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Northern Star (1837-1852), 20th September 1845, Edition 1 of 4, Page 8, Untitled Article

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      > ¦ ¦ ' ' J ' i"'" ¦ "f ir- ' ¦ ' ' AXDOVEIl "WORKUOUSE ABOMINATIONS . ( Concluded from cur seventh page . ) what court of law would entertain the charge , or hear 3 ir . 31-DougaVs answer ? " Your proposal to me of prosecuting at my own expense Mr . il'Uougal is extraordinary anil strange . His conviction would , I admit , be followed by the loss of his situation , but Ids acquittal of nny legal offence for which lie might be indicted wonld leave him still under the charge of gross drunkenness , of indecent and scandalous attempts upon the women in the woiKiiouec , and o fraudulent conduct in his office . In that event , therefore , the fitness or uufitness of retaining him as master of the Andover Union Workhouse would still remain to te determined by some suchinquiry as the present . " I must , therefore , most respectfully request tl at you trill direct the Assistaivt-ConvmisEioner to hear the defence of Hr . M'Dougal against the very strong cr . se proved ag ? iust him ; and also hear the new charges ivlricji I liavc to walcc . uud wliidi youproniised sboulti be

      Lsard . "I hare thehononrto rcmnin , gentlemen , ' Tour most obedient servant , " Andover , Sept . J 2 . "S . C . Westlam . " Iii accordance with the " Instrnctions" in the letter to Dr . ""lYcsilalve from , the commissioners , ~ M r . 1 ' arkcr did " suspend" Vnc inquiry . At the close oi the nrccsedincs on Tuesday , tiic 9 th , lie regularly adjourned liis " court" till Thursday tfccllih , at iialfpastnine : but on the cou nsel and attorney m support of the chaises repairing to the Loard-roctti at the appointed thsc , tlscv found tliKi Mv . Asssstant-Coninifrsiosser Parker hs . d alscoinkd , gone tit , without ctci-apprizing tlicm-cf his intention . T-i-e letter of Mr . AVestiake , however , and the burst-e ? public indignation that has greeted the act , bss caused the voBunissioncs to retrace the ' . v ttens : ; aud Mr . rarlicr « n Slondr . y last apprised Dr . WcstJake , or letter , tliafen Wcdaesday he should ressnie the investkation .

      * THE EO > TE KXAW 1 XG ATBGCITY . Eespectiii" - this horrible affair the Importer of tie Times , finding that there was no ratcntionea the Eart of the assistant-commissioner to inquire ixtotlie cnc-pkldn !; business , but on the contrary , ^ , desire to hush up the affair , commenced , in conjunction with the correspondent of the Mor . tteg Chronicle , an inquiry into it , and collected the following statements , tne persons making them , being examined apart from each other . Aaron Astritch ' s statement- —I left the-workhouse about three weeks < ir a month before last ' Christmas 2 was In the house ei g ht weeks . Most'of that time J worked at bone-rrusliing- ¦ Generally seven or eight men were at work with me : ; sometimes nine . The lwv . es were horse bones , beef bones , siutton bones ,

      aud pig bones . I saw no human bones ihere . litave scck some of the men , fire or six , gnaw the gristle off the bones . -asd take the marrow oat of thenisftcr thev were broken . They were not ^ iarticular what tones they gnawed , as long as there « 7 as anytliiog on ilicm . Some of these -bones had becn above four months in the store . The other isen who had been there a long time told aie so . Tfaey were in a very lad state ; 4 hcy smelt very badly . When tke door was opened in the morning it -, vss enough te knock vou back . The-gristle was of-a very dark-eolour , sometimes green ,-and all kindVof colours ^ it was quite rotten . The marrow tras very often in tlic same state . 1 should-say that a good many dogs would not ¦ touch -it . The mes att- 'it for ^ rant . They had not enou"h to eat from the workhouse . They had their

      allowance . It might be the-proper allowance ; but -we never had it weighed before us . "What -we had allowed-us wasa'tt enough to-support anablc-hodied man ; not « nough to support nature . * I don't find fault with the- neality but the -quantity . I have had more in quantity out of the house . 1 have not lived so short oufcof the house . -I got a belly full when 1 was in work . I went into the house because I was out of employ . I did not mention this subject to the master , neither did the other men . After 1 came out of the house , Mr . llu . di Mundy askedoiehow I liked the workhor . se . I told him that I did not dislike the place , but the food wasv-ery short . He then a < iked me if-it -was true that soiae of the men picked the Ixraes J I told him they did . What bad stuff they got from the bones was not fit for a man to eat . They

      ate it almost every day . I was there . They would look the bones over , and when they found what they called a nice bone , they would sometimes put it by , to pick at the first opportunity . They were obliged to keep moving at their -work till it was done . If they found jnarrow while they were breaking their bones , they iook it out dircctiy and ate It . I never ate any myself . I was not " there very long . A man must be there a good while to eoiue to it . A man must be Tcry hard drove to cat it . The smell was enough for me . TJie men were alwa > s saying they had not enough to eat . Yf hen they were put to dig In the garden , after the potato crop was taken up , if they ibuud a potato they would eat it raw . They would cat anything they could get at . Air . Parker , the assistant-commissioner , came here to my master ' s

      Louse rather more than three weeks ago and examined inc . 1 told him all this about the bones and about the potatoes . lie asked me if I had food enough ¦ when 1 was in the workhouse , and I told him I had not ; I said there was not victuals enough for the men . Be swore me . I am not sworn now , but I speak tho truth just the same . We had a quart of " skilly " and six ounces of bread for breakfast in the morning . "We had to break three bushels of bones , which would make one bushel and a half of bone dust . It was Strained through a sieve before it would do . We ¦ worked from eight in the morning until four In the afternoon . The men were not ill , but when they had been a long time they got very weak . I think that ¦ was for want of food . Two children , a man , and a woman died while I was in the hoyse . A ' o inquest

      • was held . If a man did not do Ms quantity of bones by four o ' clock he must keep on until he had done it . lie was kept without his supper until it was done . T . hat was the order , but I don't remtniber that any « ae was late while I was in the house . The same rule applied to the -women when picking oakum . iMy wife had a young child . She was put to hemp-pieking , and has been kept without her supper until she picked her quantity . The oakum was pieces of hard Tope , which they picked out with their fingers . It made their hauds very sore . The rammer 1 used for crushing bones weighed lG * lb . A man came in with a sack of bones , and he had a steel-balanee and weighed it . It would make anybody ' s shoulders ache . I have heard this statement read over , and it is all true .

      The statement of Thomas Turton , aged 7 S last 3 fay : —I was in the house about two mouths . I think I left it last April . While I was there 1 was put to work at the pump . At first they put me to garden work . I could not do it . The pump is opposite the place in which the men were at work ireaking bones in the same yard . I have seen them gnaw the bones and suek the marrow out of tliem . They were picked out from amongthe stinking bones . The place stnelt very badly . I asked the men how they could stomach It ? They said that if 1 was as liuHgry as they , and as hard at work , I should do the same . Isald ' ldid not think I should . But they were able-bodied men , and I am an old man . They -were always saying that they had not enough to eat . I can say that they had not enough to support a man . I have told many of the gentlemen so when they iave asked me how I liked the workhouse . I have -told some of the guardians that what I had was good , but there was not enough for me . I told Mr .

      Lilwood so . He is a guardian . I was his shepherd . He discharged me because he said I was an old man and could not attend to his flock in the winter . I liad been a year and a half in his service . He sent lie into the workhouse until my parish was found out . I have seen the men snatch the bones from one . another . I said , " I can't think how you can eat it . " Tkey said , " Hunger is sharp . " I have mentioned-this matter to Mr . Goodall . I am now his shepherd . This statement has been read over to me , And it is all true . I -was never examined about this ir the board . I wish to add , that the master of the louse must have known this , because a man named Eaton used to steal the bones . He was not a bonecrusher . On meat-days , if there were any bones , they were out on his plate , and Mr . M'Dougal used to say , " There's a bjne for you . " The men took xwtice of it , and -we thought it was because Eaton £ tole the braes . I never ate any myself . I could not do it .

      The statement of John Wells : —I left the work liouse about July last . I was nearly twelve months there . I worked at bone-crowing from the first time 1 went in rem ' -ariy until a' oufc three months before I left the workliouse . 1 lave a en the men guaw the Jones . They broke the pig cuap-bones to pick the fat and gristle out I have seen them eat the marrow out of the boaes . Some of the bones were stinking bsnes . They were got very high sometimes . The men were very glad to get holdef them , they were so hungry . I have seen the men quarrel , al-Tnmt fight for these bones sometimes . They would snatch , them out of each , other ' s allowance of bones put down to eru < -h . Some of the marrow was stinking , and some not , according to the time the bones had been in . I did not think It was fit food fora man , but hunger will make a man eat anything I iave eaten the marrow aud gristle a good raany times . I did bo because I was hungry . The

      work-Jiouse allowance was not enough for able-bodied men who worked at bone-crushing . It was no use to grumble ; you would only getit taken back and made less . We have lost b y grumbling . The allowances were not sufficient to supportnature . The men complained amongst themselves that they had not enough to eat . The breakfast gruel was sometimes so thin that a complaint was made to the board . It was reduced from a quart to three half-pints , but it was no better . I have lived better out of the house than in it when I lave been in w jrk . I got a little beer and more meat . They were boms of all kind 3 . I saw * u under jaw-bone there . I don ' t know whether it fas a man ' s or a woman ' s , but it was one or the other . Tl e teeth were all solid Jn it . It was hung Vp vH ! « M ' urase for two or three days , and at last * "f rf thf yea , g men took it down and broke it up to » j £ * £ ?* ' ma \ f » ^ nes were brought into ^ ard fliemen would pick outbonesand Jiidethem

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      for fear the master should see them . They ate ' em when they had an opportunity . The master has known it . lie has caught men at it , and talked to them about it a good mauy times . I recollect Mr Hugh Mundy coming to the workhouse to ask abaut the bone-eating . Some gentlemen were with him . Mr . F . Losconibe was there , lie called all the men that were then employed in crushing bones into the men's day hall , lie asked the men if they had not victuals enoushwithout picking those bones ? AYe all told him we had not . lie asked us if we had any bones then , and one or two of the men went and fetched some from the bonehouse . They were

      concealed between the wall and the crushing-box . Some of the bones were better than others . Some ot the men were not particular . Some would oat stronger bones than others . They were glad to get hold of ' cm . I have heard old Thomas Turton say , he could not thinak how we could stomach them , a « ood many times . I have seen the men , and women tooj eat raw potatoes when they were at work in the garden . Hunger made them do it . 1 could not stomach a raw potatoc myself . I thought that was worse than the bones . I could have eaten the potatoes had they been cooked . I have never been examined by Mr . Parker or any one else before tins about the bones . I have heard the statement read

      over , and It is all true . . Richard Smith ' s statement : —I left tno Andover Union workhouse on the 17 th ot May -ast . I was there about five months . 1 was at work atbonecrushin" daring the three weeks immediately before I left .- " I have seen the men , twelve in number , « naw the gristle off bones , and eat the marrow they found on breaking them . I have done so mysdf . Some of the bones were brought from Winchester , from the barracks there , two or three tons at a time . The davs on which they came were regular feast days for us . The bones were liorse bones , cowfconcs , and all sorts . There were fresh and stale , all snixed . Sometimes tl \ c marrow was very stale , aud smelt . We would some of us wrap it up in a bitof us $ er , and put it into our breakfast gvuel next moYurag . The bones would be sometimes six weeks or a month old .

      The bits o' meat along the bones was green , and all colours , a'most turned "lbusty" ami-rotten . We just wiped it with a bit-of rag , or anvthhrg , and then ate it * This bone-picking continued all the tirae 1 was at work there . Before that I was in the sick ward with a broken lejr ; hut I used-to walk ii > to the yard on crutches , and have then seen the men eat this bad stuff . It was not tit for any one to Kit , but we did it through hunger . We had not food-enough . We had our allowance , but it was not sufficient to support us . We were still hunjjry after we had our allowance . I have felt very hungry , and had a hankering after food very mutlli . It was no use to complain , because they would not give its more . 1 told Mr . Hugh Maady , a "umliaia , of it . lie said he would do the best he could to get it altered , but lie could not alter it himself . The master knew the

      bones were . picked by the < sien . lhey used to hide them away behind the bo ? : t ; s and in the dust t hole . As much as half a bushel were hidden at one time in the dust-hole . They kad meat and manwabout thera . I ? we had not got these-bones to pick , we should have suffered very much from hunger . I have seen the men and women eat raw potatoes when they have dug them up in the garden . I knew Thomas Turton He has said iu n ; y hearing to the inun who worked at bone-crushing before I went to the same work— ""I wonder how you -can eat that . " 1

      said so too ; but after I got well , and was put to work , I was soon glad to -eat it as well as the rest . I remember Air . Hush Mundy coming to inquire about tlio bones . I think it was in January , llo asked the men if they gnawed the bones . They saul they did , and some of the bones were fetched ; some that they had hid . He said they were not fit for any one to have . Besides Mr . Mundy , there were Mr . 1 " . Loscombe , Mr . Holloway , Mr . Payne ( a doctor ) , and two or three other gentlemen , guardians . Wells was not in the bonehouse while I was there : lie was my nurse while I was in the sick ward . I have heard this

      statement read , aud it is all true . Upon being questioned as to how it was he had had one leg broken four times , and the other twice , Smith said both thighs were broken by a waggon going over them . He was 15 years of age only then , and his legs were always weak . He never was tipsy on those occasions . He had a little drop of beer on the last occasion , but was not tipsy . As the employment of the women at oakum-picking Las never been mentioned throughout the inquiry , we thought it advisable to take the statement of Mary Ann Astriteh , wife of Aaron Astritch : —I

      was in the house with my husband and two children . I was not allowed to see my husband . I had one child with me and one away . I was put to oakumpicking every day while I was there . I had to pick a pound and a half of old hard ropes a-day . It was very hard , like bones . It almost took the flesh off my fingers to do It . I had a young child to attend to , and if I did not finish the oakum before four o'clock I was compelled to keep at it until it was finished . I and two others kept at it until later than that . If I had not finished at prayer-time , at six o ' clock , I lost my supper and got a good scolding . I lost my supper twice . All the women that had the use of their

      hands were made to pick oakum , unless they were engaged in washing , needlework , or other work . I could not drink the breakfast gruel . It always disagreed with me . Two or three times on Sunday mornings when I went into chapel I changed my gruel for a bit of my husband ' s bread , which he saved for the child . My children were almost starved ; they cried for bread almost all daylong . So did the rest of ihe children . The master detected me one Sunday morning changing my gruel for my husband's bread , and he told me before all the people that if I did it again I should he sent to Winchester gaol for six months . I spoke to Mr . Losconibe , a guardian , about it ; and he said , "Never mind . When the food is given to you it is your own ; but you must not take it out of the house . " I have seen the women eat pockets after pockets full of raw

      potatocs . Two or three women used to be sent into the washheuse to boil potatoes for the pigs , and then they took some of the raw ones and hid them in their pockets or bosoms , or where they could . When they got back into the day-hall they ate them . The other women would beg— " Give me one ! give me one I " The children in the day-hall would beg also . The people were as glad of a raw potato as some would be of a mellow apple . I could not eat raw potatoes . I was starved enough to do it , but my stomach could not bear it . I have never enjoyed a good state o health from a child up . Sometimes the people would steal a carrot out of the barrow when the man was wheeling aload in for the horse . Sometimes tho man would throw in a bit slyly . The children would pick up bits of turnip rind or anything that appeared eatable . The women and children did this because

      they had not enough to live upon . They were starved , I was nearly starved . I was suckling my child , but many an hour it would cry for the breast , I had no milk . I was allowed no beer , nor a drop ot hot water when anybody was kind enough to send me a bit of tea . I have asked the mistress for hot water more than a dozen times , and she has refused it . I could only get it when it was given out generally , which was about three times in a week . I could tell a great deal more about the ill-usage I and others suffered in that workhouse . I was at harvest work last week , or Ishould have been examinedat the workhouse . Fourchildrendied while I was an inmate . The childreu who came in pretty healthy soon got worse . There was nothing for them to grow upon . I tried to make my escape three times from the workhouse by getting over the petty ; but I could not manage it with my young child in my arms . I tried to escape because of the starvation of nivself and aiv child . I declare most solemnly

      that sooner than I would sutler the same again I would throw myself and my children into the barge river . What I have stated is all true . John Cole , aged oi : —I left the workhouse about a fortnight or three weeks ago . I was there five weeks before that . I worked at bone-crushing fourof those weeks , or a day or two more . The bones were of all kinds . There were horse bones and cattle bones . There might have been human bones among them without my knowing it . I did not examine them particularly . I have seen the men gnaw the bits of meat , or hard gristie , and eat the marrow out of the bones . I have done so myself . They were very dirty , being tumbled about with the rest . I have seen some of the men eat tainted gristle and marrow . When I got a bad bone I gave it to some one else who was not so particular . This lasted all the time

      1 was there . Generally speaking , . all the bones were stale . I have seen a cart come with bones . They were not fresh . I saw the men quarrel many times for the bones . They would hide them away from each other . I have hidden them till I got an opportunity to pick them . It required a good stomach to pick them . The stuff was not fit for men to eat . Hunger made them do it . We had not food enough to support us in a proper way . We were worked very hard . On Tuesdays , Thursdays , and Saturdays we had no bread at dinner time . They complained among themselves about want of sufficient food . We did not let the master see us picking the bones , if we could help it , for fear he should blow us up . He must have known it . I have worked jobbing about the garden . I have picked np raw potatoes , turnips , and carrots , and eaten them . I ate part of a raw cabbage once . I

      was told about it , and the master scolded me for it . I have seen men , women , and children eat raw potatoes when they were engaged in getting them in . We rubbed the dirt off on our clothes . We ate the potatoes to moisten our mouths and help to fill up our stomachs . Hunger and thirst made us eat raw potatoes . I remember on one occasion being very thirsty , and sneking apiece of marrow ; but it was so bad I could not get on with it . I was in the house last winter and the winter before . The bonepicking was going on at both those timea . I was a rate-payer at Upper Clatford ten years . I was a farmer , and a tenant under Mr . RawJinson , the magistrate of Afarylebene police-office . JVfy farm was under 200 acres . When mj lease expired , I wanted it at a lower rate , but another person gave more , and I was compelled to sell off to pay up some arrears . I have paid £ 300 or £ 400 poor-rates . I was a long timeout of business . I made application

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      tj the overseers to allow me outdoor relief . The gentlemen generally were in R ' , our f ^' my . application , but Mr . John Lie wood opposed Vc , and it was refused , lie is a guardian of Uppp . r Clatford . I have no outdoor relief . I travel about with lucifer-boxos , blacking , and paper . I travelled nearly twenty miles yesterday . Sometiir jjs I make a profit of a groat , sometimes Gd . or < jd ., and sometimes nothing . I can't live on Gd . a-day ; but I am pretty well known , and get a cms ' ., given to me now and then . While 1 was a fai'iuei' I served the officers of surveyor , highconstable , overseer , aud churchwarden . 1 was not required t * j break so great a quantity of bones as others , being crippled in one hand . I have heard this sts >; tement read over , and it is all true .

      Wil ' iiam Frumeu ' s statement :- > About two years ago this coming winter my _ wife was confined , and I was . out of wovk at the time . I applied for relief , and was ordered into the house ; but , as my wife could not be removed , I had out-door relief , iu return f r . » r which I was ordered to go to the workhouse ai « work at bone-cruslsiug . I did so three weeks and four days , I never was in the house before that time . I am alabourcr , and am now in the employ of Mr . II . Mundy . While I was employed at bone-cuusliing the men were in the habit of picking the bones and eating the marrow out of tliem . The bones were generally of all sorts , horse buncs and cattle bones . They cainc from Salisbury and Winchester while 1 was at work upon them . When they were brought

      there in a waggon they were thrown into the store altogether in a heap . They were stale , " viimy" atici "fousty . " Some of tho marrow I lave seen the men cut was red , black , purple , and all manncc ol colours . It smelt very badly , enough to knock me down . It made me quite ill ; so that I coukl not stomach my victuals when I got home . It iiia < iic me sick when I thought of it . 1 never picked any of the bones myself , nor « iid I cat ;« iy of the JFiiinw . When the quantity of bones was given out to oaeli man in the morning £ o break , tkoy used to iaok them over , andiiidc those that had cnything op . them tili they left olV wovk . They looked pretty sharp over the lots . What tlwy ate was liot lit for si man to eal ., nor fora dog hardly . Very "few dogs would cat ; it . This was going 'on all tlio time I was working at bone-crushing , —every day , sometimes more iwul

      sometimes less . I believe that the cause of the meu-eating the bad stiill" was Lunger . I said to them , " Ican't thMv how you can eat it . " They said . should if I bided there long . 1 said , "I hope 1 shtin't . " Tfccy said the allowance they got was not SKlHeient to-su ' pport them . 1 have not been examined by Mr . Parker nor anybody else before on this subject . I am not sworn , if 1 were I would not alter this statement . I have seen the men take a piece ol stick or something , and " prick" out tlio soft stuff in the chinlis inside the bones , and eal it . The men would sometimes gnaw tho gristle from tlio bones , and sometimes cut it oH ' and ' put it into their pockets . 1 don ' t know whether there were human bones among the rest , but there might have boon , because 1 did not examine them particularly . I have heard this statement read . It is all true . I would confirm it

      with my oath , it necessary . Mv . ilugh Mundy ' s statement : —I am a guardiau of the Audovcr union , and a magistrate of the borough . In consequence of something that I had heard with regard to the practice of the men iu tlic workhouse working at bone-crushing , picking the bones , about four or five months ago , 1 made a statement to the board of what I had heard . The Rev . 0 . Dodson presided on that occasion . I proposed that some of the guardians should go with me and examine the men with a view to ascertain the truth of my report . My proposition was agruod to ,- and Mr . * F . Loscombe , Major Payne ( a medical gentleman ) , and Mr . AVestlake ( the medical officer of the union ) accompanied me for that purpose . We

      desired the master of the workhouse to bring before us eight or ten of the men employed at the time at bone crushing . Ten mun were b . ought before us indiscriminately , and I told them I had a few questions to put to them , and that they should not be iit all afraid to speak the truth . If they spoke the truth they should be protected , but that if any one spoke falsely I would be the first to have him punished . I then asked them if they were in the iiabit of eating the marrow they found in the bones they had to crush , and if they gnawed tlio bones . Eight out of the ten men admitted at once that they had done so . The other two stated that they had seen the others do s ' , but had never done so themselves . They also stated that as soon as they

      discovered a bouc in which , they fancied there was a little moisture they weiy ready to fight over i 6 . They said further , that they were frequently obliged to hide such bones that they might eat them alone without fear of their companions taking them . I then asked as to whether they were the bones collected by people in Andover , and fresh bones , or whether they were taken from the general store . It appeared that all bones brought there for crushing were thrown in a heap in the store . They stated that bones were also brought from Winchester and Salisbury two or three months old , and mixed with the Andover bones . I asked them if they picked the horse bones as well as the others . They said in reply , that if thev knew thev were horse bones they did

      not , but that lleeves ( an agricultural labourer ) , one oi their companions , was in the habit of picking horse bones as well as other bones , even when lie knew they were so . Reeves was present : he did not deny that , but admitted it . Some of the gentlemen who accompanied me said to the men , ' ¦ ' Good God ! it is too horrible to be believed . Surely you did not do so ?" The men said they did , and that the bones were in a bad state—in a state of decomposition . I said to the gentlemen it would be no wonder after , if they ate each other . A young child would not be safe . I asked them why they did it . They answered that it was in consequence of not having sufficient food . I asked them if they did so as soon as they came into tke house . They replied no ; not until they had been

      there some three or four weeks , and were brought to it by hunger . In consequence oi ' the other gentlemen doubting the statementof tho men , I asked thorn again if is was true , and if they were ready to state it upon oath . They answered in the affirmative . I and those who accompanied me then left tho house . I had not proceeded far , however , before I thought of the propriety of asking the men as to whether they had hid any bones that day , the gentlemen with me having expressed a doubt upon that point . I returned ta the workhouse , but they would not go with me . I had the same ten men called forth again in the

      presence ot the master as before . I then asked them if they had hidden any bones that day ? One of the men said he had , and could produce them . I directed him to do so . lie went , and returned with two bones which were blackened with wet ashes , having been concealed in the ash heap , upon which the contents of the slop pails are thrown . I said , " Why , where could you have put these ? " He told me , and I remarked , " Everything is thrown there ; but it is no worse than the bones themselves , " or words to that effect . I then held the bones up to the master ' s nose , observing , " Smell those bones . It is too'horrible to think of . " lie said he had no idea of the men

      having done such , a thing beiove , but lie was then quite convinced that they had , I then left the house . On the following board-day I made a proposition to the effect that the same men should be examined again upon the subject before the board , and that their statement should be forwarded to the Poor Law Com , missioners , with a request that they » hould inquire into the case . My proposition was not agreed to . Two or three of the guardians stated that it was a matter of taste , and if the men enjoyed the picking of the bones they should not be prohibited from it . I then said at once I was determined that the matter should go before the public . I then sent a petition , addressed to the House of Commons , stating the facts and praying an inquiry . That petition was not

      presented by Mr . Etwall , who had charge of it . The reason he gave me for not presenting it was that the railway business occupied the attention of members so much at that time that he was unable to get a favourable opportunity , but that he would present it when Sir James Graham ' s bill , on the Law of Settlement , came under discussion , which it never did . Mr . Wakley having mentioned the subject in the House of Commons , on the Saturday previous to the prorogation of Parliament , Mr . Tarker , the assistant-commissioner , was sent down on the following Monday to Andover . to make inquiry into the circumstances . He called at my house , and took my sworn statemeut down in writing , in respect to what transpired at the workhouse when I questioned the ten men who worked at

      bonecrushing . I wished him to examine some men in the workhouse , but he said he was compelled to go to London that night , I nest saw him on the first day of the recent inquiry into the conduct of the master . He then expressed his regret that I was not present at the workhouse on the Tuesday after the Monday on which he had called on me , and also on the next day , Wednesday , for on those days he had examined witnesses concerning the bone-picking . I told him I was not at all aware that he was at the workhouse on those days , or of any inquiry having been instituted , as he had told me on the Monday e vening that he was going to London that night . He said he did return , but came down the next morning . I told him I had never heard that he had held any inquiry until after it was over . I said , "As a matter of course , your inquiry will be followed up by a public one ?" He replied , " I do not see the necessity for it ; for we

      admit the whole of it . Some of the witnesses I examined even go further than your statement . " During the lost summer , at a period when the season was veryjiot , the stench of the bones was so dreadful , that Mr . F . Loscombe , one of the guardians , upon his own responsibility , directed the master to suspend the bone-crushing for A week or a fortnight , lest the putrifying bones should breed some disease among the unfortunate men at work amongst them . According to a parliamentary return , moved for by Captain Pechell , M . P . for Brighton , in February last , ' of all union workhouses nnder the Poor Law Amendment Act , in which the pauper inmates thereof are , or have been , employed In grinding or crushing bones , " the system commenced here in September 1841 . The cost of the bones , including all carriage and incidental expenses , was £ 1 per ten . The amount which , they produced when sold in a manufactured state wasjfrom 18 s . to 26 s . per quarter ; and they were j

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      professedly sold at the market price . But the real manner in which they were sold was this , —when there was a quantity ready for disposal some one or two of the guardians would bespeak them , and an understanding existed that no one else was to bid , cacli guardian having his turn , at this ad vantage when he wished . A sort of mock auction was then conducted by the chairman in the board-room , and the lot was knocked down to the understood bidder , generally at a loss to the union . In almost every case the labour was entirely lost . The chairman himself , the Rev C . Dodson , is reported to have been a purchaser in this way . The practice was put a stop to by Mr . II . Mundy , who said he would lay informations against those who repeated it for acting thus illegally .

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      DREADFUL FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE . On Monday afternoon , between the hours of one and two a five of a most fearful character , attended with a . large destruction of property and fatal consequences to one , if not several persons , broke out upon tho well-known premises belonging to Sir Charles Price and Co ., oil and colour merchants , situate in William-street , Black trial's . The premise's were ot immense extent , and spreading from William-street to the water side , they were bounded on the west by Messrs . Henna ' s the Pigs' Quay Coal wharf . The fire originated , from sunic cause at present unknown , on the premises termed the turpentine warehouse , a large brick building , about sixty feet long and fifty feet wide , situate on the western side of the works and adjoining Messrs . Hoppe's ' nroporty , Pigs ' Quay Wharf ; At the time the alarm was given the

      men'employed on the works had gone to dinner . The only party in the yard appears to have been one of tlic ostSers : ho informed the reporter that for some time pr-eviousU' ho had experienced a strong smell of burning , ffliidh lie imagined rose from a foul chimney iei tho neighbourhood , and therefore took no particular notice of it . The first intimation he received ¦ of tlio premises being oil fire was by noticing a large body of black snioke issuing from , the upper floor ot the building before alluded to ; he immediately ran up tlio yard shouting " Fire , " but before lie had time to get to the counting-house a powerful body of flame shot through the same part of the premises . Owing to the combustible nature of the stock in the building , it at once became apparent that the fire could not by anv possibility ho

      subdued without the aid ot engines ; information was therefore sent to the different stations belonging to the city parishes , the London brigade , West of England , and County offices . W \ t \ i as little delay as possible the engines of St . Bride's parish , with those from the London establishment in Fnrringdon-strcet , reached the spot . At that time , that part of the premises where the flames began were completely enveloped in one broadsheet of fire , and the distance between the opposite buildings , used as bagging houses anil general stores , not behig more than thirty i ' eet , the l ^ arvingdon-strcct engines were taken down the yard to the water ' s edge , and were justantly set to work ; Mr . Coif , the foreman , being in hopes , by that means , the men would be able to " save the opposite buildings , and conline the fire to the turpentine store .

      The West of England engine , with the company ' s firemen and Mr . Connorton , followed soon afterwards , as well as several others from the brigade stations , with Mr . Braidwood , the superintendent , and the County engine from llcgcnt-strcefc . The New River mains in tne neighbourhood yielded a good supply of water , and the different land engines at once took ' advantage of it and threw vast streams of water upon and into the burning property ; in spite the firemen wore unable to make tho least impression upon the flames . Meanwhile they pro . ressed most fearfully , and being perceivable from the different bridges the large floating engine was brought up the river , and , being manned by upwards of " 150 men , it was also brought into action . For some tiluo the firemen continued working

      without meeting with any great obstacle , with the exception of sundry explosions , caused by the bursting of oil and turpentine casks ; but towards three o ' clock a most fearful noise was heard to proceed from the premises on lire , the joint result no doubt of the falling of the upper floor of the warehouse and tho ignition of the contents of one of the turpentine vats , which causing the vessel to burst , the lighted spirit rushed through the various windows and doors with the swiftness of lightning , and mounted several fcefc into the air . At that time about thirty men were employed working one of the brigade engines alongside tho firo , and to escape from the devouring element many of the men had no alternative but to

      jump into the Thames . The turpentine and oil mixed together flowed out of the building from every aperture in huge streams ot liquid fire , spreading over the space between the two warehouses where the engine stopd , and which an instant before had been covered with men working tho engine and firemen . One or two firemen still lingered , hoping to quench the flames with the water that flowed so copiously from these branches ; but the fire irresistibly spread across the whole space , and in ' a moment broke the windows of the opposite warehouses , ascended through every opening , and poured into it in brilliant shcetsof flame . The precautions that had been taken to nave buckets of water in this last named

      warehouse ready to dash upon any appearance of fire was evidently at once useless . The warehouse was full of oil and other inflammable matters , and so rapid was the devouring element that it was with difficulty many who were in the warehouse escaped from this second devastation . To every appearance the whole of that extensive range of building , which terminated with the counting-house , and which it was at first hoped might have escaped , seemed devoted to the flames . At the end of the wharf , near the river , now covered with a burning stream of imflammable matter , a general rush was made to the water-side , and into the river many people precipitated themselves ; but the burning turpentine ran in the same direction , and on falling into the water it floated along the surface ,

      sotting in flames six or seven barges . The scene at that moment was of a most agonising character . At a moderate calculation , there must have been nearly 100 persons standing upon the different craft in the river , and to escape from being devoured by the flames , they also leaped into the river , but they even then became surrounded with flames . A number of small boats quickly put off to render assistance to the poor fellows , and several were rescued and conveyed in safety to the shore . The boat belonging to one of the watermen who put oft' speedily became surrounded by fire , and was set in a blaze . The scene from Blackfriars-bridge can bo better imagined than described , the foot-paths being literally studded with human beings , witnesses of their fellow men being obliged to rush into the deep , in order to save themselves from being burnt to death . Whether or not any persons perished in this extremity , it would be difficult to speak with anything liko accuracy ; one

      thing is certainly known , that one of the city police found two or three hats , and was unable to " find the owners of them . It is , however , to be hoped that the whole ' of the persons who thus risked their lives were saved . The progress of the fire was now so groat , that the engine before spoken of ( as standing beside the blazing building ) , the firemen were unable to drawaway , and on the flames receding a little the once valuable machine was found a perfect wreck , every portion of it except the iron work being consumed ' ; and near ; tho wreck was found the body of a . man literally burnt to ashes . There is little doubt that the poor fellow was one of those who wore working at the ill-fated engine , and missing his way had , instead of jumping into tho river , become lixed against a wooden gate , and in that situation was compelled to remain until death terminated his sufferings .

      During the whole time the engines in the outer streets continued to work most vigorously , and kept up a constant and powerful stream of water . The County and West of . England engines worked by moans of what is technically termed a breeching into each other , and by that means an incessant stream of water was discharged in the right quarter . Tho hose of some of the engines was also carried up ladders at the warehouse last ignited , and the flames began to yield to the able exertions of the brigade . The heat thrown out being so intense , and the city gas-works being so close , at one period it was feared that the gasometer would explode . A messenger was therefore sent to most of the large establishments in the city , requesting the proprietors to light their burners , and thereby exhaust all the gas they possibl y could .

      The different firemen , under the command of their several officers , exerted themselves to tho utmost , and by dint of extraordinary exertion they succeeded jn arresting the further progress of the flames just as they had laid hold of Messrs . Hoppe ' s premises . Mr . Hodgson , the newly appointed superintendent , with a strong body of the city police , were early in arriving , and were of great assistance in keeping the immense crowd out of the reach of danger . As soon as the fire was sufficiently subdued a shell was procured , and the body of the unfortunate sufferer was removed to St . Bartlilomew ' s Hospital , where it

      remains to be identified , and await tho coroner ' s inquest . "Who the poor fellow is could not be learned ; the only part of his apparel thathad escaped destruction was his cap ; this appeared to have been a blue cloth one , with a leather peak . Several persons who have since seen the body am of opinion that it is that of a person who lived in Bear-lane , Parringdon-street . By seven o'clock the . fire was safely extinguished ; nevertheless it was found advisable to keep a number of the engines at work during the night , lest another outbreak should occur . The amount of property destroyed was very considerable ; at a moderate estimate it must extend to several thousand pounds

      . Mr . Paynn , the deputy-coroner , Mr . Alderman Humphery , Mr . Anderton , the Common-Council member for the ward , and otter influential citizens were early in arriving at the s& ene of conflagration , and they rendered themselves very active in directing Upon an examination being matJe by the firemen they found that the building in whK ^ h the fire originated , together with its contents , was entirely destroyed : the opposite prenni . es , used ! aa oil stores ,

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      are likewise extensively injured , and so are the buildings belonging to the Messrs . Hoppe , coal merchants . Several barges belonging to the same linn , and two the property of Mr . Kowell , of Paul ' s-chain , are greatly damaged , and the floating engine has likewise received extensive injury . APPEARANCE OF THE FIRE FROM BUCKFRIARS BRIDGE * This destructive fire , as viewed from the bridge , pressnted an appearance which i 3 perhaps without a parallel . At its first outbreak the appearance of the flame waa but slight , and , comparatively speaking , a . very small number of spectators were on the bridge . As soon , however , as the flame increased , so as to show that it had taken some hold of the building , aud the engines were seen playing upon it from every

      direction , the bridge became crowded on each side , and , in spite of the rain , which descended heavily at the time , every one seemed anxious to secure a place , as some apprehensions were entertained that the fire would communicate to lloppc ' s , which Is next to it . In spite of the exertions of the firemen , it became evident that the flames were gaining rapidly . Suddenly a dull roaring sound was heard , and the flames , which had never risen more than ten feet above the building , suddenly ascended to the height ot 100 feet , creating n heat so intense as to bo distinctly i ' elt on the bridge , and to cause the firemen who were workin" -an engine in the space between the warehouses of ° Sir Charles Price to make a hasty retreat , leaving their engine behind . Thuir promptitude was

      probably tho cause of saving their lives , the large doors opening from the ignited buiiding into tho wharf were burst with a loud report , and a stream of liquid fire rushed out in an immense volume , destroying the engine in little more than a minute . 'A'hu most painful part of the scene remains to be described . The large floating engine , which was playing in front of the premises , was densely crowded , as were also several barges aud small boats . A jet of blazing turpentine suddenly ran from one of the windows , setting lire to t ! i . c barges and to the floating engine , which were instantly abandoned . One barge , however , which contained iibout sixty people , had unfortunately no menus of communication , with the shore , and , as it was instantaneously ignited from stem to stern , all

      the surrounding craft made ti hasty retreat . The situation of tho people on board the- barge now becanio one of extreme danger—lying within ten yards of the front of ( he blazing pile ; the barge itsel / blazing furiously , and surrounded by patehns of blazing turpentine and oil that had begun to float down the river . The shrieks of the unhappy persons were of the most agonising description , the lire gaining momentarily on them , and no boat venturing to approach nearer than thirty yards . The spectators ou the bridge were horrified " at , the sight , and shouted loudly to the boats to approach and save the unfortunate men , and the horror of the scene was aggravated by the cries of some women , who recognised their relatives on board the burning barge . Thu

      heat afc Jenirtli became insupportable to those on board , and one by one they threw themselves into the river , and were picked up by the surrounding craft . A rope was then thrown from the shore to the barge , and several persons succeeded in gaining the land by that means . Tlic boats being now stimulated by the hisses of the spectators and the terrible danger of the persons in the barge , approached close to it and took tho remainiug persons on board . One man , in the dress of a coalheavor , jumped from the barge , but , missing the boat , struck his head against the stern with great violence . It was impossible to ascertain whether he was picked up , as tho greatest confusion prevailed , but it wns the general impression that he perished . A similar impression existed with regunl to a man who , while in the water , came in contact with a patch of blazing turpentine , and instantly dived , and was not observed to rise again . The fire had bv this time communicated with Capel ' s wluul

      on one side , and Hoppe ' s wluu'f _ on the other , and both were much damaged before the firemen could extincuish the flames . The large floating engine , which had ignited at the same time with the barge , was at once played upon by the other engines , and on the flames being got under it was found that it was still fit to be worked . It was again manned , and contributed materially to the safety of the surrounding buildings by the body of water which it kept playing upon the roof ' s . After burning for about half an hour with great fury the flames seemed to be exhausted by their own violence , and gradually decreased until ihe engines could approach sufficiently near to play on " the- building , when the firo was vapidly subdued , and by 1 o ' clock was totally extinguished . So intense and huge were the flames , that they could " easily be seen from London-bridge , and the smoke at one time was conveyed by the wind into Fleet-street and Chancery-lane in such dense masses as to occasion much inconvenience .

      Additional Particulars . —From an early lour on Wednesday in the morning till late in the evening , a crowd of people continued to assemble in Williamstreet , the scence of the late dreadful fire . It is now generally believed that every man who was immersed was afterwards rescued . Two hats only remain at the police-station , which have not been owned . Between twelve and one on Wednesday a male and female called at the Bridewell hospital , and requested to see the remains of the man who had perished , as they had lost a brother , and knowing that he was assisting in working one of the engines they were fearful that he was barned . That request was immediately complied with , when they identified the remains as being those of their relative , a yoong man named George Spencer ,

      of Back Bear-alley , Farringdon-street . The feelings of these poor people , upon seeing the blackened mass of all that remained of their brother , can be more easily imagined than described . The poor follow , it appears , was one of the many who occasionally earn a few shillings by calling the firemen , and working the engines at fires . A man named Wilford , who was working at tho same engine , said that he was talking to the unfortunate fellow , when , all of a sudden , the fire rushed out of tho windows and through the doorway , completely enveloping tho whole of the men who were then working . Such was the fury of the blazing turpentine , that before they had Jet go their hold of the engine the machine became ignited and they were forced to jump into the stream to escape being burnt to death , lie noticed Spencer running at the same moment with himself , but the passage was not sufficiently wide for all to pass . Afc the same

      time the deceased must have bsen driven b y tho flames mto the corner wliere . the remains were found . Some idea of the extent of the fire may be formed , when it is stated that at one time there were above forty puncheons of turpentine , from eight tolten tuns of cod oil , and a quantity of other oils , in a thorough state of ignition . The former article was kept in large wooden vessels lined with lead , and thei e is no doubt that , as the fire reached those compartments they exploded , and to that cause may l > e attributed the rapid progress of the flames . The total damage done it is at present impossible to tell , but it is believed to he under £ 10 , 000 . The engine of the Farringdon-streot station , which was completely consumed , was quite a new one , and wns lormed a " crack" one . among thu brigade . It was worth ± 250 .

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      LAMBETH . Wholesale Offenders .-John Berry and Geov , Hancock , the iormer fourteen and the latter fifteen years of age , were brought before Mr . Norton for fin-il examination , on a charge of stealing a ., est ] 0 ' . morter from the shop of Mr . J olm Jennings . The case against both prisoners was perfectly dear and Police Constable Baker , 9 S P , was called to prove sundry convictions against them . In one case ho said Berry had been convicted it the Central Criminal Court of stealing wet linen , and was sentenced to three months' hard labour at Brixton , and at that time himself and his friends were quite surprised from the character he bore , that the sentence was so ' lenient . —The Prisoner : Oh ! that was because 1 ii ; u { counsel . — -Mr . Norton : Tlion I suppose you consj , dcrcd yourself fortunate in having counsel ?—l'l-C soner : I did , your worship . —Mr . Norton : You arc both committed for trial , and let the deposition of the constable as to the former convictions be returned

      BOW STREET . Tjidrsdat . —Attempt to Assassinate . An Italian limned Alexander Cornidini , was brought up on a warrant that bad been granted on the previous eveiiiny , eliar-cd with attempting to assassinate . Mr . Thomas Smith , laml . lord of the Hopo public-house , iu liluckmorc-strcot Clare " market , under the following singular circumstillKTS " - ^ Mr . Woolfc , who appeared in support of the COlliphliriailt said that the assault was of an unusually aggravated in ' ture ; but , however painful it might be to the parties ink " rested in the result , he should cuter into details of a duli * uate and painful character , in order to show the court that some interference was absolutely necessary to r . vent the prisoner committing an oilcncc of a more . v-n " rated nature , mid ; ilso to protect the complainant " liu prisoner , according to his ( Mr . Woolfc ' s ) instructions Iruf lor some time frequented the house of the complainant and

      had occasionally been treated as a friend , butabuseil the confidence reposed in him by not only paying much atten tion to his wife in his absence , but also atteinptin- tu « if dncc her from her home . Tliecoiupliiiiiillitliml uranimi ' to absent himself from Town for the purpose of sunermtemlm » the funeral of : m aged parent for a few days , and on Ms return to towu he found , from information he had obi . iiiud from his domestics , that his wife , who had bi-wi in ft tunted with the prisoner , had packed up every availablo article on the premises to accompany her paramour to Germany . lie had represented himself ns n baron , :,,,, i that siie should become a lady of tftle , ami on her ; : rrival im the continent she should have the command of extensive ¦ lomains . Some misgivings were entertained by the dunesties iu the absence of the complainant of his wile ' s

      proceedings , and the plot of her intending to abscond with tllO prisoner being discovered by them , they used their in . tfuenciJto prevent-her taking such a r / ish step . In the meantime the complainant returned , and on Monday last , at ii late hour of the night , thu prisoner entered , ostensibly for the purpose of calling for : i glass of ale ; but as tho complainant passed from one parlour to another , the prisoner having , without anv reason , rushed into the parlour , < iru \ v : i dagger from his sleeve , and attempted to stab the complainant iu the neck , in ¦ which he fortunately di . » ' not succeed , and instantly made his escape from tlio house , leaving the complainant in the greatest slate ot alarm . Evidence having been heard in support of tho charge , the prisoner was held to bail , himself in £ ' 100 and two sureties of £ 50 each . Kail not being forthcoming the prisoner was removed in custody .

      CLERKEXWETX . Tuesday . — Brutal Conduct . —A drover named Connor was charged with ; i most ferocious assault upon police constable 231 ) G . The constable , who bore marks of severe injury ou several parts of his person , deposed that on tlic previous night the prisoner was lying ou the ; botway in TurmniU-stvcet . lie was not drunk , but just recovering from tho oftoets of intoxication . Witness desired him to get up , or else he would be trampled on . lie nuule mi answer , aud witness laid hold of the upper part of his dress to put him on bis legs . He had no sooner done so , than the prisoner jumped up , and with a blow knucked him into the kennel , where hu trampled upon him until his clothes were saturated with mud . Witness got u ;> .. il his legs , when the prisoner again knocked him dwn , and Kicked him in the head unlit thu blood tloived In . Ill

      his nose and mouth , Seeing that the prisoner v . ; is limit upon murdering him , lie took out his . staff and threatened to usu it if the prisoner did not accompany him . The prisoner defied him . Another struggle ensued , in which the constable was getting the better of him , whtu the !>¦¦! - soner , in falling down , seized the calf of the ollicer ' s leg in his mouth , and piercing the thick cloth ami strung lvailicr of the boot , made the teeth almost meet in the llt-sli . When obliged to relinquish his hold he fastened his teeth , in the constable ' s wrist and gnawed it like : i dog . 1 ' olice sergeant 10 G , said in all his life he had never seen any man in so dreadful a condition as the constable ; the blood was streaming from his nosu and mouth , and iu was impossible to say what sort of dress lie wore , as he wns from head to foot begrimed with mud . Jlr . Uutube scut the prisoner to the House of Correction for a month , without the power of releasing himself by the payment of

      ine

      MAIIVLEBOXE . Tuesday . —Murderous Outkage upon- a "Womas nv uek Husband . — William Harburt , a carpenter nntl joiner , residing at Ko . 42 ; AujfUStil-Strcet , Clll ) lburlilli ( l » market , Regent's-park , was charged with having assaulted Sarah Harburt , his wife . —Complainant , a very respectably dressed young woman , far advanced in vrcsruaucy , deposed that she was married , ou the 23 rd o " f Deeiinlwr last , to defendant , who , from the period of their union , had iil-treated her in so brutal a niauner upon many occasions , that she considered her lite in danger . ' On

      10 pi ' uVlOUS night lip beat her most uimiei-ch ' uDy u ]» . > u the head and body , without the slightest provocation , and threw upon her many of the shop shutters , with the intention , no doubt , of killing her . He had frequently threatened to be the death of her , and about six weeks ago he ran a sword-stick into her ear , thereby innicthi ;; so serious a wound as to compel her to seek the aid of a surgeon , under whose care she remained tor some time—Several witnesses deposed to the brutality of the husband . —Mr . Ruwlinsou said that he felt it his duty to punish the prisoner as severely as he could , and accordingly lined him £ 5 ; in default of payment to two months' imprisonment .

      Iw Printed By Dodgal M'Gowan, Of 17, Great Windm* Street, Haymarket, In The City Of Westmta ' R *""

      iw Printed by DODGAL M'GOWAN , of 17 , Great Windm * street , Haymarket , in the City of Westmta ' *""

      Office in the Bame Street and I ' ansn , "" y hprietor . FEAItGUS O'CONNOR , Esq ., and puWislie »/ William Hewitt , of No . 18 , Charles-stree t , Braiiaw street , Walwwtta , in the Parish of St . Mary , ^) . ^ ton , in the County of Surrey , at the Office , No . Strand , in the Parish o St . Marb le-Strand , n m » City of WeRtminBter . Saturday , September 29 , IW >

      Police Jntdlt' Smm

      police Jntdlt ' smm

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      MARYLEBONE . A Dkturmikei ) JJuvenile Su . vsitGti . — Richard Burke , aged thirteen , was charged with uttering counterfeit coin . On Thursday evening the prisoner bought two half-quartern loaves at the shop of Mr . Hatshall , William-street , lasson-grove , and upon each occasion he succeeded in passing off a bad shilling , and pocketing the change . On the following day he had the temerity to go to the shop again , when lie was recognised , and at once consigned to tlic constable , by whom he was provided with a lodging for the night . The j u venile delinquent , who said the shillings were giveu him , but refused to state by whom , was remanded till Thursday next , in order that the Mint solicitor may have an opportunity of taking a peep at him .

      SOUTHWARK . Saturday . —Robberies at hie Election . —John Williams , a respectable looking lad , was charged before Mr . Cottinghatn with stealing a silver snuffbox from the person of a gentleman unknown , near the Town Hall , in the Borough . A policeman stated that he wag standing iu front of tlic hustings at the Town Hall while the member for the borough was addressing the electors , when he saw tho prisoner busily engaged in " diving" into the pockets of several gentlemen . He watched him , and saw him abstract a silver snuff-box from the pocket of a gentleman standing near the Hop Pole beer-shop . lie seized the prisoner with the box in liis hand , but the gentleman refused to attend at the station-house to

      make the charge . The policeman was asked whether the prisoner was known , and the reply was , that he had been several times summarily convicted . —Mr . Cottingham said he should remand the prisoner until Monday , and if the owner of the snuff-box could be found he should commit him . — Samuel Steer , another young thief , was charged with stealing a silk handkerchief near the same spot . The prisoner was observed to take a silk handkerchief out of Mr . Bendor ' s pocket . The prisoner was seized on the spot , and several other silk handkerchiefs were found in his possession The prisoner was summarily convicted , and committed for a

      month . —Several other pickpockets were charged with similar offences , and committed for a month each . —Thomas Wilson , managing clerk in a factory at Whitechapel , was charged with intoxication . The defendant had been carousing a t the conclusion of tke election , and finding , when he got out in the air , that he was unable to walk , he sat down on the step of a door , where lie feel asleep , and when lie awoke he found that he had been robbed of four £ 5 notes . The Magistrate said that the defendant had suffered suck a severe loss , that he should inflict no punishment , but recommended him in future to be more cautious , and refivun from getting drunk ,

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      Manchester Corn- Mahket , Saturday , Sei-t . 13 . —Throughout the week tho weather has continue all thac could be desired for the operations ot liar * vest , notwithstanding which a decidedly firmer feeling was apparent in the trade , and a fair amount oi business has been transacted in most of the icauWo articles , at fully * the rates current on our last marM * day . At our market this morning a fair inquiry was experienced for wheat , and prime samples of old , » fll English and Irish , were held for an advance of Iu . ^ 2 d . per YOlbs . Flour was in steady request , and |» some instances realized a slight improvement on tno previous currency . Oats were saleable at an cnlian . ce ment of Id . per 451 bs .: aud oatmeal , meeting a w > demand , must be noted Oil . to Is . per 2 iO I " - dearer .

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      THE COKX TRA . DE . ( From the Mark-Lane Express . ) With the exception of a few partial showers in different parts of the country , the weather has continued uninti-r * ruptedly line ; harvest operations have consequently been rapidly proceeded with , and in most of the southern cuiinties the bulk of the corn has been carried . Iu the north of England there is still a considerable quantity of grain abroad ; but the lately experienced sunny days liavo brought the crops forward amazingly , and in situations where a month back it was feared the corn would never arrive at maturity the sickle has lately been actively cmployed . On the whole , our prospects as to the future Iinvo undergone an immense improvement since tlie 20 ih of August , but to suppose that the evil effects of a dccideJIy wet summer have been entirely remedied would be altogether unreasonable . That" a great proportion of the wheat of this year ' s growth will be of inferior quality and

      light weight is unquettionable , nor isitpossiblc thai tk deficiency from the deftcUvt set of the ear , so generally mm * plained of , can have been made good ; we must therefore adhere to the opinion already expressed on former occasions , viz ., that besides the falling off in meal in consequence of the want of weight and otherwise inferior mealing properties of the berry , mi : acheable juioducb ivill he focsd snoBT op an average . It is yet too early to form anything like an accurate estimate as to the extent of the deficiency . Many parties rate it much above what we are inclined to do , and others deny that the crop will fall at all below an average ; in this state of uncertainty we feel inclined to reserve our opinion until something more ( If * tinite shall have been ascertained by the test of thrashing than is at present known ; but that there is a deficiency , to a great or less extent , we feel perfectly convinced . Public opinion has lately been so much occupied in investigating thercisult of the wheat harvest that comparatively little is said of spring corn or pulse , but ill the absence of complaints it is fair to infer that there is not much a "'' ss cither us regards quality or quantity .

      Indulging of the probable value of wheat dnrins " ensuing winter , the injury which potatoes have suiwri'd in many of those districts where this article is must extensively grown must not be overlooked . Until lately tlic blight , or to whatever else the failure is attributable , supposed to have extended no further than the south of England and the Channel Islands . Within tlie last weds , however , complaints have reached us from Lincolnshire , Cambridgeshire , and Yorkshire , from which it won ! J appeal that the extent of the ravages made by thu disease i 3 not yet ascertained . Considering how large a portion of the food of all classes consists of potatoes , so extensive a failure must be regarded as a great calamity . Already prices have risen considerably , and it is certain thst if tlio

      mischief should prove anything like so extensive as it » represented to be , the consumption of bread stuffs " 11 I 5 t be increased enormously . These considerations leadt 0 tlie conclusion , that though no material advance i » )' occur in quotations of wheat immediately , the artiek ' ? hereafter rise in value . In speaking of potatoes , «' c _ omitted to mention one important fact , viz ., that orders havejbeen received here from Holland and Belgium for tho purchase of the article at very high rates , whilst their C * port has been prohibited by the Government of thu li > st " named country . We have heard it reported , on good authority , that a contract has already been closed at I ' oolo to ship 1 , 000 tons to Holland . The export of agricultural produce from England to the continent is certainly a ne \ i feature .

      By letters from Scotland at appears that the veattn * had continued auspicious for bringing the crops to maturity in the backward districts , aud securing those in tlie more forward localities . There , as with us , the wheats stated to be short in quantity and indifferent in quality ; but complaints as to potatoes are , we are happy t 0 sa ) ' comparatively rai < e . The advices from Ireland are also , happily , silent Ott the subject of the potato blight .

      Untitled Article

      V ¦ : THE NORTHSfl ^ STAR . . ___ . —___ . __^___^ 5 ? MSER 20 1845 ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 20, 1845, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1333/page/8/