The Press. — London, England, 1856-01-26 00:00:00

FOP JANUARY 26, 1856. prevent it. With respect to Sir Benjamin Hall open ing Kensington-gardens on Sundays for music, Mr. Horsfall said:— He may think he is the Ranger of the Woods and Forests, and have the power pertaining to it, but there is a power above that of Sir Benjamin Hall—public opinion —and a power still higher found in the words, " Remember the Sabbath•day to keep it holy." Dr. M'Neil, who was received with great enthusiasm, made an eloquent speech, pointing out that the seventh day was ordained by God as essentially a day of rest, and that if masters and others were desirous of the improvement of the minds of the working classes, he recommended that Saturday afternoon should be given them, and that they should be paid for the whole day's work, instead of being encouraged to go out upon a day when they received no money, and which ought to be devoted to religious worship. Resolutions in accordance with the views of the meeting were unanimously passed, and a memorial to the Queen adopted. THE EARL OF ALBEMARLE addressed his district peasantry, at East Harling, last week, upon the sub ject of benefit clubs. His lordship, after explaining the nature and number of these societies in England —which he stated at 3:1,232, with a capital of 11,360,000/.—proceeded to point out some of their obvious failings, such as the system of meeting at publiehouses, and the societies being based upon a uniform scale of payment, so that every member paid the same, whatever his age might be—a mani fest injustice to the young, and a system tending to convert the society into a mere lottery. Touching upon the question of provision for sickness by benefit societies, his lordship pointed out the advantages of Government annuities over benefit societies, and explained the meaning of the Act 16 and 17 Vie., c. 45, which made every provision for the old age of the labouring man, and did not claim any subscrip tion as lapsed to the general fund if not paid up, but always returned the sum already paid. In conclu sion, the noble earl stated as his opinion that benefit societies shcald not meet at publichouses ; that they , should have a graduated scale of payment; that they should not insure superannuation allowances or deterred annuities, but that their committees should assist the members in obtaining Government an nuities, which could be purchased on safer and more advantageous terms. Mn. Jour( BRIGHT, M.P., at a public meeting held at Rochdale on Friday week to hear a lecture by Mr. Dymond, upon " The Abolition of Capital Punishment," at the conclusion of the lecture ad dressed the meeting upon the subject. Briefly touching upon the old system of legal penalties, which banged a man, in the words of Sir Fowell Buxton, "if he cut down a tree or murdered his grandfather," and pointing out the perversion of mind which could tolerate such an atrocious custom, Mr. Bright proceeded to argue that capital punish ment at all was a doubtful policy, as it tended to destroy all reverence for human life, and to nourish that savage brutality of character which held life cheaply, and hence could not, by this very reason be regarded as insuring protection to either o property : I will assume (continued the hon. member)—but 1 doubt it—that the practice of hanging men has the effect of deterring somebody, in some place, at some time, in some degree, from the crime of murder. How many do we save by reason of hanging, and how many are saved by reason of an increased reverence for human life? Don't you think that the reverence for human life that exists more or less in everybody is s thousand times more effec tive in preventing murder than the fear of the gallows? But if it should happen that the system of hanging, how ever it may deter to some small extent, does to a great ex tent diminish the reverence for liftman life—don't vo• think that what it does in deterring is tar less than what it &es in destroying, by diminishing the sanctity of Kaman life? lam perfectly certain—l know from my own feelings Had from all human history—that participation in horror of any kind familiarises the mind to it. As a case in point, Mr. Bright alluded to that of Weeks, the apprentice who murdered his master in Drury-lane, and related a conversation he (Mr. Bright) had with a policeman at Westminster Police office on the morning of Weeks' capture ! " You seem to have had some very bad cases latterly," observed ; " I see a lad has committed a murder." He said, " Ay, sir, as l ong as t h ere ' s hang i ng there will be murders." I thought that this would have been excellent for a judge, and I wanted to know how he got to that con clusion. " They don't care ab mt it," he said ; " why, what did Weeks do? Ile went to see a man hanged at bewg ite in the morning. He ran at halt' past nine o'clock the same morning to see a woman hanged at Horsemonger lane, and what he said was this, ` Why, it's nothing—it's but a kick, anti it's over in a minute.'" That this wai the effect an execution had upon thou sands in that class of life Mr. Bright declared him self convinced, and concluded by pointing out that, although society had a right to do anything abso lutely necessary for its own safety, yet all experience proved that whatever was barbarous or savage in private practice, or in law, was not calculated to pro duce a humane, Christian, or proper state of miud ; THE PRtSS. and therefore he entreated his audience to use all their influence to get capital punishment abolished, and the law assimilated more to the humane prin• ciples of Christianity. elution itttiligturt. CAMBRIDGE Usivansrry.—The Right Hon. Spencer Walpole issued a brief address last Saturday to the members of the Senate, appealing to his past con duct in support of his political opinions and principles, and soliciting their support in consequence of the numerous and repeated applications both from resi dent and non-resident members, " requesting him to stand for the University." On the same day the Conservative members at Cambridge held a meeting aaXhe Bull Hotel, for the purpose of carrying such arrangement into effect as should secure the election of Mr. Walpole. Dr. Cookson and Dr. Corrie, Masters of St. Peter's and Jesus, addressed the meeting in favour of Mr. Walpole; and the usual preliminary business was transacted, secretaries elected, and a committee appointed, with the Rev. Francis Martin as chairman. A London committee, with Lord Lovaine as chairman, was also imme diately instituted, and the most active canvass has been carried on during the week, with every prospect of success. Mr. Walpole has issued a farewell address to his Midburst constituents; and after being their representative for nearly ten years, his resignation of the trust B 3 reposed in him is marked with some little regret : Having received (says Mr. Walpole) such numerous applications from my own University to allow myself to be put in nomination as a candidate at the approaching election, I felt I had hardly any other alternative than to respond to the call which liss thus been made to me. For no other constituency would I ever have exchanged the honour of representing you in the House of Commons ; and when I think of the cordiality and kindness which 1 have invariably received from you on t%]; occasions, I am sure my gratitnde will be as lasting as it is heartfelt and sincere. The Hon. Mr. Denman has also issued an address to the members of the University, and has endeavoured to push forward a successful canvass. HEREFORD.—Mr. Biddulph having retired from contesting the expected vacancy, the field has been left clear between Mr. Evans, the Conservative, and Mr. Clive, the Liberal candida . e. Mr. Evans, in his address, expressed himself in favour of a vigorous prosecution of the war until we could obtain an honourable and lasting peace. Mr. Evans also declares himself in favour of judicious economy in the public expenditure. Mr. Clive, on the other hand, is in favour of "all the reforms," against church-rates, and an ardent advocate of the ballot. LEm)s.—The re-election of Mr. Baine! , , on his acceptance of the Chancellorship of the Duchy of Lancaster, will not be opposed. The election will take place on the 6th February. Mum:am—Mr. Warren, Q.C., has issued an address to the electors, soliciting their support in event of the election of Mr. Walrole for Cambridge. Mr. Warren promises to watch well the local in terests, and faithfully and diligently to perform his duty in the House. SHEFFIELD.-Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Hadfield have been both invited to meet their constituents before the assembling of Parliament, in order that their opinions upon the present state of affairs might be publicly given. hfr. Hadfield, in reply, this week, excused himself on the plea of a cold and numerous engagements. Mr. Roebuck's reply has not yet transpired. EDINBITRGIT.—Mr. Macaulay has issued a farewell address, dated London, 19th Jan., to the electors of Edinburgh, announcing his retirement from parlia mentary lite. Alluding to the state of his health as the principal cause influencing him in this determi nation, Mr. Macaulay says : The experience of the last two years has convinced me that I cannot reasonably expect to be ever again capable of performing, even in an imperfect manner, those thitibs which the public has a right to expect from every member of the House of Commons ; and with the conviction that he should only abuse the generosity and delicacy of the electors, if he re. tained his seat to the dissolution, Mr. Macaulay intimates that he has applied for the Chiltern Hun dreds, and bids his friends and supporters farewell. Upon the ireceipt of this farewell address a general meeting of the Liberal electors was held imme diately, at which it was resolved that Mr. Adam Black, the eminent publisher, should be requested to till the vacancy in the representation, and a com mittee was at once appointed to secure his return. The new writ, it is believed, will be issued on the 31st. ARMAGH.—A meeting of the Conservative electors was held on Tuesday, with a view to secure the return of Sir William Verner, on the Conservative interest, at the bent election. Various resolutions were passed in accordance with the object of the meeting, and a str , ng manifestation made in favour of the county being henceforth represented by two Conservatives. Pabai an Nilitarg #nttilifftna. The small steam squadron lately despatched to the Baltic is now on its say home again, and may be hourly expected. Sir Charles Wood has bestowed the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital on Captain John Reeve, and on Captain Richard Douglas, vice Rear-Admirals Philip Westphal and R. Pridhem. Captain Thomas Sykes (retired under her Majesty's order in council of 1851) died, on the 17th inst., at his residence, No. 3, Stanhope place, in the eighty second year of his age. A Warrant from the office of the Director-General places the entire medical staff on a new footing, and changes the present pay of the acting assistant-auk. geons from 10!:. to Ils. t3d. a day, with other altera tions calculated to confer a benefit on this essential arm of the service. A Naval Patriotic Association has been started It Sunderland, for the purpose of manning one or two of the gun-boets n w bui!ding on the Wear. The members offer 101. bounty for volunteers. A canvas camp on Suuthsea Common for 15,000 men,is reported as likely to be established during the summer. Dr. Rae having claimed 10,000/. as his share of the promised reward by the Government in 51ardt, 1850, to any one who should first ascertain the fate of Franklin, the Admiralty have promised to adjudi cate upon the claim within three months. An immense gun, weighing twenty-four tons seven hundred.weight, has this week been finished at the Mersey Ironworks. It is to be of thirteen•inch bore, and will propel a 3021 h. shot five miles. The gun will he ready for trig! in shouts month hence. A futal boat accident occurred in Plymouth Sound on Wednesday, when Mr. Bateman, paymaster of H.M.S. Exmouth, and four of the crew were drowned. 4rtiant. HIS EXCELLENCY THE EARL OF CARLISLE, K.G., held his first levee fur the season on Wednesday. The levee was most numerously attended. It was remarked that only one dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church, Dean Meylei, was present. Lorin VISCOUNT LEFFORD has been elected Tem poral Peer in the room of the late Lord de Vesci. THE CONS►iRVATIVE SOCIETY Or DUBLIN held general meeting on Wednesday under the presidency of the Marquis of Downshire. Plll in Volta. THE CASE OF AHCHDEACOk DENISON came on, in the Queen's Bench, on Thursday morning, before Lord Campbell, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Mr. Justice Wightmnn, and Mr. Justice Erle. The rule obtained last term L•y Sir Fitzroy Kelly for a mandamus, com pelling the Archbishop of Canterbury to take certain proceedings in the Arches Court against the Rev. Mr. Denison, Archdeacon of Taunton, was made ab solute. AT TILE OPENING OF ME MIDDLESEX SESSIONS on Tuesday, Mr. Pashley, Q.C., took the necessary oaths and his seat as assistant judge of the court. Before the usual business of the. court was proceeded with, Mr. Payne addressed the court speaking feelingly upon the death of Mr. Sergeant Adams, and paid a high corr.pliment to his memory, in which Mr. Pashley warmly concurred. THE RUGELEY CASE. THE adjourned inquest upon the body of Mr Walter Palmer was resumed on Wednesday, at Hugeley, before ➢lr. Webb Ward, the coroner. Pro fessor Taylor and Dr. Rees were both present by request of the Home Secretary, and the evidence already given having been read over by the coroner, the inquiry was proceeded with. 1)r. Campbell, the medical attendant of Walter Pal mer from June, '53, to June, '54, deposed to the de ceased's habitual intemperance and general state of or ganic disease, he having suffered at various times fn m enlargement of the liver, inflammation of the right kidney, and dropsy, with pneumonia and congestion of the brain. From the evidence which he L, d heard, Dr. Campbell was of opinion that there was nothing inconsistent in the last symptoms with death by prussic acid, though death by alcohol would pro duce the same effects. Upon cross-Examination Dr. Campbell said he believed that death in Walter Palmer's ease resulted from "Apoplexy," because stertorous breathing was inconsistent with death by prussic acid. Upon further cross•examination, Dr. Campbell admitted that death by apoplexy from disease in fifteen or twenty minutes would be a very exceptional case, as in such cases persons *ere usually some hours dying. In cases of disease of the 81 .1