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Northern Star (1837-1852), 1st January 1842, Edition 4 of 4, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      STATE 01 THE COUNTRY . ; " This is the only country in the 'world ur which every labouring man can by industry obtain a competency . - —Dais of Wellington . STOCKPOB . T . , K : " : The cries of the starring thousands in this unfortunate Borough hare at length reached tie hearts of the more opulent , and a public meeting 'was held ; in the Conrt House , on Wednesday week , to demise Bdrne immediate means of relief , a requisition , signed by 186 I&ditiduala , taking fe ^ en presented to the Mayor . Before ^ they separated , upwards of £ 1 , 400 was subscribed , including a giant of £ 500 from the ManufacturersLRelief Coamiuee , in Xondon , established some years ago . Of all the Whig members of the corporation—the " Liberals , " as they are called- ^ -only the Mayor and the Town C'erk ' s names are announced . Where ; are the friends of the poor now the municipal elections are ever ? ^ ^^ — M- ^^ M ^

      BRADFOB . D . Case l . A woolcomber—without work for six weeks —has four children earning 5 s . 6 d . per week—rent Is- 33 —is . laid out for oatmeal and water , potitoes , and salt . When the Tisitor entered , a child was crying 4 ai food ; there was none in the house , and a trifle given them was quickly spent for msal ; the poor chUd - was highly pleased with her meal and water , "without milk . 2 . A woolcomber from Ireland , ent of work seven "Weeks—has four children , the eldest eight years—has travelled in seach of work in Tain . They have not a peniy u depend upon ; their furaitare was sol § up a fortnight since ; an old pack sheet , and a little ? straw fornied their bed ; have applied twice to overseers , but Were refused unless they would return to Ireland , ¦ wh ere they suppts&d 1 iiey should be bo better off The mother would die in tne house rather than . beg .

      3 . A stout good-looking man of 40—son 23 years cf age ,- three young children , with mother , m ^ ke six in fanuiy , without any income but Is . per heal from their township ^ Silad en } . This I * ex pended p ^ bwwn bread , oatmeal , and potatoes—drink herb tea , without sugar or milk—they are just alive , and that ' s--all . Mother and son were found "weeping in the bouse , otttrly unable to discover sufficient means of subsistence , though willing to do anything . ~ _ - . - {¦ 4 . A healthy single man , twenty-four years of agesix month * out of work—has not had a change of-linen , or lain on a bed for two weeks ; is now liviiig on food usually given to pigs . '•; . ' ' . 5 . A woolcomber in work—six children ; income for last three months , 10 s . 6 d . per week , out ofjwhich 2 s . 2-i . for rent is paid ; live on coarse food , asd not having sufficient of that , disease is evidently advancing on them I " -- ¦ . "

      Tti 9 last case is a fair sample of twoithirds of ^ le working families of Bradford , reduced , not by sickness , tut by inadequate employment . In several cases Of sickness , the medical gentlemen called-in have said it "was not physic , but food that was required . One half of the - workirg men of Bradford appear to be Broking nnder privation or exhaustion . One sixth ef the operative families of Bradford are unemployed . TwotMrds are Buffering from deficient employment . | > ot abort one-third are in full work and comfortable eircum stances . " ~~ r An able-bodied comber , in inH work , fifteen hoars per day , earns 9 s . to 10 s ., but a considerable majority of those who have work can only earn 7 s . or 7 s . « di ; on account of delay in obtaining renewal of work on csrlying it in . . ' .-. ' ¦

      The above cases and report are furnished ( the eases merely as specimens ) of general snffering , and not extreme cases , by two gentlemen who havjs for st-ms time Tiaited the working population of Bradford for societies of a religious and moral Dature . 6 . A widow and seven children receive 4 ^ . from the township and 5 s . 6 d . wages—pay for rent 1 * id ., leaving Cs . id . for food , coal , candles , clothings aU- —* an purchase nothing but flour and sharps for brown-bread , potatoes , oatmeal—very rarely get milk to their meal and -wttsr . : ' ~ . 7 . Woolcomber , wife , and four children—out of work Bine months ; had only had one meal of oatmeal and water from Thursday afternoon to Saturday morning ; yesterday kad borrowed a shovel fall of coals , now consumed , and did not know where to get more ; have subsisted by charitable aid and sale of their ftubiture ; clothing , nothing bntraes . - > -

      8- Woolcomber , nina in family—inconfe / l 2 s . per head ; every one of them could eat half a stone of flour weekly , could they get it ; cannot obtain more t > " > " half supply . | 9 . Woolcomber and weaver outof work— -fonrachildren earn 7 s ., which is ths only source of income . ; _ * ? . 19 . Woolcomber—family , six in number ; incom . e , Is . 9 d- each ; some of them sick , and reduced to great distress . % 11 . Woolcomber—seven in family ; income , 9 s . f The above cases are a fair sample of wsolcomberi ' . families throughout the town ; their houses are almost destitute of furniture , and they are strangers to . the comforts of life . Much sickness prevails , and the miserable , care-worn appearance of the parents la appalling . Kasja , coarse food , igueraa . ee and degradation are thsir portion . -

      12 . ilechanic , usual wage 22 s ., out of work eighteen months ; now breaking it-ones at Sd . per day . This is the ' ease with many . ; , ; 13 . Mechanic , 56 years of age ; former ~ wage ; 22 s . to Sis . ; out of work nine months ; now breaking ston ^ for the highway ; cannot at bis age torn to a new . trade , j has for some years had only partial work , and-. has expended his savings . - . 14 . Mechanic , out of work eighteen months ^ wife obliged to work at power looms in consequent ; , one chad waits on the family ; two female lodgers make up their amount of income . . ¦ ¦ 15 . Mechanic , ont of work a long time ; clothing--worn oat ; wife , mother , and two children in consequence obtain a living by preparing and hawking ' "whitening tot cleaning floora ; obliged to labour almost night and day to procure a miserable subsistence . . \ Scch cases as the above are now of common occurrencs in Bradford .- I

      16 . Mechanic , has travelled nine months ¦ unsuccessfully in search of employment ; has at last found full work at Bristol on machinery for exportation ; his einployer is aware that he iB thus dettroying the ultimate prospects of himself and workmen , but has no alternative-17 . Woolcomber , could earn in 1836 , 14 s . or 15 s . on the same nominal sort of wool , which now occupies him more closely to earn 9 s . IS . Tnree years ago another comber earned 16 s . or 17 s . with less labour than he now can earn 19 s . : 19 . Coniber of fine wool , could earn Sis . three years 8 go , wherelie can now only earn 10 s . ! ¦ - _"; _ - _ SO . Cabinet maker , a pious and respectable man , out of work eighteen months , has been obliged to leave bis family in destitution to seek work elsewhere ^ Cases 6 to 29 are furnished by a Society of Operatives . ~

      HA > "SFIELD . i ¦ Never , we believe , was the condition of the poor at Mansfield se bad as at preserV Starvation is doing its ¦ wo rk , and , as it was naturally to fee expected , is fast reducing the middle classes to the verge of ruin . How harrowing is it to the feelings of intelligent , honest , industrious , and once-respectable parishioners , to be obliged » o submit to the embarrassing alternative , of either applying to the Union House for relief , or actually perish in a land of plenty . But , is it not " -still more distressing to be told by the minions in " office , that they have no right to relief while their , homes possess a remnant of furniture , by which the ^ cpuld gupply their exigences- We know men , whose- % tsi

      are in every respect irreproachable , living in such i state of destitution , as to express , in the intensity o their sufferings , a wish that-death might at once pnt ai end to their ftruggles . We could enumerate in&tinee of the most appalling destitution , in Mansfield—when fathers are traversing the streets in mental agony , un able to bear the flight of their unhappy homee ^ -whils the mothers , surrounded by their famishing offspring have scareely a morsel in the world , to appease theL craving appetites—with scarcely any ether covering t shield them from the inclemency of a winter ' s night than the scanty and tattered apparel which they hsv < worn in the day . " . I

      KXRE-AXin . State oy Tkads . —The general distress is onj beginning to be felt here . In the town and distri there are about 2 , 060 looms , and till within these * frsi months past they have been all well employed , and yi our trade has been long in a languishing state—iy facts which can only be reconciled by supposing , 3 ? h we believe to be the case , that our manufacturers manaj their affairs with more prudence than happens ' bIb where . But a sad change is now taking place ; i see many of the weavers going abort seeking " ^ ork , ai cannot find it ; and it will still be worse witfribem , the manufacturers , unable to go on any longer , are dai drawing in . —Scotsman .

      BISTB . ESS IS THE ISLE O ? MAJi . ' ; In our immediate locality , though hitherto not : subject of much public remark , distress , deepand wide spread distress , exists , and that , too , we regret to say amongst a class hitlisrto occupying a respectable statioj in society . Ab a direct iBsue of the recent mismanage ment of our circulating medium , and In a great m ^ j sure in consequence of the ruin which that mismanage ment bo extensively entailed , we have at the preset " time absolutely no trade ; artisans of every description joiners , masons , painters , andthose belonging to ever ; other occupation , have been many weeks out of employ

      ment ; the result we need not repeat . It is far fro being the pauper population alone who are fiow in state of misery and destitution ; we nave the names scores of individuals , the heads of helpless famili who , if they could find work , could easily earn : fro 12 s . to 20 s . per week , in actual starvation , willing , i deed , to work , but (" ashamed to beg . " As an . flic tratton we may here record the fact , that one day la week the wife of a respectable artisan went to brewery in this town and purchased twopenny wor tt the grains usually sold for the purpose of fe « di cattle and pigs , secretly creeping away without payi

      thaVfaggjsfsum . The person in charge of the brewe dwflpF&jti of the workmen to ran after Mrs . ——aadiay , " she had forgot to pay for the grains . " T maalwow ^ d , % nd erertook her when she had reach

      Untitled Article

      home . Having entered the house , to His astonishment he there beheld the poor woman , having an infant at her breast , with her husband and four children , eagerly devouring the grains—not having tasted food for four days ! And we are daily informed of labourers and tradesmen similarly circumstanced—them-Belves actually in a state of physical exhaustion for want of food , and the cries of their . helpless children for bread continually piercing their hearts . —Nona ' s Herald .

      CARLISLE . ( Received loofah-for our last . ) Public Meetihg to believe the pbesent existisg Distbess . —A requisition having been sent to the Mayor , ( G . Q . Mounaey , Esq . } requesting him to call a public meeting for the above object He readily complied , and appointed Tuesday , Dae . 21 st , for holding the mesting . At twelve o'clock , the hour appointed , about tbiity gentlemen assembled in the Town-Hall , when the Mayor was called to the chair , he observed that the present meeting was called , for the purpose of devising means to relieve the public distress , which be was sorry to say prevailed to a rery great extent He was glad to find there was a disposition on the part of those who were able to relieve the great suffering *

      of the poor and destitute ; there are probably some gentlemen present , who are prepared to bring forward resolutions on the subject . The Rev . John Fawcett t \ en came forward to move the first resolution , which was to the following effect : — " That it is the opinion of this meeting , that the distress boing at present so great , a public subscription should be immediately . entered into for the purpose of affording immediate relief . " G . H . Head , Esq ., banker , then came forward to second the resolution ; he said , I cannot but express my sincere regret , that those who were the means of calling the present meeting , had not come prepared with facta to prove to what a frightful extent the present distress prevailed . I know there are nearly one thousand persons in Carlisle at present , who have

      no means of support There are about two hundred labourers out of sork . Those in employment are receiving very low wages . Nine hundred were at ^ present not earning more than from four to five shillings a week , and two hundred not more than from three to four shillings a week . Under these circumstances , is it not painful to see so few persons present ? I know many who ought to have been here . I hope that those gentlemen whe have agitated the town for these last twelve months , will now come forward liberally with subscriptions , and convince the town that they are serious ; and that the poor and distressed are not to be fed upon words any longer . I hope the subscription will be sumciert to relieve the distressed , not for weeks only , but for months to coma I beg leave most

      cordially to second the resolution which has been moves by the Rev . Mr . Fawcett The resolution was then put and carried . Major Wild then moved , and the Rev . Mr . Thwaites seconded the following resolution : — " That a committee be now formed for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of distress for the purpose of rtlieving the same . " This resolution was also carried . The Mayor and some other gentlemen then spoke of the propriety of forming a Mendicity Society , and a Committee was formed for the purpose of considering the subject , and reporting to a public meeting to be held next week . A Committee of thirty persons was then formed to inquire into the present prevailing distress- A subscription was then entered Into , headed by the Mayor , who very liberally

      subscribed £ 10 , Mr . Head following it up with the still more liberal donation of £ 100 , reserving to himself the right of its appropriation . Upwards of £ 160 would be subscribed in the meeting , although the number * present were small Where were our Members for the borough on this laudable occasion ? Where were the Messrs . Dixon's , the leading manufacturers of the town , and who have been constantly professing to have a great feeling for the poor , from whose hard earnings they have amassed princely fortunes , and wh » are erecting formidable castles , the walls of which may be said to be cemented with the blood of the hano-loom weaver , commingled with the tears of the emaciated factory child ? Aye , where were they ? Doubtless these were the men to whom the benevolent gentleman , Mr . Head , alluded . AcaU } auuucui

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      FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY . ( From the Reading Mercury . ) It is with feelings of deep regret that we have to record one of the most lamentable railway accidents that , "we believe , has ever occurred in this country , and which took place this morning on that part of the Great Western line , called "the gullet , " the deepest part of the Suaning-hiU cutting , rather more than two miles from Reading . It appears that daring the interim that elapsed between the passing down of the goods train abont midnight , and the arrival of a similar train at half-past six . this morning , the embankment of the Booth side of the gullet , and abont one hundred yards east of the wooden

      bridge gave way , completely covering about forty yards of the south or down line of rails . This unfortunate occurrence being unobserved by the policeman at this district , no intimation could possibly be conveyed to the driver of the approaching train , consequently , on the arrival of the luggage train , ( at about half-past six o ' clock , a most terrific scene occurred . The train , which was progressing at its accustomed pace , and consisted of twelve or fonrteen waggons , two trucks , and' the engine and tender , was suddenly thrown off the rails , and partially ihattered to atoms . The engine , which wts called the" Heola , " ran into the mass of earth , in whick it was more than half buried , while the tender and passenger trucks were turned over , and jammed againBt the waggons immediately behind . The consternation at this moment , amid the

      expiring yells of eoma of the passengers , and the shrieks of others less injured , may be more easily conceived than detailed . One of the most distressing features perhaps of this awful scene , was the lamentable cries of an aged father , who saw his son , who had accompanied him in this unhappy journey , literally crushed between the tender and the truck , and instantaneously killed . Another of the sufferers , apparently an aged man , was so shockingly mutilated , that his countenance was entirely indiscernible . Information of the dreadful catastrophe was conveyed to Reading as speedily as possible , and several medical gentlemen were shortly on the spot . There were about thirty passengers , including some females , nearly the whole of whom were more or less injured

      about twenty were brought on to Reading , in a carriage sent up for that purpose , and their appearance on their arrival at the station , was of the most depressing character . It is a remarkable fact , that neither the driver of the engine nor his assistant sustained any injury ; the conductor and the guard also escaped unhurt , although the former , we believe , wasi thrown from his Beat over to the bank , upon which he fell with great force . The guard was thrown upon the opposite embankment , and the other officers were saved by leaping from their places . Byabons half-past eight o ' clock a great number of persons had reached the spot , and the most active exertions were made to extricate the poor fellows who were lying dead beneath the wheels and among the shattered fragments of the trucks . This ,

      however , was a work of difficulty aB well as hazard ; and several hours elapsed before the trucks were raised . The removal of each presented a dreadful spectacle ; five of the unhappy men were extricated without much delay , but the three remaining were : so entangled with the wheels and shattered trucks that they were for a long time unapproachable . One or these , a decently dressed mechanic , was taken in the waist by the tender and the truck , in an upright position , his back being nearly severed by the crash . They were all at length removed to a small hut in the London-road , where the eight bodies were depo sited uid covered with straw . One of them appeared about eighteen years old , while the others , so far a 3 we could judge , were from about twenty to thirty years of age , except one man , who appeared to be somewhat older .

      The number conveyed to the hospital is 17 , being twelve men and five women ; thirteen were immediately placed in bed , more or less seriously injured , combining fractures and dislocations ; but , with one exception , do amputation will be necessary ; the most serious are two or three spinal cases , the injuries being so severe , that there is little hope of their recovery . The other four , although much hurt and braised , will be shortly enabled to proceed on their route to the city of Bristol . Fortunately ! there were fewer patients in the hospital than has been known for some weeks past , from which circumstance every accommodation and assistance was

      readily afforded to all the unfortunate sufferers . We would submit , with deference , that the passenger trucks should be placed in a less dangerous situation than that in which they are generally ( being attached to the engine ); had they been placed behind the luggage waggons , this afflicting loss of life would , in all probability , bave been avoided , as several of the last waggons retained their positions on the rails without receiving the slightest injury .. The names of the deceased we have not yet learned ; but , from their appearance , they are principally mechanics and labourers , and were journeying towards Cirencester and Bristol .

      Satwbday Night . —Throughout this day a vast number of the relations and friends of the passengers who left London by the ill-fated train on Friday rooming , called at the Paddington terminus to inquire as to the fate of their respective friends . General inquiries were also made by a great number of disinterested persons ; indeed , the superintendent and . other officers were nearly besieged with applicants for information respecting this sad affair ; but , with very few exceptions , no intelligence could be gained . There were several persona , however , who were believed to be intimately connected with the unfortunate sufferers , who were permitted to proceed to Reading and return to town free of expense- In the morning , Sir Fred .

      Smith , the surveyor of railways , repaired to the spot where the accident happened , and after remaining for some time , returned to the terminus , and examined the engine driver , stoker , and some others , in the boardroom ; they were each examined separately , but no other person was allowed to be present , nor was a single syllable of their evidence allowed to transpire . It was very currently reported , up to two o'clock , that four of the unfortunate individuals expired in the Reading hospital in the morning . Mr . Seymour Clark , the superintendent , left town by the two o'clock train for the purpose ( as it was understood ) of making further inquiries , and ~ also to procure a list of the names of the sufferers .

      Mbs . Cabpentek's Statement , one of the Passekoeks . — " The train left London at half-past four o ' clock . There were three trucks containing passengers , about forty or fifty in number . There was only one truck-load of goods , and those were packed between the passengers . The night was very clear , and we were going at about the usual speed . All of a moment we felt a shock , and were tossed againfct each other , and up into the air and down again , and then the carriage was broken all to pieces , and then we found ourselves on the ground among the luggage . I cannot say how my husband got out ; but after he got out he dragged me oat , and also my sister-in-law , both of whom were insensible , but afterwards recovered . The persons who sat on the

      right and left of me were killed . We were assisted out by our friends , who were not too much injured , and laid upon the bank side , but I saw no policemen at all . At the time the accident occurred we were going at a fast rate . I and my three relatives were the only persons who were so little injured as to be enabled to come to Bristol . After the accident , a messenger was dispatched and brought persons . In about an hour afterwards some policemen and several surgeons arrived , and afterwards a train came and took us to the hospital at Reading . They took all the persons to Reading . I saw myselr ten dead bodies , aud I heard that was the number killed . I believe that every one of the passengers had limbs

      broken , or were otherwise seriously injured , excepting I and my friends . When we came away there was a young woman expected to die every minute . I heard that she was a servant girl . I do not know how many were taken into the hospital ; but I heard the matron say that eighteen were taken besides those dead . I heard the surgeon say that he was just going to take off one person ' s foot . I believe most of them were greatly injured . The engine was driven into the fallen earthwork to a considerable depth . There was one baby there belonging to a woman , which after the accident she was unable to find for a loDg while , & "• length she found it unhurt and asleep between two dead men . ''

      FURTHER PARTICULARS . Reading , Saturday Evening , Deo . 26 . As may naturally be supposed , the utmost excitement and consternation still prevail in this town and its neighbourhood in consequence of the truly lamentable and fatal accident , some of the details of which are given above . Those details , as published , are admitted to be tolerably correct by the railway authorities here . We hear in numerous quarters that the state of the Sunning-hill cutting , the scene of the accident , has for some t me past engaged the attention of the railway engineer , and that its repair had long been contimplatcd , but had been postponed inconsequence of the railway labourers being

      engaged upon works which were supposed to be of a more pressing nature . This procrastination is held by many acquainted with the nature of thesoil whichcoastitutes the cutting , and with the degree ot angle of which that cutting is formed , as being reprehensible , and last of all the company are condemned for the continuance of their system of affixing the passenger tracks next the tender—a system which experience has proved to be fraught with danger to the lives of the passengers . In the present instance it appears clear that if the passenger-truoka had been the last in the train , no lives would have been lost , because not one of the luggage carriages were off theline .

      It has already been stated that eight individuals were killed upon the spot . The following are their names in the numerical order in which they were identified : — No-1 . John Pook , of Stoke Canon , near Exeter , aged thirty , was identified by a letter which was found in his pocket , and subsequmtly was recognised by his father .

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      No . 2 . Charles Williams , aged 32 , a stonemason , residing in Cheltenham , but in the employ of Messrs Grissell and Peto , upon the New Houses of Parliament . This corpse was Identified by Mr . Allen , the foreman of Messrs * Grissell and Peto . No . 3 , C . Sweetland , of Gloucester , stone-mason , aged' 30 , identified by his father , but not known to Allen , - ' - •¦ ¦ ' : ' \ * : ~ ' . ¦'¦ ' ¦ . ¦¦¦ "¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ - - ' : v !; '; " : r /¦ - .. ¦¦ ' : "¦ . ' ¦ ;•¦; No . 4 > —— Mabbott , also of Gloucester , stone mason , aged 34 , also in the employ of Messrs . Grissell and Peto , and identified by Allen . No . 5 . Richard Ralph , of HirtfelU near Steventon , Berks , aged 25 , recognised and identified by his father . "' - , - ' ' '¦ : ; : : " ¦ . ' "¦ ¦'" ' ; ' - ' "•"" - •'"¦ ¦;'¦ . " , . ' : ¦ ' ' ¦¦ - - ¦ ¦' . r N < k 6 . The remains of a labouring man apparently

      and dre 88 edilike a waggoner . Not yet identified . No . 7 ; Joseph Hands , of Clarence-gardens , Regent ' s-park , aged 26 . The name of this unfortunate young man was first ascertained by a ; ^ quarterly tickef , dated December , 1841 , of the Wesleyan Methodist Society * being found in his possession ^ His mutilated remains have since been recognised by his father , who also identitied those of his companion and friend , No . 8 , Jabez Cieive , ( erroneously snpposed to have been a preacher ) , on whose person a similar ticket of the same date was fbiind , but who was identified as a © tone-mason by Mr . Allen , the foreman at the Houses of Parliament for Messrs . Grissell and Peto . : -, . ¦"¦ •'¦• -,- . ' /¦ '¦¦ : , : : ' , ' : \ ¦'¦ - ¦ ¦¦ ' ¦ : ' The process of identification of the mutilated

      remains of the sufferers in the miserable shed or hut in which they were deposited , led to iidescribable scenes of agonised distress . The public have also been informed that eighteen other individuals were conveyed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital , and they WM promptly attended by Mr . T . Blessett Maurice , the surgeon of the week ; assisted by Mr . G . May , Mr * F . A > Bulley , and the resident surgeon , Mr . James Dunn . The wounds and Injuries of some were dressed , ai » 4 they were speeidily- enabled to proceed to their respective homes . Twelve of the unhappy- sufferers were so materially injured , that their further removal was deemed to be dangerous , and they were , by the medical officers of the mstitution , admitted in-patients . The names and addresses of ihese individuals , together with the nature of the injuries , as detailed in the books of the hospital , we ¦ ¦

      nowaubjom : — ' v " >; V ;¦; ' ¦ ¦ . ' ¦] . ¦ ¦¦ ' /¦ . - . // - . - ¦>¦ ¦ . - , ; -.... John btainsbury , age 30 , b y trade a navigator , resident in : Lambeth . Contusion ' of the back . Thomas M ; Wheeler , age 30 , Of Mills-buildings , Knightsbridge , newspaper reporter . Contusion of the face- Since discharged at his own request . AnnWheeier , age 31 ; wife of the above-named Thomas M ; Wheeler ; Fracture of the fote arm , and contusion of the head and bank . Thos . Hughes , age 15 , of Hammersmith , painter . Concussion of the brain and contusion of the face . Thomas Hawkins , age ' 24 , of Freshford , near Bath ^ stonemason . Compound dislocation of the greattoe ; the metatarsal bone protruding , which has since been removed by an operation .

      Anthony BattenJ age 43 , of Manchester Mews , Manche 8 ter-8 treft . Contusion of the back and loins . James . 'Stapleton ,, age 30 , of Cheltenham , stohemasonl Dislocation of the shoulder , since reduced . William Baldwin , age 52 , of Cheltenham , stonemason . Fracture of the ribs . Eliza Barnes , age 20 , of Addle-street , City , servant . Severe laceration of the scalp . ¦ Elizabeth Carpenter , aged 29 , of Charles-street ^ Blackfriars . Contusion of the leg . Hannah Cooper , aged 40 . of Thomas-street ,

      Kenriington-oommon . Fracture of the metataraal bones and dislocation of the right foot . ; ; . " In addition > to the abbve-iiamed sufferers , there was also admitted as an in-patient at the same time , a man who still remains in a state of insensibility , and whose name still remains unknowh . He has the appearance of a stone mason , is apparently about forty yeara of age , and the injuries he has received consist of a compound fracture of the skull . The unfortunate man has undergone the operation of trepanning , and still lies in a mest dangerous state ; indeed , his reoovery is almost hopeless .

      , THE INQUEST . j An inquest was opened at Reading on Friday evening , but no new fact was elicited so far as the proceedings went that day . The inquest was adjourned to Monday . ;¦ On the latter day » number of witnesses were examined , and the dead bodies were all identified . Mr . Saunders , the Secretary of the Great Western Railway ^ Company , wa ^ i in attendancei as well as Mr . Brunei , the chief engineer . After all the witnesses had been examined , . Mr . Saunders called Mr . Brunei io give evidence as to the actual state of thq embankment where the accident occurred . The public are aware of the nature of the accident from the facts detailed above , and we only give therefore Mr . Biunel'e examination .

      Isambrrt Kingdom Brunei—I am chief engineer on the Great Western Railway . ; With respect to the system of watching along the line , six different assistants have instructions to appoint night watchmen whenever there is any appearance of danger . In case ot Blips in the cuttings , when they are superfioial , it ia ' found better to drain them Well , and to remove ( the loose earth , and leave the slips open to dry . These are watched for a time , and if it be found that no further movement takes place within a short time , experience has shown that this draining is sufficient . In this particular case of the Sunning cutting I saw a small slip about three weeks ago . I inquired of Mr . Berkham what had been done , and I found it had been drained , and as I

      observed that it was ^ only a superficial one , I did not consider that there was any danger . I passed many times since , and have not observed any change . On Friday morning , I' arrived on the spot , a few hours after the accident , and I examined the slip that had then taken place . It was a totally distinct slip , and I pointed out to Mr . Berkham the drain that had been cut round the former slip , and which was quite distinct from the new one . . The disturbed ground of the new slip touched the old slip , but ' - ' . the slips themselves had begun in different parts of the slope and in different strata . There were some questions the Foreman wished me to answer , which I shall now state . ; The width of the cutting ; at bottom is forty feet , the depth is

      fiftyseven feet , the width of the top of the cutting is two hundred and sixty-eight feet . The widthof the spoil bank on the south side is a hundred feet , from the north side about sixty-seven ' . j but of course it varies . From the bottom of the spoil bauk to the edge of the , slope ; is about fifteen feet . It varies , however , because in some places it is twenty and twenty-Mt from the edge . The spoil bank is not twenty feet'high , and thirty feet from the edge of the slope . That soil would not stand at 6 uch a slope ; it would not even stand at twoio one ; From the railway to the edge of the yppe is-about twelve or thirteen feet . It would require torty feet distance to have the spoil bank twenty feet high . I heard something of the fjpoil bank having moved , but I examined it carefully , and I find it has not moved .

      There is plenty of room to walk between the spoil bank and thetop of the slope , lam not afraid of the weight of the spoil bank haying any effect on its slopes . Tljere is no part of the spoil bank so close to the top of the slope as ten feet . I examined the : line immediately after the accident , and can spaak with certainty . Thirty feet from tho edge d | f the slope there is not more than six or eighi feet in height : of spoil bank ; There have been discussions here and elsewhere as to the best place for the passenger trusks , and the reason for putting them next to the engine has been , that the dangers to whioh a luggage train is cousidered most liable , are its being overtaken by another train in consequence of its being unavoidably less

      punctual than the other trains , and the danger arising from breaking of axles in the luggage train , ia either of which cases . ijtle front of the train is the best . . The reason why , the passenger trucks were put injthe middle .- " of' the train next day was by ; my directions , merely as a concession to an opinion which ! knew was frequiahtly expressed . On the evening in question we discussed the question with Mr . Saundera and Mr . Clarke , and we had some doubts about the propriety of taking any passengers ; but being Christmas-eve , we kuewr there would be many applipations , and although we retained our previous opinion as to the ^ front being the safest part , we made the alteration in deference to publio opinion . ,

      By a Juror . —There have been instances of luggage waggons having been overtaken by other trains . Our feelings and interests are ot course involved in providing the best place for the passengers . The axles of luggage trains are much more liable to break than the passenger-trains . Placing the carriages for passengers behind would be a very dangerous thing . Mr . Saunders said , I ; can assure the Jury that many accidents- have been avoided by placing the passengerlp the luggage-trains in front . There are some trains ; which go at eighteen miles an hour , aud others whiofi go at forty miles , and there are cuttings and curves in the line in which it is almost

      impossible , notwithstanding every precaution that is taken , to prevent a quick train running into a slow one . We can have no motive but that of the public safety and convenience , and it is not later than yesterday that the Government Railway Inspector distinctly told me that he fully concurred in our views . The luggage-train sheuld start at half-past four o ' clock in the mtraiag , but it seldom gets away before five o'clock , and it pnts aside generally at Slough , to allow the six o ' clock quick train to passit . Every precaution that could possibly be thought of to ensure safety and punctuality has been adopted by the Directors . \ If it was to be continued on my responsibility , I would again have the passengers in the luggage- » rain placed in front .

      The Coroner then read over the whole of the evidence which had been , adduoed on both days , and called upon ) the jury to dismisi from their minda all they had heard on the subject elsewhere , and calmly ana , dispassionately attend only to the evidence which had been submitted to them . Th « y would take the whole facts into their serious consideration , S iving such weight to the statements of Mr . Sauners and Mr . Brunei as their importance deserved . He now left the case in their hands . They must consider their verdict .

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      Th « jury retired at three o'clock . ' e ; , Ata few minutes -before five the Coroner ^ who had left the apartment where the inquest was held , returned and annouaced that the jury had agreed to their verdict , which was '' Accidental death in all the cases , and a deodand of jE 1 , 000 on the en ^ , ne , tender , and carriages . " - ^ Mr . C . BussellV M . P ., ; inquired whether the Jury had stated any and what grounds for their Verdict . The Coroner said they had assigned two reasons ' ; but he was not bound to state them , and he would rather not . ; '¦¦ . ¦ : ; . ¦ ¦ ;¦ ' . : '¦' . : ¦ ¦'¦ -: :. ¦ : •' -: ¦ ' . '¦;¦ ' . ¦ - ' ^ 0 - % :, The foUowing , we have the best Reason to knp % , were the reasons assigned by the jury for the above verdict : — : ' C ¦ ¦ ¦' . ] / . ' ¦ - ¦ ¦ ••; -L 4-

      ¦ * ' The Jttrf ajre of opinion that great blfme ' attached to the company in placing the passen ^ ger trucks so near the engine . 7 » = -- ' " 2 . That great heRleot had occurred in- ; ri 5 t employing a sufficient watch when it was most necessarily required . . ; . . - '¦ ¦;' - --- / : ; :-i r : ... ¦ ¦ ¦'•; . " . - ~ - :: : '¦ .-: : : ^ i ' :-

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      ATROCIOUS MURDER AT WHIXALE , ¦ ¦ ¦'¦' . ¦• . - . ¦ ¦/ ¦ K-EAR- ; W ; EM , ; SHROPSHIRE . j ^ ( From a Second Edition ' of the'Shrewsbury ffew £ ) Another murder h&a been perpetrated in this county during the present week , under circumstances of greater atrocity even than the one at Bronvgarth , near Oswestry . ¦ ' & wife / with the assistance of her husband , has administered-poison to both her parents , and the mother hasfallena victim to the diabolical deed , the father escaping by a nieie accident , and an innocent perjson ( according to the last report ) has since died in extreme agony from the effects ! of the deadly food of which ' ; he bad been a partaker . - : ^ ; - '¦'¦"¦' ¦ - ¦ i ' ¦ ' ¦ ' [ " ' : .- -V- " ' ;! ^

      The name of the old man Is Arthur Williams , wh ? resided at Whixale , within three miles of Wem , in $ iis coanty , and the ; perpetratprs of this horrid crimej Tftos . Harries and kis wife Mary , lived In the sarae cottage with : the father and his deceased wife Eliza , Williaitis . The prisoner , Theraas Harries , had been previously married / b ^ former wife having , died four years agov ' leaving two children , who resided in the same cottage with the prisoners . It / appears that the . decease ^ victim had been in the habit of correcting these children , and Harries had said thai he would remembM her for It , and . this is tbe only motive that can at prev sent be assigned for the deed , which has caused such general horror In the neigbbourhood . . - -

      Op Sunday , the l ? th , the deceased partook of an apple-dnnipling at dinner , and was instantly taken ill , the symptoms increasing so rapidly that by nine o ' clock the eame evening she was a corpse . Her husband did not eat any of the dumpling , being too ill from haying taken a small portion of the poisonous mineral on the previous night ; and the third party was the son of a neighbour to whom the female prisoner had given the remainder of the poisoned food . An inquest was held on the body of the deceased , Eliza WUHams , on Friday , before Joseph Dietrim , Eaq . coroner ( who had only returned home on Wednesday from holding an Inquest on the murdered woman neat Oswestryj , when the following evidence was adduced :- ^ -

      Arthur Williams , husband of the deceased , lives in a cottage at Whixale , and the prisoners ; Thomas and Mary Harries , with two children of the former , resided with him . On Saturday last witness had a pig ' s fry for his uupper , which waa cooked by the deceased , who took some flour from a bag hanging in the kiteben to thicken the gravy . Witness ate heartily and felt very sick afterwards , going to bed ill , and remaining so all hightv Qot up the next mornlDg very unwell , and sit in tho house till eleven o ' clock , when he went out ] leaving ths deceased , the prisoners ^ the children , and Js neighbour , named John Edwards , there . Witness returned to dinner , but was too unwell to eat The first dish was an apple-durapling , of which the deceased ate heartily , -. bit witness was too poorly to taste itt

      Within five minutes after eating it , the deceased ran : towards the door , and ; throwing it open , said , " Ohr dear , how ill I amV- and retched violently . The de- ; ceased then went into the garden , supported by the female prisoner , and being a long time away , witness went out , and finding her too ill to walk , carried her into the house , and placed her in a chair . She continued getting worse till four o'clock , when witness carried her up to bed , and went to bed himself , feeling very unwell He got up about nine o ' clock , as his wife became much worse , and she died shortly after . Wit- ; ness had occasion to go out / afterwards , leaving the prisoners together In the kitchen , and , on returning , heard Harries say to hi » wife , " There ' s something in that floor . ' * The two prisoners lived in the same house

      with witness , but ate at a separate table , and fouud their own victuals . They had their dinner at the same : time as the deceased , ' but not at the same table . The ; female prisoner assisted deceased to bed , but neither ofthe prisoners made any remark at her sadden death to witness . Mary Jones , a neighbour , was in the room at ' the time deceased expired . The female prisoner made ) a dumpling at the same time as deceased , but did not take the flour from the same bag . The deceased did not eat all' the dumpling , and the following morning witness said to the female prisoner , " There ' s some nice dumpling , give it the children , " and she answered , " No , I may not do that" He again requested het to , give it them , and she replied , " No , no , I munna give it them . "' A neighbour , named Betty Miushull , had been washing at the heuse on Monday morning , and , went on an errand tke same day . On Wednesday wlfc . ! ness asked the female prisoner where the remainder of the dumpling was , and she replied , " I have &iven it

      the children , and they have eaten it" The male prisoner had frequently words with the deceased about the children , but nothing of any consequence When the female prisoner was taken into custody she said , " I am innocent , and I believe I can swear for him . " Witness knew there was poison kept in the house , having some BUgar of lead in a paper which he used for dressing cows , but it was not kept near the bag which contained the flour . The male prisoner had some powdered arsenic in a bottle which he used , for destroying rata , and kept it in the pantry . The flour was bought frem Mr . Povey ' s , of Whixale , in a large bag , and a small quantity was put in another bag , and hung in the kitchen for trifling purposes ; but the bread was always made from the large bag . After deceased was dead , witness saw the male prisoner go into the pantry , and while he was there his wife said , " Whatareyou plundering at , is there anything I can reach you ? " To which he answered , " No , you know nothing about it "

      John Edwards waa at the house of Arthur Williams , on Sunday last , and saw deceased take some flour out of a striped bag and make an apple dnrapling . The female prisoner likewise made an apple dumpling , but teok the flour from another bag , and made it at the same time and at the same table as the deceased . The female prisoner put the dumpling ( the bad made into the pot first , arid they were both tied up In ClOthS . - . ; . ¦ ' " ¦' . - ¦ ¦¦ '' ¦' .- ¦' . ; ¦ ¦ - ¦ '" . ¦ ¦•¦ . ¦•;¦ ; , ' . / ' : "'¦ Thomas Norway Arthur , surgeon , residing at Whitchurch , was in the neighbourhood of Whixale , on Wednesday , and met with Arthur Williams . Witness asked him if It was not true that bis wife died suddenly . The old man said " V Yes ; and I fear ' -there has been foul play , " and requested witness to go into the

      house , which he did , and saw ; the female prisoner and another woniany Witness asked the eld man if ha suspected any one of the foul play , and he said lie was afraid it was bis son-in-law , for he had been frequently cross with the old woman . Witness then weat up stairs with Mary Jones to look at the deceased , and at the same time to ask Mary Jones some questions . The female prisoner endeavoured to follow them upstairs , which witness prevented . He examined the deceased , but found no outward marks of ' . violence . ~ ' He had also made a pest mortem examination of the body , in company with JMr . Cfroom ^ surgeon ,: of Whitchurch > and found the heart , lungs , and liver In a healthy state ,

      with the exception of some little congestion of the left lung . They found the stomach very much distanded . They then cut into it , and found larger patches of inflammation extending over the ttomach , and appearances extending over it like the white of an egg .. The internal or bilious coat was entirely destroyed , and . it was the opinion of witness that deceased ' s death was occasioned by some corrosive poison . . Witness thought arsenic would produce the exact effect in which he found deceased ' s stomach . Witness likewise took some flour from the bag and examined it with Mr . Groom , and a chemist , and was positive it contained arsenic . ' :: ' : " . ¦ ¦' : ¦''" ' - ¦ . ' : ' ¦ ¦'¦ ¦ ' - . - ; - . " - ' ¦ ¦¦ ¦''¦ .

      Mr . Thomaa Groom , surgeon of Whitchurch , corroborated the testimony of Mr . Arthur , and was positive that arsenic was the poison which occasioned deceased ' s death . ¦• ; . '¦ .- ..-.. . ¦ ;¦ . '¦ ;; •• ' ¦ ¦¦"¦ ¦• . . ; : ';¦ ' '¦ ¦ ¦' . ; "' ¦} . ' . ¦ . ' - . " Mary Jones , a neighbour , saw the deceased when she was ill , and was with her when she died . Witness had frequently heard the male prisoner say he would knock her brains out , if she interfered with bis children ; and about three weeks ago , on a Friday , there was a snow , and the deceased had walked to Wbltchurch . Witnesa said to him , "The peor old woman will bo tost in the snow , " and he said " ——her , I should like to hear of her being found in the road , stiffi" ¦ ¦¦ ¦ . ' .. '; ¦¦;" . :- : : ' • ' -: ¦ "¦ - . v " V- ¦ ¦ - .

      Elizabeth MinshnU was washing at the house of Arthur Wllliani 3 on Monday , and afterwards went to Whitchurch to a sister of the deceased , to tell her of her death , and iovito her to the funeraL When she came back and delivered the mesaaga the female prisoner gave her a piece ef dumpling , which ihe took home . Witness ' s son ( John Haycock , by a former husband , } was in the house , and she gave it him for hit supper . He eat it and went to his boat on the canal , and she sawnb more of him . Thomas Minshull , captain of a canal boat / was in bis boat on the canal near Whixale , and saw John Haycock in another boat very ill , and vomiting . Witness accompanied the boat some distance , and Haycock told him to tell his mother that the dumpling bad nearly killed him , and she would never see him again .

      Richard Jones , conatable , Bearched the house , and , when searching for the arsenic in the house , was told by the female prisoner that she had throwu it away three months before . She afterwards uid that she had emptied the poison out , and washed the bottle clean Witness , however , found boUJ * which had contained arsenic In a basket among other bottles . He likewise found the sugai of lead in a drawer in tie kitchen . This concluded the evidence . The male prisoner asked the coroner if the ^"" ifnv tion would finish that evening , and being answered in the affirmative , aaid he might as well tell aU . He then made a Statement to the ; effect that he had ( old bis wife on Sj . turday night that somi thing was the

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      matter with the meal to make the old man so 1 IL He said he had purchased the arsenic from Mr . Goagh . chemist , of Wem , for the purpose of destroying rats and hinted that his wife must have administered it , if the deceased really was poisoned . ; The female said if any one knew about It , it was her husband . - \ : ; , : ; ¦ : . . ' ' •'¦'¦ ' ^\ ' - ; . - ' i > :. . ' , - ; , ¦ .- ¦ : ' . ¦ ; : . v : ; v The Jury returned a verdict that the deceased ' s death was occasioned by poison , administered by Thomas Harries , and that his wife assisted him ; and they were both fully committed for our next assizes . The male prisoner is a brfekmaker by trade , and has borne but an indifferent ( character . The female is very far advanced In pregnancy , and on Thursday fei gned that she was in labour , but on Vxamlninataon by a snrgeoo the attonipt to postpone the investigation failed . ' "'* ¦ ¦ ;; - ' ¦ - . " ; . ' . ¦ ¦¦¦ -. : ¦ : ¦ ' " '' " ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦' ¦ ¦¦•• , ' / v- ¦¦ . - . - . ;

      . John Haycock was taken into Cheshire by the boat and a report has reached this town that he has expired , making a second victim of tins unparalleled atrocity " . ; ¦¦¦¦ ; - ¦ \ - ^ . : ¦ - ¦¦ : ¦ ¦ : ¦ ,, ¦ .. ¦' . ; ¦¦'" : ' ; . ; ¦ .: ¦;• ;

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      DREADFUI * ACCIDENT BY THE FALL OF A

      BUILDING , IN jaMANCHESTER . FIVE PEBSONS KILLED AND TEN SESIOUSLT HXIBT , On Friday evening : the site of the late fire , in Matf . Chester , ( the particulars ^ of which we gave last week , ) was rendered the scene of a moat appalling accident by the falling of one of the walls of the building in which ihe late fire occurred upon some workmen employed to take it down . \ The fire occurred on Monday week ; when 2000 bags : of cotton were destroyed , worth about f 1 ^ 000 , and a quantity of corn , flour , groceries * and tallow . The whole damage was estimated at Upwards

      of £ 30 , 000- Though the warehouse had ' been completely gutted by the fire , two of the entire walls were left standing , and that at the back of the / building , to tee south of Picadllly , about 19 feet high by loo feet in length , was carried by means of two stone " arches over the BpcBdale canal . ThiB wall was abont to be removed at four o ' clock on Friday afternoon , when the Sane of one of the arches , which had become rotten , g | viag way , the arch collapsed , and the wall dividing intd two portions fell a heap of ruins upon the men who were below . : '¦ . ' . ... ' . - . ' •¦ /¦• • . ¦ •; ¦'¦ . ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ "¦ . - . ¦¦ ¦ .-.. ¦ ¦ " < ' : ¦¦ ¦ - ' . . ' . - '" ;• • .

      £ The whole accident was the work of but a moment . The men had no chance of escape ; they had barely iinie to perceive their awful situation and raise one toud shriek of terror ere they were silenced and hidden from view beneath the falling mass . ; fortunately Sir Charles Shaw , the chief commissioner of police , having heard of the accident within a few minutes of its occurrence , sent a ; body of police to the spot Sir Charles himself superintended the execution of the order , and barriers were then thrown across to prevent the access of the publiio . The number of men employed about the building when the accident occured was one hundred and three , and had the wall come down in an unbroken mass , instead of falling as described above , the probabiiity is that the whole ef them would bave been sacrificed . ~ ~ - ; ;

      ; As the following did not answer to their names they were eupposed to be in the ruins ' . —James Perkins , Thomas Finnigan , Patrick Conlan , George Prowdman , Peter Radical , Michael Mahon , Thomas Garland , John Donally , Patrick Finnigan , William Harrison ,. Michael Dolsn , Patrick Tully , William Hurly , John Locke , and Thomas Silcox—in all fifteen persons . Besides these , however , a great number had received injuries front falling bricks and other materials , but were not seriously hurt The four men whose names are placed first on tholist were rescued from the rutas " almost directly the search began , and though so much hurt that it was deemed necessary to take them to the infirmary it is not guppoaed that their lives are endangered by their wounds . The search for the remainder of the sufferers

      w » 3- ; a work of greater time , and they have suffered ' much more severely . Peter Radical was discovered about six o'clock , with bis skull fractured , and suffering from internal injuries ; he was conveyed to the in ^ j pary , but there are slight hopes of his recovery . Michael Mahon was also taken out of the rums about the same time , and thougU not much bruised externally lie had evidently received such Internal injuries as leave but faint hope of his recovery . About half-past six , Thomas Garland / another of the [ sufferers , was found , and though still alive his body was frightfullj mangled and crushed , whilst his head was completely scalped Patrick Finnigan and William Harrison were taken from the ruins about this time to the infirmary . Both of them were much hurt , the former haying one Bhoulder dislocated and being otherwise injured ; and the ether having two of ' his ribsbroken . Hurly was feond with several of his left ribs broken . The left leg of one of

      t&e sufferers , supposed to be Silcox's , was found about this time . Juhn Dpnally was next token out dead ; and two hours afterwards Dolan , also dead . Near him , alBo [ dead , were found the remains of Tully . The latter was ] found Btanding upright amongst a heap of bricks , in which his body was so firmly imbedded , that nearly an hour elapsed after his head aud Bhoulders had been bated before it could be extricated . : A more painful and heart-rending scene tbaa was pre sented at the infirmary about nine o ' clock on Friday evening was never witnessed . Upwards of one hundred nien } were employed in the building at the time of the accident , and the most exaggerated report as to the extent of the fatality got abroad . The wives , children , and friends of many of these men had been at work during the day in the different factories , and on returning home , and hearing the prevailing reports , they naturally rushed to the scene of the accident to learn

      the fate of those near and dear to them . Though the bodies of two of the men , named Silcox and Roche , have not yet been found , there is now no : doubt as to their being amongst the killed . Ttie former " was some years ago a master builder at Leeds , but had been reduced in circumstances , and of late employed on Ithe works of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway . Jt is ; said that he has a wife and family resident in jteeds . Hurly , one of the wounded men , has a wife ^ nd two children . Harrison , who livea ^ in Faucettr street , Ancoata , has a wife and six children dependent upon him for support PatrickTully and John Donally , | botti killed , were yonng menj the latter a native of ^ tockport , and unmarried ; but the former Is married , and has left a wife and three children . He was

      aieai-[ deht at , Oir Mill Brow , Great Ancoata . The other Ysuffarers were mostly married menu Garland has a wife 3 nd : four children , living in Buxton-street Patrick iFinnigan has a wife and three children , resident In , Mason-street , Manchester ; and Thomas Finnigan has a " wife and three children , resident at Ashton-under-¦ Lyne ; : ¦;¦ ' ; :.. ' ¦;¦ .. . ;¦¦ •¦ : . ;; ' . : . ' . ' / . '¦ ; . ' ' , ¦ . ' - ¦' '" : " - •> ' : •; ' . ¦ ' ' ' - ' ¦ ¦'¦" I Though the ruins of the warehouse had been played . upon all the week by the fire-engines they still Bmpul-% iii&d \ and , daring the time occupied in searching for the bodies on Friday night , they igato broke out into flames , a ijreat quantity of unconsumed cotton being amongst thej ruins , and considerable exertions had to be used during the night by the firemen to subdue them .

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      Remakkable Storm of Hail and Lightning . --An esteemed correspondent wishes us to put on record some particulars of a storm of thunder and lightning , abcoropanied by hail , that passed over the peninsula of Lleyn , on the morning of the 17 th insfo In its passajije over the park at Madryn it was Ma | -most awful and alarming character , and did ironiense damage to a long range of glass-houses , piis , ^ and frames , that are used for forcing , besides puttiry ? in imminent danger a large collection of valuable plants . Some of the hailstones , we are assured ^ measured no leBs than three inches and oiieeiRhth round the base- ^ all of them being of a conieal-sbjape . Hail of the same magnitude and quantity- hjis not fallen in that part of the country within the ] memory of the present age . —Carnarvon Herald .

      [ S % Barbabotjs TBicK .---An eastern shoreman stepped int o a barber '? shop in bur city and requested tt | e 5 barber to takeoff 12 | cents worth of his hair . Pie barber trimmed his locks very neatly , arid then icdmbed and brushed them in the moBt particular style . .. "Are you done 1 " asked the Eastern shoreman , as the barber removed the napkin from his neck . " Yesj tir , " returned the man of the razor with a bow . ? ' Are you certain you took off elevenipen « e . worthr' " Yes , sir , " returned the barber , A fiere ' a ^ glass you can see for yourself . " M Well , '' said the : Eastern man , -if-yon think you have got a ) leyen pence worth ofrV I don ' t know as I have any usejorit , and Lhaven't got no change ; so you may just , keep the hair for you * ttonble . » -BaWmore traits . ¦ : ¦ - ¦ :: ;¦¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦ -. ; ; ¦ ¦ . -: , . ¦ .:, ;\ . . ' • :

      ¦ i P * EiNo Bcimjlahv in WxLxsHiEE . —Some thieves watered the house of Mr . Awdrey , at South Wraxh *"» . ? n Taes « ay night . They proceeded up staiifl ; ^ an . d tapped at the bed-room door of one of the young ladies who , supposing that it was a maid-servant , desired her to come in . Three of the fellows then entered with bludgeons , and bearing a candle . Two fellovra were left below as out-door and in-door w > ton * ; The former demanded the surrender of her money from Miss Awdrey , who gave them all she nan , which they said was not sufficient . She then vieirt to her sister in an adjoining room , who gave up he * parse and its contents . ~ Still they demanded ¦ gWp » J " , tlie yoong ladies , apprehensive , from the high and determined Bpirit of their father , that ho would 1 resist and be murdered by the ruffians , repaired to his bed-room , apprised him of what was going on , and besought him to civenn his monev «

      Hatinjf obtained this , they next demanded the sur-Wm <* tlie ^ wlver ^ late , jewellery , watches , and all . * he other portable valuables , whTch they took to * f . 0 f »* of half a sack faU , carefully selecting ¦ tiie solid , Bilver jurticles , and leaving the plated behind . L ^ fo * . ^^ H ^ * ^^ WchWerdrank » bottWbesidea a quantity of brandy , and Anally de-^^^^^ tbrea Md lour o ^ lock , having renmned in the honse between four and five hour ? wthont anyjMgns of alarm or apprehenaion . The plunder , maddiuon * 9 * 30 w money , was prodigious , in plate , watche * jewellery , linen , j 5 rtS , &e , ^ The dwng character of the outrage hugr ^ y alarmed aj ^ pe neighbourhooi about ^ radfo ™^^ &a ? ? ^ . M f ^ tMyhpa « M , whose inmates ^^ A 6 lIDllar *? . « llt ^> t fron ? a gang whose $£ *! « areSl ^ ffio i ^ ^ over power a wholefamily . Twenty five powds , s offered as a reward for the detection pt gie villains , who are thought to be London thiaves . r-iJart Joarno / . , -..

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      6 { ^ . i . - _ ¦ THE N 0 STflf « : gTARv ;^ ^ ^ ^^ ^^ ;^ ^ ^; v ^ :: - ' - : ;;; > ' ^ - ' " ^^^^ ^^_^ _ _ _ " | ' || ^ fc ^ l ^ M ^^^ I ¦ M ^ ^ mM — ' fT ^ i ^ at ^^ ^ J ^^ P ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^*^^**^^^^^^

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      STOPPAGE OF PAYMENTS BY THE TOWN OF PAISLEY . ( From Vie Glasgow Chronicle . ) Partly on account of tho great depression of trade , and partly on account of a run raised by the circulation of malicious and false statements regarding the affairs of the community ot Paisley , the town council , at a meeting on Wednesday evening , ordered the chamberlain to suspend receipt or payment of deposits in the meantime , bat to proceed with all possible despatch in realising the outstanding debts due to the community for the regular " payment of the interest on the money borrowed , and other current engagements of the burgh . It 18 pretty generally known that a small portion of the would-be political leaders of the town who have not

      the influence to get themselves placed in municipal authority , have for a good nnmber of years endeavoured to embarrass the party in power , by attacking the credit of the community . The unfavourable state of trade and the lenie&cy cf the conncil in not enforcing during the last year the exactions on the owners of property , for entries , &c falling due , caused a deficiency of nearly £ 300 in the nsnal amount of revenue . This simple circumstance was taken advantage of , though nothing was lost thereby , and statements prejudicial to the town ' s credit , were placed In the hands of every creditor that could be found by the individuals referred to , and tb . ua uncalled-for alarm raised . In addition to this , the adherents of the same party in the conncil during the laat fire days , gave currency to another ttitement which they knew to be quite nntrne , about the late provost having commenced to secure

      himself by drawing a thousand pounds , when the fact was he had not drawn out a penny . From the position to which the affairs of the town are now driven , a full and public exposure of these matters will soon be submitted to the creditors . The council have been negotiating for such a loan of money sis will pay off those who are dissatisfied , which in the ordinary state of the money market they would long since have obtained , thought present that is difficult As regards risk to the creditors , frem the best informed quarters we arc assured there is none . More than one-third ef the whole debts of the town are due to the bank , and the members of council , or their immediate friends , and fully a half of the debt against the river ia due to the same parties . This we should conceive the strongest proof that could be adduced of the confidence of those who should best know the state of the town ' s affairs .

      Untitled Article

      BANKRUPTCY OF THE INCORPORATION OF PAISLEY . ( From ihe Scotch Reformers' Gazette . J Misfortunes , it is said , seldom come singly . The The bankruptcies , one after another , in Paisley , within these few months past were alarming enough , and added greatly to the misery existing in Paisley . But we had no idea that the corporation of Paisley itself would go to the wall—would be found to be in an utter and absolute state of insolvency . Yet such is the fact , which we publish on the authority of a most respectable patty connected officially with the town # f Paisley , and who writes to ub as follows : —

      " Paisley , Dec 23 , 1841 . [ " Deab . Sib ., —At last meeting of our council , the j public and reporters were ordered to withdrrw , and all ; the important business was transacted afterwards . Last | night , there was another meeting ( private ) , at which it r was resolved unanimously that the chamberlain should [ be instructed to stop paying or receiving any money , [ thus virtually suspending payments in the meantime ; | and to-day our unfortunate town is in a perfect ferment ! on the subject—and no wonder , when there are moneys

      lodged in the Town and River Cart Savings Banks to the amount of £ 19 , 000 . These baaks were set agoing by the influence of the present Provost , who is connected with the Saturday Post and Renfrewshire Reformer , and who , in style nfmii ^ T to other puffers , lauded the security to the &kies—and at the same time did all that was possible to prevent money being lodged in the Government Savings Banks , by endeavouring to call in question the security of the Government !—which was rated as nothing , when , compared with that of the River Cart or Corporation of Paisley .

      " The true state of our corporation finances Is , that there is a deficiency of Income to meet the expenditure ! by at least £ 700 annually , and no prospect whatever of i matters mending in this respect ; the income is about I £ 3 , 300 , and the unavoidable expenditure not under | £ 4 , 000 , so that to eontinue is just to make bad worse . ; But of course these matters will have to be inquired ! into by proper and legal authority now . —Yours , &c "

      Untitled Article

      f " - f- CHEiPXESs op Railways is America . —The ex-] tent of communication by railways in America is truly surprising . They cover the United States j like the meshes of a net . About 7 , 000 miles of rail-I iDg have already been made , or are in actual pro-^ gress . This would be incredible in a conn try where r . capital is so valuable , were the railways laid ont on the same expensive scale with ours . British railways have cost from £ 20 , 000 to £ 50 , 000 a mile . Those of America have not cost , on the avenge ,

      including buildings and all requisite investment , more than £ 4 , 500 per mile , being from one-fourth to onetenth of theespence of British railways ; that is te say , a given sum of money expended in America has provided the benefit of railway communication to an extent of from fire to ten times as great as an equal one in Great Britain . Although these lines were pot originally laid ont on a pre-arranged plan , yet the detached lines have gradually been connected , so as to form continuous routes of great extent—some of the ooaapa&ies owning different portions of connected lines have found it convenient to amalgamate—the route between Baltimore and Philadelphia consisted of four companies on four parts of the line , which are now incorporated in one company , pnder a single board of management One * reat chain of railroad , commencing at Portsmouth , in New Hampshire , extends across the United States to Pensaeoia , in Florida , a distance of 1 , 600 miles . — Athenaum .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 1, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct735/page/6/