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BEEKONDSEY.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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A ra ^ -lie co nversational meeting was held on Tbarr . day trenisg -week , s . t the Ship Inn , L 021 : Lane , BermondHfcy . Mr . S 5 AGS was called to the chair , and opened the proceedings by informing the assembly that it -was an adjourned meeting from the previous week , and tkat it * or-jf ct ¦ sr&s to endeavour to effect a union between the Metropolitan Btfcnn AssodaiK'n and lie Chartists . Af-i- ' y q > j » - ; t ) moved lbs foliuwing resolution : — " That this meeting cssnet bnt feel , with horror and alarra , the present awful distressed state of the country , in -which sot only the working classes , but the manufacturer £ 3 d tfce small capitalist , are alike npon the brick of ruin ; srd beicg convinced that the cause of this diifccES is class legislation , ve feel assured that no permanEii : good ¦ ffill arise ur . til the People ' s Charter beccmt-s t ; . -e isw of t '_ : e land , which vrouM soan be scc ^ iBplisned by an bostst union of : he middle and ¦ worths classes diree'Lug their tnergies for thia great orjees . "
He stood bfciors them , in rather a peculiar position , and i : s nr . HTf 5 Trtra l : s . b ! e t « be misrepresented ; but be gloried in hia position , and ¦ was determined to pursue an tiontzz E" -i :. jL : fcr-yird ocnrsr , aud bid no doubt their efforts t : prrmcte a uskn Vould be successful . To the resolution he was rerd no Chartist could object . He ¦ wti ? ell awrTe they oc ^ ht to er . ttrtaia a jtaloasy of the mildle cesses , if ttrvj doubted th-nr sircerity ; but they stosJri aUo t-ke into c .-ns : ii-r- _ iicn tlr . ir peculiar circunistiEcer . The i- Tent object thty Lad in view -sras the attainment of the Chirttr ; ? . nd if they were to obtnii . ii monl ' it - ^ 2-i his firm opinion it could not be dcrr- wr . hoat ihe aid of the Eii ^ ie ci— -& Distress wss T 2 n- "iy -Z the co-cntry ; tens cf thcuiands rose in the EcrrJr ;^ " iiLknowi 2 g Tliere they should prccura food for the < uy , whilrt an- tier clars , ifho neither tviitd Ef-r foes , —ere " clcttec in £ . ne liner ., sr-. ' i-iisd
sumptatiw'j iTer ^ iay . " Such 2 state of things ^ ns eDi /^ h to mte a man ' s hair t ' . and on' end . The great cuae cf this T 3 = tbai tht masses ¦ wtre iinrepmtnt-d . Uatii the Chcrurvas cbt ? . i .. r-i . this could c-yer re removed . He fris a " tpV-3 = big' Ch ^ rtiit ; ' he wuuld not ! o 2 e CE 2 of tl ; f ro ' i . ' iB . A i ; : m cor Id net iese m crm -withont his v '; c ' e bc-ov t-eis ? r-jired , Ef ;< -b = r could o ; : a point of the Chi .: t / r to tbki ^ . cstd vritfc-ai an injury to the ¦ wh-le nucbintry . Ht rid cot blane them for being jtiic ^ s of ihb middle cIzssls , thsy had been so cf : en deceived by theu ; but s-.-ves ^ c-e = s hoL-e ^ t as ihe-r . Sciv *? . Eorne To-. fce , H"r . t C-r' - ttt . O Con-01
nor , ana otcsr great cuvocs ^ s --r ;»; , ^ cra mid'iie-ciiHs m sn . If the C-: ait&r was to be c .-dnsd e :-rally , it Eirat . bs oUulrcd in the House of Ccainicr . 3 . Their grand orjeer , lC ^ -h , weald be to urce on t ^ pse ^ ho hid vctes to giv ? tc . -in to no min vrha tou 12 net ti « V- ; e himse ' -f to th- - Chcirter . He R- as " 3-eii arare ths ir . i : A ' . e clzzsts mp ^ A cn : . » join thtm from ii , t .-: f £ t Tr . tv felt the the- , pinch th ' -ui , end w .- « sex c-- - to rtaicve its pressure . A ^' --- inoTCKJcnt was befc ^ cairi-i ' .-a in that bvdv . Those thai a liitle tiuw b £ C £ "Cu . d have treated ' . he Charlists T 7 : th aisc ? .: c , vere now seen coming . ' rEgst them , se = Lng it w ; j thsir last risenrce from the Iccusts v * b ¦ vrere de-vi uring the . ' and . Ths-y n-ust all be a'rare vbey would get the C . nrter sr . jtar " 07 the aid of the middie ciais , aaid c ~ til they juisLd ite houeit portion of them , in his rpiuion they ^ oula never obtuin it .
Dr . Black Beconded the resolution . He ^ vas buffering fruni indisposition , and notbirg iut the importance of the meeting ¦ wculd ha"e induced him to have attended . They had a powtr ' n ' . en < \ nj to contend sgiinst , an eLtmy completely or ; a . r . z-d . It had ¦ what mirht be termed its -. facial crganz-tl ^ n perfect in all its dttails . emfcracirs f Terr sjx > t in the k ! ii , » 'ilm ; it had a prits : iy or ^ aaiZitirn coTering tte Trhols la : id , as it ¦ svere en- gisat moral dab ; it had another peculiar organizati '' ::, its ceutlemen ' s clubs , inattinz in thtir arhtccratic cstaVii . -tmenV ^ , rnd perp ter-Tiy tp ^ rgco in plcttirg tie bestmc ^ ns tv r-. tain their aiC-n-ii-. v-r over the people ; they had also a poTennl rLU : t .-. rj r . r . ; ai . zition , ¦ we ! : ¦ fScirtd , supp-litd frith e ~ e ; V achc- ; p " on of the munitions of Trarfi-re , and ^ fforGirg siruariorss for the yennger eons of the i ^ istocricy ^ whtsc sa ' s-i . = t ' r-.-y
• vrere compelled to pay ; thtre was also tr . tir poiica acd ccnatabulatiry rVrcej and this was not al-, ¦ tht-y hul also 3 great morai-f . ice crgsEiz . tion , not otij nmoag the niiiajo but also - ^ moi- 'g the woik ^ g c ! as- ^»—the feeling which incuce-j cei ; ro fcotv down to a naae and a title , V : « oca of the gr ^^ test evils they hsn to contend against ; it iiifecteu all tht-ir p ' rcceeditigs . The powc-r thes estrciird bv a priest or msgistrste was enormous . He knew an honeit Chartist , who reoen-. ly tola fcim that he Co-ulJ not stand - ^ ith the smus ea ? e in t ^ e pro Benca cf 3 L : rd cs of another mac . Tliis pcwer'ul opponent , pcises ^ ed of these three oompirte orpifz ^ - t ions , called themseiTes ii addition their iriOit-r ? . and ihe country their c- uiitry , teliir .. ? thrm this was law , and they must obey it—this was iileg-1 , and they must refrain fiuru it—making laws by ¦? rhic-h tbey could
B « rcely rctct together , and give Tent to their hon-st indignation , without endangering thtir liberty through the spy system . This -sas a picture of the en ? i :-y they hod to cope with , aud whu was their position ? Had they even en ? complete crgar .- ' zition ? Were they in possession cf a physical i-. rct- pjw . r officered and disciplined like tLat cf th < - - - -licmy ? He said i ; fea : lei £ iy , but with' an r . cbing ii ^ arti that they were standing before the b = st prepared enemy in the wotli , qcirr-Uing among thcinb-. ivts , allowing j-iaicus petty fcel : r-gs to spell the canst in which they were encaged , quarrelling iV-2 in their oin locaiit '^ s . Good God ' . ^? ere th < = y so inst iiVie to tbeir own position that notL . ii !>; eou . d 'jiake : rn . m lock at their real position ? Were they ior- ; sr to go on sa madmen or boys , engaged iu -idle spLrc . True , they might call tbe GvTemment hard aat ^ ei , tat ;? :- „; . - iinpr iscced ar banished whom tbey p ] ei < ed . It-. / raised Enbseriptiors for their de ' ence and iuppjrt , b ^ t was
that to be axl ? Were they to go on i . to the end of the chapter . No ! In sjite cf jral . usy , in spiie cf \ rrong thinking , he would m > x , say wrcr . j Ectives , the dawn cf a uaioa was bretk i , ; o ? er them ; and : before many months the i ^ ai buff age parly throughout the land weald , he be iieTetl , be usitod as a band 0 : brothers Truth had only to be fcjrltsz ' proclaimed , aa-i its u ' . timate triumph wa = ceitain . They might be cuiuu dishonest ; they taigtt be suspected , but they wuuid still ge on , nntil they cf-i ; qirr £ Q them . He itlt tLit tbe middle classes were liable to be" suspected . T :: e working men uigered under the sting of sppre ^ sors n that class , and it made them irritable , but when the ; - met in a friendly saatT , like the present , error ¦ ^¦ as dissipated anc friccdship produced . They had only been t- ^ o OP three months hi Ective operation ; atid tbey had the satiEfacticn of eeiing that those who were the-n the most suspicious cf their intentions were now their greatest freruls . This rrnfe them encouirii ;^ mtn ; tu go on in enc-ravr-uring to tfftet a coriial unioii .
Mr . Faikchild said the present ay . p-: &red to him ; to be a moxientons crisis . If a union could be hcnetily ; brought about , he should hsil it with ds-ught . It ^ aa : what he had bern iookir > g for many a iotg dty . ' ihe . only question to consider was , would it he consistent 1 to unite with those men who . had ever coerced the ; working clashes . Ee thought they mun ; srj ' ely Biiite ; with any man , whetner peer or peasant , " -vho woal-. ! 50 for the Chaiter ; but he would haye the Ch . irttr whole and entire , nsms raid all , cr he would Jk- for it . He aeked the gentlemen , did they mean to gi ^ - them a Bttbstance or a shaaow f if they meant to giTe thtra the substance , in God ' s name he said to ihtm . Go en and prosper . If they meant to deceive them b * trusted tbfy ¦ wouldfail ; but they must hard somi ' . iiiuz mere than words , they must have actions . The nuJriif class ^ erc their most opprsssiye tyrants . FeaTtus O Conner was a middle class man . bnt he did not dmtk any more cf him for that circuis-fcirce , and if he dc ^ -rttd the principle they wculd inrmediately hurl kini to the winds . He for one wcal-i sav , Gifa me the Chnrter , yon say gt >
ton—1 L They hid no objection to h-.-ld out the bar- \\ of fellowship , to let the two asrociaMons run together ! and assist each ct-ber . They had the ineaas at the : r i oommand , let them use those mears to !>« -st tbe ! men now in prison , and he wsuld h : M them as : patriots and brothers . As until they ciA iint he cou'd ' not believe they were honest or tre-: t—jrihy ; he did : not wish to throw cold water on this attii ; : pt . fur he i
knew that if its middle classes honestly n :.: te-i with them , the Charter would be attained in ies ? than sis months . The three per cent . coa : i .: s-io . ers tre-a telling teem a lessen they would rt-ev : >> rjj ^ i . P ^ ei " was a Chartist to the bscfc bona , and was mukirg Chartists ty wholesale . If it kail rot bben for -. c « tariff BT ^ the income tax , they wenlu h ^ Te fce-uro but little i < f Chartism in that quaiter . He did not txcect . a ; Mr . Maynard did , any rro ^ d from n . H > u-e of Commons like the present . Was it liieiy a House containing 132 bc-ja under twenty-twe a r . a half years Of age wocld " grar . t them the Chsr ^ r ? He knew they woald scont tLe idea , &-rt ; r the r u-ner in which the petition was treated ; every m ^ n -sho il ^ ned iha : document , he dare stow , hai more t r . ? c tnan thrse 132 boys , aud yet they taurt ^ d workj : g intn -w ; th
igneraace . Was that man ignorant who could c : g a road under tLeThaniES' A pretty idea , truiy , to cu : l that man icTiorint "sho c-. ulu matt- micbius 3 tc travel sixty miles an huur . If a a : ioa " tiied on princip ! -.-conld Le formed , he shonM r ? j- ice , for he kuew ; Lj Charter would be quick-. r obtained . The middle riasppjt had more leads at iheir disr : > il : and if tiiey meant houestly . they would r , ot suffer one inaivi ' . la : now in prison to be lost for want cf funds , but w <; ulti join in that mercirnl o- jeet with heart ar-d hands , aca bands too well previdea with ihe needful ; and tney would think snort of their sincerity than if they nia < ie professions for seven years to come . He oelibvc . " . Dr . Black to be perfectly sincere . Ha ' hocght if the middle flv » were all like h ' they wunlu soon have the Cbsrter .
Mr . C Westestox hailed with gr ^ at p ' easure tbe exertions of his friead Dr . Black , in endeavouring to procure a union among all sections of the Caartists . Tbe ehief objection be had heard advanced araicst a union was , that the middle classes , afttrmakii ^ many profaaaons , always had deserted th--: n wu n their SBBEtaooe was most wanted ; and t ? yer . maury cavalry , jnd in the jury box , they had ever betu tatlr pi-rsecu-* ton . t 5 aar . ) He admitted the middle ci-iis&s bad # 1 re , Ted ttaisors ; that tbey had insinuated themselves ^ Tnjq ^ g ^ ipm ^ Bnfl * thpn Bold them t-J their eBcmies . But -waftlit ^ B ^ tasv that because seme h : ; d ( ' . one this that , 101 j ^ ere equally dishonest ? As well might they say that , frya nae certain working men Lau turced spies , , Of * because soae of them bad Gcs ~ . ro .-c a property , 01 ' « HHmitfed-acts of violence , that the whole ciasa weaugqbaEiT -as guilty . They wcrU , he knew , burl bicktlj 4 "foulass c jti ' -n cpon the party who made it
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and be , as a shopkeeper or middle class man , equally hurled back tbe charge against his class . Many of the middle class were equally interested in abolishing class legislation ,: \ a themstlvea . Tbey wanted a unkm not so much for a love of them , but frem a regard for their own interest Tbey would find that some of tbe men now foremost in tbeir ranks were middle class men . Wbat were O'Connor , Frost , and that sterling and and high-minded patriot who was now forced ^ jfco fly his boms , Dr . MDouall ? iGreat cheering . ) He trusted they should be judged by their conduct and not by such idle imputations ; it was a libel npon tbe working men
to assert tbey would be betrayed . CguW they rob them of their intelligence or of their prinicpie ? Tbey did not ask them to give up tbeir organization or to pin tbeir faith io their sleeves ; tbey dit not even want them to jjin tbeir Association , unless of their own wish ; their object was to rally round Ihem the true and honest of the middle class . He trusted they wculd ferm their jadgmer . t by their acts alone (" and that of your committee . ") He thought that was a harsh remark . No association was free from some bid characters , thtre was always some black sheep in the flock ; be was only acxious for a good understanding that they might coccerate together .
Rcffy Eidlet wished to aEk Dr . Biack a question , in the pamphlets they had issued , one of the points to that " Parliaments were rot to be larger though tbty mi ^ ht ba fo r less duration , than three years . ' He ¦ wished to know whether , having seconded tha resolution for the Charter , he , or the committee acting with him , were prepared to expurige that rule , and place Annnal Parliaments in its stead . Dr . Black stated that they had great difficulties to contend with among the middle classes . If hia own feelings could have been consulted be wou ' id have come eat boldly for tbe six points , name and a-1 : and be was of opinion that if a sufficient number of men of itflucDca couid be got to take that standing it would
? rhe best and most manly coarse . He hs < i been a firm Chaitist ever since the first Convention . They bad considered the point of Annual Parliaments , ami found i . 'isny good men preferred Bieniral Parliaments ' , and seme few Triennial ; and to afford every facility for the junction of those men they left the point open . He had no doubt whenever the Charter was adopted , it would be settled to have Annual Pariiaiinnts ; yet m ; , ny even of tbe Chartists if tb-. y h ! tJ to writa the Charier over again , and to consult their individual opinions , might make some slight alttratiors in it ; but in a great combined movement it was essuutial they shouid give way on all those little shudta of opinion to ensure union on the whole . Tbe great majority of his association vrere in favour of Annual Parliaments .
yiT . Rufft Ridley stated that he had no doubt these initividuals were actuated by good motives ; but it -was ! he duty of the public to scrntinise whether rheir acts would have the desired effect . Dr . B ack n : iibt , as an individual , think it prudent to give way on soma minor point ; but he , as a member of the working class , could not abandon one iota of the Charter . ( We den't want you . ) He thenght tb ; it if the majority ¦ were for Anaua-l Parliaments , if was a delusion to have that rule on their pamphiets ; it was keeping a phantom beicrc the public to delude them , and weald ouiy huve the result of producing disappointment when it was discc-vered tLat their pamphlets and th (_ ir professions
were at variance . He considered three jeara too long for a member to be exposed to the temptation of the Government ; too long for a man ' s honesty to be depended on . He asked these gentlemen to come manfolly forward and advocate that complete measure of justice " which would ensure the salvation of the country One speaker had said that iDJostice had ever characterised the proceedings of the middle towards the working classrs : of that tbe Reform Bill was a fatal example . He requested them , for conEisttncy sake ,: to expur-ge that rule from their books . One man gained under tbe honest colonrs of Annual Partliamenta ¦ s ^ onld be worth ten men juiced by a delusion .
Dr . Black , explained ; in his opinion if they pot the Suffrage , if the duration of Parliament was fixtd to 3 , 5 , or even 100 years , if they found it did not answer , they could easily rectify it . Mr . "Wueelee briefly spoke on the necessity of the Reform Association giving up such a minor point before ar . y thing like a firm union could exist . Jilr . Ruffi Ridlsy said he still considered that rule a delusion , but he should leave tbe andience to decide ; he should not h . we been doing hi ? duty if he had not alluded to it ; he gave them every crtuit for the manliness with which they h ? . d explained tbeir views . He should be sorry to throw anything in the way cf a reconciliation , but he thought they should first explicitly understand each other : if they went on in their present straightforward manner be should wish them every success .
Mi . Stallwood entirely coincided with Mr . Ridley in his objfctions . Dr . BiEck seemed to treat the question of Annual Parliaments lightly , but be could not have sufficiently considered the subject or he would have Been that Universal Suffrage could not exist without it , for the Cbarttr said that every man of twenty-one should have a vote , but if Parliaments were Triennial , he cculd not ic thousands of instances have it until he was twenty-four ; they were pleciged to the whole Charter , name anA all , and any union not rased on that would be a rope of sand . The Complete Suffrage nitn adopted the whole o ! the Six Points , so did the largest party , the National Charter Association , aad if the great majority of the Reform Association were for Annual Parliaments he felt convinced they could easily convert tbe minority .
Mr . Mohton made a very excellent speech in favour of a co-operation of the two bodies ; he belonged to every association which had for its object the destruction of tyranny , and allowing of working men to manage their o-s-n aff ^ ira . He k new that it was the thoe-pinching tbt 3 -rrjiich caused the middle classes to look to the CLartsT ; but had not the case been the same with tbe working men ? did they care any thing about Rjform until the ; -hce pinched thtm ? they allowed one after another to be imprisoned in their cause ; thty allowad the hand loom weavers to be persecuted and starved : why then reject the middle classes when the piicbirj cf the shoe drove them into their rauks ? He agreed with tbe previous speakers , that tbe middie classes should show tbeir truthfulness and love of justice by assistin g tbe incarcerated victims .
Mr . J . Duscan made a long aud aMe speech in favor cf a fritoidly spirit of co-operation existing between the two Associations , and concluded in the wordB of the t ; utie charge of a celebrated Vendean chief , " ar-. vance , follow bis ; if I retreat , kill me ; if I die , aveegs me . " He would Eay the same ; if they retreated , let them be consigned to that political death which they would richly merit But give them the English justice to be accounted innocent until they were proved to be guilty . Mr . Rcss was anxious to have a fair understanding . He did not lifee tbe terms middle class and working ciass : the sooner they forget those distinctions the 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 tsetr minds every prejudice which was sown by interested Individuals , and teok no opportunity to dispel it . The speakers , especially the last , had spoken much about the working classes refusing to unite . When bad they ever refused a union on tke principles of the Charter ? It was the middle class which stood aloof in tbeir pride and prejudice . The Chartists had ever been eT&tefu ; for assistance , come from what quarter it would . But svhen they siW the names of persons on their council , the stndy of whose lives appeared to be to sow f'is « c-ru and division , it mede thtm look with a suspicions eye on tbe whole body . These men say they are Sturgites—they are moral men—and they will havo ncthiug to do with the Feargusites—this did not look like u . ion . He thought it was useless to have meetings
like the present ; if they wanted to ascertain the sentiments of the two bodies they should call a large public meeting , or a conference , composed of an equal number of delegates from both parties . * Mr . Wheelhr agreed with the sentiments uttered by Mr . Boss . Tbey had never declined the assistance of the middle class , bnt they would not desert those principles to which they were pledged ; he wished to
understand what the gentlemen meant by co-operating with them ; if they meant they should be members of both issoriatioiiS he could frankiy assure them they cculd do no such thing , for the working men u&fortu-Daicly had not funds sufficient properly to support their own organization ; with the middle class tbe c ^ so ¦ was widely different ; 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 assisting them by tbeir numbers and presence :. t any public meetings , he conld readily assure them it would bs done provided tbey adhered to the p :: ntiples if ths Charter .
I ? .-. Black sated that tbey had three means of acc . mplishiug their object by petitioning , by the press , and u > pubiic meetings ; petitioning was briefly useful as a mc-. ns of banding together public opinion . Tbe press , uLfi-rtunately 'with a few exceptions , was under the infi ' . ei . ee of their opponents ; their chief strength lay in pa-. 'liemeeiiegs ; they bad that evening had a good talk , and understood each other ; prejudice was disappearing , and it was only by saeh meetings- that unaniaiicy couid be produced ; they would shortly bold a large public meeting for the same good pnrpese . A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman , five shillings were collected fox the victims , and Mr . Morton enrolled himself as a member of the National Charter Association .
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Lord Johu Russell , it is said , has been occupying his ieianre hours , since his retirement from office , in preparing for publication selections from the correspondence of Johu fourth Dnke of Bedford , from the originals preserved at Woburn Abbey . — Times . The Wabspik , 50 . Captain Lord John Hay , arrived at Spithead on Saturday afternoon , bringing homo Lord Ashburton irom his mission in America . Hia Lordship left the Warspite between two and three o ' cIock , and landed at Gosport , the ship saluting him when be left her , and the batteries upon his landing . The Wartpite has betn seventeen days from America , having left on the morning of the 5 ih instant . She was becalmed two days , or would have made the run in fifteen . Lord Ashburton , upon his landing at Gosport , immediately proceeded to his residence at Anglesey , where Lady Ashburton has been waiting his arrival .
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A MARE'S NEST . ( From the Times . ) " An investigation int 3 circumstances of tho most alarming character , connected with a Chartist conspiracy to destroy the Qaeen , has been secretly going on before the magistracy of Somhanipten for some time past We have taken all imaginable paina 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 , we may slightly err in tbe details . Tbe party through whom the notice of Government has been directed to tbe investigation is named Peirce , a grocer , in Canal Walk , Southampton . Pelrce was considered soma time back tbe leader tf th& 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 , the existence of which has long been suspected by the London police , seems to consist of a select cumber of the most desperate characters among the great body of the Caartists . They direct the movements of the unitiated , arrange the principal meetings , send delegates to disturbed districts , and , as it will be seen , are sworn to attempt the accomplishment of their tTeasouable designs , at all hazirds , even if by tbe assassination of tbe Sovereign . It would seem that the secret conclave we have referred to considered that the-destruction of the Queen would have the effect of overthrowing the Government , and that tbey should , in the general consternation aud confusion that would ensue , be able to carry out particular ends . About five months since , as we aro informed , three men called an Peirca at hie shop in
Canal Walk , and after making themselves known to him as loaders 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 the Queen I Peirce was horrorstruck at the proposition , being one of the crowd of deceived persons who believed tbe acquisition of tbe five points to be the be-all and end-all of Chartism . The parties ltffc Peirce with a threat of fatal consequensfrs to himself if he divulged tbeir visit to any party . He , however , did communicate his secret to a brother Chartisi ; , and for the credit of that person , we hope it is true , ihat it was owing to his counsel that Ptiirce communicatod with tbe Government on the business . Peiree was sent for to London , and was
exaimned at the Secretary of State ' s office , and being taken to Newgate to see Francis , tbe regicide , at once pronounced him to be oue of tbe tbree man who had paid him the visit spoken of J It was deemed advisable by the Privy Council t > let the matter rest for a period , Li order to see if any further movements were in contemplation . Tbe fact , however , of Pierce ' a revelations had probably coiuo to the knowledge of the Chartist leaders , for on the evening of Friday , the 2 d instant , as Peirce was returning to Southampton down the London-road on the Common , a fellow suddenly appeared before him from among the trees , and presented a pistol at him , uttering , at the same time , Borne expressions relative to his having betrayed somebody , but at that moment a carriage approached , which from the softness of road had not been beard till
then , upon which the ruffian ran off among the trees towards a place adjoining , called Hi ohfleld . Peirce made his way home , and was too much alarmed to communicate the matter to the police . On the following Tuesday Peiice was returning homo across the Houndwell ( an open piece of ground near the Highstreet , Southampton ) about eiyht o ' clock in the evening , ¦ w hen be f . und himself do ? g = d by a man whom he recognizsd as tbe ruffian wno assanlted him on the Common . At a moment when no person was apparently near , the fellow fired a pistol at Peirce , and the bullet pasred threujjh his bat , doing him no injury . Tha assassin fLd and escaped . Peirce communicated
the facts to the Home-office , and a gentlemaj ( Mr . Hay ) from thence , and aubstqurntiy , we believe , Sir James Graham , have attaiided the examinations of Peirce before the borough magistrates . No cluo has been at present obtained , but a Government proclamation , efftring £ 100 reward for such information as may lead to the apprehension of the assassin , will be issued forthwith . As before stated , we have been refused a perusiii df the depositions , or any information , by the matiitrates , who . however , setm fully impressed with a belief of the fact of Peirce having been shot at , a poiice constable and a woman in tbe vicinity having heard the report of tbe pistol at the time . "
[ Co monstrosities coming from certain quarters , we g ( nerally reply , in significant monosyiiafelea , such as , "B ^ 'a ! pooh ! boo ! fudge ! shainl" or the like ; but to so grave a subject as tbe assassination of a monarch , and coming from so respectable a source as the Times newspaper , we feel ourselves called upon to reply at greater length . And as the above paragraph will be read with horror by all , and with surprise by the Chartists ; and as they especially will look not only for an answer , hut for complete refutations , we give that of which alons it is susceptible . One morning , before sun-rise , a little aftsr noon , in the middle of the day , towards evening , as I sailed over tbe mountain in niy little beat , with my stick on my head , and my hat in rny hand , I met the man I overtook . " Good morrow , ma am , " says I . Good morrow , Sir , " says she .
" Pray , S ' r , " B&ys I , " can yon tell me if the little old woman is alive yet , that was banged about five years ago upon Ritcliffvi highway , for drowning borself in a shower of feathers ? " " Upon my word . Sir , I don't know , I am a stranger in this country , but if you go to Sir Gammer Vanga , he is a neighbouring magistrate , aud he'll be more accurate in bis detail of tho old woman ' s demise , perhaps he can inform you . " ' ¦ Sir , I m a stranger also ; how do you go to Sir Gimmer Vangs ? " "Ob , it's vary easy ; first turn to tbe right , then to tbe left , than to the right again , always minding to keep straight forward , until you meet with a great large stone brick fcoiisa , alJ built ol Quit , in the centre of an open space , all alone by itself , encompassed by fire or sixand-twenty other houses ; knock at tha door , and there
you'll sie Sir Gammer Vange . " So I accordingly went first to the right , then to the left , then to the right again , always minding to keep straight forward till I met with the self-same great large stone brick house , all built with flint , iu the centre of the oprn space all alone by itself , when I knocked at the door , and up came Sir Gammer ' s eldest daughter , a justico of peace . Just as I was speaking to this damsel of seventy , up came her second eldest sister , a chutcbwarden to a troop of horse . " Good morrow , Sir , " says I . '' Gjod morrow , ma ' am" saya he ; " pray , Sir , " says I , " can you tell me if Sir Gammer Vangs is at homo ? " Just as I spoke , up leaped Sir Gammer himself , out of the neck of a half-pint bottle . " Good morrow , Sir Gammer , " says I . " Good morrow , 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 Rutcliflehighway . for drowning herself in a shower of feathers ?'" " Upon my word , Sir , I don't know ; but I don't think she was banged , because she was a near kinsman of mine , and if sho was , she'd certainly write me word ; bnt to ascertain , we'll offer the following reward' Lost or mislaid , stolen or strayed , off the lands of BaHyraggat in the Queen ' s cousty , a little old woman , with three white hind legs before , a shorn mane , cocked tail , and jolly ivory eyebrow . Any person or persons giving tale or tidings of the said little old woman within six calendar months of the date hereof , will receive as a reward , the longest , and widest , and largest ridge of potatoes in old Garratt's town ; first paying tho rent , then tha tithe and Income tax , and
then digging them . ' " Bravo , Sir , but you hav ' breakfasted . " •« Oh , thank you , I ate five or six-andtwenty dcz ? n turkey eggs , a whole parcel of bread and butter , and a proportionable quantity of tea . " " God Sir , you ' re starving ! So he sent me in a rouud of bee f , a haruptr of vegetables , a garden of greens , a jackass stuffed with a foot soldier , and several other delicacies , together with the London Times ; and I sat down , and eat and read as if I hav ' nt a moment to live . Just as I had finished this gentle repast , up leaped a little white grey blue mastiff lapdog , upon my whitie doe-skin breeches made of biack velvet by the Manchester fostian-cutSers . " Z > own , damn you , " says I . " Don't damn him , Sir , " says be ; " there ' s not a finer greyhound in existence ; it ' s not two hours ago since be killed as fine a hara as ever you saw ; if . you 1 don't believe me , conio into the garden , and I'll show him to
you , a 3 alive as ever he was ; " so he took me luto a round , square , triangular , hectagon , octagon , kind of a garden ; in one corner was a fox hatching rata eggs , in another was an iron steel apple tree , all hung with roasted paars ; in the third was the self-same little hare that was killed about two hours' ago , as alive as ever she wa « . The moment she saw me , she took fright , leaded over the garden wall ; I run after her , caught her by the scut , and turned her inside out , and she ran away to PriDtirjg-house-Equnre , to write an aiticle upon morality for the Times , as if the devil was after her tail . Nuw we pledge ours ., lyes that the refutation is just as true as tho allegation , and that not a single Chartist in England , no not od 6 , ever entertained for one moment , the notion of iiyuring the Queen , or the foolish idea that her death would put one more potatoe in any man ' s pot , or destroy the power of cotton lords , whieh , if not destroyed , will destroy her . —Evening otor .
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GREAT FIRE IN LIVERPOOL . ( From the Liverpool Times . ) Early on Friday morning , the moot destructive and calamitous fire which ever occurred in Liverpool broke out in the premises of Mr . PenUton , drysalter , in Orompton-street . As Inspector Maasey and officer Hitchmough were going their rounds , about five minutes before tbree o ' clock , they discovered tbe fire , and on entering the premises , which are situated close to Mr . Isaac ' s oil and varnish mill , they found a bench on fire , which they supposed communicated the flames to the roof of the ahed . The fire was alive under the engine boiler , and the door of tee furnace wido open ., Wben they entered , there was no person but themselves upon the premises . Tbe steam iu the builor was a so partly up at the time . Information was immediately conveyed to the Fire-police Station , and three engines , under the direction of Mr . Hewitt , immediately started off , and reached tbe scene of destruction shortly after thres o ' clock . The wind at this period was blowing a strong
gale from tbe north , and the rain poured down heavily . The three engines were instantly got into play , and in a few minutea wero joined by the remainder of the engines , and one belonging te the West of England Insurance Company , waking in all thirteen or fourteen . All their efforts , ho sever , availed little , for owing to thfl combustible materials of tha premises , as well ng the nature of the goods which they contained , the fire continued to gain head , and in about twenty minutea after its commencement , the warehouse in which it had commenced , and two others adjoiniDg it , were completely destroyed . Mr .- ' If-aac ' s oil and varnish works next fell a sacrifice to thu' fi-. uu ' ea , and the combustible materials in this gentleman ' s premises , caused such a volume of flimes as excited iu tiia beholders feelings of awe aid admiration . Henceforth the fire set at defiance all the efforts of the fire-police , and tho continued torrents of water which , without intermission , they poured upon tbe bnrning mass , did not appear to make tbe least impression upon it .
The sheds and cooperage of Messrs . Taylor and Green were next assailed , and added fuel to tbe devouring element . The wind being chiefly from the north , forced the flumes towards Formby-street , which , with the exception of a range of new cottages at the top , and a dwelling-house opposite , in "the occupation of Mrs . Bark , consisted of ranges of splendid warehouses recently built , It still advanced eastwardiy towards Great Howard-street , devouring in its onward course several yards and sheds , and at length reached tbe yard of the Messrs . Molyneux , the front of which is in Great Howard-st ; eet , but it runs a considerable distance backwards in a westerly direction . Here again it received additional strength from considerable quantities of timber in the yards and sheds . The fire still progressed onwards up Formby-street , and canght
some bonded eheds which front Great Howard-street-These , with the good 3 which they contained , were in a short time added to the mass of burning and smoking ruins which now oceupied the sites of the previous buildings , and left nothing but outward walls standing . All the sheds and yards between Crompton-street and Formby-street were , in a few hours , either a mass of ruins or in flames ; and the wind still continuing to blow freshly from the north , the fire was communicated about five o ' clock from the adjoining Bbeds to the rear of the fine warehouses and sheds on the north side of Formby-street . Ou this side of the street , in tbe course of about two hours , four warehouses belonging to Mr . Nathaniel Rayner , one ditto , the property of Mr . Taylor , and three bonded sheds belonging to Mr Gray , were destroyed . At this period the fire had assumed an awful magnitude , and burned with great fury . These warehouses and sheds
were chit fly filled with cotton , but contained considerable quantities of other binds of merchandise . On the ground floor of one of these warehouses , there were no fewer than one thousand barrels of turpentine , to which , when in fl * tn « s , no description can do adequate jtiBtice . Aa long aB any of the turpentine remained , it burned with the fiercest intensity , and by its own mere force , us its situation precluded the operation of the wind , it set fire to the new sheds on the opposite side of the street , in tbe occupation of Mr . M'Kuight . The working of the various fire engines , the encouraging cheers of the men as they rapidly plied tbe handles of the engines , the roaring of the vast volume of flame which ascended fioii the burning pile , the crashing of the timbers , ar . d the falling of the disrupted and destroyed walla , could not fail of impressing every bebolrier with the strongest emotions of terror and astonishment .
About six o clock the wind veered a little to the westward , and drove the flames over Formby-etreet to the warehouse and sheda on the south side . These were speedily in flames . The sheds of Mr . M Knight , and the Bheds and warehouses of Mr . Riyner were rapidly enveloped in one fiery mass . Mr . M'Knight ' s property was filled with sugar and rica , 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 cotten which filled the warehouses and shede of Mr . Rayner , little was saved . All these buildings were entirely new , and such was the avidity of the fire , that In about two hours after they were attacked , they were one maBS of flame from Formby-street to Neptunestreet . Two iron warehouses , in Formby-stireet , owing to the incombustible nature of their materials , etcaped destruction ; but tbe warehouses and sheds on each side are a ruaaa of utter ruin .
Tha ground upon which the fire to oil place forms an oblong square . To the north it commences in Crompton-strcat , and terminates to the south in Ncptune-Btreet . On the east it runs along a portion of Great Howard-Btreet , aud to the west it is bounded by Waterloo-road and Dock . In the interior of thia square , ( tha extent of whioh is about 30 , 000 square yayds ) , the fire had now uncontrolled sway , and consumed every thing within its reach , saving the two iron warehouses already mentioned . That portion , however , which lies in the neighbourhood of the Waterloo Dock escaped the fury of the fire . From this time until about eleven o ' clock in the morning , the conflagration contined with
almost unabat 8 d activity ; but an expectation began to be entertained that tho flames might be prevented from extending further , and about one o ' clock the expectation ripened into certainty . There was btill , bowever , within the doomed limits , an immense mass of burning materials , the beat of which was most intense , and when night again fell , the sky was so brightly illuminated as to causa au apprehension that tbe devastating element had seized upon some fresh prey . This , fortunately was an unfounded fear . The engines continued to play uninterruptedly on the burning materials during the whole of Saturday , by which time great progress had been made in the quenching of the flames . All apprehension had entirely vanished .
The loss of property has been immense ; but a still greater calamity has been tbe 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 the street , and almost over where the engines were being worked ; simultaneously with the noise , the 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 buned in tbe ruins . Of the number of those who wore thus overwhelmed by the falling rcass , were three men in the employ of Mr . M'Knight , who , at the time of the occurrence , 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 was immediately paid to them . Amongst the number taken to the hospital was Inspector Riding , who bad one of his legs broken .
In addition to this calamity we have to notice tho death or a very useful and active officer of the name of Samuel Hodson . The station of this officer , previous to bis death , was in Castle-street , opposite the coach stand , and he was well known through hia civility and the faithful discharge of his duty . About half-past six , be and officers Bates and Tuck were holding their branches directing the water against tbe burning premises of Mr . M'Knight . Tuck , it appears , bad some idea of the wall falling , and gave intimation to that effect to the oth . LT officers . A burning bale of cotton , however , fell into the street ; Hodson ran towards it to remove it out of tbe way , when the wall fell , end buried him in tho ruins . Tuck at tbe moment 8 b ! zsd hold of Bates , and gulled him from beneath tha tailing moss , and thus happily saved both their lives . The body of poor Hodson still remains under tbe ruins , nn ineffectual attempt having been made 011 Sunday to clear away the rubbish from it .
Several gentlemen who were assistinj ? and encouraging the men had also a very narrow escape . Amongst these , were the hea < i constable , Mr .. Whitty , and Air . Maxwell , agent for the insurance companies . The following ia a list of the sufferers , twenty-five in number , who were during the Friday taken-to the Northern Hospital : — Dead . — James Bell , labourer , dead when admitted j Luke Smith , labourer , Westmoreland-street , and John Martin , labourer , Chisehall-street , both of whom died two hours after being admitted . Dangerously Injured . —Robert Black , Newhall-atreet , fractured skull . Eight others severely 1 ejured , of which number Superintendent Riding is one , be having bis heel bone broken and a severe injury of the ancle . Bsside the above , there were thirteen others slightly injured , but who were enabled to leave the hospital on being dressed , four of whom had lost their sight from the smjke , fUrne , and dust of the fire .
The following ia a list of the buildings which have been deatreyed : — . Four warehonBes , ( Grey ' s ) burnt . One ditto , ( Taylor ' s ) ditto . Two ditto , ( Rayner ' s ) ditto . Two ditto , ( Poole ' e ) ditto . ¦ Four ditto , ( Maw ' s ) ditto . One ditto ( Roger ' s ) ditto , fire-proof , partially burnt Two warehouses , ( Rayner ' s ) sontb , burnt . One shed , ( Rayner ' a ) ditto . Two sheds , ( Rowley ' s ) Neptune-st , ditto .- ' Two large sheds , ( M'Knight'e ) west of the abo : e , burnt . Taylor ' s cooperage K fc Holynenx ' a timber-yard , )
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Cart-houses , stables , a row of about sixteen houses , and a l ;> rge mass of property of various descriptions . The value of this property is estimated at from £ 35 , 000 to £ 40 , 000 . The principal contents of the warehouses , fee ., 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 loss will In all probability amount to about £ 660 000 . The total loss at the great firs at the Goree , in 1802 , was £ 323 , 000 . Oa Saturday , at one o ' clock , a meeting of the agents representing tbe different tire insurance offices took place in the Underwriters' Committee Room , N . D . Bold , Esq . in the chair . After " comparing nott b" on the engagements of each office having liabilities in connection with thia destructive event , tbe following was reported as the result : — ¦
The Sun ..... £ 47 000 Globe ..... 40 , 000 Royal Exchange 30 000 PLoeaix 30 000 Lundon Corporation 30 000 Liverpool 25 000 York and London 25 000 Imperial 20 , 000 Scottish UiiiOD .... 20 . 000 West of England ........ 20 , 000 Alliance 13 , 000 Atlas .... 12 . 000 Manchester 10 000 Guardian 7 . 000 Yorkshire 5 000 Norwich Union i 3 000 County 3 300 North British 3 000 London Union ....,.,. 7 , 000
Total Liabilities ......... £ 350 , 900 Some uncertainty , hmrever , exists as to whether all the liabilities have been ascertained , the meeting having been called so soon after tbe conflagration . No doubt , there would be much property uninsured ; so that the result of tbe meeting tends to prove that the loss cannot be far under what we have stated . Tbe exertions of tbe fire police , and of all in connection with it , have bsen spoken of , and with truth , as praiseworthy in the highest degree . If we were to mention the names ol all the parties who were present at one period or another , and rendered valuable assistanee , either in the direction of tho fire-police , the saving of property , the preservation of order , ic , we might occupy at least half a column of our paper . It is only an act of justice , however , to state that great
praise is dtie for their exertions to his Worship the Mayor , Mr . James Lawrence , Chairman of the Watch Committee . Mr . Rusnton , the Stipendiary Magistrate , Lieutenant Maxwell , Inspector of Salvage , Mr . Whitehouse , of the West of England Fire Office , Mr . Richard Diwson , of the Manchester Insurance Office , Mr . Conimussioner Dowiicg , . Mr . Highton , Governor of the Borough Gaol , Mr . M'Koiaiit , the owner of one of tbe warehouses , and many other gentlemen , inc ' udirjg several members of the Town Council . Mr . R . V . Yates was also on the spot , not , however , with any . intention of aiding in the extinguishing of the flames , but for tbe humane purpose of making inquiries aft r those who bad been injured . Mr . Kushton was on the ground immediately after the commencement of the fire , and did all that could be done U save life ,
for he saw from tha firac that all was lost . At one time , fesrs were entertained for the safety of the Borough Gaol , and Commander Ravan , R . N ., sent a corps of marines from H . M . S . Etna , to tbe assistance of tbe magistrates and police force , who , in the event of the gaol taking fire , would have been employed to escort the prisoners to another place . Happily their services were cot wanted , tbe danger to the gaol having been overcome . Mr . Whitty , Mr . Hewitt , and Lieutenant Maxwell exerted themselves with an indefatigability and intrepidity which could ; not ba surpassed , and were , in common with many others , subjected to great danger . There certainly never was a - time at which exertion was more
necessary on the part of the fire police , and on this ocension they showed that too much reliance could not be placed on their discipline , skill and bravery . The heat arising from the volcano-like conflagration , was during the whole of tlie Friday morning so intense that it could be hardly borne at a considerable distance , and in addition to this thu air was loaded with smoke , sulphureous particles , and other exhalations from the burniBg materials , which pained tbe eyes excessively , and in many instances blinded the officers and men for a short period . Even those i » t tbe outskirts of the fire had occasionally to lave their eyes ; but the poor'fellows who held the hose , and were in close proximity to the flaming piles , suffered dreadfully .
When Mr . M 'Knight ' s shed fell in , and Luke Smith and Jobn Martin lost their lives , tha scene was most heart-rending . The two poor fellows were in the employ of Mr . M'Knight , and were most zealous and active in their exertions to save his property . One of them , when sinking in the flimes , called out in agony for Mr . Whitty , who was rear , to save him . Another , who was within Mr . W . ' s reach , stretched forth his hands for help , but , though an effort was made to save him , which iras unsuccessful , from the fierceness of the flames , he too ssnk into the burning mins . The bvues which were yesterday dug out of the ruins of tbe shed , and which were completely calcined , were doubtle ; 3 those of these unfortunate men . Threo others were at the same time disabled .
We ougnt also to notice-that through the great esertious of Mr . E . P . M'Knight , who bad a body of . his workmen present , adiug under his directions , thtra were saved , in good order , 3900 out of 4200 bags of rice , and the whole of the sugar from the Bland , whioh bad on tbe preceding day been stored in his premises . There was at first great difficulty in obtaining men to work tho engines ; but there was a still mote pressing and fatal want experienced—that of an abundant and accessible supply of water . Vast a 3 is tbe amount of property in that neighbourhood , there is not a main : in Great Howard-street , aud though the neigheouriug docks were had recourse to , the supply was insuffiiieiit during the whole of Fjifiay and Saturday , and Sumiity morning , Mr . Cunningham * surveyor of tb . 8 Highway
Board , was sent down by Mr . Ashlin to open sewera , &c . This his men did quickly , and a good supDly waa obtained from the overflow from the canal . On Sunday , however , this was exhausted by the engines ; but in this emergency , Mi-. Tatham , of the canal , kindly increased the overflow , and furnished a further supply . Had it not bten for these sewers , the want of ; water would have been still more seriously felt . At tbe breaking out of the flra , Mr . M'Fadzen thoughtfully recollected this overflow from the canal , and en used an opening in the sew ^ r to be made in Great Howardstreet , from which a supply for two eDgiaes was drawn . Different opinions prevail as to the origin of this disastrous fire . The more generally received statement is
tbe one given above ; but another account is , that tbe fire was most probably communicattd to Mr . Penistou ' s shed by Borne flakes of burning soot vrhich fell from' a chimney that waa known to bo ou fire in Siewart-street , at about half-past ten on . Thursday night . Inspector Abraham , who visited Mr . Peniatoa ' s works immediately after the fire broke out , marie bis report tn the Watch Committee on Friday . He confirms tho- statement of Inspector Massey as to the nV ; t appearance o ; tbe fire ; but he is of opinion that it did not originate from tbe furnace under . Mr . Peiiiston'a boiler . Ho j : i vea it as his opinion , that it was cither the work of ; ui incendiary or bad been caused by some large fl-. feta of burning soot from the chimney -above mentions , ! , which flakes were seen to drop inta Mr . Peniaton ' syard .
The estimates of the loss vary from £ 435 , 000 to £ 715 , 000 ; but we shoull think , as our previous sti ' ameat will show , that tha former is too low and the latter too high . The Albion saya : — " We have received from an intelligent and accurate gentleman an esiiuiato of the quantity tf pro lues destroyed , which , K 3 it is drawn from sources lit :-- !} ' to be correct , we are disposed to place muru contidonca in it than in any of the rumours which we h ; iv « heard on and off 'Change . This estimate makes it appear , that 45 , 908 bales of cotton have betn consumed . We also learn , from the same source , that thora were in tbe warehouHea 250 casks of tallow , 2209 barrels and 800
sacks of flour , 60 tons of co . l oil , 8500 barrels of-turpentine ; addition unknown quantities 01 flour , turpentine , and tallow ; btsiiits India rubber , Indian corn , sperm oil , fustic , rice , sugar , and bark . Amongst the cottsn is n considerable qnuntity of Sea Islaod , which is very valuable . It ; a consklt-ied a low estimate to value the cot ' on at £ s per tale , all round . This wili yield a luso . in that c : mmotiity alone , of £ 382 . 254 . Ti >; loss in rnercharioije of other descriptions , with the sauiilf-r buildings , is taken to be about £ 95 000 . Add to tUia £ 32 000 for the w . rciiouses , and we have an S 8 iim ; . ?« 5 toiul loss of £ i 80 / 2 tii , or / in round nmnbets , of Halv a Million l "
On Saturday , it was rumoured that a considerable number of persons , prorabiy from twenty to thirty , were buried underneath the ruins of the fallen buildings , and it ¦ was suupectecl that amongBt the number wen- , some few of the firs brigade . Whatever may be tha caee-as to other individuals ( and we hope the calamity has been greatly exaggerated , as is not uncommon in such cases / , It Ja nvw known that tbe unfortunate Hodson is the only flre-poiic-efneer whose life ha 3 been lo-t . On Sunday and yesterday , men were busily employed in clearing away the rubbish . In the shed balongirlg to Messrs . Hoislay and Co . the labourers on Sunday
morning found en the ground a cotton bock aud a penny . In clearing a little further , they found a quantity of calcined hones , which had , doubtless , belonged to the owner cf tbe book and tbe 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 tbe earthy portion of the bones remains , and they are light as charcoal . ' Tbe men cleared away more of the materials , and , in a short time , tbey found another cluster of bones similar to the last , amongst which were several of the spinal vertebise , ' and some ends of tbe humeral and femoral hones .
Part of tbe merchandise consumed in the sheds in Neptune-street bad been taved from the fire in Galtonbtreet , only &bjut two hundred yards to ths south . The wounded men at the Northern Hospital wore yesterday all doing extrcaitiy welL Black , whose skull was fractured , is now considered to be out of danger . . ;
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* Subscription fob the Families of the Mew Killed oa Injured at the Fire . —We are happy to bear that some benevolent gentlemen have deter * mined to originate a subscription for the destitute wives and families of the unfortunate men who lost their lives , or sustained serious injnries in the late disastrous fire . All those who are dead perished whilst attemping to save the property of others , and of those who survive tbe injuries which they received , some are disabled for life , and most of them for' a considerable time . The number of families and children left 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 tbe courage and devotednessof tbeir connections , now dead or disabled We hope that this subscription will be liberally supported , and tbat eveiy thing that is possible will be done to relieve tbe misery and tbe destitution of 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 bolden , and a coroner ' s jury of ) ur new middle class associates , as we might have anticipated , has returned a verdict of " JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE . " We do not arraign the finding npon any general feeling of suspicion , which we may justly entertain , when the privileged are the accused , and tbe unrepresented the accusers , because it may follow tbat weavers as well as masters may bs p . uilty of violence in resisting , while , to protect life , the homicide of an aggressor may be perfectly justifiable . In ninety cases in every hundred , however , where a poor man complains of any injustice done by one of the privileged order , the very fact of complaia . ing is , " prima facie , " a proof of the charge ; inasmuch as tbe poor man ' s case must be strong indeed , when he seeks justice in hell , where the Devil is judge . As the question now before us , however , rests not upon " prima facie ' evidence , but upon the swor n testimony of several unimpeached witnesses for ttus
prosecution , corroboratsd in the material points by witnesses produced for the defence , —Lifo having been lost . MURDER , a foul MUKDSR , having been committed , —it becomes our duty to inquire whether or not justice has been done—whether or not the finding of tha coroner ' s jury is calculated to give satisfaction , and to create a respect for tbe laws in the minds of those who ar 6 told that they are equally administered to tha rich and the poor , the privileged and the unrepresented We claim the calm attention of the reader , while we criticise the- evidence upon which our mHdie-class friends returned a verdict of "Justifiable homicide . " The evidence of Sullivan , Cussidy , M'Adain , and Maria Beckett , unshaken by cross-ex-arnination , is plaint simple and convincing , and would of itself establish the charge of murder against the accused . Beyond this , however , wo have the opinion of the Coroner , after the evidence of these four witnesses was given and is runs thus : "That it had been vully PROVED THE DECEASED HAD MET HIS DEATH
FROM I 1 LOWS . AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN INflicted by Thomas Wrigley . " Tuis «' oservation was drawn from the Coroner , in reply to the solicitor for the prosecution , who stated tbat be had ei ? ht or nine witnesses to prove tbat tbe deceased was perfectly quiet when struck by Wrigley ; a most important fact ; and especially , provided the farce of trying T . Wrigley be repeated upon the Lancaster stage , btf . ire twelve performers of the order of masters . However , it becomes important , as we shall examine , firstly , the parties who weie produced as witnesses for tha man-killer . Old Morris , the first witness , is , -with bi 3 sod , owner of the premises , and ho saw NO windows broken ; ha found some broken when he returned , hut he saw stones thrown when bis men ( that is , his engineer , carter , overseers , and body guard ) , who had been
previously armed , rushed upon the unoffending people . Ho wzs the principal ; and it appears that he , unescorted , held parley with the MOB , and suffered no damage at their bands , —a strong proof that there existed no intention of doing him , or anybody else , any bodily harm . But Old Morris swears to stones being thrown . Another Morris , one with » scriptural name , Scth , tbe eon of Enoch , what does be swear ? He saw all . He corroborates the other Marris , whose evidence , with the exception of tho stone-throwing , corroborates tbe testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution . What does ha say about the stone-throwing ? "He said that HE SiW NONE THROWN . " One James Boyle is then brought up to corroborate one of tho Morris ' s , and to contradict the other , —thus destroying the whole defence so far . Tbe case for the def ^ ncj then commences
again , and t'vo girls , Anne Potter und Harriet Johnson . swear that they saw Wrigley and others strike tha deceased , but that Wriqley bad been previously struck by the MOB . Mind , not by tho deceased . Then one Diggles . a constable , as a matter of course , is produced as a kind of finisher ; and what does he swear ? Why , he deposed to previous attacks which had been made by other parties upon the mill of tho Morris ' s . Now sunh is the sum and snbstanceof the evidence , —the whole case for the defence resting upon the evidence of tUe two girls , Potter and Johnson , anil which goes for little , and would go for less , had Mr . Taylor produced bis witnesses to prove that tiie MUKDERED man waa qukt aud unoffending . But how does the law stand ? If a inau is apprehensive of iiis life bsiug in danger , be hue a purtect right to defend it , even at tha hozird of
depriving bis assailant of iif-i ; but so tender 1 b it on such points , that it requires the party attacked to use all subterfuges for bis protection , by flight , capture of the offender , or otherwise , bafore a homicide can be justifiable . What , however , di : l Wrigley do ? Young Morris , the acting manager , very properly givss instructions that thtj hSnda were not to be allowed out , unless the door 3 were forced open Yet , in the teeth of such order , Wrigley , one of the hands , and bifore any apprehension of further injury than the mere stopping ef tho mill could have been reasonably entertained—regardless of consequences , rushes put with a picked gang of bloodhounds , before , as Seth says , any stones
were thrown , knocks hia victim down , beats him inhumanly while down , follows him again , knocks him down again and again , aud then bnusts that he ha 3 settled the b . Upon such evidenca a jury of Enuliihmen return a verdict of " JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE , " instead of WILFUL MURDER , as it ought to have been . The cose is now fairly placed before the public ; and however parties may look tamely on , while the owners of machinery are robbing , stripping , piilagin ^ , starving , bullying , and ejecting Englishmen , women , ur . d children , yet do we confidently hope that , in a country where nearly ten millions per a ¦ umn 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 , nil poor and naked as ho wa 3 , calls to Heaven for vengeance ; and those who hear tin sixth commandment . " THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER , " and to which they respond , "The Lord have mercy upon us und incline our hearts to keep this law ;"—surely , we say , those who so pray on Sunday , will not allow tbeir eyes to be defiled by tbe sight of the murdered on their return from the sanctuary of the true God . — Evening Star . ^ 0 ***—rf ** l * IHi ¦ ^^ fc ^^ a ¦ 1 A- * a - »
Beekondsey.
BEEKONDSEY .
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The Moneteur publishes an order of the Minister of v \ ar , granting a free passage on board the Government packets to persona proceeding to Algeria to settie in the villages , twenty-two in number about to be established by General Bugeaud . James Samuel Bboww , aged twenty-one , a clerk in the Money-order-office of tho General Post-office , was indicted at the Central Criminal Conrt , for forging money-or ers , purporting to be drawn in Sittingbonrne , upon the Camberwell office , to the amount of £ 39 , 5 s . 5 d . The defence was insanity : Brown had
been absurdly ostentatious ; he had waked his sister at night to ask her if he was not beautiful ; had dressed In uniform , - and signed himEelf "Colonel James Samuel Brown" ; had pestered a friend with consultations about marrying a countess ; had plunged his hand into boiling lead , Baying that it would not hurt him ; and had committed other absurdities . About twelve years ago he received an injury from an accidental blow with a briek , and he had been subject to fits . Medical evidence placed his insanity bevond a doubt ; so he was acquitied , but ordered to ' be detained in custody during the pleasure of the Crown .
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* _ Grace Darling , tho heroine of tlie Forn Islands Li # b . tliouse , died a few days ago .
_ The Herring FisiiEtir . — The herring fishing since our last notice has been / , extraordinarily successful , and the herrings were consequently selling af a very low price , often at fivo a panny . Aj the fishing grounds thfy were bought by the curers and eoupers at Is ., Is . 3 J ., and le . Gd . per hundred , and tho price here raided from Is . 6 d . to 2-s . 6 d . Last week the moon changed , and , as was anticipated by the fishermen , the fishing fell off , and we are sorry to , ° ay theve is no better prospect this week . — Greenock Observer . At the SuauiiY Sessions-hou 3 e , on Thursday , seven actions against tho Earl of Uxbridge on account of several annuities , of tuni 3 varying lYorn £ 60 to £ 239 , Were tried . . Vlr . Jones stated that ilia annuities wor « duo to parsons , many of them in humble life , who had advanced money to tho Earl on the faith of tho annuities being punctually paid . " The
Earl was heir to the Marquisate of Aii / ilesca , but had been called to the Upper House duriiig the Iiietiaie of his father ; a somewhat unusual « 5 ours p , which mi ^ ht leave a doubt upon tho minds of the Jury whether tho defendant had been bo raised to the Peerage in order that , as a legislator , he might be- ' ntflt his country , or that he mi ^ ht hiinssif enjoy the privilege of freedom ) rom arrest . At all events , the piaintiifd would be prevented availing themselves of a remedy as against the person of the defendant ; and they feared that he had very littlo property . " l'ha Marquis of Apglosea was examined . He stated Ih .-tf . he believed that ho wa 3 the father of the Earl o' UxbridKe . He could not say where jho tJarTwas : ?; 1838 : lie had a house in Bruton-ttrcet , and the . Marquis was told that he had take-i a ¦ house in Hertfordshire ; but as to what hia esiabiishnitnt was he had not tho slightest knowledge . Verdicts were ft iven for the sums claimed , with interest .
Extraordinary Suicide of a Man Ninety-seven Yeahs of ^ ge . —An inquest wa . 3 held last Friday evening , before Mr . Baker , at the Salmon and Ball , B » -thnall-green , onthebody of Mr . Joseph Farrer , aged S 7 . who committed suicide as follows : —It appeared from the evidence taken that the deceased latterly , owing to his advanced ago , had given Bi " gn « of derangement , and laboured under the delusion that the Devil was after him . On Wednesday he took to dinner , and appeared in better ppirisg ihan usnal . H « afterwards , according to his ' cusjiomj went up stairs for the purpose of having a nap , arid remaining longer than usual , one of his daughters 1 "went uDto
call him . On reaching tho 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 hishead leaning against thobed-post . A cord was round his neck , and also round the tedpost and chair , to the extreme end of which was fastened a' I 4 ! b . weight . The weight had , after being fastened to tho ropa , being thrown across the . bedstead , thereby causing strangulation . Ho had alto closed the shuttera bei ' ore committing the act . Verdict , "Temporary insanity . "
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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-ncseproduct618/page/6/
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