The Press. — London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

MARCH 29, 1856. A Rena:4 CATHOLIC CHAPEL AT PRESTON, while under repair last week, fell in with a tremendous crash, bringing everything under a heap of ruins. Fortunately no men were at work at the moment, Lor any person within the building. AN EXTENSIVE SEIZURE OF AN ILLICIT DISTILLERY was made at Glasgow on Monday. Stills capable of throwing off one hundred and twenty gallons of spirits in the twenty-four hours, with seven hundred gallons of beer, and the whole stock in trade, were seized on the premises of Mr. Deane in Glass f)rd-street. ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT from want of fencing to machinery occurred last week at the works of Messrs. Dawes, Bromford. A little boy, nine years of age only, iiamed Timothy Stanaway, sta tioned as usual at the rolls, put his arm through the spindles or holes to reach a hammer. In an instant the rapidly revolving machinery took up his shirt sleeve, drew in his body, which, passing twice in and out between the rolls, tore the head from the trunk, and scattered the viscera about. The poor child was killed instantaneously. THE BOTTLE-MAKERS ON THE WEAR have struck work on account of the masters lowering wages 4s. a week, on the plea that at the present rate they can not compete with France and Belgium. THE EARL at' SHAFTESBURY attended a meeting of Manchester operatives last Tuesday, for the purpose of receiving an address from the short-time dele gates. Upward.: of 200 operatives were present, and an address was read by Mr. Thomas Maudesley, thanking his lordship for the services he had ren dered to the factory operatives by his advocacy of a restriction of the hours of labour Of the many advantages (says the address) which we continue to derive from the operation of this salutary measure, it is unnecessary for us to say more than to assure your lordship that all the beneficial results foretold by its promoters are now being realised by those who avail them selves of the opportunities which it atfords for recreation as well as for intellectual and moral instruction. if our improvement as a body of operatives has been less rapid and less distinctly marked than might have been expected, it is obvious that. to whatever other cause or causes this result is attributable, it cannot be ascribed to any defect in the measure itself, bat must proceed, as it appears to as, from a disregard of their own interests by a portion of the workpeople themselves. Our experience. however, en courages the hope that it will gradually disappear from among us, and give place to higher views with regard to their interests and duties as members of society. Indeed, we flatter ourselves that the time is not far distant when those public parks which have so materially improved the unitary condition of our city. when the free library, and those scientific and literary institutions which are so great an honour to their promoters, will become the general resort of the working classes in their leisure hours, to their physical, moral, and intellectual improvement. _ _ The Earl of Shaftesbury expressed his gratification at learning the good results of the measure which he had been instrumentitl in passing, and Lord Ashley afterrards briefly addressed the meeting. In the evening Lord Shaftesbury addressed the Young Men's Christian Association at the Corn Exchange, dwelling at spnie length upon the evils of what he termed diseased commercial activity, leading to that compe tition by which young men in shops were taught to make the worse appear the better article, and by which the customer was to be seduced in a variety of ways. He also referred to the evils arising from the too long detention of young people in shops and other establishments, lowering the whole phys' , Al system as well as the moral taste and appetite, while it increased those of an opposite tendency. A num ber of leading clergymen add other inhabitants also addressed the meeting. Ply ant Voila. AN INPORTANT CASE TO PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS was decided in an action, " Todd v. Hatton," tried at the City Sheriffs' Court on Tu.sday. It appeared the paintiff, a member of th e C o ll ege o f Phy s i cians o f Edinburg and a member of the College of Surgeons of Loodoo, sought to recover the sum of 16/., the balance of an account for medical attendance and medicines supplied to defendant's wife and daughter. For the defence it was contended that the plaintiff had attended as a physician, and not being a licentiate of the Apothecaries' Company, had no claim. The judge decided that the plaintiff had no right to d-2scrilve himself as a physician in this country when he was not so, and that under These circumstances he could not recover. THE HIGH SHERIFF OF THE NORFOLK CIRCUIT, Mr. A. Arcedeckne, was fi ne d 10 0 1 . on M on d ay b y t h e Chief Justice Jervis, for failing to provide the retinue as ordered by law to be ;n attendance on the judges. The Chief Justice alluded in strong terms to the Suffolk Shrievalty Association, formed for the pur pose [of diminishing the expenses of the office of high [sheriff, and said that the gentry who were liable to serve bad no right to atterurt to shift the burdens of their position upon the county. Lord Rentuker made an attempt at explanation ; but was n'Prilisod by tb, leaned judge, THE PRESS. CASES OF GROSS PO3T-OFFICE FRAUD were proved last week against the keepers of two post•receiving houses at Westhall and Tiverton, near Bath. Pre cautions were taken to detect the offenders, and the charge of stealing letters was fully brought home to to Sarah Corp, the postmistress at Westhall. The prisoner was fully committed. Louisa Kilson, the other prisoner, was charged with taking money in payment for postage-stamps to be put on letters, and putting old stamps on in lieu. The prisoner had rendered herself liable to '2O/. fine each time, but in consideration of her high character was leniently treated and fined only 11. and costs. WILLIAM PARSONAGE, late clerk in the employment of the London and North-Western Railway Company - , was brought up on Wectnesday at Liverpool charged with obtaining money under false pretences, and with forgery. It appeared that the prisoner's duty was to settle and invest claims against the company for damaged goods, and that he was charged with having availed himself of his position by paying away one sum and ent •ring another for his own benefit. Several witnesses were exantined, and the case was adjourned. A CASE or Dou-BITING was tried this week before Lord Campbell at Warwick. It appeared that the wife of the vicar of Aston, Mrs. Peake, kept two Scotch terriers called (appropriately) Pepp,:r and Mustard, which were notorious in the neighbourhood for flying at strangers and biting them. Several witnesses deposed to having been attacked by Pepper and Mustard. One had his trowsers torn—another was attacked behind, and four teeth went into his flesh—another had his leg bitten—and the particular plaintiff in the case, Thomas Emery, a gardener, was attacked by the dogs one day in the open road, and severely bitten in the ankle — Lord CAMPBELL: Let Pepper and Mustard be called. (A laugh.) The dogs were here placed on the table of the court. They were handsome dogs of the Skye and Otter breed. Lord CAMPBELL : Did the dogs come up, good•natured!y, as it were, to lick your hand ? Witness : Oh, no ; they came up and attacked me—they came like lions. (A laugh.) Mr. Cross, surgeon, proved that the plaintiff had been incapacitated from work by the bite. Mr. Sergeant Hayes, for the defence, reminded the jury that the defendant was charged with keeping dogs of " a savage and ferocious nature, ill s accus tomed to bite and injure mankind." To a certain extent it was their nature; for— Dogs delight to bark and bite And worry children too ; but the animals complained of had been brought into court, and certainly two more amiable and quietly disposed dogs he (the learned sergeant) had never seen ; for during the whole time they were wagging their tails, which was of itself rather contradictory of any sign of ferocity : - _ If from what bad been done these dogs were to be pro nounced ferocious, what was to become of the lathes throughout the country? They must at once get rid of their dogs ; and what would then become of the ladies themselves? They could scarcely go anywhere into pri vate houses or public parks, but they saw ladies with their lap-dogs ; and if, because a butcher's trowsers were torn on some one accasion, they were to call upon ladies to discard their favorite Skye terriers, what really would become of the whole female sex ? Several witnesses to the excellent character of Pepper and Mustard were called, but the jury re turned a verdict for the plaintiff, with 601. damages. Corrtspontuut. THE IRISH ATTORNEY-GENERAL. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir,—The articles which appeared in your paper on what may be called " The Sadleir-Keogh Party," have produced a great sensation in Ireland. They hive found a response in the hearts and consciences of men of all creeds and all parties. The scattered farts relating to that infamous clique have not, in deed, been unknown to the people of this country. But you have, just in the nick of time, with unrivalled skill, clearness, and impartiality, grouped together and summed up the conclusive evidence of their poli tical profligacy. And the remnant of that clique, and the Government it supports, now stand arraigned at the bar of public opinion awaiting the verdict of the country whose morality they have outraged and whose interests they have betrayed. You, sir, have ably traced the political career of Mr. William Keogh; but it appears to me that the public in England are not suffiziently aware of the professional standing of the man chosen by the Pre mier to fill the office of Attorney-General for Ireland. It is considered essential that the office of Attorney- General for England should be filled, not only by a political supporter of the Ministry of the day, but also by a man eminent in his profession. No one in England could be appointed First Law Officer of the Crown except a man whose learning and high cha racter had been exhibited In, and proved by, extensive practice, The tittnineVatiteral has other duties tg 299 perform besides supporting his party. He is the person whose duty it. is to advise the Crown, as occa sion may require, on all legal questions. He is the constitutional adviser of the Government on a range of subjects far wider than is generally supposed. Their adviser on matters absolutely requiring for their satisfactory solution and despatch great learn ing, sound judgment, and habits of business. Above all, he is the person generally selected to fill the highest judicial offices. What would be thought of any Government who should appoint to the office of Attorney-General for England a barrister of no eminence in his profession, scarcely known at any time as a practitioner at either the Chancery or Common Law Bar, at Dublin, and who had for years past deserted his profession to try his fortune in the House of Commons ? What would the legal professions or the public think of such an Attorney-General, or, if promoted to the Bench, of such a judge ? The answer to these questions is simply tins. That no Government would dare outrage public opinion by such an appointment. But what would be simply impossible in England under any Government, we now see before our eyes in this country, under Lord Paimerston's Administration. If for no other reason, on account of his legal inexperience alone, the existence of Mr. William Keogh in the o ffi ce of At torney •General for Ireland is a standing reproach to her Majesty's Government, and his elevation to the Bench would be a national misfortune. I well remember the feeling of universal amaze ment with which his appointment as Solicitor-General by Lord Aberdeen, and afterwards as Attorney-Gene ral by Lord Palmerston, was beheld in this country, alike by the public and by the legal professions. Called to the Bar in 1840, he had never risen into general business. Indeed, a period of six 3ears and a half is quite too short for any man, except of ex traordinary talents, to rise to eminence at so arduous a profession as the Bar. And yet it was for six tears and a half only that Mr. William Keogh gave regular attendance to his profession ; for after taking his seat for Athlone in 1817, he almost entirely relinquished any practice he had, though he continued to travel circuit. Formerly, in Ireland, when important idteres.ts were at stake, the parties concerned at one side or other were sure to retain the Attorney General, not because he was Attorney General, but because he was a great lawyer. Was Mr. William Keogh, either before or since he has been appointed Attorney-General, ever specially retained? I certainly never beard of it, and have been credibly informed that he never was. Nay, further. Li the ordinary course of his practice, in what great legal arguments did he ever distinguish hiinsell ? Men familiar with the legal profession answer—ln none. What important cases in the Dublin Courts has he conducted? To this also, we are told, the same answer must be given, that he has conducted none. Yet this is the gentleman her Majesty's Govern ment select to be Attorney General for Ireland, and, if they have the opportunity, whom they destine for the Judicial Bench. It was to create a vacancy for Mr. William Keogh that the Government supported the motion that sought to drive from the B-nch such judges as Chief Justice Lefroy and Baron Pennefather. Nothing could more plainly show the political ne cessities of the present, or of the late G ,veroment, than this appointment,—an appointment which is mildly described, in the words of Lord Eglington, me "one of the least reputable acts of the Government," —an appointment which now is bringing down upon its authors a just retribution.—l am, sir, your obe dient servant, As IRISH BALRISTER. Dublin, March 24, 1856. THE NATIONAL GALLERY.-THE "ADORA TION OF THE MAGI." TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS." Sir es I feel it incumbent on me to contribute whatever authority I may claim from twenty years' pursuit of art, ten of which were spent in Italy, to wards expo - sing the eisgraceful character of the last purchase for the National Gallery. I have no hesi tation in pronouncing the " Adoration of the Magi " a work of the lowest type of the Venetian school, and so damaged by what is called " cleaning," and by re painting, that even such slender pretensions to notibe as it may once have possessed are entirely extin guished. it is my deliberate conviction that the " Adoration of the Magi" is not aeserving of a place in the National Gallery. I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without re marking that the wasting of two thousand pounds of public money on such a work is a natural conse quence of placing the National Gallery under the control of threa such notoriously incapable men as Sir C. Eastlake, Mr. Wornum, and their German "travelling " adviser, Herr Miindler.—l remain, sir, yours obediently, At.rual STEVENS. 7, Canning•place, Kensington, Marolt 46, -A A