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Northern Star (1837-1852), 30th December 1843, Edition 4 of 5, Page 3, iPorta)

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      THE PATJPKB'S CHRISTMAS CAROL . "According to annnil and praiseworthy custom the unfortunate inmatea feota of the ¦ workhouses and prisons t hroughout Hie metropolis , -will , upon Chrutmis-day be regaled with the nroal good tare of &e season . The proportion * of the allowances vary rilfbHy in different jTutitntioiis , but in all a good dinner will be provided . "Morning Chronicle . Full of drink and fall of meat , Oa our Saviour ' s natal day , Chsrity ' & perennial treat ; Thus I heard a pauper say : — " Ought not I to dance and « ing Thus supplied with famous cheer ? Heigho ! I hardly know—Christmas comes but once a year . '

      ' . ' After labours long turmoil , Sorry fare and frequent fast , Two and fifty weeks of toll , Padding-time is come at last ! Bat are raisins high or low , Flour and Euetthsap or dear ? Heigho ! j hardly know—Christmas comes bnt once a year ! " Ted upon the coarsest fare Tiiree hundred days and sixty-four But for one on Tian&s rare , Jnst as if I wasn't poor ! Ought not I to bless my stars , "Wayden , clerk , and overseer ? JHeiEbo !

      I hardly know—CiiriEtmas comes but once a year . *• Treatsdlike a welcome guest , One of Nature ' s social chain , Sea l ed , tended on , and pressed—Bnt when shall I be press'd again , Twice to pudding , thrice loieef , A dczsn times to ale and beer ? Heigho I lliardly know—Christmas comes bat ones a year .

      • " Come to-morrow how it win ; Diet scant and usage rough , Burger once has had its fill , Thirst for once has had enough , Sat «>^ ail I exer dine again ? Or see another feast appear ? Beigho ! I only know—Cbnsimfi cornea bntjonee a year " I ^ rczsn cares begin to melt , Hopes revive and spirits flow—Peeling as I hare net felt Since a dczsn months ago—Glad enough to sing a song—To-morrow shall I Tolnuteer ? Heigho 1

      I hardly know—Christmas comes but once a year . " Bright and blessed is the time , Sorrows end and joys begin , WlBIe the bells with merry chime Ring toe Day of Plenty in . ' Bnt the happy tide to hail "With a sigh oi with a tsar , Heigho ! I hardly know—Christmas comes but once a year ! "—Punch

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      TAIT'S MAGAZINE . We owe an apology both to the publisher of this ilagszlne and to our readers for not noticing the December number earlier in the month . Tie fault Is no ; ours . The fact is , the Magazine only reached » s a few dajs seo , it having , we nnderstand , on ha arrival at the office been borrowed for perusal . Now , ttc protest againsi this . Any work pent to us fox review , -we are resolved to act honestly by , and we deem it little short of robbery 10 taie book 3 from Authors and pnbiisiiers , and n « afford ihtm that notice the parties naturally look , for when sending them for review . We have then to desire of our lorroirijig fi iends that when a work is received at this office for revisw , they will allow us the first perusal , thai we may thereby be enabled to perform what we deem to be a duty : —" a word to the wise ( let us hope ) snfficeth !"

      Tait closes the old year well . In addition io original papers , and the usual excellent critiques tre hare ** Scenes in the . Life of an Authoress /" "which , judging by the opening Chapters , we expect ¦ Rill be found an exceedingly attractive feature in fnrnre r-Bmbos- From Mr . 3 Jorison ' s "Beminiscences of Sir "Walter Scott , &c ., " we gne lie following interesting sketch of Life in the Hebrides , forty years ago ;—Prom Tobermoy I -walked down the Sound to Attob , where iieie is an old castle , and from thence to the head of Loch Ka-Eeal , where I found a boat with a number of yonng men abont to embark . 1 inquired whither they were bousd- They said for Ions ; that

      Fiey had plenty of provisions , and invited-me to eomB on board . They were pnrehaEiEg whisky from a person ¦ who lad a still in the neighbourhood , with whom they Kerned well acquainted . I purchased a gallon as my contribution . They bought two more . They iad also cold foTFlSj roast beef , iams , with bread and cheese in abnadasce . We commenced fishing , and were very successful . We called at * farmer 's bouse , and were invited to dinner . The lady played very gracefully on the guitar , and accompanied with her -voice in Gaelic ; the subject was from Oanan , and the air ef the same rje , very plaintive and beautiful . "We went to visit a care , and landed on Inch Kenneth , the former residence of Sir Allan Maclean , where Dr . Johnson was entertained . ThB island was now withont an

      inhabi-*~ -nt . It "was now tee late lor gaining Iona , so we landed in Mull , and were hospitably entertained at the house of a clergyman - a most hospitable gentleman , "with a numerous family of daughters . After tea , we were entertained by the ladies with some excellent ghost stories ; the scene of one of which was not fifty yards from where we -were sitting . A young lady , the l ? anty of the country , was about to be married , and , 'with her betrothed and many friends , was making merry on the green , when a handsome youth on horsel ~ ck made ins appearance , and at cci rode up and -whispered in the bride ' s ear ; on which she at once sprung np behind him , and they golioped off liie the "Wind , and -were never seen or heard of m « re , except on the anniversary of their flight , when the horse

      ¦ with his riders is seen galloping round "the green . The young lady is said to have been very proud and fickle , and her lover some air or water spirit , and she was thus punished ; so that fh « tale is not "withont a moral . We sat up late after supper , and were entertained by *~\ ea of the same kind : one of a mermaid who carried away a young man , and kept-him for seven years in a palace studded with precious stones . She allowed him to ccme to land and visit his friends , who could see no symptoms cf approaching age ; indeed , he himself thought that he iad been -absent a day only . He , however , declined to retnm , and removed more inland . The mermaid was often heard lamenting on the shore ? id singing a mournful ditty , which , with its original tone , was sung by a young lady of the company .

      In the morning tbe minister paid us a visit in our Isd-room , with the family -whisky bottle under his arm , and gave us the morning dram . After an excel lent breakfast , wejjnrsned our voyage , and soon landed on Iona , the sacred island of St Colomba . After visiting the graves ef the kings , Scots , Irish , and Norwegian , tbe Crosses and monastery , I proceeded to draw , my young friends forming a circle around me , with a bottle of mountain dew and some biscuit . Previous to this we had secured a room in ths publicbouse , landed our provisions , and moored our boat I ¦ c ontinued , drawing for several hours ; -and in the mean time it was agreed that we should pass the night on holy gronnd . I was anxious to draw as long as possible ,

      knowing that there would be little time after dinner ; stuI I found Biy companions very accommodating . We had caught plenty of fish , « nd had it totb boiled and broiled in excellent style ; which , with our cold roast beef and pie , ossde a snraptnons ieast We had also plenty of * agar to make onr toddy . In order to prevent too much drinking , I proposed having a walk ; that ire abonld ascend Dun I , —that iB , the Hill of God , —and -seevhe sun setting on She Atlantic ; -which was -unanimously seconded . The hill is said to ie 500 feet nigh . I Ehould think that It is more ; but 2 had no means of ascertaining it . The sea was smooth « glass , with all the islands to the west—Coll , Tiree , tie Dutchman ' s Cap , and others , with the sun three rHttTnctary of > nTngrff above the sea line . We descended ,

      Bad returned by the Abbot's Walk , where we saw , on a bog , some remains of birch-wood . Some old people recollected having seen decaying trees , that appeared to have been planted in rows , forming an avenue ; and , indeed , all the mosses or logs contain the remains of wood , -whieh is said at one tinse to have covered the '" land . At present , there is not ene bush growing on tbe island . We returned to our inn through the burying-ground , and examined tee Day of Judgment Btone or doeh-brolh . Three stoneB of about three or four pounds weight , were placed on a thracc-stone at a considerable . dbitanes from each other . Every strange ? must giTB each of these atones a turn round ; and they nm « t havB often been tBrn 8 d . foi each has wornaiiol

      w » or pot tram Qie repeated action of turning round , when tfcf grave-stone , on which the Clach-bralh are plsesd , shall be-trora Smmgb , so that tie stsnes ^ hall a tL ** S * * ! tt » en comes the end of the world , and Day of Juaga ^; n ^ accounted unlucky not to tan these Acmes ; and equally so to tnro them more than once round . In the evening , as we returned by tie rnua of the Ksnnery , we observed thousands of KSrlmgB retteniiig from ths Eea-sbcie to tbeii lodgings in the walls of &e building . Ihtsehohs , ox nests , are f ^ S ! Z 2 lckhlS out the mortar 2 nd analUtoneB ; snd at each hole the owner was sitting half in and half ont , chattering to his nei ghbour , or to ourselves' They appeared not in ths least aistnifceA fcy our present ,

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      though we were standing not more than three yards from the walL If not speaking to us , it is at least probable that we were the subject of their conversation . Xhe daws were also returning to the abbey . The starlings and daws form distinct and separate . establishments , the one not intruding on the other ; and are held sacred fey the people . They are thought to be the souls of the monks and nuns , and are not allowed to be molested . Some dandy tourists , visiting the island , commenced shooting . the birds ; and after being -warned , still persisted . They were instantly Beizgd , and underwent a seveie ducking .

      Od arriving at oar inn we had good tea , which had been brought from the mainland , with excellent fish and ham ; and finished with toddy of the best quality . There was bnt odb bed , which , it was insisted , I should ocenpy , being the stranger . Tbe rest of tbe party were to sit up , and drink moderately . This preference I declined ; when it was concluded that we should occupy the bed by turns , and that I should take the first . We , however , sat singing and telling tales till midnight . I went to bed , which was in a separate apartment ; but the people of the inn contrived to make up a succession of beds , or shake-downs , all round the room ; and when I awoke , for the first time , about four o ' clock , on going into the room , I found my new friends all fast asleep .

      The sun was juBt rising over the mountains of Mull ; and on going out , I found my old friends , the starlings , at the morning's conversation , consulting , I suppose , in what direction they were to take their flight ; which is , I -was informed , always regulated by the point from which the wind is blowing , which best answers their feeding-ground . J stood very near j but they did not seem in the least alarmed , and kept chattering away . After 1 fcaa retreated to a considerable distance , they all took flight in the direction « f Mnll , -which is their feeoing-ground . I was soon joined by most of the company , who brought along with them the morning dram , and stood and -overlooked my drawing , which 1 continued till the hour of breakfast After breakfast we embarked for Staffa , and had a pleasant sail , the morning being beautiful . After reading Sir Joseph

      Banks' and Pennant ' s description , 1 was disappointed in Staffs ; which however , must strike every beholder with wonder . On entering the cave , the action and swell of the water below makes one giddy . My attention was directed to a sound , which was not the immediate action of the wsYea rising and falling within the cave ; for I -was told that it was the music of an enchanted organ , played by a wizard ; which all my companions firmly believed . It appeared to me to be an echo , from the roof of the cave , of the rushing of the waves , which rose and fell not less than fifteen feet . When onr piper played a pilbrocb , the music of the waves drowned or BofUned down the harsh Eound of the bagpipe , which discoursed most txcellent mnsio . I recommend all performers on the great pipe to go to this cave , at least once in their lives , and set a lesson .

      We landed on the island ; and as the sea was becoming rough , we felt the gronnd trembling under our feet A family once resided in Staffa ; but they were afraid , one stormy night , that the island might fall to pieces ; and left as soon as a boat could be launched . Here -we spread the feast , having seated ourselves immediately above Fingal ' s Cave . The day was fine ; but a heavy sea was setting into the cave . The sound was musical , and the ground beneath us was still trembling . Our glasses and plates felt the motion , and made a small clattering noise .

      Prom Staffs we landed on tTlva , -where I found a boat preparing to sail for Kasay , which , in passing the strait between Glenelg and Skye , could readily land me on that island . The boatman offered to carry me for halfa-crown , including provisions ; but this last was unnecessary , as my friends , from our boat , put me up a basket of biscuit , bum , cheese , and three bottles of whiskey , which was the half of our remaining stock . As my boat was not to sail till the evening , we had tea and toddy before parting . Some yeara after this , I had it in my power to be nseful to two of those young

      men . when they were attending college in Edinburgh . We bad a good voyage to tbe ferry betwixt Glenelg and Skye ; and in order that I might have a vit-w of Skye as an iBland , I was landed on the sbora of Glenelg , from which tbe view of tbe Cuchullin mountains is magnificent ! I was ferried over to Skye , and walked abont fifteen miles to Cunscnith caBlle of Cuchullin , " the noble son of Semno . '' I rested on the rock , which affurds the best view of the sea towards Ireland , and thought of the spouse of the cai-bome chief of the Isle of Mist : —

      Dost thon raise thy fair face from the rock to find the sails of Cuchullin ? Return , my love , for it is night . What remains of the castle is Dot much ; but the view towards Strathaird , CoruisLk , and , the whole range of the Cunhullin mountains , is a scene of gloomy grandeur that I have never seen equalled . From Dunscaitb I engaged a boat to cast me over to Coruisbk at once , a dihtaDce of about seven miles . I sat in the stern of the beat , and kept drawing the

      varying outline of the scene before me , which I was approaching . On lauding , I began to ascend tbe Cuctullin mountains to the west of Cornishk . The view to the west , with all its island , is very fine ; and from the edge of the summit , to look do-sm into the dark waters of Cornishk , is not niimixed with terror . To the north and east , tbe mountains enclosing tbe lake are of most rngged character ; arad beyond tfce first range , enclosing the lake of Cornlsit , the mountains seem much higher . They are , 1 was informed , the highest in Skye .

      The sun was about an hour from sinking in the ocean , whieh was smooth and of a rich yellow . 1 began to tfrTTiV , like Edom of Gordon , * " of druwing to some cauld , " and deECfended down Strath Ka , a valley te the north . I had not walked a mi : e downward till I met a shepherd , and inquired if a public-house was irear . * ' You can be at no loss , " said he ; ' for the first i . onse that yon come to -will be happy to receive you , I will go with you . " We soon arrived at , and entered the cottage . I asked for whisky , inttnding to treat my guide , when a good -looking youDg won .-an put down glasses , and a bottle and whisky of the finest

      quality , and said that tea would soon be ready . 1 observed the whisky was fine" Yes , " said he ; " 1 made it . " " Then this is your house ? ' " It is , " said he ; " and that is my sister . You are in no public-house ; but make equally free . "' The tea camB , and was excellent , with eggs , ham , cakes , &c The sister had been in Glasgow for years with a lady , and understood housekeeping well . My bed-room and bed were very neat In the morning we bad an early breakfast , and the shepherd proposed to instruct me the proper route of descending to the Glen of Ghosts , and insisted that 2 ihould return in the

      evening . We have been much pleased with the article , entitled , " Minor Spanish Poetry of the Sixteenth Century , " it will be found a treat to the lovers of beauty and song . We may hereafter give some extracts from the critique on " Lyon ' a History of St . Andrews . " The critique on the ** Correspondence between BurnB and Clarinda" will keep a week or two , bu ; the admirers of the poet—and their name is Legion , may depend upon us not forgetting them . In conclusion , though our good word in behalf of this number comes rather late , still ** better late than never . " We heartily recommend it .

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      What wa conscientiously think wrong , we shall honestly and earnestly oppose ; and hope to have the suffrages of all good men with us . In addition to the articles from the pen of the Editor , we notice several able papers by Mr . Ryall and others ; also a very interesting correspondence between the London Anti-Persecution Union and Dr . Kalley . We warmly recommend this periodical to the support of the movement party .

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      NEW YEARS' DAY . " Another year is numbered with the past , With all its storms and sunshine , smiles and tears . The dim veil of the future round it cast , Another following in its path , appears—We kail it with a joyous welcoming , With feasting , and with revelry , unknowing The griefs , the disappointments , it may bring To many a heart : with fervent hopes now glowing . Now , as it were upon the verge extreme Between the future and the paHt , we stand—The past , appears but as a shadowy dream—Almost forgotten ; whilst , with aspect bland , The future Beems to smile . " Charnock ' s Poems .

      Christmas Day is come and gone , but not so Christmas festivities ; we have yet New Year ' s Day and Twelfth Night before us , and gladly do we soatch at the remaining hour 3 of mirth and joviality , ere we finally resume the stern duties , toils , and struggles of another year . It is not unusual with the knights of the " grey goose quill" to present their readers with a sort of retrospective view of the remarkable events , and political occurrences of the departing year . Bat we must be excused if we decline following this orthodox custom : our reason is , that we would fain , at this season of the year dip our pen in as little of the gall of politics as possible . ** Tis our vocation" to " measure swords " on the field of political strife wherever a foe to the rights of mankind presents himself , or whenever the victim of oppression appeals to us for help against the wrong-doer . But there are seasons

      when we may profitably abstain for a moment from the toils of the contest , take breath , and thereby gather up new vigour for future conflicts . Such a season iB the present . True , we might in a political retrospect have embraced much on which to have congratulated our readers , and derived therefrom hopeful anticipations of future triumphs . We might have reminded our readers of the victory , not soon to be forgotten , won in this present year in the city of John O'G&unt , where the " red rose , " smiled on the triumph of right over might , and the victory of honest e loquence over law-backed treachery . We might very naturally have expatiated on this memorable event , priding fouTselves , as we do , that we were one of the combatants in that conflict so honourable to the victors . But we abstain , anxious aa we are to hasten back to rtie flowers of literature from . which to cull a "Garland" for the " . New Year ' s Day /'

      With theae prefatory remarks , we beg to introduce our readers to the following extracts ( all we can find room for ) from the pen of Leigh Hunt , on—NSW YEAB ' S DAT , NEW TEAR ' s GIFTS , AND THE WASSAIL BOWL . All the Christmas holidays have , or may have , if they please , Borne things in common , sucb as mincepies , plum-puddings , holly-boughs , and games of play ; but tbe three principal ones have each their indispensable accompaniment , —Christmas Day its log on the fire —New-Tear " s Day its wassail-bowl—Twelfth Night its cake . Every man may think he begins a New Year purely by entering into the 1 st of January ; but he is mistaken . Tbe Ifew Year is no more to him than the old one—the 1 st of January nothing different from the 31 st of December . Tbe poor man walks in error . People , if they could , have a right to hustle him back again into the preceding week , and ask him what business ha has ont of his twelve-month .

      Formerly , everybody made presents on New-Year's Day , as they still do in Paris , where our lively neighbours turn the whole metropolis into a world of cakes , sweetmeats , jewellery , and all sorts of gifta and greetings . The Puritans checked that custom , out of a notion tbat it waa superstitious , and because the heathens did it ; which was an odd reaBon , and might have abolished many uther innocent and laudable practices—esting itself , for one—and going to bed . Innumerable are the authorities which ( had we lived in those days ) we would have broosht up in behalf of

      those two customs , in answer to the Nuw-Year's-D-iyknocking-down folios of Mr . Prynne , the great " blasphemer of custard . " Unfortunately , if the PuritanB thought gift-giving snpeifctitious , the increasing spirit of commerce was . too well inclined to admit half its epithet , and regard tbe practice as , at least , superfluous —a thing over and above—and what was not always productive of a " consideration . " ' * Nothing ' s given for nothing now-a-daya , " es the saying is . Nay , it is doubtful whether next to nothing will always be given for something .

      This muBt be mended , or there will be no Buch thing aa a New Year by and by . Novelty will ge out : the Mia will halt in tbe sky , and the prudent men sharply consider whether they have need of common perception . * ; * * ¦ * For present-making , then , upon New Year ' s Day , the case must stand ss it may happen . It is no longer a sine-qua-non . People may make them or not , either on this day or birth-days , without , of necessity , proving their generosity or the want of it—always provided they exhibit tbe present-making capability somehow or other in the course of their lives . Bnt we cannut

      consent te rank ourselves among those who would let the day paas over without 8 ome distinctive mark of old times ; especially as we trust that better days are in store for all the world , and will bring the btst of old customs round again ; and , therefore , one-virtue we hold to be incumbent upon all thinking and social people on the 1 st of January , and tha' is the having a Wassail-bow ) . We have done eom ihing in our time towards restoring ths uso of this venerable jollity in the metropolis , and have reason to know that we succeeded in many quarters ; and -we hereby enjoin such of our readers as are not yet acquainted with it , bnt have sense and good-humour enough to deserve the acquaintance , to set about preparing one forthwith . It is a

      good-natured bowl , and accommodates itself to the means of all clpiEeB , rich and poor . You may have it of the coatiiest wine , or tbe humblest malt-liquor { we fancy we see several pleasant faces instantly ) over this paper , looking their resolution to have it—some in porcelain and some in common ware ); but , in no case must the roasted apples be forgotten ; they are tbe sine fua non of the Wassail-bow ] , as the Wassail bowl is of the day—and very pleasant they are , provided they 8 re not mixed up too much with the beverage , — balmy , comfortable , and different , — a sort of meat in the drink , —but innocent withal , and reminding you of the orchards . They mix tbeir flavour with the beverage , and the beverage with them , giving a new meanins t » tbe line of the poet : —

      " The gentler apple ' s winy juice ;" For both winy and " gentler" have they become by this process . Tbtow off your reserves , then , dear people , and be " merry and wise , " — with the courts of Kings , if you are Tories { tor they nsed to have the Wassail-bowJ , ) Wth Addison and Steele , if you are Whigs ( jovial as well as moral fellows in their time ); with this most radical moisture and thorough-going refreshment , if you are Radicals ; and cry one and all with the poet whom Plato pronounced the " wisest , " or with bis translator who has bit tbe passage off like a proper wassailer , — I pray thee by the Gods above , Give me tbe mighty Bowl I love , And let me sing , in wild delight , I will , I will be mad to-night . Moore ' s Anacreon .

      JTHE WASSAIL BOWL . ( From Brand ' s Popular Antiquities . J There was an ancient custom , which is yet retained in many places on New Year ' s Eve : young women went about with a JWassail Bowl of spiced ale , with some sort of verses that were sung by them as they went from door to door . Wassail is derived from the Ansrlo-Saxon valheel , be in health . " The Wassail Bowl , " bbvb Wharton , " is Shakspeare ' s gossip ' s bowl , in the ' Midsummer's Night ' s Dream , ' Act I . Scene I . The composition was ale , nutmeg , sugar , toast , and Toasted crabs or apples . It was also called Lamb ' s Wool It appears from Thomas de la Moore ( 'VitaEdw . II . ' ) and old Havillian ( in 'Architren . Lib . 2 . ) that washaile and drinc-heil were the usual ancient phrases of quaffing among the English and synonymous with the " Come , here ' s to you , " and " I'll pledge you , " of the present day .

      It was unnecessary to add , that they accepted little presents on the occasion from tbe bouses at which they stopped to pay this annual congratulation . We had intended to have said something respecting the festivities in Scotland , where New Year ' s Day is the grand festival of the year ; but our space " cribbMjcabm'd , and confin'd , " will not permit ua to do so this vear . No matter , Reader , let us hope we shall meet again , and next year , perhaps , we may say something about the New Year ' s Day as kept in the *> land o' cakes . "

      Header , tbe old year is waning to a close , and ere we shall again greet thee through the colnmns of the Northern Star , 1843 will be nnmbered with the " tnings that were . " Look back ere the old year is for ever gone , and ask thyself bast thou done all that thou Brightest liave done fox thine own honour and the welfare of thy brethren f How many ofnscan say " yea ? " Few , very few , we fear . It is not for , U 3 to condemn , for , judged by the righteous law 11 him that is guilty throw the first stone , " we should hesitate to lift it . It is not reproof of past omissions that is our purpose , but encouragement to a more active well-doing for the future .

      Reader , if in thy tussle with the world thon hast witnessed a wrong done to a brother man , and hast fai ' ed to do all that was in tby power to prevent tbat wrong , or punjgh . the v * rong doer ; then resolve

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      that for the future thou wilt play the man ' s , and not the craven ' s , part . If thou hast omitted anyone thing , no matter how seemingly trifling , which would have added to the happiness , or soothed tEe affliction of thy fellow-mortals ; resolve that increased wafobfillness in the future shall atone for these omissions of the past . If thou art one who believes in the great principles of social and political justice , and yet whilst others have toiled to establish those principles , thou bast gazed heedlessly on and seen thy brother fail because he had not thy help , then resolve to " gird ( up ; thy loins" and bare thine arm for thy share of the work ; which being for the salvation of the many , must by the many be wrought , and cannot

      oa accomplished by the few . ; If possessing knowledge thyself thou hasl neglected to impart tbat " power "' to the ignorant who were within the reach of thy teaching , then set about the task at once and do thy little best to make tW world -wiserbetter than thou found it . If when the widow ' s wail and the orphan ' s cry has smote upon thine ear , and thou hast turned a Jdeaf ear to tbeir cry , —widow' d and orphan' d , it may be , because the husband and father fell battling" for thy rights , and was crushed because he sought to raise thee to the dignity of a freeman t—ihea rouse thee from thy

      dreaminess , and etretoh forth thine hand to succour and to Bave the victims of tyranny from want and sorrow . In short , dare to do all that " becomes a man ; " let each labour for the common good as though the world ' s regeneration from sin and suffering depended upon him , and the work will be done . The New Year will be indeed a ? happy one , " because out of such acts of virtuous heroism , generous selfdenial , and universal loving-kindness , an order of things must spring which will annihilate ignorance , crime , and Buffering , and maker the earth that which it might be—that which it must ie made—the abode of knowledge , virtue , and happiness .

      But 'tis time we finished our homily . Well then while resolving all good things for the future , let us take a hasty and loving farewell of the past ; to do so we must of necessity call in the aid of the muses , and we might searoh far and wide to find more appropriate lines than the following , from the pea of that justly popular rhymster , Elika Cook : —

      SONG OF THE OLD YEAR . 01 I have bean running a gallant career On a courser that needeth nor bridle ner goad ; But he'll soon change hi > rider and leave the Old Year Lying low in the dust on Eternity's Road . Wide baa my track been , and rapid my baste , But whoever takes b ^ ed of ray journey will find , Tbat in marble-built city and camel-trod wasta , I have left a fair set of broad waymaiks behind . I have choked up the earth with the sturdy elm board , I have chequered the air with the banners of strife , Fresh are the tombstones I ' ve scattered abroad , Bright are the young eyes I ' ve opened to life . My race is nigh o'er on Time ' s iron-grey steed , Yet he'll still gallop on as he gallops with me , And you'll see that his name will be flying again Ere you ' ve buried me under the green holly-tree .

      If ye tell of tbe sadness and evil I ' ve wrought . Yet remember the share of " good works" I bave done ; Ye should balance the clouds and the canker I've brought With the grapes I have sent to be crushed in the eun . If I've added gray threads to tbe worldly wise-heads , I have deepened tbe chesnut of Infancy ' s curl ; If I ' ve cherished the germ of the shipwrecking worm , I bave quickened the growth of the crown-studding pearl ; If I ' ve lengthened the yew till it brushes the pall , I have bid tbe sweet shoots of tbe orange bloom swell ; If I ' ve thickened the moss on the ruin's dank wall ,

      I have strengthened the love-bower tendrils as well Then speak of me fairly , and give the Old Tear A light-hearted parting in kindness and glee , Chant a Toundelay over my laurel-decked bier , And bury me under the green holly-tree . Ye have murmured of late at my gloom-laden hours , And look on my pale wrinkled face with a frown ; But ye laughed when I spangled your pathway \ 7 it ' j flowers . And flung the refl clover and yellow corn down . Ye shrink from my breathing , nnd say that I bite—¦ So I do—but forget not how friendly we were

      When I fann ' d your warm cheek in the soft BUinmernight , | i And just toyed with the r » se in the merry girl ' s hair . Fill the goblet and drink as my wailing tones sink , Let the we ^ sail-bowl dri p and the revel shout rise—But a word in your ear , from the passing Old Year , "Tia the last time he'll teach ye— " be merry and witiel " Then sing , while I ' m sighing my latest farewell , The log-lighted ingle my death pyre shall be ; Dance , dance , whi ]« I'm trying , blend carol and bell , And bury me under the green holly-tree .

      We have done . We pray of our readers , from John o' Groats to the Land ' s End—our numerous friends , North , South , East , and West , to accept our heart-lelt benediotion"WE WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR . "

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      A PAUPER SHOW . From Punch . Punch presents his compliments to the Poor Law Commissioners , and begs their acceptance of an idea . It is ono which he has derived from a visit to the Fat Cattle Show . But he must be allowed to preface ihe donation by a few remarks . Tbe object of the New Poor Law is the prevention of poverty . Poverty is a heinous crime . It is an offence against the purse of society . It has , therefore , been visited with the utmost severity . Paupers have been imprisoned , and no pains have been spared to render them ridiculous , for their own reformation , and by way of example to others . The success , however , with whioh this truly Christian practice has

      been pursued has hitherto been but partial . The sufferings of the culprit , indeed , have effected little more good than the gratification of the well-constituted mind , which rejoices at the punishment of guilt , r Now , the reason of this comparative failure w the Poor Law is obvious . The horrors of the workhouse are invisible . The tears , and Bighs , and groans of the prisoners are thrown away . Their bitterness is wasted on the dungeon air . Th 6 pauper—vicious wretch i—is a scarecrow in » sack . His fate is unknown to those who might profit by its spectacle . To remedy this defect it has been proposed—so Punch is informed—to build workhouses of glass . This device is ingenious ; but glass is expensive . The poor rates would be awfully augmented ; and , besides , there are things done iu workhouses which would hardly bear the light . The idea which Punch now offers to the Poor Law Commissioners will meeti he . hopes * the exi-

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      gency of the case . It ] is this : —Let prize pauper exhibitions , to take place annually about Christ * mas , be established in the various Union districts throughout the kingdom ; and first let a model exhibition be formed at Somerset House after the following manner : — j Let the gallery formerly appropriated to the Royal Academy be fitted up with pens on either side of it . Each pen shall contain a form of plain oak , very hard , for the pauper tojsit upon . Tfce paupers constituting the exhibition Bb . all be Beleeted from the moi-t wretched objects in the different workhouses in the metropolis . Prizes , for the production of the leanest and most baggard , are to be awarded to the master of each ; and perhaps some little encouragement for extra brutality may bo allowed the matron and beadle . I

      Each pauper is to be ] attired in the union uniform , the males having their hair cropped or very closely shaved . Over the head of each , against the wall , is to be fixed a paper , detailing their names , weights , and ages , the regimen to which they have been subjected , and other particulars as thus : — " MR . BLOGG , MASTER . A PSIEE OF £ 4 . " Peter Small . —Age { 40 . Weight at period of admission , twelve stone . Confined three months . Present weight nine stones jtwo pounds . Fed principally on water gruel . Has been separated from his wife and children in the workhouse , and occasionally placed in solitary confinement for complaining of hunger . Employment , breaking stones .

      " MB . BRUNT , MASlEB . A PRIZE OF £ 5 10 s . " Jane Wells . —Age 70 . Weight five stone , lost two stone since her admission one month ago . Gruel diet , tea without sugar , potatoes and salt . Has been set to picking oakum , j " mb . grimes , master , a prize of £ 6 . 11 John Tomkins . —Age 85 . Has seen better days . On admission weighed eleven stone , which has been reduced to eight and j three quarters . Diet , weak soup , with turnips and carrots , dry bread and cheese parings , a few ounces ] of meat occasionally when faint . Has baen deprived of snuff and tobacco . Came to the workhouse with his wife , whe is five years younger than himself . Has not been allowed to see her for a month ; during which period has lost in weight two ounces on an average per day . Em * ployed in carrying ooals . "

      To the exhibition thus constituted , the public , for the benefit of tbe lower classes , are to be admitted gratuitously on all days of tbe week except Saturday , on which dap , for the accommodation of the exclusive circles , admission is to be had ( or Is . Punch , having offered the above suggestion to the Somerset-house authorities , expects no other fee or reward for his pains than an invitation to a private inspection of the Prize Pauper Exhibition , whenoompleted ; whioh he hopes Sir James Graham will be so kind as to send him . i

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      r —» Clayton—Died on I the 18 th inst , Mr . Joshua Andrew , of Clayton , aged 81 years . Death . —Patrick Boyle , a labourer , was found dead on Monday . eFenin & at Rockview , near Bai t linesty . Crime—The following is a list of persons who have been sent to prison from the Court House , Bradford , from the 1 st of December 1842 , to the 1 st of December 1843 : —Females under eighteen years of of age , 26 ; Females above eighteen , 140 ; Males above eighteen years of age , 531 ; Males under eighteen , 108-Total 805 . j

      An Irish Estimate op Joseph Stdhue . —We expect such a reply from the Liberator as will silence the wordy casuistry of Joseph Sturge and his brother crotcheteer , Shaman Crawford . Mr . Sturge is certainly a genuine philanthropist ; but he , or indeed auy other of the drab-coloured family . is not made of the right sort of stuff for a popular leader . —Belfast Vindicator . Mb . and Mrs . Charles Kean have . concluded a most successful engagement ia Dublin , the theatre having been nightly crammed to witness their performance . It ie said ; they have realised £ 900 by their visit to the Irish metropolis ; they have now proceeded to Belfast to fulfil an engagement previous to their appearance at Drury-lane Theatre on New Year ' s night . !

      The weather in London still continues very fine . This has been one of the most remarkable days of tho season . At two p . m . the thermometer had risen to 5 b ' , the barometer stood at 20 . 5 , and for several hours the sun shone with considerable brightness . We learn from the Dublin papers that the weather in Ireland is most splendid—mild and warm almost as in summer . —Sun Saturday . Steam Boat Statistics . —By a return recently made of the number of steam boats of all descriptions used for conveyance of passengers fand merchandise on the coast , lakeB , and rivers in America , it appears that there are no less than 1 , 300 , of which 826 are in constant service . Of these 488 are of high pressure , and 340 low pressure . The aggregate amount of horse power of the engines is 57 , 020 . During the last 30 years there have been 253 steam boat disasters , by which no less than 2 , 00 & persons have lost their lives , and 443 have been maimed .

      Ready fok E verything—During the last American war , a revolutionary veteran , living hear the ocean , sever went to bed without having a well loaded gun by his side . One night there was a violent thunderstorm , which shook the house to its foundation . ** Husband ! husband I" screamed his Wife , " get up ;( the Britishers have landed , or the day of judgment has come—I don ' t know whioh . " w We \ l , " said iha old soldier , jumping up , "let them come on—they'll : find me ready for either of them . " \ ¦ '

      City Amthcities—During ihe operations of the workmen employed in ! making excavations for new sewers in the parish of St . Ann ' s , Blackfriars , several pieces of the foundations of ancient buildings have been found , as well as a great quantity of human bones , A skeleton , apparently perfectly prior to , its removal , has been discovered under the foot pavement in front of the Times newspaper establishment , from five to six feet from the surface . No vestige of coffin , or any description of covering could be traced . There is but little doubt that these remains of mortality were deposited ^ vhere they were found prior to tbe fire of London , if not during the existence of the convent and church of the order of Black FriaT 8 , ' ot wMqU this aeigUbouthoqd . was the site .

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      Wakefield PbiSon When the new works ar » finished , Wakefield prison will be the largest in tb . 9 world . Aristocratic Morality (?)—We last evening received a letter dated Dec . 22 , twenty minutes past ten a . m ., signed " William Paget , " and addressed to the Earl of Cardigan , in which we find thesa words : — " My solioitor , Mr . Bobb , has this instant made known to me that my principal -witness , Winter , who was with me until within a few minutes of the opening of tho Court at Guildhall , bad suddenly disappeared . " The rest of the letter we cannot publish . It expresses , in strong language , the feelin&s of the injured party , and applies certain epithets to Lord Cardigan which should be communicated to him pri vately . J udgin $ from the letter , the affair is brought to a close . We really wish these parties would settle their disputes in a court " of law , and nofc annoy the proprietors of newspapers by communications which give a very low idea of morality in .

      high life . —Sun . Lord William Facet v . Lord Cardigan . —We have received a letter from Messrs . Powell , Brodenp , and Wilde , solicitors for the Earl of Cardigan , requesting us to publish two letters enclosed , tho one from Lord Cardigan , and the other from themselves , in reference to this case . Having declined to publish tho letter of Lord William Paget because ¦ it made most serious charges against Lord Cardigan , we must in like manner decline to publish the letter of Messrs . Powell , Broderip . and Wilde , which conveys a very serious imputation against Lord William Patjet . We quote as much of both letters as will convey their denial of the charge brought against them . Lord Cardigan says : — " I authorise you togivetha most unqualified ; denial of the accusation of having 1 bought or sent out of the way' the man named

      Winter , and declare most solemnly that I hava neither directly nor indirectly , had or authorized , or sanctioned any communication whatever with any of his witnesses , or been in any manner privy to , or cognizant of any attempt to buy or put out ef tho way any one of them , or to prevent the most searching inquiry being made into the whole charge Lord William Paget thought fit to bring against me , which I was fully prepared to meet and to show was altogether without foundation . " Lord Cardigan adds , that it is his intention to take legal proceedings against Lord William Paget , for the publication of the letter alluded to . Messrs . Powell , Broderip , and Wilde , desire , as the solicitors for Lord Cardigan , " to give the same unqulified contradiction to the accusation . " which they state they can prove to be false . —il / orm « o Chronicle .

      A Composite Veteran . —The Memorial Bordelais states , that not far from St . Sever , there is " living an old military man who has a false leg and a falsa arm , both usable by means of springs , a . glass eye , a complete set of false teeth , a nose of silver , covered with a substance perfectly resembling flesh , and & silver plate replacing part of the skull . He walks about with a martial air , bearing on bis breast tho Cross of the Legion of Honour , won , together with his mutilations , by his deeds of arms in the campaigns of Egypt , Italy , and Russia ; at Friedland , Jena , Austerlitz , Wagram , and Waterloo ; and which wa 8 conferred upon him by the hands of Napoleon on the 2 nd of May , 1813 , on the field of the battle of Lutzen .

      Wills and Testaments . —What boundless riches , what extensive estates , and what change ! of fortune ) are associated with the words , " Wilte and Testaments 1 " Could we form an idea of tbe amount of property which has descended to family heirs , through these media , we should be struck with astonishment indeed . But , after all , what are the riches , estates , and possessions , as a whole , when compared with that inestimable bequest which enriched the Will and Testament of the venerable Qld Parr ? By this pBarl-of health and life , thousands have been , are still being , and will still be benefitted . The bequests of ordinary wills , are confined chiefly to families and friends—while that of Old Parr will extend to whole generations .

      Distressing Case of Somnambulism . —On Friday evening a serious accident happened to Henry Stirrett , a private of the Royal Sappers and Miners , stationed in the Artillery Barracks , Brompton . It appears that the soldier had retired to bed with the other men at the usual hour , according to the military regulations , when about an hour afterwards a corporal of artillery , who slept on the lower floor of the rear of the barracks , was awoke by a noise resembling a tub of water thrown from an upper window ; shortly after he heard a considerable groaning as of a person in distress , which induced him to get up , and go dawn to the passage door , when he found the soldier lying on the stones iu the yard weltering in his blood , and with only his

      shirt on . The poor fellow was curled up , and lying between five and six feet from the side of the building . The corporal immediately raised * n alarm , and with assistance , the wounded man w-s placed oa a stretcher , and conveyed without delay to tha Royal Military Hospital in a state of insensibility . He was promptly attended by Dr . Chisliolme , of the Royal Artillery , who bled and rendered every assistance to the sufferer . It was found the injuries he had sustained were of a serious nature ; almost all the joints of bis body are more or less injured , and it is feared the lower jaw is fractured in two places ; the right wrist is very much injured , also the left elbow , and both knees . The unfortunate

      man lies in a very precarious state , with not tbe least prospect of recovery . It is stated by some of the soldiers who slept in the same room with Stirrett , that they heard him get out of bed and open the room-door and go into the passage , when he must have gone to the window in his sleep , and haying raised the sash , and placing himself ou the sill , about three feet from the flooring , he precipitated himself into the yard , a depth of between thirty to forty feet . He is a fine young man , rather above the common size , and only twenty yeais of age . Four of his teeth were knocked out of his head , and were picked up next morning on the pavement amongst the blood . '

      Singular and Melancholy Event . —It is pretty generally known to the public that that monarch of modern comedians , Mr . W . Farren , some time since experienced a severe shock of paralysis at the conclusion of his inimitable performance of Old Parr , at the Haymarket Theatre , and by which attack he was compelled to relinquish his professional duties . On partial recovery , however , his three medical advisers recommended the air of Brighton . Thither he proceeded , and took up his residence oa the Grand Parade , where he is , we are happy to say , rapidly recovering . . It happened that , at a few doors distance , No . 65 , in a house belonging to the Dowager Countess of Winterton , lived Usher Glaaville Doyle , a long standing acquaintance of Mr .

      Farren ; a man of wealth—of rare qualities in literary , musical , and medical attainments ( although an M . D . in the latter branch , he never practised)—an author , and in convivial society he wai an actor of great vivacity , power , and originality , his peculiar and vivid manuer of reciting and acting anecdote never failing to " set the table in a roar . " . With all these fascinating powers of amusement , he had been for upwards of twenty years grievously afflicted with a tremulous affection of the whole nervous system , which unfortunate malady frequently carried him to such extremes of elevation and depression of spirits as to render his joy or grief painfully excessive . He would sometimes plunge so deeply into the latter passion as to indulge in the wildest

      and most gloomy presentiments of the extent of his existence . On a recent occasion , when his spirits were highly elated , he resolved upon giving an entertainment of the most reeherche description on Christmas-day , and for that festive purpose be invited , amongst others , two of his oldest friends from London . The invitation was acknowledged and accepted in a humourous and facetious answer ,, the conjoint effusion of both the old friends , and it so tickled the mirthful fancy of poor Doyle as to induce him to communicate the contents to Mr . Farren ( to whom the guests were perfectly known ) , in the hope that he . might be prevailed upon to join them in the festivities of . tbe day . An interview followed , at which the spirit of the epistle provoked much laughter

      between them ; bu £ the conversation taking a serious turn , Mr . FarreD , at the request of his friend , proceeded to describe his attack of paralysis in the most graphic and painfully vivid manner ; how , when first attacked , a chilMness came over the region of his heart ; haw his limbs deadened * , and refused to perform their wonted offices ; h&w a mistiness cama over his eyes ; . how all around him appeared confused —obscure ; ia brief , a chaos . This conversation occurred on Saturday , the 8 th inst ., at four o ' clock ia tho afternoon , and the two friends separated in . high spirits ,, to return home to their respective repasts . Mr . Doyle ate a hsaroy dinner , but it we ? too soon made evident that a powerfully-wrought description of an infirmity , of which he had had &

      presentiment , added to a predisposed and highly excitable temperament , had produced an alarming etfect upan his nervous , system , whieh raised in the minds of his family tho most painful apprehensions , which apprehensions , melancholy to state , were in less than two hours agonizingly realized by the poor man receiving a shock of paralysis which withered his kit side , and atone fell blow prostrated nearly all his mental and bodily energies . Mr . Furner , hiBown medical adviser , was immediately in attendance , followed fcy Dr . Hall and other 8 urgieal professors j hub the attack was bo deeplyirooted that H baffled tbe united skill of all those eminent two

      men , and on Tuesday , the 12 th insfc . at ba ^ pasj& . p . m ., the witty , generous , benevolent Usher Glauville terminated his mortal career . His xemaua were on Saturday , the JGfchinst ., at ten & . ini , consigned to tne silent tomb , in a vault under Chriat Church , Montpelier-roadj Brighton , the worthy vicar , the Rev . Mr . Wagner ( who » under the distressing circumstances , most kindly rendered every _ possible assistance to the afflicted family ) , and the Rev * Mr . Cook officiatin g . The fuu 8 ral obsequies were attended by the Rev . J . G . Glanville ( a relative ) , hia two old friends who were to have dined with , him on Christmas-day , Mx . Furner , aud Mr . Houseman , —* Observer ,

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      THE flOgTHERN STAR . j 3

      Iporta)

      iPorta )

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      WILSON'S CATECHISMS AND LESSONS FOR CHILDREN . London : Darton and Olark , Hoiborn-hill . There are ten of these publications in all . The three first numbers , consisting of a " First , " " Second , " and M Third" •* Catechism of Common Things . " This title hardly conveys an idea of tha contents of these txcellent little works . Tne first embracing every subject under the bead of "Articles of Common Consumption and Commerce . " The second , "Manufacturing Processes , Arts , Sciences , & . c . " The third , " Tides and Distinctions , Architecture , Sec . & . c . " Then follows a series of three

      nnmbera © f " Catechisms of Natural Philosophy , embracing thp almost endless subjects under that comprehensive head . Then a " First Catechism of Music j * " a u First Catechism of Geography f a M Catechism of the History of England ; " and a " First Catechism of Bible History . " Each subject is kept carefully distinct , and the -whole embraces a mass of information never before brought together in such small compafcs , and familiar and engaging terms . The series would form a beautiful and valuable " New Year's Gift , " and the very best present vrith which we conld desire to gladden the hearts and improve the minds of the young .

      THE MOVEMENT ; and ANTI-PERSECUTION GAZETTE . —London : Bolyoake , Holywell Street , Strand . Thi 3 is an excellent little pnplication , edited by Mr . G . J . Holyoake , whose name must be known to most of our readers , as that of a talented and dauntless advocate of reform , political , social , moral , and re li gions . As we have before stated in this paper , Mr . H . is a man who has sealed Mb devotion to what he believes to be sound and correct principles by suffering persecution and incarceration for their advocacy . Such men as the Editor of The Movement are but too thinly scattered in this " age of money : " those , therefore , ihat are to be found battling on the side of jnstice and truth , should have tbe hearty support of " the men of the progress . " From the introductory article in No . 1 , we extract the following . Tbe Editor , after Etating the principal intended features of " The Movement ? proceeds to

      E » The tame < Htermin&tion we hope to bring to other ereat questioD a -we agitate . Our exertioiiB may be in ^ rinj—* tUl vreehaU make them . . They - « rbo win not attempt £ mitle » things are unfitted for moralreformers He wno ir . ust first be aEEured of sncceBS before making exertions , will never achieve great good . Thwje whose chief merit consiBta in making their actions Eqnare with existing customs , and are ^ content to *«* . frlea - om Id tbe hollow paths of life , will see » no n » V in tbe course Ve propose to pursue . Bnt for such v , do not , v > e carmol vmfe . We have fell the fashionable iniquity against which we protest , and cannot shnt onr eyes to the wrong tbat lies in our way , and » rnke tfce carp in praise of wi o-wn vehement content .

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      THE "SONG OF THE SHIRT . " Our readers must have read with admiration the " Song of the Shirt" which formed bo bright a gem in our * ' Chriistmas Garland" published iu our last . That Song ' ha 3 had the rare honour of being quoted ( we believe ) into almost every newspaper published in Engaud , both daily and weekly : —we ourselves have Been it in a very many papers which are received at this office . It will then be an universally asked question " Who is the author of this 4 Sons' V We are happy in being able to gratify the curiosity of our readers by the republioation of the following letter from the Sun . —

      " Sir , —Permit me to thank you for your very flattering remarks on some verses of mine in Punch , called the " Song of the Shirt . " I have derived an unusual gratification from the reception of those lines by the journals , as evidence that my intention has not been altogether without effect . " I am , Sir , yours , very truly , " Wednesday . Thomas Hood . " We heartily agree with the Editor of the Sun , that" Of all the numerous clever poems that he has written , this is the one that does m > sl credit—and in saying so , we are far from meaning to disparage the others—to Mr . Hood ' s head and heart . "

      We take this opportunity of doing Mr . Hood all the little servioe in our power , that of directing the attention of the public to his forthcoming publication . Under the title of " Hood ' s Monthly Magazine and Comic Miscellany , " the author of the * ' Song of the Shirt" launches a new candidate for public patronage on the Brst day of the New Year , We have been favoured with a copy of the Frospectus , from which we give the following extract : — One prominent object , then , of the projected publication , as implied by the sub-title of " Comic Miscellany , " will be the supply of harmless "Mirth for the Million , " and light thoughts , to a Public sorely oppressed—if its word be worth a rush , or its complaints of an ounce weight—by hard times ,

      heavy taxes , and those " eating cares which attend on the securing of food for the day , as well as a provision for the future . For the relief of such afflicted classeB ^ the Editor , assisted by able Humourists , will dispense a series of papers and woodcuts , which it is hoped will cheer the gloom of Willow Walk , and the loneliness of Wilderness Row—sweeten the bitterness of Camomile Street , and Wormwood Streetsmooth the ruffled temper of Cross Street , and enable even Crooked Lane to unbend itself . It ia hardly necessary to promise that this end will be pursued without raising a Maiden Bluah , much less a Damask , in the nursery grounds of modesty—or trespassing , by wanton personalities , on the parks and lawns of Private Life . In a word , it will aim at being merry and wise , instead of merry and otherwise .

      . After learning-that Mr . Hood is the author p f the "Songof the Shirt , " We can have no hesitation in wishing him " God speed" in his new undertaking . Not doubting but thatin his own publication , as in the pages of . Punch , he will be foond ranked on the side of humanity , employed in adding to the mirthful enjoyment and general happiness of the human family .

      Horrible Murder.

      HORRIBLE MURDER .

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      ( Abridged from ihe Woiverhampton Chronicle . J On Tuesday last , a long investigation took place before Mr . T . M . Phillips , coroner , and an intelligent jury , at Bilston , into tbe cause of the death of a girl named Mary Jane Wild , eighteen years of age , who , it would appear , wag . thrown down a pit , in consequence of her refusing to comply with the wishes oi four men , who had met ! her { while in company with another girl ) on the road between Wotveihampton and

      Bilston . The names of tbe men charged with this atrocious crime are Samuel Fellowes , Robert Puralow , John Perry , and Daniel Webb ; and they had previously been committed by tbe magistrates at Bilston upon the capital charge of having thrown the poor girl down the pit with the intention of murdering her . They were , however , brought into the presence of tbe deceased , when her death t : came certain , in order that her dying declaration ' might be taken in their presence , which was done by Mr . W . Baldwin .

      Mr . Charles Hodgkins , surgeon , of Bilston , stated that he attended the deceased from the time she received her injuries to the time pf her death , and minutely described the ^ different fractures from wbich she suffered . He bad , ihe said , made a post mortem examination of the body , and detected tbe source of all the mischief , which was a fracture of the os pubis or pubic bone , near its junction with the hip bone , and which had produced , by means of a very minute portion or spiculutn of bond , a small laceration of tbe peritoneum and caused death . The deceased , had a severe lacerated wound on the forehead , two lacerated wounds on the right knee , and a compound fracture of the right thigh . i

      Mr , w . Baldwin then gave evidence that he took down the following deposition of the deceased , made in the presence of the prisoners , Fellows , Purslow , Perry and Webb , and that the deceased was sworn , and perfectly collected at the time . She also made her mark to the deposition : — " I am eighteen years old , and have lived in Bilston , in the county of Stafford , about six months . I never was married . I went from Bilston to Wolverbarupton on Wednesday lert , in company with another girl named Ann Willis . I came back with the same Ann Willis , j Tbat we were overtaken on the road by five men , ' whom I shall know when I Bee them . That four of these men ill-used me . They pulled me out of the turnpike-road , and . . , but I would not suffer : them , and the same four men threw me down a pit . ¦ Tbe man tbat was with Ann

      Willis never injured me at all . They pushed me into the pit , and I cannot recollect anything after thai It wab late at night when it happened , and I was quite sober , and I make this ] declaration in tbe prospect of death soon taking place , and fully believing that I shall live but a short time , through the injuries I have received . I did not think they would bave put me in ; I thought that they were only threatening me . They took hold of me round the waist , and then pushed me into the pit The four men are now present . I know them all , having seen them before , except John Perry . They are the same men that were with me on Wednesday night . I bad been vwitb three of them previous to tbat night . There were four men went off the road with me , and ene went back again , bat I can't say whieh it was , I was so knocked about by them before they got me to the pit" !

      Tbe evidence of Ann Willis , and others examined before the jury , corroborated the dying declaration of the deceased . ; The jury , after a short { deliberation , returned a verdict of" Wilful murder' * against all tbe four prisoners , and the Coroner issued his warrant for their commitment to Stafford , to take their trial at tbe ensuing winter naizas . )

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 30, 1843, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct834/page/3/