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    MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

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    ** € f } t Contrition of € ? ue $ anti « Iavrs grind the poer , ana rich men rnle the lsw . ' ^

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    COHTrSTJATIOH OP THE ENQUIRY AT TBS BIRMINGHAM "WOKBHGTJSB . Owing to the pressure of AssJzenews and theneeesiitj oT giving , several important articles -which ¦ will be found in to-day ' a japer , we are unable to publish more thaa the general heids of the con tic nation « f this expiry , ¦ which occupies five closely printed columns of 4 be Birmingham Advertiser , to ¦ which we have been in&bted for the reports o ! this case wkich have apjpesr ^ d m onr columns . Thursday ., Dec . 7—At ten o ' clock this morning , Bei-eral members of the . Souse Committee -were assembled , and the Assistant Poor Law Commissioner , On taking bis seat , said he would receiTe the evidenoe of snj persons the Governor wished to have examined , or Bry statement he might dears to put in answer to the four -charges .

    Mr . Francis Mole , Solicitor , who again attended on l > e !; 5 ! f of the Governor , said there -ware three or four witnesses to be examined . William Monntford , an inmate of the Birmingham TToriiLonse , whese duty it is to enter -the names of fcaEijSs in s book , -w » first called anfl examined . This witness ' s evidence amounted to something like Bothicg at > 1 L He did not know that any person had eri r been confined in the black holeJ E ^ zibe thBmn ton , nnr » e , an 3 Sarah Hall , an inmate of the workhouse , were then examined ; tbeir evidence ws * ateiidea-to break flown tCBt of the boy Roper , tout oa cross-sxEtnicatlon by the CcnraissioBer , the latter Vfeess cbnlimed the main part of the -boy ' s statement .

    Tnt Sev . George Holt , Chaplain of the "Workhouse , » : s called and examined by ilr . Mole . The Re * . Gentleman - * as under examination for a long time , ¥ nt no e \ i-ence was elicited witii respect to the charges- under Irqairy . He spoke favourably of the treatment the puipcra received from the Governor and Matron 1 At the conclusion of the examination of the Chaplain , 2 it . Mole read ana then canned over the following Statsaaeat from Mr . " Hir&t , the

    Governors—IBE GOTEBSOB ' S STATEMENT . Birmingham , Bee 7 , 1843 . ^ "Ith regard to the four men in the- tramp-room so Ion ? , I beg to add to nay .- toaner statement that I am precluded by that portion of the printed Roles ealled " Duties of the Governor of the Workhouse , " No . 25 , torn purchasing or procuring any articles for the use of the Workhouse , or paying any money on account of the "Woikhouse , ot of the parish , without the order of the Bonce Committes , entered in a bock , to be called the ** order-book /* to be ' provided 1 st tbst purpose ; and 2 b&i having Jcformed tfcia Committee at their first jnetshw , after the entrance of these tramps of their Btatt , I considered it impossible for us jself more fully atd entirely to haTe attended to or performed my ilnties .

    Tes evidence of the carpenter who prepared the Hack-bole as atrajnp-rocm , proves that it was used for its i ^ ew purpose the first ij ^ ht afterwards , and the practice of using it upon any requisite occasion has continned ever since . Tfce Tx > y , Thomas Roper , was brought into the House ond-e-r ordepfafc ssgo , and reported , as sworn to fey Ssiais Koper , his mother , as a very bad boy , "who wcnld not go t » work . The mother said lie was to pound pot . William CloTes took U » boy from the kitchen , and lie was afterwards put" into the hole by John I " jir , witt'jut any directions whatever ; neither the Matron zior myself saw John i " air or spoke to him .

    Tbe following morning the toy was removed . Mra Hirst ^ ave the directions to tha schoolmaster to Live him washed out and pnt into bed , which was the usual Bourse ; and there is no doubt he was dressed arnl . caiEe into the school room as sooc as his clothes were dry . Ihe death of the sehoobnaster has created a difficulty in prpTiu ^ this fact , tnt there is no reason why he should have >> een differently treated lo other children on coming into tie House , and it is quite certain he was treated as ether boys are . It i » ns-t JikeJy a boy ol bis iaaTy , dull disposition . On recollect day by day what occurred i-sro sionxha sinee , either as to the food h « hid on eich day , onrhers he was on the day of admission , the 11 th : of October .

    He is entered Xo . 14 in the tramp-book , and his name does not appear in the list on the 12 i or any-subsequent day j but en the 12 th he appears discharged from Hie tEMnp-iooni with the rest , » t »<^ ho doub : -was then Washed out by the schoolmaster , as before stated ; for ii is the Tisual and invariable custom to write the names of all persons in the tramp-bock each day the tramps remain in the rooms , if they remain in more than one day . adding to them the words , " here from j- sterday . ' Iramps may be rfctnrned assuch in tha tramp-bi .-ok , " and yet be sJiEitttd into tie Hciae ; that is , at ihe time they ars in tbe tramp room they hate"food tb . * same SS those in tbe House , an-3 not the regular tramploom foo 4 ; or eTen sick diet is sllo-srci io them , if ordrred .

    Ibe eixflence ol the different jritnesKs as to Roper is so t = tj-opposite and ct » Efl ! cic ; g , liiat I aia ssre tl ; e boy i « WTong ia irfcat he ssja , a ; rd the grest ^ r part of Mrs . R viper ' s evidence is simply whst she has hesi-i from him . Harriet Rodder was placed in the femtle tratnp-reom 16 r the purpose , she Etates , to Kparate her from Ann Morris . They Irsd besn qusrrfcliing , and when I entered U > t- nxrm tbey sn-re grrTLTrenijg- Harriei Sadder "fras Tery violent , in order to avoid « hieh the rfemo ^ al took place , having no room provided me to plica quarreki- 'me persons in ; and it is by no mesns urcsna ] for the ~ Guar » diaas to send parties by sdnnsglon into tke trasip-room . See an or ^ er of sdmissioB , No . 3 ^ 06 > .

    ( COPI . i "Iffffi * Governor of the JFor&umsc .-u Admit ilary Whitebouse , 34 jears , belonging to , Bupposed , Aston , and provide her according to the regulations of the Guardians . " By Order of Hie Belief Connmttes , ¦ " GEORGB RTDia . f 'From Dlstriet ~ Sc i , Report Xo . 3 , 060 .

    ( "In tramp-room . ) - *• This note is to be in f . r ^ e during ax days from the 8 th day of Kovember , 1843-Harriet Redder b * d no work , nor any punishment . ¦* nHe see was in the * iEB ^ -reGm ; Iser fuod was not altered in ccEs ^ tj -is ^ ce , act tbs was cemferably pro > ^ ided for . 1 dia ncikno's ? \> i her disease , and she never complained , but ippiarcu to ta glad te be eo separated from ^~ ilorris . 1 consider it was the duty el She Eurg 6 on to have inforair-d n ; of the impropriety of Harriet Ro < ider being piafc-3 tiiere , if auy esiatad , on account oi her ^ py-fi-r ., and te did not , as be admits in bis rricence . ' The door of the temp-room was open , as she states , Vie whula time she ts-33 tbere , and she could be i n and out of £ ne to-jth 35 i £ e plsaseu ; and no other motive actuated me in tLis bat to separata tfee two quarrel-Jing parliss , -srhisih , as Governor , it appeared my duty io do .

    Thorns B 1 U 3 used the most improper language , was ¦ very violent avu atrssive , and , in my opinion , under J mparary dera-iicsaeat . Heh&s ( I am infurmsd it is \ rell knowBj bt-. a aa idiot fioa birth ; and at the time hs W 33 given ; sto ths castody < A "Wesre , had Weare snade sry objeciioa to the care cf him , as desired by 2 &XS . JHr'ft , Kie cocld not have required him to tr ^ t Bates as he did ; such was his state at the time , that it was quits impossible he coald be at large ; and Weaie stated to the Honse Committee that be never I . w a cul . more violent ^ and there 'is no doubt the violence w ^ uid Isave continued had he not been given into the care of tha i . eap&i , ¦ wMclt , i » i ± his being

    fciita into xhs insane ward , had the efltct of quieting him , which is cfUn the case with idiots . There are often p _ i ; ons sint into this ward by the surgeon who are not insane . When the surgeon ordered Bates un-Bhapped , he was instantly obeyed , * n d being known as an idiat in the establishment , who had been before , so doubt , In ; to ward upon a surgeon a order , it did sot seem requisite to prosure one for teat present purpose . A new patient would of course require an order , hut not an old one , or one who had been" there before bat h » d not left the honse j such patient would be » -owod to leave the insane ward by sufferance , and to Z £ tum thereunto , thc-nid h \ a malady render such a step

    necessary . Xas oiter mattfeiB brought forward , it does not apperr 1 am required to trplam or iake farther notice of , not bang of that insportanca . It may be remaikfcd that there are bo wards of th » description called " probationsry / ' consequently in case of one pergoa out of between five and sis hnndred now in the House being guilty ef violence or misbehaviour , so that a removal from the others is neces-» ry , and if injury and bad example are to be avoided , t lere is ue piaca provified where , Btrictly sneaking , the uovercor can remove such party to for the " purpose of F ^ ^ *^ ^ p «> a » consequences u may arise torn tie conduct of such p ^^ - ^ in the csse «^^ w ^^ BTidence Wng . ^» en , the word 2 n ? 5 S ^ ^ 9 aeaU y swd . ^ enin bet it should ^ su ^ as'i ^ Paiu fl o ? ff

    Johnson gives the meaning of th . -word punishment w Any infliction or pain imposed in venieanw of a crime ;* so that the mere changing ol a party ^ loom No-1 , because that contained another party and tbay would not be together without qaarreliing into room No . 2 , giving the nme food and treatment to ezA , ' cannot be termed a pnnishment I commenced the duties of my office on the second 2 ay of August , one thousand eight hundred and fortytwo ; upon my election dgbty-6 igbt Guardians voted , and although there were five candidates selected from a

    large number , Bome of them posressing testimonials of the highest order , sod 1 wu an entire 1 stranger to the town of Birmingriain and the Gosrdians , so well did ViB J rriinir MM . Hint and myself qualified for our prefint atustisra , that we Dbtained the very important majority of fifty-six of their votss . I beg also to refer to _ the House Yisitor * book , which contains a report eTeiy week of the state cf the House and inmates , and it » m ihsn be found tias every part ef my doty has been perfonnedj as lecorded , to tbeir entire satisfaction . QODTil . K'i STKITT Hl&SI , GoVcKior .-

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    Mr . Aliday stated that if allowed he wotfd prove that many poor and de'titote persons had not only been refused admission into the workhouse , bat that they had also been refused relief . He ( Mr .-A . ) recollected a case of an unfortunate woman , who a short time ago was placed in tbe dock , before the Magistrates , at the Public-office , on a charge of feloniously stealing at a provision-Bhop . One of the Magistrates before whom she was brought , addressing the police-officer who took her into custody , said " this woman was brought before me the other day . " The police-officer replied , "Tea , Sir , she was brought before you . on a charge of being destitute , and yon erdered that she might be taken to the Workhcnse for relief . When the arrived there she was neither admitted into the house nor relieved . The

    next day she committed tbe felony charged against her , wMch she states she was driven to from want * ' The Magistrate then enquired ef the tradesman who appeared to give evidence on the charge of felony , if he intended to prosecute the prisoner , and he humanely answered , "No , Sir , I will not , under these circumstaiices . " She was then discharged . Another case be remembered of a young woman who attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself into the canal . It occurred about half-past eleven o ' clock at night , as a policeman on duty was crossing the canal bridge . He battened to the spot , and plunging into the water , rescued her , and saved

    her life . He conveyed her in a senseless state to the Btatien-h ^ use , and there being no accommodation there for the wretched -woman in her wet and distressing state , the inspector on duty ordered that she might be taken to the Workhouse . The order was os « yed , but on tbe police-ofBcer presenting himself at tbe Workhouse doer with the woman , the Govsrnoi refused to admit ner . The policeman then , with that hnmane feeling -which waB creditable to him , conveyed her to his own bouse , and called up bis wife , where she was treated with humanity and kindness . In a few days afterwards she was taken before the magistrates , where the facts I have related were deposed to .

    The GammiBMoner replied that he would go into that part of the inquiry on Satnrday morning . FkidaT , Dec . 8 . —On resuming the inquiry this morning Uitt Commissioner said , that before entering on the suhject for which they were especially met , he would take the liberty of adverting again to the subject which he mentioned to the Houbb Committee last night , with reference to the unfortunate persons in the itch wards . The Commissioner afterwards stated that he bad visited the place this morning , and found that

    one person still remained there , and that there were two still in tbe female itch-ward ; a state of things which he was sure tbe Committee would not approve of or sanction , after tbe expression of opinion , in reference to these wards , which he bad received from tbe medical officers . He had a conference last night with the surgeons of the establishment , and having questioned them particularly , if they had ever drawn the attention of tha Board to the itck-wards , they placed in his hands the copy of a resolution passed by them in July , 1842 . and which was as follows : —

    "Resolved , that the attention of the House Committee be forthwith called to the filthy and disgusting state of the wards appropriated for persona affected with the itch , and they recommend that larger and better ones be substituted for them . " iHear , hear . ) As he had already stated last evening , he was anxious again to show the medical gentlemen the state of the itch-ward * , and tbey -were ao kind as to accompany him to these places . They went , first , to the female ward , where they found two patients , a woman aod child ; and in the Biale ward they found nine paraens , an adult and eight boys . He then asked the medical gentleman with regard to the fitness of these places for habitations , and if fit , what number tbey considered thould be placed there ? and in reply to these inquiries , he bad received the following certificate : —

    " We have inspected the itch-hole for females ; from the size of the room we should say it would hold safely not more than two patients under care for the itch ; -but , haring regard to the want of ventilation , and from the intense heat of the place , tee do not thirik it at all fit for occupation for any human beings . At tbe time of our visit there were two patients in the room . We have also inspected tbe itch-holes for males , and found nine patients , two adults , and seven children . This place is more unfit for habitation *•* " » " the female itch-ward , and not from its size , evan if ventilated , fit for the reception of more than two patients . The person ) now in that hole must necessarily run great risk of endangering their health from the position tbey are in there . Looking at the two itch-hole » , from tha want of ventQatisn , and from the heat kept upon them by the fires from ad joining rooms , we have no hesitation in easing that they are absolutely unfit for the ocenpation of any human beings , iigned , £ . T . Cox , T . Bellamy , T . Green , a Green , J . Wilder * . "

    The Commissioner , in continuation , eaid , that he had that morning visited the wards , and he was very thankful to finii , that of the nine persons in the male itch -e-ard , -eight had been removed ; bmt tbe "woman and child were still in the female ward . - Now , having these certificates before him , be was sure that tb « gentlemen of the House Committee would feel justified in stepping even out of their usual course of proceedings , is order to remove these unfortunate persons from their present position—( hear ) . He trusted tbey would kindly indulge him by giving < nmi ^ i | i » A direction for their removal to some other places ; and be thought , under all the circumstances , that they should place an absolute prohibition on tbeir books , that those rooms should never asain be occupied by human beings— ( hear ) .

    Mr . Rodway—I have seen tbe rooms referred to , and I must My , from their disguiting couditien , that those persona should be removed immediately . The party who put the man and children in snch a hole ought to be ousted immediately ; and as to the surgeon—The Commissioner reminded Mr . Rsdway and the other members of the CommiUe , that this was a question which would form tbe subject of a searching inquiry . He had no doubt that tke responsibility would be placed on the right shoulders . Two members of the Committee were then deputed to have the persons immediately removed from the wards in question , upon which the Commissioner said he would proceed with the examination of the Governor , is reference to the admission of paupers into the Honja .

    After a lengthened examination of the Governor relative to the accommodation and discipline of the workhouse , and letters had been read from the House Committee , and Sir . SLimberlay explaining ( or attempting to do so } their connection with the management of the woTkhouse ; the inquiry was adjourned to the next dsy . Si . TCB . DAT , Dec . 9—Their . quiry was resumed tkiB morning at ten o ' clock . Mr . Hirst was called in , and his examination respecting tbe treatment of persons in the tramp-room was continued .

    Tie Commissioner—I have now to direct your attention to the boy Rogers , who I found in the tramproom . It appeared that the boy who was only nine years of age was found in a state of destitution and brought to the workhouse by the police ; he was placed in the tramp-room in the filthy state he was found , where he was detained nine days and nights without change of clothing . 1 most protest against such practice , and I feel certain tbe Guardians will not allow it in future . It was your duty to draw the special attention of tht Relief Committee to tbe case . Mr . Hirst—My time has been so f ally occupied with this lengthened inquiry that I had not time to atttend to tbe case . Mt . Rodway—Did you ever report the case to the Committee ? Mr . Hirst—I believe I did not The Commissioner—I will now take your evidence , Mr . Hirst , respecting the treatment « f this boy .

    Mr . Hirst s examination was then resumed , Daring the bt . jonra of this boy , Rogers , in the tramp-room he had no bed to sleep on , — he slept cm . the bare boards , having a rug to cover him . He bad no change of clothisg during this period to my knowledge . He had the same dist as the ordinary paupers of the house . This boy would nok have been kept so long in the tramproom had not my time been so occupied in this ir . qniry . Tbe Commissioner—There was another hoy I found in the tramp-room when I went round who bad been in some time . Mr . Aliday—There was also a man with bad legs in the tramp-room who had been in several days when you visited it ; and in tbe female ward there was an Irish woman "who had been a long time there . The Commissioner—Aye , how long had the Iriah woman been there , Mr . Hirst ?

    . Mr . Hirst—Ton allude to Margaret Byan—she came in on the 15 th of November , snd remained there to the 29 th . The Commissioner—She remained there , then , fourteen days . _ Mr . Hirst-She * u removed immediately after you saw her . The Commissioner—She had no right to have been there more than one night I heard something about her beisg there two months . Mr . Hirst—That was last year , Sir . In answer to a question pnt by tbe Commissioner in reference to the nine persons put into the itch ward , Mr . Hirst said—I knew nothing of the nine male persons hi the itch ward on Thursday last , until I heard it in the evening of that day from the Matron , who had been informed of the circumstance by * h « Assistant

    Commissioner . Mr . Aliday—Yon have , Sir , in the course of this important inquiry laid down this great principle—that t £ e poor and destitute of this country have as equitable a right to relief and maintenance as the nobleman to his rent far his land . I should , Sir , hi support of this sound principle , beg to direct your attention to a class of poor and destitute persons , who are confined in a place in this pariah nearly as loathsome and horrible a * the black-hole in the workhonse , and who *) 2 ?* **?* * * l » i * poverty ana destitution . I allude , f ? : c ° « the ¦ nrfortunatepennnesa debtors incarcerated ta

    2 ? . ° " * of Reqnests prison , situated in High-atreet , «™ in ^ 3 * w *» ^^ entitled to weelve the SSfvST ** ° l f 00 d ' *** **• » parochkl aymrl * :--Z ^^ ~^ 7 ^ 2 £ 2 tfUSi £ i pnsen for forty sixty , and one hundred days , whose wives and families received p 8 riBh relief during S confinement , and who themselves depended for several weeks for BTrtaiBtence to the cbaritsbl * subEcripUons ef their miserable fellow-nrisoEfcrf , tke pariah authoiities

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    having refused to provide them with the common n * cessaries ef life . In this prison it is not as it ia in ou » criminal gaol ; there no food for the poor debtors is provided , either by the Commissioners of the Court of Requests , or the keeper of the prison . I have , sir , been present at ourpublio-office , and repotted along discussion before the Magistrates respecting tbe liability of the Guardians of the Poor , the Gaolers , or the Commissioners of the Court to provide the pauper inmates with the necessary food for their existence . The Commissioner—If , Mr . Aliday , you will address tome a letter , stating the particulars of this case , it shall be laid before the Poor Law Commissioners , and you shall have an answer .

    Mr . Aliday—They ought to have something else beside bread . I knew that some time ago the Guardians refused to send even bread there . In this execrated place , sir , when a poor prisoner is brought in , he is called npon to pay two shillings and sixpence for what is termed " chumming up , " and if he be unable to pay that Bum , his coat is taken off his back and sent to pledge to make the amount , which is expended in nle . The dishonest and abominable practice is carried on with impunity to this day . Several of tbe Guardians expressed a hope that an inquiry would take place into the facts stated by Mr . Aliday , and that Mr . Weale would visit this poor Debtor ' s Prison before be left Birmingham . The Commissioner at once expressed his willingness to visit the-prison . The inquiry was then adjourned , and the Commissioner proceeded to the Debtor ' s Prison .

    Monday , Dec . 11 . —The inquiry respecting the admission , treatment , and discharge of destitute persons , taken in charge by the police , and wayfarers , was to be entered npon Ihis morning . Superintendent Stephens was present , at the request of the Commissioner , for the purpose . ef being examined ; but , in consequence of the police books , to which he would have to refer in his evidence , being at Warwick , fer the Assizes , his examination- was postponed until Thursday morning . The Cornmiasioner—Are there any of the policemen here who have brought destitute persons to tbe Workhouse . Mr . Stephens—They are at Warwick Asslzeg . The Cammi 8 sioner—Then I adjourn tho inquiry to Thursday .

    Mr . Aliday—Ton would probafely inquire Into the case of an unfortunate woman , now in Warwick Gaol , on the charge of having murdered her child . This will open one part ef tbe inquiry , tbe admission and discharge of females in a state of pregnancy . The Coamisaioner—Let Mr . Hirst be called in . I will take bis evidence on the admission and discharge of this female . Mr . G . S . Hirat , on his oath said , that when persona are admitted to the Infirmary by the recommendation of the District Surgeons , they are , when discharged from that part of the establishment , discharged by Mr . Smith . When paupers are admitted , under similar circumstances , to the Venereal or Lying-in-Wards , tbey are discharged in tbe same way . If a female ia admitted

    into tbe workhouse in a state of pregnancy , and from thence taken to the Lying-ia-Ward , when discharged from that ward she leaves the woikhouse . Such has been the practice . If a woman , under these circumstancHJ , were to tell me she was perfectly destitute , and no place to go to , I should ke « p her in tbe house . More than one eucq application baa been made to me , and so treated . I recollect Elizabeth King being confined in child-bed , in the workhouse . She was admitted on the 26 th of June , 1843 . She was delivered on the 10 th of Sept ., and was discharged on the 7 th of Oct . following , from the Lyingin-Room , by Mr . Smith , and as she made no application to me to go back , she wqb discharged the house on the

    same day . She was not re-admitted by an order from a Relieving Officer , Relief Committee , or Overseer . She was afterwards brought to the workhouse by the police ; andjremoved to the female tramp-room . After she had been there half or three-quarters of an hour , I saw her . I was told she had murdered her child . She herself told me she bad thrown her child into the canal , and afterwards that her mother-in-law had done so . A Curoner ' d ii quest was held on the body of the child , and a verdict was returned . I havu heard and believe , that the mother was insane when she committed tbe act . I have since heard that the . woman has been apprehended on a Magistrate ' s warrant , on the charge of murder , and committed to Warwick Gaol to take her

    trial . The Inquiry was adjourned to Thursday morning . On Tuesday the Assistant Poor Law Commissioner had a conference with the Mayor and Magistrates , to which Reporters were not admitted .

    PROGRESS OF INCENDIARISM . Incendiarism in Bedfordshire . —The following is from a correspondent of the Times : — Bedford , Friday , Dec . 25 It is impossible to eonvty any adequate idea of the alarm and excitement that at present pervade the rural districts in this part of the country , owing to tbe daring impunity with which the destructive work of incendiarism is carried on , with a degree <* f secresy that baffles tbe vigilance of the police . To tbe loDg catalogue already published fresh outrages have tbiu week t > een reported to the magistrates of the respective districts , to whose kindness I am indebted for some authentic particulars , which will be found below .

    From all tbe inquiries I have made , not only in the magistrates' chamber , at the local Petty Sessions , but amongst farmers assembled at tbe market table , I am unable to arrive &l any other conclusion than that these horrible atrocities are obviously tbe result of a widespread conspiracy against the land-owners and tenantfarmers ; and in no case of the numerous fires that have occurred has there been anything even insinuated to show the existence of personal hostility towards the individuals whose property has been thus wantonly destroyed .

    I have obtained from the principal office of the rural police a list of three fires which are ascertained to be incendiary cases , and in respect of which liberal rewards have been offered for ii formation , ' with a view to the apprehension of . the guilty parties The owners , I believe , were in the greatest number of instances partially insured ; but as the official reports have not yet been obtained , the amounts Bbowing the loss of property in each case are made upon a rough calculation , according to the quantity ef corn and tbe value of tbe buildings consumed . The aggregate is much more considerable than was at first supposed . I select only six of the principal fires from the list : — Mr . Liine ' s , at Hownes . in the Ampthlll district—Qranary , cow-house , stables , piggery , fourteen stacks of corn , and farming implements , totally destroyed . Estimated value , £ 2 , 000 .

    Mr . Man ' s , at Tebwortb—Barn and out-offlces , containing corn thrashed and in tbe ear , with various husbandry implements , totally destroyed . The loss estimated at from £ 1 , 800 to £ 2 . 000 . Mr . Crisp ' s , at Clapham . —Corn stacks . &c Estimated value , £ 490 . Mr . Swanell's , at Fahnersham . —Bain and offices . Estimated value , £ 500 . Mr . Roberta ' s , at Ridgemount —Stack-yard partially destroyed . Estimated loas , £ 260 . Mr . Oibbins , Stotfold . —Granary , barn , out-offlceB , and several staeka of grain , totally destroyed . Estimated losB . £ ' 2 . 000 .

    Several other cases have been reported , to which it may not be necessary to refer apeeifically , the loss of property being inconsiderable , tbe design having in theae instances been frustrated , owing to timely discovery ; but every attempt of the kind , whether the guilty parties succeed or fail , only serves to show the animus of the malicious movement that fans extended not only to the most remote confines of Bedfordshire , but has begun to show itself in Cambridgeshire and the other adjacent counties . A circumstance which occurred in tbe Biggleswade district on the afternoon of Saturday la . * t , is now tbe subject of strict investigation by the poliea . It appears that at an early hour on that evening the premises of Mr . Plyer , an opulent farmer , situate at Stotford ( and not very far from tbe farm of Mr . GibbiiiS , whose stack-yard was lately destroyed ) , were discovered to be on fire . The alarm was promptly given , and the flames

    were extinguished without any serious damage . On subsequent examination , the design of the miscreant was obvious ; had the flames got the ascendancy , no exertion could have saved the whole « f tbe premises frcm destruction . In the generality of cases , a luclfer match , or a tobacco-pipe well lighted , is considered sufficient to ensure the destruction of the elevated homestead ; but in this instance a much more scientific agency was resorted to , no doubt the more effectually j $ elude detection . Upon a careful Inspection of the pre ^ mises , the spot where the fire commenced was found to be on the ledge or plate of the bam wall , Immediately under the eaves , and the appearance of the wood indi cated very plainly that some cbeniical preparation deposited tber * bad been burning some time before it communicated to the thatch , as the wood nnderneath was consumed or charred in a circle of three or four inches diameter .

    The late tragical fire at Alderman Higgins ' s premises , on tbe Kimbolton-road , near this town , is still tbe subject of anxious investigation , but no other clue has been obtained to clear up the mystery . Assuming tke latter fire to be accidental , it seems quite certain that all the others w « re caused by design , for the purpose of injuring the farmers , who . since the close of the harvest season , have rtduczd the wages of iheir labourers . Thq use of threshing machines forms , I understand , amther topic of complaint , so many hands being by means of machinery thrown out o f work . The rigid administration of the Poor Law , in some of the Unions , is another ingredient in the general mass of suffering . During the last four or five years , the railways afforded

    employment to a large number of the agricultural labourers ; tat with tbe completion of these works , they have been compelled to return to their original occupation as field labourers , of which there is , unfortunately , a redundancy , to whom full work cannot bo afforded . The Poor Law Guardians would do well to relax the rule as to out-door relief during the winter months at leaBt , er these terrible aggressions will continue . The means of protection are quite inadtqnate , though the policerate is already excessively bigb . The extent of the connty of Bedford is 463 sqaure miles , and it contains 296 , 320 acres * The number of jBhabHttnty , according to the last census , is 97 . 445 Toe average r&te cf wages paid to farm-scrvania does not c-xceed c » . a week , but provisions are geuerally dieap-

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    Just as I was about to send off my despatch I received the particulars of two more fires , discovered in the Luton division ; one occurred on Saturday , the other on Sunday morning last . The circumstances relating to one of these fires are sufficiently significant of the organization that has been established . It appears that a farmer ' s servant was returning home with his waggon and horBes , when , at the distance of nearly twenty miles from home , he was met by two trampers , one of whom asked if he did not live at such a farm , naming the owner ? The waggoner said that he did ; npon which the tiampeta observed , "Oh , there has been a rare fire there ; we saw it as we came past "

    Now , the fact is that the firo did not break out at the farm alluded to , until six hours after the waggoner got tiome . Wken the flames burst out , which was About ten o'clock in tbe morning , the fanner had only just passed the barn , and there were several other persons going by to market , so that it Was quite impossible any one could have fired it and escaped observation . The presumption raised" is , that some cbimical preparation bad , as in another instance above described , been deposited beneath the thatch , which , once ignited , Insured the destruction of the premises , and afforded the miscreants time to make their escape . The loss of property in both thes » cases ia said to be very considerable .

    ONE HUNDRED SHEEP DESTROYED BY FlRE . —A destructive fire broke out on Sunday evening week , about six o ' clock , at Naza Wick Farm , in Foulness Island , Essex , in the occupation of Mr . Charles Harvey , and in an incredibly short time destroyed a sheep yard ( thewalls of which were composed of . mustard and carraway straw ) , one hundred ewe sheep all in lamb , and a large bean stack , the produce of forty acres , adjoining . So rapid Was the progress of the flames that , although some of Mr . Harvey ' s workmen were upon the spot in a few minutes , they could not approach the gate , or make an epening to rescue the poor animals . Great praise is due to the labourers , who rendered every assistance in their power ; and on the arrival ef Lieut . Husaey , of the coast guard service , who was speedily

    on the spot with bis men , he , by bis example and efforts , caused all present to renew their exertions , and succeeded in removing another large stack , thus saving from destruction a large range of stacks , which must otherwise have fallen a prey to the flames . The same night a man named James Sampling was apprehended by police-oonstable Went , on suspicion of having caused the conflagration , and , after a preliminary examination , was remanded npon the charge . On Wednesday he was again examined , and fully committed for trial . The value of the property destroyed is estimated at about £ 500 , and it was insured in tbe Equitable Fire-office . On the night of Sunday last , a fire was discovered in tho farmlug premises of Mr . Grimmer , at Stockton , near B ^ cotes , Suffolk ; and before it could be got under .

    a barn filled at one end with barley , and a turnip shed , were burnt down . There was every reason to believe the fire was wilfully caused . In the evening of Wednesday , the 29 th ultimo , an extensive fire was discovered in tbe farm buildings of Mr . John Aldous , of Harleston , Norfolk , which was not got under until above five hundred pounds worth of grain bad been destroyed , and this was also the work of an Incendiary . A reward of fifty pounds has beed offered by the Secretary of State for the discovery of the person or persons who recently set fire to the Wangford Union House , at Shlpmeadow , ntar Beccles . Tbe whole house was some time in the utmost jeopardy : but we believe no clue to tbe discovery of the offender has yet been obtained .

    Arson—A diabolical attempt at incendiarism was made on Tuesday evening last in the stack-yard of Mr . Robert Story , farmer and butcher , at Eakring , Nottinghamshire ; Tbe fire was : first seen between two cornslacks in the centre of the yard , but the alarm having been given , a very large number of the villagers collected together , and by tbeir active exertions a great part of the corn was saved . Tbe Earl of Scarborough's fire-cDgine was sent for from Rufford , with the assistance of which the fire was soon got under , but not before damage to the amount of nearly £ 30 had been

    done . Had tbe wind been bigb , or the aid rendered bsen less efficient , the consequences must have been most disastrous . In tbe same yard were several otber stacks , and another stack-yard adjoining ; it . There was also a large range of buildings very dangerously situate ; if the fire had reached which , a number of valuable horses and fat stock would have been consumed . There is not the slightest doubt but that the fire was the work of an incendiary , as the flames appeared in several places at once , and a strong sulphurous smell pervaded tbe atmosphere .

    DESTITUTION IN THE METROPOLIS . During the last few days the application for admission into the Refuge for the Destitute , Playhouse-yard , Wbitecross-Btreet , bate been increasing , and they now amount to about 400 men , women , and children . The committee at first limited the cumber to 200 , but owing to the pressing necessities of the applicants , the order was rescinded . It was thought , that if a larger body were congregated , fever might be generated during the prevalence of the present warm , weather , which as Wis the case , part of last year- Above 3 . 090 bad been admitted up to Sunday night . There

    are many who , in consequence of fever and otber ailments , have been provided with the means of getting lodgings out of the institution . Mr . Gay , a medical gentleman , attends each night , and examinee every individual . On Monday night , out of thirty new applicants , fifteen were cases of low fever . The others were Buffering from various causes . This was the number who received this mode of out-door relief , witu a slice of bread eacb , up to fitven o ' clock . Tbe average is much greater during the night . In Q ' . asshouse-jftid , St . G orge ' s-in-the-East , the institution bos another refuge , where there are nightly admitted about 300 , persons .

    SHIRTS AT A FARTIIINO EACH . Much has recently been said aud written on the smallneps of the sum paid to women for tbe making of men ' s shirts , but all the facts on the subject have not yet , It seems , become public , for no quotation has been made of tbe price received and paid at the workhouses of London for the manufacture of those garments . Tbe following statements were accidentally elicited at an inquest held before Mr . G J . Mills , the Deputy Coroner for Middlesex , at tbe sign of the Elephant and Castle , King ' s Road , St . Pancras , on the body of a Woman named Ann Humphreys , who bad died In St . Pancraa Workhouse on tbe previous day , after her removal to Unit establishment from a joweller ' s in Suymour-street , Euston Square , whose shop had been plundered of twenty-five watches by some thieves at night , to the great alarm of the deceased , who died suddenly in the woikhouse , from supposed affection of the heart after thefrloht

    Tbe first witness culled to prove the death of the deceased , was a woman named Ann B ? nson , a respectable-looking elderly person , whom a Juryman chanced to ask— " How are you used in the workhouse ? " The witness replied , " Very well ; " adding , after a pause , " but I work very hard for a farthing . " " What , " asked the Pfputy-Coronor , "do you mean by that ?"—Witness : — " I muke a shirt for it . " Deputy-Coroner—What sort of a shirt ?—Witness - ^ Generally striped shirts , but we put good enough work in them for any gentleman to wear . They are' obliged to be done with goodness and exactness , or we should not bo allowed to earn the farthing . Deputy-Coroner—Where does the material come from ?—Witness—It is warehouse work , sir . They come to the workhouse by hundreds to be made .

    Ann Voyce , another witness , being at tho time in the , room , said , " It was a farthing a piece if we mate only oaa , or two farthings if we mike two ; but if we make three of the same batch , then we get a penny . " Deputy Coroner—How . many can you make in a day ?—Witnets—Perhaps one by working all day . Dsputy Coroner—And wbrt do you do with all the money ?—Witness—Buy sugar and tea with it . Deputy Coroner—But perhaps you have additional comforts in the workhouse instead of more money ? —Witness—We have a quarter of a pound of sugar a week , whether we nuke shirts or not ; but no tea , , nor * any milk , unless we buy it , or friends bring it . Deputy Coroner—And do ysu get breafefaat and tea out of six farthings ?_ Witnsss— We are obliged to make it do , for if we don't earn it , however , we go without , and have water-cruel , which is very jreod .

    Deputy Coroner—Did the woman who is dead have tea 7—Witness—Yes , because a friend brought it to her . We manage to make the money do by only giving one another tea leaves some days . I had the woman ' s tea leaves when she had done with them till she died ; an 1 as she could not wait on herself , I attended on her for ; it . Deputy Coroner—How long was she ia the workhonse?—Witness—Three w . efcs . Deputy Coroner—Why coulrt she not attend to berself ? Witness—Because ahe was very bad in her breath , and had palpitations . Deputy Coroner—Did she see the doctor on that account ?—Witness—No ; but the assistant came to see her when sbe was dyin ? . She did not wish to see the doctor before . All she wished for when she came to me ; was for a quitt place to be in . Deputy Coroner—Did she have it ?—Witness—She could nut , because tbe infirm ward was so full .

    Deputy Coroner—Did she have a room to herself ?—Witness—No , we lie four in a bed . The First Witness—No , only thiee , because the fourth lies on the floor . Deputy Coroner—Is that because the house is bo fnl } j —Witness—I suppose so . Deputy Coroner—Are the beds of a good dee?—Witness—Yes , there is every comfort for a poor woman and every care is taken of invalids . . v * £ Deputy Coroner—Are you tasked in doing the safetf ? —Witness—No ; but I could not have tea if I did not make them . Daputy Coroner—Would you rnisa that' —Witness —I am pretty bearty , and it would not signify to my health ; but some are only fit for tea , and would be glad to earn it .

    A Juryman wished to know whether the farthing was p « id by the dealers , who sent in the cloth , or a higher sum , and if so , what sum ; because , if it was lower at tbo work-houses than out of thorn , it wbs a wonder lL . t 5 so many poor women out of them were paid even l ^ d a bbirti .

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    One of the witnesses said she thought that 2 < 1 out of every shilling received by tbe parish was pwd to the women in the ¦ workhouse for all work of the kind that was done there . . A Juryman wished that the great comfort of hfe to the old people , tea ;* could be obtained by them on easier terms . I A verdict of "pied from natural disease" Was returned , j THE NEW POOE LAW AND THE SHIRT MAK 3 BS . The Times of Friday contained the following just and excellent remarks on the above astounding

    exposure : — ' Another , and yet another , flagrant exposure , each more signal than its predecessor , is day by day presenting itself , of the connexion ot the hideous and crasoing miseries of those thousands ef friendless aud unhappy creatures , who , especially throughout the metropolis , but not only there , ? ate suffering tho extremities of privation , without wages , but not without work , homeless and starving , yeti tasked withal to exhaustionr—tbe sempstresses , shirt-makers , the weavers , and other operatives of a similar class , with tte New Poor law . Eighteen hours a | day , at four shillings a-week , or , in some cases , even less , and out of that pittance thread and needleB to be found , —these are the terms upon which , as poliee report after police report irrefragably and continually proves , many and many an unhappy woman is even now eking out her wretched life ( or

    rather her existence , for sbe can scarcely be said to live within a circle of fno more tban three miles from the spot where we areiwriting . What has rendered such a consummation possible ? How has it been even within the bounds of possibility , that the workpeople should be reduced to sueh necessity as to be obliged to accept such dreadful , such life-wearing conditions ?—or how that the dealers and contractors should be in a position in which they could enforce them ? We answer without hesitation that the New Poor Law , and that alone , has brought this state of things to pass . We say advisedly , that if it were not for that law , such intolerable , such grinding , such coia-blooded cruelty as that exerciaed by tho 8 t who " employ" upon such terms as these , could even by possibility , have been practised by no man . The means an 4 instrument of torture , the boot and the screw , would ! without this , have been out of his reach . He wo »/ djnot have dictated such terms to a

    starving population . We speak on undoubted authority when we say that the acceptance of ; Blop contracts by the union wortfaouaes at tbe rate of 2 d . and 3 d . per dca ^ n , was the first means of enabling the dealers to insist upon a reduction in the then rate of wages , and ultimately to bring them down to the horrible point at waich . as we , are only too frequently reminded by painful experie ce , they now rest . The Stepney and the Portsmouth Uaionhouses were those which were first exposed as admitting of this ruinous and wicked practice , and as paying wages for the Jew slopsellers out of the pockets of tbe ratepayers j Yesterday St . Pancras workhouse figured in the same enviable position , 1 and afforded an even unusually convincing and lucidlexposure of the extent to which the practice is carried i and of the use to which it is pat The accidental way , too , in which the discovery of the fact was made is itself significant .

    The Times thep quotes the evidence of Ann Benson given above ; and ] remarks , — " One faithing for making a shirt ! One farthing for a whole day ' s work ! . Just three-halfpence for a week ' s employment ! Enough to bribe the poor creatnreB , already supported , that in , barely fed ( or unfed ; , coarsely clothed , and hardly lodged , by tbe public , to endeavour to gain a few scanty comforts to maku tbeir condition more tolerable ; and enough also in aoi doing , to enable contractors to treat with such as want not only ' tea and sugar , ' but bread , and clothes , and lodging , and drink , uptm terms which compel their wretched victims to limit even these pressing wants also within the compass of just three-halfpence pier week ! Was it for this , we aisk , that union-house ^ were constructed ? To be public institutions for xbe support and payment of tbe

    Workwomen of Blopsellers ? To be instruments of torture and extortfon—of txtortion , to enable the slopdealer to get his work done at the expense of the ratepayer—and cf torture , to enable him to insist upon people working for him eighteen hours a day at something less than could find a Union pauper in tea and sugar ! And let our readers mark the extent of the practice ; " thsy , ' ) the shirts , ll come to the workhouse by hundreds to be made . " And this infamous price of one farthing each is allowed to be accepted in this wholesale way by the V authorities , " because they find that they can get ttaeirj poor inmates to work for it by holding out tbe bait of " tea and sugar , " of which they tbas save the expense , ; without any reference to the circumstance that , in so doing , they are uuderselling thousands , and depriving them of the very barest necessaries of existence . i

    Certainly * as we haoe before now said , a dap of reckon ina for these thinm will one day come !

    MORE MURDEK . —THE HORRIBLE STARVATION LAW . An inquest was held on Friday before Mr . C . Wood , coroner ; for the western division of Surrey , and a respectable Jury , at the White Howe , Windlesham , in that county , on view of tbe body of William Fry , an agricultural labourer , who was supposed to havo died from thejwant of the common necessaries of lite . The jury having been sworn , proceeded to view the bouy of the deceased , who appeared to have been in great destitution . The hut ia which the poor man dwelt was about six feet fcy eiftht , without any

    material but the outside boards nailed together , scarcely sufficient to keep out the weather . In the left hand corner , close to the door , stood a small cottage grate , and at the back part of the hut , upon a kind of bedstead , without any bed , blankets , or sheets , not even ' a mattress or straw , was the body of the deceased . Ho had on an old waistcoat , no shirt , and a tattered garment ; his lower parts were totally uncovered , and no veatige of linen of any kind in the place , presenting altogether a wretched spectacle , After viewing the body , and quitting this deplorable place , the following witnesses were fixaminnd : — 1

    Sarah Bulgent deposed , that the deceased was a labouring man , j between sixty and soventy years of age , whom she occasionally saw and relieved . From the account given by this witness , which was expressed with some warmth and indignation , it would appear that tho deceased's rood was principally potatoes and blackberries ; that he was literally starving , and had declared to hur frequently that he had nothing to eat . He could not be persuaded to go into the Union , either by the Guardians or any one else ; and so ; great was his aversion to enter a Union Workhouse , that he declared he would sooner die ia a ditch . Ho was allowed 2 =. and a 41 b . loaf weekly . Not seeing him on the Sunday , ' , as she expected , she went with another woman on Tuesday morning , between ten and eleven o ' clock , to the hut , the door of whioh wm ehut , but not fastened , and upon opening it saw the deceased lying prostrate on the floor , quite dead .

    Mr . Haynes , surgeon , of Windleaham , deposed that he also had known deceased about thirty years . Ou Friday morningjwas sent for to see the deceased , whom on going to the hut he found lying on the floor quite dead ; Witness supposed he must-have been dead from twenty four to thirty hours . Had examined tho body externally ; it was in aa emaciated state , very diflVrtut to what he was formerly , arising from wast of care and attention . Witness could discover no particular disease , There was no mark of violence on the body , and witness considered a postmortem examination unnecessary , as the deceased died froni naturaT cmses through want of a sufficient quantity of food . If he had had nourishment , his life might have been spared . The Jury returned a verdict " that the deceased died by the visitation of God .

    MORE IKCiNDtARY FIRES . Soham—The ( inhabitants of this town were on Tuesday evening last alarmed by the cry of " Fire , " which broke out ] about half-past fire o ' clock , on the premises of Mr . | Stephen Danby , dtuate in Prattstreet . The flame was first discovered by a hoy who was passing at the time , who immediately gave the alarm , when it ) was discovered that an oat-stack standing at the further extremity of the premises had by some miscreant been set on fire . From the combustible nature ] of the material the flames spread with au amazing rapidity , communicating on one side to a wheat-stack , and on the other to a large barn filled with com : these , with the adjacent stacks and buildings , were in the space of an hour levelled to tho ground . - ;

    Hoencastle ^ A fire broke out on Thursday morning week , about five o ' clock , in the stackyard of Mr . Rawson , a tpant of Sir Henry Dymoke , at Scrivelsby , near this ; place , without doubt the work of an incendiary . There were about seven stacks in the yard ; the middle one containing about forty quarters of wheat , was set on fire and consumed j also a barley-stack , about the same size . . Eaton SocANi— On Saturday morning last , Jbetweeu the hours j of six and seven o ' clock , a fire was discovered blazing in the stack-yard of Mr . J . Hall , an opu ' ent farmer and corn-dealer , and the whole , consisting of nine large stacks-and hovels , two of which were very ; large , containing upwards of 101 loads each , Fell a sacrifice to the flames . The barns and outbuildings were saved by the vigilance of the gentry in the surrounding neighbourhood , as well as the poorer classes . Not the least doubt remains . of Us being the act of an incendiary .

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    TO THE EDITOR OF THE KORTHEBN STAB , Sie , —However placidly we may endeavour to survey passing occurrences we cannot avoid feeling at times seriously ruffled , j unless we have philosophized ourselves into a Malthuslan hard-heartedneBS i which cannot be , if any of the finer and nobler feelings of onr nature remain in r the breast YoUj Sir , heard of what ttanspited in Preston at the time of the rioter-the great turn-out of last jyear . The sufferings occasioned by that neatly unprecedented affair are incalculable ; " and Preston came in for more than its full share . The-firing by the military , under tbe orders of the Mayor , in Lunefitreet , in so unexpected , and so different a manner , from the conduct ] of . the autiiontles elsewhere , led to the death of four persons , besides the maiming of some others fer life , i ¥ et severe and unusual as was the punishment inflected by this firing , it * failed to satisfy

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    We Home-Secretary-lauded authorities of this town . Numbers were sent to Kirkdale ; one of whom left the prison after serving eleven months out of the twelve to which be bad been doomed , onlfrto die within five v ? eeka from the period of hl » . liberation . Tbia w&a a young man of very delicate health , named Dewhurst , convicti on the evidence of a single policeman , and hurried away with little ceremony , without bis friends having any opportunity of tendering evidence in bis Another person , named Richaid Warwick , formerly an inhabitant of Preston , but of late , previous to bit conviction , resident in Oldbam , bath dace the death of poor Dawhurst , gone to ftfs lqng home , having expired sistein Preston doubt what

    at the honse Of bis r ; no - ever existing on the mind of any in the least acquainted witn him tbat h' w death was owing wholly to his imprisonment . This man , observe , was not tried at Preston , nor had the authorities thereof anything to do with his imprisonment . I mention him because of his havinulong resided in this town ; of Wa being well known here , through having been ^ eht to- Lancaster Castle for twelve months for a political offence ; and because of his having died here . His last imprisonment was in Kirkdale , being tried at the Special Com . mission for having exposed at his door in Oldbam , a placard during the time of the riots headed , " Now 01 never . " For this alone , am informed , was ho consigned to the dungeon and ultimately to the grave . these facts still th

    Painful and distressing as are , ere are others arising out of that unfortunate outbreak attended by circumstances which render them on the whole more afflicting . One poor lad , sixteen years of ajje , was , during tbe firing of the military in iunestreet , wounded in the abdomen ; from the wound the bowels protruded , and ia this state he was conveyed to his home—to a fond , a doating mother—a lone widow , to whom the unfortunate youth was a principal rapport Here he lingered in dreadful agony for two or three days , and then expired . No sooner cad life departed than a police officer entered and tore away . the body , taking it to the new Dispensary on the moor , to await the snug inquest , bo important in its results to tbe credit of the authorities—the mill-owning mayor especially . In sis weeks from this period the wretched mother followed her son to thetomb . If " whatever is , is right , " and if the balance of

    happiness is equal , then are appearances grossly deceitful : for , ah I bow unfortunate , judging from these appearances , are some of onr fellow beings . One poor ' man in Manchester was arrested along with his son for taking part in theontbreak , both of whom were tried at Liverpool , and imprisoned in Kirkdale along with so many ethers . Tbe wife of this poor man , while endeavouring to rescue her son at the time of his arrest , got a blow from the truncheon of a police-man ; and owing to this , coupled with the grief attendant upon separation , died within one month after their imprisonment , and the poor man bath sinco died in jail . Onfl of the released prisoners told me tbat the son begged to see hi « father a little before his death , but was refused .

    Thus wantonly are the lives of our fellow-creatures sported away by the few in power ; accounted of no more value than the stones under onr feet , though each estimates his own at a price to which the costliest gem bears no parallel . What is the worth *> f our boasted civilization , government , and laws , whilst such misery exist ? Happy would it have been for the millions had such mock refinement never been known . Had an bosde of banditti established themselves in uncontrolled rule over the country ; where , or in what , would have been the difference to the sons of toil ? Yours , &c ., * Rio . hd . Mabsden .

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    Liverpool Cohn Market , Monday . Dec . 18 . — Since this day se ' nnight we have had further liberal supplies of Oatmeal from Ireland , with a fair quantity of Flour , and moderate arrivals of grain thence and coastwise . There are also reported from Canada 1570 qrs . of Wheat , 270 qrs . of Peas , and 8500 brls . of FJour . Throughout the week the trade has been inactive , and as usual under that circumstance , ' prices have ( without any general desire to press sales being apparent ) tended downwards . AU descriptions of Wheat are fully 2 d ., Oats- £ d . to Id . per bushel , Flour Is . per sack , and Oatmeal 3 d . to od . per load cheaper than quoted on this day se ' unight . Malting Barley has fully sustained our previous quotations . English selling at 34 s . to 363 . up to 37 s . por quarter for Chevalier : a little very good Irish , suitable for malting , has brought 4 s . 8 d . to 4 s . 9 d ., grinding qualities 3 s . lid . to 4 s . 3 d , per 601 bs . No change as regards Beans or Peas .

    LiVEEPOOL Cattle Market , Monday , Dec . 18 . — The supply of Cattle at market to day has been rather larger than last week , which met with dull sale , at a little advance in price . Beef , 4 £ d to 6 d J Mutton , 4 £ d to 5 £ d . Manchester Corn Market , Saturday Dec . 16 " . — Our market this morning was but moderately attended , and was generally of a dull and lifeless character . All descriptions of Wheat might have been purchased on lower terms ; and on Flour wo reduce our quotations 6 d . per sack , with a very slow sale . For either Oats or Oatmeal there was but little inquiry , and the previous currency was with difficulty obtained . Beans were also the turn cheaper .

    London Corn Exchange , Monday , Dec . 18—We havu to report tbe arrival of about an average Bupply of English Wheat , up to our market dating the past week , the general quality of which exhibited a decided improvement Althongb the show of samples was tolerably good , we have to report a steady , < but by no means brisk , demand for Wheat of home produce , and last week ' s quotations were supported in every instance . At the close of the trade a fair clearance was effected . The supply of free Foreign Wheat brought forward was not large , yet the inquiry for it was inactive , at unaltered quotations . The sale for Barley , especially for fine malting qualities , ruled steady , and late rates were well supported . Ia Malt , the show of which was not great , a sluggish business was transacted . As to prices , they remained aboui sta'ionary . Tie supply of Oats was only moderate , while the demand ruled comparatively steady at previous currencies . Beans , Pdas , and Flour met a slow Icquiry , but we can notice no variation in their value .

    London Smithfield Cattle Market , Monday , Dec . 18 . —Notwithstanding the great Christmas show was held last week , the number of beasts was large for the time of year . With regard to its quality , we have to observe there was nothing remarkably prime amongst it , though there was soae exceedingly well-made-up Devona , Herefords , Durhams , and short horns on offer . The dead iSarkets being rather heavily stocked , and moat of the large butchers having previously supplied themselves with their Christmas , beef , as Well as tha W 6 ather proving unfavourable to slaughtering , the sale for beasts this morning was in a very dull state , at a decline , on last Monday ' s quotations , of from 21 to 4 d per SUds ., the extreme value of the best Scsts not exceeding , in any instance , 43 per 81 ba . while a large

    portion of the supply was turned out unsold . In order to show the superiority of some of the beasts brought together for competition in BiTker-atreet this year , we have to iminmte that the two Durhama shown there , the property of Lindsay Carnegie , Esq ., ot Arbroath ( N . B . ) , one of which was sold by Mr . B . Maidweli , of Leatherhead , to Mr . LitUewood , of KingVroad , Chelsea , the other to Mr . Stracnan , of WMtechapel , have proved , on being slaughtered , to be surprising animals , as will bs conceded when we state that one of them carried 38 stone , the other 34 stone lib . of Ioo 3 e fat . The animal bought by ^ Mr . Strachaa , and which was tbe lightest weigher , turned out 208 stone 4 ibs . 6 f meat ! There have been no imports of foreign stock since our lost worthy of notice ; but nearly sixty

    sheep , oxon , and cows have been shipped to France and Belgium . The Northern droves of Baasta consisted of about 2 , 000 short horns , &c . From tbe Western and Midland districts we received 250 Dsvons , runts , Herefords , Darhams , &o . ; from other parts of E-. ighnd , 300 of various kinds ; and from Scotland , 120 horned and polled Scots . Although the numbers of Sheop were good , there was a much better demand for them than might have been expected ; indeed , it was the steadiest we have bad to report for a considerable time past . Prime old Downs were 4 d . ; the half-breds and long-wools were 2 d . p ° r Slbs . higher than on this day se ' nnight . The quality of the Sheep was certainly good , » nd amongst the supply we noticed

    three wonderfully fine half-breds , brougbt hither by Mr . James Syder , drever , of Fakenham , Norfolk , and brad by Mr . Addftma near that place . These splendid sheep , which were oflFared for sale by Messrs . Whitbread and Starsey , reflected great credit upon thefo owner , for tbey travelled on foot not less than 120 miles , and weighed , on avexage 16 stones , of 8 lbs each . Mr . Weal had two pens of polled sbesp , sent by E . F . Wittiogatall , Esq ., of Lingley , Herts , and which were greatly admired for tbeir weight and symmetry . The numbers of Calves were good , yet the veal trade was active , at an improvement of quite 2 d . per 8 lbs . Ib Pigs , a good business was doing , and the quotations had au upward tendency .

    Borough and Spitai . fiei . ds . —Since thiB as ] se'nnight the arrivals ef Potatoes at the water side hava consisted ol 600 tons from Scotland ; 500 ditto from Yorkshire ; 400 ditto from the Channel Islands ; 208 ditto frem Devonshire ; and . 700 . ditto from Wiabeach , Essex , and Kant Prime samples are in request at full prices ; but in other qualities very little ia d&ing . Borough Hop Market . —Although the quantity of Hops on Bhow is comparatively small , the demand has somewhat subsided ; yet we nave no decline to notice in the prices . Wool Markets . —A very limited quantity of Wool has been imported into London in tha past week , via , 620 bales ftom Odessa , 68 ditto from tbe ^ auntftw , and 180 ditto from HobaitTown . the stocks of bow English and Foreign Wools being large , the demana may bef considered inactive , yet prices are generally supported .

    Tallow . —This market remains the same as last week in every reapect . Prices are steady and the traaa are only disposed to purchase what they require forjn > mediata wants . The improvement in the de e caused by the completion of tbe contracts for Taiw sold to be delivered in tbe present month . w Tallow ia plentiful , aod tue price tta 6 d net casU

    Market Intelligence.

    MARKET INTELLIGENCE .

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 23, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct682/page/6/