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Northern Star (1837-1852), 11th April 1846, Edition 1 of 3, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Taunton Friday Attempt to JiraDEB . —James BaUey , aped nfty-iour , was iHJicted for maliciously wounding Ann , his wife , with intent to murder her , at Bath , on the 17 th of Feb ! On another count the prisoner was charged with assaulting Aon Bailer , with intent to do her some grievous l » di ! y harm . It appeared from the evidence of Emma Bailey , the prisoner ' s daughter , and a woman nann-d Mary Duck , that the prisoner had for a long time been separated from his wife , and that on the 17 th of February last he west to her apartments , to request her again to live with him . She refused , saying that he had treated her so ill she would not return to him . A quarrel toek place , and in the heat of his passion the prisoner struck his wife on the head with the nob-end of a pair of tongs .

      The woman fell down from the violence of the blow , and her daughter calling for assistance , Mrs . Duck came into the room , and at that moment Mrs . Bailey was lying on the floor , her face covered with blood , and the prisoner Standing orer her with tbe tougs in his hand . On seeing the witness he observed , looking towards his wifif " See , She ' s dead ! " Mrs . Duck replied , " Then you'Jl he hung . " and he said , "Shall 1 ? " The woman then fetched a policeman , and the p risoner was taken into custody . His unfortunate wife was conveyed at once to the hospital , and the surgeons found that she had received a compound fractnre of the skull , which rendered an operation necessary . She was in considerable daDgcr for upwards of a mouth , tut was now doing Tery well , slthough quite unable to attend at the trial . The pri-« oner . when callsd upon for his defence , appeared quite

      stupified , and his limbs trembled convulsively . Looking first at the witness-box , then at the jailor , and afterwards at the judge , he exclaimed , " I did it in the heat of passion . " The jury found a verdict of Guilty , with intent to murder , and the prisoner was called open to say why j udgment of death , should not be recorded . His answer was , " He didn ' t mean to hurt his wife , he struck her in his passion . " Mr . Baron Kolfe said the prisoner ' s life was forfeited to the laws of his country , but this was a case in which the sentence of death would net be carried into effect . A recommendation would , however , be made to lier Majesty , that the prisoner be transported for the term of his natural life . He had been guilty of a savage and brutal assault upon his unoffending wife , and it was a great mercy that her life was not destroyed . There was reason to believe from his conduct and ( iotneauour that

      lie was not at all times in the full possession of his senses , and it was this consideration alone which would induce inn to present his case to her Majesty with a favourable recommendation . The prisoner was then taken from the bar , and his looks expressed the greatest bewilderment . Savage Assault . —Benjamin Oxenham was indicted for assaulting Sjdunliam Oxenham , at Bath , with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm . The prosecutor was a private in the 6 Sth Regiment of Foot , and the prisoner was his nephew . The former remonstrated with the latter for living at home at his mother ' s expense instead of going out to earn his own livelihood . The prisoner became enraged , and seizing a hatchet , he struck at the head of the prosecutor , who avoided the blow by putting up his arm . The jury returned a verdict of Guilty , and the prisoner was sentenced to fifteen years transportation . Tachion , Honda ? , Afbil 6 .

      Sentence . —Caleb Emery , who was convicted on Saturday of maliciously wounding John Toirnsend West , -was this morning sentenced to fifteen years' transportation . Eape . —Thomas Bull was indicted for ravishing Sarah Corner , en the 31 st of January ; and James Bull aud James Emery were charged with aiding and abetting Thomas Bull . —Sarah Curntr stated , that on the evening of the 31 st of January she was at a public house with 'John Wells , who had been keeping company with her . The prisoners were also in the public-house , They left about ten o ' clock , and , as it rained , they stood for shelter under a door-way . The prisoners and four other men were standing near ; it was in a villas * . After it had ceased raining she took John Wells ' s arm , and proceeded on their way home . When they had got about a

      quarter of a mile beyond tbe houses , the seven men who bad been following them came up , and Thomas Bull then laid hold of her ; and the other men assisted in dragging her away ; and then all seven of them effected their purpose , one of them holding a knife to her . She then went home ; bat her family having gone to bed . sl : e went into an ouinouse , and there remained till the following night , till she was nearly starved with the cold . She did not come out of the outhouse before because she was ashamed . John 'Wells tried to help her , but the parties were too many for him , aud he stood by aud saw the whole transaction . The jury found the prisoners Guilty . Mr . Baron Bolfe , in passing sentence , observed , that this tras such a . case that almost made one doubt the policy of the law in abolishing capital punishment for such an offence . They would all be transported for their lives .

      Adhikistebisg Foison . —Sarah' Hughes , aged IS , was indicted for administering poison to her infaut child , with intont to murder it . Mr . Phinn prosecuted . The prisoner -was undefended . Eliza Gregory stated that sha -was an inmate of the Shepton Mallet workhouse on the 20 th of October ; and that she had previously purchased a bottle ef blue-stone water . She was placed in the sick ward , and was in the habit of seeing the prisoner ( who ¦ was an inmate of the workhouse ) several times a day . The prisoner saw the bottle , and witness told her it contained poison . Before the witness left the sick ward , she put the bottle ofpoison into apan , and placed it in a cuphoard . The prisoner went one day to the board of guardians , and witness nursed the child during her absence , and it seemed in good health . When the

      prisoner came back , she took the child and said it did not appear welL A few minutes afterwards the child vomited a . dark-coloured liquid . In consequence of something that was said to her , the witness went to look for the pan in which she had deposited the bottle containing the poison , and she found that it had been taken away . Witness » at up with the prisoner that night , and she asked her why she gave the baby the stuff—that she ought to be ashamed of it . She said she did not know ; aud if the baby had died , her Mends couldn't blame her for it , because they had frowned on her so . —Mary Ann Kerse -was in the Shepton Mallet workhouse on Monday , the 3 rd November , and she saw the prisoner put a teaspoon into the child ' s mouth . SSt had a little gallipot by her side which contained something . The prisoner afterwards threw the contents into the fire , and then left the room . The child at that time appeared sick . Witness

      went to the prisoner ' s bed , and under the pillow she found a bottle , which she gave to Edith White . She saw the prisoner about an hour afterwards , and on « of the vomen said she had been giving the child poison . She said she bad not , and witness told her that she saw her give the child something . The prisoner replied that sho had not given it anything . The jury returned a verdict of Guilty , and recommended the prisoner to mercy . Mr . Phinn said he was also instructed by the board of guardians to recommend the prisoner to the merciful consideration of the court . The prisoner had hitherto borne an irreproachable character . Mr . Baron llolfo said he would forward these recommendations to tha proper quarter , hut he had only one course to pursue—viz ., to order that judgment of death be recorded against the prisoner . The poor girl was taken down from the bar , erying bitterly , and her case saemed to excite much commiseration .

      Isceswabism . —Banjamim Leslie was indicted for maliciously setting fire to a barn in the occupation of Richard Singer . It appeared that Mr . Singer rented a farm of the Rev . Mr . Horner , at Mells , and that , on the 2 nd March , 1 S 45 , a barn , a stable , and cattle-shed on the premises were destroyed by fire . No suspicions were entertained against any one , and the only evidence to prove that the ofienee was oommitted by the prisoner consisted of conversations previous to the fire , and at subsequent periods . On one occasion the prisoner stated that , on the day of the fire , be and a man named Adam iluddsck made a lot of tinder and matches—that they well daubed the matches with brimstone aud afterwards covered them with rags and tinder ; that they set fire to the tinder , and then threw the whole preparation into

      the barn among some straw or reeds . As the prisoner was being taken to gaol , his friend said to him , " Well , thee be ' est going , Ben ; when be ' est thee coming Lack ?" and he said "I don't know . I expect this job will send me to Botany Bay . " The evidence relating to a statement made by the prisoner antecedent to the fire , was to tlus effect : On the 25 th February , 1845 , the prisoner , and a man , named James Smith , his cousiu , were walking through Wells , about ten o ' clock at night , when the former said he was going to sleep in a lime kiln , where he had slept on previous occasions . He had been turned out of kis lodgings , and he appeared to be in great distress . Smith endeavoured to console him , and offered him a bed at his house . The prisoner said he blamed Mr . Horner and the policeman , Biggs , and he swore he

      would have his revenge before many days were over , ne afterwards went on to say , " Ye 3 , there will be a d d goodflare up in the village before I am many days older _ ad—d sight bigger fire than there was at Twaddlealley "—( speaking of a place in the samej neighbourhood where a fire had previously taken place . ) It was , moreover , proved by Biggs , the policeman , that tbe prisoner made a similar statement to him about three weeks before the fire , on which occasion , he ( Bigss ) had £ 5 to distribute amongst those who had assisted in putting out tbe fire at T waddle-aU . 'J . The witness said his name was not on the list , and the prisoner replied that there would be another good flare up in the parish before long and he

      would net help to put it out The witness also proved tb&t at the time of the fire he saw the heads of two persons in a field abont thirty yards off . They were laughing , and seemed to be glorifying in thu fire . The prisoner was one of those men . On the pare of the prisoner , the man Ruddock was called , and he most positively denied that he ( Ruddock ) had ever bi-cn engaged ia any such proceedings as it was alleged that Leslie had himself confessed to . He had not seen the prisoner on the day in question , sad he never knew anything about the fire until after it occurred . The jury returned a verdict of Guilty , and tile prisoner was sentenced to fee xrausuorled for life .

      Chester , Satcudav . Admixistebisg Poison . —Mary Ev . tns , 22 , was imUetcd for administering two drachms of red oxide of mercury to her iniant male child , with intent to murder it , on she 3 rd of December . The Attorney-General stated , the case . to the vSect that the prisoner was charged with administering a certain deadly jioiscn called red oxide of mercury to her male cliild with intent to kill and murder

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      it . It would appear that the prisoner had a bastard child in September last , which she gave to a person nanictl Mary Cheetham to nurse for her . On the 3 rd of Docember she called upen Ciice tham to see the child , and told her if she would go out with her she would give her some gin , aud a little of something for the child . They went , and when they were together at tbe house where prisoner lived , the prisoner said she would givu the child a little new milk . She took the child out , and Cheetbam saw her administer something uliich she thought was milk , but she called out , "Don ' tgive the child cold milk . " Th < -prisoner replied , "A little cold milk would do it no

      harm . " Cheetkam then took the child home , but it soon began to vomit , and became very ill . It was then takeu to a druggist , who immediatel y perceived that poison had beeu given to it , and sent for a constable . The vomit was subsequently examined , and red oxide of mercury was found in the vomit . She had also beeu seen eoncealing something when apprehended by the constable , which proved to be poison . Under these circumstances it would be for them to say , whether the poison had not been given with the intent stated in the indietment . The jury found the prisoner Guilty . Judgment of death was then ordered to be recorded against her .

      Highway Robbery Michael Burns , 33 , was indicted forahighwayrobbery with violence upon the person of Thomas Peacop , at Higher Bebbington . The Attorney-General stated the case to the effect , that the prisoner was charged with highway robbery upon the person of Mr . Thomas Teacop , on the 31 st day of December , 1841 . This was a case which had excited much notority in the county , the original offence against the prisoner , with several other parlies , being that of wilful murder , tbe granil jury however had thrown out the bill for murder against three of the prisoner ' s companions , and he had determined upon proceeding against the prisoner for the highway robbery ouly with violence . It would be remembered that Mr . Peacop was murdered at Bebbington , and that a number of persons wero concerned in it . The question

      for them would be whether he was one of the party consenting to Mr . Peaeop ' s robbery , the murder as he before stated not being charged . Mr . Peacop was a respectable flour dealer at Rock Ferry , He kept a shop and had a considerable trade , and was in the daily habit of receiving large sums of money . He lodged about three-quarters of a mile from his shop , and used to take his money home with him at night . On the 31 st o December he left his shop about nine o ' clock , and he had not gone above 200 yards before he was attacked , knocked down , aud beaten most unmercifully . A gentle man , named Keyzar . heaiini cries went up to him , and found Mr . Feacop , on tiir ground , and four or five men beating him . He called out immediately , "Do not murder the man , " and was immediately knocked down and became insensible . On

      recovery he got up , and went a few yards , where he met a constable named Newton . They went buck and found Mr . Peacop in a dreadful state . Mr . Peacop was taken care of until the following Saturday , when he died . When the robbery was committed , llr . Peacop had some sovereigns and some silver nuou him , the silver only being taken . For a long time afterwards no information was obtained as to the offenders , but at length the prisoner went over to Dublin . Information was then obtained respecting his connexion with the robbery , and a constable went over to the city of Dublin , and apprehended him . The prisoner then made a statement implieating himself ; aud upon that statement , corroborated as i t would be by other evidence , he thought they would have no doubt he had been a party to the highway robbery .

      Mr . Keyzar : I am a commercial traveller , and lived nearly opposite Mr . Peacop . On the 31 st of December I came over the river from Liverpool by the last boat to Birkenhead . When I got in the direction of the New Ferry , 1 heard a cry of murder . It was loud at first , but grew faint towards the last . The night was very foggy aud dark . When I got to the 6 pot from whence I heard the cries , I saw a person on the ground and two men leaning over him ; one was stifling his crieg , the other rifling his pockets . I laid hold of one of the men bj the collar , and told him not to murder the person oh the ground . I immediately received a blow from a third man who stood on the footpath , which rendered me insensible . When I recovered I found myself walking homeward , aifd I then went to the house of Mr . Buller

      and gave information of what I had seen . Mr . Peacop was soon after brought there , aHd appeared much injured . Mary Sparks : On the 31 st of December I came from Liverpool by the nine o ' clock boat . When I landed I walked up Rock Ferry-lane . I had just got out of the lane , when I heard cries of " Spare my life , don't murder me . " I stood a short time , and saw the figures of two people run across the road . I turned back and soon after met Mr . Newton the constable , whom I informed of what I ban seen . John Neivtou : I am one of the county constabulary , and on the night of tbe 31 st December , was on the road towards the New Ferry , when I heard some one call out" Don't kill me . " I made haste to the place from whence I heard the sound proceed , and met the last witness , who told me that tome person was being abused

      m the lane . I went on , and saw a man leaning on tha side of the road . 1 thought at first ho was tipsy , but afterwards found Wood comiug from him . I helped him on as well as I could , until I met Mr . Butler and several other parties . I sent them to look out but they found nobody . Mr . Jackson Townsend : I am a clerk to the magistrates at Birkenhead , and was present when Mr . Keyzar and other witnesses were sworn . The prisoner was then | in custody with three other men on a charge of murdering Mr . Peacop . After the examination of the witnesses their evidence was read over to him ; and I told hhn he was not obliged to say anything , he might do so if he liked , but if he did it might be used agaiaat him when he was tried for the offence . I now produce a copy of the prisoner ' s statement . The statement was here put in and read . It was a long document , and wag in effect that

      he ( the prisoner ) and L ynch , Newhn , and Tallant ( the three men committed on his evidence for the murder or Mr . Peacop ) were the men who planned and executed the robbery , the violence of which resulted in Mr . Peaeop ' s death . This closed the case for the prosecution . The Judge : Prisoner , if you have anything to say ; now is the time to say it . Prisoner : I have said all I had to say before ; it Vas paid no attention to , and I have now no more to say . nis Lordship then summed up , and the jury , after being out of Court a quarter of an hour , found the prisoner Guiity . The learned Judge told the prisoner that his was a very bad case , as there was no doubt but he was guilty of violence and robbery , of which violence Mr . Teacop had died . He therefore sentenced the pri . soner to be transported for life . Prisoner ; Thank you , my Lord , I deserve it all . LlVEBPOOL , FB 1 DAT . MAEKLAND t ) . SINGLETON . Breach of Pkomise oj Ma&biage . —This was an action for breach of promise of marriage , Drought by Sarah Markland against George Singleton . The defendant pleaded a denial of the promise . Mr . Serjeant Wilkins wid Mr . Segar appeared for the plaintiff ; and Mr . Atherton for the defendant . It appeared from the statement of counsel , and the evidence of the witnesses , that the mother <> f the plain tiff kept a public-house at Fishwick , near Preston , and that the defendant was a journeyman miller in the same neighbourhood . He , along with many other young men , had been in the habit of frequent , ing the hou 3 e tor the purpose of drinking , and as the plaintiff , who was 2 G , acted as bar maid , he , in the course of a little time , became smitten with her attractions . A

      mutual attachment sprung up between them ; and after a lengthened courtship , marriage was several times proposed and accepted , aad a day was fixed for tbe weeding . He made her a present of some china and pots ; but when the time arrived for ' the fulfilment of the promise , he declined to make his appearance , and the plaintiff went to Standish and spent a twelvemonth there with a relation . In the mean time , the defendant occasionally visited the public-house , and when the plaintiff returned home he renewed his acquaintance with her upon the same footing as before . The plaintiff then went on a short visit loan aunt of hers at Samlcsbury . The defendunt fetched her home in a gig ; on the way home the gig was upset ; and in some time after the plaintiff bscame pregnant . Her mother spoke to the defendant on

      the subject . He again promised to marry , but although the plaintiff remained at home for two years after the cliild was borb , and he continued to visit and to be received in the family as her intended husband , he never fulfilled the promise . He stated that he was possessed of some money—he did not say how much , and the Hoop and Crown public-house was taken in Preston for himself and his intended wife to commence business in . The plaintiff came over to Liverpool about three years ago , and remained ever since at Mrs . Fold ' s public house in Marybone . Last Easter , however she paid a visit to Fishwick , and then again the defendant made another promise to marry her . Since then he had married an old widow , about 65 , who kept a shop and w- » s possessed of some money . The defendant wai only 22 , and earns about 25 s . a-week . Mr . Athertou iufurmed the jury that he attended therefor the purpose of abating the damages . The promise to marry had been proved , and the defendant in this ease , as defendants in all similar cases of the kind ,

      had been signalised for a perpetual itcking to go about and tell all the old women in the country that he was about to marry . The onl y question in the case was . what damages waa the plaintiff entitled to receive ? li must be recollected that neither of the parties occupied any very respectable position ia life . The plaintiff was a barmaid , the defendant ajourntyman miller , able to earn 25 s . a-week ; andit was for the jury to say , measuring the damages in money , how much this barmaid , still ia the prime of life , and sustaining no very severe grief by the loss of a husband , was entitled to receive at the hand ' of the defendant , who reall y was sufficiently punished already , by having fallen into the arms of an antique widow . ( Laughter . ) He concluded by calling on them not fc > deprive the widow of her husband—not to send that husband to gaol , and not to give tlic plaintiff more than reasonable compensation under ihe circumstances . The jury , after a lew minutes' deliberation , returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages , £ 75 .

      Chabgs of Wilful Mohder . —Sarah Swift , aged 19 , was indicted for the wilful murder of Elizabeth M'Gill . Harriet Robinson , who said she was a single woman , lived iu Sl . aw ' s-ulle . y , and knew the deceased , who was a girl of ill-ianie . The prisoner h also oue of that character . Recollects being in Barber ' s public-house , where the deceased , the prisoner , and several other girls -vere . There were sailors iu the dancing . room . Elizabeth JI Gill asked , " what do you want there j why don ' t yon-, 'o to your own house ? " when the prisoner replied Jim so she could , and left the house with Ann Kelly , witness wentout , and when she returned the beer . house was closed , about eleven o ' clock . Mel Elizabeth Al'Gill new Sparling-street ; she was cry : ng , but not drunk . Elizabeth Ji'GUl struck Sarah Swift , who eaid we had

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      better go home before we got into the coal-hole . The prisoner , who held a knife , ran at tier . Sarah Swift said to Nancy Allen , who was present , that she would serve witness iu the same way . Gave prisoner in charge to a policeman , tvho brought the prisoner and Nancy Allen to the house . Knew the knife , and pointed out the p laco where the knife was thrown away after the perpetration of the act . The knife was open , and covered with blood , never saw the knife before . —Sarah Munro : Witness refused to kiss the book , but the judge threatened tu send her to prison direct . She then complied , and was then admonished by his lordship to tell the truth . She spoke to some of the facts on tlie case , and then tainted , and it was doomed necessary to remove her . —Ann Power : Lives iu Shaw ' s-alley , and remembers the 19 th December .

      She heard prisoner say shu " rvould servo out" deceased in some dark corner . It was about ten minutes past twelve when she met deceased in Mason-street . Tlicie were two foreigners with her , and shortly after she heard the deceased cry out" Murder 1 " Shu ( witness ) ran up , and the foreigners , who held up deceased , went away . At this moment she did not perceive anything was t ' uc matter with her . At the time deceased was wounduil there were several nicn and women near , besides the policeman . Witness would swear that she had before stated that prisoner used the words " sue would serve her out in a dark corner . " Has been leading her present life for two years , and has been often drunk , even as late as yesterday . M'Gill was in the dancingroom at Barber's on the 19 th of Decwnber , when she

      left , but could not say whether Joseph Walsh was there . Munro was also in the dancing-room , and while she ( witness ) stood at the bar , prisoner came in . Other female witnesses were called , but their testimony was a mere repetition of that already detailed . A policeman deposed that on the night of the 19 th December , about twelve o ' clock , while stationed tit Wanting , he heard a scream . He immediately ran and saw Elizabeth M'Gill between two females , with her head leaning backwards , aud bleeding profusely . He made inquiries about two foreigners , a long time after , at a beer-house , n ship , and a boarding-house , and learned that they had sailed . On the night of the murder did not take notice of any persons having the appearance of foreign sailors ^ Another policeman ( Gleavin ) who was called at an early

      stage of the trial ) was again produced , and deposed that he , in pursuance of information received from Harriet Robinson , arrested the prisoner . Saw the knife , which was just in the same state , except that it was covered with blood when he got it . There were some persons ( women ) holding deceased when he came up , and amongst them were two foreigners . The jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter . His lordship proceeded to puss sentence on the prisoner , and expressed his belief that she rras quite ready , when the provocation was given , to inflict the wound whieh terminated fatally . The jury took a merciful view of thu case ; but it was his duty to pass on her such a sentence as would deter others engaged in such a course of lite as that which she followed . The sentence of the court was , that she be transported during the term of her natural life .

      Pekjdrt . — James Shackleton was charged with having committed wilful and corrupt perjury at Toduiorden , on Tuesday , January 13 . It appeared from the statement and evidence for the prosecution , that the prisoner was residing on the day in question at Swinehead , near Todmorden , and that he wvnt before ihc magistrate , and made a charge of f ' elouy against two persons aud others of having robbed him . He stated that he had been to the Wesleyan Association meeting-house , and that on his way home he had been assaulted and robbed . This was not true ; prisoner was never at the meeting-house ; he was at another place at

      the time , and his whole statement was a tissue of falseiioods from beginning to end . His statement bearing on its face some inconsistency , the magistrate remanded the persons charged , and required the prisoner to find corroborative evidence . He then went to a man named Butterwortb , and persuaded him to come forward and swear that he saw prisoner at the Wesleyan meetinghouse , but , notwithstanding this , the falsehood was detected , and the prisoner was committed for perjury , having twice sworn to the truth of his charge . The prisoner was fouud Guilty , and his Lordship senteuced him to two years' imprisonment in Lancaster Castle , remarking at the same time that he deserved transportation .

      ALLEGED CHUELTV . AND OPPRESSION BY AN AFRICAN CAPI . niNDsoN v . Ward . —This was an action of trespass and false imprisonment . Mr . Kuowles and Mr . James appeared for the plaintiff ; Mr . Martin and Mr . Orompton for the defence . The defendant , in November , 1843 , was in command of a ship called the Bwuty Hall , and the plaintiff was a mariner oh board that ship , then lyiug in the river Bonnj , on the coast of Africa . The trespass and false imprisonment complained of consisted in flogging the plaintiff and keeping him in irons for a period of ninety days . The statements of the witnesses were exceedingly contradictory . According to the evidence of two of the crew , the plaintiff had been engaged in cooper , ing up some barrels on deck , aud had in his hands a hammer and driver , with which he was employed in fastening

      the hoops . Some angry words took place between him and some of the other coopers , and the mate , a person named Whittington , came upon deck to settle the disturbance . The witnesses stated that the mate coming up to Ilindson , took hold of the sleeve of his shirt when the Uamtner with which Ilindson was working came in con . tact with the mate ' s ear and inflicted a slight wound . The mate sent for the captain , who was thon on shore , and on his coming on deck he called Hiudson aft . Hindson went towards him with the hammer and driver in his hand . The defendant asked him what he was doing with them , and he said he was working . On this the captain struck him over the eye with a gun-barivl plugged with wood , which he u ^ ed as a walking-stick , and di rected him to be immediately tied up . The captain

      Save him eleven lashes , and the second and third mates then took the cat and gave him very severe punishment . Hu was then chained down to the tiller , in such a position that he could neither stand up or lie down . He remained there all night , and the following day a court-martial , as it was named , was called , consisting of all the captains then in the river . Tbe plaintiff was tied up , and whilo he was in that position , with his back to the parties , a discussion took place as to his punishment , when they all , with one exception , agreed he should be flogged again . The captain called the crew uft , and told them it was at his option to flog the plaintiff , that he would not do so , but would put him in irons . He had accordingly the handcuffs again put on him , and was chained with a bight of

      a topsail close to a small locker about seven feet long and five feet high , which hp . d been used for paints , which were cleared out for the occasion . This was for him to go into when it rained , but lie could move backwards and forwards about six yards on the deck . He remained in this custody ninety days , and was finally sent home by another ship . It was stated that his back was in a frightful state , and the smell was so offensive that the man whose duty it was to wash him once a-week was scarcely able to endure it . For the defence it was stated by the testimony of the mate and some of the captains of the other vessels that the plaintiff , on the mate coming on deck , felled him by a blow of the hammer , which

      intueted asevttte wound on his ear , which had produced symptoms of lockjaw . On the captain coming on board with two other captains , and calling the plaintiff alt , he refused to lay down the hammer and driver , and on the captain attempting to take them from him , lie attempted to strike him . The captaiu then struck blin with his tint , and they strug gled together until the captains present took the hammer out of his liamls . It was for this he waB flogged and put in irons ; and it was alleged that his condition , as detailed by the witnessess , was very much exaggerated . The case occupied the Court the greater part of tht day , and the jury were still shut up in consultation when our report came away .

      The Game Laws . —H « nry Yenbury , aged 18 , was indieted for shooting at James Biggs , with intent to murder him ; John Watts , CharlesHolton , Thomas Aiding , Geo . Young , James MiddUton . agedW , John White , and John Kabbits , went charged with being present , aiding and abetting him . Mr . Hodge , and Mr . Fitzlurbert conducted the prosecution ; Mr . Phinn , in tha absence of Mr . Stone , defended the prisoners—Watts , Holton , Aiding , Young , aud White . It appeared from the statemeut of Mr . Hodges that the offence with whieh the prisoneri were charged was committed in a wood on the estate of the Rev . Mr . Horner , the owner of the property proved to have been destroyed in the last cas » . The learned counsel , however , said that , although the property-was in the possession of the rev . gentleman , tho game was not pr # .

      served by him , but by his uncle , Sir John Uippesley . The affair in question took place on the 12 th of December , in a conflict with gamekeepers , and thu following was tho evidence against the prisoners . Samuel James , gamekeeper to the Her . Mr . Homer , at Mells , said that , early in the morning . if tbe 12 th December , he was on hia duty in Melcomb * Wood , with Biggs , Chamberlain , and Ashman , other gamekeep . rs . They heurd the reports of nfte « nguns iu leas thau two hours . He stationed his mei ? t < a gateway , and he afterwards heard one of them hall- -. He went towards the spot , and he saw fourteen men , four of them armed with guns , aud the rest with sticks . He could distinguish the men , aud he weut u ;> to tUem and said it was a shame to go into the wood and shoot pheasants . They left tha field and went into the

      road , saying that they were then in tbe public highway , and they dared not intwrupt them . If they wera followed they would blow the keMpers' brains out . Th « men afterwards went into another field ( in the occupation of Mrs . Moore ) , and he there saw one of the men shoot at James Biggs . Witness and the other men then went to Frome , and gave information to the police . J . Uig s § stated that when he was within three or four yards of Yenbury , he | said , " Stand back , or else I'll shoot . you . " Yeubury then fired at him , and he wus wounded in the head . On the following morning he saw Yeubury , aud he then declared that he was the man whu shot him . The prisoner Yenbury called his mother , and a man named French , with whom the cohabited to prove an alibi . The witnesses stated that the prisoner was in bod

      at tight o clock on the oveuing in question , andtlmt he did not leave the house during the night . There was , however , some variance i » their sutemcuts , and their evidence was such as to produce considerable doubt . The jury returned a verdict of Guilty . The prisoners were then indicted for unlawfully entering ctrmiu enclosed lands by night , for the purpose of destroying guiue . All the prisoners except Yeubury pleaded guilty to the charge , and against him nu evidence was oiuuvd . Mr . Haron Itulfe sentenced Watts , Holton , Aiding , Young , White , and Uabiiits to sevtn years' transpiirtitWm , and Miiltlletou ( who was much younger t ' . ian tht othiw ) to twelve mouths' imprisonment . His lordship . sentenced ; hvin upon the second indictment . With rm- \ cct tu Yen . bury , the learned judge defeiroil his sentence ,

      Untitled Article

      check avaricious and tyrannical uaiployers ; and are also of opinion that those men wlio ' lmc beeu discharged from their employment lor refusing to sign a document thut they wsuld abandon those societies , are deserving of both public sympathy aud support . Mr . R . Davies , printer , wa 3 called upon to second the resolution . lie said , lie came forward in a twofold capacity . In tho first place , to respond to the call which the committee had made upon him , to render what little assistance was in his power ; ami , on the other hand , he came forward voluntarily to vindicate his own position , as a member of an associated bod y , from the charges alleged by a seif-constjtutetl tribunal of public censors , and to sympathise with an oppressed class of working menin his native

      , town , comprising English , Irish and Scotch man ( applause ) . He had never read a more tyrannical declaration than the document alluded to , emanating from persons who wished to be considered intelligent muster tradesmen ; and he was happy to congratulate the chairman , and his working friends generally , on the assurance that Wisdom liad uot heaped all her store of riches on their employers—the gentlemen assembled at the Grecian hotel—( laughter and app lause)—in truth , they were not sages of Greece , alter all . In respect to the document which had been « o extensively circulated through the town and vicinity , and its claims so rigidly enforced , he could form but one opinion of it , and that was , thut it proceeded upon the assumption , of the workman being

      the employer ' s personal property , —a mental slave ; for it was evident , from the tenor of the language embodied in that document , that something else is looked for beyond the product of his hands ami the ingenuity of his brain , services for which lie alone bartered . Exactions such as those required reduced the moral standard of man , and lessened their selllespect . The proposal has gone forth to bind them in mental degradation for the term of their natural Iitl * , On the other hand , freedom and emancipation from thraldom was open befora them . It was seldom thought of , but nevertheless a fact , that , in this country , society generally from the humblest to the highest rank was constituted of clubs , alliances ,

      associations—unions . Some , in London , for notoriously corrupting the people by buying up their suffrages . What were the clergy?—a union . What were the gentlemen of tho bar ?—a union . What were the East and West Indian Associations , among the mercantile classes in this town ?—unions . What the China Association ?—a union . What the Shipowners' Association ?—a union . Ho could go on enumerating ma ny classes of that description ; yet it never occurred to any _ person to censure those as obnoxious bodies , and ridicule their proceedings ( hear , hear ) . He concluded by exhorting those present to be peaceable , sober , and united , and he ventured to predict that in a few days hence they would see the termination of their great moral struggle .

      Mr . John M'Conkkll , bricklayer , spoke to the resolution . The employers told them in one of their resolutions , that if they did not sign that infernal document , they would not employ them . If they did not , what would they do ? He supposed they intended to build the docks , and warehouses , and other houses themselves—they intended to construct all the tunnels now in course of erection under the earth . He would like to see them there for some time . ( Loud laughter . ) He supposed they had come to the determination for the good of the public , to take the hod upon their shoulders , and climb up ladders six stories high . ( Continued laughter and applause . ) But would that stop the wheels of industry , or were they able to do it ? No . But there was one means which he believed they were going to have resort to

      , and this he thought should go forth to the public : the masters said they had all the stuff—the brick and lime—in their own hands ; they could retain it ; and the gentlemen of Liverpool could not get on without them . That was monopoly any way . But the workmen could produce stuff of their own—they had capital , and could make bricks and lime , and could live if their employers were swept down the Mersey ! ( Applause . ) There was another of their grovelling bits of" machinery to crush men at tlie present crisis which he would mention : they were actually stooping so Jow as going round to the loan societies , telling them not to lend money to working men at present , and that they would compensate them for any loss of interest that might by this means be sustained . Such were the masters of Liverpool .

      The Chairman then put the resolution , which was enthusiastically carried . Mr . William Wilson , bricklayer , of Birkenhead , proposed the third resolution . He said that the general impression was , that the workmen at Birkenhead were on strike . On the 17 th of March they had struck for an advance of wages , and , with one exception , the masters granted it ; but when they went to work on the following morning , they presented the document already alluded to . The workmen , of course refused to sign it , and this was tho way that they were out at Birkenhead . It was a compound of strike and turn-out , the latter being entirely the fault of the masters . He

      moved—3 rd . —That a meeting of delegates from the various trades of Liverpool and Birkenhead take place at tho George the IV ., Hood-street , on Friday evening next , and on every succeeding Friday evening , until the present dispute between the master builder * and workmen be settled , Mr . Richard Shepherd , brass-founder , briefly seconded the resolution . He thought all other trades should co-operate with those of the building departments—come forward and assist them in their struggle , give a long pull , a strong pull , and see if they could not pull them through their difficulties . Mr . Jones addressed the meeting in a very fluent speech . In this question he said was involved , not only the present but the future best interests of

      working men , and if they allowed the present opportunity to pass through their fingers , it would be another proof of the oft-repeated declaration that the mass were incompetent to conduct their own affairs . When he looked at the placard issued by the masters , he could only compare it to some of the ukases recently issued by the Emperor of Russia . ( Loud applause . ) He had himself long since lost all hope in union ; and had he not seen that infamous placard on the walls , he would not have been induced once more to raise his voice in their defence . Why had he been disgusted with unions ? Not because in unions there was no salvation for man , but simply because they were imperfectly earned out . From the apathy of the working classes they had allowed

      the best means of protection to slip from them , and permitted the masters to ride rough-shod over their interests . They had allowed dissensions to take place in their unions , upon other matters than the real question , which was , should capital triumph over labour ? The middle classes generally objected to unions that they interfered with the natural progression of things , with the rights of capital and labour . How were they to test the true position which capital and labour should occupy ? Political economists said the only test was supply and demand . But at the present tinre there was evidence that the demand for labour was great—national prosperit y existed , but the working classes were not to participate in it . When they asked for an

      advance of wages , their masters told them thnt they could not afford it . Union tested the truth of this " . Convinced of the fact being the contrary , a strike must take place among the men—because there was no other means of testing supply and demand , inasmuch as the avaricious disposition of capitalists was of such a character that it was never prepared to make concessions to the working classes . One political economist had said that strikes always left them worse than they found them ; and stated the fact that it stimulated inventions of machinery ; yet that writer ( Maeulloch ) in the same page told the world that machinery , and it alone , had elevated man . How could it be at once the source of degradation and prosperity . Anotherreasonagainstt ' ae working classes

      uniting was said to be that it created a bad teeling between the employer and the employed . Why , it was not within his recollection when that spirit did not exist . There had always , he was sorry to say , been a disposition on the part of employers to oppress those employed ; and at present capital was opposed to the best interests of labour . Alter some extended remarks . Mr . Jones concludod—Be true to your union , and , if it fail , remember that nothing but the possession of your political rights can remedy the various evils which now trample down the human familv . ( Cheers . ) The resolution was then put , and carried unanimously ; . Mr . John Gibson , mason , proposed the next resolution . He thought the proceedings of that night would show that they were not like the meeting at

      the Grecian Hotel , where they had to infuse into the brains of those present strong alcoholic drinks before they could get them to sign the placard . ( Loud applause . ) It was well known too . that instead ul being the secret convalve which they had bemi stated tu be , the trades' unions had on all occasions invited the press to take cognizance of their proceedings , out at the Grecian Hotel reporters were refused admittance . ( Laughter . ) Within the last seven or nine years the working classes of Great Britain and Ireland had become a thinking people . Mr . Gibson continued to address the meeting in a strain of some humour , repudiating several of the statements in the pamphlet already mentioned , and concluded by proposing : —

      4 th . —That this meeting express its grateful sense of the advocacy of one portion of the press of this town , for its untiring ndvuvnvy of the interests of the operative classes , and record its confidence in the Liverpool Joimud , Mr . James Wilson , joiner , seconded the resolution m a somewhat lengthy and very effective speech , talving « p in a great measure the remarks of the preceding speaker , lie exhorted the working classes generally to aid in the present movement , ami to commence co lections in their several workshops on Saturday night . The Cuaibmas then put the resolution , which was carried auud considerable applause .

      wllh vn ° tl ^! , wasth' --11 moved to the Chairman , Mm returned thanks ; and announced that all who mil tunjed out and refused to sign the document , \> uethov they belonged to trades' unions or not , if they applied to thecommittee , would be selkyod as well > i ' those who were m societies .

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      Extraordinary Death . —In the course of Saturday information was received by the authorities at the bast India House of the death of Captain Hannibal lueker , a pensioner in the Company ' s service , at his residence in the village of Gwinean , in Cornwall who was touncl frightfully mutilated in his dwellin g winch was m llames at the time of discoverv betwee ° n 3 and i o ' clock on the morning of Wednesday At the coroner ' s inquest on the body of the unfortunate gentleman , Richard Murby , a farmer , said that between 3 and i o clock on the morning of tho 1 st instant , _ as he was returning home , he saw five

      issuing irom the roof of Captain Tucker ' s house , and knocked at the door , but received no answer The court-yard gate was wide open ; he then knocked up the next-door neighbour , named Ingram . After exerting themselves , iu the course of an hour the lire was extinguished , and they then commenced searching the ruins . At 5 o ' clock they found the body of tho deceased under the rubbish . Tiie left arm was under the body , and in the right hand was a pistol , which had been discharged . There was a loaded one lying under the deceased . It further appeared that the deceased was dressed , and one of his pockets burnt , through which lls . had fallen .

      lie was in the habit of keeping pistols in the house to protect himself , and they were secured by a chain to his bed , and near the window . He was very eccentric in his habits , and , although a married man , and having a daughter , he lived iu the house by ; . " . . se »• Mr . Gurney , a surgeon , then described the tnglittul wounds which had caused the death of the deceased . 'Ihc whole of the skull was fractured . On the right side of the head , just above the ear , was the mark of the entrance of a bullet . He believed the deceased had shot himself . The other parts of his body were dreadfully mutilated . Many ot his limbs were broken by the falling rubbish V ^' . ' nJ , 1101 ' a to'Sthened inquiry , returned a * verdict , " That the deceased shot himself whilst in a state ot temporary insanity . " a

      Revolutionary Symptoms in Fn \ xcE — Tim National of Wednesday says :- "ThcJe lun-7 be a some very senous disturbances at St . Ktienne he cause and particulars of which have not B madei known in Pans , the only information being ho ^ "S ^ rapluo despatch , which was circulated he Chambers , but was not published in the Mitonal evenuig journal :- 'The Procureur-Genetil Lj ? c t 0 Li" ? lu > ePcl > of tbe Seals : I am setting out lor St . fcticnue . A collision has takeu placo between the working men and the armed force . Sjeveml oi the workmen have been killed . You shall have my report to-morrow . ' » There still prevails ml am a groat disposition amongst the lower classes to withdraw their deuosits fromiheSaS j ? P , 'i b ; , , lhe deposits of last week amounted to J iMii trancs , and the sum withdrawn was 917 , 572

      Discuakoes fuom tiie AiiMv . —Several privates , to the number of nearly twenty , belonging to the ord battalion of Grenadier Guards , who have been illegally attested , having boon enlisted in one district and sworn in before a magistrate acting for a different division of i he county , left Windsor , where tiie regiment is in « jarri- » i » n , on Monday morning , for Loiul . n , to appear bo'bre tho board at the florae Guards , having experienced more than enough of . the joys of soldiering , °

      3&Fet Mciitgawe*

      3 &fet McIItgawe *

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      STRIKES AND TUltN-OUTS IN LANOA' S 1 I 1 RE . GllEAT MEETING 0 F THE THADES IN LIVEUPOOL . A public meeting of the trades of Liverpool and Birkenhead , composed chiefly of those engaged in the various branches of building , was held on Tuesday evening , in the Commercial-lsatt , Gloucesterstreet , for the purpose , as stated by the p lacard calling it , of " taking into consideration the resolution come to b y the Master Builders' Association on the 23 id ult ., and to adopt the best means of protecting ihose workmen who have been turned out of their employment for being members of the various trade societies . " The large room was crowded to excess , and throughout the whole proceedings the utmost enthusiasm and determination was evinced .

      Mr . William Leuukti , joiner , was vofed to the chair , awdtuok his scat amid loud applause . Having read the placard calling the meeting , he said—His words would , he thought , bo too weak to express the feelings which he had on the present occasion , in being elected chairman over such a vast body of mechanics , . met together in defence of their connuen rights , and to take into consideration the best means of supporting those who had left their employment , or had been turned from it , for refusing to sign a document so uigusi as that which the masters of Liverpool had been pleased to request of them , aa workmen , to sign . ( Applause ) . Mr . John Tanseu , piasterer , proposed the first resolution , lie said—If the working classes had a

      right at all , that right cunsisted iii meeting together and discussing those grievances which were the natural result when there was a tyrannical employer over them . ( Cheers . ) It was all well enough for them to say that the document w .: s " only a piece of paper , "—sis one master had said to his workmen that day— " sign it to-night and 1 will burn it to-morrow ; it is only to save my honour amongst the employers . " ( Loud laughing ) . Bearing in mind the old adage of drowning men catching at straws , such statements none but an idiot would give ear to . Some of the masters had toid them personally that there was a combination of workmen in Manchester , who concocted rules so tyrannical in their nature , as uot to

      admit one-half mastcis and one-half journeymen on their committee , but whicli required that they should all be journeymen , and that every contract should be submitted to them before the masters undertook it . ( Loud laughter ) . Why , the statement was a most absurd and ridiculous one . If the workmen Were so enlightened as to make arrangements of that kind they would need no masters at all—they might go aud take the work , aud enjoy the benefits of their own labour . ( Applause ) . Mr . Tanner then referred to au incident , causing the imprisonment of an individual connected with his own trade , and continued-There was one great error which seemed to prevail , which was this : In Manchester there wasu suike

      lor an advance ot 2 s . or 3 s . a-week amongst the joiners — in Birkeni . ead there is also a strike amongst some branches of workmen ; butin Liverpool there wus no strike at all , ( lleur , hear ) , So Cliat leo no one present , nor any who might read the account of that meeting , labour under the idea that the men of Liverpool were seeking a reduct . on in their hours of labour , or an advance in their rate of wages . They were agreeable to work under present regulations . ( Hear , hear , and applause ) . But the placards which they saw on the walls , emanating from their employers , stated that the men had struck—that there was a strike in the ; town . Now , he should like every individual to distinguish between a strike and a turn-out . The strike simply meant that of the few individuals in Manchester—the turn-out was on the part of the masters , of men who would not agree to sign their death . warrant . ( Loud cheering ) , The resolution whieh he had to propose was : —

      'lhat this meeting views with indignation the measurus adopted h y the master builders of Liverpool aud vicinity , to cause the . r workmen to abandon their societies , and it is also our opinion , that the document thty require them to sign is as unjust as it is obnoxious , aud we uledgu ourselves , both iudividuullv and collectively , to render all the support in our power , as long as they remain out of employment . He thought there was not one individual present who had the feeling of a man in his bosom , but would sympathise iu the resolution just mid ; for what could there be better in human nature than for one

      imlivid uai to contribute to the support of another who was unable to support himself ? He trusted there was no man iu the meeting so base , so lost to everything just and good , us to say he would go aud put his haud to tli . it document which the masters hud drawn ou 6 . ( A voice— " liead it . " ) Atter a few further remarks , Mr . Tanner read the document alluded to , which exacted a pledge fiomthe workmen that they would not belong to any trade society which had for its object any interference with the masters ; and concluded : —We have justice on our sitle , which will always overcome tyrauuy when rightly directed .

      Mr . liiciuRD Buck , joiner and house carpenter , seconded the resolution , in such a population as this there must be a diversity of opinion upon the subject of strikes . This was illustrated in one case , where out of 150 men only twenty-five had signed that infamous document , and the rest hud come out like men ; and it was the duty of the meeting to assist those noble men who wished to be free , in spite of those who would enslave them . The speaker then entered into a dissertation upon " lumpers" and I'jerry-buildinjj , " and the imperfect state of buildings so constructed ; and further quoted :- ~ " In making these remarks , however , I admit that the working men have a perfect right to combine , and that associations in many respects may be advantageous , if properly conducted . " ( Loud cheers . ) Improvements in machinery were going on , and if the working-classes gained a concession one week ,

      they lost it the next . If a number of individuals were engaged in trade , and the demand required that they should work fourteen hours % day , but improvements wevtt invented by which the same quantity of work could be done in eleven hours , shou d not they reap the benefit of it ? Mr . John Skfion , shoemaker ,. proposed the next resolution . He would endeavour to show the meeting as tradesmen of Liverpool the position in which they stood in regard to the building trade . Ten years ago the masters would have said that such a meeting as the present could not havo assembled ; but the fact was that the trades of the town had become enlightened to a greater extent than their masters had . ( Applause . ) Hero considerable uproar arose from the crowded stated the room . The chairman interposed , and order having been restored ,

      Mr . bjwxoN proceeded . He would be proud if the masters were present attnat meeting , to see the spirit that prevailed amongst the working classes of Liverpool . It was not in Liverpool or Manchester alone that masters were wishing their workmen co sign the obnoxious document in question . It would be presented in other towns as well ; and it became the duty of workmen in every branch to offer it their resistance , and contribute to the support of those who refused to si « n it . Trade societies were increasing to such au extent throughout the country , aud gathering so muck power , that , if peaceably conducted nothing could resist tueiu . ( Applause . ) The masters , to put a stop to tried unions ; but the only thing they could lay io the charge of their

      members was a desire to support their fellow-men . Let the masters who had met at the Grecian Hotel come to that meeting , aud they would find that as many clever men couid be put before them out of the " swinish multitude , " as had graced their own assembly . The meeting of the masters were hole-andcorner meetings ; while the workmen at the present meeting . invited any one to come forward to prove it they were acting otherwise than honestly , and seeking their just rights . ( Applause . ) Lar » e as that meeting was , however , it was ouly a fool to a larger meeting which could yet be held iu Liverpool . ( Loud applause . ) Mr . Sef ' toii concluded by an energetic appeal to all workmen to come forward and assist those who had been turned Irom their employment for refuisiiK to siun the document .

      The Chairman then put the resolution , which was carried unanimously , amid loud cheering . Mr . John Caulislk , mason , proposed the second resolution in a somewhat lengthy speech . He said he rose at the present time tu give his decided dissent against a document which lie believed had for its object the utter annihilation of the moral , ilio meutal , and p hysical energies of mankind . The employers of Liverpool knew full well that in the last nine or ten years the working classes had greatl y improved iu the moral as well as iu the intellectual scale . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) They knew that the working classes of this country were becoming full y alive to their own interests , and determined to ilu away with all one-sidedness , ihey had determined that clnss legislation should no longer exist . ( Applause . ) The masters found that as their

      workmen got wise , their moral condition would be improved ; and hu was sorry to say chat nothing delighted them so much , nothing > ravu them so great a handle , us to see their workmen immoral . ( Applause . ) lie really thought from the manner in which the turn-outs had been used by their employers , that the public , the mass , were bound to give them their warmest sympathy and cordial support ( applause ) . According to the document , if any oi them , belonged to a sick ur a benefit society , they were not to be allowed to appropriate a farthing of its funds towards a turn-out ; if they belonged to the Oddfellows ' Society , ami saw the turn-outs walking about for a mouth ( for tlioy were determined never to submit)—if they saw them walking about for eight or nine weeks , with hunger in their faces , tlu-y durst iivii vote 5 s . as a relief out of their funds . He exhorted all

      who were not already connected with the union to throw off their lethargy , become once at honorable men , and try and occupy that proud and en viable position , which nature and nature ' s God intended that tliev should occupy ( loudapplause ) , lie concluded by

      moving : — 2 nd . —That it is the opinion of this meeting , that well regulated trade societies siro both just and necessary , as well for regulating the prico ot labour , us to kwn iu

      Untitled Article

      J . HUME . Esq ., M . 1 ' ., AND TIIE FACTORIES BIU , TO THE EDITOR OF TH £ MONTKOSE STANDARD . Sir , —A letter has appeared from tliu able pen of Joseph Hume , Esq ., M . 1 ' ., to a mill-owner in Kiikaldy , condemnatory of Lord Ashley ' s factory bill , it ; cer tuinly considered a very meritorious and able production from the publicity it has received , and cite great care which has been taken that it should full into the hands of all clitsset . As 1 am of an opposite opinion , and cua . sider it a clumsy piece of sophistry , and a crouchin . r time-serving letter to the cluss to which it is direcwu for a continuance of their support , I wish tu make a for observations on it .

      Jlr . Hume commences by telling us he has opposed all legislative interference , since the combination laws were repealed in 1824 , between master and servant , for this special reason , that by the act of 1824 , every m-ister ani servmit is allowed to make what bargain they choose as to wages and hours of labour Really Mr . It . is above all praise in administering instruction . to the ignorant . There was a time when master and servant could maka no bargain as to wages and hours of labour . I know of no such law that ever existed , and I question much if Mr . Hume could point mo to chapter and verse where such a law is to be found . One thing , I kuow , it never was practically acted upon in this part of tho couiitrv . So much for Mr . H . ' s great principle that has actuated him in opposing all legislative interference in shortening tlie hours of labour .

      The next point . Mr . Hume refers to is , that the mill , masters have not taken their stand upon principle in op . posing all such bills as Lord Ashley ' s , but have violated the principles of trade under the plea of a mawkish humanity . Is it a prineiple in trade to confine youths in unwholesome factories until their physical constitutions are destroyed , and they are brought to a premature grave ? Is it a principle iu tnid « to work poor creaturej to the neglect of their moral and intellectual fiistruutiou ? Is it a sound principle iu trade to entail upon future generations physical debility and a moral and intellectual stupidity which ages cannot etface ? If such are Mr . H . ' s sound principles of trade which he considers the millmasters to have compromised , the less hv n .-. U his principles are known to the British nation the better . But it

      is mawkish humanity for men to vindicate the rights of the oppressed , aud for Government to correct commercial aud national ubuses , which arc fraught with ' evil consequences to the whole population . It is mawkish humanity for men to endeavour to check avarice and personal ambition at the expense of the blood and sinews of their fellow-creatures . I am sure any person oi a sane mind , and who has not arrived at a siagu of dotage , will pronounce this true humanity . A mau that would say otherwise is destitute of moral feeling . If Mr . II . had direeted his attention and the energies of ills mind to such noble principles in tho

      correcting of abuses , raiher than to his mawkish economy in saving a few paltry thousands at a national sacrifice and inconvenience , to the dishonour of the nation , his efforts would have been crowned with more success , and he would uot have bteu the laughing , stock of the British nation so long . 1 never heard nor read of Jtfr . H . aud liis economy , but it reminds me of Judas who had sonle control over thu bag . When the woman brought un alabaster box of ointment and anointed the head of Christ , Judas cried out , Why all this waste , could it not have been sold and given to the poor . From this you will observe , that Judas was a mawkish vicious economist , something like Kr . U .

      Mr . Hume goes on to deprecate the mill . owners in submitting to such hills as Lord Ashley ' s , as every such bill is a tacit acknowledgment that the mill-ownen are cruel and inconsiderate , and that workmen are imbecile , and incapable of making bargains , Now , let us see if there is any truth iu this . It will be iu the recollection of many that , prior to any legislative enactment in regulating the hours of labour , the mills would have gone fifteen aud even , sixteen hours a-tlay . I hat e known them to commence at half-past four o ' clock morning and continue their operatious until half-past eight at night . At country mills things were still worse . The poor worn-out creatures were hardly laid down to rest till they were up again—scarce were they warm in their beds when they were summoned up by

      ; he toll of the bell , or the blast of the horn , to the duties of another day . Where a spirit of competition exists , along with an ambitious and avaricious spirit , men will be found cruel and unjust , let alone inconsiderate . These are matters ot fact , that cannot be denied , that have happened iu almost every locality . I leave Mr . H . and his admirers to say whether such conduct was cruel aud inhuman . It was high time for legislative interference ; and it enly shows the unfeeling aud cal . lous heart and stupidity i , f mind iu Mr . II . iu not giving these measure * his support . Hut it is also alleged that such bills show that workmen are imbecile and in . capable of mukiug bargaius . It shows no such thing , It depends mure upon tlie condition and circumstunces that surround men that enables them to make an ad .

      rautugeous bargain , than their wisdom and capability to do bo . What would it avail a man , suppose he hid the wisdom of Solomon , to make a bargain if there wura a surplus of hand * iu the market of labour , lie never could make ono to his advantage , because heiB not placed iu a condition to do so . All the circumstances that surround him militate against him from doiug any such thing . Lord Ashley ' s bill would have the tendency to empty the market of surplus hands , aHd would place men in a better condition to make a good bargain as to wagu aud hours of labour , which otherwise cannot be done , i urn almost led to bolieve that Mr . II . is as bad and vicious an inferential drawer as he is an economist . From his years and experience he certainly knows that a workman is not on a proper level to make a good bargain with a master in the present state of society .

      Mr . Hume sajs , tho manufacturers are a powerful aud well-iuformed class—truly they are powerful and far above the poor and the helpless , and ihem that have no might . Well-informed ! Yes , in every thing which pro . motes their own interest without considering that of their neighbours and dependents , whatever is their conndenca in their integrity and principles . If they act not on just and conscientious principles , they will have insult audobloquy cast upon them . All their efforts and exertions to stop legislative interference will prove abortive , as the erils have been loug seen and felt , and attended with dire , fulconsequences .

      Mr . Hume is angry at the submission of tbe millowners to the erroneous dictates of humanity . monger 3 . It is an easy matter to throw opprobrious epithets upon men ' s honest endeavours , aud to villify their names and to hold them up to ridicule , but at the same time the envenomud arrows of Mr . H . will start hack with a mighty vengeance from the shield of Lord Ashley and his adherents , and that shield is true humanity . Mr . H . should show that their dictates are erroneous , before he belches out oppro . brious and sarcastic names . He will give opposition to the present bill as it is not in accordance with Sir K , Peel ' s great comprehensive measure now before tin house . Well , many are led by the nosa and not by the understanding , as appears to be the case with Mr . Hume , I am , sir , yours respectfully , Al ' brOatU - ALfHA .

      Untitled Article

      C mm ___ ^ . _ ^ THE NORT ^ RNJW ^ April U , 1840 ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 11, 1846, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1362/page/6/