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Leader (1850-1860), 26th April 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 386, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      done any actual mischief , " thought that a penalty of 10 s . would meet the justice of the case . " The fine was instantly paid , and Sir James drove off in a cab to Marlborough-street Police-office , where he was charged with having been drunk and assaulting a policeman . The latter stated that , on Sunday morning about three o'clock , he was on duty in Kingstreet . St . James ' s , when he saw Sir James , who was very drunk , standing in the middle of the road , and shouting at the top of his voice that Codrington ' s Club was bankrupt . The policemen went up to him and civilly told him he could not allow such , a noise on a Sunday morning , when the inhabitants were asleep . The baronet immediately turned round , and

      struck him with his left hand a blow on the chin , and with his right hand laid hold of his stock , and tried to throw him . The guardian of the peace called for assistance , and a constable came to his aid , but Sir James was so exceedingly violent , that they were obliged to send for the stretcher and strap him thereon , before they could convey him to the station . The disorderly baronet denied the charge in toto , but he appears to have had no witnesses to back him . Mr . Bingham said this was the third time Sir James had appeared there . On the last occasion , the constable who took him in charge was much hurt , and on the present occasion the constable was also hurt . He was afraid he had been , too lenient the last time , and should now commit him to the House of Correction for twenty-one days .

      Untitled Article

      SHOCKING MISTAKE . Mr . William Armstrong , a tall , sinewy , handsome yeoman of Cumberland , riding home from Brampton , by way of Cambeik-bridge and Walton , stopped , with two friends , at the public-house near the bridge , and though , not exactly sober , drained another glass or two . He then started homewards about eleven o'clock with his friends , parted from them at a canter , and was no more seen alive . The night was clear and the moon brilliant , shining down upon the quiet parsonage-house of Walton , the home of the . Reverend Joseph Smith and his family . All had retired to rest except Mr . Smith . Abou < half-past eleven he heard distinct knocks at his study ; the knocks were repeated ; he went into the passage ; the k nocks sounded more loudly and distinctly thrf > ugh the still house . He followed the direction of the sound , and found it came from the study window . The bar was not fastened , and he made a rush at it , and noisily lastened it do wn . All ths time his nerves were dreadfully shaken , and he went about in trembling haste . * Unlocking a drawer he took out a revolver , " seized a small lantern and went towards the front-door . But we must let Mr . Smith describe his own fearful state of mind in the words he used

      before the coroner . " I went forward , ' he said , ' alone as I was—drew a bolt loudly of the front door—shot back the bolt loudlydrew back a sliding guard chain , and opened the door . I may mention this as a proof of how utterly void I was of self-possession and prudence—as I thus exposed the house and myself by thus opening the door—which may be illustrated by the moth rushing into the can le . I was speechless and could not say anything . From the noise I had made at the window and door the person had ¦ withdrawn from the vicinity of the window . My sight is 80 defective that I often bid ' good day ' to a stranger

      thinking it to be a parishioner . At this time the moon ¦ was in the south—casiing a dark shadow on the northwest angle . These circumstances , with the shade of trie shrubbery and the glare of the lantern , combined ( as we understood the reverend gentleman to have said ) to present his seeing any one . I at once discharged the pistol two or three times without aiming at any object—more in the hope of alarming than any thing else . I am not accustomed to firearms , and always had a dislike to fishing and shooting . The reason I provided myself -with this ( the pistol ) was the puinful anxiety of mind occasioned by the Frimley murder and other cases of that

      kind which have been reported ; and not being possessed ¦ with bodily strength , and being in the house with females and children—the house beinp accessible on all sides ¦ without passing through the village , I felt it my duty to liave some firearms to use in case of danger . I hud one Tiefore ( a pistol ) similar to the one I used . ( We understand the reveiend gentleman here explained , that not being able after several trials to hit anything with that pititot . he had exchanged it for the one now in his pos scission . ) 1 fired recklessly out at the dour , and then There onlthree

      ¦ went in and shut the door loudly . were y or four barrels loaded . A'ter remaining in the house a ah or L time 1 recovered consciousness ko as to see i Inrush exposure I had made of myself and of my family , and also of wounding any person out of doors . It wan at this moment it struck me I uhould go out ugain at . all Jiuzardn , to see if there was any one there , or ai . y trace of any one having nusiaineil any injury . 1 held the lantern in my hand , and looked all round to see if 1 could sec ; any one having Hiistained any injury , but saw nothing . ' "

      But the next morning the little- girl who brought milk to the parwonago found u body of a man lying -within hide- the ( rate upon bin back , with hi » hat oil and his utick at hi . s Hide ; and n whitu ridcrleHH pony ivuh found at Walton Ritfg , about a mile from Walton , on iln way homo . The dead man was Mr . Armstrong , and the Htiay pony the one ho had ridden overnight . The bullets of the revolver had ( lone dreadful execution . Two had entered tho body of poor Armstrong ; ouc uttho right breast , which perforated

      the liver , and the other at the back part of the right shoulder , coursed along beneath the shoulder-joint , and so out in front of the shoulder . These two bullets , each about the size of a small bean , passed through a topcoat , a dresscoat , a thick waistcoat , a linen shirt , and two flannel shirts . Mr . Armstrong , who was thirty-eight years of age , arid has left a widow and two children , was more generally known by the name of his paternal estate ** Sorbietrees " than by his name of Armstrong , and was the lineal descendant and representative of the " Sorbietrees " spoken of by Sir Walter Scott in " Guy Mannering . " A verdict of " manslaughter" was returned against Mr . Smith by the jury on Tuesday . But the tragedy was not completed . The coroner

      had scarcely concluded the process of binding the jury over to prosecute , than the Reverend Mr . Benson , the vicar of Brampton , entered the room in great haste , and evidently in a state of painful excitement , and exclaimed , " He ' s quite gone ! quite gone ! The poor man ( alluding to Mr . Smith )! he is quite gone out of his mind . " He was so shocked at the result of the inquiry , that he sobbed and cried like a child , subsequently sinking into a state of mental imbecility . The magistrates waited nearly the whole of the day to settle the question of bail ; but Dr . Graham having declared that it would dangerous to communicate anything to Mr . Smith of an exciting nature , the coroner at once certified the fact of Mr . Smith ' s derangement , in order that an application may be made to a Judge to admit him to bail without his having to appear .

      Untitled Article

      PUBLIC PARK AND FREE LIBRARY AT MACCLESFIELD , There is a movement in Macclesfield to obtain a public park and a free library . To give the wide-spread opinion weight and authority a meeting has been held , presided over by the Reverend C . A . J . Smith , and addressed by Sir J ' Kay Shuttle worth , Mr . Monckton Milnes , M . P ., Mr . Wilmot , of Conijleton , the Reverend W E . Weigall , the Reverend T . B . Cornish , and other clergymen . Mr . May , the chairman of the committee originating the movement , detailed the manner it had been commenced by a few working men , and how they had persevered against the discouragements offered r > y the middle and upper classes until they had obtained between three and four hundred pounds . To raise this sum about 17 , 000 persons have subscribed , showing how much interest was felt in the movement .

      The speech of the evening was that bv Sir J . K . Shuttleworth . He expressed the great interest he felt in the movement , because it win in one respect a pecu liar one , having originated entirely with working men . On receiving an account of their proceedings Irom Mr . May , Sir James had gone specially to London for the purpose of inducing ' the Government to afford some encouragement to the undertaking . If the meeting suppos d that the Government took no interest in such matters , he would assure them they were very much mistaken . The Government desired the improvement of the working classes , and they had authorized him to say , that however much the people of Macclesfield might subscribe to carry out their object , a like sum would be paid out

      of the Treasury . Sir James contrasted the feelings of the people when he was a boy , with the present state of the public mind , and the efforts that are making to increase the comforts of the working classes . He contrasted the destruction of machinery in Lancashire when the powerloom was first introduced there with the general holiday in 1842 , when , though the people had left their employment in a boiiy , and were suffering great privation , not a single instance of machinery being destroyed had occurred . He noted this as one of the many signs of progress , and laid it down as the great test , of modem statesmanship .

      that the efforts of the Government should be directed to the elevation of the masses of the people . JNlr . Milnes made the chief topic of his speech the light of the working classes to the means of intellectual improvement , and said the object of the meeting ; was one of the many popular movements of the day to which he had lent his cordial tmpport both in and out of Parliament , and he should continue to do so . The meeting consisted almost entirely of the working classes . Several of the speakers took tlie manufacturers to task for not having come forward to aid the working men in so laudable an undertaking .

      Untitled Article

      PERSONAL NEWS AND GOSSIP . The lovers of personal gossip—in other words , all who read newKpupern—will find an niiiiiHiiig variety in our columns ih h week , thanks to the Easter recess , which leaves our gigantic morning papers without parliamentary iatt . ¦ lligencu , and forces them to furnish something more amusing in its place . The anticipations which were founded some few weeks since as to the increase which would probably take place in the Royal Family during the piencnt summer are not likely to be realized . The frequent visits of the ' Court physician , Sir James ( Mark , to the palace about a fortnight since , will he a nuflicitnt indication of the eircum-HtanccH which have led to thin unexpected result . Her Majesty in now enjoying the most excellent , health . ller Majesty will , during the running suiuiikt , pay a viwit to their GrnccH the Duke and DiicIichh of Sutherland , at . Dunrobin Castlr , SulherlandHhire . The inanr . ioii haa now been in pn paral , on for the event for five years . Tlii" Queen has been pleased to issue a coinniihHion for the purpose of submitting Home distinct c . stiiii , ttcn and plan for u new National Gallery . The coniuiixHion incluiU-HSir Charles Eamlike , Sir Uichanl Wemmacott , and Mr . Ewart ; und the Queen hua offered a piece of ground iu licuttingtou-gardcus , north , of the puliioc . should the

      commissioners be of opinion that Kensington is the best locality for the due exhibition and preservation of the national pictures . Prince Albert ' s suit against the Government of Gotha has been decided in his favour by the faculty of Heidelberg ; but an appeal was raised against this decision . Prince Albert has sent Counsellor Brieglieb with authority to get the matter settled by arbitration or male a compromise . The yearly sum of 25 , 000 thalers , which forms the object of the suit , is applied by the Prince wholly to benevolent purposes in Saxony . The King of the Belgians is expected to arrive in town from Brussels early in May . The Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha ( brother of Prince Albert ) and the Prince of Leiningen are to arrive in the course of the same month . The two former are to be the guests of her Majesty , the latter of the Duchess of Kent .

      The ex-Queen of the French , accompanied by the Duke and Duchess de Nemours , the Count de Paris , and other members of the ex Royal Family of France , came to town from Claremont in the middle of last week , to attend the religious services of the Holy Week at the French Chapel in George-street , Portman-square . Cardinal Wisemen went to Claremont , last week , to pay a visit to the ex Queen of the French and the other members of the ex- Royal Family of France , domiciled at that place . The reception given to the cardinal by the illustrious exiles is stated to have been of a very affectionate character , and the visit is said to have afforded great gratification to all parties . The Duke of Saxe Coburg is assembling a circle of royal , political , and military notabilities at Coburg . The Duchess of Orleans , the ex-Queen of France , General Cabrera , Baron Radowitz , are among the visitors of his Royal Highness ) .

      Queen Marie Amelie , the widow of Louis Philippe , is about to take up her tesidence at Rosenau , n « ar Coburg . The Duke de Nemours will occupy the villa of the D . Ernest of Wurtemburg . Thursday week being Grunen Donnerstag , arrangements were made according to immemorial cuRtom , for the Emperor of Austria to wash the feet of twelve old men , and great was the throng of knights and-lidies who had applied for permission to be present at the ceremony . His Majesty had , however , been suffering for some days from a severe attack of toothache , accompanied by a swelled face , and so the thing was put off , and the fates must wait to be ptopitiated till next year . It is reported that Queen Chri-tina , fearing the extinction of the Moderado party by a revolution , has opened a correspondence with General Espartero with a vi .-w of bringing in a Progresis'a Cabinet under certain

      condi-. The Emperor of "Russia wrote on the 10 th , an autograph letter to Prince Womnzoff , commander of the Russian troops in the Caucasus , complimenting him on the success of ttie winter campaign in Tschetscha . The Spanish Government refused General Narvaezthe authorization to return to Spain , the life of the Countess de Canada Alta , his mother , not being in any danger . Lady John Russell has issued invitations for two grand assemblies , on the 14 th of May and 4 th of June Amongst the visitors to the Great Exhibition on Wednesday week was the Duke of Wellington , accompanied by his daughter-in-law , the Marchioness of Douro . After walking down the transept , the noble and gallant duke turned into the French department , and paused to observe one of the exhibitors removing from

      an oaken case various articles of silver and gold plate . Among the morceaux uncovered as the duke walked up were a pair of silver equestrian statuettes , representing the duke himself and his once formidable rival , Napoleon . The great captain smiled at the incident , and to an inquiring look of the French artist nodded his assent . The news instantly spread that the Duke of Wellington was within the " French territory , " and in a very few moments—probably for the first time in his life—the duke was surprised and surrounded by a body of Frenchmen . Happily , in the present instance , the national character for politeness prevailed over every other feeling . The hats and caps of the bearded strangers were instinctively raised to Great Britain ' s " hero , " and the noble duke , having returned a military salute , passed on to the next department . —Globe .

      The barristers of the Middle Temple propose to give a aeries of magnificent entertainments to the judges and the bar of France , who may visit London during the summer . Upon the announcement of their arrival they will be invited to breakfast , at half-past eleven , to be given in the magnificent hall , at which the bar , in costume , will attend and receive them in state . After which they will be conducted over the beautiful church , an < l shown the other curiosities of the Tem p le . On a subsequent day they will l > e invited to a grunu dinner in the hall , at which the hammers of the Middle ; Temple will be present in full bar costume . No student h will he

      admitted on thiB occasion , on account of the large number of the bar of the inn . The only toasts allowed to be proposed will bo " The Queen , " and " The Judges und the Bar of France , who this day honour us by their presence . " A full band will be stationed in the gallery . On a subsequent day to bo named , to suit the convenience of the- French bar , u grand ball will be given in the Middle Ti-mple-hall , to which no English ladies will be invited but the relations and personul friends of the biir of the inn , each member to be limited in numbers . Tina will be the first , ball given in the hall of this inn since the days of Queen Elizabeth , who honoured it with lier presence , and who danced there .

      Ihe receptions announced to take place at tlie Mansion-house will not commence until after the opening of the Great Exhibition , the Lord Mayor being de . wirouN of receiving at them not only ( lie litciati and scientific men of this country and of the Continent , but . more « wpecially to mark bin warm participation in the general wiim to give 6 clat to this great epoch in the history of tlie induBtrinl world by offering tfce hwpititlity ol the MftUiiou-

      Untitled Article

      386 M ^ t & * && **? [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 26, 1851, page 386, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1880/page/6/