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Northern Star (1837-1852), 1st October 1842, Edition 4 of 8, Page 6

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      BESMONDSET . A public converBUoEal meeting was Held on Thaw-Say evening weefc , at the Ship Ibb , Long Lane , Bermondsey . . .. Mr . S >\ iGS was called to the chair , and opened tne proceedings by informing the assembly that , it was an J adjourned meeting from the previous week , and feat iU oWset was to end ° aTonr to effect 5 union between the Metropolitan lUfcrm Association and the Chartist * . Mr . MATS . ua > moved the following resolution : — ' That this meeting cannet bat feel , with horror and alsrei , the present awful distressed state of the country , in which not only the working Masses , trat the man * , factnrer and the small capitalist , are * like npon the brink of ruin ; and being convieced that the canse -ef this distress is class fegfelftSon , we feei assnred that « o ¦ DersMnent good will «" s- " »* tt t * 16 People ' s Cnsr ter

      becomes the law ff * ee land , whicti' would sooa be accomplished bv = ¦¦* boEeefanion-ef the middle and working classes ejecting tfeeir energies for this great object " He stood before tfcem in rather a'peeuliar position , and ' hi * motives -were liable te be tsisrepresented . ; but he « lori 6 d in bis portion , sad was ^ stermined to pursue an tones ! straightforward course , = and had no doubt their efforts to proaote a unicn would i » snceessfol . To &e resolution he wassma no GbsrtiBtconld object . sie ¦ was well aware they ought to entertain » . j « ilousy of the middle < is £ ses , 2 they d # abted their sincerity ; but they should also tafce into consideration their pesaliar circumstances . The great efcject they h * d in view was ta » attaifiEentof the Charter , and if t hey were to obtain it morally , it was bis firm opinkffi it could not classdistress

      fee done without the aid ef the middle , was ravaging the country ; tena of thousands rose in the morning unknowing ** a » they should protcre food for the < isy , wkilst sootier class , who neither toiled nor 'pan , were " clotbed in fine linen , and fared sumptuen-Ov « very cay . " Susi a state of things was enough to nTais a man ' s hair stand on end . The great cause of this was that the masses were unrepresented . Until ¦ the Charter was obtained , this could rarer be removed He was a " whole hog" Chartist ; be -would not lost one of the points . A Ean could not lose an arm without his whole body feeing irjured , neither could one point of the Charter be abandoned without an injury to the whale machinery . He did not . blame thtni for being j ; alou 3 of the middle classes , they had been eo often deceived by them ; but some were as honest ae themselves . Home Tocie , Hunt , -Cebbett ,

      OC-jnror , asfi other -great advocates of their rights , ¦ were middle-class men . If the Charter wm to be gained morally , it must be obtained in the House of Commons . Their grand object , then , wculd be to nrge od those who had votes to give them to no man who would not . pledge himself to the Charter . He ¦ was well aware the-middle el&sses would only join thtm from interest They felt the shoe piuch them , and -were anxious to remove its pressure . A great movement was being carried on in that body . Those that a little time back would have treated the CEartists with disdain , were now seen coming amongit them , settcg it was their last resource from the locusts who were devouring the laud . They must all be aware they would get the Charter sooner by the aid of the middle class , and until they joined the hons * t portion of them , in his opinion they would never obtain it .

      Dr . BiACE . seconded the resolution . He was suffering from indisposition , and nothing but the impor tance of the meeting wculd have induced him to have attended . They had a powerful enemy to contzn ^ against , an enemy completely organized . It had ¦ what might be termed its cfiicial organlxition , perfect in all its Ceisils , embracing every spot In the kingdom ; it had a griesrly organization covering the whole land , as it were one great moral club ; it had another peculiar organiEitioa , its gentlemen's clubs , meeting in their aristocratic establishments , and perpetually eRgaged in plotting the beat means to retain their ascendancy over the people ; they had also a powerful military organizition , well c-fficered , supplied with every description of the munitivins of warfare , cud affording situations for the younger sozs of the aristocracy , whose salar ies they

      were compelled to pay ; there was also their police and coostabnlatary force ; and this -was not ali , they had also a great moral-force organizition , not only among the middle bat also among the working classes—the feeling trbich indnced men to bow down to a name ted a title , was one of the greatest evils they had to contend against ; it infected all their proceedings . The power thus exercised by a priest cr magistrate vras enormous , He knew an honest Cbirtist , who recently told him that he could not stand with the same ease in the presence of a Lord as of another man . This powerful opponent , possessed of these three complete organizations , called themselves it addition their masters , and the country tbsir country , telling them this was law , i and they must obey it—this was illegal , and they must refrain from it—making laws by which they could

      scarcely meet together , and give vent to their honest indignation , without endangering their liberty through the spy sjBtem . This was a picture of the enemy they had to cope ¦ wi th , and -whit was their position ? Had they even one complete orzanizition ? Were they in possession of a physical f-rce power officered and disciplined like that of the enemy ? He said it fea-lessly , but with an aching heart , that they were Branding before the best prepared enemy in the world , quarrelling among themsslves , allowing jealous petty feelings to spoil the cause in which they were engaged , quarrelling even in their own localities . Gsod G-od ! were they so insensible to tbeir own position that nothing cou ' . d mako them lock at their real position ? Were they longer to go on as madmen or boys , engaged in idle spcrt . True , they might call the Government hard names , but they imprisoned or banished whom they pieased . Tbty raised subscriptions for their defence and support , but was

      that to be all ? "Were they to go on so to the end of the chapter . JCo ! In spite of jealousy , in spite of ¦ wrong thinking , he would net say ¦ croiig motives , the dawn cf a union was breaking over them ; and , before many months ths great Suffrage party throughout the land would , he believed , be united as a band of brothers . Truth had only to be fearlessly proclaimed , and its nltimat-e triumph was certain . They might be called dishonest ; they might be suspected , but they would still gs on , vn ' : il they conquered them . He felt that the middle classes were liable to be suspected . The working men suffered under the sting of sppressors in that class , and it made them irritable , bui when they met in a friendly manner , like the present , error was dissipated and friendship produced . Th ? y had only been two or three months in active operation j and they had the satisfaction of seeing that tbc-se who were then the most suspicious of their intentions were now their greatest friends . This gave them encouragement to go on in endeavouring to efftrt a cordial union .

      Mr . Paiechild Eaid the present appeared to him to be a momentous crisis . If a union eould be honestly brought about , he should hail it with delight . It waB ¦ what he had been looking for many a iong day . The only question to consider was , would it be consistent to unite with thoEa men who had ever coerced the working classes . Ke thought they might safely unite ¦ with acy man , whether peer or peasant , who would go for the Charter ; but he would have the Charter whole and eatTe , name and all , or he would die for it . He asked the gentlemen , did they mean to give them a substance or a shadow ? if they meant to give them the substance , in God ' s name he saia to them , Go on and prosper . If they meant to deceive them he trusted they ¦ would fail ; but they must have something more than words , they must have actions . The middle class were

      their most oppressive tyrants . Feargus O'Connor was a middle class man , but he did not think any more of him for that circusnstar . ee , and . if he deserted the principle they wculd immediately hurl him to the winds He for one would say , Give me tbe Charter , you may go to h—1 L They had no objection to hold out the hand of fellowship , to let the two associations run together and assist each other . They had the means at their command , let them use those means to assist tbe men now in prison , and he ' w » u ! d hail them as patriots and brothers . As until they did that he could not believe they were honest or trustworthy ; he did not vrish to throw cold water on this attempt , for be knew that if the middle classes honestly united with them , the Charter ¦ would be attained in less than six months . The three par cent , commisaorers were

      telling tfcem a lesson they would never forget . Peel was a Chartist to the back bone , and was making Chartists by wholesale .. If it had not been for ths tariff and the income tix , they would have heard but little of Chartism in that quarter . He did not expect , as Mr . Maynard did , any pood from a House of Commons like the present . Was it likely a House containing 132 boya under twenty-tw » and a half years of age would grant them the Charter ? He knew they would scout the idea , after the manner in which the petition was treated ; every man who signed that document , he dare avow , had more sense than these 132 boys , and yet they tauated ¦ working men -with ignorance . Was that man ignorant who coald dig a

      road under the Thames ? A pretty idea , truly , to call that man ignorant who could . make machines to travel sixty miles an hour . If a union based on principle could be formed , he should rejoice , for he knew the Charter would be quicker obtained , The middle classes had more funds at their disposal : acd if they meant honestly , they would not suffer one indrridoal now in prison to be lost for want of funds , but would join in that merciful orjeet with heart and hands , acd hands too well provided with the needful ; and they would think more of their sincerity than if they made professions for seven years to oome . He believed Dr . Black to be perfectly sireere . He thought if the middle class were all like him they would soon have the Charter .

      Mr . C . Westbbton hafled with great pleasure tfce exertions of his friend Dr . Black , in endeavouring to procure a union among all section * of the Chartists The chief objection be had beard advanced against a union was , that the middle classes , after making many professions , always had deserted them when their ramBtanoe -was most wasted ; and as yeomanry cavalry , and in the jury box , they had eTer been their peraecntors . ( Hear . ) He admitted the middle classes had prsved traitors ; that they had insinuated themselves among them , and thea sold them to then enemies . But wai it just to s » y thai becau 3 a some had done this that all were equally dishonest ? As well might they aay that , because certain working men had turned spies or because some of them had destroyed property , or committed acts of violence , that the whole class were equally as guilty . They would , he knew , hurl bide tbe fool assertion open the party who made it

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      and he , as a shopkeeper or middle class maa , equally hurled hick ttw charge aga ? . nsfc his class . Many of the middle class were equally ' jiterested in abolishing class legislation , as themselves . Tbey wanted a union not so much for a love of them , but from a regard for their own interest They wo < ild find that come of the men now foremost in their i anfcs were middle class man . What were O'Connor , Frost , and that sterling and and high-minded pat / lot who was now . forced to fly his hotna , Dr . M'Bouall ?! Great cheering . ) He trusted they should be | udged by their conduct and not by such idle iraputatiaas ; it was a libel upon the ¦ w orking men to assert they -would be betrayed . Could they rob them of tbeir inlegigence or of their prinicple ! They did not aek them to give np their organization or to pin their faith to tfceir sleeves ; tbey did not even want them to

      joa th'jir association , entess of their own wish ; that olject was to rally round them the true and honest « f the middle claES . He treated they would ferm their judgment by thtir acte = » lone (" and that of your commiti tee . " ) Hb thought that was a harsh remark . No asso-! ciation was free from -some bad characters , there was » . always some black slseep in the flock ; he was only } anxiocs for a good understanding that they might co-1 operate together . I -HTPFY Ridlet wished to ask Dr . Black a question i In the pamphlets they bad itaued , one of the points was ¦ that " Parliaments were not to be larger though they mi ^ it be for less duration , than three yeara , " He ' wished to know whether , having seconded the resolu-1 tion for the Charter , hs , or tho committee acting with ! him , were prepared to expunge that rule , and place i Annual Parliaments in its stead .

      ' Dr . Black , stated that they had great difficulties to ! contend with among tbe middle classes . If -bis own ' ¦ fc-elines could have been consulted he would have come } cut boldly for the six points , name and ait and he - ^ vas of opinion that if " a sufficient number of men of influence could be got to take that standing it would : be the best and most manly course . He had been a j -firm Chartist ever since the first Convention . They had -considered the point ef Annual Parliaments , and found ! many good men preferred Biennial'Parliaments , and : some few Triennial ; and to afford every facility for the junction of those men they left the point open . He had no doubt whenever the Charter was -adopted ,

      it would be settled to have Annual Parliaments ; yet many even of the -Chartists if they had to write the Charter over again , and to consult their individual opinions , micht make some alight alterations in it ; but in a great combined movement it was easautial they should give way on all those little shades of opinion to ensure union on the whole . lise great majority of his association were in favour of Annual Parliaments . Mr . Rbfft -RiSiET stated that he had no doubt these individuals we ; e actuated by good motives ; but it was the duty of the public to scrutinise whether rheir acts would have tbe desired effect . Br . Back might , as an individual , think it prndtnt to gi ? e way on some minor point j but he , as a member of tbe working class , could not abandon one iota of the Charter . ( We dont want you . ) Be thought that if the . majority were for Annual Parliaments , it was a delusion to have

      that rule on their pamphlets ; it was keeping a phantom before the public to delude them , xnd would onlj have the retnlt of pnxtaeing disappointment when it was discovered tfcat their pamphlets and their profeerions were at variance . Ke considered three years too Jong for a member to be exposed to the temptation of the Government ; too long for a man ' s honesty to be depended on . He asked these gentleeen to come manfully forward and advocate that complete measure of justice which would ensure the salvation of tbe country . One speaker had said that injustice had ever characterised the proceedings of the middle towards the work " ing classes : of that the Reform Bill was a fatal example . He requested tbem , for consistency Bike , to expunge that rnle from their books . One man gained under the honest colours of Annual Partliaments would be worth ten men gained by a delusion .

      Dr . Black explained ; in his opinion if they got the Suffrage , if the duration of Parliament was fixed to 3 , 5 . or even 100 years , if they found it did not answer , they could easiiy rectify it . Mr Wheeler britfly spoke on the necessity of the Rsform Association giviDg up such a minor point before any thins like a firm union could exist . Mr . Rufft Ridley said he Blill considered that rule a delusion , but he should leave the audience to decide ; he shonld not havo been doing his duty if he had not alluded to it ; he gave them every credit for tbe manliness with which they had explained their views . He should be Berry to throw anything in the way of a reconciliation , bnt he tbongbt they should first explicitly understand each other : if they went on in their present straightforward manner he should wish them everv success .

      Mr . Stallwood entirely coincided -with Mr . Ridley in his objections . Dr . Black seemed to treat the question of Annual Parliaments lightly , but he could not have sufficiently considered the subject or he would have seen that Universal Suffrage could not exist without it , for the Charter said that every man of twenty-one should have a vote , but if Parliaments were Triennial , he could not in thousands of instances have it until he was twenty-four ; they were pledged to the whole Charter , name and ali , and any union not based on that would be a rope of sand . The Complete Suffrage men adopted tfee whole of the Six Points , so did the largest party , the National Charter Association , anjl if the great majority of the Reform Association were for Annual Parliaments he felt convinced they could easiiy convert the minority .

      Mr . Morton made a very excellent speech in favour of a co-cperation of the two bodies ; he belonged to every association which had for its object the destruction cf tyranny , and allowing of working men to manage their own affairs . He knew that it was the tace-pinching tbem which caused the middle classes to lock to the Charter ; but had not the case been the same with tbe working men ? did they care any thing about R form untU the fchoe pinched them ? they allowed oce aster another to be imprisoned in their cause ; they allowed the hand loom weavers to be persecuted and starved ; why then reject the middle classes when tbe pinching of the shoe drove them into their ranks ? He agreed with the previous speakers , that the middle classes should show tbeir truthfulness and love of justice l-y assisting the incarcerated victims .

      Mr . J . Duncan made a Iong acd able speech in favor cf a friendly spirit of co-operation existing between the two Associations , and concluded in the words of the battle charge of a celebrated Vendean chief , "IfI advance , follow me ; if I retreat , kill me ; if I die , avenge me . " He would say the same ; if they retreated , let tnem be consigned to that political death which they would richly merit . But give them the English justice to be accounted innocent until they were proved to be guilty . Mr . Ross was anxious to have a fair understanding . He did not like the terms middle class and working class : the sooner they forget those distinctions the better . The middle men had ever looked down upon working men with contempt . They did not even deign to attend their meetings , but gathered into tfeeir minds every prejudice which v ? as sown by interested

      individuals , and took no opportunity to dispel it . The speakers , especially the last , had spoken mnch about the working classes refusing to unite . When had they ever refused a union on tke principles of the Charter ? It was the middle class which stood aloof in their pr ide and prejudice . The Chartists had ever been grateful for assistance , come from what quarter it would . But when they snw the names of persons on their council , the study of whose lives appeared to be to sow diseord and division , it m&de them look with a suspicious eye on the whole body . These men say they are Sturgites—they are moral men—and they will have nothing to do with the Fenrgusites—this did not look like union . He thought it was useless to have meetings like the present ; if they wanted to ascertain the sentiments of the two bodies they should call a large public meeting , or a conference , composed of an equal Dumber of delegates from feoth parties .

      Mr . Wheelhk agreed with the sentiments uttered by Mr . Ross . They had never declined tke assistance of the middle class , bat they would not desert those principles to which they were pledged ; he wished to understand what the gentlemen meant by co-operating with them ; if they meant they should be members of both associations be could frankly assure them they could do no such thing , for tho working men unfortunately had not funds sufficient properly to support their own organtzition ; trith tbe middle class the case was widely different ; they possessed the means , and if disposed to co-operate , could belong to all the associations , like their friend Mr . Morton ; if by co-operation they meant assisting them by their nnmbers and presence at any public meetings , he couid readily assure them it would be done provided they adhered to the principles of the Charter .

      Dr . Black sttfed that they had three means of accomplishing their object by petitioning , by the press , and by public meetings ; petitioning -was britfly useful as a means of banding together public opinion . The press , ucfortunately with a few exceptions , -was under the irfiaence of their opponents ; their chief strength lay in public meetings ; thc-y had that evenim ? hs . d a good talk , and understood each other ; prejudice was disappearing , and it was only by sneh meetings that unanimity could be produced ; they would shor tly hold a large public meeting for the same good purpese . A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman , five shillings were collected for the victims , and Mr . Morton enrolled himself as a member of the National Chnrier Association .

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      Lobd Johs Rcssrll , it is said , has been occupying his leisure hours , since his retirement from office , in preparing for publication selections from the eorrespondeiice of John fourth Duke of Bedford , from the originals preserved at Woburn Abbey . — Times . The Waespite , 50 , ( . " " ap ^ am Lord John Hay , arrived at Softhead on Sst . 'irday afternoon , bringing homo Lord Ashburton from his mission in America . His Lordship left the Wart ^ te between two and three o ' clock , and landed at oT'Osport , the ship saluting him when he left her , ana tne batteries upon his landing . The Warspite has be CJ 1 seventeen days from America , having left on the nK > rnin 8 ° * tae S'Q instant . She was becalmed tvro days , or would have made the run in fifteen . Lord Ashbur . * * " npon bis landing at Gosport , immediately procev . *? ^ to his residence at Anglesey , where Lady Asbx njton I " been waiting his arrival .

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      A MARE ' S NEST ( From the Times . )

      "An investigation into circumstances of ths most alarming character , connected with a Chartist conspiracy to destroy the Queen , has been secretly going on before the magistracy of Southampton for some time : past We have taken all imaginable pains to obtain correct information on the subject . We believe oar account to be correct in the main , though , from having been denied permission to look at the depositions , we may slightly err in the details . The party through whom the notice of Government has been directed to the investigation 1 b named Peirce , a grocer , in Canal Walk , Southampton . Peirce was coesidered some tia ? e back the leader of the Chartists in &ia town , and from his having made himself very censpicueus in that character , was doubtless thought by the ¦ chiefs of the London Chartists , as a fit person to enrol in their secret

      band . This band , the existence « f which has long been suspected by the London police , seems to consist of a select number of the most desperate characters among the great body of the Chartists . They direct the movements of the tmitiated , arrange the principal meetings , send delegates to distorted districts , and , as it will be seen , are sworn to attempt tbe accomplishment of their treasonable designs , at all hazards , even if by the assassination of the Sovereign . It would aeem that the secret conclave we have referred to considered that tbe destruction at the Qaeen would have the effect ef overthrowing tbe Government , and that tbey should , in the general consternation and confusion that would ensue , be able to carry out particular ends . About -five months since , as we are informed , three men called on Peirce at his shop in

      Canal Walk , and after making themselves known to him as leaders of the London Chartists , and by communications which , to him were convincing , and after going into details with which we are unacquainted , proposed to him ttie tho oath binding him to assist in the destruction of the Queen ! Peirce was horrorstruck at tbe proposition , being one of the crowd of deceived persons who believed the acquisition of the five points to be the be-all and end-all of Chartism . The parties Itf t Peirce with a threat of fatal consequences to himself if he drvulged their visit to any party . He , however , did communicate his secret to a brother Chartist , and for the credit of that person , we hope it is true , that it was owing to bis counsel that Peirce communicated with the Government on the business . Peiree was sent for to London , and was

      examined at the Secretary of State ' 3 effice , and being taken to Newgate to see Francis , tbe regicide , at occe pronounced him to be one of the three men who had paid him the visit spoken of I It was deemed advisable by tbe Privy Council to let the matter rest for a period , in order to see if any further movements were in contemplation . The fact , however , of Plerce ' s revelations had probably eomo to the knowledge of the Chartist leaders , for on the evening of Friday , the 2 d instant , as Peirce was returning to Southampton down the London-road on the Common , a fellow suddenly appeared before him from among the trees , and presented a pistol at him , uttering , at the same time , some expressions relative to his having betrayed somebody , but at that moment a carriage approached , which f / om the softness of road had not been heard till

      then , upon which the ruffian ran off ameng the trees towards a place adjoining , called Bighfield . Peirco mado his way home , and was too much alarmed to communicate the matter to the police . On the following Tuesday Peirce was returning home across the Honndwell ( an open piece of ground near the Highstreet , Southampton ) about eight o ' clock in the evening , when he found himself dogged by a man whom he recognized as the ruffian who assaulted him on the Common . At a moment when no person was apparently near , the fellow fired a pistol at Peirce , and tho bullet passed threugh his hat , doing him no injury . The assassin fled and escaped . Peirce communicated

      the facts to the Home-office , and a gentlemai ( Mr . Hay ) from thence , and subsequently , we believe , Sir James Graham , have attcuded the examinations of Peirce before the borough magistrates . No clue has been at present obtained , but a Government proclamation , offering £ 100 reward for such information as may lead to the apprehension of the assassin , will be issned forthwith . As before stated , wa have been refused a perusil of the depositions , or any information , by th 9 magistrates , who , however , seem fully impressed with a belief of the fact of Peirce having been shot at , a police constable and a woman in the vicinity having heard the report of the pistol at the time . "

      [ To monstrositi 93 coming from certain quarters , we generally reply , in significant monosyllables , such as , " Bah I pooh ! boo ! fudge ! sham ! " or the like ; but to so grave a subject as the assassination of a monarch , and coming from eo respectable a source as the Times newspaper , we feel ourselves called upon to reply at greater length . And as the above paragraph will be read with horror by all , and with surprise by the Chartists ; and as they especially will look not only for as answer , but for complete refutations , we give that of which alone it is susceptible . One morning , before eun-rise , a little after noon , in the middle of the day , towards evening , as I sailed over the mountain in my little boat , with my stick on my head , and my bat in my hand , I met the man I overtook . " Good morrow , ma am , " says I . " Good morrow , S ; r , " says ehe .

      " Pray , Sir , " Eays I , " can yon tell me if the little old woman is alive yet , that was hanged about five years ago upon Ritcliffj highway , for drowning herself in a shower of feathers ? " " Upon my word , Sir , I don't know , I am a stranger in this country , but if you go to Sir Gammer Vasgs , he is a neighbouring m- ; gistrat 9 , and h 6 "ll be more accurate in his detail of the old woman ' s demise , perhaps he can inform you " " Sir , I ' m a stranger also ; how do yon go to Sir Gammer Vangs ? " " Oil , it ' s very easy ; first turn to the right , then to the left , then to tho right again , always minding to keep straight forward , until you meet with a great large stone brick house , all built of flint , in the centre of an opBn space , all alone by itself , encompassed by five or sixand-twenty other houses ; knock r . t the door , and there

      you'll sue Sir G-immer YangF . " So I accordingly went first to tho right , then to the left , then to tbe right again , always minding to keep straight forward till I met with the self-same great large stone brick house , all bnilt with flint , in the centre of the open space all alone by ituslf , when I knocked at the door , and up came Sir Gammer's eldest daughter , a justice of peace . Just as I was speaking to this damsel of seventy , up come her second eldest siBter , a churchwarden to a troop of horse . " Good morrow , Sir , " says I . " Good morrow , ma ' am" says he ; " pray , Sir , " says I , " can you tell me if Sir Gammer Vangs is at home ? " Just as I spoke , up leaped Sir Gammer himself , out of the neck of a hail ' -pint b ; ttle . " Good morrow , Sir Gammer , " says I . "Good morrow , ma ' am , kindly , " says he . " Prey , Sir Giinmer , " saya

      I , " can you tell me if the little old woman is alive yet that was hanged about five years ago upon R-. itcliffehighway , for drowning herself in a shower of feathers ?" " Upon my -word , Sir , I don't know ; but I don't think she was banged , because she was a near kinsman of mine , and if she was , she'd certainly write me word j but to ascertain , we'll ofivr the following reward—• Lost or mislaid , stolen or strayed , off the lands o ! B 3 llyraggat in the Queen ' s couaty , a little old woman , with three white hind legs before , a shorn mane , cocked tail , and jolly ivory eyebrow . Any person or persons giving tale or tidings of the eaid liMla ' old woman within six calendar months of . the date hereof , will receive as a reward , the loDgest , and widest , and largest ridge of potatoes in old Garratfs town ; first paying the rent , then the tithe and Income tax , and

      then digging them . " " Bravo , Sir , but you bav ' nt breakfasted . " " , thank you , I ate five or six-andtwenty dczsn turkey eggs , a whole parcel of bread and butter , and a propor tionable quantity of tea . " " Sir , you ' re starving ! So he sent me in a round of feetf , a hamper of vegetables , a garden of greens , a jackass stuffed with a fuot soldL-r , and several cthar delicacies , together with the London Times ; aud I sut down , and eat and read as if I haii ' nt a moment to live . Just as I bad finished this gentle repast , up leaped a little white grey blue mastiff lapdog , upon my white doc-skin breeches mado of bi&ck velvtt by tho Manchester fnstian-cutters . " Down , damn you , " says I . " D-in't damn him , Sir , " Eays he ; " there ' s not a finer grtyhound in existence ; it ' s not tvro hours ago Bince ho killed as fins a hare as ever you saw j if you don't believe me , come into the garden , and I'll show him to you , as alive as ever he was : " so he took mo iuto a

      round , square , triangular , hectagon , ostagon , kind of a garden ; in one corner was a fox hatching rats' eggs , in anothtr was an iron steel apple tree , all huug with roasted pears ; in the third was the self-same little hare that was kiiled afcoui two hours' , as alive as ever she wa ? . The moment she saw mo , she took fright , Iea >/ € do 7 er the garden wall ; I run after her , caught her by the scut , and turned her inside out , and she ran a-way to Printirjg-honBe-square , to write an article upon morality for the Times , as if the devil wa 3 after her taiL Now we pledge ourselves that the refutation is just as true as tha allegation , and that not a single Chartist in England , no not one , ever entertained for one moment , the notion of injuring the Queen , or the foolish idea that her death would put one more ' potatoe in any man ' s pot , or destroy the power of cotton lorde , whieh , if not destroyed , will destroy her Evenina Star . J

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      GI iEAT FIRE IN LIVERPOOL . ( From the Liverpool Times . J Early on Friday morning , the most destructive and calamit ous fire which ever occurred in Liverpool broke out in the premises of Mr . Peniston , drysalter , in Oomp ' ton-Btreet As Inspector Massey and officer Hitch-¦ lough , were going their rounds , about five minutes before three o ' clock , they discovered the 'fire , and on entering the premises , which are ( situated close to Mr Isaac ' s oil and Tarnish mill , they found a bench on fire , which they supposed communicated the flames to the roof of the shed . The fire was alive under the engine boiler , and the door of the furnace wide open . When they entered , there was no person bnt themselves upon the premises . The steam in the boiler was a ' . so partly up at the time . Information was immediately conveyed to the Fire-police Station , and three engines , under the direction of Mr . Hewitt , immediately started off , and reached the Bcene of destruction shortly after three o ' clock . The wind at this period was blowing a strong —— .

      gale from the north , and the rain poured down heavily . The thres engines were instantly got into play , and in a few minutes were joined by the remainder of the engines , and one belonging . to tho West of England Insurance Company , making in all thirteen or fourteen . All . their efforts , however , availed little , for owing to the combustible materials of the premises , as well as the nature of the goods which tbey contained , the fire continued to gain head , and in about twenty minutes after its commencement , the warehouse in which it had commenced , and two others adjoining it , were completely destroyed . Mr . Isaac ' s oil and varnish works next fell a sacrifice to tho flames , and the combustible materials in this gentleman ' s premises , caused such a volume of flames as excited in the beholders feelings of awe ad admiration . Henceforth the fire set at defiance all the efforts of the fire-police , and the continued torrents of "water which , without intermission , they poured upon -the burning mass , did not appear to make the least impression upon it .

      The sheds and cooperage of Messrs . Taylor and Green were next aasailsd , and added fuel to the devouring element . The wind being chiefly from the north , forced the flames towards Fbrmby-street , which , with the exception of a range of new cottages at the top , and a dwelling-house opposite , in the occupation of Mrs . Bark , consisted of ranges of Bplendid warehouses recently built . It still advanced eastwardly towards Great Howard-street , devouring in its onward course several yards and sheds , and at length reached the yard of the Messrs . Molyneux , the front of which is in Great Howard-street , but it runs a considerable distance backwards in . a westerly direction . Here egain it received additional strength from considerable quantities of timber in the yards and sheds . The fire still progressed onwards up Formby-struet , and caught

      some bonded sheds which front Great Howard-street . These , with the goods which they contained , were in a short time added to the mass of burning and smoking ruins which now occupied the sites of the previous buildings , and lttt nothing bat outward walls standing . AH the Bheds and yards between Crompton-street aud Formby-street were , in a few hours , either a mass of ruins or in flames ; and the wind still continuing to blow freshly from the north , the fire was communicated about five o ' clock from the adjoining sheds to the rear of the fine warehouses and sheds on the north side of Formby-street . On this 8 id « of the street , in the course of about tws hours , four warehouses belonging to Mr . Nathaniel Rayner , one ditto , the property of Mr . Taylor , and three bonded sheds belonging to Mr . Gray , wore destroyed . At this period the fire had assumed an awful magnitude , and burned with great fury . These warehouses and sheds

      were chiefly filled with cotton , but contained consider , able quantities of other kinds of merchandise . - On the ground floor of one of these warehouses , there were no fewer than one thousand barrels of turpentine , to whieh , when in flames , no description cau do adequate justice . As long as any of the . turpentine remained , it burned with the fiercest intensity , and by its own mere force , as its situation precluded the operation of the wind , it set fire to the new sheds on the opposite side of the street , in the occupation of Mr . M Knight . The working of the various fire engines , the encouraging cheers of the men as thoy rapidly plied the handles of the engines , the roaring of the vast volume of flame which ascended from the buming pile , the crashing of the timbers , and the falling of the disrupted and destroyed walls , could not fail of impressing every beholder with the strongest emotions of terror and astonishment .

      About six o ' clock the wind veered a little to the westward , and drove the flames over Formby-street to the warehouse and sheds on the south side . These were speedily in flames . The sheds of Mr . M'Knighfc , and the eheds and warehouses of Mr . Riyner were rapidly enveloped in one fiery mass . Mr . M'Knight'a property was filled . with sugar and rics , just landed from the Biand , from Calcutta . Much of this was destroyed , and much , wo are happy to state , was removed in time ; but ef the cotton which filled the warehouses aud sheds of Mr . Rayner , little was saved- All these buildings were entirely new , and such was tho avidity of the fire , that in about two hours after they were attacked , they were one mass of flame from Formby-street to Neptunestreet . Two iron warehouses , in Formby-street , owing to the incombustible nature of their materials , escaped destruction ; but the warehouses and sheds on each Bide are a mass of utter ruin .

      The ground upon which the fire took place forms an oblong square . To the north it commences in Crornpton-stteet , and terminates to the south in Neptuneptreet On the east it runs along a portion of Great Howard-street , and to tho west it is bounded by Waterloo-road and Dock . In the interior of this square , ( the extent of which is about 30 , 000 square yards ) , the fire had now uncontrolled sway , and consumed every thing within its roach , saving the two iron warehouses already mentioned . That portion , however , which lies in the neighbourhood of the Waterloo Dock escaped the fuvy of the fire . From this time until about eleven o ' clock in the morning , tho conflagration contined with

      almost unabated activity ; bat an expectation began to be entertained that the flames might be prevented from extending further , and about one o ' clock the expectation ripened into certainty . There was still , however , within tbe doomed limits , an immense mass of burning materials , the heat of which was most intense , and when night again fell , the sky was so brightly illuminated as to causa an apprehension that the devastating element had seized upon some fresh prey . This , fortunately was an unfounded fear . The engines continued to play uninterruptedly on the burning materials during the whole of Saturday , by which time great progress had been made in the quenching of the flames . All apprehension had entirely vanished .

      The loss of property has been immense ; but a still greater calamity bos been the serious loss of life which has been sustained . On Friday morning , two of the flre police engines , with a full complement of men , were hard at work , pouring a continued discharge of water upon the sheds of Mr . M'Knight , when , without any warning whatever , a great explosion or crash took place in one of the warehouses on the north side of the street , and almost over where the engines were being worked ; simultaneously with the noise , the wall of the warehouse fell , partly into the street and partly upon a shed adjoining , belonging to Mr . Gray . Some of tbe men had the good fortune to make their escape ; but such as had not time were buried in the ruins . Of the number of those who were thus everwhelmed by tbe falling mass , were three men in tbe

      employ of Mr . M'Knight , who , at the time of the occurrence , were busily engaeed in removing goods lowered from the sheds . Several of the fire-police were also buried in the ruins . With every promptitude the sufferers were released ; but many of them without the least signs of animation . All the wounded were immediately taken to the Northern Hospital , where every suitable attention was immediately paid to them . Amongst the number taken to the hospital was Inspector Riding , who had one of his legs broken . In addition to this calamity we have to notice the death or a very useful and active officer of the name of Satnu&l Hodson . Tho station of this officer , previous to his death , was in Castle-street , opposite the coach stand ,

      and he was well known through his civility and the faithful discharge of his duty . About half-past six , be and officers Bates and Tack Were holding their branches directing the water against the burning premises of Mr . M'Kaight . Tack , it appears , had some idea of the wail failing ' , and gave intimation to that effect to the other officers . A burning bale of cotton , however , fell into the street ; Hodson ran towards it to remove it out of the way , when tho wall fell , and buried him . in the rains . Tuck at the moment seized hold of Bates , nnd failed him from beneath th » failing mass , and thus happily saved both their lives . The body of poor Hodson still remains under the ruins , an ineffectual attempt having bean made on Sunday to clear away the rubbish from it .

      Several gentlemen who were assisting and encouraging the men had also a very narrow escape . Amongst these , were the head constable , Mr . Whltty , and Mr . Maxwell , agent for the insurance companies . The following is a list of the sufferers , twenty-five in number , who were during tho Friday taken to the Northern Hospital : — Dead . James Bell , labourer , dead when admitted ; Luke Smith , labourer , Westmoreland-street , and John Martin , labourer , Cbisthall-street , both of whom died two hours after being admitted . s ' DiNpEROSSLY ' Injured . —Robert Black , Newhall-street , fractured skull . Eight othere severely injured , of which number Superintendent Riding is one , he having his heel bone broken and a severe injury of the ancle . B aside the above , there were thirteen others slightly injured , but who were enabled to leave the hospital on being dressed , four of whom had lost their sight from the smoke , flime , and dust of the fire . .

      The following is a list of the buildings which have been destreytd : — . Four warehonses , ( Grey ' s ) burnt . One ditto , ( Taylor ' s ) ditto . Two ditto , ( Rayner ' s ) ditto . . Two ditto , ( Poole ' a ) ditto . Four ditto , ( MaWs ) ditto . One ditto ( Roger ' s ) ditto , fire-proof , partially burnt Two warehouses , ( Rayner ' s ) south , burnt One shed , ( Rayner ' s ) ditto . Two sheds , ( Horsley ' s ) Neptune-st , ditto . Two large sheds , ( M'Knight ' o ) west of the above , burnt . Taylor ' s cooperage > . _ , Molynenx ' s timber-yard . S

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      Cart-houses , stables , a row of about sixteen houses , and a large mass of property of various descriptions . The value of this property is estimated at from £ 35 , 000 to £ 10 , 000 . The principal contents of the warehonses , ice were cotton , flour , rice , turpentine , are . Of cotton 48 . 000 bales have been destroyed , the value of which is about £ 400 , 000 . Including other articles , and tbe buildings , the loss will in all probability , amount to about £ 660 , 000 . The total loss at the great fire at the Goree , in 1802 , was £ 323 , 000 . On Saturday , at one o ' clock , a meeting of tbe agents representing tbe different fire insurance offices took place in the Underwriters' Committee Room , N . D . Bold , Esq . in the chair . After " comparing notes" on the engagements of each office having liabilities in connection with this destructive event , the following was reported as the result : —

      The San ... £ 47 , 000 Globe 40 , 000 Royal Exchange 30 , 000 Pbosaix ............ 30 000 London Corporation 30 , 000 Liverpool .......... 25 . York and London 25 000 Imperial ; 20 , 000 Scottish Union 20 , 000 West of England . 20 , 000 Alliance 13 , 000 Atlas 12 . 000 Manohester 10 . 000 Guardian ..... 7000 Yorkshire . 5 . Norwich Union 3 , 600 County 3300 North British 3 000 London Union .. 7 . 000

      Total Liabilities ......... £ 350 , 900 Some uncertainty , however , exists as to whether all the liabilities have been ascertained , tbe meeting having been called so soon after the conflagration . No doubt , there would be much property uninsured "; so that the result of the meeting tends to prove that , the loss cannot be far under what we have stated . The exertions of the fire police , and of all in connection with it , have baen spoken of , and with truth , as praiseworthy in the highest degree . If we wera to mentien the names ol all the parties who were present at one period or another , and rendered valuable assistance , either in the direction of the fire-police , the saving of property , the preservation of order , &c , we might ; occupy at least half a column of onr paper . It is only an act of juBtice , however , to state that great

      praise is due for their exertions to his Worship the Mayor , Mr . James Lawrence , Chairman of tbe Watch Committee , Mr . Rushton , the Stipendiary Magistrate , Lieutenant Maxwell , Inspector of Sulvace , Mr . Whitehouse , of the West of Eugland , Fire Office , Mr . Richard Dawson , of tbe Manchester Insurance Office , Mr . Commissioner Dowling , Mr . Highton , Governor of the Borough Gaol , Mr . M'Knieht , the owner of one of the warehouses , and many other gentlemen , including several members of the Town Council . Mr . R . V . Yates was also on the spot , not , however , with any intention of aiding in the extinguishing of the flames , but for the huniaue purpose of making inquiries aft . r those who had been iujured . Mr . Rushton was on the ground immediately after the commencement of ths flre , and did all that could be done to save life ,

      for he saw from the first that all was lout At one time , fesrs were entertained foi- the safety of the Borough Gaol , an £ Commander Revan , R . N ., sent a corps of marines from H . M . S . Etna , to the assistance of the magistrates and police force , who , in the event of the gaol taking fire , would have been employed to escort the prisoners to another place . Happily their services were sot wanted , the danger to the gaol havirig been overcome . Mr . Whitty , Mr . Hewitt , and Lieutenant Maxwell exerted themselves with an indefatigability and intrepidity which conld iDot be surpassed , and were , in common with many others , subjected to great danger . There certainly never was a time at which exertion was more

      necessary on the part of the fire police , and on this occasion they showed that too much reliance coald not be placed on their discipline , skill and bravery . The heat arising from the volcano-like conflagration , was during the whole of the Friday morning bo intense that it couid bu hardly borne at a considerable distance , and in addition to this tho air was loaded with smoke , sulphureous particlc 3 , and other exhalations from the burning materials , which pained the eyes excessively , and in many instances blinded the officers and men for a short period . Even those at the outskirts of the fire had occasionally to lave their eyes ; but the poor fellowa who held the hose , and were in cloae proximity to the fUining piles , suffered dreadfully .

      When Mr . M'Knight ' s shod fell in , ana Luke Smith and John Martin lost their lives , the scene was most heart-rending . The two poor fellows were in the employ of Mr . M'Knight , and were most zealouB and active in their exertions to save his property . One of them , when sinking in tha flames , called out in agony for Mr . WhitSy , who whs near , to save him . Another , who was within Mr . W . ' s reach , stretched forth his hands for help , but , though an effort was made to savs him , which was unsuccessful , from the fierceness of the flames , he too sank into , the burning inins . The bones which were yesterday dug out of the ruins of the shed , and which were completely calcined , were doubtless those of these unfortnnate men . Three others were at tbe same time disabled .

      We ought also to notice that through the great exor-. tions of Mr . E . P . M'Kuight , who had a body of his ' workmen present , acting under his dirsctions , there were saved , in good order , 3900 out o £ 4200 bags of rice , and the whole of the sugar from the Bland , which had on the preceding day been stored in his premises . There was at first great difficulty in obtaining men to work the engines ; but there was a still more pressing and fatal want experienced—that of an abuadant and accessible supply of water . Vast as ia the amount of property in that neighbourhood , there is not a main in Great Howard-street , and though the neighbouring docks were had recourse to , tho supply was insufficient during the whole of Friday and Saturday , and Sunday moining . Mr . Cunningham , am vtyor of the Highway

      Board , was sent down by Mr . Ashlin to open sewers , &c This his men did quickly , and a good supoly was obtained from the overflow from the canal . On Sun : day , however , this was exhausted by the engines ; but in this emergency , Mr . Tathain , of the canal , kindly increased the overflow , and furnished a further supp . iy . Had it not been for these sewers , tha want of water would have been still more seriously felt . At tutbreaking out of the flro , Mr . M'Fatlzsn thoughtfully recollected this overflow from the canal , and caused an opening ia the senvr to be made in Great Howardstreet , from which a supply for two engines was drawn . Different opinions prevail as to the origin of this disastrous fire . Tbe more generally received statement is

      the one given above ; but another account id , that the flre was most probably communicated to Mr . P ; ni 8 ton ' e shed by some flakes of burning soot which fell from a chimney that was known to be on flre in Stewart-street , at about half-past ten on Thursday night . Inspector Abraham , who visited Mr . Peniston ' s works immediately after the flre broke out , made bis report to the Watch Committee on Friday , He confirms the statement of Inspector Massey as to the first appearance of tbe flro ; but be is of opinion that it did not originate from tho furnace under Mr . Peuiston ' B boiler : H « gives it as his opinion , that it was either the work of an incendiary or had been caused by some large flakes of burning soot from the chimney above mentioned , which flakes were seen to drop inte Mr . Poniston ' s yard .

      Tbe estimates of the loss vary from £ 435 , 000 to £ 715 , 000 ; bnt we sbonl J think , as our previous statement will show , that the forimr is too low aud the latter too high . The Albion says : — " We have received from an intelligent and accurate gentleman an estimate of the quantity cf produce destroyed , which , as it is drawn from sources likely to be correct , we are disposed to place more confidence in it than in any of the rumours which we have heard on and off 'Change . This estimate makes it appear , that 45 908 bales of cotton have been consumed . We also learn , from the same source , that there were in the warehouses 250 casks of tallow . 2209 barrels and 800

      sacks of flour , 60 tons of cod oil , 8500 barrels of turpentine ; addition unknown quantities of flour , turpentine , and tallow ; besides India rubber , lmiiun corn , sperm oil , fustic , rice , sugar , and bark . Amongst tbe cotten is a considerable quantity of Sea Island , -which is very valuable . It is considered a low estimate to value the cotton at £ 8 per bale , all round . This will yield a loss , in that commodity alone , of £ 3 ' 264 . The loss in merchandise of other descriptions , with the smaller buildings , is taken to be about £ 95 000 . Add to this £ 32 . 000 for the warehonses , and we have an estimated total losa of £ 489 , 264 , or , in round nnmbers , of Half a Million i "

      On Saturday , it was rumoured that a considerable number of persons , probably from twenty to thirty , were buried underneath the ruins of the fallen buildings , and it was suspected that amongst the number were some few of the fire brigade . Whatever may be ths case as to other individuals ( and we hope the calamity has been greatly exaggerated , as is not uncommon in such cases ) , it is now kno ? in that the unfortunate Hodson is the only flre-polic-officer whose life has been lost On Sunday and yesterday , men were busily employed in clearing sway the rubbish . In the shed belonging to Messrs . Horsleyand Co . the labourers on Sunday

      morning found on the ground a cotton hook and a penny . In clearing a little farther , they found a quantity of calcined bones , which had , doubtless , belonged to the owner of the hook and the penny . Tbe state of these bones gave evidence ef how intense mast have been the heat Not only has every particle of flesh been dissipated , bat nothing save the earthy portion of the bones remains , and they are light as charcoal . The men cleared away more of the materials , and , in a short time , tbey found another cluster of bones similar to the last , amongst which were several of the spinal vertebra ) , and some ends of the humeral and femoral bon&s .

      Par t of the merchandise consumed in tao sheds in Neptune-Btreet bad been saved from the fire in Galtonstreet , only abpnt two hundred yards to tbe south . The wounded men at the Northern Hospital wore yesterday all doing extremely well . Black , whose skull was fractured , Is sow considered to be oat of danger . .

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      Subscription for the Families of the Mbh Killed or Injured at the Fire . —We are happy to hear that Borne benevolent gentlemen have determined to originate a subscription for the destitute wfvea and families of the unfortunate men who lost their lives , or sustained seiious in juries in the late disastrous fire . All those who are dead perished whilst attemping to save the property of others , and of those who survive the injuries which they received , some are disabled foe life , and moat of them for a considerable time . The number of families and children Uft destitute by these sad events is very great , and they certainly have every claim on the public , both on the ground of their own necessities and misfortunes , and tbe courage and devotednesaof their connections , now dead or disabled . We hope that this subscription will be liberally supported , and that every thing that is possible will be done to relieve the misery and the destitution of these unfortunate creatures , thus awfully deprived of their natural protectors .

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      THE LATE INQUEST . The inqneat upon the body of the murdered outlaw , poor Lyons , the weaver , has been holden , and a coroner ' s jury of Mir new middle class associates , as we might have anticipated , has returned a verdict of " JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE . " We dp not arraign the'fiodihg npon any general feeling of suspicion , which we may justly entertain , when the privileged are the accused , and the unrepresented the accusers , because it may follow that weavers as well as masters may be guilty of violence in resisting , while , to -protect life , the homicide of an aggressor may be perfectly justifiable . In ninety coses in every hundred , however , where a poor man complains of any injustice done by one of the privileged order , the very fact of complaining is , " prima facie , " a proof of the charge ; inasmuch as the poor man ' s case must be strong indeed , when he setks justice in hell , where tbe Devil is judge . As the

      question now before us , however , rests not upon " prima fade ' evidence , but upon the sworn testimony of several unimpeached witnesses for the prosecution , corroborated in tbe material points by witnesses produced for the defence , —Life having been lost , MURDER , a foul MUKDER , having been committed , —it becomes our duty to inquire whether or not justice has been done—whether or not the finding of the coroner ' s jury is calculated to give satisfaction , and to create a respect for tbe laws in the minds of those who are told that they are equally administered to the rich and the poor , the privileged and the unrepresented We claim the calm attention of the reader , while we criticise the evidence upon which our mHdle-ciasa friends returned a verdict of "Justifiable homicide . " The evidence of Sullivan , Caesiiiy , M'Adain , and Maria Beckett , unshaken by cross-ex-amination . Is plain , simple , and convincing , and would of itself establish tho charge of murder against the accused .

      Beyond this , however , we have the opinion of the Coroner ; , after the evidence of these four witnesses was given and it runs thus : "That it had been fully PROVED THE DECEASED HAD MET HIS DEATH FROM BLOW'S , AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN INFLICTED by Thomas Wrigley . " Tflis observation was drawn from the Coroner , in reply to the solicitor for the prosecution , who stated that he had eight or nine witnesses to prove that the deceased was perfectly quiet when struck by Wrigley ; a most important fact ; and especially , provided the farce of trying T . Wrigley be repeated upon the Lancaster stage , before twelve performers of the order of masters . However , it be comes important , as we shall examine , firstly , the parties who were produced as witnesses for the man-killer . CM Morris , the first witness , is , with his son , owner

      of the premises , and he saw no windows broken ; he found some broken when he returned , bnt he paw stones throwD when his men ( that is , his engineer , carter , overseers , and body guard ) , who had been previously armed , rushed upon the unoffending people . He W £ s the principal ; and it appears that he , unescorted , held parley with the MOB , and suffered no damage at their hands , —a Btrong proof that there existed no intention of doing him , or anybody else , any bodily barm . But Old Morris swears to stones being thrown . Another Morris , one with a scriptural name , Soth , the son of Enoch , what does he swear ? He saw all . He corroborates the other Merris , whose evidence , with the exception of the stone-throwing , corroborates the testimony of the witnesses for the prosecution . What does he say about the stone-ttii-osvina ; ? " He said that HE

      SAW NONE THROWN . " Ono James Boyle is thon brought up to corroborate one of the Morris ' s , and to contradict the other , —thus destroying the whole defence so far . The case for the defence then commences again , and two girls , Aune Potter and Harriet Johnson , swear that they euw Wrisjley and others strike tha deceased , but that Wrigley had been previously struck by the MOB . Mind , not by the deceased . Then one Digglea , a constable , as a matter of course , is produced as a kind of finisher ; and what does he swear ? Why , he deposed to previous attacks which had been made by other parties upon tbe mill of tho Morris ' s . Now such is the sum and snbstanceof the evidence , —the whole case for the defence resting upon the evidence of the two girls , Potter aud Johnson , asrt which goes for little , and would go for Ies 3 , had Mr . Taylor produced

      his witnesses to provo that the MURDERED man was quiet and unoffending . But bow does the law stand ? If a man is apprehensive of his life being in danger , he hus a perfect right to defend it , even at the hez . ird of depriving his assailant of life ; but so tender is it on such points , that it requires the party attacked to uso all subterfuges for his protection , by flight , capture of the offender , or otherwise , before a homicide can be justifiable . What , however , did Wrigley do ? Young Mortis , the acting manager , very properly gives instructions that the hands were not to be allowed out , unless the doors were forced open Yet , in tho teeth of such order , Wrigley , one of the hands , and before any apprehension of further injury than the mere stopping ef the mill could have been reasonably

      entertained—regardless of consequences , rushes out with a picked gang of bloodhounds , before , as Seth says , auy stonea were thrown , knocks his victim down , beats him in « humanly while down , follows him again , knocks him down again and again , and then boosts that he has settled the b : . Upon such evidence a jury of Englishmen return a verdict of " JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE , " instead of WILFUL MURDER , as it ought to have been . The case is now fairly placed before tho public ; and however parties may look tamely oa , while the owners of machinery are robbing , stripping , pillaging , starving , bullying , and ejecting Englishmen , women ,

      and children , yet do we confidently hope that , in a country where " marly ten millions pera-num is paid for civilisation , a COLD-BLOODED MURDER will not be allowed to pass as a necessary part of mammon ' s means for amassing treasure . Surely the blood ol the murdered , all poor and naked as he was , calls to Heaveu for vengeance j and those who hear the sixth commandment , " THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER , " and to which they respond , '' The Lordluvoe mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law ;"—surely , we say , those who so pray on Sunday , will not allow their eyes to be defiled by the sight of the murdered on their return from the sanctuary of the true God . — Evening Star .

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      . Grace Darling , the heroine of the Forn Islands Lighthouse , died a few days ago . The Herring Fishery - . — The herring fishing since our last notice has been extraordinarily suecosst ' ul , and the herrings were consequently selling at a very low price , often at five a penny . At the fishing grounds thsy were bought by the curers and coupcrs at Is ., Is . 3 d ., and Is . 6 d . per hundred , and tho price here ranged from Is . 6 d . to 2 i . 6 d . Last week the moon changed , and , as was anticipated by the fishermen , the fishing fell off , and we are sorry to say there is no better prospect this week . — Greenock Observer .

      At the Surrey Sessions-hon 3 e , on Thursday , seven actions aga ' nst the Earl' of Uxbridge on account of several annuities , of snms varying from £ C 0 to £ 239 , were tried . Mr . Jones stated that the annuities were due to parsons , many of them in humble Hfo , who had advanced money to the Earl on the faith of the annuities beir ? £ punctually paid . "The Earl was heir to the Marquisate of Anglesea , but had been called to the Upper House during the lifetime of his father ; a somewhat unusual course , which might leave a doubt upon the minds of the Jury whether tho defendant had been so raised to the Peerage in order thae , as a legislator , he might

      benefit his country , or that he might himself enjoy the privilege of freedom from arrest . At all events , the plaintiffs wculd be prevented availing themselves of a remedy as against the person of the defendant ; and they feared that he had very little property . " The Marquis of Auglesea was examined . He stated that he believed that he was the father of the Earl of Uxbridge . Ho could not say where the EarlVas in 1838 : be had a house in Bruton-streot , and the Marquis was told that ho had taken a house in Hertfordshire ; but as to what his establishment was he had not the slightest knowledge . Verdicts were given for the sum 3 claimed , with interest .

      Extraordinary Sujcide of a Man Ninety-seven Years op Age . —Au inquest was held last Friday evening , before Mr . Baker , at tho Salmon and Ball , IJethnall-green , onthebodyofMr . JosephFarrer , agea 97 , who committed suicide as foliows : —It appeared from the evidence taken that the deceased latterly , owiag to his advanced age , had given signs of derangement , and iaboured under the delusion that the Devil was after him . On Wednesday he tcoJIhis dinner , and appeared in better spirits than usual . He afterwards , according to bis custom , went up stairs for the purpose of having a nap , and remaining longer than usual , one of his daughters went to

      up call him . On reaching the room door , she found it locked inside , and after repeated calling , without receiving an answer , a ladder was procured , and an entrance made by the window . On getting into the room , the deceased was found seated in a chaii ' quite dead , with his head leaning against the bed-post . A cord was round his neck , and also round the bedpost and chair , to the extreme end of which was fastened a 141 b . weight . The weight had , after being fastened to the rope , being thrown across the bedstead , thereby causing strangulation . He had also closed the shutters before committing the act Verdict , " Temporary insanity . "

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      a THE NORTHERN S ^ TAR ___^^ b " ¦ ' ' . - . . . . .. x

      Untitled Article

      The Moneteur publishes an order of the Minister of W&r , granting a free passage on board the Go-Ternment packets to persons proceeding to Algeria to settle m the villages , twenty-two in number , aocnt to be established by General Bugeaud . J ^ ^ Samuei' Brown , aged twenty-one , a clerk in the Money-order-cffiee of the General Post-nffiV was maicted at the Central Criminal Court , for foreing money-or-ers , purporting to be drawn in Sittingbourne , upon the Camberwell office , to the amount of £ A 9 , OS . od . The defence was insanity : Brown bad

      been absurdly ostentatious ; he had waked his sister at nighttoaskherif he was not beauiifnJ ; had dressed m uniform , and signed himeelf " Colonel James Simuel Brown" ; had pestered a friond with consultations about marrying a countess ; had plunged his hand into boiling lead , eaying that it would not hurt mm ; and had committed other absurdities . About twelve years ago he received an injury from an accidental blow with a brick , and he had been subject to fits . Medical evidence placed bis insanity beyond a doubt ; so he was acquitted , but ordered to be detawed in custody during the pleasure of the Crown .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 1, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct773/page/6/