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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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BEESIONDSEY . A public conversational meeting was bfcid on Tbnrrday evening week , at the Ship Inn , Long Lane , Bsrmondsey . Mr . S . NiGS was ealied to the chair , and opened the proceedings by Informing the assembly that it was an adjourned meeting from tho previous week , and that ita objsct was to end-avour to effect » union between the Metropolitan Reform Association acd the Chartists . Mr . ilAT > -AHD moved the foUowing resolution : — " That this meeting cahnct bnt feel , with horror and alarm , the present awful distressed state cf the country , in . which not only the working classes , but the manu- 1 faeturer and the small capitalist , are alike npon the brink cf ruin ; asd beiDg convinced that the cause of this distress is class legislation , we feel assured that no permanent good wi ! . irise until the People ' s Charter
becomes the I ? ~ -i the land , which would soon be accomplished : > an honest union of ' - " -1- middle and workirg clai £ < - « directing tfeeir energ ts for this great otgeet . " He stood before them in rather a peculiar position , and fa motives were liable te be misrepresented ; bnt be . gloried in bis posiUoa , and was determined to pursue * n lionest straightforward course , and bad no doubt tfeeir efforts to promote a tusicn would be successful . To "the resolution he was Base no Chartist could object . He ¦ was well aware they ought to es&ertain a jealocsy of the middle classes , * they doubted their sincerity ; but they should also tote into consideration their peculiar circumstances . The great ebject thty had in view was th » attainment -eC the Charter , and if they were to obtain it morally , it was his firm opinion it Gould not middle classDistress
be done without the aid of tbe . TO ravaging die country ; lens of thousands rose in the morning unknowing whera they should procure food for the day , whiUt another class , who neither toiled . nor spun , were " clothed ic fine linen , and ^ ared sumptnensly " every day . " Such-a state of things was enough to make a dan ' s hair sts-id on end . The great cause of this was that the massa were unrepresented . XJatil the Charter was obtained , this could never be removed . He was a " whole hog""Chartist ; he would not lose cme of the points . A mm eonld not loee an arm withcrat his whole body being irjared , neither could one point of the Charter be abandoned without an injury to the wh&le machinery . He did not blame thtm for being JsaAous of the middle class . es , they had been eo often deceived by thea ; but some were as honest as themselves . Home Tooke , Hunt , -Cobbett , O
Connor , * ad other gwat advocates of their rights , ¦ were middie-ckss men . If the Charter was to be gained morally , it must be obtained in the House of Commons . Their graaa -object , then , would be to urge on those who hid VGtes to give them to no man who would not pledge himse ' . f to the Charter . He ¦ was well aware the middle classes would only join them from interest . They felt the shoe pinch them , and were anxious to remove its pressure . A great movement was being carried on in that body . Those that a little time back would have treated the Chartists with disdain , \ rere now seen coming amongst them , seeing it was their last resource from the locmsts who were devouring the land . They must all be aware they would get the Cearter sooner by the aid of the middle class , and until they joined the honest portion of thom , in bis opinion they would . never obtain it
Dr . Black seconded the resolution . He was suffering from indisposition , and nothing but the importance of the meeting would have induced him to have attended . They had a powerful enemy to contend against , an exemy completely organized . It had Trhat might be termed its t facial organization , perfect in all its details , embracing every spot in the kingdom ; it had a priestly organizition covering the whole land , as it were cue great moral club ; it had another peculiar organizition , its gentlemen ' s clubs , meeting in their aristocratic establishments , and perpetually eBgaged in plotting the best means to retain iheir ascendancy over the people ; they had also a powerlul military organ zation , well officered , supplied with every description of the munitions of warfare , and affording situations for the younger sons cf the aristocracy , whose salaries ttey
• were compelled to pay ; there was also their police and constabulatary force ; and this was not all , they had also a creat moral-force organization , not only among the middle bnt also among the working classes—the feeling which induced men to bow down to a name and a tttie , was one of the greatest evils they had to contend against ; it infected all -their proceedings . The power thus ex- _ rcised by a p-ritst or magistrate was enormous . He knew an honest Chartist , who recently told him that he could not stand with the -same ease in tae presence of a Lord as of another man . This powerful opponent , possessed of these three complete organizztions , called themselves in addition their masters , and the country their country , telling them this was law , and they must obey it—this was illegal , and they must refrain from it—making laws by which they could
scarcely meet together , and give vent to their honest indignation , ¦ withont endangering their liberty through the spy system . This was a pistnrs of the enemy they had to cope with , and what waB their position ? Had they even ons complete orzanizitioa ? "Were they in possession of a physical f ^ rce power officered and disciplined like that of the enemy ? He said it fearlessly , but with an aching heart , that they were standing before the best prepared enemy in the world , quarrelling among themselves , allowing jealous petty feelings to" spoil the cause in which they were engaged , quarrelling even in their own localities . Good God ! were they so insensible to their own position that nothing conld make them look at their reM position ? Were they longer to go on as madmen or boys , engaged in idle sport . True , they might call the Goverument hard names , but they imprisoned or banished whom they p ! eased . They raised subscriptions for their defence aud support , but was
that to be all ? Were they to go on so to the ecd of the chapter . No ! In spite cf jealousy , in spite of wrong thinking , he would net say wrong motives , the dawn of a union was breaking over them ; and , before many months the great Suffrage party throughout the land would , he believed , be united as a band of brothers . Truth had only to be fearlessly proclaimed , and its ultimate triumph was certain . They might be called dishonest ; they might be suspected , but they wonld still ge on , until they conquered them . He felt that the middle classes were liable to be suspected . The workiDg men suffered under the sting fit eppressors in that class , and it made them irritable , but when they met in a friendly manner , like the present , error was dissipated and friendship produced . They had only been two or three months in active operation ; and they had the satisfaction of seeing that those who were then the most suspicious of their intentions ¦ were now their greatest friends . This gave them encouragement to go on in endeavouring to effect a cordial-ttnion .
Mr Fairchild said the p-rssent appeared to him to be a mosientous crisis . If a unio . n could be honestly brought about , he should hail it with delight . It was ¦ what be had been looking for many a long day . The only question to consider was , would it be consistent to unite with those men who had ever coerced the ¦ working classes . He thought they might safely unite ¦ with any man , whether peer or peasant , who would go for the Charter ; but he would have the Charter whole and entire , name and all , or he would lie for it . He asked the gentlemen , did they mean to give them a substance or a shadow ? if they meant to give them the substance , in God's name he saia to them , Go on and prosper . If they meant to deceive them he trusted they would fail ; but they must have something more than words , they must have actions . The middle class were
their most oppressive tyrants . Feargus O'Connor was a middle class man , but he did not think any more of frim for that circumstance , and if he deserted the principle they would immediately hurl him to the winds . He for one would say , Give me the Charter , you may go to h—1 L They had no objection to hold out the hand of fellowship , to let the two associations run together and assist each other . They had the meana at their command , let them use those means to assist the men now in prison , and he w * uld hail them as patriots and brothers . As until they did that he could not believe they were honest or trustworthy ; be did not wish to throw cold water on this attempt , for he knew that if the middle classes honestly united with them , the Charter would be attained in less than six months . The three per cent -conimis-iorers were
telling tfcem a lesson they would never forget . Peel was a Chartist to the back bone , and was making Chartists by wholesale . If it had not been for the tariff and the income tax , they would have heard but little of Chartism in that quarter . He did not expect , as Mr . Maynard did , any pood from a House of Commons like the present . Was it likely a House containing 132 boys under twenty-twe and a half years of age would grant them the Charter ? He knew they would scout the idea , after the manner in which the petition was treated ; every man who signed that document , he dare avow , had more sense than these 132 boys , and yet they taunted working men with ignorance . Was that man ignorant who could dig a
road under the Thames ? A pretty idea , truly , to call that man ignorant who could make machines to tz&vel sixty miles an hour . If a union based on principle could be formed , he should rejoice , for he knew the Charter would be quicker obtained , The middle classes had more funds &t their disposal ; and if they meant honestly , they would not suffer one individual now in prison to be lost for want of funds , but would join in that merciful object with heart and hands , and bands too well provided with the needful ; and they would think more of- their sincerity than if they made professions fox seven years to come . He believed Dr . Black to be perfectly sincere . He thought if the middle class were all like firm they would soon have the Charter .
Mr . C Westeston hailed with great pleasure the exertions of his friend Dr . Black , in endeavouring to procure a union among all sections of the Chartists . The chief objection he had heard advanced against a ssion was , that the middle classes , after making many professions , always bad deserted them when their assistance was most wanted ; and as yeomanry cavairy and in the jury box , they had ever been their persecu tors . ( Hear . ) He admitted the middle classes had proved traitors ; that they had insinuated themselves « . mrmg them , and then sold them to their enemies . But was it just to say that Because some had done this that all were equally dishonest ? As well might they say that , because certain working men had turned spies , or because some of them had destroyed property , or committed acts of violence , that the whole class were equally as guilty . They would , he knew , hurl back the foul assertion upon the party who made it
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and he , as a shopkeeper or middle class maa , ¦ equally hurled bick tb < 2 charge against his class . Many of the middle class were equally interested in abolish' jig class legislation , as themselves . They wanted a uni on not so much for a love of them , but frem a regar j for their own interest . They would find that some of the men now foremost in their ranks were middle class men . What were O Connor , Frost , and that sterling and and high-minded patriot who was now f . orced to fly his home , Dr . M'Douall ? ( Great cheering , j He trusted they should be judged by their conduct a && not by such idle imputations ; it was a libel upon it & working men
to assert they would be betrayed . Con A they rob them of their intelligence or of their prinicpl a \ They did not ask them to give op their organizit' < on or to pin their faith to their sleeves ; they did not > / yen want them to join their Association , unless of the j own wish ; their object was to rally round them the . true and honest of th « middle class . He trusted th * , y would ferm their judgment by their acts alone (" ac d that of your committee . ") He thought that was a trirsh remark . No association was free from some bad characters , there was always some black sheep in t ' je flock ; he was only anxious for a good oadentanuing that they might cooperate together . Black
Ruffv Ridley wished to ask Dr . a question In the pamphlets they had issued , one of the points was that " Parliaments ifere not w be larger though they mi ^ ht be for less duration , than three years . " He wished to know wbether , having seconded the resolution for the Charter , he , or the committee acting with him , were prepared to expunge that rule , and place Annual Parliaments in its stead . Dr . Black stated that they had great difficulties to contend with among the middle classes . If his own feelings conld have been consulted he would have come out boldly for the six points , name and a . l : and he was of opinion that if a sufficient number of men cf icfinence could be got to take that standing it would
be the best and most manly course . He had been a firm Chartist ever since the first Convention . They had considered the point of Annual Parliaments , and found many good men preferred Biennial Parliaments , and some few Triennial ; and to afford every facility for the junction of those men they left the point open . He had no doubt whenever the Charter was adopted , it would be settled to have Annual Parliaments ; yet many even of the Chartists if they had to write the Charter over again , and to consult their individual opinions , might make some slight alterations in it ; but in a great combined movement it was essential they should give way on all these little shades of opinion to ensure union on the whole . The great majority of his association were in favour of Annnal Parliaments .
Mr . Rufft Ridley stated that he had no doubt these individuals we : e actuated by good motives ; bat it was the duty of the public to scrutinise whether their acts would have the desired effect Dr . B ack might , as an individual , think it prndent to give way on some minor point ; but he , as a member of the working class , could not abandon ono io ' . a of the Charter . ( We don't want you . ) He thought that if the majority were for Annual Parliaments , it was a delusion to have that rule on their pamphlets ; it was keeping a phantom before the pnblic to delude them , and would only have the result of producing disappointment when it was discovered tbai their pamphlets and their professions
were at variance . He considered three years too long for a member to be exposed to the temptation of the Government ; too long for a man ' s honesty to be depended on . He asked these gentlemen to come rcau faily forward an 4 advocate that complete measure of justice which would ensure the salvation of the country . One speaker had said that injustice had ever charac terised the proceedings of the middle towards the working classes : of that the Reform Bill was a fatal example . He requested them , for consistency Bike , to txpunge that rule from their books . One man gained under the honest colours of Annual Partliaments wonld be worth ten men gained by a delusion .
Dr . Black explained ; in his opinion if they got the Suffrage , if the duration of Parliament was fixed to 3 , 5 , or even 100 years , if they found it did not answer , they could easily rectify it . Mr . Wheeler briefly spoke on the necessity of the Reform Association giving up such a minor point before any thinR like a firm union could exist . Mr . Ruffy RIDL 2 Y said he still considered that rule a delusion , but he should leave the audience to decide ; he should not have been doing his duty if he had not alluded to it ; he gava them every credit for tke manliness with which they hsd explained their views . He should be sorry to throw anything In the way of a reconciliation , but he thought they should first explicitly understand each other : if they went on in their present straightforward manner he should wish them every success .
Mr . Stallwood entirely coincided with Mr . Ridley in his objections . Dr . Black seemed to treat the question of Annual Parliaments lightly , but he could not have sufficiently considered the subject or he would have seen that Universal Suffrage could not exist without it , for the Charter said that every man of twenty-one should have a vote , but if Parliaments were Triennial , he could not in thousands of instances have it until he was twenty-four ; they were pledged to the whole Charter , name and ali , and any union not based on that would be a rope of Eand . The Complete Suffrage men adopted the whole of the Six Points , so did the largest party , the National Charter Association , and if the great majority of the Reform Association were for Annual Parliaments he felt convinced they could easily convert the minority .
Mr . Morton made a very excellent speech in favour of a co-operation of the two bodies ; he beloDged to every association which had for its object the destruction of tyranny , and allowing of working men tominage their own affairs . He knew that it was the i-hoe-pinching them which caused the middle classes to look to the Charter ; bnt had not the case been the same with the working men ? di <* they care any thing about Reform until the shoe pinched them ? they allowed one after another to be imprisoned in their cause ; they allowed the hand loom weavers to be petaecuted and starved ; why then reject the middle classes when the pinching of the shoe drove them into their rauks ? He agreed with the previous speakers , that the middle classes should show their truthfulness aud love of justice by assisting the incarcerated victims .
Mr . J . Dus can made a long and able speech in favor of a friendly spirit of co-operation existing between the two Associations , and concluded in the words of the battle charge of a celebrated Vendean chief , " advance , follow me ; if I retreat , kill me ; if I die , avenge me . " He would say the same ; if they retreated , let them be consigned to that political death which they would richly merit Bat give them the English justice to be accounted innocent until they were proved to be guilty . Mr . Ross was anxious to have a fair understanding . He did not lite the terms middle class and working class : the sooner they forget those distinctions the better . The middle men had ever looked down npon working men with contempt They did not even deign to attend their meetings , but gathered into tfeeir minds every prejudice which was sown by interested
indivianals , and took no opportunity to dispel it . The speakers , especially the last , had Epoken much about the working classes refusing to unite . When had they ever refused a union on tho principles of the Charter ? It was the middle class which stood aloof in their pride and prejudice . The Chartists had ever been grateful for assistance , come from what quarter it would . But when they saw the names of persons on their council , the study of whose lives appeared to be to sow dissord and division , it made them look with a suspicious eye on the whole body . These men say they are Stnrgites—they are moral men—and they will have nothing to do with the Feargusites^—this did not look like union . He thought it was useless to have meetings like the present ; if they wanted to ascertain the sentiments of the two bodies they should call a large public meeting , or a conference , composed of an equal number of delegates from both parties .
Mr . Wheeler agreed with the sentiments uttered by Mr . Ross . They had never declined the assistance of the middle c ' . ass , but they would not desert those principles to which they were pledged ; he wished to naderstand what the gentlemen meant by co-operating with them ; if they meant they should be members of both associatiocs he could frankly assure them they conld do no such thing , for the working men unfortunately had not funds sufficient properly to support their own organizitioa ; with the middle class the case was widely different ; they possessed the means , and if disposed to co-operate , could belong to all the associations , like their friend Mr . Morton ; if by co-operation they meant assisting them by their numbers and presence at any public meetings , he could readily assure them it would be done provided they adhered to the principles cf the Charter .
Dr . Black , stated that they bad tbiea means of accomplishing their object by petitioning , by the press , and by public meetings ; petitioning was briefly useful as a means of banding together public opinion . The press , unfortunately with a few exceptions , was under the influence of their opponents ; their chief strength lay in public meetings ; they had that evening had a good talk , and understood each other ; prejudice was disappearing , and it was only by sueh meetings that unanimity conld be prodnced ; they wonld shortly hold a large pnblic meeting for the same good pnrpese . A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman , five shillings were collected for the victims , and Mr . Morton enrolled himself as a member of the National Charter Association .
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Loed John Russell , it is said , has been occupying bis leisure hours , since his retirement from office , in preparing for publication selections from the correspondence of John fourth Duke of Bedford , from the originals preserved at Woburn Abbey . — Times . The Wahspite , 50 , Captain Lord John Hay , arrived at Spithead on Saturday afternoon , bringing home Lord Asbburton from his mission in America . His Lordship left the "Warspite between two and tliree o ' clock , and landed at Gosport , the ship saluting him when he left her , and the batteries opoa his landing . The Warspite has been seventeen days from America , having left on the morning of the o ; h instant . She was becalmed two days , or would have made the run in fifteen . Lord Aehburton , upon his landing at Gosport , immediately proceeded to hisi residence at Anglesey , where Lady Ashburton has been waiting his arrival .
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A MARE'S NEST . ( From the Times . ) " An investigation into circumstances of the most alarming character , connected with a Chartist conspiracy to destroy the Queen , has been secretly going on before the magistracy of Southampton for some time past We have taken all imaginable pains to obtain correct information on the subject We believe oar account to be correct in the main , though , from having been denied permission to look at the depositions , we may slightly err in the details . The party through whom the notice of Government has been directed to the investigation is named Peirce , a grocer , in Canal Walk , Southampton . Peirce was considered some time back the leader of the Chartists in this town , and from his having made himself very conspicuous in that character , was doubtless thought by the chiefs of the
London Chartists , as a fit person to enrol in their secret band . This band , the existence of which has long been suspected by the London police , seems to censist of a select number of the most desperate characters among the great body of the Chartists . They direct the movements of the unitiated , arrange the principal meetings , send delegates to disturbed districts , and , as it will be seen , are sworn to attempt the accomplishment of their treasonable designs , at all hazards , even if by the assassination of the Sovereign . It would seem that the secret conclave we have referred to considered that the destruction of the Queen would have the effect of overthrowing the Government , and that they should , in the general consternation and confusion that would ensue , be able to carry out particular ends . About five months since , as we are
informed , three men called on Peirce at his shop in Canal Walk , and after making themselves known to him as leaders of the London Chartists , and by communications which , to him were convincing , and after going into details with which we are unacquainted , proposed to him take the oath binding him to assist in the destruction of the Queen ! Peirce was horrorstruck at the proposition , beinjr one of the crowd of deceived persons who believed the acquisition of the five points to be the be-all and end-all of Chartism . The parties left Peirce with a threat of fatal consequences to himself if he divulged their visit to any party . He , however , did cammunicate his secret to a brother Chartist , and for the credit of that person , we hope it is true , that it was owing to his counsel that Peirce communicated with the Government on the
business . Peirce was sent for to London , and was examined at the Secretary of State ' s efnee , and being taken to Nevrgate to see Francis , the regicide , at once pronounced him to be one of the three men who had paid him the visit spoken of I It was deemed advisable by the Privy Council to let the matter rest fo ^ a period , in order to see if any further movements were in contemplation . The fact , however , of Pierce ' a revelations had probably como to the knowledge of the Chartist leaders , for on the evening of Friday , the 2 d instant , as Pdirce was retumicg to Southampton down the London-road on the Common , a fellow suddenly appeared before him from among the trees , and presented a pistol at him , uttering , at the same time , some expressions relativo to his having betrayed somebody , bnt at that moment a carriage approached ,
which from the softness of road had not been heard till then , upon which the ruffian ran off among the trees towards a place adjoining , called Highfield . Peirce made his way home , and was too much alarmed to communicate the matter to the police . On the following Tneeday Peirce was returning home across the Houndwell ( an open piece of ground near the Highstreet , Southampton ) about eight o ' clock in the evening , when he found himself dogged by a man whom he recognized as the ruffian who assaulted him on the Common . At a moment when no person was apparently near , the fellow fired a pistol at Peirce , and the bullet passed threugh his hat , doing him no injury .
The assassin fled and escaped . Peirce communicated the facts to the Home-office , and a gentleman ( Mr . Hay ) from thence , and subsequently , we believe , Sir James Graham , have attended the examinations of Peirce before the borough magistrates . No clue has been at present obtained , but a Government proclamation , offering £ 100 reward for such information as may lead to the apprehension of the assassin , will be issued forthwith . As before stated , we have been refused a perusal of the depositions , or any information , by the magistrates , who , however , seem fully impressed with a belief of the fact of Peirce having been shot at , a police constable and a woman in the vicinity having heard the report of the pistol at the time . "
[ To monstrosities coming from certain quarters , we generally reply , in significant monosyllables , such as , " Bah ! pooh ! boo I fudge ! sham ! " or the like ; but to so grave a subject as the assassination of a monarch , and coming from so respectable a source as the Times newspaper , we feel ourselves called upon to reply at greater length . And as the above paragraph will be read with horror by all , and with surprise by the Chartists ; and as they especially will look not only for an answer , but for complete refutations , we give that of which alone it is susceptible . One morning , before eun-rise , a little after noon , in the middle of the day , towards evening , as I sailed over the mountain in my little boat , with my stick on my head , and my hat in my hand , I met the man I overtook . " Good morrow , ma ' , " says I . " Good morrow , Sir , " says she .
" Pray , Sir , " says I , " can you tell me if the little old woman is alive yet , that was hanged about five years ago upon Ritcliffo highway , for drowning herself in a shower of feathers ? " " Upon my word , Sir , I don't know , I am a stranger in this country , but if you go to Sir Gammer Vangs , he is a neighbouring magistrate , and he'll be more accurate in his detail of the old woman ' s demise , perhaps he can inform you . " " Sir , I ' m a stranger also ; how do you go to Sir Gimmer Vaugs ? " " Oh , it ' s very easy ; first turn to the right , then to the left , thta to th 9 right again , always minding to keep straight forward , until you meet with a great large stone brick house , all built of flii : t , in the centre of an open space , all alone by itself , encompassed by five or sixand-twenty other houses ; knock ; it the door , and there
you'll ate Sir GimBier Vangs . " So I accordingly went first to the right , then to the left , then to the right again , always minding to keep straight forward till I met with the self-same gTeat large Btone brick house , all built with flint , in the centre of the open space all alone by itself , when I knocked at the door , and up came Sir Gammer ' s eldest daughter , a justice of peace . Just as I was Bpeaking to this damBel of seventy , up came her second eldest sister , a churchwarden to a troop of horse . " Good morrow , Sir , " says I . "Good morrow , ma ' am" says he ; " pray , Sir , " says I , " can you teli me if Sir Gammer Vangs is at home ? " Just as I spoke , up leaped Sir Gammer himself , out of the neck of a half-piut bottle . " Good morrow , Sir Gammer , " says I . "Good morrow , ma ' am , kindly , " says he . " Pray , Sir Gammer , " says
I , " can you tell me if the little old woman is alive yet that was hanged about five years ago upon RatclifiehiRhway , for drowning herself in a shower of feathers ?' " Upon my word , Sir , I don't know ; but I don't think she was hanged , because she was a near kinsman of mine , and if she was , she'd certainly write me word ; but to ascertain , we'll offer the following roward' Lost or ruislaid , stolen or strayed , off the lands of Ballyraggat in the Queen ' s couEty , a little old woman , with three white , hind legs before , a shorn mane , cocked tail , and jolly ivory eyebrow . Any person or persons giving tale or tidirjgs of the said little old woman within Bix calendar months of the date hereof , will receive as a reward , the loDgest , and widest , and largest ridge of potatoes in old Garratfs town ; first paying the rent , then the tithe and Income tax , and
then digging them . ' " Bravo , Sir , but you hav ' nt breakfasted . " " , thank you , I ate five or six-andtwenty dczan turkey eggs , a whole parcel of bread and butteT , and a proportionable quantity of tea . " " God Sir , you ' re starving ! So he sent me in a round of beef , a hamper of vegetables , a garden of greens , ; i jackass stuffed with a foot soldier , and several other delicacies , together with the London Times ; and I sat down , and eat and read as if I ha « t'nt a moment to live . Just as I had finished this cantle repast , up leaped a little white grey blue mastiff lapdog , upon my white doe-skin breeches wade of black velvet by the Manchester fustian-cotters . " Down , damn you , " says I . " Don't damn him , Sir , " says he ; " there ' s not a finer greyhound in existence ; it ' s not two hours ago since he killed as fine a hare as ever you saw ; if you don't believe me , come into the garden , and I'll show him to
you , as alive as ever he was ; " so he took me into a round , square , triangular , hectaifon , octagon , kind of a garden ; in one corner was a fox hatching rats' eggs , in another was an iron steel apple tree , all hung with roasted pears ; in the third was the self-same little hare that was killed about two hours' ago , as alive as ever she was . The moment she saw mo , she took fright , leaded over the garden wall ; I run after her , caught her by the scut , and turned her inside out , and she ran away to Printing-house-square , to write an article upon morality for the Times , as if the devil was after her taiL Now we pledge ourselves that the refutation is jest as true as the allegation , and that not a single Chartist in England , no Dot one , ever entertained tor one moment , the notion of injuring the Queen , or the foolish idea that her death would put one more potatoe in any man ' s pot , or destroy the power of cotton lords , whleh , if not destroyed , will destroy her . —Evening
, ™ K Monele ? T Publishes an order of the Minister ot War , granting a free passage on board the Government packets to persons proceeding to Algeria to settle in the villages twenty-two in number , about to be established by General Bugeaud . ^ t " ? , Samdei ; ° i "fted twenty-one , a clerk in the Money-order-office of the General Post-office , was indicted at the Central Criminal Court for forging money-or - ers , purporting to be drawn in Sittingk ^ rne , upon the Camberwell office , to theamonnt of £ 69 , 5 s . 5 d . The defence was insanity : Brown had
been absurdly ostentations ; he had waked his sister at night to askherif he was not beautiful ; had dressed in uniform , and signed himeelf "Colouel James Samuel Brown" ; had pestered a friend with consultations about marrying a countess ; had plunged his hand into boiling lead , saying that it would not hurt him ; and had committed other absurdities . About twelve years ago he received an injury from an accidental blow with a brick , and he had been subject to fats . Medical evidence placed his insanity beyond a doubt ; so he was acquitted , but ordered to be detained ia custody daring the pleasure of the Crown .
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GREAT FIRE IN LIVERPOOL . ( From the Liverpool Times . J Early on Friday morning , the most destructive and calamitous fire which ever occurred in Liverpool broke out in the premises of Mr . Penlston , drysalter , in Crompton-street . As Inspector Massey and officer Hitchmough were going their rounds , about five minutes before three o ' clock , they discovered the fire , and on entering the premises , which are situated close to Mr . Isaac ' s oil and varnish mill , they found a bench on fire , which they supposed communicated the flames to the roof of the shed . The fire was alive under the engine boiler , and the door of the furnace wide open . When they entered , there was no person but themselves npon the premises . The steam in the boiler was also partly up at the time . Information was immediately conveyed to the Fire-police Station , and three engines , under the direction of Mr . Hewitt , immediately started off , and reached the scene of destruction shortly after three o ' clocfc The wind at this period was blowing a strong
gale from the north , and the rain poured down heavily . The three engines were instantly got into play , and in a few minutes were joined by the remainder of the engines , and one belonging ta the West of England Insurance Company , making in all thirteen or fourteen . All their efforts , however , availed little , for owing to the combustible materials of the premises , as well as the nature of the goods which they contained , the fire continued to gain head , and in about twenty minutes after its commencement , the warehouse in which it had commenced , aud two others adjoining it , were completely destroyed . Mr . Isaac ' s oil and varnish works next fell a sacrifice to the flames , and the combustible materials in this gentleman ' s premises , caused such a volumo of flames as excited in the beholders feelings of awe and admiration . Henceforth the fire set at defiance all the efforts of the fire-police , and the continued torrents of water which ,. without intermission , they poured upon the burning mass , did not appear to make the least impression upon it .
The sheds and cooperage of Messrs . Taylor and Green were next assailed , and added fuel to the devouring element . The wind being chiefly from the north , forced the flames towards Formby-street , which , with the exception of a range of new cottages at the top , and a dwelling-house opposite , in the occupation of Mrs . Bark , consisted of ranges of splendid warehouses recently built . It atill advanced eastwardly towards Great Howard-street , devouring in its onward course several yards and sheds , and at length reached the yard of the Messrs . Molyneux , the front of which is in Great Howard-street , but it runs a considerable distance backwards in a westerly direction . Here again it received additional strength from considerable quantities of timber in the yards and sheds . The fire still progressed onwards up Formby-street , and caught
some bonded sheds which front Great Howard-street . These , with the goods which they contained , were in a short timo added to the mass of burning and smoking ruins which now occupied the sites of the previous buildings , and left nothing but outward walls standing . All the sheds and yards between Ccompton-atreet and Formby-street were , in a few hours , either a mass of ruins or in flames ; and the wind still continuing to blow freshly from the north , the fire was communicated about five o ' clock from the adjoining sheds to the rear of the fine warehouses and sheds on the north side of Formby-street . On this side of the street , in the course of about two hours , four warehouses belonging to Mr . Nathaniel Riyner , one ditto , the property of Mr . Taylor , and three bonded sheds belonging to Mr . Gray , were destroyed . At this period the fire had assumed an awful magnitude , and
burned with great fury . These warehouses and sheds were chiefly filled with cotton , but contained considerable quantities of other kinds of merchandise . On the ground floor of one of these warehouses , there were no fewer than one thousand barrels of turpentine , to whieh , when in flames , no description can do adequate justice . As long as any of the turpentine remained , it burned with the fiercest intensity , and by ita own mere force , as its situation precluded the operation of the wind , it set fire to the new sheds on the opposite Bide of the street , in the occupation of Mr . M -Knight . The working of the various fire engines , the encouraging cheers of the men as they rapidly plied the handles of the engines ,. the roaring of the vast volume of flame which ascended from the burning pile , the crashing of the timbers , and the falling of the disrupted and destroyed wallB , could not fail of impressing every beholder with the strongest emotions of
terror and astonishment . About six o ' clock the wind veered a-little to the westward , and drove the flames over Formby-street to the warehouse and sheds on the south side . These were speedily in flames . The sheds of Mr . MKnight , and the sheds and warehouses of Mr . Rayner were rapidly enveloped in one flery mass . Mr . M'Kaight ' s property was filled with sugar and rice , just landed from the Bland , from Calcutta . Much of this was destroyed , and much , we are happy to state , was removed in time ; but ef the cotton which filled the warehouses and sheds of Mr . Rayner , little was saved . All these buildings were entirely new , and such was the avidity of the fire , that in about two hours after they were attacked , they were one mass of flame froui Form by-street to Neptunestreet Two iron warehouses , in Formby-street , owing to the incombustible nature of their materials , escaped destruction ; but the warehouses aud sheds on each side are a mass of utter ruin .
The ground upon which the fire took place forms an oblong square . To the north it commences in Crompton-street , and terminates to the south in Neptunestreet . On the east it runs along a portion of Great Howard-Btreet , and to . the west it is bounded by Waterloo-road and Dock . In the interior of this square , ( the extent of which is about 30 , 000 square yards ) , the fire had now uncontrolled sway , and consumed every thing within its reach , saving the two iron warehouses already mentioned . That portion , however , which lies in the neighbourhood of the Waterloo Dock escaped the fury of the fire . From this time until about eleven o ' clock in the morning , the conflagration contined with
almost unabated activity ; but an expectation began to be entertained that the fhraes might be prevented from extending further , and about one o ' clock the expectation ripened into certainty . There was still , however , within the doomed limits , an immense mass of burning materials , the heat of which was most intense , and when night again fell , the sky was so brightly illuminated as to cause an apprehension that the devastating element bad seized upon some fresh prey . This , fortunately was an unfounded fear . The engines continued to play uninterruptedly on the burning materials during the whole of Saturday , by which time great progress bad been made in the quenching of the flames . All apprehension had entirely vanished .
The loss of property has beeu immense ; but a still greater calamity has been the serious loss of life which has beeu sustained . On Friday morning , two of the fire police engines , with a full complement of men , were hard at work , pouring a continued discharge of water upon the sheds of Mr . M'Knight , when , without any warning whatever , a great explosion or crash took place in one of the warehouses on the north side of the street , and almost over where the engines were being worked ; simultaneously with the noise , the wall of the warehouse fell , partly into the street and partly upou a shed adjoining , belonging to Mr . Gray . Some of the men had the good fortune to make their
escape ; but such as had not time were buried in the ruins . Of the number of those who ware thus everwhelmed by the falling mass , were three men in the employ of Mr . M'Knight , who , at the time of the oc ^ curreEce , were busily engaged in removing goods lowered from the sheds . Several of the fire-police were also buried in the ruins . With every promptitude the sufferers were released ; but many of them without the least signs of animation . AH the wounded were immediately taken to the Northern Hospital , where eyery suitable attention was immediately paid to them . Amongst the number taken to the hospital was Inspector Riding , who bad one of hia legs broken .
In addition to this Calamity we have to notice the death or a very useful and active officer of the name of Samuel Hodson . The station of this officer , previous to hia death , was in Castle-street , opposite the coach stand , and he was well known through his civility and the faithful discbarge of his duty . About half-past six , he and officers Bates and Tuck were holding their branches directing the water against the burning premises of Mr . M'Knight . Tuck , it appears , had some idea of the wall falling , and gave intimation to that effect to the other officers . A burning bale of cotton , however , fell into the street ; Hodson ran towards it to remove it out of the way , when the wall fell , aud buried him in the ruins . Tuck at the moment seizad hold of Bates , and pulled him from beneath the falling mass , and thus happily saved both their lives . The body of poor Hodson still remains under the ruins , on ineffectual attempt having been made on Sunday to clear away the rubbish from it
Several gentlemen who were assisting and encouraging the men had also a very narrow escape . Amongst these , were the bead constable , Mr . Whitty , and Mr . Maxwell , agent for the insurance companies . The following is a list of the sufferers ,, twenty-flve in number , who were during tho Friday taken to the Northern Hospital ; : — Dead . —James Bell , labourer , dead when admitted ; Luke Smith , labourer , Westmoreland-street , and John Martin , labourer , Chisehall-street , both of whom died two hours after being admitted . Dangerously Injured . —Robert Black , Newhall-street , fractured skull . Eight others severely injured , of which number Superintendent Riding is one , he having his heel bone broken and a severe injury of the ancle . Beside the above , there were thirteen others slightly injured , but who were enabled to leave the hospital on being dressed , four of whom had lost their sight from the smDKe , flame , and dust of the fire .
The following is a list of the buildings which have been destreyjd : — Fonr warehouses , ( Grey ' s ) bunt . One ditto , ( Taylor ' s ) ditto . Two ditto , ( Rayner ' s ) ditto . Two ditto , ( Poole ' s ) ditto . Four ditto , ( Maw ' s ) ditto . One ditto ( Roger ' s ) ditto , fireproof , partially burnt Two warehouses , ( Rayner ' s ) south , burnt One shed , ( Rayner ' s ) ditto . Two sheds , ( Horsley ' s ) Neptune-st , ditto . Two large sheds , ( M'Knighft ) west of the above , burnt . Taylor ' s cooperage ?» .- _« . Mtfljneiix ' atimber . jard , f DIinir '
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Cart-housea , Btablea , a row of about sixteen houses , and a large mass of property of various descriptions . The Talue of this property is estimated at from £ 35 , 000 to £ 40 , 000 . The principal contents of the warehouses , &c . were cotton , flour , rice , turpentine , && Of cotton 48 000 bales have been destroyed , the value of which is about £ 400 , 000 . Including other articles , and the buildings , the loss will in all probability amount to about £ 660 , 000 . The total loss at thegreat fire ftt the Goree , in 1802 , was £ 328 , 000 . On Saturday , at one o ' clock , a meeting of the agents representing the different fire insurance offices took place In the Underwriters' Committee Room , N . D . Bold , Esq . in the chair . After " comparing notts" on the engagementa of each oroce having liabilities in connection with this destructive event , the following was reported as the result : — result : —
The Sun ....... £ 47 . 000 Globe 40 , 000 Royal Exchange 30 , 000 Phoenix .............................. 30 000 London Corporation 30 , 000 Liverpool ....... 25 000 York and London 25 . 000 Imperial 20 , 000 Scottish Union 20 , 000 West of England 20 , 000 Alliance 13 , 000 Atlas 12 , 000 Manchester 10 , 000 Guardian 7 . 000 Yorkshire 5 , 000 Norwioh Union 3 , 600 County 3 , 300 Nor th British 3 060 London Union .. 7 , 000
Total Liabilities £ 350 , 900 Some uncertainty , hewever , exists as to whether all the liabilities have been ascertained , the meeting having been called so soon after the conflagration . No doubt , there would be much property uninsured ; so that the result of the meeting tends to prove that the loss cannot be far under what we have stated . The exertions of the fire police , and of all in connection with it , have basn spoken of , and with truth , as praiseworthy in the highest degree . If we were to mention the names ol all the parties who were present at one period or another , and rendered valuable assistance , either in the direction of the fire-police , the saving of property , the preservation of order , &c , W £ might occupy at least half a column of our paper . It is only an act of justice , however , to state that great
pra-. se is due for their exertions to his Worship the Mayor , Mr . James Lawrence , Chairman of the Watch Committee , Mr . Rushton , the Stipendiary Magistrate , Lieutenant Maxwell , Inspector of Salvage , Mr . Whitehouse , of the West of England Fire Office , Mr . Richard Dawaon , of the Manchester Insurance Office , Mr . Commissioner Dowling , Mr . Highton , Governor of the Borough Gaol , Mr . M'Knight , the owner of one of the warehouses , and many other gentlemen , including several members of the Town Council . Mr . R . V . Yates was also on the spot , not , however , with any intention of aiding in tho extinguishing of the flames , but for the humane purpose of making inquiries aft r those who had been injured . Mr . Rushton was on the ground immediately after the commencement of the fire , and did all that could be dose ta save life ,
for he saw from the first that all was lost At one time , fesrs were entertained for the safety of the Borough Gaol , and Commander Revan , R . N ., Bent a corps of marines from H . M . S . Etna , to the assistance of the magistrates and police force , who , in the event of the gaol taking fire , would have been employed to escort the prisoners to another place . Happily their services were cot wanted , the danger to the gaol having been overcome . Mr . Whitty , Mr . Hewitt ,. and Lieutenant Maxwell exerted themselves with an indefaffgability and intrepidity which could Jnot be surpassed , and were , in common with many others , subjected to great danger . There certainly never was a time at which exertion was more
necessary on the part of the fire police , and on this occasion they showed that too much reliance could not be placed on their discipline , skill aud bravery . The heat arising from the volcano-like conflagration , was during the whole of the Friday morning so intense that it could be hardly borne at a considerable distance , and in addition to this the air was loaded with smoke , sulphureous particles , and other exhalations from the burning materials , which pained the eyes excessively , and in many instances blinded the officers and men for a short period . Even those at the outskirts of the fire had occasionally to lave their eyes ; but the poor fellows who held the hose , and were in close proximity to the flaming piles , suffered dreadfully .
When Mr . M'Khight ' s shed fell in , and Luke Smith and Jobn Martin lost their lives , the scene was most heart-rending . The two poor fellows were in the employ of Mr . M'Knight , and were most zealous arid active in their exertions to save his property . One of them , when sinking in the flames , called out in agony for Mr . Whitty , who was near , to save him . Another , who was within Mr . W . ' s reach , stretched forth his hands for help , but , though an effort was made to save him , which was unsuccessful , from the fierceness cf the flames , he too sank into the burning ruins . The bones which were yesterday dug out of the ruins of the shed , and which were completely calcined , were doubtless those of these unfortunate men . Three others were at the same time disabled . " ,
We ought also to notice that through the great esortions of Mr . E . P . M'Knight , who had a body of hia workmen present , acting under his dirsctiona , there were saved , in good order , 3900 out of 4200 bags of rice , and the whole of the sugar from the Bland , -which had on the preceding day been stored in hi 3 premises . There was at first great difficulty in obtaining men to work the engines ; but there was a atill more pressing and fatal want experienced—that of an abundant and accessible supply of water . Vast as is the amount of property in that nsighbourbood , there is not a main in Great Howard-street , and though the neighbouring docks were had recourse to , the supply was insufficient during the whole of Fjiday and Saturday , and Sunday morning . Mr . Cunningham , surveyor of the Highway
Board , was sent down by Mr . Ashlin to open sewers , &o . Thfe his men did qulcfclyv and a good supply was obtained from the overflow from the canal . On Sunday , however , this was txhausted by the engines ; but in this emergency , Mr . Tatham , of the canal , kindly increased the overflow , and famished a further supply . Had it not been for these sewers , the want of water would have been still . more seriously felt . At tho breaking out of theflro , Mr . M'Fadzen thoughtfully recollected this overflow from , the canal , and caused an opening in the sew . r to be made in Great Howardstreet , from which a supply for two engines was drawn . Different opinions prevail as to the origin of this disastrous fire . The more generally received statement is
the ons given above ; but another account ia , that the fire was most probably communicated to Mr . Peniston ' s shed by some flakes of burning soot which fell from a chimney that was known to be on fire in Stowart-street , at about half-past ten on Thursday night . Inspector Abraham , who visited Mr . Peniston ' s works iminedi ^ ately after the fire broke out , made his report to the Watch Committee on Friday . He confirms the statement of Inspector Massey as to the first appearance of tbe fire ; but he is of opinion that it did not originate from the furnace under Mr . Peniston ' s boiler . He gives it as his opinion , that it was either the work of an incendiary or had been caused by some large dikes of burning soot from the chimney above mentioned , which flakes were Seen to drop into Mr . Peniston ' s yard .
The estimates of the I 03 S vary from £ 435 , 000 to £ 715 , 000 ; but we shoull think , as our previous statement will show , that the former is too low and the latter too high . The Albion says : — - . " We have received from an intelligent and accurate gentleman an estimate of the quantity of produce destroyed , which , as it is drawn from sources likely to be correct , we are disposed to place more confidence in it than in any of the rumours which we have heard on and off 'Change . This estimate makes it appear , that 45 , 908 bales of cotton have been consumed . We also learn , from the same source , that there were in the warehouses 250 casks of tallow , 2209 barrels and 800
sacks of flour , 60 tons of cod oil , 8500 barrels of turpentine ; addition unknown quantities of flour , turpentine , and tallow ; besides India rubber , Indian corn , sperm oil , fustic , rice , spgar , and bark . Amongst the cotten is a considerable quantity of Sea Island , which is very valuable . It is considered a low estimate to value the cotton at £ 8 per bale , all round . This will yield a loss , in that commodity alone , of £ 362 264 . The loss in merchandise of other descriptions , with tho smaller buildings , is taken to be aboat £ 95 , 000 . Add to this £ 32 , 000 for the warehouses , and we have an estimated total loss of £ 489 , 264 , or , in round nnmbers , of Half a Million I "
On Saturday , it was rumoured that a conEiderabie number of persons , probably from twenty to thirty , were buried underneath the ruins of the fallen buildings , and it was suspected that amongst the number were some few of the fire brigade . Whatever may be th « case aa to other individuals ( and we hope the calamity has been greatly exaggerated , as is not uncommon in such cases ) , it is now known that the unfortunate Hodaon is tbe only flre-pollc-officer whose life has been lost On Sunday aud yesterday , men were busily employed in clearing away the rubbish . In the shed belonging to Messrs . Horsley and Co . the labourers on Sunday
morning found on the ground a cotton hook and a penny . In clearing a little further , they found a quantity of calcined bones , which had , doubtless , belonged to the owner of the book and the penny . The state of these bones gave evidence ef how intense mnst have been the heat . Not only has every particle of flesh been dissipated , but nothing save the earthy portion of the bones remains , and they are light as charcoal . The men cleared away more of the materials , and , in a short time , they found another cluster of bones similar to the last , amongst which were several of the spinal vertebise , and some ends of the humeral and femoral bones . Part of the merchandise consumed in the sheds in Neptune-street had been saved from the fire in Galtonstreet , only about two hundred yards to tho soutfi . Tae wounded men at the Northern Hospital wore yesterday all doing extremely welL Black , whose skull was fractured , is now considered to be out of danger .
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SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE MEW rilled oh Injured at the Fire . —Wa are happy to near that some benevolent gentlemen have determined to originate a subscription for the destitute wives and families of the unfortunate men who lost their hvea , or sustained serious injuries in the late disastrous fire . AH those who are dead perished whilst attemping to save the property of others , and of those who survive the injuries which they received , some are disabled for life , and most of them for a considerable time . The number of families and children left destitute by these sad events is very great , and they certainly have every claim on the public , both on the ground of their own necessities and misfortunes , and the courage and de . vqtedness of their connections , now dead or diaableu We hope that this subscription will be liberally supported , and that every thing that is possible will be done to relieve the misery and the destitution of these unfortunate creatures , thus awfully deprived of their natural proteetoro .
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THE LATE INQUEST . The inquest upon the body of the murdered outlaw , poor . Lyons , the . weaver , has been holden , and a coroner ' s jury of > ur new middle class associates , as we might have anticipated , has returned a verdict of " JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE . ' ; We do rot arraign the finding upon any general feeling of suspicion , whic h we may justly entertain , when the privileged are the accused , and the unrepresented the accusers , because it may follow that weavers as wall aa masters may be guilty of violence in resisting , while , to protect life , the homicide of an aggressor may be perfectly justifiable . In ninety cases in every hundred , however , where a poor man complains of any injustice done by one of tho privileged order , the very fact of complaining is , " prima facie , " a . proof of the charge ; inasmuc h as the poor man ' s case must be strong indeed , when he seeks justice in hell , where the Devil is judge . As the
question now before us , however , rests not upon " prima facie" evidence , but upon the sworn testimony of several unimpeached witnesses for tho prosecution , corroborated in the material points by witnesses produced for the defence , —Life having besa lost , MUKDER , a foul MUKDER , haviug been committed , —it becomes our duty to inquire whether or not justice has been done—whether or not the finding of the coroner ' s jury is calculated to give satisfaction , and to create a respect for the laws in the minds of those who are told that they are equally administered to the rich and the poor , the privileged and the unrepresented . We claim the calm attention of the reader , while we criticise the evidence upon whtch our mHdle-class friends returned a verdict of "Justifiable homicide . " The evidence of Sullivan , Cassidy , JI'Adam , and Maria Beckett , unshaken by cross-ex-auiination , is plain , simple , and convincing , and would of itself establish the charge of murder against tho accused .
Beyond this , however , we have the opinion of the Coroner , after the evidence of these four witnesses was given and it runs thus : " That it had been fully PROVED THE DECEASED HAD MET HIS DEATH FR 05 I BLOWS . AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN INflicted by Thomas Wkigley . " This ebservation was drawn from the Coroner , in reply to the solicitor for the prosecution , who stated that he had eight or nine witnesses to prove that the deceased was perfectly quiet when struck by Wrigley ; a most important fact ; and especially , provided the farce of trying T . Wrigley be repeated upon the Lancaster stage , before twelve performers of the order of masters . However , it becomes important , as we shall examine , firstly , the pirtiea who were produced as witnesses for the man-killer . Old Morris , the first witness , is , with his son , owner
of the premises , and he saw no windows broken ; he found some broken when he returned , but he saw stones thrown when his men ( that ib , his engineer , carter , overseers , and body guard ) , who had been previously armed , rushed upon the unoffending people . He wes the principal ; and it appears that he , unescorted , held parley with the MOB , and suffered no damage at their hands , —a strong proof that there existed no intention of doing him , or anybody else , any bodily harm . But Old Morri 8 Bweara to stones being thrown . Another Morris , one with a scriptural name , Seta , the son of Enoch , what does he swear ? He saw all . He corroborates the other Merris , whose evidence , with the exception of the Btonp-throwing , corroborates the testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution . What does he say about the stono-throwing ? "He said thas HE
SAW NONE THROWN . " One James Boyle is then brought up to corroborate one of the Morris ' s , and to contradict the other , —thus destroying the whole defence so far . The case for the defence then commences again , and two girls , Anns Potter aud Harriet Johnson , swear that they saw Wrigley and others strike tha deceased , but that Wrigley had been previously struck by the MOB . Mind , not by tho deceased . Then one Diggles , a constable , aa a matter of course , is produced as a kind of finisher ; and what does he swear ? Why , he deposed to previous attacka which had been made by OTHER parties upon the mill of tho Morris ' s . Now such is tha sum and snbstance of the evidence , —the whole case for the defence resting upon the evidence of the two girls , Potter and Johnson , and wl ; ich goes for little , and would go for less , had Mr . Taylor produced
his witnesses to prove that thb MURDERED man waa . quiet and unoffending . But how doea the law stand ? If a mau is apprehensive of his life being in danger , he has a perfect right to defend it ; even as the hczird of depriving his assailant cf life ; bnt ao tender is it on such pointa , that it requirea the party attacked to use all subterfuges for his protection , by flight , capture of the offender , or otherwise , before a homicide can be justifiable . What , however , did Wrigley do ? Young Morris , the acting manager , very properly gives instructions that the handB were not to be allowed out , unles 3 the door 3 were forced open Yet , in tho teeth of such order , Wrigley , one of the hands , and biforo any apprehension of further injury than the mere stopping of the mill could have been reasonably
entertained—regardless of consequences , rushes out with a picked gang of bloodhounds , before , as Seth Bays , any stoneB were thrown , knocks hi . s victim down , beats him inhumanly while down , follows him again , knocks him down again and again , and then boosts that he has settled the b . Upon such evidence a jury of Englishmen return a verdict of " JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE , " instead of WILFUL MURDER , aa it ought to have been . The case is now fairly placsd before the public ; and however parties may look tamely on , while the owners of machinery are robbing ; , stripping , pillaging , starving , bullying , and ejecting Englishmen , women ,
and children , yet do we confidently hope that , in a country where nearly ten millions per a- num . ia paid for civilisation , a COLD-BLOODED MURDER will not be allowed to pass as a necessary part of mammon ' e means for amassing treasure . Surely the blood of tbe murdered , all poor and naked as he was , calls to Heaven for vengeance j and those who hear tns sixth commandment , " THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER , " and to which they respond , - 'The Lord have , mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law ;"—suvely , we say , those who bo pray on Sunday , will not allow thsir eyes to be defiled by the sight of the murdered on their return from the sanctuary of the true God . — 'Evening Star .
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^ kace Darling , the heroine of the Fern Islands Lighthouse , died a few days ago . The Herring Fishery . — The herring fishing since our last notice has been extraordinarily successful , and the herrings were consequently selling at a very low price , often at five a penny . At the fishing grounds they were bought by the curera and coupers at Is ., Is . 3 d ., and Is . 6 d . per hundred , and the price here ranged from Is . 6 d . to 2 a . 61 . Last woetc the moon changed , and , as was anticipated by the fishermen , the fishing fell off , and wear / 3 sorry to say there is no better prospect this week . — Greenock Observer .
At the Surrey Sessions-house , on Thursday , seven actions against the Earl of Uxbridge on account of several annuities , of fums varying horn £ 00 to £ 239 , were tried . Mr . Jones stated that iha annuiuea were due to persons , many of them in humble life , who had advanced money to the Earl on the faith or the annuities being punctually paid . " The Earl was heir to the Marquisate of Ahglesea , but had bconcalled te the Upper House during the lifetime of his father ; a somewhat unusual course , which might leave a doubt upon the minds of the Jury whother the defendant had been so raised to the Peerage in order that , as a legislator , he might
beneht his country , or that he might himself enjoy the privilege of freedom from arrest . At all events , the plaintiffs would be prevented availing themselves of a remedy as against the person of the defendant ; and they feared that ho had very little property . " The Marquis of Anglesea was examined . He stated that he believed that he was the father of the Earl of Uxbridge . He could not say where the Earl was in 1838 : be had a houso in Bruton-streot mid the Marquis was told that he had taken a house in Hertfordshire ; but as to what his establishment was he had not the slightest knowledge . Verdicts were given for the sums claimed , with interest .
Extraordinary Suicide op a Man Ninety-seve . v Years of Age . —An inquest wa 3 held last Friday evening , before Mr . Baker , at the Salmon and BalU Bethnall-green , on the body of Mr . Joseph Farrer , aged 97 , who committed suicide aa follows : —It appeared from the evidence taken that the deceased latterly , owing to his advanced age , bad given sign ? of derangement , and laboured under the delusion that the Devil was after him . On Wednesday he tooKhis dinner , and appeared in better spirits than usual . He afterwards , according to his custom , went up stairs for the purpose of having a nap , and remaining longer than usual , one of his daughters went up to
call him . On reaching the room door , she found it locked inside , and after repeated calling , without receiving an answer , a ladder was procured , and an entrance made by the window . On getting into the room , the deceased was found seated in a chair ' quite dead , with his head leaning against the bed-post . A cord was round his neck , and also round the bedpost and chair , to the extreme end of which was fastened a 141 b . weight . The weight had , after beiDg fastened to the rope , being thrown across the bedr stead , thereby causing strangulation . He had aho closed the shutter before committing the act . Verdict , " Temporary insanitv . "
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6 THE NORTHERN STAR / _ — - —— ^^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 1, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct981/page/6/
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