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Northern Star (1837-1852), 28th January 1843, Edition 4 of 5, Page 5, Untitled Article

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    • {&AS3-HADE iAWS HATE MADE THEIB TICTBIS; £ET "CS ESDEATOTIR TO EE--TRhSZ THEM.
    • PATENT FELTING CLOTH.
    • IWABBIAGES.
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      Untitled Ad

      A FfER Three Years of hard labour , and spending J \ . Three Thousand Pounds of my Friends' Money , 1 have brought FELTING to perfection , for coarse and fine Cloth . Those who wish to see the operation , by calling upon me , may have the opportunity . WM . HIRST 34 , Rockiogham-street , Leeds , Jan . 26 , 1843 .

      Untitled Ad

      FUNDS FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENCE FUND . TO NEWS AGENT 3 , SHOPKEEPERS , AND ASSOCIATIONS . IN GENEBAL . TTICKERMAN'S REAL CHARTIST BLACKV ING , by far the CHEAPEST and BEST ? ever yet offered to the Public . The Wholesale Profits will be devoted to the General Defence Fnnd . The allowance to tbe Trade more liberal than any other Manufacturer can allow . Give your orders immediately , and by so doing you will raise a fund Bumcient to defend your noble Leaders . Remember the " Ides , of March" are coming ! All Orders and Communications to be addressed to Mr . Edward Clayton , News Agent , Huddersfield , who has been appointed Wholesale Agent . Give your orders ! Give your orders !

      Untitled Ad

      Now publishing in Penny Numbers , and Fourpeacj Parts , V OLTAIRE'S PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY , complete from the Original / in Six Volumes . Part 13 is published this day , and Part 15 will contain the title Page to Vol . I ., and & most admirable Likeness of the celebrated Author < engraved on steel . The Publisher , in order to keep his word with the Public , has doubled the quantity in the last two Parts , without increasing the priee , so as to bring the Work within tho price of Tea Shillings , at which the whole will be completed .

      Untitled Article

      JBOX THB SO 3 USBS IOWH Ticmi COXKJXTSZ . v& Ms Roberta , of Birmingham 0 5 0 _ 2 i » WB 4 , of Mottram .. 050 31 Tuna for locating Slra . Ellis 0 5 0 JOS XBS , 3 LLIS . Vrm Joseph Smith , Hnnslet „ 0 0 6 « , Wffliwn Richard , Bedford 0 10 _ The Chartists of Brighton , meeting ""* at ice Cap of laberly , per Mi . Ylower ... ... 0 6 0 JOS TF 2 D 0 W 3 ESSELL , 0 ? JOOTSGHAM . ? iohi the Chartists of Brighton , meeting at the Cap of Liberty , per Wm , Flower 0 6 0

      Untitled Article

      PEiiOW-TTOfcKEJG Mes , —When I sent the ad---jgBBHisnt to be published , -which has appeased tot jbelsst fewTreeks , and Trtuco states that I win give font shlHings to the Bxecn&re and oca shilling to the ¦ v jeSm Pnnd ent of every one hundred pounds ¦ weight of beverage ; I say , my friends , at that time it struck es very forcibly that the Victim Fond stood much jjeea of s ngmenting , and I think so * tBl , as yon may lettarand also thirikIif irom

      jaby thar ; I , may jadge jppajsnte , that the country evinces hot little disposijico to support the cause of Chartism through the vxBga&rB , inasmuch as neither myself nor Messrs . . Cjjry and ! Tyrrel hare had much to add to their funds jar some" » ee& 1 past . I therefore propose that the gftale ol the five shillings per one hundred pounds be cJteb to the Victims' Defence Fund , and it shall appear Is © store in Mr . Cleave * * SnbecriptiBn list -weekly , jjja as assizes are over , -when -we « an maie fresh .-jceBBents as the times may require . . it remains with the whether

      5 ot , asy frieads , - people , ¦ gj » e meinrho nave been made-victims for no other pins than that af demanding justice at the hands of an oppressors be left ta the clemency of a merciless jna » e sada tiHse- £ ening jury , or \ rhether they shall bST 8 funds saSdsntij ^ applied ¦ which "will secure to &sa jusfiee ; and -sre must remember that there is only * few -weeks to raise the mosey in , and we should also remember that " « i ^ a * are at liberty are only so "beesnse &e lsw h » not got hold of us , bat that fre perhaps may have said and doss more towards the dora&Jl ef tyrant ! than those -srfcom it is our duty to

      jsppari I sow Iestb lbs matter in your hands , and only hare to ray , flsst I pledged myself in 1819 never to rest nntD -we were free—1 never have nor never -w 2 L Eogeb Pisdsb , HnIL

      Untitled Article

      BBXSTOL . —At a meeting in Bear-lane Chapel , on Tuesday evening , tie following were nominated to audit Hit- Campbell's accounts , Messrs . "Wheeler , DroB , M'Sratb , Ruffey Ridley , and Watkins . SATS . —The plaa . of organisation , as proposed by Mr . Cooper bis been agreed to her © . Alesaotsia , Yale of Levzs . —At a meeting held here on Saturday last , it was resolved to erect anew Hall , for a church y school house , and other public purpose . Sorm Shields . —Hr . S . Edd , of Glasgow , leeBred here on Tuesday night .

      Hebdes Bbuxie . —A pnblie discussion took place ia its Democratic Chapel , on Monday . The discussion "Has Jbenreen ilr . Wm . Blackburn , Hebden Bridge-lanes , and Mr . J . "West , from Macclesfield . B 5 « kborn undertook to prove that a repeal of the tJnrnXaws , under existing circumstances , would be » benefit to the working classes of England , and TFesiflaS a repeal of the Coin Laws would not bsJEfii tie working glasses under the present system o ? tlsss legislation . Cotssiht . —Hr . John Mason lectured in the Absoeaiion Boom on Priday evening , and Mr . E . <} Gaom&re , of Xoiihainpton , OBSandsyeTening .

      JJOTTIKGBAIB . —OteSjjttes' Xjbrabt i 5 i Pucs o ? Mkehsg . —A meeting was held in the Democratic Chapel , Eica-plsce , on Tuesday evenisg , to cenaderthe besi means of carrying ont the ibore object . 3 ir . B . Humphries was called to the chair . Mr . E . T . Morrison said that in consequence ol tie exclusion of work 3 of the greatest interest and Importance to the working classes , from the larger librarifis , they had longseen the necessity of having libraries under thsir oirajmanagement , in which EJiherpontical , iheologiral , or any other works approved of by the members , would be admitted . It gave inn great pleasure to see them possessed of that independence *^ sounaness of judgment , which

      had made iaem determined to consider subjects which so much affected their welfare—to carry oat ibis , liferaries had been established by men of Einnlsr faews , and there were now several of these libraries which agree in these particulars , and have suflar rules j now as each were originally established to give to persons holding the same liberal opmions , the advantage of reading books to them all —if tiey were to carry out sMU further the princi-^ ssupon Tririch they all originated , and after con-Baedsg men together of similar opinions , Iot their jsaissl good , were iiow to connect libraries together ipcirthe some principle ^—they -would give to each BBffiber of the separate libraries , the benefit of the wide . —( hear . ) He bettered that the reason this hid not beeaaceomplished sosner was from the want of ai « actie& 3 and equitable plan to effect it . There

      * a = at the present time S , 3 & 0 volumes in the ^ e Etasnes , ana if they were tirns connected it -would Boon become the most valuable library in Nottinghunj though if nneonnected , none of them could * iMJflsnch a position . They had also the resources to obtain a building and place of meeting . He conduced by laying down the outlines of a plin ior fiat pnrpose . Mr . B . Hmnphriea agreed both with lbs TBiaaiis and phui proposed , and as the object vu so desirable , he hoped they would all exert themselves to carry it ont . The meeting was xmalamous in their approval of it , and a committee Wflas&g of Messrs . R . T . Morrison , B . Hnm-T&ris , SkerritJ , Fletcher , W . H . Movt , Braley W . Gorman , and J . Rogers , was appointed to confa-mth the various libraries , and further consider the plan to carry it oui ; and then report the same » a future meeting . A vote of thanks wasthen pro-Pps » and carried to the chairman , and to Mr . R . ¦ u Morrisoi ^ for his serrices in preparing the plan .

      feiGHiox— f Omitted in our last . J—* A public tt * 3 ieldaithe Cap of Liberty , Parliament-street , on Monday , January 16 , J 843 , Mr . Trower in the eap \ when it was proposed by Mr . Allen , seconded fcj Mr . Bo-arers , " Inat the thanks of 1 Mb meeting * e gjven to theKev . William Hill , the Editor af the A orthern Star , for his bold , honest , and : consistent » CTocacy of the rights of the suffering millions , and SCO 1 F 2 TEEL IT OCB DI 7 TT TO SIAIB THAT WE KSOW 0 T 50 VOTB OP O 0 XF 1 DESCB IS THS EXECUTIVE heing Posed 6 y ihe Chartists of Brightonas alluded by Mr

      , Jma Leach at tie Conference held at Birmingham * aa ire are fully determined to support the ¦ tt&img and Norther Stars to the utmost in their Power , and we call upon our brethren generally of * ae moEsirioEs classes to do the same . " Carried ^ MHDODsly . Proposed by Mr . Page , and seconded » J Mr-AllsD . ^ That the foregoing resolution be sat ^ to the Northern and Evening Stars for inser"fju Carried unanimously . — " WnxiAa Eixtl , sib-Secretary . ^^

      SffiEHHiTOx . —The Chartist ? of this locality held » ar usual weekly meeting on Saturday . After the Sf *® 5 oi" ^ e locality had been transacted , the ^ owag persons were nominated to asdit the ^ mts « f the Executive—James Shaw , David * ° 5 j John "WaOdns , and Peargus O'Connor ,

      Untitled Article

      rA SoESS £ lBBES TO DEATH . —CXBXXBXHES . — ^ Wednesday last , Wiiliaza Barahffl , a sob of the | ° ! 5 mcr of the county gaol at Carmarthen , appeared fnore Mr , £ . H . Slaey , mayor , and Captain j > avies , "» sffer the complaint of Mr , H . roomas , the ^« tary of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty " ^ ua&j ^ wMcn charged him with having on the ?^ «^ a t , atAbergwilly , within the county and 2 * w »* rf Carmarthen , wantonlj and cruelly fll-^^ and impr jperij jjdden a certain mare , the vMn ? l ^ ^ largaret Lewis , in consequence of ^ n taa aid aae died , whereby the said Mari £ rLl ^ p sustained danmge to the extent of £ 3 or if ??? -,. ^ Thomas stated that the charge the : —On

      J ^^ JO ' foSowing circumstances the SfS * " * ' ^ Hon . John Snafto Vaughan , of Llan-^ " ^ . 1 ? as a Prisocer in Carmarthen county gaol , teWrt ? 0123 to obtain his discharge on that day , -omte arrival of the London mail , ihe defendant ete SP 310 § ° «» Llandno to obtain the requibedmTw ® 1 - ll vzs necessary that this should « to fe ^?^ 6 tbe sniy ^ « f the LondoQ m « ifl , as it te « S \* w if not obtained before then , a de-^^ ghtrarriveby the mail , and Mr . Yaughaii i © T ' * Pfsoner . It would be proved that BnrnbreCTn J 1161101156 of Margaret Lewis about * » fln & t 3 * ji * 14 in'ed the mare ; at half-past ^ k , - » ho ? 5 Carmarthen , and proceeded to LlaD-: msu JU ' 11 ** 5 Qetained somewhere ahout an ' ^ tto'U uJn * wwnea the discharge , he Etaxied ^* ttlfes 3 r 0 on iia return , and witnesses wonld tusaressea contu

      " ^ cftia - aescnoe me - ^ efihP ^? ' ^^ the-riolent and wanton con" ^ aajnvrtiv endaiit » 'srflO con&med to urge on the h * r SS ^^ eadiea Abergwfliy-bridge , where the ** 4 msZ ^ ^^ "atterlj unable to proceed farther , ^ t eped ^ w * " ^ e deiendant had iismounted , it ¦ SwttttnSr ^ " ? d ^ ortlT » BerwardB died od the i » ** & * , * [ e ^ P * eserfions it had been compelled ] * 2 &T «^ v % ffl- ^^ ge of the defendant . To ^« JjSlS ^ k to ^ H * £ wIHj-bridge & about ^ ttirtKLr «*! « ' said , that he and his bro-***> txi ^^ f 00 ** 1 *** 3- tie ^ "ge clearlj made P W tUrSi ^ 1011 ^^ ttat * fie defendant pay fe * Km , ^ ' SBa tfle costs , andin de-^ e of ^^ . - fre creeks' imprisonment in the &- « td lta ^! 5 5- TaB defendant was also £ ned ^ & < &SL ^ - ^ " ^ 21-t reating the mare . *» feSS S ^ - * 116 def ^^ nt to seven weefa 5 -ffl-n-. is def ; r . ? of j , , ^ ^ . i

      Untitled Article

      ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE MB , EDWARD DBTJMMOND , SIB B 0 BT . PEEL'S PRIVATE SEDBETABY .

      ( From ihe Times . ) On Friday afternoon a most determined attempt -was made to assassinate Mr . Drummond , the private secretary or Sir Robert Peel , in the open street , and in the broad face of day " . The motives of the assassin axe at present involved in mystery , not the slightest due being yet obtained to the eatue that could have impelled him to ttie commission of so aggravated a crime . But , - whatever may have been the reasons influencing his mind , it will be seen , from the subjoined account , that his purpose "was carried out with the most cold-blooded determination , though , fortunately , no fatal results are at present expected to result from ihe wound -which be succeeded in inflicting on bis intended victim ;—

      It appears , from information oa which perfect reliance may be placed , that Mr . Drummond left Downing-street Bt about half-past three o ' clock in the afternoon , in compiay-with the Earl of Haddington . They proceeded together as far as the Admiralty , where Mr . Drummond left the Earl of Haddington , and went to the bankinghouse ef his brother of the same name , at Charing cross . On bis return therefrom , and waen he bad preceeded as tar as the space bet-ween the Admiralty and the Horse Guards , he was shot at by a man who approached him from behind . The jujannain walked np to Mr . Drummond , and , showing a determination not to fail in the perpetration of the fonl deed which he

      contemplated , actually put the muzzle of the pistol into the back of the unsuspecting gentleman . He then fireS . Immediately after the pistol was discharged , a policeman , who had witnessed the act , rushed up , and seized the criminal . In the mean time he had returned the pistol with which he had shot Mr , Drummond to his breast , and had drawn out another loaded pistol from the same place , and was in the act of pointing it at Mr . Dtummond , when the policeman seized him and pinioned his arms from behind . The pistol was discharged , but the aim of the assassin being thus diverted , the contents did not touch Mr . Drummond , nor was any other person jDjured by them .

      Mr . Drnmmond was immediately conveyed te his brother ' s bank , which , as our readers are aware , is only a short fliRtemce from the spot where the ahota were fired . Here a medical man from the immediate neighbourhood was called in , and he examined the wound made by the balL He found that the ball had penetrated the skin of the back , through the coat and under garments , but he could not trace it further , not having with him at tiie time the necessary instruments . As , however , lir . Drummond did not seem too much debilitated bj loss of blood to bear being reaoved to hit own residence , he advised his being immediately conveyed there . He was accordingly taken there in a carriage .

      Mi . ( Jnthrie , Mr » Bransby Cooper , the eminent surgeons , and Mr . Jackson , surgeon and apothecary , vere in attendance , and proceeded more fully to examine the wound . It was then ascertained that the ball had entered near the spine , and that it had made a circuit either over the hip-bone or under the lower rib , and then lodged near { the pit of the stomach under the breast ; fcbenee the ball was extracted by Mr . Guthrie without any difficulty , as it lay near the surface . It was first thought that the wound was of a dsngerons character , en the supposition that the bail had taken serious effect internally ; but , on further examination , it did not appear that any vital part was injured . The symptoms exhibited by the patient , after the ball was extracted , were found to be favourable , and there seemed to be no reason then to apprehend that the event would be attended with fatal effects .

      The MTORRin , on being secured by the policeman , was conveyed to Gardiner * 6-lane police-station , where he gave his name as M'Nanghten . He refused to give hiB place of residence , but it is supposed that he is either a Scotchman or a native of the north of Ireland , who had been located at Gl&Bgow . He was then seatciied , and there were found on him two £ 5 notes , £ A in gold , and a deposit receipt of a Glasgow Bank for , £ 750 , made out in the name of " Daniel M'Naughten . " Thus the receipt confirmed the statement made by the prisoner with respect to his name . The prisoner was well , tfeougb not genteely , dressed .

      Nothing transpired that could with certainty lead to a knowledge of the motives which induced the prisoner to commit this dreadful act It does not appear that he had had any previous correspondence with Mr . Drummand , « c that he had preferred any claim or complaint to the Treasury , or was % disappointed applicant for office . His demeanour throughout -was cool and collected , nor did there appear any evidence of insanity . The policeman who epprehended him heard him say , on his being anresled , He , " " she , " ( the policeman i » uncertain which ) " shall not disturb my mind any linger . ?

      It is stated that the prisoner had been seen loitering about the public offices for some days previously . On one = eccasion tlie ofiice-keeper of the CouncD-office , who had observed the prisoner staying about the door , asked him what bis object was in so doing , and inquired whether he was in the service of the police . In answer to this question , the prisoner said that he was , and that the gentlemen of the omce need not be afraid far their property .

      FUBTHEB PABTlCtLABS . On Saturday morning , the prisoner , who gave his name in a broad Scotch accent , John M'Naughten , was examined at Bow-street , before Mr . Hall . He iB described as a young man , rather above the middle height , having the appearance of a mechanic , and was respectably dressed in a black coat and waistcoat and drab trousers . He is rather thin , has a good colour , and his countenance betokened nothing ferecous or determined . The statement of the affair given above was corroborated by the evidence of the witnesses examined , and Mr . Bransby Cooper , surgeon , described the process of extracting the ball , and explained Mr . Drummond ' s situation , which he considered not free from danger . The Evidence having been all gone thrcugb ,

      Mr . Hall , addressing the prisoner , said , I &m about to remand yen for » for tnight , and if yon wish to eay anything in-answer to the charge , I am ready to hear you . Ton are not compelled to say anything unless yon think proper . Bnt it is my duty to tell you , that if you do say anything , it will be taken down in -writing and made use of , if nec&s&ary , hereafter . . Now , having given you that caution , do you wish to say anything ? Prisoner—I am much obliged to you , Sir , but I shall Bay nothing at present . The Clerk—Then you are remanded for a fortnight The priBonEr , immediately > left the dock , sad was conducted to ono of the celb attached to the court , but bad not been there more than a minute or two , when he sent a message to the magistrates intimating that he wished to say something ; he tras accordingly again placed at theiar .

      Mr . Hall—I understand you wish to say something ; if so , I 2 m ready to hear you . The prisoner , after a slight pause , said—The Tories in my native city have compelled me to do tbiB ; they follow and persecute me -wherever I go , and nave entirely destroyed my peace of mind . They followed me to France , into Scotland , and all over England ; in fact , they follow me wherever 3 go ,- ] can get no rest tor them night or day . I cannot sleep at nights , in consequence of the course they pursue towards me . I believe tbey have driven me into a consumption . I am sure I shalTnever be the man I formerly was . I used to have good health and strength , but I have not now . They have accused me x > f crimes of which I am not guilty ; they have done everything in their poweT to harass and persecute me ; in fact , tbey wish to murder me . It can be proved by evidence—that's all I wish to say at present . The clerk—Is that all you wish to say ?

      Prisaner ( hesitatingly )—1 can only say they have completely disordered my mind , and I am not capable of doing anything , < » mpared to -what I was . I am a very different man to what 2 was before they commenced this system of persecution . The clerk—Do you wish to say anything more ? Prisoner—Qb ! yes , I -wish to know whether I am to be kept in that place ( pointing towards the cell ) for a fortnight ? If so , I am sure I shall not live . The deri—Oh , no , you will be taken to a proper pises of confinement , where you will be taken care of till you are brought here again . Prisoner ^—Oh , very well , then I have nothing more to say .

      Mr . Hall—Have you any objection to sign the statement you have made ? Prisoner—Ko , I cave no objection . TChe statement having been read over to the prisoner , it was handed to him in the dock , when he immediately sjgEed it . He was then removed from the bar .

      ( From ihe Observer . } \ appears that M'Naughten bad resided for the last sixteen weekB in the bouse ol a very respectable ¦ widow , named Dntton , residing in Poplar-row , New Xent-road . He had been -well known to that lady for » long time previous . It is nearly three years since be first came to lodge in her house , and he occupied at that period the same apartment -which he continued to rent up to the period of bis apprehension on Friday . He -was generally considered by Mrs . Dntton Jo ~ be of b very quiet turn of raind , and appeared to have no occupation , as he seldom rose before a late hour in the morning , when he left the house , and returned about ten o ' clock in the evening . He remained on this occasion three months with Mrs . Dntton , and her general impression was that he was in search of employment- The rent be paid for his

      apartment was 2 s . fid . per week , and the payments were always regularly made once a week . On leaving Mrs . Datum ' s house he stated that he was going to Prance , and that lady beard so more of him for many months , when he returned and took the same apartment He stopped only three-weeks in England on this occasion , and then told Mrs . Dntton that he was about to leave for Scotland . About the first -week in October he again returned , and on Mrs . Dutton opening the door to him he smiled , and said , " I see you have a bill in your window . Is it for my old room ?** Mrs . Dutton answered , " YesSir ; " andM'Ka-agbtonreplied , " You see I am come back . I add I should do so . " Nothing particular was -remarked in his manner at this time , but the gloomy temperament which marked his general character was considered to be rather Increased than otitrsise . He ??] . '' ~ - . ra rr ^ % t * srr rr - : ' .: - ! . r- .

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      though always obliging and civil -when addressed by any person . He never took meats at home , but on one occasion , about three weeks since , he caught a violent cold , and Mrs . Dutton supplied him during three days in which he wai confined to bis bed . He was sever observed to read a newspaper or any other publication , and daring the confinement fcabove alluded to , Mrs . Dutton lent him a religious volume , which he appeared to peruse with much interest Mrs . Button says , that her impression has always been that he had something on bis mind . He was not at aJT ^ ijpiunicaVive , but on one occasion told Mrs . DatjSR&p : he was in Scotland when her Majesty paid ^ r reeent visit to that country . He always appeared , to be very moderately off , and on his taking op his abode at Mr . Button ' s on the last occasion , had only one shirt . He purchased a second after the first fortnight , and Mrs . Datton regularly washed them for him alternately . HIb wardrobe , in other respects , seems to have been miserably

      provided . He had only two pair : of socks and a flannel waistcoat He had no change of dress , and until within a fortnight , when he purchased a new pair , his trousers were patched and darned in every direction , and full of holes . About a week ago he asked Sirs-Dutton if she could lend him a pair of old boots while his own ¦ were mended , and at her instigatidn he applied to a shoemaker in the neighbourhood ; who allowed him the use of an old pair for a day or two during the repair of his own . He had no boxes in his room , or property of any description . MNaugbten ' s habits were remarkably sober and steady . The room be occupied was the back apartment on tbe second floor , and he seldom remained in it , if not labouring under indisposition , afttr nine o ' clock in the morning . It was his babit to get op about that time , clean his shoes in tbe back kitchen , and then go out for the day . He seldom came home after ten o ' clock , and sometimes he was earlier .

      On Friday morning he went out about nine o ' clock as usual , and , after being absent from tbe house a short time , returned and went up stairs for a few minutes . He went out again soon after , and Mrs . Dutton beard no more at him until she was told that he was taken into custody . Mrs . Datton states that she never saw much money in his possession , and her belief was that he was a young man in confined circumstances . She also says , distinctly , that she never heard him mention Mr . Drummond ' s name , or allude in any way to politics It is very difficult to reconcile the apparent poverty of M'Naughten , as evidenced by his landlady , and borne out by his personal appearance , with tbe possession of so large a sum of money as j £ 788 . Tfeere can be very little doubt of the genuineness of tbe check or receipt of the Glasgow Bank for £ 750 , and that fact proves the sum to have been deposited by the prisoner in the bank alluded to .

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      the means of comfort and happiness . And consider , I pray yon , how unwieldy and how impracticable for any honest or beneficial purpose , in matters of election , must the rural districts throughout the two islands be made , if each be to comprise a threehundredth part of the population . It is a matter of little or no moment which of the decennial tables of population we refer to for thia purpose , seeing that the propositions in each of them will be much the same . But I will here take the last census , in which I find that the population of Great Britain and Ireland is 26 , 856 , 028 , a threehundredth part of which is 89 , 520 . Now , this is a number so large as , in England , to be nowhere congregated together , save in each of the six Metropolitan boroughs , in the city of

      London , and in the five large boroughs , Manchester , Liverpool , Birmingham , Leeds , and Sheffield . In Wales , there is , of course , not a single community approaching this number ; Scotland can furnish hs with only two compact bodies of people of this amount , namely , Edinburgh and Glasgow ; and Dublin and Cork , would be the only solid Electoral Districts to be found in Ireland . So much for the cities and boroughs , as Electoral Districts . And now a few words as to the countieB . We have three entire counties in England , namely Huntingdon , Rutland , and Westmorland , and nine or ten , out of the twelve counties of Wales , not one of which would , of itself , form one of the proposed Electoral Distri cts . And Scotland , out of her thirty-four counties , has , I Bee , only twelve that are , each in themselves , possessed of the requisite

      number of people to form Electoral Districts ; so that we should have to lay counties together , forming the Districts so large that no man of modest merit , however qualified by his wisdom and public spirit to preserve and to benefit his country , not solos himself , unless possessed of vast estates , could become known and appreciated through a District so extensive , The elections would , it appears to me , under such an arrangement , generally fall upon high and wealthy aristocrats ; as our county elections ever have done ; or on active and noisy and unprincipled pretenders . So that , through an error on this single point , all our labours and Bufferings for the establishment of the Charter might be thrown away , and our country continue to sink as it has done , even since the late abortive Reform .

      The desirable thing , it appears to me , is to have the Electoral Districts as compact as may be . To have them within Buch a oompass , that plain and worthy and sensible men , rather than the great wealthy and the showy , should be selected as representatives ; that the eleotors should have an opportunity of beoomiHR well acquainted with the persons , the acquirements , and the character and conduct of the man presented to them ; a matter which is scarcely ever to be accomplished in districts so large as those under contemplation . > Towards the accomplishment of the desirable object I have just named , the smaller the electoral districts and the more effectual ; and , were' I not restrained by other considerations , I should recommend a division of the kingdom into many more districts than the number which I proposed .

      But this number , namely , five hundred , was not , originally , of my suggestion . It was suggested by my excellent-and chosen examplar , the late Major John Cabtwrjqht , in one of the notes to his admirable " Bill of Rioht 3 and Liberties , " published in 1817 . The worthy Major , in the note which I refer to , is arguing against the existing number of the House of Commons , namely , G 58 . Some writer has observed that so great a number is fitter for the purp oses of a mob , than for those of a deliberative

      assembly . And the Major says , " It were far better that the number should be reduced to about 500 ;" and he adds , " An assembly of 500 , supposing attendance to be secured ( as under a Reform it doubtless will ) would be more than sufficient for mere consultation and argument ; whilti yet that number of representatives for carrying to the Common Council of the realm an accurate knowledge of the condition , the interests , and sentiments of their several localities of a great kingdom , aud watching over their welfare , might not be thought too many . "

      With these words of the learned and venerable Major , I beg to recommend the subject to your seserjous attention . There are other more weighty recommendations ! than those I have hero named , for the adoption of the larger number of electoral districts . Tho 3 e recommendations I may submit to you ou another occasion . I remain , brother Chartists , Faithfully yours , Thomas Smith . Liverpool , Jan . 17 th , 1843 .

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      ing of oases of muskets , cloths , gunpowder , and a variety of other goodB . She was , we understand , folly insured . The names of the the crew who have perished are as follows : —Captain Alexander Rowe , Mr * Henry Hall < chief mate ) , ] Mr- Samuel Whitmore ( second mate ); William j Jehnson , Matthew Lynn , John William Holland , IWilliam Calthorpe ( late of the Medusa ) , seamen ; Thomas Grey , John Sherlock , Marr , apprentices ; and two black Kroomen . Captain Rowe and several of the crew have left widows and large families to lament their terrible death . ! The loss of the vessel and cargo is estimated &t several thousand pounds . '

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      GREENOCK . IMPORTANT TO SEAMEN . A public meeting of the seamen here was held in the Harvil-lane Hall , at eight o'clook in the evening of the 17 th instant , to hear addresses from Messrs , M'Donald and Bailie , seamen from Dundee , on the necessity of having the Merchant Seamen ' s Act either amended , or , if possible , repealed altogether . In the course of his address Mr . Bailie made it appear that there are upwards of one hundred thousand pounds sterling exacted annually from the seamen employed in our merchant service , under the pretext of assisting them when ; disabled through accidents or rendered inoapablo of going to sea through old age , while it is notorious that this enormous sum is directed to other purposes , and

      expended none of those from whom ; it is taken know how . Every seaman , he said , in the merohant service was compelled to pay one shilling per month into what is called the " Seaman ' s : Fund , and yet when a seaman dies a natural death , no matter how long he may have paid into the fund , his relatives receive no benefit whatever from it . Associations are now being formed iu all our sea-ports , for the purpose of having the present Merchant Seaman ' s Act either so amended that those who are plundered by it shall have a hand in the future' management of the plunder , or hare the Act entirely repealed . Mr . Bailie , who is a genuine specimen of the hardy British tar , concluded his rough-spun , yet perfectly intelligible address , amidst the warm and hearty

      plaudits of the auditory . Mr . M'Donald then addressed the meeting in a very frank and animated manner , on the necessity of Greenook doing something in order to have this glaring grievance made known throughout the empire . It was well known , he affirmed , over the whole globe that were it not for her seamen , Britain would not be valued a single straw by other nations , and that if they knew their own value , no Government in existence would long refuse to redress their wrongs . He read a well written address by the seamen of Dundee to

      the seamen of other places , urging on them the necessity of forming Associations in every port in the Kingdom , to ^ have the Act complained of either amended or repealed . In the course of his address Mr . M'Donald took occasion to depict , in glowing terms , tbe former inhuman cruelties of the fiendish press-gang . How they used to tear the mariner from Lta wife and little ones , force him into the navy , and not unfrequently crimson the green sea with his blood . These cruelties , he said , were once familiar to the British seaman ; and he had no guarantee that ; they would not be familiar to him again .

      At the conclusion of Mr . M'Donald ' a affecting address , the following resolutions \ were moved , seconded , and ably spoken to by several persons in the meeting , and agreed to unanimously : — Resolved , — " That this meeting consider that the Act of Parliament enforcing the ' Merchant Seaman ' s Fund / is a violation of our civil rights as citizens of a free nation ; and , further , that we believe it to be unwarrantable , and that we shall agitate unceasingly till we obtain its { amendment . " Resolved , — " That , in order to carry out the foregoing resolution , this meeting do immediately form itself into an Association to effect as speedily as possible the specified object . "

      The meeting , principally consisting of seamen , carpenters , riggers , Ac , then proceeded to nominate a committee of twelve , who instantly entered into preliminary arrangements for calling another meeting of the whole seamen of the town and neighbourhood at an early period , to form an association in accordance with the resolutions they had passed . The meeting , which filled the Hall to the door , was presided over by one of the most notorious obdurate Chartists in this locality . In the course of the proceedings , he stated that he bad been to sea for a short period in the earl y part of his life , and that he could never forget the hellish mode of i maintaining subordination practised on shipboard . He most cordially concurred in the objects of the meeting , and hoped that while no stone was left unturned in their endeavours to have this infamous piece of classlegislation exposed and done away with , they would never for a moment forget the one thing needful , the People ' s Charter . ;

      Mr . M'Donald intimated that they ; intended to visit Liverpool in the coarse of the present month ; and the newly formed committee agreed to postpone their intended forthcoming meeting till they returned . The meeting then broke up . ¦ Ship Building . —The business on which the great body of our population depends , has been for several months past all but annihilated , that is to say there are no vessels on the stocks at present j and those who live by rope-making , sail-making , block-making , rigging , painting , &c , are all , or nearly so , idle . Our foundries also , which sometime ago employed such an immense number of hands in all j the various branches of steam-engine making , are likewise all but closed ; and from the stand-still state of these

      two professions , the working people here are in a deplorable plight indeed . From a statement respecting the present destitution amongst us , which appeared in one of our tool journals the { other day , signed by the chief magistrate , we learn' that there are from six to seven thousand idle starving persons in Greenock at this moment , and it is expected they will be on the increase for months . Of these six or seven thousand from four to five thousand are supposed to live solely on the rations which they receive at the soup kitchen . These rations consist of an English pint of transparent skilly , three ounces and three-fourths of an ounce of coarse bread , and four ounces of oatmeal to each individual per day , the expense of which is fivepence a-head

      per week ; and the committee who manage the relief fund declare that all the money in'hand will not enable them to continue even that beggarly pittance for above a week longer . We must by no means , however , forget that provisions mGreeaook all the while are neither scarce nor costly . Prime beef and mutton , with the same quality jof bacon , we have ticketed in our flashers * and grocers' windows at fourpenca per lb . Good butter at , sixpence , and excellent fish , fresh or salt , as cheap as you choose ! Oatmeal at sevenpence a peck , and the best dry mealy potatoes we ever had the pleasure of eating , at threepence per stone . Clothing , ! likewise , whether necessary or ornamental , was never seen so moderately priced in Greenock as now . From

      all this , then , it must be pretty plain that those who are blessed with fixed salaries , and those who have high-rented , substantially-let shops and dwelling-houses , must be in as comfortable circumstances as mortals can well be , forming a most unchristian contrast with those who eagerly gulp the transparent skilly and exhibit the hideous effects of class-legislation . Of those in Greenook who enjoy fixed salaries and regular incomes from j well-let property , &c , it is supposed there are abodt fifteen hundred , and from their manner of living it is conjectured they support about double that number of tradesmen , shopkeepers , &c , so that Greenook at this point of time may be said to be a perfect sample of what class-legislation is naturally intended to

      effect . Five thousand rational creatures subsisting on the least posBible quantity of tbe coarsest ; , kind of human food doled out in tbe most insulting manner ; to these is a devil-loving black coat stationed in the soup kitchen to terrify the shivering recipient . While on the other hand there are five thousand of our population who principally owing to classmade laws and not to any merit of their own are enjoying every temporal comfort which nature or art can provide . But this is not the horrible and provoking state of Greenock alone- What is now communicated respecting Greenock may with' much propriety w « hear be applied to every large town in the empire . Subordination we know is ] visible and necessary throughout the universe of God , but

      that the industrious portion of the crertion { should perish for lack of bread , while the very fecufence of humanity possess more than they can use , is a gross insult to the majesty of Heaves . { Owing to the aforesaid stagnation of business here , and consequent want of employment , the Charter agitation has rather subsided amongst os of late , more especially since our delegate returned from the late Birmingham Conference . One of our leaders , however , is getting up a concert , which it ia understood will take place in our Mechanics' Hall , on the evening of Tuesday , the 31 st current when it ] is expected the cause will receive a freth impetus , j We were told the other day that Acland , the Cora Law lecturer , is abont to visit Greenock again , but he need not put himself to the trouble . The

      working people of Greenock hold that the Corn Law Repealers are only throwing dust in the people's eyes . Men consider that a repeal of the Corn JLaws without other accompanying measures , would be one of the greatest curses our working population ever saw . But supposing it were otherwise ] is it reasonable to believe , that our class-legislators will repeal the Corn Laws to the detriment of their own incomes , without making themselves a handsome compensation I We know how they acted towards the West Indian planters , when the negroes ] were half-emancipated , , and if twenty millions hardly satisfied them then , one hundred millions would be but a poor equivalent for the loss they would sustain in repealing the Corn Laws . We would therefore advise Acland , the sophist \ to ponder on these thiius . ii . d frv ytpc ' ( I ) ptc >>! i'lMitv t ' r-xn »! f « t r > C

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      O'CONNOR AND ACLAND . MB . Editor , — I have just seen In the NorihemSlar , that Mr . Adand , in Scotland , hM charged F . O'CkmnoT , Esq ., with falsehood , In stating that he Mr . Aclaud did not say at Halifax , that the masters were gotag to atop their mills . My Dear Sir , I eat as jeint chairman at the discusaion between Mr . Acland and F . O'Cennor , Eaq , ; Mr . Martin sat for Mr . Acland , I for Mr . O'Connor ; and aftet the discussion was over , Mr . Adana inclined himself towards Mr . O'Connor , and told him that either the Charter would become the law of tha land , ot the Corn Laws would be repealed , and that in a verylahortCtlme . Mr . O'Connor said how I The reply ha received was . joat word for word as stated in the Star , on Saturday , the 21 si I thought it my duty to tha character ef our worthy Mend , to make tbia statement , aa well as to rebut the falsehood of this hired tool of tue League . I have no more to add bnt my good wishes and support unto our gloriouB came , in which I have been a sufferer and defender for the last twenty-sewa

      years . Benjamin Rcshtois Ovenden , January 25 th . 1812 .

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      10 THE EDITOE OF IHE NOBTHEBN STAR . Sib , —I am a middle class man , but had the satis * faction of signing the first " National Petition" for " tha People ' s Chatter , " and of subscribing in support of the movement No doubt there have been , and are , falsa and violent Chartists , just as there are false and violent " physical . force , ' * compulsory " Act of Parliament " Christians . Bat that is ne reason why undisguised and upright men should be- ashamed of the name of Chartist , more than of that of Christian . And , therefore , why do Mr . Sturge and bis friends shrink at tha name of Chartist , and slink away from discussing tha Charter ! But , though thoroughly a Chartist , I hava after reading the Charter , as revised at the late Conference , taongfct It might still be amended . I would

      submit tbe following suggestions . The Charter contains no enactment against tbe intimidation or the treating of voters . It does not as sert , define , and Beoure the people ' s right publicly to meet and discuss . It sets forth no mode foe trying controverted elections . It omits one most effectual provision against bribery ; that of always tendering the oath against bribery and treating to all candidates and their agents . It constitutes the retuming-orBcer of an electoral district , also the retuming-officer of bis own election ; should he , after serving three years , seek to be techosen . I would also render cabinet ministers ineligible as members , but give to them and to the lawofficers of tbe Commonwealth , seats in both houses , without votes , by virtue of their offices . And might ife not be useful to levy on members daily fines for nonattendance , to be deducted out of their salaries at tha

      end of the session , except when absent unavoidably , oc by permission from a given cause ? I own also that thinking we cannot be too jealous , and with the lessons before us in history , of Annual Parliaments having enacted themselves into Triennial , and of a Triennial Parliament having still further treasonably prolonged itself by enactment into a septennial . I think it net unwise to enact that , in case any resolution or motion or proposal of any kind to prolong tbe duration of Parliament should pass either House , tbe Parliament thea Bitting shall be , ipso facto , dissolved . I am also disposed to enact that tbe Parliamentary candidates should be at least twenty-five , if not thirty , years of age , that "we may not be legislated for by boys . £ am not sure also that it would be improper caution , or unjust , to enact that all electors should be twentyfive years eld and able to read .

      I will not trench on your valuable space by arguments in support of these suggestions , some of which , it seems to me , every sound representative constitution should comprise ; but if you honour and oblige me by inserting this in the British " Polar Star , " you may again bear from A C'HBISTUN COMMONWEALTHSJIAN . Pontypool , Jan ; 20 th , 1843 .

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      At St . Peter ' s Church , Leeds , on Tuesday lasfc , Mr . William Brown , cloth-fuller , Hunslet , to Miss Jane Lawsoa , Holbeok . On Thursday , at Todmorden , by the Rev . J Cowell , incumbent , Mr . John Butterworth , innkeeper , Rochdale , to Harriet , eldest daughter of Mr . George Stead , joiner and builder , Dalton , Yorkshire . On Sunday last , at tbe Collegiate Church , Manchester , Mr . Ashton ABhton , weaver , Hollinwood , ta Miss Elizabeth Davies , milliner and dressmaker , o £ the same place .

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      DEATHS . Death of a Patbiot , —It is with ho ordinary feelings of regret that we this week record tha death of that veteran , philanthropist , and patriot , Charles Brooker , Esq . The deceased passed the entire ef his long and honourable life—extended ta upwards of seventy years—in the agricultural village of Alfriston , East Sussex ¦ but his name and manly virtues were things " familiar as household words" to every inhabitant of his native county . Having by his industry in early life accumulated a comfortable competency , still further increased by the demise of a relative , Mr . Brooker devoted . himself , " heart and ^ soul , " . to rescuing the labourers of Sussex from the physical and mental thraldom ia

      which they had been bo long held by their local tyrants . His untiring opposition to the " coarser food" New Podr Law system , secured for him tha grateful attachment of the down-trodden " chopsticks ; " and , as a matter %£ course , the enmity of squires , parsons , and M Wll-frog farmers . " Mr . Brooker speedily perceived that he was fruitlessly wasting his energies and fortune by attacking the effect of bad legislation , so long as the cau& continued in existence ; and , therefore , became as zealous an advocate of Chartism , as he had bees an antagonist tot the Poor Law Amendment Act . An avowed Chartist , he stood two or three contests for the Borough of Brighton , affording the liberal electors , on each occasion , an opportunity of recording their suffrages at the poll , Mr . Brooker also represented the Brighton Chartists in the recent

      Conference at Birmingham , when he gave his , unfortunately , last testimony of fidelity to the Chartist cause , by recording his vote in favour of William Lovett's amendment . As an evidence of the high regard in whioh Mr . Brooker was held by the Chartists of Brighton , we may instance the fact , that whereas a strong contest ensued for the election of his colleagues to the Conference , yet Mr . B . himself was the chosen of every party . Of Charles Brooker , indeed , the worst ever uttered against him by either Tory or Whig , was , that he was an " honest enthusiast' !"' - The Chartists of Great Britain , however , will require no other eulogy than this one from their foes , to convince them that death has , int Charles Brooker , bereft the world of a true friend to humanity and liberty . May heaven call for til many such " honest enthusiasts '' . '

      On Thursday , the 19 th instant , at Knaresboiougb , Georgiana Fredericarthe lady of Edward Strangewaye , Esq ., of that place , and daughter of the late f . -V t \ v . vkev , I " .-. . , uT Wai'er Clouah , near Ha-

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      THE NORTHERN STAR . 5 _

      {&As3-Hade Iaws Hate Made Theib Tictbis; £Et "Cs Esdeatotir To Ee--Trhsz Them.

      { &AS 3-HADE iAWS HATE MADE THEIB TICTBIS ; £ ET "CS ESDEATOTIR TO EE--TRhSZ THEM .

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      DEATH OF MB . DKTJMMOXD . ( From ihe Evening Star , J With feelings of unaffected sorrow and regret it is our melancholy duty to announce the death of this highly respected and most amiable gentleman . Mr . Drnmmond expired at his residence in Grosvenor-Btreet , on Wednesday morning , at about half-past ten o ' clock . We understand that the eminent medical gentlemen by ¦ whom he was attended , had but little bope or his recovery from an advanced hour on the evening of

      Monday ; but at ten o ' clock on Tuesday night , what little remained to inauce tbe continuance of that hope had fled for ever . It is stated in tbe morning papers that the departed gentleman experienced but little pain We ¦ UDd wata . nd , however , that this is not exactly the fact Mr . Drummond is stated to have suffered most acutely during the last twelve hours of hiB existence , but bore those sufferings ¦ with that calmness and resignation which religion alone can inspire . He was sensible to the last , and died in the presence of his efflicted family .

      Ixquest o * Mr . DRriiMOXD . —On Thursday afternoon , at four o ' clock , an inqacst was held before Mr . Gell , coroner for Westminster , at the sign ot the Lion and Goat , Grosvenor-street , on view of the body of Mr . Drummond . The proceedings excited the greatest interest , the jury-r&om being crowded almost to suffocation . The Jury having been sworn , proceeded with tbe Coroner to view the body , which was lying at the residence of the deceased , and h&ving returned , tbe Coroner made Eome observations with respect to the sanity of the prisoner , adding that in his opinion , they had nothin * whatever to do with that fact , and after a £ » rt consultation , retnrned a verdict of " Wilful Murder " against Daniel M'Naughten . "

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      Dublin . —Ibish U . viyehsal Suffrage Association . —On Sunday last , the association held ita weekly meeting , Mr . Rafter in the chair . Mr . O'fliggins made his first appearance after returning from the Conference , at Birmingham , and was received with much cheering . Mr . Dyott opened the business of the meeting , and after reading the objects , &o ,, of the Association , proceeded to expatiate on the principles of the Charter , and on popular prospects generally . Mr . ' O'Higgins also addressed the society at some length .

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      THE EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTS . TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN . Having been nominated in various places as a member of a committee for investigating the accounts of the Executive ; while feeling grateful for this mark of your confidence , I must still respectfully decline the office . As a member of the Executive , pro . tern ., I have been forced , by circumstances , into tbe position of an accuser of the Executive , and for me or my brother members of the Executive pro . tern ., to sit on that committee , would have tho appearance of a jury of accusers being the parties appointed to try the defendants . This I am convinced is not yonr dtsire , and I have no donbt you will take immediate steps to rectify the error . Yours , Thos . M- Wheeler . P . S . —Messrs . Dron , Cuffay , and Knight , fully concur in the sentiments above expressed .

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      THE PHOPOSED ELECTORAL DISTRICTS . TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN . Fellow Coij > tbym £ M , —You will , many of you , have observed in the minutes of the late Conference , published in the Northern Star of last Saturday , that on revising that valuable document , the People ' s Charter , as we there , very happily , had an opportunity of doing ; you will have observed , I say , and those of you who were present as delegates may do me the honour to recollect , that when you came to the clause which prescribes the number of Electoral . Districts , I venturned to move that the number of those districts be 500 , instead of the smaller nnmber , 300 , as it had heretofore stood in the Charter .

      I contested myself with simply moving this proposition , without occupying the time of the meeting with a statement of my reasons for so doing , and my motion was kindly and spontaneously seconded by a brother delegate , without a speech , and as quickly disposed of in the negative by the meeting . I have just been reminded of this proposition of mine , by a neighbour who had been reading the minutes , and to whom I found , the proposed advance from 300 to 500 appeared somewhat unreasonable or extravagant .

      A brief statement of some of my reasons for the proposition , seemed to alter , very effectually , the earlier impressions of my neighbonr ; and as deem it a matter of very great moment to the cause we have so much at heart , I now respectfully and earnestly beg your attention to some of these reasons , and venture to hope that you will , in your several meetings , make this proposition of mine a subject of discussion ; and if you approve of it , and if you embrace it , as I flatter myself that you will , I hope that you will , on any further revision , or on a confirmation

      of tke Charter , cause the alteration to : be made . Perhaps I was remiss in abstaining as I did , from arguing the matter with my brother delegates . The reasons then present to my mind for so abstaining were , first , a settled aversion to retard the proceedings of the Conference , by raising a discussion on almost any point whatever , and so to incur any risk of prolonging our sittings over Friday , the fourth day ; and , second , a pretty confident belief that we should have another revision of the Charter , and an opportunity somewhat more favourable of discussing and settling the point .

      We have now that opportunity . The delegates assembled in Conference , after having , on their part , revised the Charter , and made some alterations in the minor details for carrying its great provisions into effect ; these delegates , in the honest spirit of representatives , submitted the alterations they have made * ' to the consideration of the people , " as a proper step previous to its final adoption . To your consideration , then , and to that of your late delegates , I would thus , in a more deliberate manner , submit the alteration I have named . The alteration proposed is , an extension of the number of electoral districts , from three , to five hundred ; and , inasmuch as it is wisely designed that each district shall return one representative , and one only , so do I propose that the number of representatives shall be five hundred .

      Call to mind , first , if you please , that our CHARTER , as its title announces , is designed "for GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND . " And ( hen say , what must be tbe size , the extent , of most of the proposed districts , seeing that each district is to comprise a three-hundredth part of the whole people of the two islands . A three hundredth-part , it is true , in the populous cities and towns , will be found within a moderate extent of territory . And so far , the arrangements might serve . But such cities and towns are neither so numerons , nor so overwhelmingly important , as to justify us in adopting our arrangements entirely for them : nsy , in every point of view , whether of justice or policy , we ought , as I shall perhaps make manifest , to adopt our scheme rather to the security and due representation of the aerier . ltural districts

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      DESTRUCTION OF A VESSEL BY EXPLOSION . On Tuesday , accounts arrived at Lloyd ' s of a melancholy catastrophe having occurred ou board the schooner New Times , belonging to London , while on her outward passage to the coast of Africa , by which the vessel was totally lost , and all hands on board , consisting of her commander , Captain Alexander Rowe , and a crew of twelve seamen , met with a frightful death . It was occasioned by the explosion of nearly 10 D barrels of gunpowder , that were stowed away in tho magazine of the ship , but in what manner they ignited is wholly unknown . The particulars below detailed are extracted from a letter furnished by Messrg . Haiton and Sons , the owuers Of the schooner , who received them on Tuesday from a gentleman in the service , and who witnessed the Bad calamity . Tbe letter is as follows : — " Badagry , Oct . 18 , 1842 .

      " When I left Cape Coast on board of the New Times , with her valuable cargo , I was calculating on a successful trading expedition down the coast ; and of returning to Cape Coast in due time to perform the pleasing dnty of acquainting you with the result of my exertions , and little did I expect that all my hopes and prospects would be in a sudden and extraordinary manner cut off by a painful dispensation of Divine Providence , which has at one stroke deprived us both of the vessel and her cargo . To acquaint you with the distressing catastrophe now becomes my painful duty , and , I assure you , I do it with feelings of the deepest anguish and distress . u Thursday morning , the 6 th i » st ., we arrived and made a safe anchorage off this place , Badagry

      and I went ashore . We landed no cargo , and after Wednesday morning , the 12 th , had no communication with the New Times ; but , as Captain Rowe was on board , we , of course , calculated on all being well , both with the vessel and her crow . At one o ' clook p . m . the following day , Thursday ( the 13 th , ) we were alarmed by a tremendous explosion , and ; on looking in the direction of the beach , | saw an immense volume of black smoke rise immediately over the spot where the vessel was anchored . As I knew we bad a large quantity of gunpowder on board , I instantly suspected the destruction of the ship . The shock was terrific , and must have been heard at a great distance . Although the town of Badagry is situated about two miles and a half from the sea , and the ground so low that the hull

      of a vessel in the roads cannot be seen , yet the concussion was distinctly felt , and every house was shaken . I , with others , immediately hastened to the Bpot , and discovered that the masts had disappeared . We lost no time , and crossed the river to the beach , and I regret to say that en our arrival there we could not see a vestige of the vessel or any person to give us the least information respecting her . I can form some idea of the distress which you will feel on the receipt of this sad intelligence , and deeply do I sympathise with you in the heavy loss you have sustained . I wish I could add some information relative to the captain and crew of the vessel , as the means of alleviating in some measure the grief which you must feel , but I fear the worst , and mast add to the foregoing sad event my conviction that every soul on board of her perished .

      " To form an idea of the cause of this sad disaster is impossible ; none of her crew being spared , it must for ever remain a mystery . At the time of the exr plosion I was busily engaged taking stock with Captain Parsons , from whose stores we ceuld have seen tbe smoke had the vessel been on fire previous to the explosion ; and , moreover , had such been the case , the crew would certainly have' had sufficient time to take to the boats and to two large canoes which were lying astern of the vessel . This proves that the explosion was instantaneous . Half an hour at least elapsed after we heard : the report before we reached the beach , at which time , as I have already stated , not a vestige of the vessel could be seen . I , nevertheless , got a- canoe launched , and with the

      assistance of the two canoes that were lying astern of the vessel , and which had broken loose , search was made for several miles distant for the poor suffererers , but we returned at dusk unsuccessful . " Shortly after we reached the beach we perceived something in the water where the unfortunate schooner had been anchored ; which , on examination proved to be the jib-boom , windlass , and spritsailyard . They are still stationary , and are a little above water ; and not having teeen any portion of her hall , with the exception of a piece of coppered plank abont a foot square , which was picked up in the bottom of one of the canoes , we conclude that the

      stern of the vessel was blown oat , and that she bad sunk at her anchors . Whether her decks or masts are blown out we cannot say ' , bnt it is evident that the principal part of tbe cargo has floated out of her as in two hours after the accident the sea was covered with the tattered remnants of cloth , pieces of puncheons , eases , butt-ends of muskets , &o . In consequence of there being no other boats at hand , we were utterly unable to save anything . " Besides the original creW , the vessel shipped three others at Cape Coast . I have kept a sharp look out for many miles along the beach ; but , as yet , none of the bodies of the unfortunate creatures have been washed ashore .

      "J . H . AKmmST . " The New Times was considered a Sne sailing craft , about 1 2 »> tons burden . Slio Jpft L <> w ) nn

      Patent Felting Cloth.

      PATENT FELTING CLOTH .

      Iwabbiages.

      IWABBIAGES .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 28, 1843, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct788/page/5/