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MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
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(( _Q%t CwfliftumL & <£ngJmttr "Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law."
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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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COHTHTTJATIOB OV THE BSQCIB . Y AT THE p-rp-MTKRTTA-M "WOKBSOTJSE . * I Owing to toe pressure of Assize nevrs and the neces- \ rity of giving several important articles which will be \ Sound in to-day's paper , we are taxable to publish more \ \}\ % n the general heads of the continuation ef thiB ¦ enquiry , which occupies five closely printed columns j of th& iiirmiiigham Advertiser , to which we have been j indebted for the report * of this cue which have ap- i peared in our columns . * ] Tbtjbsdat , dec . 7 . —At ten o ' clock JMb morning , I several members of the House Committee were as- \ yrrpfrlfrrt . » t »^ the Assistant-Poor Law Commissioner , on j taking his Beat , said he-would receive the evidence of any persons the Governor wished to have examined , or any statement he might desire to pot in answer to the four charges .
Mr . Francis Mole , Solicitor , who again-atUsxfed on I > e 3 iaaf of the Governor , said there were three « c four witnesses to be examined . William Mountford , an inmate of the Biralngham Workhouse , whose < iuty it is to enter the names of tramps in a book , wax first called -and examined . This witness ' s ; evidence amounted to unmaking like nothing at slL He did not know that any "person had ever been confined in the black bole *! BBnbeth Branten , none , asd Sarah Sail , an inmate o ! the workhouse , -were then examined ; their evidence itm intended to break down that of the toy Roper , but
on cfoss-examm _ tion by the Commissioner , » T >» latter witaeEB conirmed the main put -of the hoy ' s statement The Hev . < ieorge Holt , Chaplain of thfl Workhouse , ^ ras called and examined by Mr . Mole . The Rev . Gen-_ tem _ n was under examination for a long time , but no evidence was elicited with Tespect to the charges tinder inquiry . He spoke favourably of the treatment the p&npen received from the governor and Matron ! At the conclusion of the examination of the Chaplain , Mr . Mole read and then handed over the following statement from Mr . Hirst , the Oovernor : —
THE < K > TEX 5 OB . * S STATEMENT . Birmingham , Dec . 7 , 1843 . "With regard to the four men in the tramp-room so long , I beg to add to my former statement that I am precluded by that portion of the printed Rules called "Duties of tfce Governor at the Workhouse , " ? io . 25 , from purchasing or procwing any articles for the nse of the Workhouse , or paying any money oiraccount of the Workhouse , or of the -parish , without the order of the House Committee , entered in a book , to be called the *• order-book /* to be provided for that purpose ; and that hiving informed this Committee at their first meeting , after the antraaoe of these tramps of their state , I considered it impossible for myself more fully and entirely to have attended to or performed my duties .
The evidence of the carpenter who prepared the black-hole as a tramp-room , proves that it was used for its sew purpose tie first sight afterwards , and the practice of using it upon any requisite occasion has continued ever since . The boy , Thomas Roper , was brought into the House under order Mo . 3 , 580 , and reported , as sworn to by Sarah Roper , his mother , as a very bad boy , who would 3 iot go to -wort . The mother said he was to pound pot William Cloves took the boy from the kitchen , and he was afterwards put into the hole by John Fair , Trithout any directions whatever ; neither the Matron nor myself saw John Fair or spoke to him .
The followisg morning the boy was removed . Mrs . Hirst gave the directions to the schoolmaster to have him washed out and put into bed , which was the usual course ; and there is no doubt he was dressed and came into the school room as soon as his clothes were dry . The death of the schoolmaster has created a difficulty in proTxng this fact , but there is no reason -why he should have been diffartntly treated to other children on coming Into the House , and it is quite certain he was treated as other boys are . It is net likely a boy of his heavy , dull disposition , Can recollect day by day what occurred two months ^ nee , either as to the food hs had on each day , or where he was on the day of admission , the 11 th Jof October .
3 ± e is entered -No . 14 in the tramp-book , and his name does not appear in the list on the 12 th or any subse quent day ; but on the 12 th he appears discharged from the tramp-room with the rest , and no doubt was then Washed out by the schoolmaster , as before stated ; for it is the usual and invariable custom to write the names of all persons in the tramp-book each tlay the tramps Temain in the rooms , if they remain In more than one day , adding to them the-wordi , »• here from yesterday . " Tramps may be returned as such in the tramp-book , and yet be admitted into the House ; that is , at the time they are in the tramp room they haTe food the same as those in the House , «¦ " <* not the -regular trampjoom food ; or even rick diet is allowed to them , if ordared .
The evidence oJ the different witnesses as to Roper is bo very opposite and conflicting , that I am sure the toy is wrong in what he Bays , and the greater part of Tfln . Roper ' s evidence is simply what she has fcesid from him . Harriet Rodder was placed in the female tramp-room lor the purpose , she states , to separate her from Ann Morns . They had been quarrelling , and when I entered the room they were quarrelling . Harriet Rodder was very violent , in order to avoid "which the removal took place , having no room provided me to place quarrelsome persons in ; and it is by no means unusual for the Guardians to Bend parties by admission into the tramp-room . See an order of admission , No . 3 , 060 .
< COPTJ * To the Governor of the WorJ&jae . ** Admit Mary Whitehouse , 34 years , belonging to , supposed , Aston , and provide her according to the regulations of the Guardians . " By Order of the Relief Committee , " George Rtbee . "Prom District No . -i , Report No . 3 , 060 . I" In tramp-room . ) " This note is to be in force during fix days from Lhe S \ h day of November , 1843 .
Harriet Rodder had no work , nor any punishment , while she was in the tramp-room ; her food was not a'tered in consequence , and she was comfortably pro-Tided for . I did not know of her disease , and she never complained , but appeared to be glad to be so separated from Ann Moms . I consider it was the duty ef the surgeon to have informed me of the impropriety of Harriet Rodder being placed there , if any existed , on account of her disease , and he did not , as he admits in bis evidence . The door of the tramp-room was open , as she states , ?'\ e -whole time she was there , and she could be in and out of the room as she pleased ; and no other motive actuated me in ibis but to separate the two quarrelling parties , which , as Governor , it appeared my duty -to do .
TfaomM Bates used the most improper language , was Tery violent and abusive , and , in my opinion , under temporary derangement He has ( I am informed it is "Well known } been an idiot from birth ; and at the time he "was given into the custody of Weare , had Weare Tn ? w ^ n any objection to the care of him , as desired by Jdrs . Hirst , she could not have required him to trsat Bates as he did ; such was his state at the time , that it was quite impossible h « couli be at large ; and Weare stated to the House Committee that he never jaw a man more violent ; and there is no doubt the "Violence would have continued had he not been given Into the care of the teeper , which , with his being
fc-ien into the insane ward , had the effect of qnieting him , which is often the case with idiota . There are often persona sent into this ward bythesnrgeon who are not insane . Whea the surgeon ordered Bates unshipped , he was instantly obeyed , and being known as an idiot in the establishment , who had , been before , no doubt , in this ward upon a surgeon ' s order , it did not seem requisite to procure one for that present purpose . A new patient would of course require an order , but not an old one , or one who had been there before hot had not left the house ; such patient would be allowed to leave the insane ward by sufferance , and to return thereunto , should his milady render such a step necessary .
The other matters brought forward , it does notappesr lam required to explain or take further notice of , not bang of that importance . It may be remarked that there are no wards of the description called " probationary , ** consequently in case d one person ont of betvrftfcn five and ax hundred now in the House being guilty ef violence or misbebaviour , bo that a Temoval from the others is neceBary , and if injury and bad example are to be avoided , rare is ne place provided where , strictly sneaking , the YZ ^ SL can wmove sneh party to for the * purpose of Parenting 5 ^ dang ^^ eonseqQemaa as may a ^ aomtte conduct of such persons ; , asd in the case ^ ShS ^ - ^ eTid 6 Dce ^ mg * »" . tteword art ^ ST * " * % *«***?** # . when infect it should XrtwSSf ' ^ P ^ t otaaent has been inflicted sssrsgssrs ; skkssktj consequences that were ^ bout toWa nUMaleI ° * **
Johmon gives the meaning of the word punishment - Anyinfliction m pain impeded in wngWrf a crime ; " so Ikat the mere chanri n * of « n 3 frnm » om H » I . because that ^ 3 ^ ^ they would n .- > t be together without ^ narrellini too room No . 2 , giving tne sxme food ami taeataeni to each , cannot be t sroed a punishment . I commenced tl > e duties of my office oa the second day of August , one thousand eight hundred and fortytwo j npon my election eighty-eight GHurdiuB voted ' sod although there wore five candidates selected from a hags number , some ot them possessing »^»« m «> g fll 7 ff ^ the highest ord&r , and I " ? fu an entire stranger to the town of Birmingham and tbe Guardians , so well did they think Mra . Hirst and niTself qualified for our present aitnatien , that we obtained the very important majority of fifty-six of their vot *?« . I beg also to refer to the House Ytetof book , wh . ' ch contains a report
every week of the state of the HousO and inmates , and 3 b will then T » found &a » every part "ef my duty has been perfonned j as recorded , to their entire satisfacaon .. GODIiKT SW 7 FI HlBST , GoTemoL
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Mr . Allday stated , that if allowed he would prove that many poor ar ^ destitute persona had not only been refused adm ' ission into the workhouse , but that they had also bf , en refused relief . He ( Mr . A . ) recollected a case of % a unfortunate woman , who a short time ago was p i eced in the dock , before the Magistrates , at the Public office , on a charge of feloniously stealing at a provisioj j-soop . One of the Magistrates before whom she was bro » jght , addressing the police-ofilcer who took her into cu j tody , said " this woman was brought l > ef ore me the o diet day . " The police-officer replied , "Yes , Sir , she ¦ jras brought before yom on a charge of being destitute , and you ordered that she might be taken to the We riheuse for relief . When she arrived there she was nc Jther admitted into t 3 ie house nor relieved . The
next 'Jay she commuted the felony charged against her , -which she states she was driven to from wantV' The Magistrate then enquired ef the tradesman , who appeared to give evidence on the charge of fe > . niyJ if he intended to prosecute the prisoner , &r d he humanely answered , " No , Sir , I will not , under these circumstances . " She was then diB-< charged . Anothtr case he remembered of a young woman who attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself into the canal . It occurred about half-past eleven o ' clock at night , as a policeman on duty was crossing the canal bridge . He hastened to the spot , and plunging into the water , rescued her , and saved
her life . He conveyed her in a senseless state to the station-house , and there being ho accommodation there for the wretched woman in her wet and distressing state , the inspector on duty ordered that she might be taken to the Workhonse . The order was obeyed , but on the police-officer presenting himself at the Workhouse door with the woman , the Governor refused to admit her . The policeman then , with that humane feeling which was creditable to him , conveyed her to his own house , and called up his wife , where she was treated with humanity and kindness . In a few days afterwards she was taken before the magistrates , where the beta I have related were deposed to .
The Commissioner replied that he would go into that part of the inquiry on Saturday morning . Friday , Dec . 8 . —On resuming the inqniry this morning tha Commissioner said , that before entering on the subject for which they were especially met , he would take the liberty of adverting again to the subject which ho mentioned to the House Committee last night , with reference to the unfortunate persons in the itch wards . The Commissioner afterwards Btated that he had visited the place -this morning , and found that
one person still remained there , and that there were two still in the female itch-ward ; a state of things which he was rare the Committee ¦ would not approve of or sanction , liter the expression of . opinion , in reference to these wards , which he had received from the medical officers . He had a conference last night with the surgeons of the establishment , and having questioned them particularly , if they had ever drawn the attention of the Board to the itcB-wards , they placed in his hands the copy of a resolution passed by them in July , 1842 . and which was&s follows : —
'' Resolved , that the attention of the House Committee be forthwith called to the filthy and disgusting state of the wards appropriated for persons affected with the itch , and they recommend that larger and better ones be substituted for them . " tHear , hear . ) As be had already stated last evening , be was anxious again to show the medical gentlemen the state of the itch-wards , and they were so kind as to accompany him to these places . They went , first , to the female ward , where they found two patients , a woman and child ; and in the male ward they found nine persons , an adult and eight boys . He then asked the medical gentleman with regard to the fitness of these places for habitations , and if fit , what number they considered should be placed there ? and hi reply to these inquiries , he had receiTed the following certificate : —
" We have inspected the itch-hole for females ; from the size of the room we should say it would hold safely not more than two patients under care for the itch ; but , having regard to the want of ventilation , and from the intense heat of the place , we do not think it at all fit for occupation Jbr any human beings . At the t ime of our visit tfeere were two patients in the room . We have also inspected tha itch-holes for males , and found nine patients , two adults , and seven children . This place is more unfit for habitation than the female itch-ward , and not from its s ze , even if ventilated , fit for the reception of more than two patients .: The persons now in that hole must necessarily rua great risk of endangering their health from the position they are in there . Looking at the two itch-boles , fiutn the want of ventilation , and from the beat kept upon them by the fires from adjoining rooms , we have no hesitation in saying that they are absolutely unfit for the ocenpation of any > iTnn * n beings . Signed , E . T . Cox , T . Bellamy , T . Green , C . Green . J . Wildcrs . "
The Commissioner , in continuation , eaid , that he had that morning visited the wards , and he was very thankful to find , that of the nine persons hi the male itch ward , eight had been removed ; tut the woman and child were still in the female ward . Now , haring these certificates before him , he was sure that tha gentlemen of the HousteCommittee would feel justified in stepping even out of their usual course of proceedings , in order to remove these unfortunate persons from their present position—( hear ) . He trusted they would kindly indulge him by giving immediate direction for their removal to some other places ; and be thought , under all the circumstances , that they should place an absolute prohibition on their books , that those rooms should never again be occupied by human beings —( bear ) .
ilr . Rod way—1 have seen the rooms referred to , and I must say , from their disgusting condition , that those persons should be removed immediately . The party who put the man and children in such a hole ought to be ousted immediately ; and as to the surgeon—The Commissioner reminded Mr . Railway and the other members of the Committe , that this was a question which would form the subject of a searching inquiry . He had no 4 oubt that the responsibility would be placed on the right shoulders . Two members of the Committee were then deputed to have the persons immediately removed from the wards in question , upon which the Commissioner said he would proceed with the examination of the Governor , in reference to the admission of paupers into the House .
Alter a . lengthened examination of the Governor relative to the accommodation and discipline of the workhouse , and letters had been read from the House Committee , and Mr . Kimberiay explaining ( or attempting to do so ) their connection with the management of the workhouBe ; the inquiry was adjourned to the next day . Satubdat , Dec . fl—The inquiry was resnmed this morning at ten o ' clock . Mr . Hirst was called \ n , and his examination respecting the treatment of persons in the tramp-room was continued .
The Commissioner—I have now to direct your attention to the boy Rogers , who I found in the tramproom . It appeared that the boy who was only nine years of age was found in a state of destitution and bronght to the workhouse by the police ; he was placed in the tramp-room in the filthy state he was found , where he w » b detained nine days and nights without change of clothing . I must protest against such practice , and I feel certain the Guardians will not allow it in future . It was your duty to draw the special attention of the Relief Committee to the case . Mr . Hirst—My time has been so fully occupied with this lengthened inquiry that 1 had not time to atttend to the case . Mr . Rodway—Did you ever report the case to the Committee ? Mr . Hirst—I believe I did not The Commissioner—I will now take your evidence , Mr . Hirst , respecting the treatment « f this boy .
Mr . Hirst s examination was then resumed , Daring the sojonrn of this boy , Rogers , in the tramp-room he had no bed to sleep on , —he slept on the bare boards , having a rug to caver him . He had no change of clothing during this period to my knowledge . He had the same diet as the ordinary panpers of the house . This boy would not have been kept so long in the tramproom had not my time been so occupied in this inquiry . The Commissioner—There was another boy I found in the tramp-room when I went round who had been in some time . Mr . Allday—There was also a man with bad legs in the tramp-room who had been in several days when you visited it ; and in the female ward there was an Irish -woman who had been a long time there . The -Commissioner—Aye , how long had the Irish woman been there , Mr . Hirst ?
Mr . Hirst—Ton allude to Margaret Ryan—she came in on the 15 th of November , and jremained there to the 291 h . The Commissioner—She remained there , then , fourteen days . Mr . Hirst—She was removed immediately after you saw her . The Commissioner—She had no right to have been there more than one night I heard something about her being there two months . Mr . Hirst—That was last year , Sir . In answer to a qnestioB put by the Commissioner in reference to the nine persons put into the itch ward , Mr . Hirst said—I knew nothing of the nine male persons in the itch ward on Thursday last , until I heard it in the evening of that day from the Matron , who had been informed of the circumstance by the Assistant Commissioner .
Mr . Allday—Ton have , Sir , in the course of this important inquiry laid down this great principle—that the poor and destitute of thiB country have as equitable a right to relief and maintenance as the nobleman to his rent for his land . X should , Sir , in support of this sonnd principle , beg to direct yoar attention to & class of poor and destitute persona , who are confined in a place in this parish nearly as loatbacsne and horrible as the black-hole in the workhonse , and whose only crime is their poverty and destitution . I allnde , ir , to the the unfortunate penniless debtor * incarcerated
J ? e Conrt of B&arasts prison , titnated in High-street , wrw , i contend , are as much entitled to teeei ?« the ££ ?•? ° WaDCe of f °° d , and the « ame parochial « ym KS ^ SS ? ^ " Becnred by tb « law to the X . ^^ J ^ ' T orkh onBe - J have toown poor per w ^ n ^^ f nnder ^^ *» small debts they waek . for tubristence to the 4 rt 2 ff 5 £ ftfiTS their miserable fellow-prtouers , tfce pariah auUioritiM
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laving refused , to provide them with the common n " oessaxieB ef Fife . In tola prison it is not as it is in out cr iminal gaol ; there no food for the poor debtors is provided , e ' ither by the Commissioners of the Court of Requests , or the keeper of the prison . I have , sir , been preaent at our public-office , and reported a long discussion before the Magistrates respecting the liability of the Guardians of the Poor , the Gaolers , or the Commissioners of the Court to provide the pauper inmates with the necessary food for their existence . The Commissioner—If , Mr . Allday , you will address tome a letter , stating the particulars of this case , it shall be laid before the Poor Law Commissioners , and you shall have an answer .
Mr . Allday—They ought to have something else beside bread . I know that some time ago the Guardians refused to send even bread there . In this execrated place , air , when a poor prisoner is brought in , he is called upon to pay two shillings and sixpence for what is termed " chumming up , " and if he be unable to pay that sum , his coat is taken off bis back and sent to pledge to make the amount , which is expended in ale . The dishonest and abominable practice is carried on with impunity to thiB day . , Several of the Guardians expressed a hope that an inquiry would take place into the facts stated by Mr . Allday , and that Mr . Weale would visit this poor Debtor ' s Prison before he left Birmingham . * The Commissioner at once expressed his willingness to visit the prison . The inquiry was then adjourned , and the Commissioner proceeded to the Debtor ' s Prison . : .
Monday , Dec . 11 . —The inquiry respecting the admlsBion , treatment , and discharge of destitute persons , taken in charge by the police , and wayfarers , was to be entered upon this morning . Superintendent Stephens waB present , at the requeBt of the Commissioner , for the purpose ef being examined ; but , in consequence of the police books , to which he would have to refer in his evidence , being at Warwick , fer the Assizes , his examination was postponed until Thursday morning . The Commissioner—Are there any of the policemen here who . have brought destitute persons to the Workhouse . Mr . Stephens—They are at Warwick Assizes . The Cammissioner—Then I adjourn the inquiry to Thursday .
Mr . Allday—Ton would probably inquire into the case of an unfortunate woman , now in Warwick Gaol , on the charge of having murdered her child . This will open one part « f the inquiry , the admission and discharge of females in a state of pregnancy . The Commissioner—X < et Mr . Hirst be called in . I will take his evidence on the admission and discbarge of this female . Mr . G . S . Hirst , on his oath said , that when persons are admitted to the Infirmary by the recommendation of the District Surgeons , they are , when diseharged from that part of the establishment , discharged by Mr . smith . When paupers are admitted , under similar circumstances , to the Tenereal or Lying-in-Wards , they are discharged in the same way . If a female is admitted
into the workhouse in a state of pregnancy , and from thence taken to the Lying-in-Ward , when discharged from that ward she leaves the workhouse . Such has been the practice . If a woman , under these circnmBtanciB , were to tell me Bbe was perfectly destitute , and no place to go to , I should keep her in . the house . More than one such application has been made to me , and so treated . I recollect Elizabeth King being confined -in child-bed , in the workhonse . She was admitted on the 26 th of June , 1843 . She was delivered on the 10 th of Sept ., and was discharged on the 7 th of Oot . following , from the Lyingin-Room , by Mr . Smith , and aa she made no application to me to go back , she was discharged the house on the
same day . She was not re-admitted by an order from a Relieving Officer , Relief Committee , or Overseer . She was afterwards brought to the workhouse by the police ; andjremoved to the female tramp-room . After she bad been there half or three-quarters of an hour , I saw her . I was told she had murdered her child . She herself told me she had thrown her child into the canal , and afterwards that her mother-in-law had done so . A Coroner ' s i : quest was held on the body of the child , and a verdict was returned . I haw heard and believe , that the mother was insane when she committed the act I have since heard that the woman has been apprehended on a Magistrate's warrant , on the charge of murdtr , and committed to Watwk Gaol to take her trial .
The Inquiry was adjourned to Thursday morning . On Tuesday the Assistant Poor Law Commissioner had a conference with the Mayor and Magistrates , to which Reporters were not admitted .
PROGRESS OF INCENDIARISM . Incendiarism in Bedfordshire . —The following is from a correspondent of the Times : — Bedford , Friday , Dec . 15 . —It U impossible to convey any adequate idea of the alarm and excitement that at present pervade the rural districts in this part of the country , owing to the daring impunity with which the destructive work of incendiarism is carried on , with a degree tf secresy that baffles the vigilance of the police . To the long catalogue already published fresh outrages have this week been reported to the magistrates of the respective districts , to whose kindness I am indebted for some authentic particulars , which will be found below .
From all the inquiries I have mode , not only in the magistrates' chamber , at the local Petty Sessions , but amongst farmers assembled at the market table , I am unable to arrive at any other conclusion than that these horrible atrocities are obviously the result of a widespread conspiracy against the land-owners and tenantfarmers ; and in no case of the numerous fires that have occurred has there been anything even insinuated to show the existence of personal hostility towards the individuals whose property has been thus wantonly destroyed .
I have obtained from the principal office of the rural police a list of three fires which are ascertained to be incendiary cases , and in respect of which liberal rewards have been offered for information , with a view to the apprehension of the guilty parties The owners , I believe , were in the greatest number of instances partially insured ; but as the official reports have not yet been obtained , the amounts showing the loss of property in each case are made upon a rough calculation , according to the quantity of corn and the value of the buildings consumed . The aggregate is much more considerable than was at first supposed . I select only six of the principal fires from the list "Mr . JLiine ' s , at Hownea , in the Ampthill district . — Granary , cow-house , stables , piggery , fourteen stacks of corn , and farming implements , totally destroyed . Estimated value , ^ 2 , 000 .
Mr . Man ' s , at Tebworth—Barn and out-offices , containing corn thrashed and in the ear , with various husbandry implements , totally destroyed . The loss estimated at from £ 1 , 800 to £ 2 , 000 . Mr . Crisp ' s , at Clapham . —Corn stacks . &c . Estimated value , £ 490 . Mr . Swanell ' fl , at Felmersham . —Barn and offices . Estimated valne , £ 500 . Mr . Roberta ' s , at Ridgemount—Stack-yard partially destroyed . Estimated loss , £ 200 . Mr . Gibbins , Stotfold . —Granary , barn , out-offices , and several stacks of grain , totally destroyed . Estimated loss . £ 2 . 000 .
Several other eases have been reported , to which it may not be necessary to refer specifically , the Iobb of property being inconsiderable , the design having in these instances been frustrated , owing to timely discovery : ; but every attempt of the kind , whether the guilty parties succeed or fail , only serves to show the animus of the malicious movement that has extended not only to the most remote confines of Bedfordshire , ' but has begun to show itself in Cambridgeshire and the other adjacent counties . A . circumstance which occurred in the Biggies wade district on the afternoon of Saturday last , is now the snbject of strict investigation by the poliee . It appears that at an early hour on that evening the premises of Mr . PJyer , an opnlent farmer , situate at Stotford ( and not very far from the farm of Mr . Gibbtas , whose stack-yard was lately destroyed ) , were discovered to be on fire . The alarm was promptly given , and the flames
were extinguished without any serious damage . On subsequent examination , the design of the miscreant was obvious ; had the flames got the ascendancy , no exertion could have saved the whole « f the premises ; from destruction . In the generality of cases , a lucifer match ; or a tobacco-pipe well lighted , is considered sufficient to ensure the destruction of the elevated homestead ; but in this instance a much more scientific agency was resorted to , no doubt the more effectually to elude detection . Upon a careful inspection of the premises , the spot where the fire commenced was found to be on the ledge or plate of the born wall , immediately under the eaves , and the appearance of the wood indi cated very plainly that some chemical preparation deposited there bad been bnrning some time before it commnnicatod to the thatch , as the 'wood underneath was consumed or charred in a circle of three or four inches diameter .
The late tragical fire at Alderman Higgins ' s premises , on the Kimbolton-road , near this town , is still the subject of anxious investigation , but no other cine has been obtained to clear up the mystery . ABsuming the latter fire to be accidental , it seems quite certain that all the others were caused by design , for the purpose of injuring the farmers , who , siooethe close of the harvest season ,, have reduced the wages of their tabourers . The me of threshing machines forms ; I understand , antther topic of complaint , so many hands being by means of Tnachinery thrown out of work . The rigid administr& , tionofihe Poor Late , in some of the Unions , is another ingredient in the general mass of suffering . During the last four or five yean , the railways afforded
employment to a large number of the agricultural labourers ; but with the completion of these works , they have been compelled to return to their original ocenpation as field labourers , of which then is , unfortunately , a redundancy , to whom full work cannot be afforded . The Poor Law Guardians would Ao well to relax the rule as to out-door relief during the winter months at least , or these terrible aggressions will continue . The moans of protection are quite inadequate , though the policerate is already excessively ' high ... . The extent of the county of Bedford is 463 sqaure nifley and it contains 296 , 320 acres . The number of inhabitants , according to > the last census , is 97 , 445 . The average rate of wages paid to farm-servants does not exceed 6 b . a week , but provisions are generally cheap .
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Just as I was about to send off my despatch I received the particulars of two more fires , discovered in the Luton division ; one occurred on Saturday , the other on Sunday morning last . The circumstances relating to one of these fires are sufficiently significant of the organization that has been established . It appears that a farmer ' s servant was returning home with his waggon and horses , when , at the distance of nearly twenty miles from home , be was met by two trampera , on « ot whom asked if he did not live at such a farm , naming the owner ? The waggoner Bald that he did ; upou which the trampers observed , " Oh , there has been a rare fire there ; we saw it as we came past "
Now , the fact is that the fire did not break out at the farm aliuded to , until six hours after the waggoner got home . When the . fames burst oat , which was about ten o ' clock in the morning , the farmer had only just passed the barn , and there were several other persons going by to market , so that it was quite impossible any one could have fired it and escaped observat ion . The presumption raised is , that some chimical preparation had , as in another instance above described , been deposited beneath the thatch , which , once ignited , insured the destruction Of the premises , and afforded the miscreants time to make their escape . The loss of property in both these casea is said to be very considerable .
One Hundred sheep Destroyed by Fiiie . —A destructive fire broke out on Sunday evening week , about six o ' clock , at Naze Wick Farm , in Foulness Island , Essex , in the occupation of Mr . Charles Harvey , and in an incredibly short time destroyed a sheepyard ( the wails of which were composed of mustard and carraway straw ) , one hundred ewe sheep all in lamb , and a large bean stack , the produce of forty acres , adjoining , So rapid was the progress of the flames that , although some of Mr . Harvey ' s workmen were upon the spot in a few minutes , they could not approach the gate , or make an opening to rescue the poor animals . Great praise is due to the labourers , who rendered every assistance in their power ; and on the arrival « f Lieut Hnssey , of the coast guard service , who was speedily
on the spot with his men , he , by his example and efforts , caused all present to renew their exertions , and succeeded in removing another large stack , thus saving from destruction a large range of stacks , which must otherwise have fallen a prey to the flames . The same night a man named JameB RampUng was apprehended by police-constable Went , on suspicion of having caused the coDfiatration , and , after a preliminary examination , was remanded upon the charge . On Wednesday he was again examined , and fully committed for trial . The value of the property destroyed is estimated at about £ 500 , and it was insured in the Equitable Fire-office . On the night of Sunday last , a fire was discovered in the farming premises of Mr . Grimmer , at Stockton , near Beccles , Suffolk ; and before it could be got under ,
a barn filled at one end with barley , and a turnip shed , were burnt down . There was every reason to believe the fire waa wilfully caused . In the evening of Wednesday , the 29 th ultimo , an extensive fire was discovered in the farm buildings of Mr . John Aldous , of Harleston , Norfolk , which was not got under until above five hundred pounds worth of grain had been destroyed , and this was also the work of an incendiary . A reward of fifty pounds baa beed offered by the Secretary of State for the discovery of the person or persons who recently set fire to the Wangford Unfoo House , at Suipmeadow , near Beccles . The whole house was some time in the utmoat jeopardy : but we believe no clue to the discovery of the offender bos yet been obtained .
Arson—A diabolioal attempt at incendiarism was made on Tuesday evening last in the stack-yard of Mr . Robert Story , farmer and butcher , at Eakring , Nottinghamshire . The fire was first seen between two cornstacks in the ocntre of the yard , but the alarm having been given , a very large n amber of the villagers collected together , aud by tbeir active exertions a great part of the corn was saved . The Earl of Scarborough ' s fire-engine was sent for from Ruft ' ord , with the assistance of which the fire was soon got under , but not before damage to the amount of nearly £ 30 had been
done . Had the wind been high , or the aid rendered been leBB efficient , the consequences must have been most disastrous . In the same yard were several other stacks , and another stack-yard adjoining it . There was also a large range of buildings very dangerously Bltuate ; if the fire had reached which , a number of valuable horses and fat stock would have been consumed . There is not the slightest doubt but that tbb fire was the work of an incendiary , as the flames appearad in several places at once , and a strong sulphurous smell pervaded the atmosphere .
DESTITUTION IN THE METROPOLIS . During the last few days the application for admission into the Refuge for the Destitute , Playhouse-yard , Wbitecross-atreet , baie been increasing , and they now amount to about 400 men , women , and children . Tha committee at first limited the number to 200 , but owing to the pressing necessities of the applicants , the order 'was rescinded . It was thought , that if a larger body were congregated , fever might be generated during the prevalence of the present warm weather , which as was the case , part of last year- Above 3 010 had been admitted up to Sunday night . There
are many who , in consequence of fever and other ailments , have been provided with the means of getting lodgings out of the institution . Mr . G » y , a medical gentleman , attends eaoh night , and examines every individual . On Monday night , out of thirty new applicants , fifteen were cases of low fever . The others were Buffering from various causes . This was the number who received this mode of out-door relief , with a slice of bread each , up to seven o ' clock . The average is much greater during the night In Glasshouse-yard , St . George ' a-in-the-East , the institution has another refuge , where there are nightly admitted about 300 person ? .
SHIRTS AT A FARTHING EACH . Much baa recently been said and written on the smallness of the aura paid to women for the making of men ' s shirts , but all the facts on the snbject have not yet . It seems , become public , for no quotation has been made of the price received and paid at the workhouses of London for the manufacture of those garments . The following statements were accidentally elicited at an inquest held before Mr . G J . Mills , the Deputy Coroner for Middlesex , at the sign of the Elephant and Castle , King ' s Road , St Pancras , on the body of a woman named Ann Humphreys , who bad died in St Panoras Workhouse on the previous day , after her removal to that establishment from a jeweller ' s in Soymour-street , Euaton Square , whose shop had been plundered of twenty-five watches by gome thieves at night , to the great alarm of the deceased , who died suddenly in the workhouse , from supposed affection of the heart after the fright
The first witness called to prove the death of the deceased , was a woman named Ann Benson , a respectable-looking elderly . person , whom a Juryman chanced to ask— " How are you used in the workhouse ? " The witness replied , " Very wells" adding , after a pause , " but I work very hard for a farthing . " " What , " asked . the Deputy-Coronur , " do you mean by that ?"—Witness : — " I moke a shirt for it " Deputy-Coroner—What sort ot a ebirt?—Witness —Generally striped shirts , but we put good enough work in them for any gentleman to wear . They are obliged to be done with goodness and exactness , or we should not be allowed to earn the farthing . Deputy-Coroner—Where does the material come 'froui ?—WitneBs—It is warehouse work , Bir . They come to the workhouse by hundreds to be made .
Ann Voyce , another witness , being at the tfme in the room , said , " It was a farthing a piece if we make only one , or two farthings if we make two ; but if we make three of the same batch , then we get a penny . " Deputy Coroner—How many can you make in a day ?—Witnejs—Perhaps one by working all day .
Deputy Coroner—And what do you do with all the money ?—Witness— Buy sugar and tea with it Deputy Coroner—But perhaps you have additional comforts in the workhouse Instead of more money ? - ^ Witness—We haye a quarter ^ of a pound of sugar a week , whether we make Snarta or not ; but no tea , nor any milk , unless we buy it , or friends bring it . : Deputy Coroner—And do you get breakfast and tea out of six farthings ?—Witness—We are obliged to make it do , for if we don't earn it , however , we go Without , and have water-gruel , which is very good . Deputy Coroner—Did the woman who is dead have tea ?—Witness—Yes , because a friend brought it to her . We manage to make the money do by only giving one another tea leaves some days . I had the woman ' s tea leaves when she had done with theni till she died ; ani as she could not wait on herself , I attended on her for it .
Deputy Coroner—How long was she iu the workhouse ?—Witness—Three weeks . Deputy Coroner—Why could she not attend to herself ? Witness—Because she waa very bad in her breath , and had palpitations . Deputy Corener—Did she see the doctor on that account ?—Witness—No ; but the assistant came to see her when she was dying . She did not wish to see the doctor before . All she wished for when sheeameto me was for a quiet place to be in . Deputy Coronet—Did she have it?—Witness— She could not , because the infirm ward was so full . Depnty Coroner—Did she have a rooHi to herself ?—JRTitness—No , we He four in a bed . The First Witness ^ No , only three , because the fourth , lies on the floor .
Deputy Coroner—Is that because the house is ao full ? —Witness—I suppose so . Deputy Ceroner—Are the beds of a good stea ?—Witness—Yes , there Is everycemfort fora po « r woman , and every care is taken of invalids . Deputy Coroner—Are you tasked in doing the shirts 1 —Witness—No ; but I cOulfl not have tea if I did not make them . Deputy Coroner—Would you miss that ?—Witness —I am pretty hearty , and it would not signify to my health ; but some are only fit for tea , and would be Alad to earn it .
A Juryman wished to know whether the farthing waB paid by the dealers who sent in the cloth , or a higher sum , and if so , what sum ; because , if it was lower at the work-houses than out of them , it was a wonder that so many poor women out of them were paid even l £ d a shirt
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One of the witnesses said she thought that 2 d out of every shilling received by the pariah , was paid to the women in the workhouse for aU work of the kind that was done there . A Juryman wished that the great comfort of life to the old people , ] tea , could be obtained by them-on easier terms . ) ' A verdict of ' " Died from natural disease" was returned , i THE NEW POOR LAW AND TBB SHIBT MAKERS . The Times of Friday contained the following just and excellent remarks on the above astounding
exposure : — ; Another , an ' d yet another , flagrant exposure , each more signal than its predecessor , is day by day presenting itself , of the' connexion of the hideous and crushing miseries of those thousands of friendless and unhappy creatures , who , f especially throughout the metropolis , but not only there , are suffering tha extremities of privation , without ] wages , but not without work , homeless and starving , yet tasked withal to exhaustion—the sempstresses , shirt-makers , the weavers , and other operatives of a similar class , with the New Poor Law . Eighteen hours' a-day , at four shillings a-weefe , or , in some cases , even less , and out of that pittance thread and needles to j be found , —these are the terms upon which , as poU « e report after police report irrefragably and continually proves , many and many an unhappy woman is even ) now eking out her wretched life ( or for be id to
rather her existence , she can scarcely sa livej within a circle of no more than three miles from the spot where we are writing . What has rendered Buch a consummation possible ? How has it been even within the bounds of possibility , that the workpeople should be reduced to such necessity as to be obliged to accept such dreadful , such lile-wearing conditions ?—or how that the dealers and contractors should be in a position In which they could enforce them ? We answer without hesitation that the New Poor Law , and that alone , has brought thia state of things to pasB . We say advisedly , that if It were not for that law , such intolerable , such grinding , such cold-blooded cruelty as that exercised by thost who " eniploy" upon such terms as these ,, could even by possibility have been practised by no man . The means an 3 instrument of torture , the boot and the screw , would , without this , have been out of hia reach . He would not have dictated such terms to a
starving population . We speak on undoubted authority when We say that the acceptance of slop contracts by the unfon workhouses at tbe rats of 2 d . and 3 d . per doaan , was the first means of enabling the dealers to insist upon a reduction in the then rate of wages , and ultimately to bring them down to ! the horrible point at which , as we are only too frequently reminded by painful experience , they now rest . ( The Stepney and the Portsmouth Unionhouses were tliose which were first exposed as admitting of this ruinous and wicked practice , and as paying wages for t&ej Jew slopsellers out of tbe pockets of the ratepayers I _ . Yesterday St . Pancras workhouse figured in the same enviable position , and afforded an even unusually convincing and lucid exposure of the extent to which the practice is carried , and of the use to which it is put The accidental ! way , too , in which the discovery of the fact was madelis itself sleniacant .
The Times then quotes the evidence of Ann Benson given above ; and remarks , — " One farthing for making a shirt ! One Jfarthing for a whole day ' s work ! Just three-halfpence for a wesk ' s employment t Enough to bribe tbe poor creatures , already supported , that is , barely fed ( or : unfed ) , coarsely clothed , and hardly lodged , by the ; public , to endeavour to gain a few scanty comforts to mjake their condition more tolerable ; and enough also in so doing , to enable contractors to treat with such as want not only tea and Bugar , ' but bread , and clothes , and lodging , and drink , upon terms which compel their j wretched victims to limit even these pressing wrnts also within the compass of just three-halfpence per week ! Was it for this , we ask , that union-houses were constructed ? To -be public institutions for the snpport and payment of the
workwomen of slopsellers ? To be instruments of torture and extortion—of extortion , to enable the slopdealer to get his work done at the expense of the ratepayer—and of torture , to enable him to insist upon people working for him eighteen hours a day at something less than could find a Union pauper in tea and sagar ! And i let our readers mark the extent of the pTacticfi ; " they , " the shirts , " come to the workhouse by hundreds to be made . " And thia infamous price of one farthing each 3 s allowed to be accepted in this wholesale way by the " autheritiea , " because they find that they can get their poor inmates to work for it by holding out the bait of "tea and sugar , " of which they thus save tbe expense , without any reference to the circumstance that , in so doing , they are underselling thousands , and depriving them of the very barest necessaries of existence . I
Certainly , as we have ie / ore now said , a day of reckon ing for these things will one day come !
MORE MURDER . —THE HORRIBLE STARVATION LAW . An inquest waa held on Friday before Mr . C . Wood , coroner for the weatern division of Surrey , and a respectable Jury , at the White Horse , Windlesham , inj that county , on view of the body of William Fry , an agricultural labourer , who was supposed to have died from thejwant of the-common necessaries of life . The jury jhaving been sworn , proceeded to view the body of the deceased , who appeared to have been in great destitution . The hut in which the poor man dwelt was about six feet by eight , without any
material but the outside boards nailed together , eoarcely sufficient to keep out the weather . In the left hand corner , close to the door , stood a small cottage grate , and at the back part of the hut , upon a kind of bedstead , without any bed , blankets , or sheets , not even a mattress or straw , was the body of the deceased . He had on an old waistcoat , no shirt , and a tattered garment ; his lower parts were totally uncovered , and no vestige of linen of any kind in the place , presenting altogether a wretched spectacle . After viewing the body , and quitting this deplorable [ place , the following witnesses were examined : 4-
Sarah Bulgent deposed , that the deceased was a labouring man , between sixty and seventy years of age , whom she occasionally saw and relieved . From the account given by this witness , which was expressed with some warmth and indignation , it would appear that the deceased's food was principally potatoes and blackberries ; that he was literally starring , anil had declared to her frequently that he had nothing ] to eat . He could not be persuaded to go into the Union , either by the Guardians or any one else ; arid so great was his aversion to enter a Union Workhouse , that he declared he would sooner die in a ditch . He was allowed 2 a . aud a 41 b . loaf weekly . Not seeing him on the Sunday , as she expected , ahe iwent with another woman on Tuesday morning , between ten and eleven o ' clock , to the hut , the door of which was shut , but not fastened , and upon opening it saw the deceased lying prostrate on the floor , quite dead .
Mr . Haynes , surgeon , of Windlesham , deposed that he also had known deceased about thirty years . On Friday morning was sent for to see the deceased , whom on going to the hut he found lying ou the floor quite dead . Witness , supposed he must have been ctead fijom twenty four to thirty hoars . Had examined the body externally ; it was in an emaciated state ^ very different to what he was formerly , arising from want of care and attention . Witness could discover no particular disease . There was no mark ef violence on the body , and witness considered a pobt mortem examination unnecessary , as the deceased died from natural causes through want of a sufficient quantity of food . If he had had nourishment , his life might have been spared . The Jury { returned a verdict "that the deceased died by the Visitation of God . "
: MORE INCENDIARY FIRES . Soham—The inhabitants of this town were on Tuesday evening last alarmed by the cry of " Fire , " which broke oat about half-past fire o ' clock , on the premises of jMr . iStephen Danby , situate in Prattsfcreet . The flame was first discovered by a boy who waa passing at the time , who immediately gave the alarm , when it was discovered that an oat-stack standing at the further extremity of the premises had by some miscreant been set on fire . From the combustible nature of the material the flames spread with an amazing rapidity , communicating on one side to a wheat-stack , and on the other to a large barn filled with corn : these , with the adjacent stacks and buildings , were in the space of an hour levelled to the ground .
Hoencastlb ^ -A fire broke out on Thursday morning week , about five o ' clock , in the stackyard of Mr . Rawson , a tenant of Sir Henry Dymoke , at Scrivelsby , near this place , without doubt the work of an incendiary . There were about seven stacks in the yard ; the middle one containing about forty quarters of wheat , was set on fire and consumed ; also a barley-stack , about the same size . Eaton Socan . —On Saturday morning last , between the hours of six and seven o ' clock , a fire was discovered blazing in the stack-yard of Mr . J . Hall , an opulent farmer and corn-dealer , and the whole , consisting of nine large stacks and hovels , two of which were very large , containing upwards of 101 loads each , fell a sacrifice to the flames ; The barns and outbuildings were saved by the vigilance of the gentry in the surrounding neighbourhood , as well as the poorer classes . Not tbe least doubt remains of its being the act of an incendiary .
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TO THK EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STAB . Sie , —However placidly we may endeavour to aurvey passing occurrences -we cannot avoid feeling at timea seriously ruffled , unless we have philosophised ouraelvea Into a Malthuaian hard-heartedness , which cannot be , If any of the finer and nobler feelings of our nature remain in the breast . You , Sir , heard of what transpired in Preaton at the time of the riots—the great turn-put of [ last year . The sufferings occasioned by that nearly { Unprecedented affair are incalculable ; and Preston came in for more than its full share . The firing by tbe military , under the orders of the Mayor , in Lunestreet , in so unexpected , and so different a manner , from the conduct of the authorities elsewhere , led to the death of four persons , besides the maiming of some others fer life . Yet severe and unusual as was the puuiflhmeutjinflectea by thiB firing , it failed to aaUefy
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the Home-Secretary-lauded authorities of thia town . Namtienvewtent to Kirkdaley one of whom left the prison after serving eleven months out of the twelve to which he bad been doomed , only to die within five weeks from the period of his liberation . This was a young man of very delicate health , named Dewburst , convicted on the evidence of a single policeman , ana hurried away with little ceremony , without his friends having any opportunity of tendering evidence in bi » Another person , named Richard Warwick , formerly an Inhabltanfeof Preston , but of late , previous to hia conviction , resident in Oldham , hath since the death of poor Dewhurst , gone to A& lojQg-home , ^ vin «^ red in Preston doubt what
at the house of his slater ; no - ever existing on the mind of any in theieasfc acquaints with him that his death was owing wholly to ha imprisonment . This man , observe , was not tried afc PMBton nor had the authorities thereof anything to do with his imprisonment . I mention him because of hia having long resided in this town ; of his bei n * well known here , through having been sent to ^ Lancaster Castle for twelve months for a political offence j and because of his having died here . Hia last imprisonment was in Eirkdale , being tried at the Special Commission for having exposed at hia door in Oldham , a placard during the time of the riots headed , " Now ot never . " For this alone , I am informed , was he consigned to the dungeon and ultimately to the grave . , facts still there
Painful and distressing as these are , are others arising oat of that unfortunate oufcorealE attendedby circumstances which render them od the whole more afflicting . One poor lad , sixteen years of age , was , during the firing of the military in Lnnestreet , wounded in the abdomen ; from the wound the boweU protruded , and in this state he was conveyed to his home—to a fond , a doating mother—a ^ tone widow , to whom the unfortunate youth was a principal support . Here he lingered In dreadful agony for two or three days , and then expired . Ne sooner had life departed than a police omcer entered and tore away the body , taking it to the new Dispensary on the moor , to await the snug inquest , so important in its results to the credit of the authorities—the mill-owning mayor especially . In six weeks from this period the wretched mother followed her sm to the tomb . ,
If " whatever is , is right , " and if the balance of happiness is equal , then are appearances grossly deceitful r for , ah ! how unfortunate , judging from these appearances , &te some of our fellow beings . One poer man in Manchester was arrested along with hia son for taking part in the outbreak , both of whom were tried at Liverpool , and imprisoned in Kirkdale along with bo many ethers . The wife of this poor man , while endeavouring to rescue her son at the time of his arrest , got a blow from the truncheon of a police-man ; and owing to this , coupled with the grief attendant upon separation , died within one month after their imprisonment , and the poor man hath since died in jail . One of the released prisoners told me that the son begged to Bee his father a little before his death , but was refused .
Thus wantonly are the lives of our fellow-creatures sported away by the few in power ; accounted of no more value than the stones under our feet , though each estimates hia own at a price to Which the costliest gem bears no parallel . What is the worth of our bowited civilization , government , and laws , whilst such misery exist ? Happy would It have been for the millions had auch mock refinement never been known . Had an horde of banditti established themselves in uncontrolled rule over the country , where , or in what , would have been the difference to the sons of toil 1 Yours , &C , ElCHD . MAKSDEN .
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Liverpool Corn Market , Monday . Dec . 18 . — Since this day se'nnight we have had fnrther liberal supplies of Oatmeal from Ireland , with a fair quantity of Flour , and moderate arrivals of grain thence and coastwise . There are also reported from Canada 1570 qrB . of Wheat , 270 qrs . of Peas , and 8500 brls . of Flour . Throughout the week the trade has been inactive , and as usual under that circumstance prices have ( without any general deBire to presa sales bsing apparent ) tended downwards . All descriptions of Wheat are fully 2 dM Oats £ d . to Id . per bushel , Flour Is . per sack , and Oatmeal 3 d . to 6 d . per load cheaper than quoted on this day Be ' iraight , Malting Barley has fully sustained our previous quotations . English selling at 34 s . to 36 s . up to 37 s . per quarter for Chevalier : a little very good Irish , suitable for malting , has brought 4 s . 8 d . to 4 s . 9 d . grinding qualities 3 s . lid . to 4 s . 3 d . per 601 bs . No change as regards Beans or Peas .
Liverpool Cattle Market , Monday , Dec . 18 . — The supply of Cattle at market to day has been rather larger than last week , which met with dull sale , at a little advanoe in price . Beef * 4 ^ d to 6 d ; Mutton , 4 £ d to 5 £ d . Manchester Corn Market , Saturday Dec . 16 . — Our market this morning was but moderately attended , and was generally of a dull and lifeless character . All descriptions of Wheat might have been purchased on lower terms ; and on Flour we reduce our quotations 6 d . per sack , with a very slow sale . For either Oats or Oatmeal there was but little inquiry , and the previous currency waa with difficulty obtained . Beans were also the turn cheaper .
London Corn Exchange , Monday , Dec 18 . — We have to report tbe arrival of about an average supply of English Wheat up to our market during the past week , the general quality of which exhibited a decided improvement . Although the show of samples waa tolerably good , we have to report a steady , but by no means brisk , demand for Wheat of home produce , and last week ' s quotations were supported in every instance . At the close of the trade a fair . clearance was effected . The supply of free Foreign Wheat brought forward was not large * yet the inquiry for it was inactive , at unaltered quotations . The sale for Barley , especially for fine malting qualities , ruled steady , and late rates were well supported . In Malt , the shew of which was not great , a sluggish business was transacted . As to prices , they remained aboui stationary . The enpply of Oats was only moderate , while the demand ruled comparatively steady at previous currencies . Beans , Peas , and Flour met a slow inquiry , but we can notice no variation in their value .
London Smithfield Cattle Market , Monday , Dec . 18 . —Notwithstanding the great Christmas show waa held last week , the number of beasts was targe for tbe time of year . With regard to its quality , we have to observe there was nothing remarkably prime amonasfc it , though there was some exceedingly well-made-up Devons , Herefords , Durhams , and short horns on offer . The dead markets being rather heavily stocked , and most of the large butchers having previously supplied themselves with their Christmas beef , as well as tha W 6 ather proving unfavourable to slaughtering , the sale for beasts thiB morning was in a very dull state , at a decline , on last Monday's quotations , of from 2 d to 4 d per 81 bs ., the extreme value of the best Scats not ex * ceeding , in any instance , 4 s per 81 ba . while a laige
portion of the supply was turned out unsold . In order to show the superiority of some of the beasts brought together for competition in Barker-street this year , we have to intimate that the twa Darhama shown there , the property of Lindsey Carnegie , Esq ., of Arbroatb ( N . B . ) , one of which was sold by Mr . D . Maidwell , of Leatherhead , to Mr . Littlewood , of King ' s-road , Cbelsea , the other to Mr . Strachan , of Whitechspel , have proved , on being slaughtered , to be surprising animals , as will be conceded when we state that one of them carried 38 stone , the other 34 stone lib . of loose fat . The animal bought by Mr . Stracnan , and which was tbe lightest weigher , turned out 208 atone 41 bs . af meat ! There have been no imports of foreign stock since our last worthy of notice j but nearly sixty
sheep , oxen , and cows have been shipped to Francs and Belgium . The Northern droves of Beasts consisted of about 2 , 000 short horns , &c From the Western and Midland districts we received 250 Devons , mats , Herefords , Durham * , &o . ; from other parts of England , 800 of various kinds ; and from Scotland , 120 horned and polled Scots . Although tbe numbers of Sheep were good , there was a much better demand for them than might have been expected ; indeed , it waa the steadiest we have had to report fora considerable time past Prime old Downs were 4 J . ; the half-breds and long-woola were 2 d . p r 81 ba . higher than on this day se'nnight . The quality of the Sheep was certainly good , and amongat the supply we noticed
three wonderfully fine half-breds , brought hither by Mr . James Syder , drever , of Fakenham , Norfolk , and bred by Mr . Adaams near that place . These splendid sheep , which were offered for sale by Messrs . Whitbread and Starkey , reflected great credit upon their owner , for they travelled on foot not less than 120 miles , and weighed , on average 16 stones , of 8 lbaeacli . Mr . Weal had two pens of polled sheep , sent by E . F . Wittingatall , Esq ., of Langley , Herts , and which weia greatly admired for their weight and symmetry . Th 8 numbers of CalveB were good , yet the veal trade 5 *? active , at an improvement of quite 3 d . per 8 lba . I * Pigs , a good business was doing , and the quotation * had an upward tendency .
Borough and Spitalfields . —Since this on . se ' nnight the arrivals ef Potatoes at the water s » have consisted of 60 Q tons from Scotland ; 509 aW from Yorkshire ; 400 ditto from the Channel Island ^ 200 ditto from Devonshire ; and 706 ditto from W * beach , Essex , and Kent . Prime samples are in req < W » at full prices ; but in other qualities very little » deing . JBorouoh Hop Market . —Although the 9 ^^ of Hops on show is comparatively small , the dem » " ? has somewhat subsided ; yet we have no dediwi «" notice In the prices . :- . -. Wool Markets . —A very limited quantity of ^™ has been imported into London in the past * ee * , w 620 bales from Odessa , 68 ditto from the MaorW g and 189 ditto from Hobart Town . The » t « /^ d English and Foreign Wools being large , the ae ^ J may bel considered inactive , yet prices a » g « n ^ supported v
. . Tallow , —Thia market remaina tbe m h ^ ds week in every respect . Prices are steady and . w *? ^ are only disposed to purchase what they re < l '" r ! l . * : _ - a mediate wantst The improvement in the . deuvw ^ caused by the completion of the con&actsjw - ^ sold to be delivered in the present month . * -r Tallow ia plentiful , and ttw prta « a « d ntf **»
Market Intelligence.
MARKET INTELLIGENCE .
(( _Q%T Cwfliftuml & ≪£Ngjmttr "Laws Grind The Poor, And Rich Men Rule The Law."
(( _ Q % t CwfliftumL & < £ ngJmttr " Laws grind the poor , and rich men rule the law . "
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fi THE NORTHERN STAR . i
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 23, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct960/page/6/
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