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Northern Star (1837-1852), 7th February 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 7, The FbeSch Vcxtuke.—Natural historians a...

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    • JFomp ftrtefluttwee February 7, 1852. THE NORTHERN STAR 7
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      Jfomp Ftrtefluttwee February 7, 1852. The Northern Star 7

      JFomp ftrtefluttwee February 7 , 1852 . THE NORTHERN STAR 7

      France. The President Has Addressed A Le...

      FRANCE . The President has addressed a letter to his favourite , de Maupas , containing the esoteric reasons for the revival of the detested office of Fouche , and it has thrown the government prints into estacies . They vie with . each other in extolling the marvellous precision of language , the statesman-like sagacity , and tbe generous sentiments which they discover in that sinister document . It recommends a grand spy system throughout tbe whole of France , in order that the 'President' may really know what men think of his measures This army of miscreants is to be paid for hy what Louis Napoleon calls * honorary rewards , ' as it would he quite impossible for any country to support a regular expense of that enormous nature . This system will hold out induce .

      ments for men to be active and tell lies in plenty , in order te get their' honorary reward . ' M . de Persigny has addressed a letter to the prefects of police , in which he states-.- 'You are aware , M . Ie Prefect , that if there exist among tbe insurgents of December perverse and dangerous men , of whom it behoves to rid the country , the others , for the greater part , are unfortunate workmen or inhabitantsof rural districts who have only been induced to revolt by weakness or ignorance . Is it not afflicting to think that aneh poor deluded people , who have been merely tools in the hands of the real culprits , should he delivered , like tbe Utter , to the rigours of an imprisonment thus prolonged , and that so many families deprived of their support should groanm misery and tears ? Such a s ^ ate of things has ed the

      mov Prince-president , and in consequence , he charges me to transmit to yon the necessary powers to lake out of the prisons and restore to their families , no matter what may he the state of the judicial investigation commenced with regard to them , all those prisoners whom you will judge to have heen only misled , and whose liberation cannot offer any danger for society . The character of your functions in bringing you close to the most natural sources of information , will permit yon , I hope , to make easily the distinction which I point out to you . I announce to you in the meantime that the military and judicial authorities , with whom you will have to co-operate in this mailer , will receive at the same time as you , through the channel of the Ministers of War . and Justice , the orders of the Prince-Presi-• dent .

      The ' Gazette de France' says : — 'It is well known that , conformably to the circular of M . de Moray , the government will make known the candidates to the legislative body which it recommends to the choice of the electors This list of candidates will appear in the ' Moniteur . ' It is now being drawn up at the Ministry of the Inferior . As aoon as this task , which is very far advanced , and that relative to the electoral circumscriptions , shall be terminated the electors will be forthwith convoked . ' _ The corps diplomatique are exceedingly offended that eince the 2 nd of December the former usage of communicating fo tbpm internal measures of importance before their publication in the 'Moniteur' has heen dropped . Tbe

      following papers are , it is said , the only ones besides the' Moniteur' which will be permitted after the new law on the press is promulgated : —The' Constilntionn'l , '' Patrie , ' « D efeats , ' 'Gazette de France , ' and 'Gazette des Tribanaui . ' On Thursday last 360 workmen left Paris for Havre on their way to California . They are to embark on board the "Vesta , which will sail as soon as the wind is fair . XL Dnpin , ex-Procurers of the Court of Cassation and ex-President of the National Assembly , h ? s just inscribed his name on the list of advocates at the Court of Appeal . The ex-Queen Amelie has written a letter to M . Dupin , counselling \; almues 3 to the adherents of the Orleans family £ a France .

      ^ The Electoral decree has appeared , and states that each department will have one deputy to every 35 , 000 electors . Nevertheless , there will be an additional deputy allotted to every department in which the surplus number of electors may amount to 25 . 000 . In consequence , the total number of deputies in the ensuing corps legislatif will be 261 . Algeria and the colonies will not name any deputies in the -corps legislatif . Every department is divided by a decree of the executive power into electoral districts , equal in number to the deputies allotted to it by tbe schedule annexed to tbe present law . This schedule will he revised every five years . Each district elects one deputy . The suffrage is direct and universal . The voting is secret . All Frenchmen aged twenty-five years without c nlitirn of tax payment , are electors , enjoying their civil and s litical riel-ts .

      Another decree follows convoking the electoral colleges for February 29 , in order to elect the deputies to the Legislative Body . A spirited letter has been addressed by the Duke de Nemours and tbe Prince de Joinville to the testamentary executors of Louis Philippe . The Archbishop of Paris and the Bishop of Orleans and Rennes , have reununced , on the part of the poor clergy , all share assigned by the decree of the 22 nd ult . in the spoil of the House of Orleans . Louis Napoleon has accepted the family vault from his decree of spoliation .

      The military commissioners instituted to judge the SOcalled insurgents of December are to cease their operations throughout all France . They are replaced in every department by a mixed commission , consisting of the Prefect , Military Commandant , and Procurer-General , which will decide with the sbortest ^ delay on the fate of the accused . The Clamecy court-martial has condemned-to death a young man named Eugene Milletot , aged twenty-one , a printer , who was one of the leaders of the rising on the 5 th of December . The poor lad admitted that he had taken arms in defence of the constitution , as he felt it his duty to do . He was ready to die for the part that he had taken ia that unsuccessful insurrection , hat be seemed bitterly to feel the odious charge of murder and robbery upon which

      the government thought fit to fry him . During a conflict between the gendarmes and the insurgents , commanded by Milletot , M . Munier , the schoolmaster of Clamecy , who was walking in the street , unfortunately fell . There was evidence to show that it might have been a shot from the gendarmes that killed him . At any rate , Milletot had no malice against nim . He was making civil war upon the gendarmes . The only robbery was this : —He took five thousand francs from the receiver of the place to pay bis teen , and gave a receipt for the money . The whole sura , within 60 fr ., was found untouched upon him . I have just learned from a private source that a second prisoner , named Mcltet , has been sentenced to death . Hitherto the proceedings of this court-martial have disclosed none of the horrors and excesses attributed to the people of Clamecy at the time .

      Pr ivate advices from Bordeanx state that a number of prisoners lately removed to the citadel of Blaye were lodged in casemates underground , into which water percolated in abundance . In these horrible dungeons many men of a high class of society were sitting nearly up to their knees in mud . The government threw down a few loads of sand , which was wholly insufficient to get rid of the wet . The inhabitants of Blaye ^ afterwards sent in a quantity of sere vine branches , which rendered the condition of the prisoners more tolerable . It is said that the destination e ! the greater part of those that are to be transported has heen tnsnged from Cayenne to Algiers . It is curious that the reason of this change is believed in Bordeaux to be the apprehension of Cayenne falling into tbe bands of an enemy ia case of a foreign war .

      GERMANY . AUSTRIA- —The' Yienna Gazette' publishes the followin ? , among a list of sentences upon political offenders : — * Eva Demmelhart , for using inflammatory language , to receive twenty blows with a rod , and suffer eight days . ' imprisonment , sharpened with two fasts upon bread and water . ' I : also contains sentences upon four-and-fwenty journeymen tobacco makers , punished for agreeing among themselves not to work—for striking , in fact . They are to he irapriscned in irons for various periods of from fourteen to twenty-fire days , and fast twice a week .

      The feeling of Austria towards France is beginning io be characterised by an increasing degree of suspicion as may lie sufficiently evidenced hy the stale of the funds and pnbr lie securitifs . In spite of the high quotations for foreign bills their real value is considerably higher , and tbe monied -classes seem to be generally of opinion that it is alfogether impossible that things can end well . The 'Lloyd' of the 25 : h of January , in a laboured and able article , endeavours to show that it must be the President ' s intfrest to preserve psaee , as ' he could not expect the people to share a na . tbnal misfortune with bira , and if disposed to be warlike he cannot count with much security upon victory . ' The accession of M . Bersitmy to power and the intended sale of the Orleans estates are looked upon equally unfavourably .

      PRUSSIA . —In tbe Chambers sitting of the 25 ih ult ., the subject of Prussia ' s relations to the Diet was brought before the Second Chamber . As the cabinet has strictly guarded itself from bringing questions of general German policy to discussion , this sitting was looked forward to with great curiosity . The motion contained a protest against any resolution of the Frankfort Diet becoming binding on the Chambers or internal policy of Prussia , without the content of the legislature . The committee appointed to report ca it recommended the Chamber to go to the order of the day « considering' that the return of Prussia to the Diet of > ' : e Confederation in no degree affected its independence as 3 monarch * , and that in taking part in any resolution of the L'Ut , it would make all tbe reservations necessary to secure im pendence 0 f action as to its internal affairs ; and that fealt y the relations of the Prussian government to the Diet * ere beyond the competence of the Chambers .

      ^ ^ long discussion ensued , after which the Cham her di-A :- « d , when there appeared for the committee ' s order of tte day , 139 ; against it , 133- The accustomed tnumph . of

      France. The President Has Addressed A Le...

      the Left was thus averted , principally by the desertion of a part of the centre , which Was ' - lately voted against" the government . All the Berlin papers are complaining most loudly against the ruinous taxation imposed on the press by the new stamp law . All , political periodicals , published either at regular or irregular intervals , whether lithographed or printed , are to pay a tax of half a pfenning for every hundred square inches of superficial contents ; advertising sheets , though

      containing no news , are not excepted . The « New Prussian Gazette' declares the tax exorbitant , as it will absorb nearly three-fifths of its gross revenue , an amount of taxation imposed on no other enterprise in which large capital is embarked ; one of the provisions of the law affecting foreign newspapers imported into Prussia , imposing a tax of 25 per cent , upon the subscription price of the newspaper , exclusive of the postage , at the place of publication , or , at least , two thalers a year for each paper .

      HANOVER . — -The Hanoverian Chambers were prorogued on the 29 th nit . In its sitting of the previous day the second chamber had passed a resolution calling upon government to facilitate tbe residence in Hanover of the patriots expelled from Schleswig-Holstein . The proposition was at once carried up to the first chamber , which bad just adopted it as it was prorogued . The government has announced that the legislature will not be again convoked before tbe term fixed by the constitution as the extreme limit of the vacation , has expired .

      ITALY . ROME . —In Aucona the guillotine is in preparation , so that tbe inhabitants apprehend that they will soon have to witness some sanguinary work . All the moderate party in La Marca ( the former partisans of the Pope ) are now alienated from the government . For poor Calandrelli , the triumvir , the only benefit to be procured would be permission to spend as much of his own money as he pleases , for at pre ? ent he is only allowed to spend five baiocchi ( twopence-halfpenny ) a day ; he is not chained , nor dressed in the degrading gaol garments , and is in the same cell with a doctor . PIEDMONT . —The satirical paper , « La Maga , ' published at Genoa , was seized there on the 30 th , for au article offensive io the President of the French Republic .

      SWITZERLAND .. The news from Switzerland states that party strife is at its height . It was said some days ago the instructions sent to the French minister at Berne were such as to menace the independence of the federal government . It i j now said , on good authority , that it has been setiled that Switzerland shall be jointly occupied in the spring by French and Austrian troops . It is doubtful whether Prussia will be permitted to take any part in this invasion , the jealousy entertained with regard to that power by Auslria enabling France to insist with mote firmness upon her exclusion from the projected operations . It is possible that Prussia will , under these circumstances , establish an army of observation iu tbe grand duchy of Baden .

      BELGIUM . ~ The 'Independance' states that the seizure of the 4 Bulletin Frances , ' which took place in Brussels on Friday , was occasioned by a formal complaint addressed to the Belgian government by that of France , alleging the violence of the attacks directed through that publication against the President of the Republic . A prosecution is already instituted against the publisher of the ' Bulletin Franeais , ' in virtue of the law of September , 1816 , fixing

      the punishment incurred by those who publish augbt injurious to foreign powers . The law in question is of very wide application , since it makes offensive criticism upon the acts of foreign rulers criminal , as well as personal reflections and questioning of the legitimacy of their rule . The penalty of a first offence is a fine of five hundred florins or six months' imprisonment . The defence of the accused has been undertaken by a young advocate named Holt , a member of the Chamber .

      HOLLAND . The' Independence' of Brussels states that the French government has made an energetic remonstrance to the cabinet of the Netherlands upon the subject of tbe animadversions of the press of Holland on Louis Napoleon ' s conduct and government , and demanded that the violence of the newspapers shall be restrained . Cabinet councils have been held , to consider how compliance with the application can be reconciled with the laws .

      UNITED STATES . Advices from New York state that the Austrian charge , Hulsemann , had addressed a second letter to the President , relative to Mr . Webster's sentiments respecting Kossuth The chevalier stated that if those sentiments , encouraging a part of the Austrian empire to rebellion , were endorsed by the President , the only course open to the Austrian minister was to qnit the United States . The President invited Chevalier Hulsemao , to a confidential conversation , wbich was accepted , and the Austrian Minister expressed himself satisfied with the result of the interview , but has since studiously given Mr . Webster the' cut direct , ' Kossuth and his suit arrived at Pittsburg on the evening of the 22 nd ult . in

      sleighs ; the uncertainty as to the time of his arrival prevented any display , though arrangements had been made on a great scale for that purpose , and considerable enthus ' asm was manifested . At Hamsburg , the capital of Pennsylvania , his reception by the Legislature was remarkable . A crowd , chiefly of ladies , took possession of the House , and would not be removed by the police , or even by the military ! The few senators who got in tried to adjourn , but were shouted down ; aud the reception was gone through amidst such uproar that the whole affair was dumb show . The ' Times' correspondent declares that he has gone over a thousaud (!) American papers within the last few weeks , and finds the great majority strongly in favour of intervention for Hungary ; and that the Democratic parly will make

      that their cry , and a very promising one / at the Presidential election . The delegations from various states , iu behalf of Smith O'Brien , and the other Irish axiles , arrived at Washington about noon on tbe 22 nd ult , and the President immeately called a cabinet meeting , which was held at four p . m . on that day . A processsion of about 300 waited upon the President at that hour . The Baltimore delegation presented their memorial , which purported to be signed by i 5 , 000 persons . The President , in responding , said that while his feelings and the feelings of his countrymen generally were warmly enlisted in behalf of the Irish exiles , he was gratified at the disposition manifested by the memorialists to do nothing that would compromise the government , and objected in strong terms against intervention in European affairs generally .

      Jtolmifc

      Jtolmifc

      The Mcbder Or Mb. Bateson.—Tbe Special C...

      The Mcbder or Mb . Bateson . —Tbe special commission has turned out a failure . The judges sent to Monaghsin have returned to town , the whole result of their labours being the conviction of two Ribbon men who were found with arms while the commission was sitting , Francis Kelly has been tried twice for therourder of Mr . Bateson , and the jury in each case has been discharged without arriving at a verdict . Mr . Chambre . —Several men aro under arrest , on the charge of shooting at Mr . Cbambre . It is believed that a special commission is to bo issued for the county ( Armagh ) in which that outrage took place . Mr . Cbambre is reported to be out of danger . Thk « ' Wohid . "—Mr . Birch , the proprietor of the late * ' World " newspaper , was , on Tuesday , arrested on a bench warrant , for tho libels which appeared in the last numbers of his journal , against Mrs . French , the daughter of Mr . Brewster , Q . C .

      A movement has been set on foot to obtain the remission of the sentence of Smith O'Brien , and the other Irish political convicts of ' 48 . Meetings have been held in Wexford , and in the Court-house at Limerick , the mayor presiding , and a large number of the Roman Catholic clergy being present . Electiox Rghouks . —The "Limerick Reporter" gives an authorised contradiction to the statement of the contemplated retirement of Lord Arundel fiom the representation of that city . The " Galway Mercury " says : We are informed that Andrew Browne , Esq ., of Mount Hazel , has been solicited by many of the most influential and independent electors of this county to come forward as a candidate for the representation at the approaching election . It is also rumoured that Mr . Keo » h , the member for Athlone , will be a candidate for tbe city of Dublin at the next election . Sir R . Howard , the member for Wicklow , is reported a candidate for Kinsale , with Mr . Butt , Q . C . ; and Mr . V . Blake , for Mayo .

      The Fbesch Vcxtuke.—Natural Historians A...

      The FbeSch Vcxtuke . —Natural historians are puzzled to determine what sort of fowl is the bird calling itself the French Eagle . That it belongs to the Eagle Family at all , the only indication is afforded by its talons , which are enormous , and exhibit an extent of grasp truly astonishing . But the voracity and greediness for which it is remarkable are rather characteristic of the vulture , or the carrion crow , and its trick of pouncing on tie defenceless is a trait of the kite ' s . Moreover , it displays a wonderful alacrity at feathering Us nest , wbich is foreign to the aquiline nature . This nondescript creature ( now in full feather at the Tuilcries ) has in three years increased its depredations in France to the amount of from £ 25 , 000 to £ 140 , 000 per annum . It does number

      not , however , prey singly but divides its spoil with a of associates , reserving to itself what , if it were a quadruped , might be described as the lion ' s share . Thus gregarious in its rapacitv , it presents another mark of affinity to the vultures ; and as the appellation of King Vulture is already ore-occup ied , its instincts , which are markedly imperious , suggest that the title most appropriate to the inclinations of this Vultu-e would be the Emperor . —Punch . Curiositie s in Advertising , —After a careful scrutiny nf the Hibernian advertisements , weave compelled to confess rhnt we have not met with any blunders that more nearly reffwble cur notion of an Irish bull , than one which some -ears eeo appeared in the English papers . It nas tbe title loan advertisement of a washing machine , in these words-» ' Evry man own warfmwaaii /"

      The National Land -Company. ' On Monday ...

      THE NATIONAL LAND -COMPANY . ' On Monday a meeting was held in Vice- Chancellor Kindersley ' s court , before Master in Chancery Humphrv , for the general examination of Mr . Feargus O'Connor M . P . the Directors , and others , to inquire into tho management and financial transactions connected with the Comnanv's affairs under the act of parliament passed to dissolve the Company , to dispose of the lands and property beloneine to it . and generally to wind up its affairs . Shortly after ten o ' clock , Mr . O'Connor , accompanied by Mr . Roberts entered the court . '

      Mr . Roxburgh , counsel for Mr . Goodchap , the Official Manager , explained to the court that , the object of the meeting was to examinednto the financial accounts of the National Land Company . He then entered into a brief history of the rise and progress of the Company , and stated that , owing to the small amount of information obtained by Mr . Goodchap , the Official Manager , relative to the affairs of the Company , this examination became necessary He should first endeavour to lay before them tlie amount of money received , when and where it was received and how expended . He should then go into the titles of tbe occupants at the various estates , but should first proceed with the examination of Mr . O'Connor .

      Mr . O'Connor was then examined , and , in answer to tho counsel , stated thatheoriginatedfche Company in Mav iSUS That Messri . Wheeler , M'Grath , Clark , and Doyle were associated with him . That Mr . "Wheeler subsequently resigned , and Mr . Dixon was elected in his place . The Company commenced to receive money about May . Ho was not aware of the exact amount received—the books of the Company would show the amount . He knew nothing of them . He trusted that entirely to the Directors . Mr Grey had examined the accounts at the desire of a Committee of the House of Commons , and found them correct The Company then owed him a large amount , which was since increased . He believed that Mr . Grey ' s was a detailed account . Ho did not know the amount received between the commencement of tho Company and the

      pur chase of the llerringsgate estate . " Tho monev was paid jntj the London Joint Stock Company ' s Bank . It was invested iu the name of Mr . Rol erts . It was so when tho Lowband ' s and Snig ' s End estates were purchased . It was aftenvards transferred to his name . He did not know the precise time when it was transferred to his name . He believed thc amount which Mr . Grey stated was received up to 1848 was correct . The amount of £ 6 , 000 in Exchequer Bills , stated to be in hand , in that account , did not belong to the Land Company , but to the Bank . The money then in hand had been expended by him for the Company . Tlie money paid into the Land and Labour Bank was deposited in the London Joint Stock Bank , to a separate account from the money of the Land Company . The moh ' ey for the Bank was placed to the account of Mr . Allsop . He did not know when

      the £ 6 , 000 Exchequer Bills were converted into monev . They were expended in paying the money to depositors in the Bank . By Mr . Grey ' s account the Company owed him ± 3 , 200 . Mr . Finlayson reported that the moaev then in hand was £ 4 , 3618 s , lid , and that the horses and farming stock would increase the assets to £ " , 09512 s . Id . Portions of the Dodford Estate were so'd prior to January , 1 S 50 . Other portions had since been sold . They were sold since the passing of the Act . Ho was not aware that he had no right to sell any portion of the Estates since the passing of the Act . Lord Campbell told him that the Company was illegal , and he could sell the estates and put the money in his pocket if he thought proper . He did not know the amount of the sales since that period . They were published in the Northern Star and the '' Daily News . " Mr .

      Feathers-. one , the auctioneer , could inform them of the amount , lie had received various sums of money for the sale of land since the passing of the Act . He could not account for some of the allotments sold before the passing of the Ac % not appearing in the - schedule . Every fraction he received was published in an account he sent to the Company . He did not wish to refer to any books or papers . Mr . Roberts had bis banker ' s account . There was no bo-k in which the amounts received for the sale of this land was entered . He believed it was paid into the Gloster Bank . He did not know the names of the persons purchasing :. Mr . M . Turner was his private solicitor . Mr . AUsoo had the book containing the account of the Bank money . " The books of the Gloster Bank contained only the account of the Land Company . Mr . Roxburgh claimed tbe books as the properly of the Company .

      Mr . Roberts : Without those Mr . O'Connor could not make out his accounts . Master Humphry : You can obtain copies of them . Examination resumed : He did not have a pass-book of the London Joint Stock Bank Company , but he could get one . _ The money received from the sale of tho land was paid into bis banker ' s hand . He did not remember granting a conveyance to a Mr . Spencer , or its being drawn out by Mr . Turner , his solicitor . The allotments were upon a different principle at Great Dodford to the other estates . They were by bonus . He had paid off a mortgage of £ 5 , 000 on that estate . He had not a book of the amount of bonusmoney . received . The directors had a book containing it . He made out the account ho sent to tho " Daily News " from the auctioneer ' s and solicitor's account at

      Bromsgrove . They would find it all in Mr . M'Gowan s account . He never kept any accounts . The account from the auctioneer ' s was for land sold , not for money received for bonuses . He had not a copy of the " Daily News . " It was published about six months back . The account then shown him was a true account of the money received- from Mr . Featherstono . He had paid the money thus received into the Gloucester Bank , and , afterwards , to different individuals . Ho ° did not put the amounts thus paid in any books . He paid the sums to different tradesmen when they inquired for their money . The claims were sometimes sent to him , sometimes to the Directors . Ho investigated them . The letter produced bore his signature . He sent it to Mr . Spencer . He received from Mr . Spencer the sum of £ 200 . 103 . Tbe conveyance only showed £ 200 to have been received : the £ 60 10 s . was previously in tho Bank , and was left there—he never withdrew it . The Bank had since filled . Ho had spent £ 150 , 000 in this movement , to

      improve and elevate the condition of the people and was abused tor it ; whereas , if a middleman or a nobleman had done it , it would have been very different . IfPrinco Albert had built these cottages and located these lands , there would have been offices to promote them in every street in London , for tbe benefit of these poor people , under tho patronageof the philanthropic prince ; but now , if my Lord or Lndy Nincompoop happen to he driving through their cstates , and the daughter in the carriage happened to say , "Lor , mamma , look at those beautiful cottages , " tho anxious parent pulls down tho blind , exclaiming , " My dear , it was that ruffian Feargus O'Cormor built them . " { Loud laughter . ) Mr . Grey , who , at the instance of the House of Commons , reported on the accounts of the Company , had a " sofa full" of receipts and vouchers , and might sit on them . ( Laughter . ) You are asking me the most nonsensical questions ; I know what you want is to juggle me .

      The remainder of Mr . O'Connor s evidence was given in such a semi-serious manner , as called frequently for the marked reprobation of the Master , whom hn turned to on one occasion with the utmost nonchalance , and asked to have a " pinch of snuff , " a wooden box full of which ho throughout the day drew supplies from , using it every now and then as a tattoo on tbe table during the pauses between question and answer , at the close of many of which he deliberately shook his fist at the learned council , exclaiming loudly " You ruffian . " He did not know a man of thc name of " ' Cotton , " but knew a man name " Worsted , " and asked the learned counsel if he meant " Ptddiccomb" for "Biddlecombe . " The learned counsel ( at four o ' clock ) must be hungry , and if he liked he would order him a mutton chop . ( Laughter . ) This was all that he ( tho witness ) on one occasion had one day at O'Connorvillo , when he stuck it on the tongs and fried it for himself . ( Liughter . ) The Master -. Will you be good enough to look at these ledgers , Mr . O'Connor , to refresh your memory ?

      Mr . O'Connor ( balancing n ledger in his arms amid loud laughter ) : but just look what thundering hooks they are . The Master : Thundering or not , you must do it . ( Laughter . ) Mr . O'Connor : Oh , you can get it from the "Daily News" and in the " Stars "—f . JaugLter )—all I received and paid . The Master : "We must put you to the trouble of looking at these books . Mr . O'Connor : Oh , dear , I could not lock at them . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Roxburgh : We shall require you to-morrow . Mr . O'Connor : I cannot be here ; I must be at the house . Mr . Roxburgh : I think you will find that the summons of this court has precedence over the House of Commons .

      Mr . O'Connor : Have you done with me ? Will you let me go ? You have been examining me nearly live hours . Mr . M'Grath asd . Mr . Doyle tell me that the Directors have all thc books , showing the wages and other matters paid . M'Grath is one of the most amiable men in the world —( laughter)—and he tells me all the hooks have been given up ; and M'Grath is one of the most honest and independent Wen . Mr . Roxburgh : Wp aro all independent men . Mr . O'Connor : You aro not an independent man . You are a ruffian . ( Laughter . ) The Master here interposed . Mr . O'Connor ( laughing ) : Oh no ; he is a jolly fellow . I make him laugh . You know bo wants to juggle me . Yon have examined me five hours and have not asked me one single word connected with tho Land Company . Have you done with me now ? Mr . Roxburgh : No ; nor am I likely just yet . It may lo along time before .

      Mr . O'Connor : Oh , my God I Oh , dear ! oh , dear ! Will you have a pinch of snuff ? ( Laughter . ) The Master ' : Allow me to look at that look . Mr . O'Connor ( lifting it up ) : Oh , dear ! oh , lor ! Now , have you anything more to ask me ? He ' s been at mo five hours . I'll take a hatchet , and cut your head off . ( Laughter . ) The Master : Did you take any entries from this book to make out tho account you have alluded to ? Mr . . O'Connor : No ; M'Grath tells mo yon have the books , with all the wages paid ; and ho is ono of tho most amiable , and upright , and honest men in the world . The Master : We shall have another opportunity of judging of his amiability . Mr . O'Connor ; Don't bother mo any more , you old ruffian . ( Understood to be directed to Mr . Roxburgh , who was about to resume his question . ) Examine M'Grath . Come up , M'Grath , now , and be examined . ( Loud laughter . ) Come upM'Grath .

      , , , Mr . Roxburgh : None of tbe books we have show thc ex penditure . Mr . O'Connor : Hold your tongue , you rufian .

      The National Land -Company. ' On Monday ...

      ' The witness bore directed first one fist and then another at the learned-counsel , and . feigned . to direct also . one of the smaller ledgers at him ... ' , The Master ( with remarkable mildness ) : Really , Mr . O'Connor , you must not do Hint , The Master here retired into one of the side rooms , followed by the learned counsel , and in the interim Mr . O ' Connor , addressing some ono in the crowd , exclaimed , " Here , now , do you get on the bench . " On tuc return of the Master and Mr . Uoxburg , Mr . O'Connor , addressing the latter , said : Ah , you ruf . fian will you have a pinch of snuff ? " and on the Master for the noble lord

      taking his seat , " Silence , gentlemen , . " Mr . Roxburgh : Have you any books at all « Mr . O'Connor : None . The Master : Did you ever have any ? Mr , O'Connor : I never bad any . I cannot come here to-morrow ; I must he at the House . The Master : Tbo Speaker will bo ready to excuse you , if there is any necessity . ( Laughter . ) Mr , O'Connor : Will you excuse me ? The Master : No , I cannot excuse you . ( Mr . O'Connor here laughed outright . ) The Master : I adjourn these proceedings until to-morrow when Mr , O'Connor and'all parties must be present .

      Mr . O'Connor ( putting on his hat , and retiring laughing ) : Oh dear , Oh dear . A large crowd of people followed the witness into the Lincoln ' s-inn Court-yard , and through Lincolii's-iiin-fields , TUESDAY , Fr aaoARTS , Mr , Roxburgh stated- that he intended to examine the mortgagees and other parties connected with the Minstei Level Estate . ... t .. . Mr , Bagshaw , appearing for tho mortgagees , objected to their examination . A Bill in Chancery was already filed against them , and to go into tho case now was vexatious . In a few days they would put in an answer to the bill .

      Mr . Roxburqh replied , that they were compelled to examine all parties who had ever had any monetary dealings with the Company . They had sold Mr . O'Connor an estate for £ 9 , 000 , with a mortgage upon it of £ 5 , 000 , to remain for six years , but the covenant of the deed provided that t ' : e mortgagee could be foreclosed in one year . This looked Mippicions . Here was an estate which . had cost tho Company £ 25 , 000 , which these mortgagees were cutting , and carving , and selling at a most deterioated price , even after tbo bill for Winding up the Company had been passed ^ and now were only restrained by their filing a bill for an injunction .

      Mr . Bagshaw : It is a useless expenditure , which would ultimatelyfall upon the unfortunate shareholders . Mr . Roxburgh : They were willing to receive back the estate in the samestatcas it was in January , 1848 , and pay anv reasonable costs . Mr . Bagshaw : Mr . O'Connor had served the mortgagees with a notice that be would never pay one farthing of the interest on the mortgage . . What money he had previously paid was paid out of his own pocket . Master Humphry . Tho examination ' must be allowed to proceed ; it was in his opinion more l ikely to stop than increase litigation .

      , Mr . Lee was then examined by Mr . Roxburgh . He was a solicitor residing at Witney , acting for the mortgagees . An estate belonging to a Mr . Walker was sold in July , lS 4 i ; the price was £ 9 , 000 without tho timber ; one of tho conditions of the sale was , that £ 5 , 000 should remain on mortgace for seven years , provided the interest was paid . Tho nmney was paid by Mr . Chinnery for Mr . O'Connor . Ho knew nothing of Mr . O'Connor or tho Company at tbg time of the salo . Messrs . Weaving and Pinnock were trustees for the widow and children of Mr . Walker until they were of age—some of them were of age . He knew

      nothing of the Company only by the papers . He did not know until after the execution of the purchase deed , that Mr . O'Connor was going to divide it into small allotments . He saw the buildings going on as he passed . The allotments were made in 1848 . He did not know for what purpose Mr . O'Connor bought the estate . He never told him that ho bought if to locate the members upon . The interest was paid up to June , 1849 . There was none duo until January , 1850 . . The Mortgage Deed was then put in , and the clause read , which showed that the interest was to be paid half

      Ypoy 1 V A quantity of letters between Mr . O'Connor , Mr . Chinnery , and Mr . Lee , were then put in , and some of them read . A long discussion took place between Messrs . Roxburgh and Bagshaw , relative to the contents of the letters , and their being put in & s evidence ; the main question at issue being , that although the Master had power to confirm tho sales ' of the Mortgagees , had he the power to annul them , if he found them bad ; also , an endeavour to effect an amicable arrangement without going on with tho Chancery Suit ! It was ultimately arranged , that Mr . Goodchap should havo tho letters for tbrco days to copy . No arrangement was come to relative to compromising the Suit against the mortgagees . Examination of Mr . Lee resumed . Mr . Chinnery instructed Mr . Sweet to draw up the mortgage deed . Mr . Weaving or Mr . Pinnock did not . to his knowledge ,

      press upon Mr . ' O'Connor to pay the £ 500 O mortgage money . He advised them , at a meeting held at the Three Cups , in Oxford , in December , 1849 , to call upon 'Mr . O'Connor for payment , Ho did so because Mr . O'Connor had informed him . that tho tenants did not pay their rents , and he would not continue to pav tho interest . He did not remember whether Messrs . Weaving and Pinnock gave him any instructions to apply to Mr . O'Connor . ' He did not draw up the deed . It stated that they hdd applied to Mr . O'Connor . It was not literally true . The mortgage deed was prepared in the ordinary way . Under the original deed , he believed , they had the power of sale . The interest was never paid when due . They had to make repeated applications . There was no interest duo until March , 1850 . But , legally speaking , it was dun daily after the previous September . He approved of tho deed . Ho did not object to his client executing it , notwithstanding its untrue recital . The deed having been read ,

      Mr . Lee , in examination , stated that it was on his suggestions that the deed was framed . Tho costs were to be divided between himself and Mr . Chinnery . Mr . Sweet prepared it . The deed was executed about the 8 th of January , by Messrs . Weaving and Pinnock . lie brought ono action of ejectment against the estate . There were sixtyeight tenants . Messrs . Weaving and Pinnock instructed him so to do . He corresponded with Mr . Chinnery upon tho subject of the ejectments . Ho never saw Mr , O' Connor on the ' subject . lie served him with an ejectment , he being one of the tenants . One of the actions was pretended to bo defended . They had costs . They levied a distress upon them , but their effects were removed . Some were sent to Oxford Castle for the balance of the costs . They were there nine months . Tho balance was £ 120 . Mr . Chinn » ry was to share with him in the costs . It was an agency business . He had made out the bill of costs for preparing the deed and tho ejectment . The bill of costs ' was put in and portions read .

      Examination resumed : He proposed tho deed of sale . Messrs . Weaving or Pinnock never called upon him and asked him what the ejectments meant . Ho never told them that he acted by the" instructions of Mr . O'Connor , and should not look to them for costs . He did not know Townley . He did not know the children , llo heard they wevo under the care of Mr . Hurt . He did not believe they were turned out under the deed of ejectment . Ho did not know where they were . He had heard that Townley hail bought it . He did not know it . The mortgagees had now possession of the estate . He never collected rents on the estate . He had heard they would not pay rent . Ho did not know what reasons they had . lie believed they said they would not be tenants to Mr . O'Connor . He never asked I hem for rent . They hurried the action for

      ejectment because they did not feel that their property was secure . The money laid out on the estate was , he heard , foolishly expended . They had sold property to the amount of £ 5 , 000 . They had sold about half the estate . Mr . Long , tho auctioneer , sold property to tho value of - £ 4 , 759 . He was not the only auctioneer . They had sold some hy private contract . He did not think they had sold more than five by private contract . They had not completed more sales . The paper he handed in was ; ho believed , correct- The amount was £ 4 , 960 on sales completed , and £ 2 , 002 5 s . on those not completed . He did not think that the amount was more than the mortgage and costs . Ho did'not think when the deed of sale was executed , that the estate , with such a set of tenants , was security for the mortgage . They had now about thirty fresh tenants .

      They had only received deposits on some of the allotments sold . Tho amount actually received was £ 556 5 s . That was his cash account against Messrs . Weaving and Pinneck . It was not complete . It contained all the money he had received or paid , except about £ 45 . Ho received , - up to January , 1851 , £ 5 , 410 S . s . lid . ; and on non-completed purchases , £ 451 Ss . 'Od . He had paid to Weaving and Pinnock £ 5 , 845 4 s . 3 d . He believed that if thc non-completed purchases were completed , there would be a balance over , after paying the principal , interests , and costs . By the accoants it appeared that with tho complete and non-coniyj ' ete . sales they -wouW receive £ 6 , 002 os . That , exclusive of costs , he had paid £ 5 . M 5 U . 3 d . There was rent charge ¦ duo about £ 145 . This would leave about £ 000 balance . 1 believe we should have received that sum over and above what was duo to us , exclusive of costs . That does not include anything received for rent or sale of

      produce . It does not include our expenses . We received £ 450 8 s . lid . for rent and pioduco ; none of which would have been received if wc had not taken possession . The sum received for the produce of the portion we cultivated was £ 225 . The sales were periodical . I consulted Messrs . Weaving Pinnock , and Long . 1 consulted Mr . Chinnery , because one of tho conditions on which Mr . O' Connor granted tho deed was , that the estates should be sold , so i . s to realise the most money . I went to Oxford to the Three Cups , to consult Mr . Chinnery . My bill of costs , " according to tho account , was five guineas . There was a similar journey to Oxfoid , charged also the same . I was examined before a Committee of the House of Commons on an amendment to tho bill . The amendment , was , I think , unaccountably rejected ; Mr . Sweet drew up the amendment . I did not entertain any doubt of the . validity of the sales . If they had received the amendment , it would have saved any future inquiry or costs relative to the sales .

      Mr . Weaving exnmined by Mr . Roxburgh : Was a trustee to tho estate of the late Mr . Walker , Was present at the sale of the Minster Estate . Had conversation with Mr . O'Connor relative to tho mortgage , and told him h (? could let the money lay on mortgage for seven years for certain . Did not know that Mr , O ' Connor was a Managing Director of the Company until a long period after the land was divided and the houses built . Have heard of tbe existence of the Company , but know nothing about it . Received the deposit from Mr . O'Connor . The rest was paid by a check on Mr . O'Connor . Received the interest on the

      The National Land -Company. ' On Monday ...

      mortgage . Was dissatisfied with the way tho interest was paid . . Did . notrooollect meeting . Mr-.. Leo ! on , the subject at Oxford . It was clearly understood that the estate" was not to bear any costs for the ejectments . Did not recollect whether Mr . L"o charged him with the cost of the ejectment . Witness . Mr . Lee , and Mr . Chinnery , had a distinct agreement that thc estates were to bear no costs . Had received sums amounting to £ 2 , 258 Sa . lOd . Received some from the hands of purchasers direct . Was not aware that property to the amount of £ 7 . 000 had been sold . Received tho following sums—Mr . Conn , £ 120 ; Mr . Walker , £ ' 21563 . 6 d . ; Mr . Baxx , £ 166 Os . 5 d . ; Mr . Butt , £ 4419 s .: also received

      from Mr . Lie £ 1 , 285 7 s . Id . Mrs . Walker bought an allotment for £ 7 S 6 , the monev is not paid , but we give credit « ortt . She is the widow ' of tho late proprietor . Did not S ™ instructions to havo the amendment to tbo Bill moved , l , xt m Pinnock examined : Is a trustee on behalf of tho latcHr .-SValker . llnd no conversation with Mr . O'Connor Had not ; heard of the Land Companv until after tho sale . U'O not know that Mr . O'Connor bought it to I ° a T mo « g th * allottees until after the sale . S 2 L „' LeORtthoC ° l » Inn , Ox f ord , once . Know that there was » ome money loft on mongago . Expected tbo costs would come out of the wtate . 1 did not expect to pay

      Mr . Chinnery examined : Amasontto Mr . Roberts . Ho has a lien upon the title deeds for a balance of costs , amounting to between £ 2 , 000 or £ 3 , 000 . We have , received largo sums ot money for costs . We have tho title deeds of all the estates Wo have a mineral lien on them . Wo havo received £ 3 , 000 or £ 4 , 000 for costs . We procured the passing of the Bill at our own risk . Cannot aivo up the deeds and pipers in those boxes without Mr . Robert ' s consent . Was examined in 1 S 4 S before tho House of Commons There was then an amount duo of £ 3 , 283 , Believes that that amount has been paid . We h ive never had a settlement . Have been connected witi the Company sineo its commencement . Many attempt * havo been made to legalise it . Have had frequent communications with Mr . Leo more especially lately . This buiH'le contains the corresponl dence . Had been instructed by Mr , O'Connor to collect tho arrears of rent . We failed . They set us at defiance . Requested Mr . Lee being on the spot to act as my agent . We attempted to make distresses but they drove the men away . This led to the preparation of the deed .

      A quantity of correspondence was then road between Messrs . Lee and Chinnery , giving a complete history of the reasons for giving up the * seven years mortgage , and avowing the mortgagees to sell it . It was deemed by tho legal advisers of the Company , the only plan by which they could get rid of refractory tenants , or collect rent , and they acted in unison with Mr . Lee , solicitor to the mortgagees , to effect that object . It appeared from the drafts of the deeds put in , that tho deed of purchase of Minster orginally contained a . clause similar to that in the conditions of sale ; that tho mortgage money should remain for seven years , but that it had been subsequently struck out . Mr . Roxburgh suggested that the Master should instruct the Official Manager to enter into an arrangement with Mr . Roberts , relative to giving up tho deeds and papers contained in thoso boxes , that tho lien should not be prejudiced but paid out of the assets of tho Company . Ihe Master

      stated that he could not at present agree to any specific proposition , but he had no objection to Mr . Goodchap entering into a negotiation with Mr . Roberts to be laid before him for approval . The act , guaranteed Mr . Roberts tho expenditure in getting it passed . For that ho did not require a lion . The court then adjourned until the following day at twelve o clock . WEDNESDAY , IV . nnuARY 4 . Mr . O'Connor ' s examination-was resumed : I have seen the " Daily Sews" of tho date of tho 16 th of May . It does not contain an account of my expenditure , but ol the sums duo to me . There is another statement in tbe " Daily Kews , " containing sums I omitted to charge . The two papers contain the published account of my expenditure . I will read it myself . Mr . O'Connor then read thc lettir in the paper of the 16 th containing a statement of receipts up to that date , also a brief account i-f some expenditure paid to Mr , Featherstono , and money paid into tho Land and Labour Bank .

      Examination resumed : The account of the expenditure is kept by the Directors and Mr . M'Govran . It is not contained in the paper read . I stated the accounts were in the " Northern Star " and " Daily News . " I gave na other account . It'contains an account of all the property sold . ' , Tho sum of £ 400 received from General Hutchinson is in that account . It appears in the money I paid into the Bank . The £ 1 , 048 received from J . Golding appears as £ 1 , 006 4 s ., that was the sum paid . It was paid in April , 1842 , though that is not the date in the paper . The £ 400 I previously mentioned as paid into the bank is money paid by Golding , and not Hutchinson . Hutchinson paid previously . You will find it in the Directors' book , and in tho " Northern Star . " Mr , Cullingliam and Mr . Doyle , when I paid tho labourers on Saturday night entered all tho money I paid . The Master suggested that pomo ono acquainted with tho books should he examined as to their content' . Mr . O'Connor stated that tho books did not contain tho

      sums paid for tho estates for timber , and above £ 12 , 000 for bricks . The deficiency of £ 30 , 0 i-0 was spent in tho way he stated , llohad all tho vouchers . Ilia checks would also show it . Mr . O'Connor was now , and other times , reminded by tho Master of the irregular manner in which ho answered . Mr . M'Grath examined : There arc hooks which will show a portion of tho expenditure since 1 S-1 S . These are tho books . They contain only the expenditure of tho office . These are the only books kept by tlie Directors . There were other books kept ou the Estates by Mr , Dojle . Mr , Doylo was then examined : I was one of the Directors . These are tho books which show the expenditure on the estates , as far , as 1 was concerned .

      The Master : Mr . O'Connor said that he kept no booksthat he had vouchers , but he gave them to five persons , whom ho named . These persons must he examined . Mr . D . M'Gowan examined : I have in my possession papers belonging to Mr . O'Connor , about which I should liko to speak to Mr . O'Connor , before delivering them up . Mr . M'Gowaii then said : Mr . O'Connor , I havo documents in my possession without which it is impossible you can ever make out your claim against the Company . Am I to give them up ? Mr . O'Connor : Certainly not . The Master explained , that though he could not havo them back , he could at any time have access to them . They would be in charge i f tho Manager , who was an officer of the court . Mr . O'Connor , on thoso terms , consented to their being given up . The master stated that a schedule would ho made oi all documents , and that they should be sealed up , that no future dispute should arise as to their identity .

      Mr . O'Connor said Mr . Grey reported , in 1848 , that the Company owed him £ 3 , 400 , ami in 1 S 49 , that it owed him £ 4 , 600 . Since that period lie had received no money from shareholders . All he had received from other sources ho had published in the ' Daily News'' and the " Northern Star , " Mr . Grey was five weeks employed in the first examination , and one week in the second . Mr . O'Connor hero entered into much , irrelevant matter . The Master stated that he could not receive tho statements of Mr , O'Connor , or even the accounts of Mr . Grey . Ho muat examine the accounts for himself . He tru-ted Mr . O'Connor would keep himself to the strict matter be . fore him . Mr . M'Gowan ' s examination continued : The papers chiefly consisted of vouchers of money paid by him to bunkers and others . They would show the disposal by him of the money he received . 1 have vouchers and cheques with the tradesmen ' s names upon them . The papers were then handed in .

      Mr . O'Connor examined : The " Daily News " contains a correct account of the money received by me since Oct . 1348 . I paid tho sums of £ 3 , 606 4 * . Gd . iu that account into the Gloucestershire Bank , also other sums from tho auctioneer , Mr . Featherstone , and the Solicitors . I do net know the sum of £ 1 S 0 received from Mr . Tapp . If Mr . Featherstone received it , it would bo in his account , I do not perceive it in the " Daily News . " 1 do not see the sum of £ 200 paid by William Watkins . I do not see tho sum of £ 240 paid bv Charles Spencer . They are published , in the " Northern Star . " I see the Mini of £ 40 received , from James Kelshaw . The sum of £ 350 was published m tho " Star . " The samo with tho sums paid by Messrs . , Wallace , Hodgkiss , Johnson , Burrows , and Hill . This is i a copy of the account made out by Mr . Grey iu Isfe . It ; is made by my Secretary . Mr . Grey has tho original . I am sure ho bad it . Bv my banking hook I seo I paid into i

      the Gloucestershire Bank the sum £ 3 , 000 -is . GJ ., also tho i ether sums mentioned in the " Daily News . " I made a i mistake , they were paid into the Land and Labour Bank . . Tho Bank has since failed . Tho money was expended in n Salaries , & c . We lost- money by paying a higher rate of if interest than we received . The Bank was the property of ) f the Land Company . I was responsible . Mr . Price was is Manager above three years . Tho expense was not de- cfrayed by an expense fund of the Company . Tho " Daily [ y News" a correct statement of all the money I have re- eccived since October 1848 . The sums which are not there re are in tho " Northern Star . " They were paid before re 1848 . Topp's money was not paid before 1848 . Here Mr . Ir . O'Conner becamo very excited , and was severely rcpriman-mded by tho Master . Ho then complained of severe illness ; js ;; declared that he was suffering much from spasms , and waaraa i alluded to leave tho Ciurt .

      Mr . RoxnuuGu stated that he felt it difficult to do do * justice to the Shareholders , owing to the difficulty of pro-ro- ' curing a direct or proper answer to his question . Tho Master * . If Mr . O'Connor cannot , or wil not , ot ,, render an account to the Court , he must be charged witttittti the whole of the money received . „ . „ ... Mr . Roberts apologised for tho conduct of Mr . O Connornor . owing to the shattered state of his mind . He had , »» «*•«*" licved , given the best account in his power If he was as m a private room , where his feelings would not he ezcitad . ha . haa believed thatmuch more beneficial , "' f" ™^ . "' c h " * hJmi obtained , though even then he doubted whether he conUnUl rendevaproper account . He believed that the SireeU » U « i would afford every information in their power ; and ho faatyaU and was anxious to continue to give , the Official Manager every possible information . lh » court * would save mu & ufM expense to the Shareholder * . He had known . Mr Mm © ' 'Connor many years , and he deeply regretted thestatstatd of his health « - ¦

      . ,.. .. . ... Mr Rox burgh stated that if Mr , Roberts would give up ( up (( the Official Manager the deeds of tho Estates and other derddi cuments in his possession without prejudice to his lien ; in ; i i would render great assistance ; and that he should 4 ! d 11 paid any just amount whicii the Master might find to J toll owing to Him . Mr . Roberts had taken the opinion of Counsel , and itwiitwin opposed to his giving up the deeds in his possession . If llf 11

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 7, 1852, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_07021852/page/7/