . It still advanced eastward ;? towards Great Howard-strdot , devouring iu ita onward couwo several yards and sheds-, aud . at length reached the yard of the Messre . Molyrgux , the front of which is in Great Howard-street , but it runs a considerable distance backwards in a westerly direction . Here agn . in it received additional strength from considerable quantities of timber in the ysjcls and sheds . The Ere btiil progressed onwards up Fiirmby-street , and caught
soma bended sheds which front Great Howard-street These , with the goods which they contained , were in a short time added to the mass of burning and smoking ruins which now occupied the sites of the previous buildings , aud Itft nothing but outward wails standing . All the sheds and yards between Crompton-street and Formby-strtet were , in a few hours , either a mass of ruing or in flxmes ; and the wiud Btill continuiug to blow freshly from the north , the fire was communicated about five o'clock from the adjoining sheds to the rear of the fine warehouses and sheds on the north side o £ Formby-street . Ou this side of the street , in the course of about two hours , four warehouses belonging to Mr . Nathaniel Riyner , one ditto , the property of Mr . Taylor , and three bonded sheds belonging to Mr . Gray , wt-re destroyed . At this
period tha fire had assumed an awful magnitude , and burned with great fuvy . These warehouses and sheds were chitfl / filled with cotton , but contained considerable quantities of other kinds of merchandise . On the ground floor of one of these warehouses , thero were no fewer tfcan one thousand ban-els of turpentine , to which , when in Hirers , no dtacription can do adequate jostice . As . long ns any of the turpentine remained , it burned with the fiercest intensity , and by its own mere force , as its si uation precluded the operation oj" the wind , it set fire to the new sheds on the opposite aide of the street , in the occupation of Mr . M Kuight . The working of the various fire engines , the encouiMgiog cheers of the nisn aa they rapidly pliod the handles of the engines , the roaring of the vaat volume of flame which ascended from the
burning pile , the crushing of the timbers , and tha falling of the disrupted and destroyed wails , c . ould not fail of impressing every beholder with the strongest emotions of terror aud astonishment . About six o'clock the wind veered a little to the westward , and drove the flames over Formby-street to the warehouse and sheds on thejaouth side . These were spoedily in flames . The Bheds of Mr . M'Knight , and the sheds and ¦ warehouses of Mr . Riyner were rapidly enveloped in one fiery mass . Mr . M'Knight ' s property was filled with sugar and rice , just landed from the
Bland , from Calcutta . Much of this was destroyed , and much , we are happy to state , was removed in time ; but ef the cottsn which filled the warehouses and sheda of Mr . Rayner , little was saved . All these buildings were entirely new , and such was the avidity of the fire , tbat in about two hours after they were attacked , they were one mass of flame from Formby-street to Neptunestreet . Two iron warehouses , in Forniby-strett , owing to the incombustible nature of their materials , escaped destruction ; but tho warehouses and sheds on each side are u , mas 3 of utter ruin .
The ground upon which tho fire took place forms an oblong square . To the north it commences in Crompton-street , and terminates to tha south in Neptunestreet . Oil the eaBt it runs along a portion of Great Howard-street , and to tha west it is bounded by Waterloo-road and Dock . In tbe interior of this square , ( the extent of which is about 30 , 000 square yards ) , the fire had now uncontrolled sway , and consumed every thing within its reach , saving the two iron warehouses already mentioned . That portion , howuver , which lies in the neighbourhood of tho Waterloo Dock escaped the faiy of the fire . From this time until about uleven o ' clock in the morning , the conflagration oontined with
almost unabated activity ; but an expectation began to be entertained that the flames might be prevented from extending farther , and about one o'clock the expectation ripened into certainty . Tiisre was a ' till , however , within the doomed limits , an immense mass of burning materials , the beat of which waa most intense , and -when night again fell , the sky was bo brightly illuminated as to cause an apprehension that the devastating element had seized upon some fresh prey . This , fortunately was an unfounded fear . The engines continued to play uninterruptedly on the burning materials duving the whole of Saturday , by which time great progress had been made in the quenching of the flsmes . All apprehension had entirely vanished .
The loss of property has been immense ; but a still greater calamity has been the serious loss of life which has been sustained . On Friday morning , two of the fire police engines , with a full complement of men , were hard at work , pouring a -continued discharge of water upon the sheds of Mr . M'Knight , when , without any warning whatever , a great explosion or crash took place in one of the warehouses on the north side of tbe street , and almost over where the engines were being worked ; simultaneously with the noise , tbe wall of the warehouse fell , partly into the street and partly upon a shed adjoining , belonging to Mr . Gray . Some of the men had the good fortune to make their
escape ; but such as had not time were buried in the ruins . Of tha number of those who were thus everwhelmed by tho falling mass , were three men in the employ of Mr . M'Knight , who , at the time of the occurrer . ee , were busily engaged in removing goods lowered from the sheds . Several of the fire-police were also buried in the ruins . With every promptitude the sufferers were released ; but many of them without the least signs of animation . All the wounded were immediately taken to the Northern Hospital , where every suitable attention waa immediately paid to them . Amongst the number taken to the hospital was Inspector Riding , who had one of his legs broken .
In addition to this calamity we have to notice the dsath or a very useful aud active officer of th 9 name of S .-. musl Hodson . The station of this officer , previous to his death , was in Castle-street , opposite the coach stand , and he was well known through his civility and the faithful discharge of his duty . About half-past six , b . 9 and officers Bates and Tuck were holding their branches directing the water against the burning premises of Mr . M-Knight . Tuck , it appears , had some idea of the wall filling , and gave intimation to that effect to the other officers . ' A burning bale of cotton , however , fell iuto the street ; Hodson ran towards it to remove it out of the way , when the wall fell , and buried him in the ruins . Tuck iit the moment seiz :-d hold of Bites , and •> ulied him from beneath tha falling mass , and thus happily saved both their lives . The body of poor Hodson etill remains under the ruins , an ineffectual attempt haying been made on Sunday to clear away the rubbish from it .
Several gentlemen who were assisting and encouraging the men had also a very narrow escape . Amongst these , were the head constable , Mr . Whitty , and Mr . Maxwell , ageiit for the insurance companies . The following ia a list of tho sufferers , twenty-five in number , who were during tho Friday taken to the Northern Hospital : — Dead . —James Bell , labourer , dead when admitted ; Luke Smith , labourer , Westmoreland-street , aud John Martiu , labourer , Chisehall-street , both of whom died two hours after being admitted . Dangerously Injured . —Robert Black , Newhall-street , fractured skuil . Eight others severely injured , of which number Superintendent Riding is one , he having his heel bone broken-and a severe injury of the ancle . Beside the above , there were thirteen others slightly injured , but Mriio were enabled to leave the hospital on beiDg dressed , four of whom had lost their sight from the snnkeflimeand dust of the fire .
, , The following is a list of the buildings which have been destroyed : — ? Four warehouses , ( Grey ' s ) burnt . One ditto , ( Tsylort ) ditto . Two ditto , iRayner ' s ) ditto . Two ditto , ( Poole ' e ) ditto . One ' dttto ' cRogert ) ditto , ' fire-proof ,, partially burnt , Two warehouses , ( Rayner ' s ) south , burnt . j One shed , ( Riyner ' s ) ditto . . .,., ' Xwo Bheds , ( Horsley s ) Neptune-st , ditto . ; Two large eheds , ( M'Knighfs ) west of the abore ,
burnt Taylor ' s cooperage i-bvxnt . ! Malj nenx ' s timber-yard , ) j
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Cart-houses , stables , a row of about sixteen houses , and a large mass of property of various descri ptions . The value of this property is estimated at from £ 35 . 000 to £ 40 , 000 . The principal contents of the warehouses , &c , were cotton , flour , rice , turpentine , &c . Of cotton 48 . 000 bales have been destroyed , the value of which is about £ 400 , 000 . Including other articles , and the buildings , the 1 ob 3 will in all probability amount to about £ 660 , 000 . The total loss at the great firs ot the Goree , in 1802 , was £ 323 , 000 . On Saturday , at one j ' clock , a meeting of the agents representing . the different fire insurance offices took placo in the Underwriters' Committee Room , N . D . Bold , Esq . in the chair . Aftsr " comparing notra" on the engagements of each office having liabilities in conneetion with this destructive event , the following was reported as the result : —
Th 3 Sun £ 4 ? , 000 Globe .. 40 , 000 Royal Exchange 30 , 000 Pfcoeaix ................. 30 , 000 London Corporation 30 , 000 Liverpool ..... . ' . 25 , 000 York and London .... 25 000 Imperial .... 20 , 000 . Scottish Union 20 . 000 West of England 20 , 000 ' ¦ ' . Alliance 13 , 000 Atlas ....... 12 , GOO ¦ Manchester ...- 10 , 000 Guardian .- 7 . . Yorkshire ..... 5 . 000 g > Norwich Union 3 . County 3 . 300 North British 3 000 . London Union 7 , 000 . Total Liabilities . £ 350 , 900 Some uncertainty , ha—ever , exists as to whether all the liabilities have been ascertained , the meeting having been called bo soon after the conflagration . No doubt , there would be much property uninsured ; so that the result of the meeting tends to prove that the loss cannot be far under what we have slated . The exertions of the Uro police , and of all in connection with it , have basn spoken of , aad with truth , as praiseworthy iu the highest degrees , If we were to mention the namea ol all the parties who were present at one period or anoth 6 v , aud rendered valuable assistanse , either in the direction of the fire-police , the saving of litoperty , tha preservation of order , &o ., wo might occupy at least halt' a column of our piper . It is only an act of justice , however , to Btate tint-great
praise is due for their exfutions to his Worship the Mayor , Mr . J . imes Lawrence , Chairman of tha Watch Committee , Mr . Rushton , the Stipendiary Magistrate , Lieutenant Maxwell , Inspector of Silvage , Mr . Whitehouso , of the West of England Fire Office , Mr . Richard D . iwson , cf the- Manchester Insurance Office , Mr . - Commissioner Dawling . Mr . Highton , Governor of the Borough Gaol , Mr . M-Kaizht , the owner of one of the warehouses , and many other gentlemen , including several members of the Town Council . Mr . R V ' . Yates was also oh the spot , not , howevsr , with any intention of aiding in the extinguishing of the flames , but for the humane purpose of making inquiries aft-r those who had bsen injured . Mr . Rushton ' was on the ground immediately , after tha eomrnenceraent of tha fire , aud did all that could bo dona to sava life ,
for he saw from the first that all waa loat . At ouo time , fears wers entertained for the safety of the Borough Gaol , and Commander Revau , R . N ., sent a corps of marines from H . M . S . Etna , to the assistance of tue magistrates and police force , who , in the evuht of the gaol taking fire , would ha 70 been employed to escort the prisoners to another place . ' Happily their services were not wanted , the danger to tha gaol havirg been overcome . Mr . Whitty , Mr . Hewitt , and Lieutenant Maxwell txeitei themselves with an inrtefatigability and intrepidity which could inot bu surpassed , and were , iu comtnon ' with many others , subjected to great danger . There certainly never waa a time at which exertion was . more
necessary on the part of the fire police , and on this occasion they showed that too much reliance could not be placed on their discipline , skill anil bravery . The hc-at arising from the volcano-liko confirmation , . -was during the whole of the Friday morning bo intensa that it could be hardly borne at a considerable distance , and in audition ta ihis tho air was loaded with smoko , sulphureous particles , and other exhalations from the burning materials , which pained tho eyes excessively , and in many instances blinded the officers and men for a short period . Evta thosa tt the outskirts of the flro had ocjasionally to lave their eyes ; but the poor fel-Iowa who held the hose , aud were in close proximity to the flnuiins piles , suffered dreadfully .
When Mr . M'Knisjht ' s she . 1 fell in , and Luke Smith and John Martin lost their lives , the secne was most heart-rending . The two poor fellows were in the employ of Sir . M'Kuight , and were most zealous and active io their exertions to save hia property . One-of them , when sinking ia the flames , called out in agojiy for Mi . . Whitty , who was near , to save him . Another , who ws 3 within Mr . W . ' s reach , stretched forth his hands fov help , but , though an effort was made to save him , which p . -us unsuccessful , from the flfjrci-ness of tho flames , he too sank into tho burniDg ruins . The bones which were yesterday dug out of the ruins of the shed , and which wtre comp ' ttsJy calcined , were doubtless tb . 03 e of these unfortunate men . Three others wera aS the same time disabled .
We ought also to rotioe that through tho ftreat exertions of Mr . E . P . Ji'ICaight , who had a body of hfs workmen present , ' acting under his dirsctions , there were saved , in good order , 3900 out of 4200 bags of rico , ar . d the whoie of the ' sugar from the Eland , which had on the preceding day been stored in li . 3-premises . There waa at first great difficulty in obtaining men to work the engines ; but there was a still more pressing aad fatal want experienced—that of an abundant and accessible supply of water . Vast as is the amount of property in that neighbourhood , there is not a main in Great Howard-street , and though the neighbouring docks Wcze had recourse to , tho supply was insufficient during the whole of Friday and Saturday , and Sunday morning . Mr . Cunningham , surveyor of tho Highway
Board , was sent down by Mr . Ashlin to open sewers , &o . This his men did quicftiy , and a good sunoly was obtained from the overfl : ) w from the canal . On Sunday , however , this wa 3 exhausted by the engines ; but in this emergency , Mr . Tatham , of the canal , kindly increased the overflow , and furnished a further supply . Had it not been for these sewers , the want of water would have been still niors seriously felt . At the breaking out of the fire , Mr . M'Fatfzen thoughtfully recollected this overflow from the canal , and causad an opening in the sewir to be made in Great Howardstreet , from which a supply for two engines was drawn . Different opinions prevail as to the ongin of this disastrous fire . The more generally received statement is
the one given above ; but another account ia , that the fire was most probably communicated to Mr . Peniston ' a Bhed by some flakes of burning Boot which fell from a chimney that was known to be on fire in Stewart-street , at about half-past ten on Thursday night . Inspector Abraham , who visited Mr . Peniston's works immediately after the firo broke out , made hia report to the Watch Committee on Friday . He confirms the statement of Inspector Massey as to the first appearance of the fire ; but he is of opinion that it did not originate from the furnace under . Ur . Peniston ' s boiler . He gives it as his opinion , that it was either the work of an incendiary or had been caused by some large fiilies of burning soot from the chimney above mentioned , which flakes were se 6 n to drop inte Mr . Peniston ' s yard .
The estimates of the loss vary from £ 435 , 000 to £ 715 , 000 ; but we shoull think , as our previous statement will show , that the forrn-jr is too low anl ' the latter too high . The Albion saya : — " W have received from an intelligent and accurate gentleman an estimate of the quantity cf pro . luce destroyed , which , aB it is drawn from sources likoly to be correct , we are disposed to place more conndersc . - in it than in any of the rumours which we have beard on and off'Change . This estimate makes it appear , that 45 . 908 bales of cotton have been consumed . V / 6 also learn , from the same source , that there were in thu warehouses 250 easfc 3 of tallow , 2209 barrels and 800
sacfrs of flour , GO tone of cod oil , 8500 barrels of turpentine ; addition unknown quantities of fl mr , turpentine , and tallow ; besides India rubber , Indian corn , apeim oil , fustic , rice , sugar , and Iwrlr . Amongst the cottsn is a considerable quantity of Sea Island , which is very valuable . It is considered a low estimate to value the cotton at £ 8 per bale , all round . This will yield a loss , in that commodity alone , of £ 362 204 . The loss in merchandise of other descriptions , with the smaller buildings , is taken to be about £ 05 . 000 . Add to this £ 32 . 000 for the warehouses , and we have an estimated total loss of £ 489 , 264 , or , in round nnuibers , of Haj . p a Mir . T . ins 1 "
On Saturday , it was rumoured that a considerable number of persons , probably from twenty to . thirty , were buried underneath the ruins of the fallen buildings , and it was suspected that amongst the number wore some few of the fire brigade . Whatever may be ths case as to other individuals ( and we hope the calamity has been greatly exaggerated , as is sot uncommon in such cases ) , it is nsw kno ^ n that the unfortunate Hodson is the only fire-tioiic-ofllcer whose life has been lost On Sunday and yesterday , men were busily employed in clearing away the rubbish . In the ehed belonging to Messrs . Horsley and Co . the labourers on Sunday
morcing found on the ground a cotton hook and a penny . In clearing a Uttle further , they found . a quantity of calcined bones , which had , doubtless , belonged to the owner of the hook and the penny . The state of these bones gave evidence ef how intense must have been the heat Not only has every particle of flesh been dissipated , but nothing save the earthy portion of the bones remains , and they are light a 8 charcoal . The men cleared aw .-. y more of the materials , and , in a short time , they found another cluster of bones similar to the last , amongst which were several of tbe spinal vertebra ; , and some ends of the humeral and femoral bont-3 . Part of the merchandise consumed In the sheds in Neptune-street bad been saved from the fire iu Galtonetreet , only about two hundred yards to the south . The wonnded men at the Northern Hospital were yesterday all doing extremely welL Black , whose skull was fractured , is , now considered to be out of danger .
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Subscription foe the Families of the Mer Killed ok Injured at the'PJBEi' —Weare'happy to hear that some benevolent gentlemen have determined to originate a subscription for the destitute wives and families of the unfortunate men who lost their lives , or sustained serious-Injuries In the late disastrous fire . All those who are dead perished whilst attemping to savo the property of others , and of those who survive the injuries which-they reoeived , some are disabled foi life , and most of them for a considerable time . The number of families and children Isft destitute by these sad events is very great , and they certainly have every claim on the public , both on the ground of their own necessities and misfortunes , and' the courage and devotc « lnea 3 of their connections , now dead or disabled We hope that this subscription will be liberally sup . ported , and tbat every thing that is poBHlble will be done to relieve the misery and the destitution ot these unfortunate creatures , thus awfully deprived of their natural proteetors . .
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THE LATE INQUEST . The inquest upon the body of the murdered outlaw , poor Lyons , the weaver , has been holdcn , and a coroner ' s jury of our new middle c ' ass associates , as we might have anticipated , ha 3 returned a verdict of " JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE . " We do :. ot arrai gn the finding npon any general feelicg of suspicion , which we may justly entertain , when the privileged are the accused , and the unrepresented the accusers , because it may follow tbat weavers as well as masters m 3 y be guilty of violence in resisting , while , to protect life , the homicide of an aggressor may be perfectly justiflable . In ninety cases in every hundred , however , whove a poor man complains of any injustice done by one of the privileged order , the very fact of complain , ing is , " prima fade , " a proof of the charge ; inasmuch as the poor man ' s case must be strong indeed , wh : n he seeks justice in hell , where tha Devil is ju : v ; a . As the
questton now before us , however , rest 3 not upon " prima facie" evidence , but upon the swom testimony of several unimpeached witnesses for the prosecution , corroborated in the material points by witnesses produced for the fkfeuee , —Life having been lost , MURDER , a foul MUKDER , having been committed , —it becomes our duty to inquire whGth » r or not justice has been done—whether or not the finding of the coroner's jury is calculated to give satisfaction , and to create a respect for the laws in the minds of those who are told that they are equally administered to the rich , and the poor , the privileged and the unrepresented . We c ' aim the citlm attention of the reader , while we criticise the evidence upon which our ml'die-class friends returned a vardict . of "Justifiable homicide . " The evidence of Sullivan , Cassiiiy , H'Adaui , and Maria Becket'i , UDsbaten by cross-cx-arainatiou , ia plain , simple , and convincing , and would cf itself establish the charge of murder against tho accused .
Beyond this , however , we have the opinion of the Coroner , aft ^ er the evidence of these four witnesses was given , and it runs thus : " That it had bken fullt PROVED' THE DECEASED HAD MET HIS DEATH FItOM BLOWS , AND THAT THEY HAD BEES INFLICTED by Thomas Wiugley . " This e ' ossrvntion was drawn from the Coroner , in reply to tbe solicitor for tho prosecution , who stated that hs had eishtor nine witnesses to provo that the deceasxi was perfectly quiet whsu 6 truck by Wrigley ; a most important fact j and especially , provided the farce of bring T . V / ru-lay be repeated upon the Luicister stage , before t ^ -Ive performers of the order of masters . iT'ispsver , it be ^ comes important , ns we shall examine , firstly ., the parties wlio wer 9 produced a 3 witnesses for tha man-killer . Old Jlorria , tho first witness , is , with his son , owner
of tho premises , and ho saw NO windows broken ; he found some broken when he returned , tut he saw stonea thrown when his men ( that is , hia engineer , carter , overseers , and body guird ) , who had been previously armed , rushed upon tho unofT-rndiue people . He wps the principal ; and it appears that he , unescorted , held parley with tho MOB , and suffered no damage at their hands , —a strong proof that there existed no intention of ( Ining-hini , cr anybody else , any bodily harm . But OU 1 Morris swears to stones being thrown . Another Morris , one with a scriptural name , Set ' a , the son of Euoch , what does he swear ? He saw alL Ho corroborates the other Mevris , whosa evi ' . lenca , with the exception of the stone-throwing , cprroborate 3 the testimony cf the witnesses for the prosecution . What dsea he Bay about the . stm-. o-throwinc ? " Hs said thai HE
SAW KONE THROWN . " Oue James B : vyl 3 is then brought up to corroborate ona of the Morris ' s , r . nd to contradict the other , —thua destroying the whole defence so far . The case for tho defence then commences again , and two girls , Aune Potter and Harriet Johnson , swear that they saw Wrigley and others strike tha deceased , but that Wrigioy had been previously struck by the MOB . Mind , not by the deceased . Then one Digglea , a constable , as a matter of course , is produced as a kind of liaisher ; and what doos he swuar ? Why , he deposed to previous attacks which had been made by otheii PARTIES upon tho mill of tho Morris's . Nowsuoh is the sumandsnbstanceof the evidence , —the whole case for the defence resting upon the evidence of th 9 two girls , Potter and Johnson , and which goes for little , anil would go fcr less , had Mr . Taylor produced
his witnesses to prove that tho MUKDERED man was quiet and unoffending . But Low does thy law stand ? If a man is apprehensive of his life being In danger , he has a perfect right to defend it , even at the h' -zird of depriving his assailant of life ; but 80 tender is it on such points , that ic requires the party attacked to use all ¦ subterfuges for his protection , by flight , capture of tha offender , or otherwise , before a homicide can bo justifiable . What , however , did Wriglay do ? Young Morris , the acting manager , very properly give 3 instructions that tho handa were not to ba allowed out , unless the doors were forced optn Yet , in the teeth of such order , Wrigley , one of the bands , and before any apprehension of further injury than the mere stopping of the mill could have been reasonably
entertained—regardless of consequences , rushes out with a picked gang of bloodhounds , before , as Seth says , any stones were thrown , knocks his victim down , beats him in . humanly while down , follows him again , knocks him down again and again , and then boasts that he has settled the b . Upon such evidence a jury of Englishmen return a verdict of " JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE , " inatead of WILFUL MURDER , as it ought to have bean . The case is now fairly placed before the public ; and however parties may look tamely on , while the owners of machinery are robbing , stripping , pillaging , starving , bullying , and ejecting Englishmen , women ,
and children , yet do we confidently hope that , ia a country where nearly ten millions per a-num is paid for civilisation , a COLD-BLOODED MURDER will not be allowed to pass as a necessary part of mammon ' s means for amassing treasure . Surely the blood of the murdered , all poor and naked as he was , calls to Heaven for vengeance i and those who hear the sixth commandment , " THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER , " and . to which they respond , "The Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law ; " —su . ely , we say , those who no pray on Sunday , wili not allow their eyes to be defiled by the sight of the murdered on their return from the sanctuary of the true God . — Evening Star .
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Lord Johx Russell , it is said , has been occupying his leisure hours , since his retirement from office , in preparing for publication selections from the correspondence of John fourth Duke of Bedford , from the originals preserved at Wobura Abbey . — runes . The Wabspiie , 50 , Captain Lord John Hay , arrived at Spithead on Saturday afternoon , bringing home Lord Ashburton from his mission in America His Lordship left the Warspite between two and three o ' clock , and landed at Gosport , the ship saluting him when he left her , and the batteries upon his lendiDg . The Warepite has been seventeen days from America , having left on the morning of the 5 ih instant . She was becalmed two days , or would have made the ran in fifteen . Lord Ashburton , upon his landing at Gosport , immediately proceeded to his residence at Anglesey , where Lady Ashborton has been waiting his arrival .
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The Moneteur publishes an order of the Minister SmJSi ^ fc ? freo pasS 3 ffe oa b ° ar < HbeGa-HTit $ Persons proceeding to Alger ia M ^ JSda ^ asrrai * - ^ in ^ w ^ Sa mdel Brown , aged twenty-one , a clerk m the Money-order-office of the General Post-office , was indicted at the Central Criminal Court , for for ^ Eney-orjers purporting to be drawn in Sitting-£ 39 &' T ftf ^ 8 rw « U offiw . to theamonnt of * 3 y , 5 s . 5 d . The defence was insanity : Brown had at ^ JhtSr - ? l ati 0 U 8 J he had w « Ws ^ ter ? n ^ ffi ^ ? ^ W l >»» tHW J had dressed 3 L fS "" 8 « fgaed himEelf "Colonel James fS , MTn ; h ^ » 68 tewd a friend wi tl » ° onsv , U tations about marrying a countess ; had plunged bis hand into boiling lead , saying that it would not hurt turn , and had committed other absurdities . About twelve years ago he received aniniurv from an acciaentai
wow with a brick , and he had been subject to Ms . Medical evidence placed his insanity bojond a Uonbt ; so he was acquitted , but ordered to be detained in custody daring tho pleasure of the Crown .
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Grace Darling , the heroine of the Fern Islands Lighthouse , died a few days ago . Tub Herring Fishery . — Tha herring fishing since cur last notice has been extraordinarily successful , and the herrings were consequently selling at a very low prica , often at five a penny . At the fishing grounds thoy were bought by the carers and coupers at Is ,, Is . 3 d ., and Is . 6 d . per hundred , and the price hero ranged from Is . 6 d . to 2 s . Gd . Last weeic the moon changed , and , as was anticipated by the fishermen , the fishing fell off , and we are sorry to say there is no better prospect this week . — Greenock Observer .
At the Surrey Sossions-honse , on Thursday , seven actions against tho Earl of Uxbrid ^ o on acccunt of several annuities , of sums varying i ' rora £ G 0 to £ 239 , were tried . Mr . Jonea stated that the annuities were due to persons , many of them in hnmble life , who had advanced money to the Earl on the faith of the annutcifis being punctually pair ' . " The Ear ) was heir to the Marquisato of Anplessa , bat had been called to the Upper House during tho lifetime of his father ; a somewhat unusual course , which mi- ; ht leavo a doubt upon the minds of the Jury whether the defendant bad been so raised to the Pcorage in order that , as a legislator , he might
bsnefit his country , or that ho might himself enjoy the privilege , o ? freedom from nrrest . At all events , the plaintiffs would be prevented availing themselves of a remedy as against tho person of tho defendant ; and they feared that ho had very little property . " The Marquis o [ Anglesea was oxamined . He stated that he believed that he was the father of the Earl of Uxbridgo . He could not say where the Earl was in 1838 : he had a house in Bruton-etreet , and the Marquis was told that ho had taken a house in Hertfordshire ; but as to what hi 3 establishment wa 3 he had not the slightest knowledge . Verdicts were given for the sums claimed , with interest .
Extraordinary Suicide of a Man Ninety-seven Years of Age . —An inquest wa 3 held last . Friday evening , before Mr . Baker , at the Salmon and Ball , Bcthnall-green , onthebodyofiir . JosephFarrer , aeed 97 , who committed snicide a 3 follows : —It appeared from the evidence taken that the deceased latterly , owing to his advanced age , had given signs of derangement , and laboured under the delusion that the Devil was after him . On Wednesday be , toot bis dinner , and appeared in better spirits , than , usual . Ho afterwards , according to his custom ,. went up stairs for the purpose of having a nap , and remaining longer than usual , one of his daughters went tip to
call him . On reaching the room door , she found it locked inside , and after repeated calling , without receiving an answer , a ladder was procured , and an entrance made by the window . On getting into the room , the deceased was found seated in a chair . * quite dead , with his head leaning against the bed-post . A cord was round hia neck , and also round tho bedpost and chair , to the extreme end of which was fastened a 141 b . weight . The weight had , after being fastened to the rope , being thrown across the bedstead , thereby causing strangulation . He had ateo closed the shutters before committing the act . Ver « diet , " Temporary iasanitv . " .
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6 THE NORTHERN STAR :-. '; ' " ' ;/ . '
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 1, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct450/page/6/
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