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Northern Star (1837-1852), 18th September 1841, Edition 4 of 5, Page 3, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      OV THE RELEASB OF MB . O'CONNOR Tha florions nig of liberty Fl « ate on the breeee again , Ibare lei it wave—O'Connor's free , O'Connor ' s come again , To lead as on to victory , And break the tyrant ' s chain . Tboy said a prison *! dungeon cell His lion heart ¦ would tame ; They found be vu invincible , O'Connor ni the nme ; His deeds anall after agee tell , And blees his patriot name .

      They'll bless his name and courage bold , That dar * d the tyrant ' s nge , Who fearless did through heat and eold The people ' s battle wage , And kept his spirit uneoBtrolI'd , Though ooop'd In prison cage . He ' s left stone cell , and iron bar , To walk abroad in light , And rays of freedom from his Star , Shall skim so fierce and bright ; They'll scatter tyrants , -wide and far . And ire shall shine our right W . X . Sept 7 th , ISil .

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      THE GOYERNMKNrS ADDRESS TO THE "WORKING CLASSES . Bov bow ! ye blustering , discontented knaves , Who claim the title of industrious bees , What would ye haTe ? ye grovelling base-born slaves To dare to interrupt the public peace , With threats of daggers , torches , piies , and stares , With which you would compel us to release Ton from the easy yoke which sits so light , And grant you what you vainly call your right What tho' the mountain fastnesses may ring With your mad shont * for jastice , and tho' yoor Seditious leaders may still fondly cling

      To the false thongat that our defeat is sure , We laugh to Bcorn your harmless threatening , Your toant of ration renders its sccarf , We disregard youT hypocritical petitions , Tis not our interest to alter your conditions . To alter your conditions , did we say ? Vile traitors ! that shall neTer be , we swear ; What would ye haxe ? bare we not throws away The ease of private life for your welfare . Do we not always year commands obey , When to object , requires a greater share Of moral courare , than we can command , Or , vhen tutammously you demand . Tain boasting wretches , we again would ask . Why with your stations are ye discontent . ' la tc support the state so hard a U&k ,

      That you would our txtrvragineis prevent ? Or would you alwajs in th « sunshine bask , And lire in idleness , that you present Petitions so unmeaning , there is scarce a line , Which , for oar pocket's sake , we'd rather not define Should not the Xew Poor Law your thanks engage ? Hare we not sranted all you could desire ? Pr « Tided bastiles , to which , when » ld age Ov ertakes you , you may quietly retire , And there remain , until you quit the stage Of mortal life ; which should your heart ' s inspire With love and gratitude for us , who ne ' er neglect , The interest of those we ' re chosen to protect Are we not labouring in the grand defence Of our beloved country ' s brilliant fame ; Are we not willing , at a moderate eipence ,

      To slaughter th « sfc * who now dispute our claim , And right to poison them , when common sense Shoald tell them tis a sin and deadly shame , To manifest such pagan impudence , but we Will make them take our poison for their tea . Cease then of our exactions to complain , Tis madness to pretend ye are oppress'd , IT or dare to question our just right to drain Your pockets , any fashion we like best With us alone such matt *™ should remain , And « ha . n ; for we ' re resolved to arrest , Imprison , and severely punish , those Presumptuous villains , who our tricks expose . Yes , let these mad , mis-named patriots spread Their absurd notions , and your wrongs relate , But lef them our severe resentment dread ,

      For they ahall shortly feel the crushing weigh ; Of set aroused vengeance , tho' 'tis said You will . such gross injustice reprobate , And break their bonds , which noaght can rivet , save Tour base neglect of the advice they gave . Tour petty opposition we defy , And your request we fearlessly reject , Tout glorious cause ; so call'd . i shall shortly die ; Its death-blow shall be dealt by your Deglect . Then may we safely our plunder erjoy , We gazs with pleasure on the brght prospect , Believing we can frustrate your design , Until together heart aid sovl you join . W . J , Liverpool . * The Chinese .

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      THE FLEET PAPERS . [ Written for our last , lui excluded &y press of matter . ' ] Mr . Oastler continnes , in this weekly ontpouring erf his own good feeling and just spirit , Cdespite his Toryism , ) to enunciate sentiments and offer advice ( ih » result of great experience and deep investigation ) which it will be well for England and her people if the present Government lend a willing ear to , and be prepared to act upon . In the number for this day we find the following excellent remarks , upon the position of several of the immediate and pressing questions of the day , and which we extract a ; length : —

      " The question—the universal question now raised in every bosom is , ' What ought the new Government to do V Xany subjects press on the mind when this question is asked—many which , in the sbort space of one letter , it would be impossible te mention . It seems to me , however , that two questions have been settled , by the people cf England at the last election ; and if itbe true that the Queen is constitutionally bound ( as all parties acknowledge ) to change her Ministers when their measures are disapproved by her people ' s representatives , so mast it be the constitutional duty of Parliament to obey the will of their constituents , whenever that wil ] is manifest and undeniable .

      " There can be no doubt that the question propounded by her Majesty to her people was , ' Are you for free trade V It is equally certain that every exertion was made , every argument was used , every exciting inducement was offered , to persuade the people to answer * Yes . '" Still , despite the most strenuous efforts of the free trade party , the answer returned to her Majesty was ?\ o ! ' —in consequence ef which , the Queen has discharged her free trade ilinisters- It cannot , therefore , be too much te require Parliament also to attend to the constitutionally declared will of the people- The rvOs of free trade are exhibited in the facts that the more foreign trade we have under Us operation , the more we lose , the poorer we become , and the less wages we pay . Thus have facts proved iwbat common sense has so long taught ; that poverty is the consequence of unrestrained competition . The new Ministers ought , therefore , to abandon the system of free trade , else why bave the Whigs been driven out ?

      " There is , however , another subject upon which they were not questioned , but on which it is admitted on all bands that the people have declared their will—namely , the Xew Poor Law . Upon that point there has been neither if nor lid . The new Ministers will , therefore , if they are wise , and resolv * to walk in the light of the Constitution , repeal the New Poor Law , and return to the glorious -13 rd of Elinbeth . " It would sot be wise to modify the former . To pretend to modify the hateful tking , is parleying with Satan , for ii is the Devil's work . The very name of it

      is so odius , that it is due to the insulted and outrajed feelings of the nation , that it be for ever obliterated . "Then , " say some , " what will you do with the bastiles ? " That is no business of mine ; let those who built them answer it , or , at once pull them down , leaving not one stone upon another . The sooner the whole thing is forgotten the better . A mistake upon the New Poor Lsw -will prove fatal to the new Ministers . Common sense is only needful to discover , that if we are to have the Xew Poor Law , the New Poor L&w Ministers have been niynstJy treated—if Vtat be a good measure , ^ t he Whigs ; must be good Ministers .

      " I ask not what is Sir Robert Pefcl ' sprjra / e opinions ; notiing jg core dear than the fact , that it is the people ' s hatred to the >* ew Poor Law which has given him so large & majority . If his supporters have dehided the people by their electioneering addresse * , Sir Robert would have proved his wisd 6 m by refusing office , for , in that case , the re-action * must be terrific . " The new Government will , if its members are wise , Weaken and impoverish , iiie nation no more by emigration ; bet , on the contrary , they will offer every

      induee-* &est to penuaie and encourage the people to locate on the land . Drawing the " surplus population , " as fast as they prudently can , out tf the manufacturing towns , and thus restore ' the just proportion of the creation of ¦ health , by gradually rtditeing the quantity of our manmlactures , until they are equalled by tee demand , and by increasing our agriculture , so as to reach the demand , and thus meet the pressing wants of the people . We have land enough for all we ne » d in England , Scotland , Wales , and Ireland , but we have foolishly withdrawn the hands ; and , consequently , we are mfera the

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      " If our new Ministers are constitutional , they will , of eoane , repeal the Rural Police Act , abandon the scheme of centralisation , and restore the local system of management In other wards , they will abandon the insane Whig notion of governing the peopl * by force . It is futile any longer to attempt to keep the people in awe by force and coercion—It U against the grains of their laws , and the spirit of the Constitution . The presence of foree implies injustice . " The Ten Honrs' Factories Regulation Bill they cansot refuse , when the evidence of iti necessity has been so often proved before Parliament , and it Is remembered that Sir Robert Peel ' s father was the first who

      introduced it ; nor can they safely neglect to protect the labourers from the power of wealthy selfishness . This subject is obtaining more and more importance in the { Binds of the well-disposed manufacturers . They fett that somethiBg must be done by law to prevent the wasting influence of universal competition . They are well aware , that all our great statesmen recoil at the very thought , still they feel that something must be done to prevent the cruel and selflBh from getting rich by any means , regardless of the miseries occasioned to their work people , and the loss sustained by all who wish to give a fair day ' s wages for a fair day ' s work .

      " The question of some restraint upon machinery , is , I am happy to say , forcing itself upon our manufacturers , and they say , Parliament must interfere . ' The approach to free trade has had one good effect—it has proved its unsouBdness , by emptying the pockets of hundreds who were formerly its admirers . " " There are many other subjects which require the immediate attention of Parliament , which I have no room to mention , but wkich , in due time I shall place before you in the Fleet Papers . It is self-evident that the case of the working classes must now be seriously considered , with a view to their amelioration . I shall ever be ready to aid in that labour . "

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      THE GRAMMAR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRULY MADE EASY AND AMUSING , BY THE INVENTION OF THREE HUNDRED MOVEABLE PARTS OF SPEECH . By Georgk Medie . London : J . Cleave , Shoe Lane , Fleet-street . This is a great effort towards the accomplishment of a good work—the disentanglement of the Grammar of orf beautifully simple language from the mass of rubbish which has been so mixed with and wrapped round it , by the pedantry of authors , ss to deter many minds from undertaking the study of it , and to present to many others a web bo thoroughly ravelled as to bid a successful defiance to their

      capacities . It is the shame of English literature that with a language the most simple of any in existence , and , notwithstanding its great copiousness , requiring fewer rales for its construction than any other , we are nationally ignorant of its mechanism ; and we perfectly agree with the opinion of Mr . Mudie that this national evil is in a great measure owing to " the unnecessary parade which is utually made by the authors of ' School Grammars , ' by their utterly nseless and contemptible exhibition of frivolous , because already well known and well understood , information , on the one hand , and by their ostentatious display of almost equally useless refinements and distinctions , on the other ; as if the p rimary and ultimate objects of the authors had been to terrify and subdue the spirit , aad to perplex

      and overwhelm the understanding of the students , by the array of everything likely to inspire tkem with the conviction of the impossibility of their ever comprehending a subject which has hitherto been rendered , by the mode of treating it , so abstract , and apparently both complicated and vast . " ? * * u Rendering it no wonder that , after Grammar has been pretended to be taught by the ordinary methods of the school-books , the pupils , generally speaking , though they have been forced to go throngh the drudgery of committing to memory a set of unintelligible rnles , find that they literally know nothing whatever of that Grammar which the so-called rules should have made plain to them ; and that , if any of them ever do know anything of Grammar in their after lives , that knowledge they owe not to the soidisant expounders of the science , but to their own subsequent researches . "

      In another portion of his preface Mr . Mudie observes , very truly , "that every instance in which children are forced to mumble and dwell upon unintellibie jargon , not only wastes but depresses their energies—has a direct tendency to stultify aud even to paraljza their menial faculties , and assuredly fills them with loathing and abhorrence of those very task 3 which , if they cannot always be rendered delightful , should ai leabt be divested of everything calculated to make them unnecessarily disagreeable , 'twere better to introduce an improved game at marbles into the school-room , than to teach anything there that can be as well or better acquired out of doors ; and it would be wiser to dismiss a class altogether , than to attempt teaching what the pupils-are unable to understand , or even what requires very severe efforts of the mind for its apprehension . "

      In seeking to remedy the many mischiefs of the method generally adopted in teaching grammar , Mr . 31 udie has very properly endeavoured to divest his book of repulsiveness . By the ingenious device of " moveable parts of speech "—an adaptation of the well-known plan of conversation cards—he gives an amusing plaj fulness to the study which cannot fail to work vrell on the joungmind . Mr . Mudie claims the honour of having invented these "moveable pans of speech . " We are not disposed to be captions or to detract anything from the merits of a good performance , and shall , therefore , not dispute this claim , though the principle—being precisely that of the conversation cards , the geographical dissection maps ; and the amusement puzzles -which bave been Jong familiar to the nursery of the " upper and middle" elasses of eociety—is

      certainly not new j and the present mode of applying that principle "was suggested by the -writer of this notice , in various public lectures on the science of Grammar , delivered eight or nice year ago . It is very possible , ho wever , that Mr . Mudie may have never heard , or heard of , those lecture ; as it is certain , that their author had never heard of Mr . Mudie or his book ; so that the merit of originality may be and vre . bave no doubt is , as effectually his own as if the plan of having " moveable part of speech" had never been mooted or thought of by any person but himself . We are sorry to observe that Mr . Mudie still retains the absurd and irrational nomenclature of our common school grammars ; though he afilrms its defeeiivenesp . He also adheres to the " nine parts of speech , " and the six tenses of the verb , with their foolish designations , and to all the nonsense about moods and participles .

      He aims rather at simplifying the means of attaining to an adequate knowledge of the system of Grammar commonly laid down and received , than effecting any considerable improvement in the system . This is our objection to the otherwise estimable grammar of Mr . Cobbett , who did that for the adult person which Mr . Mudie has here done for the child—placed v > h * t ii exiled " the grammar of our language perspicuously before the student . In ail the mere elements of the language which can

      be exemplified by his moveable words or parts of speech our author has gone far towards annihilating much of the mystery hanging over the whole matter in ordinary books ; though we are sorry we cannot afford so much praise to the philosophical department of his work . This , however , is a great achievement , and we very cordially recommend to all parents and teachers who are determined to adhere to the " nine parts of gpeech , " Mr . Mudie ' i very pleasant and amusing mode of teaching their children how to mso them .

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      STOCKPORT . —The * pinnersh * Te boldly resisted th « attempted redaction of the masters , which has stopped some of them in their diabolical pursuits ; and , if persevered in , will cause the other masters to flire way , that is , if they are supported by the spinners of the surrounding district as they onght to be . They have always been ready to subscribe to others when called on . To the Shopkeepers , Publicans , and Tradesmen qf Stockport .

      Fbllow TowssMEW , —We , the spinners of this town and neighbourhood , appeal to you at this important and truly alarming crisis , hambly soliciting your rapport , to enable us , successfully , to resist the enormous , cruel , and scandalous reduction offered by the cotton masters , mentioned in oar placard , issued this week , believing ,, as we do , reductions , however small , are detrimental to the twtt interests of society , both locally and nationally , and it the one now pending be effected , the' consequences must be dangerous and awfuL

      Firstly , by taking money out of circulation , which will be of no benefit at all to the cotton masters themselves , as no sooner do the merchants get to hear of an abatement than they seize the advantage in lowering the price of goods ; as a striking proof of this , the masters' interest fell , from 1815 to 1841 , 55 per cent . Secondly , by taking the money from the working people , they disqualify them from purchasing a sufficiency of food and clothing , aud thereby ruin the best market , viz , home consumption . Thirdly , by depriving the people of the means of paying their rents , cottage property is reduced in value .

      Fourthly , those who are fortunate enough to procure employment , will be reduced so low as not to be able to contribute to their unfortunate brethren who may be out , the result of which will be , a larger number will have recourse to the workhouse for a living , which will greatly augment the rates ; the working elasses not being able to pay rates , those who can must , the authorities knowing full well that it is useless to attempt to sell the goods of the poor , as such would only incruasa the burden , the brokers' shops being crammed already ; their policy , as a matter of course , will be to press more heavily upon you who have property .

      Fifthly , the people cannot purchase high articles , which will cause a falling off in the revenue to a serious amount , and will be likewise a fertile source of , and cause misery , destitution , vice , crime , poverty , want , hunger , disease , pestilence , robbery , murder , bloodshed , and suicide to be more prevalent and frequent ; by such tyranny and oppression , they are disgusting the honest operatives , and depriving them of the means of obtaining an honest livelihood in the land of their birth , and driving them to the painful necessity of emigrating , as hundreds are doing , to othei countries , to enrich our rivals aud impoverish ourselves .

      Sixthly , because you shopkeepers , many of you , entered your houses when wages were at such a standard as only to be able to get a living , by attention and ¦ oonomy , say that the people were earning sixteen shillings per week , and you could then only just live , what will y » u do when they are only earning half that sum , whilst your rents are the same , rates the same , expences every way the same ? Nay , rates will be higher , because there will be more poor , besides , customers will be fewer . Then , if such be the case , and we presume no one will contradict us , what but loss and ruin awaits the shopkeepers and fsublic » ns ? We call upon you , for the sake of yourselves and society , to help us in this desperate struggle . Signed on behalf of the body of spinners , James Mitchell , President , Cuables Divieb , Secretary .

      BILSTON .-The third anniversary of the Bilston Auxiliary Bible Society was hnld jn the schoolroom belonging to St . Mary ' s Church , on Friday evening , the 10 th instant . For some days previous the publio had been invited by placards and circulars , therefore the Chartists considered it their duty to attend and hear what the gentlemen in black had £ o say , and also to iratch their proceedings , determined , if an opportunity offered , to seize it , and thea plant the Charier before them . When the hour arrived our men were at their post of duty , and a fine turnout the brave men of Bilston made . They nocked in hundreds from the mine and the forge , and astonished the clerical gentlemen to see so many of their own colour ; indeed the black slugs

      were awe-struck beyond description , as they had been previously informed that the Chartists would attend , and , in consequence of this report , the parsons took the precaution to have the piece surrounded with constables . Before the public were admitted the chair had bten taken by the Rev . J . B . Owen , who commenced the proceedings with prayer , juBt at the time that our general , Stiran , and his aids-de-camp , entered , provided with their amendments ready to propose when the Reverends would submit their resolutions to the meeting . Prayer being ended , the Rev . Chairman briefly stated the reason for calling the meeting , and observed that there were persons assembled there for the purpose of opposing their holy cause : but he assured the

      meeting that no one would be heard who was hostile to their pious purpose . It had been announced in the bills that many reverend gentlemen and esquires would attend and address the meeting . They were punctual in their attendance , and the platform displayed a fine show of the cloth . The first speaker called upon was the Rev . Mr . Rogers , Wesleyan minister , of Wolverhampton , who , in the usual strain , set forth the blessed advantages that would accrue to the whole community , and particularly the poor , by their liberal support of such a holy institution , at the same time begging hard for every poor man to give his help , if it was only a shilling or a sixpence : they could spare it—he was sure they could—and they would never be anything the poorer

      for doing so . He concluded by beseeching the poor people to imitate the example of the poor widow in the Gospel and her mite- ^ -that was to give all they were worth , and more if they could . He sat down , and the gents tried to raise applause , but it was no go , the Bilstonians were silent . The Rev . Mr . Bourne , from London , was next introduced . He stated that he had travelled over the greatest part of the globo ; but he did not say that he had been in Freezeland . His speech was a disgusting rhapsody . He said that fifty years ago there was not a Bible to be found in the Welsh language ; but since the establishment of the society tney printed Bibles in Welsh , and they were now plentifully circulated through that principality . This assertion

      was met by the disapprobation of several Welsh people present , who could flatly contradict it , and declare they can produce Bibles in the Welsh language that have been in possession of their families upwards of a century . One part of this gentleman ' s speech was worthy of credit , and has produced a good effect—it has made the people more anxious to obtain the Charter : he Btated that a Bible meeting had been held on the lawn in front of a gentleman ' s house , who was a planter , a slave owner , and a member of the Bible Society . Tho meeting was chiefly composed of negroe 3 , from whom £ 40 was collected , which made ths working men of Bilston conclude that the black slaves are much better off than the white slaves in this country . He quoted

      another instance which made the people stare : he said that in some of the countries of South Africa , they gave fat sheep for Bibles ; and the missionaries frequently exchanged a Bible for a fat sheep , which was another proof that the people of that country were much better provided with the means of living than the people of Britain . This epeaker shewed himself a good economist , as well as Beggarman . He advised those gentlemen who drank three glasses of wine per day , to drink two ; and those working men who drank one pint of ale per day , to drink but half-a-pint ; and ladies , who wore two yards and a half of ribband , at one shilling per yard , to wear , in future , but two yard 3 ; and thus the Eavings of money produced by sparing the wine ,

      ale , and ribband , to be given into the Bible fund . This system of economy did not escape the discernment of the crowded audience , and particularly the working men , who thought the grasp too much ; one half their allowance was , in their opinion , too mueh for the blacks to ask at once ; however ladies and gentlemen might abridge their luxuries , the poor men could not relish such a proposal , and shook their heads as a symptom of disapprobation , which was soon observed by the gentlemen on tho platform , whose faces exhibited blushes , whether of shame or disappointment we cannot tell , and finding they had many hearers , but few supporters , the chairman instantaneously dissolved the meeting , observing that the place was too hot for the ladies : but , in fact ,

      they found it too hot for themselves , ai they perceived they were not enconraged to carry on any longer . This announcement was unexpected , as we had hoped for an opportunity to have a few words with them in the usual course of business , but the parsons put by their resolutions , seeing there was no chance of having them passed , and they did not like to incur the disgrace and mortification of defeat . On hearing the unexpected announcement , Mr . Stiran arose , and addressing himself to the chairman asked leave to put a question to the speakers , but the chairman promptly refused to hear him , as the business of the meeting was over . By this time the meeting was greatly excited . A person near the platform called out" Mr . Stiraa , they are afraid ; they won ' t hear you . " This excited the

      audience still more , and Mr . Stiran replied that he submitted to the chairman , but he felt aggrieved that he was not allowed to ask a question , and impressed on the people the propriety at peaceable conduct , as there were constables in attendance , and we had gained our object by our silence , and defeated the parsons , as our formidable appearance prevented them from offering their resolutions . We then moved out , and Mr . Stiran addressed the people , who flocked round him . He requested them to follow up their blow , and do the same at all publio meetings in future . He then proposed three cheers for Feargus O'Connor and the People ' s Charter , which were cheerfully responded to by three deafening cheers , that made Biktoa ring . —Gorretponient ,

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      « .. « iS ^ J ^ FT ? «> a 8 meeting of the members and friends of tho Repeal Association , twkptoe on _ SuttdayeTening , at Mr . Roche ' s , Red Lion . Mwe , Tooley-sfreet . A teetotal Chartist , of tweatj yearB etandiag , took the chair by acclamatron . Several excellent speeches were made by Messrs . Peacock , MorphT , O'Leary , O'Egan , Dale , and Mr . Parker , from the City of LondoH Charter Association , who , in a beautiful speech , fully proved that a Repeal of the Union would do no good to the working classes of Ireland , unless it was accompamedwitn the princi ple * contained in the People ' * Charter . A tote of thanks was passed to the ehairman , who said that the Northern Star was the only

      Repeal Newspaper polished and sold in London , and therefore i he wished all sinoere , sober , and honest Repealers to giv » their support to that paper , whioh was a real friend to the working classes of all nations . Eight members were added to the Repeal list , which makes near four hundred paying Repealers in this locality . Mr . O'Leary , a good and tme Repealer will take the chair on Sunday week . Several Chartist and Repeal ladies were present on thiB occasion , who took great interest in the proceedings of the evening , after which the meeting separated ; but resolved to meet again , and again , until the unconditional Repeal of the Union took place .

      BBRMONDBEY . —A public lecture , on behalf of the London Journeymen ' s Trade ' s Hall , was delivered by Mr . Sherman . Subject— " The moral and social improvement of the working class of London , " at Bigg ' s Temperance Coffee House , Abbey-street , George-street , Bermondsey , on Friday evening ; the worthy lecturer stated his conviction that working men would never gain their social and political rights without they had places for trades and public meetings , which they could call their own . He highly complimented the men of Lambeth for not meeting at a publio house , and censured the men of

      Bermondsey for meeting at a publio house , when they could meet at a respectable coffee house , or have a trade ' s hall , which they could call their own property ; after the lecture was over , Mr . William Jones , in a cool and convincing speech of considerable length , proved , to the satisfaction of all present , the political importance of this noble undertaking , which would prove a great blessing to the working classes . He also promised to become a shareholder . After a vote of thanks to the lecturer , the meeting separated , highly pleased with the proceedings of the evening .

      Sign * of thh Tikes . —A wharfing « r , in Tooleyatreet , Borough , advertised in the Times newspaper , a few days ago , for a clerk , who must be a married man , at the large sum of twenty shillings per week . This honest Reformer received above three hundred letters .

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      A Stbakge Execution . —In the year 1836 , a sow ate part of the child of a day-labourer of Falaise , ¦ amed Janet . This accident reached the ears of the judge , who condemned the animal to suffer publicly the penalty of retaliation , as prescribed by law . The face and one arm of tba child had been devoured : the sow was mutilated in the « ame manner , and then hanged by the executioner in the public place , amidst a concourse of people . The judge presided at the execution on horseback , with a feather in his hat . The father was for wd to attend , *> J . way of punishment , for not taking proper care of his child , r . The culprit , when brought to the gallows , was dressed like a man , wore a waistcoat , breeches , and gloves , and a human mask before her snout . — Excursions in Normandy .

      Terrible Conitli . geition . —Twbntt-five Houses Destrotbd . —On Thursday last , about one o'clock in the afternoon , a dreadful fire happened at Fordington , a small village situated a few miles from Dorchester , which we regret to state extended to a frightful magnitude , and occasioned destruction to no fewer than twenty-fi * e houses , and property to the amount of some thousands of pounds , It appears that the fire originated on the premises occupied by a baker , named Anstey , situated in the centre of the Tillage , and the flames were first discovered raging from the thatched roof of the bakehouse , which adjoined the dwelling at the back , and also a brewhoHBe belonging to the Union Arms Inn , in the same street . On the alarm being siren ,

      several of the inhabitants mountfd « n to the roof , and attempted , by throwing buckets of water over it , to stop the progress of the fire , but in consequence of the dryness of the thatch , it was impossible to do so , and in the course of a few minutes the premises were in a body of flame . Within five minutes after , the dwelling-house and the brewery of the Union Arms caught , and from thence the work of devastation extended with frightful rapidity to a row of dwellings two stories high , tenanted by respectable families , in the rear of those buildings ; and in a short time four of them were levelled to the ground . The engines belonging to the village were brought to the scene shortly after the commencement of the fire , and were put into plav , but their services were

      of little utility , owing to the scanty supply of water , and the result was the destruction of the whole of tha abovo-mentioned premises , amounting to twelve brick buildings . The excitement that prevailed throughout the village was beyond measure great , and the scene on the immediate spot amongst the inhabitants was of a most heart-rending description . People were running about in the wildest confusion , saving what property they oonld snatch from the flames . About three-quarters of an . hour after the discovery , four engines arrived from Dorchester , accompanied by a detachment of soldiers belonging to the 9 th Lancers , with a party of the officers of fhe regiment , and were shortly followed by other

      engines from Stafford . By that period the fire had extended to five houses in a line with the premises where it commenced , and at three o ' clock other houses had ignited , and very quickly became aheap of ruins . The conflagration raged with great violence for many hours after , and the military were unable to check its progress until three houses were pulled down , whioh cut off the communication ; and , but for their powerful assistance the greater portion of the village would have been reduced to ashes . The number of families burnt out is reported to be forty-five , most of whom are fortunately insured . The amount of property destroyed is very considerable . No lives were lost .

      Effects of Railways . —A statement of the income and expenditure of the turnpike trusts in England and Wales , whioh has been printed by order of the House of Commons , will show , in reference to those counties which are more or less intersected by railroads ( for the year 1839 ) , how the income of ihose trusts has been affected . la Bedfordshire the ncome in 1839 amounted to £ 12 , 599 , and the total expenditure to £ 12 , 914 , leaving a deficiency of £ 315 . In Berkshire the total income was £ 18 , 362 , and the expenditure £ 17 , 151 . In Buckinghamshire the income amounted to £ 14 , 838 , and the expenditure to £ 16 , 199 , leaving a deficiency of £ l , 3 ol . In Cambridgeshire , the total income was £ 15 , 123 , and the

      expenditure £ 14 525 . In Cheshire , the income amounted to £ 50 , 854 , and the expenditure to & 52 . 015 , leaving a deficiency of £ 1 , 161 . In Derbyshire the income amounted to £ 40 , 997 , and the expenditure to £ 42 , 800 , leaving a deficiency of £ 1 , 803 . In Durham the income amounted to £ 32 , 612 , and the expenditure to £ 32 , 204 , leaving a surplus of only £ 408 . In Essex the income amounted to £ 31 , 460 , and the expenditure to £ 31 , 729 , leaving a deficiency of £ 269 . In Gloucestershire the income was £ 78 , 339 , and the expenditure to £ 81 , 594 , leaving a deficiency of £ 3 . 255 . In Hampshire the income amounted to £ 26 . . 957 , and the expenditure to £ 27 . 973 , leaving a deficiency of £ 1 , 021 . In Kent the income amounted to £ G 1 , 721 , and the expenditure to £ 60 . 964

      In Lancashire the income amounted to £ 143 . 822 , and the expenditure to £ 139 , 288 . la Leicestershire , the income and expenditure wero respectively £ 25 , 250 and £ 23 , 772 , and in Lincolnshire , £ 31 , 274 aud £ 33 , 574 ; leaving a deficiency in the latter county of £ 2 , 300 . In Middlesex the deficiency amounted to about £ 2 , 418 . In Northamptonshire the deficiency was no less than jf 4 , 4 43 . In Oxfordshire the income was £ 23 , 680 , and the expenditure £ 22 , 006 . In Shropshire the deficiency of income was about £ 2 , 595 . In Somersetshire there was a surplus of £ 578 . la Staffordshire the income amounted to £ 58 , 128 , and the expenditure to

      £ 59 , 752 . In Surrey the income was £ 61 , 000 , and the expenditure £ 63 , 578 , leaving a deficiency of £ 2 . 578 . In Warwickshire the income was £ 28 , 685 , and the expenditure £ 28 , 384 . In Worcestershire the tho income amounted to £ 42 , 824 , and the expenditure to £ 35 820 . In Yorkshire tho income amounted to £ 201 , 438 , and the expenditure to £ 199 , 107 , leaving a surplus of £ 2 , 331 . Thus , of the abovo twenty-four counties , there are no less than twelve in which tha income is exceeded by the expenditure . These statements furnish a curious addition to the history of railway travelling aud its effects in this country .

      Dueadful Calamity—Four Lives Lost—On Saturday morning , between the hours of one and two o ' clock , a frightful accident , attended with circumstances of an extraordinary nature , occurred on the river near Southwark Bridge , by which four persons lost their lives . It appears that the Orion , on iron steamer which runs between Ipswich and London , and the Pearl , Gravesend steamer , were moored near Southwark Bridge on Friday evening , and several men belonging to both vessels went ashore to obtain refreshment , and also to have a game at skittles at the George , public-house , Bankside . Among them was a man named Robert Clarkson . residing at Ipswich , an invalid , who possessed an income of about £ 200 a-yeav , and was in the habit

      of ftoingnp and down the r ver in the Orion , and spending a great part of his time in the steamers . He appeared in a very low and desponding state when he came ashore , and paid he would make away with himself . On reaching the public-house his companions endeavoured to rally him , and began ringing and joking with him , and begged him to be cheerful . Clarkson , however , continued in the same melancholy condition , and told his friends to acquaint a female at Ipswich , when they returned to that place , that she would never see Robert any more . At a late hour Clarkson procured some laudanam and swallowed a quantity of it , which his friends prevented taking effect , by giving him emetics , brandy , and other liquids . At half-past

      one o'clock tho party , seven in number , four of whom belonged to the Pearl , and the remainder to the Orion , proceeded to Bankside stairs opposite the Welch Trooper , where the Pearl ' s boat was lying , for the purpose of returning to their vessels . It was agreed that four of them should first proceed to tho steamers , and return with the boat for the other three . Accordingly four persons , including Clarkson got into the boat , which pushed off , but they had not proceeded more than ten or twelve yards before Clarkson rose from his seat and jumped overboard into the water . The others all got up in the boat at once , and endeavoured to save him , when the boat instantly oipsizod , and they were all thrown into the river . The tide carried

      them towards the bridge ; their struggles were short , and thev all perished . The poor fellows on shore could offer no assistance to their drowning companions ; there was no boat at the stairs , and it was some time before any aid could be procured . Tho people on beard the Orion were no sooner made acquainted with the occurrence than a boat was lowered , and the drags wero thrown out . In about twenty minutes afterwards the body of Clementson was picked up , and taken to the Welsh Trooper public-house , to await a coroner ' s inquest . The names of tli .: other unfortunate individuals are—JohnOxley and Joseph Taunton , of the Pearl , and Wm . Clemenipon , of the Orion . Soon after the accident , a Thames Police galley , containing Inspector Maddox , and

      Gregory and Rowcroft , river constables , rowed down to the spot , and also attempted to find the bodies , but were unsuccessful . The boat was found bottom upwards , off Horsleydown , by the Thames Police , and Oxley ' s jacket was also picked up . The parties were all sober when tkis sad occurrence took place Tho tide was about half ebb when the accident occurred , and the bodies were carried down the river . By six o ' clock hi the evening three of the unfortunate men were picked up and conveyed to the George public-house , and which were identified as Ciementson , of Ipswich , and Oxley and Clarkson , nf Gravesend . Clementson , it appears , was the

      second steward of the Orion steamer . The second body found was that of Oxley . who was a sailor on board of the Pearl ; fortunately , he was unmarried . His unfortunate death is , however , expected to be attended with most calamitous results to his mother , who is confined to her bed , occasioned by the sudden death of her daughter about a month ago . The third body picked up was that of CJarkton , the second steward of the Pearl , also a resident of Graveeend , and who has left a wife to lament his untimely end . Thornton , the chief steward , who is supposd to have been the cause of the ealamitons accident , has not been found , and , like darksoo , ha * left a wife .

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      Sale ov v auxhail Gard&ks . —The justly celebrated property , for so many years a favourite place of pabho resort , waaon Thursday bubmitted to" the hammer , " by direction of the assignees of Messrs Gye and Hughes , late proprietors , under an order ef the Court of Review . The gale , which was intrusted to Mr . Leifchild , tock place at Garraway ' a Coffeehouse : the numerous attendance of wealthy capitalists and gentlemen engaged in theatrical speculations sufficiently attested the lively interest which prevailed as to the finaldispo ? al of the " royal property , The bidding reached £ 20 , 200 , at which enm the hammer reluctantly fell . The purchaser is Mr . Thomas Fowler , a gentleman , we believe , wholly unknown in the circles to which such a property might be supposed to be more peculiarly desirable . The deposit-money , £ 2 , 020 , was paid down immediately after the sale by Mr . Fowler ' s agent , by a check on a London banker .

      How thb Public is Gulled and Poisoned!— -Oq Saturday , at the Court of Requests , Kingegatestreet , a pork-butcher , named Cutts , summoned a tailor , named Wiliiams , for £ 1 14 s . under the following circumstances .- —The plaintiff said , that in December last he sold the defendant three pigs for £ 3 4 s . £ 110 s . were paid at the time , the defendant promising to pay the balance in three or four days , which he had never done . Mr . H « ath , the Commissioner , asked the defendant whether he had anj defence to make ! Defendant— " Certainly I have . The pigs died as soon as I had got them home , and Mr . Cutts knows it . Why , directly after the first one gasped its last , I sent for his foreman , who came and cut its throat , and I dressed it and sent it to market . " Mr . Heath ( shuddering)— " What did it die of , pray x" Defendant— " Whythe mullens and

      , yellow water * " ( Laughter and groans . ) Mr . Heath — " And you staud there and tell us coolly that you Bent a pig that had died of a disease to a market to bo sold for human consumption 1 " Defendant— " Yes , I could ' nt afford to lose all my money . " Mr . Heath— " You ought to be ashamed of yourself , and be driven from society . ( To Mr . Cutts)—What havo you to say to this ! " Plaintiff— "The pigs were in . good health when he bought them , and it was through his owu negligence they became diseased . I heard that they were bad , and went to see them , and I found them confined in a small privy , and the steam and stench arising from them was dreadful . They were suffering , from a disease which all pigs are liable to . It is like the measlesand , like childrenthey

      , , have it but once . ( A few of the persons present hers began retching , and others laughed immoderately . ) Mr . Heath- ' - " Did you give him a warrant ! " Plaintiff— "No , we never warrant a pig . I will swear that they were quite well when I parted with them . " Defendant— " Oh ! old Richards , the pig-killer , knows different to that . " Old Richards , by the desire of the Commissioners , was called . Mr . Heath" What do you know about the pigs ! " Old Richards ( shaking his head)— "They were very bad . Oh , bo measely . You ' ve seen people with the small-pox . " Mr . Heath— "Don ' t make the case worse than it ifl . You will make us all ill . " Old RichardB— " Ah , I

      trimmed one of ' em , but all my ingenuity would not make it go off . I hung it up for sale , but it was no go , and we were at last obliged to bury it . " Mr . Heath ( turning to his brother Commissioner)—' " Well , Gentlemen , I think you must have had enough of this abominable case . The defendant and his witness ought to be indioted . The plaintiff swears that it was . the defendant ' s own fault that the pigs fell sick , andif yeH believe him you will find a verdict for tho amount claimed . The Jury agreed with what had fallen from Mr . Heath , and decided accordingly ; aud the defendant , fearing summary punishment from some of ths bystanders , made a precipitate retreat from the neighbourhood .

      Thb Bee Business . —Mr . Rice , of Ripley , Erie county , Pa ., has an extensive establishment foe keeping bees . Twenty years ago he had one swarm , from which , in twelve years , he had 396 " swarms . The Erie Gazette states that they had then become so powerful , that they commenced depredations on the neighbouring tribes , going out on predatory excursions to the distance of two or three miles , much to tho annoyance of the unfortunate neighbours . He then killed off a number of swarms , and obtained above two tons of honey for the New York market . He has now adopted the patent hives for a part of his bees , in which Bmall glass drawers are placed in the npper part , with small apertures for access from the main part of the hive . In this way , by drawing the slide , the bees can be seen at work , and tke amount of honey ascertained . When filled , the drawer can be removed and the place supplied by another , without destroying the industrious insects .

      Thb Latb Murder at Liverpool . —We nndertand that a respite , during her Majesty ' s pleasure , signed by Sir James Graham , the new Home Secretary , has been received for Girolomo Capella , the convict under sentence of death in Kirkdalegaol for murder . —Liverpool Mail . A New Wat to Get Married . Splendid Prospects . — At the Guildhall Police-court , on Thursday , Anne Parrott , of Little Surrey-street , Blackfriar ' s-road , who appeared to be about thirty years of age , was charged with attempting to drown herself at Blackfriar ' s-bridge . about ten o ' clock the preoeding night . Ebenczer Kibble white , a policeman , said , some , man passing over the bridge gave the alarm , and he and Cockrell another policeman ran down the steps on the south-east end . They found her immersed up to the neck , and were obliged to rush into the water to save her ; she said she had

      quarrelled with the man she was living with . The man came forward and said , he was a labourer at the City Gas-works , and he had been living with her about four months . Her sister was married on the precedingday , and , they weretobemarriedattbesame time , but he could not afford it at present . When the prisoner got a drop of drink she felt the disappointment , they quarrelled , and it appeared die attempted to drown herself . Mr . Alderman Pirie asked him if he was in earnest as to intending to marry her . The man said he was , but he could not afford it just now , as it would cost £ 1 . Mr . Alderman Pirie said he would find him the means , and he trusted he would treat the young woman kindly . He might put up the banns directly , and he should have the £ 1 on the day ot tho ceremony . The prisoner was -discharged with a kind admonition .

      Death from Bad Meat . —About a fortnight ago , a farmer in the neighbourhood of Whitworth , near Rochdale , Io 3 t a calf by the disease now raging among cattle ; after its death he got it dressed , and then sold it to a person- who , on Saturday week , retailed it . No Ies 3 than thirty-one persons who partook of it on the following day became suddenly affected ; one man died , and it is feared some others will not recover . —Liverpool Chronicle . Policemen and Prostitutes . Thb Tables Turned . —On Saturday , considerable amusement was . created at Bow-street Police Court , by the following extraordinary disclosure : —For some months past the police of the F division , on duty in the Strand , have been very active in bringing before the

      magistrates of . the above court such unfortunate nymphs of the pave frequenting that neighbourhood , who , either from want of money , or other reasons , have been unable to make " all right" with those disinterested and impartial gentlemen . Among the more active in this kind of warfare , was one Job Thome , F 75 , a worthy follower in the steps of Russell , the ex-policeman , who was lately dismissed the force . Scarcely a night passed that Job did not apprehend fire or six unfortunate girls , on the charge of soliciting gentlemen in the streets . On Friday night , two of them hit upon the following novel and laughable method of revenging themselves : —They induced one of the frail sisterhood ( unknown in that neighbourhood , and whom Job

      had never seen before , ) to solicit him to take a little walk with hor . Unfortunately the temptation of her charms was too strong for Job , and after looking round to see that no busy sergeant was watching his movements , he was led by thefair damsel , nothing loth , to a court in the Strand . Now , although it was his duty to- take into custody all females of a certain class , who solicit gentlemen in the street , yet as policeman do not come within that description , he did not think he wa ? authorised in taking her to the station-house , and instead of doing bo allowed her to take him to a house of a very different description . No sooner had he entered than one of the girls , Who had laid the trap for him , filled with a laudable anxiety to preserve the morals

      of the Police Force , started off to the Station-house and gave information of the " whereabouts" of the amorous blue-devil , and the nature of the " duty " he was then engaged in . The officers at head-quarters were so shocked at the alarming intelligence , that they were some time before they could decide upon the proper course to be adopted in such an emergency , ; but' at length a detachment of the Force , headed by a sergeant , was dispatched to the naughty house in question . On arriving there they proceeded to the " two pair back , " and on breaking open the door , they discovered their frail and erring comrade locked in the arms of bis seducer . The astonishment of the guardian of public morals may be more easily conceived than described ( to use a common phrase ) when he saw his sergeant and several of the rank and file surrounding the couch on which he reclined with his lady lore . The

      virtuous party were deaf to all remonstrances , and they soon dragged the delinquent off to the Stationhouse . Sandbrock , the superintendent , who is anxious that the movements of the force should be conducted with as much regularity as thoBeof a Dutch clock , on being informed of the above circumstances ordered the offender to hold himself in readiness to appear before their mightinesses the Commissioners , an the following morning , and in the mean time , to consider himself as placed under arrest . The culprit , however , considered that nnder the circumstances , it would be much better for him to bolt , and as a well-tried dog who discovers preparations for kicking him down stairs , sav es his master the trouble by walking off , so Job , whose patience would not allow him to wait till the Commissioners ordered him to be dismissed the force , stripped himself of his uniform , threw down his staff of office ^ and without even taking an affectionate leave of his comrades , left the Station-house for erer .

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      THI NOBTH 11 H STAR . 3

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      THE ENGLISH MAIDEN , a Modified Rsprint of an American Work . We have been fcvoured with a sight of the first five sheets of a Bmall work under the above title , which is now in the press , and which will , we understand , be in the hand 3 of the Publishers in a few days . As far as we can jndge from the specimen we have seen , will be highly deserving of the most extensive pnblic patronage . The work appears to us to be of an entirely anti-sectarian character , while , at the same time every page breathes with the vital spirit of practical Christianity , and is redolent with the beams of the most exalted patriotism . The chapters we have seen are entitled " The Capacities of Woman " " The Influence of

      Woman , " " The Education of Woman , " and " Home . " And each subject is treated in a clear , forcible , and attractive manner , » t once calculated to please , interest , and instruct . The English Editor has erased several portions of the original work , which were adapted to American rather than to English society , and has added matter more suitable for the maidens of hi 3 own conntry . Much of the new matter thus introduced is of a very valuable kind , and calculated to expand the intellectual , while it most carefully strives to improve the moral nature of those for whose especial benefit the work is intended . Should the book , as a whole , sustain the character which is justly due to the portion we have seen , we shall hope that every parent and guardian will lose no time in presenting to those under their care a present so well worthy their acceptance .

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      AN EXAMINATION OF THE CORN AND HROYISION LAWS . By John Cakpbell , General Secretary to the National Charter Association of Great Britain . This gives promise of being a most valuable and useful work— crammed with statistics from the works of the Anti Corn Law party by which their own arguments are stultified . We have as yet merely had time to glance at a few pages ; but what we have seen satisties us tbat no chartist ought to be without it . When we have moreleisuoely examined it we shall return to it .

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      WLocal mar © fmral 3 hxt $ Tli&ence

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      Royal Artillery—General Order , Sept . 8 th . —Lieutenant General Lord Vivian cannot quit the ordanoe department , over which ho has had the honour of presiding during a period of six years , without expressing to all those belonging to it the greatest satisfaction he has had in carrying on the service in conjuncti on with them . It is a pleasure to him to bear his testimony that he has ever found all in their respective offices discharging the duties

      attached to them with zeal , ability , and efficiency . To the ordnance military corps , Lord Yivian would especially address himself . Many years of military service had afforded him opportunities of becoming acquainted with their merits and witnessing the excellent conduct of the officers and men of the royal artillery and royal engineers ; a more intimate connection with them confirming him in the high opinion ho had previously entertained . In now parting from them , he ventures te express hia sincere and earnest hope that they will ever be found pursuing the same course which has acquired for them their present high character , and ever be equally distinguished for their gallantry in the field , and their loyalty to their Sovereign . —( Signed ) H . D . Ross , colonel , deputy adjutant-general .

      FnieHTFUL Accident oh the Bristol and Exbter Railroad . —On the arrival at the Bridgewater terminus , on Saturday last , of the four o'clock afternoon train from Bristol , the engine whioh brought down the train was employed , after the passengers had left the carriages , in removing the train from the down line to the other . To effect this transfer it is necessary to remove the carriages from the station to a point on the line about 150 yards distance , where proper means are provided for transferring carriages from one line of rails to the other . Between that point and'the station is a crossing for coaches , &c , over the rails ; the engine had already transferred some carriages from the down to the up line , and was returning for others , with itB tender in

      front , when , on arriving at the crossing , the Exquisite stage-coach , with passengers for Exeter , was in the act of passing over the rails . The tender struck the fore part of the coach , which it shivered to pieces . The hind wheels , with a part of the body of the coach , were forced off the line by the violence of the shock , and fell over , while the passengers were scattered about in every direction . The horses , from the complete smash of the coach , were liberated , and escaped with but little injury . Six persons are more or less injured . Mr . Burferd , of Bristol , one of the passengers , was removed to the Clarence Hotel , where he is suffering under a concussion of the brain , and other internal injuries . His head was so jammed under one of the wheels of the tender , that he could not be extricated until the engine was

      baoked ; another inch and his skull would have been crushed to atoms . Johns , the driver of the Exquisite , and Hatchwell , the well-known coachman to the Sheriff at the assizes , are both seriously mangled . The other passengers have escaped with some serious bruises ; but Ann Gore , a poor old woman of 73 , who had just crossed the railroad , was caught by the falling coach , and is not expected to survive . She was taken to the Bridgewater infirmary , when it was found that both bones of one leg were broken close to the ancle joint , a considerable portion of the skull laid bare , and a frightful contusion over one of the temples . She has continued , with slight intermissions , in a high state of delirium , and cannot be expected to recover . We cannot learn that the least blame can be justly attached to the driver of the engine .

      Disgraceful Affair in the Queen ' s Bench Prison . —At Union-hall , on Thursday . Robert Newman , a debtor in the Qjusen ' s Bench Prison , was brought up by habeas , on an alleged charge of indecently assaulting James Haggett , an inmate of the same gaol . From the complainant ' s statement it appeared , that he was a tortoiseshell comb-maker , and had been incarcerated in the above gaol , between four and five months ; that on a recent occasion he was accosted by the prisoner , who spoke to him on the subject of making a leaden comb to prevent his hair from turning grey . On that occasion the accused invited him into his room to smoke a pipe of tobacco , and conducted himself in suoh a manner , as to convince the complainant that he was a man of

      improper character . On another occasion the defendant behaved in a similar manner , and the complainant determined on exposing the practices of such a man , informed a person of the name of Darrell of tho oircumstances ; and it was agreed between them , that on the next visit to defendant ' s room Darrell should conceal himself underneath the bed , in order to witness the conduct of the alleged delinquent . Agreeably to this intention the complainant went to the defendant's apartment , and , whilo Darrell was underneath the bedstead , the defendant proceeded to act in such a manner towards complainant as to justify the present accusation ; at which moment Darrell started from his hiding place , and witnessed the assault , which was described , but was of a nature

      unfit for publication . It was further stated by tho complainant that on the last occasion of the alleged assault he made an alarm while in the defendant ' s room , and that several persona came to the spot , and tho aggressor was dragged out into the lobby and beaten by some of the other prisoners , who were about to inflict summary vengeance upon him , and pitch him head-foremost into the large water-closet of the gaol , had it not been for the interference of some of the officers of the prison . Darrell confirmed the complainant ' s evidence , and said that on his rushing out from beneath the bedstead the defendant begged for mercy and forgiveness . Other witnesses gave testimony of their having been attracted to the spot by

      hearing the affray in the defendant s room , and of having witnessed tho disordered state of his clothes on their entrance . Tho complainant , and also the principal witness , Darrell , underwent a rigorous cross-examination by Mr . Locke , in the course of which they said that they were acquaintances , and that they were both confined as prisoners in the above gaol , for offences committed by them at the election of bridgemaster , and that indictments had been found against thorn . Darrell admitted that ho had been imprisoned in Gtltspur-street Compter , and had been fined £ 5 for assaulting a female , but he had no remembrance of ever having been charged with uttering unlawful coin , or of having swallowed three base half-crowns to prevent detection . Mr . Locke contended , that the evidence of suoh men could not be received with any degree of safety , particularly as such charges were so easily trumped up .

      and so difficult to be disproved by the unfortunate persons who happened to be th « accused parties . In the course of the examination the defendant ' s trousers were produced , to show the state in which they were torn , and he declared that it was done by the complainant , in order to induce a belief that he ( defendant ) had exposed his person . The defendant , who is a man of respectable appearance , declared that it was a foul conspiracy got up against him , and he complained that he had been most shamefully used on the occasion , and was determined on instituting proceedings against his assailants . Mr . Cottingham said , that notwithstanding the credit of the two principal witnesses was impugned , still their evidence was supported by the testimony of other persons who could have no motive iu eoming forward . The Magistrate then adjudged the defendant to enter interns own recognizance of £ 500 , and find two sureties of £ 2 * 0 , to answer the harge at UteSeesioae .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 18, 1841, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct721/page/3/