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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th June 1846, Edition 3 of 3, Page 6, THB LATE FATAL COLLISION ON THE MERSEY, ...

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      Marylebone. Ex-Rnaoivdinary Outrage Bv A...

      THE MURDERS BY POISONING IN NORFOLK . Awnn . Disclosuees . —As the investigation instituted bv the Secretary of State concerning the late murders b y poisoning in this village progresses , tbe horrors eeom to thicken . To what _extent deaths have heen occasioned by _paison it is impossible to say ; it is , however , determined upon to exhume seven other bodies , and Coroners ' inquests are to be held npon them . They will undergo a strict _examination by a most Mperieneed _i-heinist , and a rigid and searching inquiry will take place into all thc circumstances connected with these extraordinary and suspicious deaths . The teven bodies are not as yet eshu . ned , _consequently the Coroner has been unable to fix _tneaasfoTtheinnuests . _AmonpttheboniesthataTetobe exhumed is that of a man named Nurse , who was a

      neighbour of the deceased Balls ; and with reference to this man the girl Sarah Kerrison , of Yarmouth , who it will be " remembered , lived with old Balls as servant , and gave _veryimportanfestimonva _ttherecentCoroncrs'inquests , _savsthat a short time _before she left Ball ' s house she hfjard Balls' and J ? urse have a quarrel about the death of Balls' grandchildren , in whicli quarrel Kurse accused Balls ef being the cause of their deaths . After a time this quarrel subsided , and Hie parties screed tomukezt up by going to a _neigUouring public-house and having some beer They accordingly went and had _something to drink , and in three hours afterwards Nurse was a corpse , yet there was no suspicion . The body was interred and the occurrence soon forgotten . From tfcatmoment ,, however , the g irl suspected some foul play , and determined on leaving tbehonse , which she did shortly afterwards , and obtained a situation at Yarmouth . As it was , she nearly fell a victim to the murderous traffic .

      A few < 5 ays prior to the death of Balls _' s wife , while _partakiiis of breakfast with old Balls and one of his daugh . ters , Mrs . Green , she was suddenly seized with a violent sickness . Mrs . Green was attacked in a similar way , almost immediately afterwards , no doubt the effect of somepoisonons drear ; but , happily , they had not taken sufficient to actfatrtly . _Balls's parents , who were poor people living at _Bemisteail , an adjacent village , appear to have died in a sudden and mysterious way , and their bodies , we understand , are amongst those to be taken up ; the remainder are the grandchildren of Balls , w ' : o perished very young . Since Sir James Graham ' s communicatioK to the county magistracy , tbere has been implicated in these dreadful acts with old Balls , though there are different opinions on the subject . We have heard nothing that would lead to its being even probable that such was the case . The coming inquiry will embrace the question as to whether blame . attaches to any one for not holding inquests before .

      TBE CORONER'S _DTQITIEr RESUMED , _Haffisbuegu , Monday morning . In consequence of tbe disclosures that have been made in tlie course of the private inquiry instituted by Sir James Graham , J . Pilgrim . Esq ., one ofthe Coroners for the County of _Xorfolk , opened another investigation this morning , at East Buston , a village three miles distant , an the bodies of other persons , related to ihe deceased Jonathan Balls , who are supposed to have died from the effects of poison _administered by him . The empannelling of another Jury to inquire into this appalling affair is understood to ba the result of very important communications from the Government officers to the Coroner . It will be remembered that at the previous inquest , held at the nasborough-hill House , of this village , it was clearly ascertained _thatfour of the bodies

      exhu * ae 4 at the parish churcb-yatd , including the de . c ased Jonathan Balls had died from arsenic , and although an open verdict was returned , little doubt was enter _' ained that tbe poison was wilfully administered by obi Balls , who was supported by parochial relief , andhad made himself very disreputable in the neighbourhood by two or _m-. re _suspected acts of arson , and others of an _abandoned character . As previously mentioned , owing to the _suspicious nature of thc deaths , Sir James Graham , at the instance of Mr . Wakley , M . P ., _despatched officers to the district , with a view not only of strictly clearing up the mystery attending this awful transaction , but to ascettaiu the unaccountable cause , and upon whom tbe blame rested for the neglect that such suspicious deaths should occur in one family within so short a period , and no _official inquiry be instituted respecting

      them . The result of the officers'inquiries went to attach _considerable suspicion as to other deaths in the family , and it was at length arranged that their bodies should be exhumed for the purpose of having them minutely examined . By thc list that has been handed to the " Coroner by tho officers , of the victims , we find , in addition to the iod ' es of Jonathan Balls , the supposed murderer , his _m'e Elizabeth , Samuel , Ann Elizabeth , and Elizabeth Ann Pestle , his graudchildren , whose deaths were inquired into at tlie former inquest ; that of Ann Peggs , a grandchild , who died on the 7 th of June , 1839 , in her eighth year , _pi _« 3 was buried at Igham Chapel . From some _unexplained circumstance it was exhumed about thne weeks after it had been interred . Mr . Pilgrim held an inquest on the body , but the surgeon considering that it had died from fever , and not deeming a post mortem examination necessary , a verdict of natural death was

      returned . This child , like th " . rest , appears to bavebeen taken ill immediately after a visit to its aged relative ; and what is more remarkable , had no medical advice . Tiio next on the list is Maria Green , daughter of Mrs . _Gresn , ( another daughter of Jonathan Balls )—this victim was 15 months old , and died on the 25 th December , 183 G , and was buried at East Rushton . The infant had been to the grandfather ' s house , and while there was attacked with illness , and shortly after expired , no surgeon being called to it _Uextthebody of "William Green , also a grandchild , aged two years , died on the -31 st of October , 1811 , and interred at East Rushton . He had , also , been to his grandfather ' s , and was seized with illness on hisreturn home ; and lastly , Martha Green , of the same family . She died wheu 15 months old , after visiting old Balls' house , and was buried with the others in tlie same church-vard .

      One ofthe daughters of Jonathan Balls , Mrs . Green , and mother of the three children , the subject of inquiry this day , is in _theNeatest distress of mind ; and having taken a portion of tbe poison given to her by her father , she is still suffering from its pernicious effects .

      DISCOVERY OF FURTHER MURDERS . _ILiPPiSBihiGn , Tuesday morning . At the _re-opened inquest—Mary GrefH , a daughter ofthe deceased Jonathan Balls , was first called . She said sl . e had already told all she knew . She had seen the coffins taken out of the graves that morning , and knew them to be those of her three children . Maria , William , and Martha . Maria ' died first , at Happisburgb _, nine or tea years ago , aad was buried at Rustonon the 25 th of December , 1 S 3 G . Her mother ( the deceased , wife of Jonathan Bulls ) took the child home in a donkev cart . Some blotches had come out abont its head and face before it went , but it was still very well . It remained there nine days . She had not reard that it was _unwe'l , but on going for it , as she heard her mother was going _« u :, she . found it dead . She was told tbat it had

      beei dead two or three hours . She felt hurt , and cried , end her father told her that it had been sic !*; , She thought it very strange , and was astounded , but she did not say much about it , as her suspicion was not excited _. An inquest was held upon it , and Mr . Clowes , the surgeon , attended and examined it . He did not make a _^ _y _ost-morlem _examination , and said the cause of death was the _spott & d fever . She was informed that ou the morning of its death her father had given it some bread and "butter , and it could not get it down its throat . The deceased boy William was live years old when he died . 2 _T _« liad "been _stajins at her father ' s house a year aud a halt About a month before he died she saw him there weH . _11-r father then sent for her to attend the boy , as lie had been taken ill . She sent another of her sons for him , and , assisted by the girl , Sarah Kwison . He was

      brought home . She had three children then at home ill with _f-vj-r _, Mr . _Clowesattended him until fee died , three weeks af « r _. _vard * . Her father came to sec ihe child two or throe times , and he visited him on the Sunday moraine :. II « die- ! in the eveniug . He did not appear to be sick , but tbe saliva kept running from his mouth . He eould not talk much , but was a very sensible child . She could not tall if ior father _g-ave _anytlian— to the child when he came . Her fcither , Balls , was in the habit of bringing cakes to the child . He brought some on the _morning of its death . The cakes were home ui _.-ide , but cannot say who made thera . Martha died about the same thne . Etforeshe died she was not in good health , aid was scarcely _evt-r well . She was thirteen months old . Witness heard that her father gave the child bread and butter and other things . She had been ill about three weeks wh _« _-n she died , ner father used to come a : d see heron Sunday morning , and would say , " poor

      little thing , how bad it is . " She had two grea _: knots in her throat , and the cars , eyes , anil nf » se-would discharge The witness here detailed a visit to her father ' s house in 1845 when her mother was ill . She stopped all night . Was up in the morning with tho young girl , Sarah Kirrison , and her father wished her to have some breakfast . "Kirrison made the tea , and her father asked her to have a herring , saying , "There arc two for you and _Iu-rrisoii . " They were cooked , and they had one eacl _, but neither her father nor her mother partook of any . Before she bad finished her breakfast she was seized with sickness , threw up her meal , and in half an hour went home . She continued sick till ten or eleven o ' clock at night , and was ill for two or three days , not knowing whether she would live or not . She told ber father and mother how ill she had been . Her father said nothing , but her mother seemed moved . _Kerrison was also very ill , throwing up for two days in a similar manner . Kerrison always behaved well to her mother and her children .

      The witness was here seized with Strang hysterics , and was carried out of the inquest room : She shortly recovered , bat seemed in a dreadfull y dejected state . Robert Green , the father of the children , was next examined . Had no suspicion that his children came by their deaths unfairly . Maria was taken ill and died in two hours . His fether-in-law was always very fond of the children , and never seemed easy bnt when they were with him . He also detailed as much as he knew of the two others , bat he knew very little about tbe symptoms . Fever was in the house three weeks , and five children were ill at the same time .

      _Jiosunna Peggs , wife of Bartholomew Peggs , of _HappUburgh , deposed tliat she recollected the deceased child _Marii Green beiug at her grandfather ' s house for more than a week . She saw the child the Sunday before it died . Balls came aud asked her if she would go to his house , for he thought the child was dying . She went _direc ; ly , and it had almost expired , She took it up in her arms , and , after a straggle , it died . Balls says it had got a hearty breakfast . She thought it _strange thata Child in good health should die so _suddenly , and she told

      Marylebone. Ex-Rnaoivdinary Outrage Bv A...

      him so . He made no remark , but when Mm ., Green cameheseemedratberconfttsed . The death was not talked of in the village particularly , at least she did not recoKeet any one saying anything about it , nor did she know „ ho was the means of calling the inquest . She attended the inquest at the Swan Inn , Happisburgb . Ihe child had no fever . . Bv tbe Coroner—She knew Balls' daughter that died . Shewas very ill , but did not know if she died suddenly . She was married . Tbe child died in two or three days , and the daughter in nine weeks . Witness had heard that fhe was hurt by kicks from her husband , and that she wa s most grossly ill-treated by him .

      One ofthe officers sent down by Sir James Graham , named Smith , who was present watching the proceedings , informed the Coroner that he had learned that the child was much injured from these kicks , its arm was broken and bad withered . No inquest was held on it . Her name was Lacey . Tbe circumstance occurred thirteen years ago . Mrs . Green was re-called , and spoke to the ill-treatment her sister experienced before she died—her mother _uerer liked lacey , her sister's husband , and once remarked to her , " if yoa get married never let me hear you complain * Before she died she wished to say a few words , but she had not strength . There were a number of black marks on her body . Her father and Lacey were friendly : tbe latter was still living .

      The Coroner observed tliat it was a most extraordinary thing , that although there was so much talk about this poor woman ' s death , no inquiry should have taken place . He would hare the body disinterred in the course of tbe following morning and ascertain what state it was in . The more they weut into the inquiry the worse it became . The Jury now adjourned for half an hour , and on reassembling it was announced that the surgeons had only examined tbe body of Maria Green , the child that had been buried ten years , and they had discovered the presence of poison . This is the body of the child . on which an inquest was held at the time of deatb , but on which there was no internal examination . The surgeons had not proeei ded with the other two , and the Coroner determined on adjourning the inquiry until to-morrow morning at nine o ' clock . The Coroner afterwards proceeded to Ingham , where he gave orders for the child Peggs to be disinterred .

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      Thb Late Fatal Collision On The Mersey, ...

      THB LATE FATAL _COLLISION ON THE MERSEY , INQUEST ON THBEE OF THE pODIES . _LlVEBPOOZ ., SATPBDAT . This morning , at ten o'clock , an inquest was held at the Sessions-house , Chapel-street , on the bodies of John Roach , aged forty-fire , _*[ John M'Glonc , aged three months , and Patrick Geoghan , aged forty-five years , before Philip Fincy Curry , Esq , borough Coroner . Ellen Maclean , widow , left Sligo on Sunday last by the Rambler' She belonged to a party who were about to emigrate to America . Knew the deceased , Pat Geoghan . He belonged also to tbe party . They were deck passengers _, of whom there were a great number . Oa Monday night , witness was sitting in the steerage with the rest of her party abeut her , when there came another steamer against them , and it smashed the vessel witness was in . There were a great number of persons badly hurt , and among them Pat Geoghan . The broken parts of the iron and wood fell about in all directions . A boat

      came and took witness to Liverpool . Witness saw Geoghan twice alive ' at tlie hospital , and he died yesterday ( Friday ) morning . After the collision , the captain and mate did all they could to save us . Bryan Kelly , provision dealer , was a passenger in the Rambler . He knew John Roach ; he was a passenger also . When they came inside of the rock , at tbe mouth of the Mersey , witness was standing near to the cabindoor , against the bulwarks on the Cheshire side ; It was twilight . "Witness suddenly heard the captain giving "great commands . " He told one ofthe hands to run dowu tbe gangway to the helmsman ; but witness did not understand the instruction he gave , nor remember the words . . The man ran back again , and the captain called out , " Stop her . " In about two minutes after they were

      struck by the other boat . The whole ship was then alarmed ; and the other boat turned off from them very quick . The carpenter told the captain that the vessel was making water ; and he called out loudly to the engineer , "Ml speed ; " and witness shortly afterwards ascertained that there was no further danger , as they were aground . Many of the passengers were much hurt . Witness did not see Roach during the voyage , but saw him for the first time after he was dead at the hospital . Had known him for fourteen years . "Witness did not see the other steam-boat until they had struck . The night was rather dark , and witness could not say whether the other steamer had lights about her rigging . The Rambler had two lights , one on the chimney , and another ia one ot tbe rooms adjoining the paddle-box , facing the bows .

      Bernard Gallagher , butcher , of Sligo , a passenger in the Rambler , knew John Roach , and saw him _, on board . Between ten and eleven on Monday , when the Rambler had passed the Rock Light , she was run into b y anothir steamer . Many people were hurt , and witness did not see Roach until he was landed at the pierhead . Witness had seen him since his death . When they were near the Rock Light witness was in the cabin , and did not hear any directions about steering . Was coming up at tbe time the collison took place . Mr . Gildersleeves , surgeon at the Northern Hospital , said Roach was sensible when he was brought to the hospital , but in " a very cold and collapsed state . He died shortly afterwards . There were contusions all over the body , and both bones ofthe right leg were fractured ; but the patient died from collapse . Geoghan was brought to the hospital at the same time as Roach . His spine was fracture , which caused his deatb yesterday ( Friday ) morning _.

      Peter Macfarlane , second mate of the Rambler—She was commanded by Captain "Wm . Macallister . Her engines wtre 250-horse power . There were six firemen , two coal-trimmers , two engineers , and eight seamen . They had on board , on Sunday , wheH they sailed from Sligo , 300 deckpasseugerr , one or two cabin passengers , aud GOO pigs and 11 black cattle . Had a good passage , nnd they arrived at the Bell Buoy , off the mouth of the Mersey , at half-past nine on Monday night . The " tide was about an hour from high water , and the wind was westerly . On leaving the Bell Buoy , the course of the Rambler was about S . E ., which was continued until they were about half-way in , and then the course was altered to E . S . E . "Witness was standing by the man at the helm . They had a light at the funnel head , a red light on the larboard , and a whits one on the starboard , iu front of

      each paddle-box . That was the usual number and ar . rangement of lights when coming into Liverpool . They had a watch forward , consisting of the mate and two men . The captain was on the gangway between thc the paddle-boxes ; he had the speaking trumpet iu his hand . They came up the Rock Channel and continued their course E . S . E ., until they came to the Rock Light ; and thev passed two steamers a little below the Rock Light . As they rounded the Rock Light they passed within a breadth and half of thc small buoy opposite ; they then steered due south for about a minute , or not quite so long ; they then steered _south-half-west . Witness then heard the mate report a steamer a-head ; and witness observed to the man at the wheel that he tan her smoke , but no lights ; and just a moment afterwards witness saw her starboard light and funnel light off our

      larboard side . Witness was looking over the larboard quarter . Directly afterwards witness saw her red light on the larboard side . She appeared to be about two points off our "larboard bow . " Witness then said to thc man at ' the ' wheel , "She is coming towards . us . " He replied , " "We are pretty close on tho Cheshire shore , ' implying that he could not go much closer . "Witness theu lost sight ofthe larboard light of the approaching steamer . Witness then heard the captain sing out "Port , " and witness saog it out himself after tlie captain , and the helmsman ported . The next word from the gangway was " Port" again . Witness stood close to the _helmsman and he obeyed the order . At this time

      witness began to be frightem d , and in a moment or less it was | " Hard a port . " Witness laid hold of tlie wheel himself , and called another man , aud there were three of them holding the wheel " hard a port , " whtn tlie other steamer ran aboard of us on our larboard bow , cutting us down below tbe water ' s edge , capsizing the windlass , and tearing up the deck , or cutting thi-OHgh it . There were a great number of persons hurt , and some hilled on thc spot . The other steamer backed away and got clear of the Rambler , which was run on shore . Witness did not bear any order given to stop the engines , but it might have been , as there was so much noise among thc passengers .

      John Hunter , chief mate ofthe Rambler , said they took the pilot on board at twenty minutes past nine on Monday night , a little to the westward of the N . W . lightship ; his name wa 3 Wm . Daniels . He took charge of the ship at once , and stood on tile , bridge alongside the captain . The pilot , from the time he came on board , directed the steering of _tfrjfcvessel . Directly after passing the Ripraff Buoy atWBjtock Light , witness saw a light two points on tlie larboard bow . Witness called to the master anil pilot to port the helm , "Witness heard the captain call " port , " and then "hard-a-port , " which was done .

      Witness saw all the lights ofthe vessel whicn was approaching , after the helm was ported , and shortly after she rau iu on the larboard bo w . Witness told the passengers to go over to tbe other side of tbe deck , wheu he saw that a collision was inevitable , but they had not time . Vessels coming into Liverpool with a flood tide keep in close to tlie Cheshire shore , and vessels going out take either side ofthe river , but there is no rule . The lights of the Sea Nymph might have been half a mile off when witness first saw her . If both vessels had pursued the course they were in when witness first saw the light , they would have passed clear of each other .

      By Mr . Duucan—When the vessels struck , witness got on board the Sea Nymph , Wituess weut to the captain on the gangway and asked him for God ' s sake to stand by the other vessel , lest she should sink ; aud all the answer witness received was , " Standout of the way , Sir . " By Mr . Ardcn—There would have _bei-li no collision if they had held their courses ; but the Sea Njmph appeared to be coming in , and witness called out at once to port the helm . Wlluess did not report " steamer a-head , which was the usual course . Witness heard the captain _eagerly call to the engineer , " Stop her , " and the engines were stoped not more than half a minute before the collision . There wns no time to order the engines to be _reversed . About live minutes elapsed from the time witness first saw the light to the collision . Witness did not know how he got on to the Sea Nymph ; two of the crew and two passengers did the same . The Sea Nymph backed

      Thb Late Fatal Collision On The Mersey, ...

      right ' away , and returned to the dock without standing by to help the Rambler . He did not stay to see if he could render any assistance . ; Had seen the Sea Nymph since , and she was much injured . I , i m The Court then adjourned until Monday morning at half-past nine o ' clock . _Monoa * . —The inquest on the bodiei of John Roach and Patrick Geoghan , was resumed before the Borough Coroner at half-past nine o ' clock this morning . Mr . Harden and Mr . Myers attended , as before , on behalf of the captain , mate , and owners of the Sea Nymph ; and Mr . Duncan and Mr . Hassell , for tho captain and owners of the Rambler . Fourteen of the jury answered to their names : the fifteenth had met with an accident , and was unable to attend .

      William Daniels , tha pilot , was tbe first witness catted . He said—I am a licensed pilot belonging to the port of Liverpool . I was taken on board the Rambler at twenty minutes after nine o ' clock on Monday night last . I was then three miles distant from the North-west Lip ht-ship . I took charge of the Rambler for the purpose of bringing her an to port . The winds were light from the W .. N . W . Thenightwas very fine and clear . As soon as Igoton board , I wentto the man _at . the wheel and directed him what eourse to steer . Then I took my position on * he gangway between the two paddle boxes . This is the best position I could take for .. observation . As we proceeded towards the Rock Light , three steamers passed us on the larboard side . They ported their helms and we ported ours . They passed us by the Wharf Buoy , a long way at this side of the Spencer Buoy . We rounded tbe

      Rock Light about a quarter past ten , we passed within a ship ' s length _af tlte li ;» ht . We ported our holm , steered for the Ripraps Buoy , and kept close iu to the Cheshire shore , in two fathoms of water . We kept still porting our helm , and passed so closely to the New Brighton stage that you might have gone ashore there . Then . we saw three lig hts on our laboard bow , bearing about S . E . in a minute or so afterwards we lost her larboard light , but still saw her starboard light and the light at the mast-head . J then called out to the helmsman to . povti and at the same time I ordered the engines to be stopped . I called but twice to the helmsman to port , and the " captain called "hard-a-port . " Our head was then

      S . E . We kept the lead constantly going . The engines were stopped . They were not reversed . The other steamer struck us on our larboard bow in less than a minute after wehad stopped the engines . She came stem on our larboard bow , cutting us down to the water ' s edge . When I first observed the three lights , the head of the Sea Nymph was about N . W . and by N , If she had continued that oourso she would have gone ashore . Had she continued the course she was on when she struck us she would have gone ashore in half a minute ; If she had ported , her helm she would have avoided us . She was not upon the right course ; her course to the Rock Light was N . W .

      . William Jones—I am one of the sailors belonging to the Rambler , and ' took the helm at the North-weBt Lightship . The pilot was taken on board soon after , and took charge of the steering of the vessel at once . Whilst steering for the Rock , two steamers passed US on the larboard side . We passed so near to the Rock Light thatthe vessel could hardly get clear off . As we neared the light , two steamers passed us , and I was ordered by tbe pilot to port , in order to make room for those , steamers to pass . That was my reason for going SO near tbe Rock Light . We steamed very close to the New Brighton stage * , and after we rounded the Riprap buoy we kept close in to the Cheshire shore . I did not observe tbat tbe lead was going . I saw two bow lights

      a-head after I had passed the New Brighton stage . They were two points clear of our larboard paddle-box . Word was immediately passed to me to port the helm . The order was obeyed . A second time I was ordered to port , which I did . Hard-a-port was the next order ; and then two other sailors assisted me , and we put the holm hard-a-port . I could not , from the place where I was , and the noise of the passengers and pigs , hear any order given to stop the engines . The Sea Nymph then came right aboard of us . She came stem on , on eur larboard bow , and then she reversed , got clear of us , and came up again towards our 3 tern . I bailed her , and asked what she was going to do—whether she was going to run us down a second time or not 1 I got no answer , and she went away into the river _.

      John Walker—I am a fireman onboard the Rambler . I was standing on tlie crank hatches immediately . before the collision took place . My particular duty was to pass the word from the captain to the engineer . Ihcard the mate sing out to the captain that there was a steanwr coming out of the docks ; and I then observed the steamer ' s mast-head light bearing on our larboard bow . 1 did not observe either her starboard or larboard lights . The captain ordered the helm to be ported , and he repeated the order afterwards . Both the captain and pilot gave the order to port , both atthe same time . They called out , " Port—hard-a-port ; and shortly alter the engines were ordered to be stopped , I passed the order down to tho engine-room . The engines were stopped . I saw them stopped ; and then , in about a minute and a half after , the Sea Nymph struck us on our larboard bow .

      John Brodie—I am a seaman on board the Rambler , and recollect making the North-west Light-ship on Monday night last . We took a pilot iu there , and he took charge of the vessel then . I was stationed on the forecastle head , keeping a look-out , and was on the gangway afterwards . After rounding the Rock , I had to pass the word from the mate , who was on the forecastle-head , to the captain who was on the bridge . We kept close in to the Cheshire shore . I saw a light and smoke a-head upon OHrlarboard bow . The mate reported at the same time , and gave the order for me to port . I called out " port " to the captain and pilot , who , in turn , gave similar

      orders to the man ( Campbell ) who was stationed between _' them and the helmsman . The captain ordered to port twice , and then he called out "hard a port , " and ordered the engines to bo stopped , Thc engines were ttopped almost immediately : and , in about half a minute or so after , the collision took place . The force of it knocked me down by the gangway plank , and when I came to my senses I found myself on board the Sea Nymph . I then found the bow _.-prit of the Sea Nymph right across the foredeck of the Rambler . I cannot tell how I got on board the Sea Nymph . I did not see the captain of the latter . 1 was landed in the Sea Nymph at tbe Clarence pier-head ,

      Mr . Hassell said the captain of tho Rambler would be present to give evidence , but that he was confined to his bed , aud labouring under injuries received at the time of the collision . The Coroner , in reply to an observation from Mr . Duncan , thought it better not to examine the captains . This closed tbe evidence on the part of the captain and owners of the Rumbler . Samuel Easter was then called—I am chief mate to the Sea Nymph . She is of 350 horse power . She sailed from the Clarence Dock at twenty minutes past ten o'clock on Monday night . I looked at my watch , passing through the gates . We wero bound for Warrenpoint Newry . We had a general cargo on board , and from eighty to onehundred passengers . Captain Joseph Thompson is our commander . The night was fine and

      clear . The wind was moderate , and from the N . W . It was about a three-quarters flood-tide when we started from the dock . We advertised to sail at half-past nine , but we were fifty minutes past our time . The tide carried us up the river , and the helm was put hard a-port to bring her head on . "We took our course down the river , outside the vessels at anchor , on the Cheshire shore , and we steered North and a little East . We passed a ship ' s length and-a-half outside the coal hulk , which is stationed on ? the Magazines , and from whicli the "New Brighton vessels are supplied with coals . Wethen made for the Rock Light , which was about a-half or three quarters of a point on our starboard bow . I was on thc forecastle head ; and , shortly after passing the coal hulk , I saw a light round thc Rock Light house , it proved to be the Hainbler _' s masthead lieh t . I reported

      tke light to the captain , and asked him if be saw it . Ho said " I do—all right . " The light shot across from the Lighthouse at a tremendous rate . I did not bear the captain speak , for he was one hundred feet from me . The nest thing I heard was the blowing off of the steam . The captain was on the bridge between the paddle-boxes . Iu about a minute and a half after I had spoken to thc captain , I observed the Rambler ' s starboard bow white light , and then I knew that it was a steamer . I'then called out to the captain again , and told him that itwas best te keep the helm hard a-port . I did not hear him make any answer , nor do I know whether he heard mo or not . I rather think be did not , the steam was making such a noise . I then saw the Rambler ' s red light on her larboard bow . I could then see the full length ol the Rambler's hull , and that she was flying up to the

      westward , with her helm hard a-port . I could also notice our vessel ' s head , by the Rock light , going off to the eastward , but we had lost a great deal of her way by this time . We were only going at the rate of three or four knots an hour . I sung out to the captain again that it was impossible for the vessels to clear in the way they were going , for with both-helms , a-port , they _mre running fairly into eaeh ether . The captain never answered , and in half a minute afterwards , the collision took place . We struck her nearl y stem-on , on her larboard bow . We were entangled together about half a minute , I went down , after wc got clear ot her , to see if we were making water any whore . I found tlie stem , thc cutwater , and both hows gone . I came up again and told the captain he had better run her ashore or into dock , but he would not do that , but ran his bowsprit into the rigging of tbe Rambler aft . At this hour , ten minutes to six o ' clock , the Court ad . _jourued to twelve o ' clock to-day .

      The Self-Accusbd Tjiiep And Munnener. — ...

      The _Self-Accusbd Tjiiep and _MunnEnER . — Since the committal to Newgate of William Ilenry Norman , who accused himself of robbing . liis employer , Mi * . Hoof , ofMudeley House , Kensington , it has been satisfactorily ascertained tliat lie bas been in no -way concerned in the murder of Mr . _Westwood , thc watchmaker , in _Pi-inccs-strcet , Soho , us was at first believed , he having been absent from England , from September , 1838 , until 18-11 , in the customs in _Jani'iica , and the murder having been committed on the night of the 3 rd of June , 1830 . There Is no doubt , however , that Norman ' s statement relating- to the cvlensive robbery committed by liim at New York , is true . It is a singular fact , that in coh-efjiienee of a belief expressed in tbe reports that Norman was concerned in tlie murder of Mr . _Westwootl . circumstances havo been communieatcd to the police which lead to a . hope of an elucidation of the mystery in ' wliich that dreadful crime has been so long enveloped . _-. ¦ - ¦ ¦¦ ¦

      The Self-Accusbd Tjiiep And Munnener. — ...

      THE STRIKE IN * THE BUILDING TRADES ; . | ( From the Times , ) , LIVERPOOL , Mat 29 . r On Thursday morning this town was gratiheu to find that the strike in the building tradesbad ended , and that work would be immediately resumed . It appears that a deputation of workmen waited upon Mr . Rushton , our excellent stipendiary magistrate , and stated that the onl y impediment to the settlement ofthe dispute was the desire of themselves ana their fellow-workmen that the masters should . with _, draw the "declaration" which tliey required the workmen to sign , and of whieh we stated the Mature last week .- Mr . Rushton ,. with his usual benevolence of character , promised to bring about , 1 ? possible , a

      meeting of the masters and workmen , and use in ? best endeavours to reconcile the unhappy differences that existed . He immediately opened a communication with some of the most eminent of the builders ; and at an appointed hour the various parties _mieivn the magistrates' room at the Sessions Ilouse . Mr . Rushton desired the workmen to keep nothing in the back-ground ; and in a few pithy words , stating the distress and inconvenience which had resulted from the strike , advised all patties to enter into the conference with friendly feelings , and to make sueh arrangements as would be conclusive , so that the trade ofthe town might again resume its usual aud natural course . Mr . Holme , the builder , asked whether . tie persons then present were duly authorized by their respective societies to enter into sueh negotiations as would be final , and would be agreed to by the great

      body of the workmen . The deputations of workmen , _comprising members from the masons ' , bricklayers ' , joiners ' , plasterers ' , and plumbers' associations , respectively rose and declared that they were duly authorized , and were prepared , on behalf of their fellow workmen , to enter into negotiations which should be conclusive . On this assurance the negotiation proceeded . After some conversation , in wliich the masters argued that no club or society had a right to dictate to any man , or to compel him to joia such a society against his will , and that labour , like other commodities , should be perfectly free , and that they could net enter into contracts with security to _themselves , or with advantage to the public , unless such a principle as the freedom of labour was fully recognized , it was unanimously agreed as a base for subsequent negotiation—

      -That a full andfreo disclaimer be made of tbe rights of any man , or body of men _. ' to interfere with the free _, dom of labour and that all men may work for whomsoever thoy please , and on whatsoever terms they may think right . The masters then proposed —• That the connexion with the National and General Trades' Union should be dissolved , they offering no opposition whatever to local associations , if the operatives deemed such to be necessary for the preservation of their own privileges ,

      The workmen present all declared , with the exception ofthe labourers ( here generally known , we believe , as hod carriers ) , that their respective trades did not belong to the National Trades' Unien ; and , as this disclaimer was strongly made in the presence of Mr . Rushton , ofthe magistrate ' s clerk , and ofthe reporter , Mr . Rushton recommended the masters to withdraw the proposition , which they immediately agreed to , on the distinct , disclaimer ofthe delegates , one ofthe masters observing that the word of the

      representatives of the workmen was considered sufficient . It was then agreed to on the part of the operatives That no molestation be offered to those workmen who are now employed and have signed the declaration ( in number , we believe , nearly 1 , 000 ) , and that the deputation of workmen here present agree most earnestly to impress upon the minds of their fellow workmen the propriety of abstaining from the use of any terms of reproach to those men who have already agreed to the masters' terms , and who are now employed .

      The masters then proposed that , as some of the branches of the building trade commenced work at 6 o ' clock on the Monday morning , and left off at halfpast 3 o ' clock on . a Saturday afternoon , while others commenced at -1 . o ' clock oh Monday morning , and worked until 4 o ' clock on the Saturday , a practice which had been found most inconvenient , an uniformity of commencing and leaving off should take place , and that the whole of the trades should commence at G o ' clock on the Monday , and leave off at 4 on the Saturday , which would be more convenient to all parties . To this the masons strongly objected ; and , after a long discussion , it was agreed that the hours of labour should remain the same as heretofore ; but that the distribution of the time should he arranged between the various trades and their employers , and should form no part of the present negotiation .

      The masters then agreed to withdraw the " declaration , " and Mr . Rusbton congratulated all parties on the termination of the differences . ' To prevent any mistake , Mr . Rushton reduced it to writing , and added it to the foregoing . It was as follows : — That the above conditions being acceded to , the declaration shall be withdrawn . The whole ofthe resolutions were then read ever seriatim ; and , after a vote oftlinnks had passed to Mr . Rushton , all the parties left the conference under the impression that the affair was ended .

      Combinations and strikes have previously and frequently been heard of in this town . The shipwrights used to be the grand disturbers ; and we recollect that on one occasion the Duke of Lancaster , a large East India ship , belonging to Mv . Gladstone , the father of the present Colonial Secretary , was repaired and _caalked by tlio master shipwrights , because no journeyman shipwright would work without an exorbitant rato of wages . The _natural result has been , that shipbuilding has departed from the shores ofthe Mersey , except to a small extent . Vessels are built at Worthington , Maryport _, Whitehaven , and also at various small ports on the eastern coast of England , _* and through the folly and combination ofthe Bhipcarpenters little of consequence is done in the Mersey

      except the repair of vessels ; and even where an extensive repair is necessary , vessels are . frequently sent to other places , on account of the exorbitant charges made for repairs in Liverpool . But no strike in any __ trade , within our memory , has caused a greater sensation than this amongst the builders , because it affects so many classes'beyond their own sphere . Not only have the timber , lead , and glass dealers felt it , but it has affected the carriers—persons who obtain their livelihood by carting for hire , shopkeepers , spirit merchants , limeburners , and others ; all of whom are more or less dependent upon the demand for materials used in the building department , or on the expenditure of the weekly wages , which to such a great extent are disbursed in this town . Your readers will therefore be pained to

      hear , that on the very evening of the day on which the arrangements wero amicably come to between the master builders and workmen , the clubs of the various trades met , and threw overboard all the resolutions which had been agreed upon , principally instigated , it is said , by the stonemasons . The resolutions were consequently not acted upon , and the next niornin ;; not one man returned to his work . An instruction was forwarded-to Mr . Tomkinson , one of the oldest and most eminent ofthe master masons , and a gentleman who has been for many years engaged as a contractor for public works , that a diminution of working hours and an increase of wages were required

      on the part of the masons , and that unless he acceded to the demand the men would not resumo their work . Mr . Tomkinson , naturally indignant at sueh a breach of faith , refused to entertain the demand , and desired the workmen to meet liim again in the presence of the stipendiary _masiistrate , Mr . Rushton . They did so ; and finally lowered their demand for increased wages to Is . per . week additional , but stipulated that they should have half an hour at four o ' clock every afternoon for " recreation . " Mr . Tomkinson promised an answer at six o ' clock the same evening ; and in tho meantime summoned a meeting of masters to consult as to the most advisable steps to be pursued iu this new and unlooked-for

      emergency . - After Mr . Tomkinson , and the other masters who had been present at thc conference , had stated the concessions made by the masters before Mr . Rushton to put an end to tbe turn out , and tbe solemn obligation into whieh the delegates had entered , followed by such hew demands , so contrary to the stipulations agreed upon , it was unanimously resolved that concession had been carried to its utmost limits , tbat no faith could be kept with tiie clubs , and that , as thc masters had agreed to withdraw "the declaration , " it should be religiously observed on their part ; but that no further concession , either on the score of wages , or a reduction in thc hours of labour should be made , as it . was then perfectly clear that every

      concession was omy followed by an increased demand . Thus , instead ofa termination ofthe strike , matters seemed as far as ever removed from a settlement . Tho bricklayers and plasterers seem to follow in the wake of the masons ; the joiners , plumbers , and some others , with more wisdom , seem anxious for a settlement , and some of them have left the clubs and resumed their , work . But the masons are in demand tor the various railway contracts , especially on the Holyhead , Carlisle , and East Lancashire lines , and many of them bave found employment on those railways . The Liverpool Dock Trustees , the Birkenhead Dock Company , and the Liverpool and Bury and Grand Junction Railway Companies , also have been proceeding with their works , which are principally masonry ; and , so long as there was no demand for

      increased wages , those four large companies did not think it necessary to suspend tlieir works . The course now _pui-siied , however , by the masons , has altered the complexion of the whole strike ; and the clubs must now soon come to issue , with these large and formidable companies . Tbe press , with one exception , lias condemned the unwise _proceedings of the unions ; and , as the masters have withdrawn the declaration , wliich by some was _cou-idet-ed oppressive , notwithstanding that it was ori ginally suggested by some of tho mechanics themselves , to give " them a feasible excuse for _sccsding from the unions , which ( hey found to bo both tyrannical and oppres _^ ve , the struggle' baa narrowed itself into one for advanced wages and diminished time ; and , instead of i's being a question between masters and workmen , as to

      The Self-Accusbd Tjiiep And Munnener. — ...

      who shall be the rulers , it _£ m < ' _tuOf bacomeii quei _* tion between the workmen and the public , as to what the former shall receive and the latter shall pay . _^ _fhe workmen do not appear to see thatthe masters have really little to do with the question of wages , especially in such departments as building Itis a question between the mechanic and the man who invests his money in building , instead of investing it m cotton , corn , British or foreign railways , EngliBh or foreign securities , lands , or other investments ; and master builders have , in reality , just as much to do with the rate of wages , aa the broker , who'is the medium of sale between the merchant and consumer , has to do with the price of cotton , sugar , or indigo . The effects of this strike are becoming , apparent .

      The masons are the most difficult body to deal with , and they are , it is said , under the control of a _secretary , to whom they allow a handsome salary for managing their affairs . One of our first architects has resolved to abandon the use of stone in building as much as possible ; and at this time we are credibly informed that several piles of building are proceeding where iron has been substituted for stone . We perceive by one of our local prints that a gentleman from Wales has waited on some of the principal Builders and offered to supply a substitute for stone in the shape of door and window heads , cornices , and other things , made out of the Welch fireclay , and whicircan be produced at about half the cost of stone ; andwedoubtnofc _. inthis age of mechanical will be devised to abo

      skill that various expedients - lish masonry , if the masons themselves shall render the stone too expensive . There is one passage in the conference between the masters and workmen that struck us as peculiarly significant . Carter , the union secretary , boasted that the masons' union was strong and powerful . Mr . S . Holme replied , " tliat union might give strength for a time ; but union could not give employment or- create work , 'bu , fc the reverse ; and that if by the strength of the masons' union they imposed terms which the public refused to pay , a diminution of their peculiar work would be the consequence , and they themselves would eventually be the sufferers . " This really is the case , and whatever may be the result ofthe strike , —and after the attempt at arrangement which has been made , and has _sosignally failed through the insincerity and treacherous dealing ofthe workmen , of that result there can

      be no doubt—the consequence must fall upon the workmen who have been duped by their leaders—for those leaders will , unquestionably , take care of themselves . That many men and their families are much distressed there can be no doubt , and several letters from the various secretaries have been- shown to us , imploring aid from other trades , one of which , signed by " Francis Bradbury , of Birkenhead , " states tliat they are "in great want of assistance ; " and implores that " money may be immediately forwarded to him at the Manchester Arms , Birkenhead . " We are at a loss to understand how respectable and skilful workmen can place themselves in such a humiliating position , or of what benefit trades' unions can be , if every trade is called on to assist others with which it is not connected ; for the letter which we have alluded to was writted to some glass-manufacturers at St . Helen ' s , who are addressed as " brotherunionists 1 "

      We hope that next week we may have to announce the termination of these insane proceedings , destructive alike to the best interests of individuals as well as to the . coinmunity , and condemned by every man of penetration or common sense . Since the above was written , the masons have had a general meeting , and have come to the resolution that they will only work nine hours & day , instead of ten hours and a half , as heretofore . This is , of course , declined on the part of the masters , and is considered as a further infraction of the contract entered into before Mr . Rushton , and no one can now pretend to tell the ultimate effect of this new demand .

      The National Trades Union. (From The Wee...

      THE NATIONAL TRADES UNION . ( From the Weekly Dispatch . ) We are all familiar with the cry of " class legislation ' " Vehemently it has been denounced , often has the nation heard its vices magnified in all the figures of speech which pie-ball the patched eloquence of travelling oratory . It has been , from the beginning , the chief argument for the adoption of the People ' s Charter ; Physical Force and Moral Force Constitution tinkers have alike made it the premise of their great political corollary ; and both Complete Suffrage and ' . "Universal Suffrage apostles have claimed its existence as the foundation of their

      principles , and the common root of their deductions . Indeed , since corporation privileges , and the exclusive prerogatives of guild brethren , have been destroyed—since the manufacturing capitalists have themselves demanded the abolition ofall peculiar advantages to home production , and the very Peers themselves are about to resign the dishonest perquisites of agricultural protection , there is left manifestly every day narrower ground , and a more splendid apology for saying the same thing over again on this exciting theme . Although , however , the name is dropped out of common utterance , we are not sure that the thing is less vital than ever it was ; and if the

      "Lipsare now forbid to speak That once familiar word . " to which it came as naturally as " applesauce " after " roast goose , " we suspect it simply arises from the circumstance that after the offence which it expresses has been abandoned by every body else , it has become the " pleasant vice , " and the besetting sin of the very men by whom it was most violently denounced . The term "Trades Union , " does not fairly express the thing which the words imply . It means neither an association of handicrafts , nor a

      combination of all the various human elements of which any single trade consists . It entirely excludes from the limits of its definition , the . capitalists and masters , the heads , inventors , directors , and moving power of all industrial art ; generally it does not even embrace the order of apprentices , but uniformly it is entirely confined to the one sole body of working operatives , and is , in truth , neither more nor less than a self-elected industrial legislature , associated to make laws , less for its own regulation than for its own profit , at the expense of the public in general , and to the prejudice of master - capitalists in particular . When these trades unions are local and denominational , they wear that snug , close Corporation aspect to which even employers seem to have no great

      cbjection ; since they , in effect , simply operate to compel masters all to do business on one uniform scaleto adhere to one common list of prices , and to avoid competition and underselling , as injurious to themselves and beneficial only to their common customers ( we should not say their common prey ) the general public of consumers . But a new trades gospel is now revealed . A general and national trades union has been silently , but universally organized , not eonfined to particular handicraft , but extending to the whole circle of industrial arts of skilled labour , and having for its distinctive object the array of the whole labouring order of the nation against its masters and capitalists . Under the specious name of Protection , of which even Lords have become ashamed , this

      great conclave of artizans proposed to become iorestallers and regraters of the labour market , for the mutual profit of their body , at thc common expense ofthe publie . By means of a perfect and universal organization , a vast revenue , an iron discipline , and the assumption of absolute power over all artizans whatsoever , they expect to be enabled te suspend the entire labour of the kingdom for any length of time they think fit , to throw , if necessary , the wlude couatry into panic and confusion by an universal stagnation of industry—to dictate any terms and any wages they please to their customers and roasters ; and to exact from the necessities ofthe Legislature any la _* ss which they may consider conducive to the profit or social influence of theirorder . Thepresiding genius ,

      who is "io vide this whirlwind and direct this storm , " is the Hon , Member for Finsbury . Thc puller of the wires is the _disinteresleu patriot whom the colliers " remember in their prayers . " This union is a class combination , for _class _. objects , to enforce class legislation by class organization . It is to create a class monopoly in favour of an exclusive class , by that order which was the most vehement in its denunciations of class privileges ; and contrary to the advancing spirit of the age , to the impartial and Catholic tendency ; 'bf modern government and of public opinion , it is not more necessary for the character of the working classes themselves tiiau for the safety ofthe State , and the security ofthe public against dictation and exaction , that the ' conspiracy should be

      exploded , and thc bubble exposed . It is an Association for practically , carrying out an impossible object , and which , were it possible , would be pernicious . We are , indeed , surprised , that the intelligent artizans of this country should , in the face of every principle of political economy , and every dictate of experience and common sense , yet suffer themselves to be magnetised by the gesticulations of quacks , into the day dreams in whicli they now indulge . They have tried to put down machinery by Act of Parliament , —to prevent women and children from earning their own subsistence , and masters from the liberty of making contracts with them , —thoy have struggled to prohibit the working of factories for a longer period than ten hours per day , thus confiscating a sixth of the whole income , interest on capital and property of the owner , without remorse or compensation , —they have limited tho number of apprentices

      whom masters are to instruct , in order to preserve a monopoly of tbeir trade , and now , at last , they have organized a grand universal National Union , into the joining of which every _workin-r man-is to be coaxed , persecuted , _throatont'd _, and bribed , in order to lay the nation prostrate at their fret , —to place the consumers , masters , and enpitatists _, at the ' mercy of the wot king classes , and to dictate to every other order of society whatever conditions they ptease of remuneration for labour , irrespective of the legitimate ih-maiul , and the value of the eommoditv . . A ' _ltliou » li tlieir own denomination ave the great consumers ' bf all _thi-ir own productions , and Have _enormou-ly beneutted by the cluap clothimr , and housing , and literature , and transi _^ _rt b y land and water which machinery has efiect . eci . they still cannot be convinced of tho injury which would be inflicted on their class by raising the cost of production , or see that if

      The National Trades Union. (From The Wee...

      the price . ofthe fin _^ and '' _t _^ ndaTy . _'* u' ! _i > e » aTies and luxuries [ of life is raised by raising wages , ther ru then ; foreign market , while . they make the _nwiiev value * of higher' wages diminish by the enhanced value of thesconimodities to be given in _exchan _^ f Have they not long-ago , and under the- powerful stimulus of political and democratic passions , tried over the whole kingdom to enforce the observanc e of a "satred month , " which was to put an end to the entire labour of the kingdom , and compel the rest of society to sue for mercy ? Whatdkl it end in but in making the working _diasses _vi-liculoug ir » the eyes of the whole nation ? Did not the tailors discontented with 30 s . or even _40-t . a week , ( 8 ; _i times the wages of their agricultural brethren ) se _*

      , ze the occasion of a fashionable season to turn out for aviso ? What was the effect of this , but to lose many a job by customers making the crisis an apology for contenting themselves with wearing out their old clothes , and to call so many women into the field of trade—that what with Moses , and Doudney . and other large establishments , the trade is threatened with such an inundation of tailoresses , that the union will too late , and to the last , repent a strike which the actual redundancy oflabour rendered totally without apology . In a country where ihe wages of die peasantry range from _Qd . to Is . U . per . day , and four millions of tlte population are permanently without employment , there never can be either occasion _foh a _protective u . mox of artizans or for a strike

      to regulate wages . Capital is so abundant that it is sure to be embarked wherever it is profitable ; and the competition of capitalists for profits , and for _la-, bourers , will always keep wages at the level determined by the infallible principles of political economy . Since the publication of our former observations 0 _B this subject , they have , been strikingly corroborated by the actual facts of the case , as d _« tailed in an elaborate article in the Times . It is stated that the chief complaint of masters is , that not only will the unionists not work themselves , but that they forcibly prevent those who are . perfectly * willing to do sd , that they keep every trade in the hands of a few monopolist workmen by restricting the number ; of apprenticesand also the choice of them to their

      , own families , and tbat they compel thema ? _sof the young to grow up without acquiring any craft what ever , depriving thousands of" the means of earning their bread . As we predicted , " Some ofthe large employers' have now a great many , men at work who have left the Unions , and numbers of strangers , notwithstanding the vigilance of .. " the pickets , have sought and obtained work ; and the masters mosfc determinedly refuse to discharge one of them . The club men have threatened that they will not work with these men , and some of them have gone so far as to _jio to buildings where they- were at work , and succeeded in frightening the men away . " For the reasons whicli we formerly assigned , there is a universal concurrence in OHr opinion , that the present

      strike "has been most ill-timed , " that it has not onlystopped employment in the building trade , but thrown all out of work who were engaged in ita auxiliary departments—that it has roused all the capitalists and employers to a most determined and permanent resistance , and the adoption of measures which will certainly leave the Unionists in a worse and more humble state than ever they were before , " * and that it will take many months of industry and prosperity to _nsaidythe mischiefs which have beea entailed upon a large portion of the community by * the unwise acts of men who , in these days , were at . tempting to establish monopolies of trade more in accordance with the spirit of the guilds in the day 3 of Elizabeth than with the freedom of trade

      peculiar to the days of Victoria . " The stater ment of Mr . Hulme , a large employer , proves that the declaration so much complained . of was suggested by workmen smarting under the intolerable tyranny of clubs . " They told me , " he observes , " that our premises were so well watched until late in the evening , tbat they had come at that untimely hour to avoid being seen by any ofthe otherturn-outs ; that they were in great distress ; thatthe tyranny of the club was beyond all endurance , and that many of our men , as well as themselves , were determined to go to work , if they could get any excuse for quitting the club , . They added , that if they could sign any document which could be binding upon them , it would give them the opportunity they

      wanted . During a long conversation , one of them admitted that both himself and his family were in actual want , when another replied that they might as well be killed as starved , and lie strongly urged upon me the necessity of devising , some mode by which he might escape from the clubs . " Almost in our very words he continues— "Our town will be filled by strangers , who will bave acquired a footing here ; and I seriously ask , what will be the consequences to many of the Liverpool workmen . I wish that some ofthe leaders of these combinations could know the risks and feel the anxieties of those who have to undertake large contracts ; and if they would consider well the ultimate results of aft strikes , they would soon confess that the best

      friends of the operative classes are those who , by intelligence , economy , and enterprise , succeed in inducing capitalists to invest their money ia building , * and that their worst enemies are those who drive capital into other channels ( not a difficult thing ) , by inducing measures which would render building anything but a profitable investment . I think that neither Mr . T . S . Duncombe , nor a committee without responsibility , sitting in London or elsewhere , had any right to interfere between ray workmen and myself ; nor has any man a right to insult or abuse another because he chooses to be independent and stand aloof from a club . " This is the language of justice and common sense . The primeval

      curse sentenced man to a life of labour , and hard labour too—earning his bread only by the sweat of his brow—and every scheme for getting large wages for little work , and all royal roads to leisure , ease , and comfort , and all industrial _lubberlands of nothing to do and plenty to eat , are the visions of quacks , and the delusions of impostors . They may find £ 1 . 000 a-year for Mr . Roberts , a landed estate for Mr . Duncombe , and 30 s . a week for a score or two of Chartist peri patetic bngs of wind , to help to blow the bellows of tlieir disinterested and indignant patriotism ; but their only effect upon the fortunes of the working man must be to help him outof his money , and into a union ofa very different kind from that which he has been asked to join—we mean the Union Workhouse .

      The Ten Hours' Bill. A General Meeting O...

      THE TEN HOURS' BILL . A general meeting ofthe Central Short Time Committee of the West Biding , was held at Bradford by adjournment on Saturday night , for tho purpose of receiving the report of the division of the Ilouse of Commons on the Factory Bill , and as a majority for the second reading was confidently expected , on the announcement Ihat the bill _waslost by a majority of 10 , the greatest indignation and disappointment , was manifested by all present , and after readin <* over some of the speeches of the opponents of the _bifl , the greatest disgust was felt bv the Committee at the sophistry which had been put forth bv them , and after a long conversation , it was

      resolved—That chis meeting be adjourned to the "W ednesday fallowing , in order to afford every member an opportunity to read over the report ofthe whole debate , so that tliey may be oeuer prepared to express their opinion thereon at our next meeting . Agreeably to the above resolution , a numerous meeting of the Committee was held on Wednesday last , Mr . John Itawsonin the chair . The following resolutions wore unanimously adopted : — 1 st . _Thattliiscomniitteeiiavinglcariit the decision of the House of Commons , on the 2 nd reading of the Factories Regulation Bill , feel the uiostpungent sorrow _auddifust to learn that a small majority of the British House of Commons , have again decreed that young _persans and children , most of whom _ni-e I ' emales under IS _yeors of ; _igeshall be _suMucted to work-in . factories for 12 hours in

      eaeh day , exclusive ot time for meals , which must average from li to " 15 hours a day occupation , thereby leaving only about 9 hours for sleep , recreation , aud iuoral and intellectual culture . That by this decision ihe expectations of many hundreds of thousands of factory workers arc disappointed in their hope that at this time an abatement of : their protracted labour would be _affi-rded , and that this committee having carefully read ov . r the three days debate on this cmeslion , are further of opinion . Jacked by long practical experience , that the sentiments expressed by our opponents ( en emies ) , are as totally at variance with facts as their principles ave groundless and false , and are more and more fully convinced that no sound argument cither commercial , political , or economical , has beeu urged agaifcst the adoption ofthe Ten Hours' Bill , but on the contrary , arc convinced that this measure is on every consideration entitled to the universal support of every humane and enlightened individual .

      2 nd . That notwithstanding , thc defeat of last Friday night—a defeat brought about by the _oflleial " ufluence of the Government , backed as we regret to find it , by the influence of the loading members of a party from whom the working classes might have expected better things we are nevertheless resolved never to relax in our exertions until this measure has passed through Parliament . _Relyinsf on- the zeal aud ability of our Parliamentary friends , we believe that the timo is not far distant , wheu , spite of any government backed by whatever party they may be , it ivill be impossible to resist Clio passing of the Ten Hours' Bill ; being , as we believe it is , a measure alike demanded by justice , humanity , and sound commercial policy .

      _drd . 1 hat the grateful thanks of the opcrutives of the manufacturing districts are due to Lord Ashley and Mr . John Pit-Men , for tlieir uncompromising zeal aud persevorauce in conducting our measure , as " well as to Lord John ltussel ! . Lord George Bentinck , Lord John _Manner Hon . Mr . Cowper , Sir _George Grey , Sir Robert Inglis Sir George _Stvickhmd , _llight lion . T . B . _-Macanl ay , Messrs . E . 13 Denison , Banks , C . _ilquhoun . _lh-olherton _Sewdi-ite Crawford , Wakley , _Wooehoute _, i , O'Connell , _Mnntij Aiusworth , and all other members who have voted for the second reading of the Factory Hill .

      4 th . Ihat this meeting cannot separate ' without expressing their deepest sense of the cruelty exhibited by those memhevs who spoke and voted against the improvement of the condition ofthe mctory children , and espechilly are they _grieved at the course pursuod by the noble lord the lately ehctetl member for the West Riding , as well as tho members for Halifax aud iludderslicld .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), June 6, 1846, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_06061846/page/6/