The Express. — London, England, 1853-12-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1853 THE EMBARRABSWITS AT GIBRALTAR. -- • - her in Dickens's " Coppertield," who lived in the hope that " something would turn up." There bas been great excite ment lately at the Becuigo diggings in particular, in con-1 empaesee of a portion of the diggers refusing to pay the usual monthly license fee of Sib which they considered was too eaorbitaut au amount. The affair eventually as mimed such a formidable asieet that it was leered blood shed would follow; happily, however, such has nut bees • the case. Government, inning the dils rums they were placed in, immediatel♦ passed a temporary bill, reduc ing the license fie to 49r. for three month. instead of 30s. per month, as hitherto; the whole amount to be paid in advert*. This measure seems to have given general satisfaction, and the excitement la now nearly blown over. 1■ consequence of the late threatening dsrup tion, the 40th lteginient :of Infantry has been sent to the diggings, where it is reported they are to remain for a considerable time, and the 99th ReAment has been seat from Van Diemen's Laud to Melbourne, in order to strengthen the power of government in case e f an outbreak. There was a grand fife at Geelong on Tuesday list, on the occasion of the turning the first sod of the Geelong ;and Melbourne Railway. His Excellency the Lieutenaat•Governur of the colony was the principal personage in the ceremony. A fallacy between Melbourne and Hobsen's Bay was commenced some months ago, and in all probability will be opened in less than twelve months from this date. A canal and dock company between Mel bourne and the Bay has also been formed, and will very likely be carried into effect without delay. The Poet-office has been made three times as large as it was twelve months ago, and is now carried on in as efficient a manner that it certainly reflects great credi• ou the 11)21,k/et' of that depart ment. The arrangements, lam of of inion, cannot well he surpassed by any of your first-class cities at home (London, Manchester, and Liverpool eaccpted). A college is about to be established. A large amount has been granted for the public library, and a grant for the formation of a museum of natural history is now being brought before the legi lative council. What with tlte.e and other things, which time and space will not allow me to mention, Mel bourne bids fair to become eventually one of the must flou rishing cities in the world. (mum A CORIILbi..,SPCNT ) Th e Wyk** trim Gibraltar, by the Balbee, are to inst.. at v. hith date some alight amelioration tae ie.i.eot affairs had taken place, in consequence of Ls Spaniards having al lowed the introduction of --roetsiods teto G ibraltar. 'The grand jurors, after 1 1 ,,„,0ug of the very light business in the calendar, IA made a formal presentment to the Supreme c,.ar, denying, in the most explicit term, the official gi.c4r.ition of the Governor respecting " the scanda km, meow( riot, dm kermess, and attempted mur go. *hick had disgraced the Bay;' as the grand 1,,,ra pointedly remark, that no offenders for these eiolations of the law had been brought to his;, and the light calendar (only five trivial cases) in, the best refutation of the calumny of the G ocr oot, with respect to " the deep moral turpitude o f the place." A letter front one of the moat iutelli gent merchant says :—" Very urgent remonstrances lime been sent from the merchants here to Lord Hoed. u, through Mr. Brackenbury, our consul at )I.tdritt. urging his lordship to move the Spanish ve rnment to put an end to their quarantine ; but it y(arid no hopes can be entertained that the Spanish government will relax in their regulations so long as Sir Robot Gardiner continues Governor of Gibraltar, m th it a single case of cholera exists in England. The central government has authorised General filanci' , , the commandant at Algeciras, to permit sup plies to be sent to Gibraltar, but no hopes exist of being released from our present bondage unless we obtain relief from England. The following is an extract from the grand jury presentment before mentioned : From our personal experience we know that the poorer classes of this community have for some time been reduced to a degree of misery and privation unusual in this city. This unfortunate change in the circumstances of the poorer classes is attributable, in our opinion, to the peculiar state of circumstances to which this city has lately been subjects d—we mean to the suspension of our open end unrestricted communication with Spain. The inhabitants of this community are all more or lees dependent for their means of support on the commerce of this city, end any circumstances which affect the more affluent classes must necessarily act upon and effect the lower ordi re. We deeply regret the existing misery and distress, more especially among the labouring classes, and that there is at present no prostect of its immediate cessation. Under these citcumatances, we cannot do lea than express our satisfaction and gr4tifica boa that the misery now endured by these use fortunate people has not been attended by it usual concomitant, the commission of crime, poverty, and physical sutferingr, being almost universally the forer of crime. Having expressed our satisfaction at the state of the present calendar, we will now respectfully refer to a subject to which we think it a public duty devolving upon as to call the attention of your lordship (this subject being in fact the more immediate end express object of our ad dress to your lordship). In the month of July, 18,53, we were, in common with the rest of the community, nrprised by the appearance of the following parr rapli in an official paper published in the Gibrany Chronicle : " That one of those disgraceful scenes of risk drunkenness, end attempted merder, which had .0 Wag disgraced the Bay of Gibraltar, renders it ineumbenton the Governor to direct the attention of the port and revenue' authorities to a more rigid enforcement of the existing orders in council for the prevention of such licentious in tractions of the peace and laws, &c." We say that we were surpriad because, until the appearance of this official paper, we had not been aware either in the discharge of our public duties in this court or from any other source that crimes of the character and atrocity al luded to were frequently committed in the pert of Gibral tar. We know that the captain of the port and the port loostabulary are invested with the most ample power for the suppression of crime and the apprehension of criminal lenders. We had every reason to believe that she police of the bay was an active, energetic, and efficient body of men, We feel it to be our duty to call the attention of your lord ship to the criminal acts thus publicly announced in the Geto•alar Chronicle from the highest authority in this city, and submit that if such crimes have been of frequent 043- euneigt, the duties of the police of the port must have been carelessly performed. We say this, because during oar rapt rime in this court as grand jurors, the commis sion of crimes of the nature and magnitude referred to as of frequent occurrence in the bay, has never been brought to our notice and consideration. This circumstance appears to us to be singular and unaccountable ; and we deem it to be oar bounden duty to intimate as much to your lordship. We feel it incumbent on us to state that we art convinced that the present energetic and efficient captain of the poet has not been cognisant of the perpetration of the ae crimes and Weans. We feel assured, if be bad been, that he would have taken every necessary step to bring the offenders to justice. Oar surprise is that such crimes should have been of frequent eccurrence, ani that the captain of the port, and the mi- Material officer, of justice employed in the pia: department seder him, should have been kept so completely in igno rance of their perpetration. We humbly pray your lord if to pardon us for trespassing thus on your lordship's Olean attention; hut we deemed it necessary and expe lling to refer to this matter, holding the public office we ilk this court and community of grand jurors, and to spar lordship's attention to the extraordinary fact an usenotd publicly by the highest executive officer in this innonaity—viz., his Excellency the Governor—in order . such iaquirses may be made, and such measures gifted, as shall lead to the apprehension and conviction of tisp so offending. Signed by all the Grand Jurors in attendance. Supreme Court, Gibraltar, Dee. 13, 1953. [A true copy, Euvr. Leon, Master Clerk of Arraigns.] INFANTICIDE I. THE PCNJACB. (trout The Priroof of India.) Another chapter in the black history of Indian crime. It is not the least among the many obstacles, in the path of the Indian governmeat, that it is called upon to con tend with crimes which have become almost national cus toms. Founded like suttee upon superstition, like infanticide upon a social prejudice, or like Theme upon the mere love of plunder, they have spread in the course of years over whole races, and have become part of the daily life of organised communities. It is not that the strength of the government is unable to cope with them on account of their magnitude, for government could have exterminated the Thugs in a twelvemonth. The difficulty is, the utter impotence of the ordinary aids to authority. It receives no information, for the entire pup!, is guilty. It can gain nothing by treachery among the criminals, for, in the people's idea, there is nothing to betray. Its European experience is of no value, for the European theory supposes that natural affec tions ate stronger than social prejudices. Its European agents are at fault, for the proofs of good character and of heinous crimes are often united in the same person. The respectable, well-born, intelligent Rajpoot who g his estates with an ability which extorts the admiration of the collector, has murdered his female children, and who would have assisted to burn his mother alive but fur the law. The wife, whe would kill herself rather than allow a European I to see her (see, and towards whom her sons express the deepest respect and affection, has consented to the slaughter of her own children. The manner in which • native retains occasionally, midst great virtues, • criminal side to his cha racter, might form one of the most curious chapters in psychology. We make these observations, which many of our Indian readers will consider Nome w hat trite, because it is the dogged adherence to English ideas which feeders our system so un intcllieible in England. To proceed to facts. Late in the year 1831, Major Lake, Commissioner of Goordaspoor in the Punjab, became aware of the existence of infanticide among • class in his own district. He reported the facts to the Board of Administration, and inquiries were immedi ately commenced. All the commissioners received orders to report upon the previdecce of the crime within their rupee rive jurisdictions, and to suggest measures for its removal. Considerable delay appears to have occurred in collecting the information required, but at last it was obtained in a form which enabled the Judicial Commissioner to report upon it. It was found to prevail more or less in the Mistretta, Ferozepore, Jullundur, Hooshearpore, Lahore, Mullen, Jhelum, and Leia =strict. ; in fact, over a tract of country as large as an European kingdom. It was not, however, practised by all the inhabitant.. It is confined chiefly to t e Bedeea or descendants of Nauuk Goons°, men gene. rally of great wealth and ii.fluenee, and to the Rajpoots, geaerally poor, bat among whom the custom is one of im memorial antiquity. The Khetrees, however, sonic Dram buns, and even several of the Muuulman tribes, maintain the pectic' ; and the higher the rank, the more certain arc the female branches of destruction. It is believed, also, by the most experienced officers to have infected all classes in a greater or less degree; and we may readily imagine that, even where the motives which influence the highest class wets absent, the lower orders would acquire from their example a degree of carelessness for their children's lives. The motive for their crime differs among the different classes. With the Rajpoots of the Ponjaub, as among the Rajpoots everywhere else, it is simply pride. They must marry their female children, and they must marry them to their equals. This is occasionally difficult, and they slay them to avoid the inconvenience. Then even if they find bridegrooms, they must give a dower more than proportioned to their means. Their extravagance sometimes reaches a point which is almost incredible among a parsimonious people. One chief gave hie daughter 17 niche of rupee., another expended 10 lakha, and a third gave alakh to his niece married to a poor Branches of the plains. Their insane pride, to which that of the Highland chief is almost humility, forbids them to diminish its amount. It is a question, as Major Edwardes has observed, between the father's wealth and the daughter's life, and the life is taken, and the wealth retained. Thee again, in some instances, it is regarded simply us • means of proving the purity of their race, mere habit of imitating the upper classes. The Munha Raj poets, for instance, when in the hills, are the lowest of their tribe, and their cbildrer are consequently safe. But in the plains they become the highest, and in order to prove that they are such, they slay their children. Yet the Rajpoots are the noblest of the Indian races. The same causes are in opera tion among the Mussulmans. The highest tribes, jealous of the purity of their lineage, are jealous also of their wealth, and the female children are sacrificed to savethent from an unequal marriage, and their fathers from tooliberal donations. Added to all this, the principle of consanguinity is pushed to the wildest extreme. Almost every Itajpoot is the relative of every other, all who are descended from STATE AND PROSPECTS OF MELBOURNE. one common ancestor consider themselves blood relations after the lapse of centuries, and down to the last degree The Manchester Guardian publishes a letter from marriage is forbidden. Every Itajpoot Campbell consider a gentleman resident at Melbourne, received by the latest himself not only the kinsman of the Duke of Argyle, but within the forbidden degrees. It is among the Bedees only mail, from which the following passages are taken that a different set of motives appears to come into opera- Melbourne, Sept. 26, 18.13. tion. They are the descendants of Dhurm Chund, the We still continue to have a large influx of immigrants grandson of the great Nanuk Gooroo, and considered them from all parts of the world, though the recent accounts selves of the priestly ante—the Letitia of the Punjab They murder en the strength of tradition, and add wee received of the prosperity of the mother country, coupled • ineisally a mocking ceremony to the crime. The child is with the unsatisfactory statements of parties who have buried; • piece of coarse sugar is put between its lips, and been disappointed with this land, will, I haven doubt, a hank of cotton in its hands, and the father cries— have their influence in checking the tide of emigration Eat your goer and min your thread, which at we time assumed suck an aspect that it almost But go sad mod a tem Indeed. Be the motives what they may, it is certain that, in hen threatened to decimate the old country. If we may judge deeds of families in the Puejaub , there has been no from the busy state of the wharves, there is no lack on the daughter born for a g lion. It is certain that in part of our friends at home in sending us out merchandise thousands infanticide is a custom, to which no member of almost every description. Many articles aro already of them probably would hesitate to allude, that all over cheaper hire than at home, so that some parties must the fe %stub t ths n h o e t re to a lea a dispropor ccounted i t o i e en by in ot tr oa n ty um ea be a r of , already have " burnt their fingers." Of course, when any and that in certain districts this disproportion rises article becomes a drug in the market, • general order is to a height which implies the extinction of the female sent home to stop the supplies, and the article eventually sex. The evil must be remedied, and the authorities Inas its paying price ; but not before great lutes have have resolved upon the means. They are utterly op less posed sustained. Parties in England cannot be too cautious to English ideas. A London magistrate would redoublethe vigilance of the police, and, if possible, increase the certainty ihmatehing the exports to these colonies, in order to ensure of punishment. Such measures by themselves would be fillemipment of such goods as are likely to be scrim u seless in India. It is the social police which in England Oseshe should also he exercised in shipping goods by a firm prevents crime, and we have no social police. The autho ef Mum respectability. A friend of mine has just received rities, guided, we imagine by Mr. Raikea, whose success at Mytipoorits has given him an European reputation, have *quantity of goods, the freight of which was paid •at Liver- attempted to strike the evil at its root. They have taken pool in advance, with a written agreement that they should advantage of the dawning abhorrence of the crime among be landed free of expense at Melbourne Quay. In the face the people themselves, and have endeavoured to induce of this agreemeat, the intent in Melbourne has compelled them to remove the temptations to it. The people are to my friend to pay the expense of lighterage from the bay, nberadisetiof.ecttelyasinafoenerlde, he actpe is regarded by their th a a ce t be drawn up distin the amount of which is considerable, or otherwise he would guishing male and female children ; and, lastly, a great not deliver the goods. The worst of the matter is, the meeting has been called of the chiefs of districts, aided 'hipping agent at Liverpool has failed, and consequently by the commissioners of the Jullundur, Lahore, Cie it would be utterly useless to sue a bankrupt shipping Sethi divisions, and presided over by the chief agent for damages. The only way lett for my commissioner. All the native chiefs who can be !Head is to pay the lighterage under protest, and expected to attend will be invited,. and new net himself content. In regard to the price rules for marriage and other ceremonies will, it is of land, it still continues high, and affords hand- hoped, be formally adopted. The meeting is to take place some profits to the wealthy land jobbers. The goveromept on the 29th and 31st October, in the holy city of the Sikhs, are throwing more land into the market, notwithstanding and can scarcely fail to produce the result intended, viz., which, ate. competition amongst the land speculators is as an unanimous declaration of opinion against the practice. Peat as ever. Rents are equally high, if not higher, than That every effort has been made to secure a favourable re they were some two or three months ago. Good permanent salt, we need scarcely affirm, and the interest taken in the stone buildings are springing into existence in every part of matter by the Governor-Oeneral is sufficiently manifested Melbourne, nor ere the suburban portion of our population in the following sentences from • minute, dated 7th behindlised with their wooden erections. In eleven every September: Part of the district surrounding Melbourne wooden houses, " 2nd. The Governor• General in Council his read these stores, he , are shooting uas it were by magic, and it almost papers with deep interest and much gratification. He can seems like a fairy trine ra t her than a reality. To walk a conceive no purer or higher source of pride for the public little way out ol Melbourne to a thriving locality reminds officers of • state than such a record as this of the wide and else of a country fair or wakes at home ; the continued rapid success of their exertions on behalf of the honour of lamer* and bustling resembling the noise made in our rule in the rescue of suffering humanity. Patine up the shows and other paraphernalia which is " 3rd. The Governor-General in Council desires me to 'serially heard on the day before the fair. The great express in the strongest language of c ordialit y and sincerity peumptiou of timber in the erection of these buildings the high and grateful approbation with which the govern llrr up the price of that article, until the anent of India regards exertions on the part of its officers, nem heavy arrivals, which have had the effect of which are so eminently calculated to reflect honour on the motile a downward tendency. The diggings still continue ; British name, and to add largely to the material happiness to yield well. Th e i n di v id ua l instances of " lucky finds "1 of the people whom Providence has lately confided to our are net so numerous SA they were at the commencement of care. the gold dlrreirs. But there are still some fortunate dig- " 4th. lam directed to say that you, and the officers happengenaho to be eitsremely successful in their opera- under you, may rely with implicit confidence upon the !met .e party at the Ballarat digg ings lately hit upon a desire of the Governor-General in Council to manifest his mid you have ' lllls teltl"flold which was dug ont by the cwt. Such appreciation of the wise and benevolent object y lucky tits as these inspire the more unfortunate part of the proposed to yourselves, and of his readiness . to afford you at which can be sup 4,flore =immunity with fresh vigour, and they go on toil- all times every encouragement and aid, mg with a patience nulling that exhibited by Mr. Mims- plied by the full measure of his power." AUSTRALIA. -4.-- COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SCHOOLS. Yesterday the half-yearly general court of gover nors of the Commercial Travellers' Schools for Orphan and Necessitous Children, wu held at the Loudon Tavern, Mr. Isloont, treasurer, in the chair. The SICHETARY read the following rt port : "The termivation of the year brings the Board of Ma nagement and the governors once more together Under happy circumstaiiets hitherto they have invariably met, and taking a general glance at the prevent position of the I institution. the board expect that the present meeting will not prove an exieption to the experience of 10/111vT years. ' It is true that the year has been one te unusual anxiety, questions of grave responsibility involving lung and seri ous deliberations have bad to be cotriderell and decided. Hawever, in taking a retrospect of the events of the past twelve months, the board have not only the happiness to feel that they have desired to do right, but the gratifies , lion to hslieve that the deternsinatioas they bars come to, THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE IN SOHO. - • - Yesterday Mr. Bedford held an inquest on the body of Bardolph Theodore Hearse, who bad committed suicide after making a desperate attempt to murder his wife. Francis lhys, who lodged at the same house as the de ceased, No. 15, King-street, said he had known him fur the last six months. He was about 34 years of age, and a tin plate worker. Last Saturday evening, about nine o'clock, witness beard he cry of " Murder," and rushed up-stairs to the second floor landing. lie there saw a woman in her night dress; she said, "I am murdered." Witness helped her down to his own room, and soon found that she was covered with bleed. Witness ran for a policeman, whom he found at the corner of Nassau-street; and they pro- ceeded up-stairs and found the deceased making a gurgling noise in ►is throat, and the blood pouring out from a very large wound. He was lying on the bed, with one leg and arm lunging off it. There was also a very young child lying on the bed, and it was covered with blood. The pc/Haman sent +Bova for • doctor, but he had to go to five or six places before one could be found at home. When witness returned tco surgeons had arrived in the house. The poor woman was subsequently removed in blankets to the work house. awl the steps taken, have in the main heml those best cal culated to promote the real interests of the institution. The receipts for the past sear have been as follows: presentation, 1051 ; donation for general purposes, 119/ 44; sulenriptiona renewed, 2,0811. Is.; new subscription', 537/. 10s ; donations to the building fund, 3,8281. 15s. Id. ; subscriptions to the building fund, 511 9s. total, 7,6221. 19s. Id. This summary of the year's receipts is very satisfactory. The hoard nave felt some anxiety lest the exertions being made in favour of the building fund should interfere with the urdinary income of the society. Many who previously were only annual subscribers have during the past year become life governors, and it was feared that on this account a considerable diminution wi uld appear in the amount of annual subscriptions. But it is pleasing to tied that whilst a sum of no less than 3,861)/. has been lidded to the building fund, the amount of annual tmbscriptiuns exceeds the amount received from the same source in the preceding year. The number of children in the institution at the present time is 132—three are about to le Lye, basing completed their term, and twelve candidates are to be elected this day ; so that the number on the books fur the next hslif.year will be 111, consisting of 94 boys and 47 girls. The board have to report that sit.ce the einem bling of the last half-yearly court, a cuntr iCt bill been en tered Into for the erection of the new building at Pinner, eta cost of 16,1831. In August last the roost eminent builders in London and the country were furnished with specifications of the proposed edifice, and were invited to tender for the works. In reply to this invitation many tenders were sent in, and when these were opened and compared, it was found that that of Mr. Parker, of Thrapatone, was the lowest. The board had no option but to accent Mr. Pars her's tender, and entrust to him the erection of the schools; and from the different works that he has completed, and his high standing in his bushiest., the board feel great confidence that the edifice at Pinner will he finished ins solid and satis factory manner. The board grieve to say that the amount of the contract considerably exceeds the original expectations of the board ; but this is to be ascribed, not to any design on the part of the board to erect an elaborate and costly build iag, but to the fact that labour and building materials ger...- rally have risen in value, within a short period, between 3d and 40 per cent. The works have been commenced, and some considerable progress has been made. The building stands out of the foundations about tour feet above the ground line; the various door frames, sills, and floor joists of the basement are in part fixed, and a large portion of the basement windows ore worked. The builder is hound under a heavy penalty to oomph to the building within eighteen months from the date of the contract, and, from the progress already made, there is no doubt that the building will be quite completed, and fit for occupation,early in the spring of 1835. It is proposed that the building, when finished, shall be opened with a suitable inaugura tion, at which his Royal Highness Prieto Aibert shall be respectfully requested to preside. Whether his Royal Highness will condescend to honour the occasion with his pre tence can only be ascertained when the proper time armee. But from the gracious manner in which his Royal High weee received the deputatiox appointed to wait upon him a kw months since, to request him to lay the foundation Mime of the new building, the readiness with which lie MOW to that request, and the kind interest he then ex in the prosperity of the institution, induce the =d to hops that his Royal Ilighneu will countenance ay his presence the ceremonail in contemplation. Against that day a combined, a vigorous, and a self-denying s (fort should be made to complete the building fund. Far, how ever joyous in other menet' that occasion may be, however imposing its formalities, nod though honoured by the cons. ' pany of the good and the great, and graced by the prewar* of royalty itself, its joy will be clouded and its Williston dimmed if the building is unpaid for grid the institution k in debt. To the long-tried and faithful friends of this in stitution the beard would say, per . Other object!, worthy in themselves, no doubt, mir invite attention and challenge support, but on commercial travelleie this in stitution has a paramount claim. An offspring of their owsk, it has a tight to look Ito them especially, in these its early and, therefore, its tender years, for succour and support. Eight years have the friends of this institutions now labari ously toiled, but their labour has not been in vain. The* exertions have been great, but they have not been or They have hitherto sown, and now the fruit et their labours begins to appear. An edifies destined to hail its place amongst the permanent institutions of the land already rises from the ground. Let the cheering eight awaken gratitude for the past, and stimulate to further efforts fur the future. The great object now is to complete the building fund. A little more pi , a little more labour, a little more eel-denial, and this object will be attained. 'the stewards this yew have especially exerted themselves, and to them the warmest thanks are due. Many of them are amongst the oldest friends of the insti tution. Let theism who have worked at the foundations, and borne the heat and burden of the day, continue their efforts so that they may share in the triumph when the top stone is est on." On the motion of Mr. M'Cuto.oen, seconded by Mr. GuretoN, the report was adopted. Mr. Moors was re-appointed treasurer for the ensuing year. Mr. Charles Blowers, Mr. William Skelton, Mr. G. Malden, Mr. F. Wood, and Mr. W. !'otter, were appointed on the board of management, in the room of Mr. Alderman Finnis, Mr. It. M. Phillippe, Mr. W. J. Powell, Mr. M. Putter, and Mr. William Tilt. The following gentlemen were appointed auditors for the ensuing year :—Mr. J. Bradbury, Mr. A. Caldecott, Mr. J. Greve, Mr. G. Red msyne, Mr. R. Ridley, and Mr. William Smith. Mr. Saul was reappointed secretary. After the meeting the subscribers rroceeded to the elec tion of 12 children to the charity. Hannah Hodgkin, the mother-in-law of the decent el, stated that she lived in Spalding, in Lincolnshire, and came up to town on last Wednesday, to attend her daughter in s her confinement, which happened on the Wednesday morn ing. The deceased sent the letter and the money for her. He seemed very good to his wife ; in fact, so much so, that his wife said they were more than usually comfortable. On Saturday night last, a little before seven o'cloek, he asked her to go out to market with him, and she did so. lie left her at a tea shop in Urafton street, Soho, saying that he would be back in a minute. Witness being a stranger, waited for two hours, lest she should be lost. At last she was fetched home, and what she saw there nearly sent her out of her mind. Iler daughter and the deceased had been married eleven months, but she had had eleven minutes comfort with him. lie bought a razor last eurauseri and in a quarrel stated that they should both go off toge ther in one bloody bed. She wrote to witness about his I bad treaement and jealous temper, and witness sent ter her to come home. She had left him upon one occasion. On Saturday, he appeared very kind and considerate the whole of the day—so much so, that witness was rather surprised lat it. Ile never showed any disposition to do his wife harm I before witness. I Diana Brand lived with her husband at 15, King-street, Soho. She only knew the deceased by lodging in the same house. She did not associate with them, because her husband had an objection to foreigners. Witness was present when the deceased's wife was confined. He cams and looked closely at the infant, shook his head, and said, "enough, enough." He appeared otherwise very kind. After some further evidence, Mr. Walter Bullo.k, 16, Rupert-street, Haymarket, . 1 master tin-plate worker, stated that the deceased had worked for him about fuur years. He was a sober man, but of very irritable temper. Witness believed that he had spoken to the men in the shop about being jealous of his wife, but nobody noticed him. Re has been of late very . irregular in his work, fur the last few weeks, sad witness • had ciuken to him about it. No one thought that he es as ! insane. _ _ . LINUSARIAN BENEVOLENT LOAN SOCIETY. lhe Coroner untamed up the evidence, and the jury re turned a •erdict to the effect that the deceased destroyed himself whilst in a state of temporary insanity. THE LEIGHTON BUZZARD BURGLARY. Yesterday the four prisoners, Lewis Myers, Charles Marshall, John Saunders, and George Parker, we re brought up on remand at the Town-hall, Leighton Buzzard, I , before Colonel Gilpin, M.P., Colonel Himmel., and Mr. W. J. B. White!touse. The hall was densely crowded. Mr. Parry, of the home circuit, appeared on the part of the prosecution ; Mr. Solomon!, for Myers ; and Mr. W. F. Howe, 107, Blackfriars-road, for the other prisoners. Mr. Perry, after a few opening remarks, called the fol lowing additional evidence: Edmund Tearle—l am the driver of the omnibus from the Swan Inn, Leighton Buzzard. On the 25th of November last I Wee at the station to meet the down mail train. It arrived about a quarter to eleven. Three men gout out of that train. Saunders and Marshall were two of them. I saw the other man, but he is not here. I can speak posi tively to the other two. I saw them jump out of the train. They then went into a luggage shed instead of going into I the waiting-room, where there was • fire and a light. Sounders came out and asked a porter what time the mail train arrived either at Triag or Bletchley, and if it stopped there. The man could not tell him. They then crossed the line towards the gates. Marshall called to them come back, as that was not the way out, ani they came I out of the departure door. Saunders asked another porter the same question regarding the mail train. This porter went into the office to look at his book, and Saunders ran out after the other men. Marshall had a small bag or parcel under his left arm at the time. I then loot sight of them. Cross examined by Mr. Ilowe—l had never seen them, Saunders and Marshall, before that day to my knowledge. I only saw the back of them after the last examination. I let them into the omnibus, but there was such a crowd of people round that I could not see their features at all. By Mr. Parry—l have no doubt whatever that those two men are the men I saw. Nathaniel Smith—l em a painter. I worked with Mar shall about two or three years ago. I saw Marshall and Saunders on the night of either the 16th er the 9th of October last, on the Linslade•road, about one-and.a-half mile from here. I asked Marshall what he was doing then, and he said he was at the old trade. I then asked him what trade Saunders was, and he said he was a brother brush. Last night, the annual dinner in aid of the funds of this charity was held at the Crown and Vulture, Corn. bill. Mr. K. Costello, president of the society, in the cl.air. The society was eetabl . •shcd solely by gentlemen of the Jewish faith, and is still principally supported by members a that body, but the object of the charity, which is the very laudable one of advancing money on loan without in terest to poor bat honest and industrious persons, is not confined to the members of any particular creed or country. After the usual loyal toasts, Mr. Gerstenberg proposed the prosperity and success of the society, aad congratulated its friends en the fact that during the past year it had not re trograded, but progressed. During the first year of its ex istence the society had only &capital of 721. 19s.,with which they effected 66 loans, amounting to 961, and last year they had a capital of 2811. 12s.,with which they effected 207 loans amounting to 4021. Up to the let June last they made 1,504 loans, altbgether amounting to 2,8321. Small as this amount might appear in so large a population as that of London, it still did great good by its means, fur it enabled them to give many a poor man a start in life who after wards rose to independence. (Hear, hear.) The toast having been duly honoured, Mr. C. Clarke proposed the health of the president. The Chairman, in reply, stated that his most anxious desire was to see the society flourish. Unlike other benevolent societies this society required but two tests in the recipients of its bounty—poverty eau honesty. It was not confined to any sect or country, and he was sure that it required only to be made more known in order to attract towards it more extensive support. (Hear, bear.) All that he could say was, that it had his] best wishes, and that he would do all in his power to in crease its funds. (Hear, hear.) The health of the Bey. Dr. Adler was proposed . by Mr. Defries, and several other toasts were also drank in the coarse of the evening. Se veral subscription lists were announced, hut 'their united sums would not reach a very high figure. Mr. Hind, Mr. Fielding, and Mr. Percy sang some excellent songs during the evening. Cron-examined by Mr. Hiswe—l was in court last week. I saw the prisoner Saunders, and I knew him, and I then heard him called by his name. I never heard Marshall call him by his name. I have worked with Marshall fur three months at the Swan Inn, Leighton Bustard, and at the village of Egginton. Thomas Cook—l am a groom, and reside at Chelsea. On the night of the burglary I was in the smoking-room of the Elephant and Castle Inn, Chelsea, a little before eleven o'clock at night. One man came in, • straoger, and then two others came in after him. I identify Marshall as one of the two that came in last, and I have not the least doubt of his identity; but I cannot identify either of the other two. Job Denson, superintendent constable of the county el Bucks.—l produce • great coat, upon which there were droppings of green was ; and on the counter and various other parts of Mr. Matthews' shop there were similar drop pings. Sergeant Thomas Richards, of the Metropolitan Polies, said—l know all the prisoners well. I saw Marshall three 'or four days before the robbery at the Bell public house, Friar-street, Bleckfriars-road. He had carratty whiskers I at that time. (lie has none now) I have seen Parker with Saunders many times. I saw them together a very few days before the robbery. I have known them to be acquainted for about three years. At the time I saw Mar shall at the Bell public-house, he had on an overcoat like the one now produced. I have never seen Parker and Marshall together, with the exception of their being both if them in a public house at the time. Mr. Parry believed he had now established • prima MO case against all the prisoner*, and, therefore, be had so doubt that their worships would commit all of them for trial upon this charge. Mr. Howe then addreesed the court for his clients, bat more especially for the prisoner Parker, against whom he imetende4 there was not the slightest evidence, except the gasman Hervey ; and he did not think that their worships would believe his statement in preference to those of all the respectable witnesses brought before them. Colonel o.lpin, the Chairman, said the bench had come to the conclusion, after • very careful consideration of the case, to commit all of the prisoners to Bedford Gaol, to take their trial at the March Assizes. Mr. Solomon applied to the magistrates to admit his client, Myers, to bail. If they refused he should then apply to • Judge at chambers. Mr. Howe would also apply for bail for his clients, and more especially Parker. Colonel Gilpin declined the request with respect to Myers, Saunders, and Marshall, but with regard to Parker they would consider that. Captain Boultbee, the chief constable of the Beds con stabulary, believed that if Parker was admitted to bail the ends of justice would be frustrated; and some docu ments having been produced by Sergeant Richard, refer ring to the former character of Parker, ST. GEORGE'S HALL, LIVERPOOL.—This magni- Colonel Gilpin stated that the magistrates had come to ficent structure is now approaching completion, and, the determination not to admit him to bail. according to pressnt arrangsmeuts, it is intended to be The prisoners were then asked what tLey had to say why opened early in the month of September, with the perform- Y thes h ou ld not be committed asce of an oratorio fur the benefit of the local charities. We understand that the total cost of the building will MMr. Solonions stated that his client would reserve his de about 200,0001.—Lircrpoot Standard . fence for a future period, when he bad no doubt he should be in a position to prove that he was Innocent of this chap. Parker said that there was no evidence to implicate him in the robbery. It was only his character that had brought Lien down there, and the police knew very well that he was not concerned in the robbery. Marshall and Saunders both stated that they would re. serve their defence. The witnesses were then as bound over, and the pro. mit:Hogs terminated. LAW OF SETTLEMENT. Last night a preliminary meeting to take measures for bringing about the abolition of so much of the law of settlement as requires the removal of paupers, and the equalisation of the poor rates, was held at Joye's School nom, Docturs'-commons; Mr. WHITESIDE, Common Councilman of Aldgate, in the chair. It wee explained by the CHAIRMAN that Mr. Day and I some other gentlemen had waited upon the Lord Mayor on Tuesday last, and obtained his promise to give his aid in furtherance of a more extended agitation than bad yet I taken place in favour of the proposed alteration of the law, and if called upon to preside at a meeting in the City of London on the subject. The purpose of the present meet ing was to form a sort of committee to take the preliminary steps for combining in such agitation all the metropolitan parishes, instead of leaving, as heretofore, the several pa rishes to act separately. He suggested that Mr. Day, the vestry clerk of St. George, Southwark, who had convened the present meeting, and Mr. Warwick, should be ap- I pointed as joint honorary secretaries. Mr. Day and Mr. Warwick having accepted the office, the gentlemen present (consisting of four besides the chair man, and the two secretaries) were formed into a commit tee, with power to add to their number, for communicating with all the parishes of the metropolis, and taking such others measures as might be deemed necessary in further ance of the object. It was also resolved that steps should be taken for getting up a requisition from the parochial officers, and other influential inhabitants of the various parishes, calling'. upon the Lord Mayor to summon a public meeting in the City of Loudon for the purpose of petition ing parliament to abolish the law of settlement and re moval, and to equalise the poor rate. THE PRESTON STRIKE. PILEbTON, Dec. 29. To•day an address has been issued by the Austere' Association. It is of a vindicatory character, and re-states the cases of the masters and workmen, the frets of which are alleged to have been perverted by the leaders of the latter. With reference to the complaint that the men are " locked out," and therefore unable to work if so disposed, and that the masters want to starve them into submission, the masters say that " the closing of the mills was only re sorted to after the hands in several of them had struck work, or had given notice to thst effect, although an advance of ten per cent. lied been offered them in August last upon. the wages paid in 1852 " The masters further deny that any promise was given generally by their body to give, when trade revived, an advance corresponding to the rv • uet:ons which took place in the latter part of the year 1817, and then make the following statement: "Being anxious to ascertain the difference (if any) be tween the earnings of the various classes of operatives in 1847, before the abovesmentioned reduction took place, and those in the summer of 1853, before the 10 per cent. was demanded, we find, from the returns furnished us from the wages books of several large and influential firms, that, in stead of any decrees', there has been an actual increase, varying from 5 to 30 per cent., after making due allowance for the differ, ace in the hours of labour from 69 to 60 hour, per week. We have nut thought it necessary to extend these inq • ' not having the slightest doubt that, if the average of all the mills now closed had been taken, the result would have been the same. We take this opportu nity of stating, for the information of those persons whose aid and contributions are solicited fur the hands, that in a well regulated spinning and weaving establi,hment the weekly earnings of men employed therein vary from 12s. to 3 - a.; women and young persons from 7a. 61. to 155.; and children from 4s. to 65., according to the nature of the em ployment and the diligence and ability of the worker; and that the average of all classes of hands in such an establish ment is about 10s. each." The masters conclude with 'he remark that—" After the continuance of this struggle for upwards of ten weeks, the operatives •till persist in their demands, and evince the same indisposition to return to work, although the masters have declared their willingness to receive applications, and as seen as they were sufficiently numerous to enable them to open their mills immediate steps would be taken to that effect. No applications of any consequence have been made, and the dispute appears as far uff a settlement as ever." Speculation is buy conjecturing the probable result cf the adjourned meeting of the association, to be held to-morrow. Some say that the meeting is to be adjourned for a month, others for three months; whilst a third report is that several members of the association are anxious to try the effect of ringing the factory bells at the ',rico, of March last. THE COLLIER FLEET. NEWCASTLE•ON•TYNE, WIDNF.SDAY. Shortly after the large fleet of collier vessels sailed from the north-eastern ports on Monday, a squall of wind came on, witk snow showers; and a rollier brig, named the Cygnet, of Blyth, ran into the Herd Sand, at the mouth of the Tyne, and is a wreck. The other vessels, however, got safely off the coast. The night of Monday was starlight, and the vessels which had sailed had a fine wind from the N.N.E. Yesterday, however, the snow clouds which had been observed by nautical men "banking up" in the northeast, burst, and we had a heavy snow storm all day; the wind, also, blowing a gale, which caused the sea to rise with great violence off the Northum berland coast. Last night has been fearfully wild and stormy, and the greatest anxiety is expressed with regard to the fleet of colliers, as they would be threading their way in the neighbourhood of Yarmouth Roads abcut the darkening lest night. It was a fearful passage for them to take in such a night. The wind and snow, however, was abaft. It is to be feared that some poor fellows will never "tell their own tale." The anew is drifted, and piled up in various parts of the district. The railways are going pretty regularly. At noon today the weather is bright and clear, and the storm appears to be over. THE ALLEGED POISONING OF A WHOLE FAMILY AT BERMONDSEY. Yesterday Mr. Carter resumed the investigation i of the mystelions circumstances connected with the death of James George Trump, aged six years, the son of a plas terer, residing at No. 9, Prince's-road, some particulars of which have already appeared in the Daily News. On the former occasion the testimony adduced tended to show that on Saturday week the deceased, his father and mother, dined off some hashed mutton covered with a kind of paste made with flour and water. After dinner they ' were all seised with violent sickness and the deceased ex pired on the same day. An infant, aged 17 months, who had some of the gravy out of the hash, but did not partake of any of the paste, was net taken ill. Mr. Lambs's, of Neckenger-street, Bermondsey, the baker of whom it was alleged the Soar with which the piste was made was obtained, attended during the proceedings. Richard Trump, the father of the deceased, deposed, that after dinner on Monday week last, he left home as usual to go to his work, but in about an hour afterwards was seized with sickness and vomited several times. On returning home to tea, witness found his wife and the deceased lying down before the fire. His wife complained of sickness, and also informed him that the deemed bad been sick, but that he (deceased) had not complained of any pain. Witness again left home about 6 o'clock in the evening, and returned about 1 the next morning, when finding deceased was worse, procured the attendance of Dr. Paul, but the de ceased expired before his arrival. The Coroner.—When you were seised with the sickness did you feel,any sensation of thirst, or heat in the throat? Witness.—Not at all, air. Coroner—Can you in any way account for yourself, and wife, and child being so suddenly seized with sickness directly after dinner Witness—No, sir, not in any way. Coroner—ln what was the bash cooked? Witness—ln an iron saucepan. A Juryman—Had you auy copper cooking utensils in use at the time ? Witness—None whatever. Coroner—On the last occasion, your wife swore that you did not belong to any burial club is that true ? Witness—l belong to the Foresters' Order, but neither myself, wife, nor children are entered in a burial club. Coroner—Did any person ever use any threat against you or your family ? Witness —I heard of any. Coroner—Did your wife ever purchase any article to destroy vermin ? Witness—None that I ever saw. The Coroner said from a communication he had received from Mr. I'aul, the surgeon, he felt the case must be again salaamed. A juryman observed that the house in Prince's road had only been occupied by Trump for six weeks, and that it was previously tenanted by a bonnet cleaner. He believed in bonnet cleaning, articles of pernicious character were used, and that some might have been left about the house. The Coroner (addressing Mrs. Trump)—Did yon ever discover anything in paper which looked like salt lying about the house. Mrs. Trump—No, air, the house was thoroughly cleaned when we went to reside there. Alter some further evidence, the case was adjourned for • week, when the result of Mr. Paul's analysis will be made known. THE NEW AMERICAN RETUBLIC.—The territory which Colonel Walker and his companions have just wrested from Mexican power (not "American power," as was misprinted yesterday), is the long peninsula called sometimes Old, and sometimes Lower Califor nia, and extending between the gulf and the Pacific Ocean. It is about 700 miles in length, with a breadth varying from 30 to 100 miles, comprising an area of about 38,000 square miler, with a scanty population variously esti mated at from 14,000 to 20,000. A chain of rocky w untsins, not exceeding 5,000 feet in height, runs throigh it from south to north, and the surface of the country consists of groups of bare rocks broken by ravines and bills, interspersed with barren windy tracts, forming altogether one of the least attractive regions within the temperate zone. It is believed, however, to be rich in metals. The climate is excessively dry and lot, and violent hurricanes are frequent ; there are more wolves than timber trues, sad the greater part of the country is incapable of producing a single blade of corn. The chief exports have hitherto consisted of pearls from the gulf, to the extent of an annual value of from 500 to:1,000 dollars, tortoise shell, hides, dried beef, dried fruits, and cheese and soap. These commodities are for the most part exported to Masatlan and SAG Blas in small coasting vessel.. What the country may become in the hands of the new government remains to be seen. LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. — Amount of traffic for the week ending Dec. 24, 1853 :—Pan. aengers, 8,9591. Os. Bd.; goods, 2,8681. lfis. Li. Total, 11,827 g. 161. id. THE WEATHER AND THE PAR A'S. --•- The continuance of the extreme cold of Tuesday, during the night, when the temperature stood for several hours as low as 26 Fahrenheit, with • sharp and strong N.N.W. wind, had the t tfect of greatly increasing the thickness and security of the ice, which was on Tuesday thin and exceedingly brittle. THE SEILVY.NTINE.—Yesterday morning the Mutinies Society's men, under the inspection of Mr. Williams, the superintendent, made an inspection of the ice, and lines were drawn across so as to mark the open space which would be comparatively safe, men being placed on duty with ropes and sledge ladders to be in readiness in case of accident. There could not have been less than five thousand persons at one time assembled on the ice, the banks being lined by several thousand well•dressed spectators, principally ladies, who appeared to empty the sight of the spurt. The tent of the Royal Skating Satiety was erected above the bridge, and a large number of the members were pre sent, the snow basing been c:e seed to render the skating easy. If the weather coutinuee, the ice will be in first-rate condition. During the day upwards of 20 pereuns were so severely cut and bruised by falls that medical relief was administered to them at the Receiving House. From half-past ten o'clock to half past two g'eluck six immersions took place in a depth of water varying from 6 to b Wet. The parties were—William Leach, Thomas Allen, Thomas Baldwin, Alfred Gashawk, and two gentlemen, names un known. Tne whole were rescued by Freemen, Murphey, Pasty, and Adams. They were placed in warm bathe, and after receiving other attentions, were eventually enabled to proceed home. KENSINOTON GARDENS.-03 the Long Water and Round Pond there were, during the day, 2,500 skaters and sliders, including several members of the Skating Club, but no accident occurred, although the ice is described as only two inches thick and dangerous. ItZOk PAYK.—The number of skaters and sliders mounted to many thousand persons, the ice being in the morning in a very goad condition. The tent of the Royal Skating Club was also erected here, and several of the prin cipal members of the club were present. In the course of the day, however, the ice, teem some cause, parted in several places and became very dangerous. During the day a great many persons were cut and :bruised by taas. In one instance, the shock produced a sue,es.tun of strong fi s, which were eventually mastered by the attention of Dr. }Lidding, in the marquee. About three o'clock in the &Item) in a gentleman while skating was slid tenly left upon an island of ice, from which he was long unable to reach the shore ; out, under the directions of Mr. Superintendent Wlllllll2O, a hand line was swept up to him, and a breaker and ordi nary ladder so thrown across the house as to admit of his walking to the shots without his even being wetted, and he was received by his friends and the spectators with loud cheers. Sr. JAMBS'S PAST.— yesterday there could n 4 tave been less than 4,000 or 5,0:0 persons on the ornamental waters, upwards of 2,000 skaters and sliders being on the ice at one tints. The skating was confined to the open space in the centre, the icemen keeping the crowd Of from the east and west ends of the wuter, which arc at present unsafe. Between eleven and halt-past twelve the ice gate wsy in three places, and caused the immeraien of nearly 20 persons in about six feet of water. The whole were reamed by deputy superintendent Parsons, and icemen Cook, Collins, Marshall, Knapp, Bally, and Terry. The names of those who received warm baths, stimulants, eke., at the marquee, were Philip Whormsley, Ilenry Wilton, John Skelton, Henry Light, Charles Abbey, J 'mph Cantle, James Long worthy, Charles Frow, Alfred Ward, Samuel Binder, and Alfred Fowler. All were perfectly reattered before the closing of the gates, which by the exertions of the park keepers and the police, was effected as early as half-past three o'clock. A CHRISTMAS TREE. *., - On Friday last, says the Manchester Examiner, a Christmas tree of extraordinary sin and beauty, was raised in the schoolroom of the Old Chapel, at Dukinleld, by the ladies of the congregation, in honour of the teachers in their Sunday schools. Nearly 903 guests were inilted, of whom about one-fourth conNisted of the teachers. After a substantial tea, the tables being presided over by the ladies of the congregation, the party adjourned from the lower to the upper room, where the mysterious tree was concealed by a crimson curtain surrounding it from the ceiling to the floor. After some music, both vocal end instru - nentsl, tho curtain was suddenly withdrawn, and there was seen a fine fir tree, planted in a bed of mass,—its branches glittering with more than a hundred lighted tapers,—adorned with :fruit, and flowers, and birds, of variegated hue, and baskets, and flags, and bannerets. A hearty and prolongt 3 cheer burst from all sides of the roam. As soon as the eyes ceases to rest on the tree, it was seen that on either side of it were tables covered with an array of beautiful gifts. There were pencil-cases in gold and silver—desks and writing-cases, workboxes and baskets (all tic'sly furnished), a glass case of wax flowers of (qui.• me beauty, engravings framed in imitation of oak carving, slippers, cushions, worked collar., knives and scissors, needle -taus, a carpet-bag, money•boxes and purses in every variety of colour, fora:, and texture. One whole table was covered with a pile at books,—some of them ele gantly bound,—amongst them were the poems of Milton. Young, Montgomery, Tennyson, Bowring, Heber, Macau lay, the lives of Milton, Watt, Newton, licox, Columbus, and Hutchinson, the works of Washington heir, g, ''• Ni cholls's Architecture of the Heavens," " Barthtt's Pilgrim Fathers," " Higginson's Spirit of the Bible," and a selec tion from the publications of Chambers. The Rev. A. Brook Aspland now stepped forward and said, that tkey were assembled to effer a tribute of respect and kindness to the teachers in their Sunday-schools, whose labours were most praiseworthy. The useful and beautiful articles which were about to be distributed were chi, fly contributed by the ladies of the congregation—some of whom had been for many weeks busily engaged in prepar ing for this interesting occasion. Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm with which some of the ladies had promoted the work, and he doubted not that the recollection of their Christmas tree would be long cherished by those who had planted it, end those who were to receive its goodly fruits. In the distribution which immediately followed, he was assisted by Mr. Abel Harrison (the kind donor of the tree), Miss H. Harrison, Miss Leech, Miss Elizabeth Leee, and Miss Woolley. When the name of any teacher was an nounced whose services had been particularly Tenable, a sheer was given as he or she received the various tokens of goodwill which were presented. The absent had not 'begotten the occasion, nor were they neglected. Some Indus, once valued teachers in the school, but now residing In a distant county, had sent a box of beautiful gifts, and to them some presents were in tho course of the evening announced. Not the least interesting offerings were those from classes of scholars to beloved teachers; and a very enthusiastic cheer broke from all parts of the room when the chairmen placed in the hsods of one of the ladies assisting in the distribution a gold pencil case, the gift' of a clue of teachers whom she and others had for some years instructed one evening in every week. To a former teacher, now residing in Australia, presents from the tree were sent. So numerous were the gifts that the pre sentation occupied nearly three hours. Refreshments and music were the only interruption. Mr. WHITTAKER and Mr. BROADRICK, two of the di rectors of the school, returned thanks in behalf the teachers for the varied pleasures and gifts of the evening, and as sured the friends of the school that the munificent proofs of their goodwill and generositywould stimulate one sod all to increased energy in the fulfilment of their duties as teachers. Votes of thanks were given to various persons who had contributed to the success of the meeting, and on the motion of Mr. ABEL HARRISON, a vote of thanks was cordially given to the pastor and his lady. After some more music the forms were removed from the centre of the room, and the amusements of tke evening ter minated in a dance, in which persons of various age and station pleasantly joined. Amiability and good. manners were everywhere exhibited, equally by the mechanic and the factory girl as by the wealthy proprietor, and Ulmer ac customed to the refined gaieties of life. It was a spectacle as interesting as rare. Well would it be if more frequent occasions could be devised for bringing into social inter course employers and employed—rich and poor. Eitrange meat and jealousy would be melted down by the warmth of social intercourse; and, knowing each other better, they would respect each other more. THE LIVERPOOL ELECTION PETITION.—SOmO few days since, sags the Liverpool Northern Times, our contem porary, the Albion, announced, and the statement was re peated by others, that the petition against the return of Messrs. lforsfall and Liddell, as members of parliament for this borough, had been withdrawn. We have authority for stating that this announcement only conveyed half the fact ; for, although it is quite true that the original peti tion has been withdrawn, it is equally true that an amended one hu been substituted, which prays not only for the un seating of Messrs. Montan and Liddell, but that a commis sion may sit, in Liverpool, for the purpose of inquiring generally into the practices which prevail here during par liamentary contests. It prays, further, for the entire dis franchisement of the freemen of the borough. ADVANCE OF WAGES AT WARRINGTON. —On Tuesday Messrs. Stubs, file workers, Warrington, without solicitation, advanced the wages of the workpeople in their employment 10 per cent. Immedi►tely on the announce ment being made a meeting of the workmen was held at the works, when it was resolved that thanks be given to their employers for their generous and noble conduct, and that a dinner be given to them by the workpeople. A de putation afterwards waited upon the heads of the firm, and communicated the result of the meeting, but they de clined to attend any dinner, as what they had done was merely an act of *tic& r