Star. — London, England, 1831-04-18 00:00:00

Rae Wile( n, who has from whose works we 1.;:t1 given formerly many extracts, has, in a most interesting wo►k on his travels over the Holy Lund and Egypt, last imblishetl, given the description of one among numerous markets, for the sale of our fellow-creatures, which he vi sited in the East, particularly one on an extensive scale at Grand Cairo, in Egypt. As this traffic, so revolting to the hest feelings of our nature, is now occupying the serious at tention of the Legislature, we are most happy, and exclu sively, in having the opportunity to present Mr. Wilson's description of this satanic custom of selling man to man, so diametrically opposite to the gospel, and which cannot fail to meet with the severest and justest condemnation, from every friend to liberty and to oppressed humanity : _ _ Revolting as the consideration cannot fail to appear to every mind, there is a market in Cairo, which has been long established, for the sale of be th texts of our fellow-creatures, who are obtained by the most un disguised rapine and atrocious frauds, torn from their homes and every endearing relation in life ; 5 a crime, which we learn from the earliest authority, was visited with capital punishment. I entered this shocking place with trembling steps, and under the most painful sensations I have at any time experienced. What man beholding this, And having human feelings, does not blush, And hang his bead to think himself a man ! Although I may attempt to give a description of those objects that, came under my view, yet no idea can possibly be conveyed of the heart rending scenes which occur within its accursed walls. In the first place, the spot set apart for this devilish traffic, is a large court leading from the principal street, in the form of a quadrangle, with a range of apart ments around, elevated about twenty feet from the ground, to which there is access by a staircase at one end, and a sort of platform or gal. Ivry is in front of these, not unlike the yards and accommodations far travellers at some of the inns in London, and especially that of the Bull and vomit. In these dens the slaves of both sexes are stowed, just like sheep in a pen, squatted on the ground, and who are turned out to intended purchase's. In one part I observed a Turkish female bargaining for the purchase of a girl, who was put Into different attitudes, having had been previously stripped entirely naked, for the purpose of exami nation, her joints, feet, and tongue inspected, and, after much nego. tiation, refused to be taken, and remanded to her hovel. A second was then turned out, whose fee t, arm-pits, ears; mouth, and tongue, were examined, just as a butcher:would feel a calf. Slave-dealers are better acquainted than others with the characteristics of perfect health, any detect as to which considerably diminishes the value of the object ; and even the want of a tooth makes a slave some mahomeds or pares less in point of price. In some of these confined holes I saw creatures of all ages, up to fifty years, in a state of wretchedness and nudity, altogether unexampled, huddled together like cattle housed in hovels, and who appeared to exult at being called forth and viewed by purchasers, under an idea that they would be extricated from captivity. Should they not appear cheerful, so as to excite tetemiun, and thus quicken a stele, they arc severely flogged. At the erd of the gallery leading to these holes sat the guardian of this recep tacle of woe, in whose obdurate heart there truly appeared to be not one particle of flesh. He was a moat tyrannical looking demon, seated cross-legged on the ground, smoking with great sang Jroid, and watch. irg with a keen eye for the arrival of buyers ; thus exercising an abso lute power never granted him by the Almighty Governor of this uni ver.e over fellow-mortals, who possess the same feelings as ourselves. —Gracious God, that men should belong to others. What, is it to be tolerated that human beings should be sold just as beasts of burden ? Are they, of the same common parents, formed by the same God, and redeemed by the precious blond of the same Saviour, to become the chattels of others, and does not Christianity instruct us that all men are brethren and one in Christ Jesus ? is this fulfilling the law of that exalted charseter,who was himself love, and doing to others as we wish them to act towards us, and loving our neighbour as ours. Ives! If we do love them, can we for one moment consent to make them bondmen ' and refuse to bring them into the glorious liberty of the children of Gon. Where can I find language sufficiently strong to express an utter abhorrence of what is an outrage on the first feelings of humanity, and so deeply cul pable in the sight of Him whose grand and chiefeat attribute is mercy, which extends over all his works? And is it not, I also ask, a most daring violation of the divine law, which is most pointedly directed against man-stealing ? Here am I led to mention a similar state of wretchedness and degrada tion to which our fellow-creatures are reduced in our colonies. These, it will be observed, are divided into two classes.—One is called crown colonies, subject to the legislation of the crown, containing 225,000; and the other chattered colonies, with their own legislation, having 580,000. Thus, at this very instant, are there, in the British posses sions, 800,000 human beings, the absolute property of their masters. Many of them are branded, like cattle. with a hot iron on the should ers, the initials of their owner, thus bearing about with them, in in delible characters, the proof of their debased and servile state; and their daily average labour throughout the year, amounts to the enor. mous rate of fifteen or sixteen hours. Further, their masters have an authority to punish them, by inflicting lashes on the naked body with a cart whip, an instrument of peculiarly smarting severity, which cruellylaces rates the flesh of the sufferer. Thousands ofchildren also are annually born slaves within the British dominions, to no inheritance but that of the hopeless service and oppression I have described ; thus swelling the above most frightful r.umber of victims who are retained in the same state of brutal depression. Again, these slaves are driven like cattle to toil under the impulse of the lash of a scorching sun. They are without the blessings ut the marriage tie, or the Christian sabbath, and totally excluded from those civil privileges to which, as British subjects, they are most unquestionably tetalcd. Such colonial bondsmen are in reality mere merchandise, since they are liable to be seized in exe cution fur their mute t! debts, like furniture in their house, and be sold by auction or otherwise. It often occurs that West India negroes of both sexes elope from their proprietors, whose severity they dread, and in their character advertised in the newspapers; the figures of naked negroes in full speed, with their shape, stature, countenance, and marks at the hot iron made on than, re given. Monstrum et horrendum ! Tell it not in Gash, nor proclaim it in Askalon." Now, I demand, where is a defence to be found by slave. dealers either in our own colonies, or cn one spot in the globe, to establish a title to the possession of their fellow -creatures, to inflict on them slavery, degradation. and torments revolting to human nature ? such a usurpation of authority. must be laid down by reflect. ing minds as contrary to all principles of justice, and to every sacred obligation. Those characters, then. I do brand with the epithet of public robbtrs ; and,l tearlessly declare to the world, that GOD created , the image of hinnalf not to be bought and sold as the beasts of the field, or fowls of the air, but for the purposes of freedom and happiness, and extends his arm towards them, that he may exercise unfettered the heavenly gift of tree will, and who will unquestionably visit with his I just and most tremendous vengeance and wrath those who would tree- I tenably dare to counteract his glorious and all wise intentions. But the time is fast approaching when the slave and his unjust and cruel owner must stand before the bar of the ALMIGHTY. I would therefore call upon British Christians to rouse themselves, and strain every nerve to tear up this vile and abominable plant of slavery in all directions, where it contaminates the earth, poisons the very air, since " life dies and death lives," and thus extirpate a sytem utterly , inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel, where children, torn from their parents, are groaning under the cruel yoke of bondage. Lct others, who view the human flesh-market at Cairo, tell in more forcible len- ; guage than I call utter, the tale of woe, and this public and gross out.: rage on sufferirg humanity. Viewing this awful scene of crime, which would have touched the heart of adamant, I often expressed a wish that some of those distin. guished individuals who have so nobly undertaken the grand cause of this unfortunate part of the human race, and raised their voice in the British senate against such monstrous traffic, bad been present, as they would then have had the most demonstrative evidence of that wretchedness and degradation it occasioned. On the whole, let toe again plead in the behalf of these unhappy beings, who are thus deprived of all human privileges, and express a most ardent and heartfelt hope that their case may be powerfully taken up by the enlightened and humane. Never will there be effaced from my memory an observation of one of the most enlightened and eminent statesmen of the age, " who, though dead, yet speaketh," and whose name will be kept alive in the imperishable page of history. "It was true that the spirit of the Christian religion was hostile to that unna tural state in which man became the property of man, as it was to every set committed against morality ; and the spirit of that religion required the ultimate abolition of slavery." In reference to such religion, it may also be remarked that the great apostle Paul, whom we profess to admire, was an enemy to slavery. Were not his writings decidedly hostile to, and personal eloquence thundered against it; who advo cated the tights of man founded on the book of inspiration, that God made of one blood all nations of men, proclaiming liberty to the captive, us among those things which are just and lovely. In conclusion, the tenets of the faith of the Egyptians, and as laid down by the Ratan, reprobate mankind for impenitence and hawlasto of heart, and running headlong and without remorse into evil, yet it Is xtraerdinary that they should go on in such scandalous Isms of bars batity, as if these matures were totally exempted from the cosanton lot of humanity. Further it is the observation o f an A ra bl e wr i ter , that " the slave is one restrained and deprived of the delight of freedom, but at the day of judgment his hands shall be liberated." In leaving • It is a curious fact, that amniing to Girsidus Cambrensia, at a general convocation of 9 the clergy in Ireland, in 1170, the calamities which the natives auffered were ascribed to their having been in the practices!' buying slam from England, pirtly stolen, and partly sold by their parents, and it was then ordained that all the English slaves in Ireland should have their liberty. Dffeount , 40r. , 1. OP 1-. Ni . v , ; - cSollii / , . . VI MI . ~. .,, 0 44 e 1 ~._, ... ,Alte , .... , r ft,traveller, Mr. % s.itell moat parts or the globe, and P' ~~., , 4 a subject so interesting and dear to every Briton, and in whose breast there exists one spark of humanity, I might exclaim— I would not have a slave to till my ground, To carry me, to fan me when asleep, And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd. Such being the deplorable case which exists in the capital of this country. let me, in the name of suffering humanity, justice, and every sacred principle, suggest once more to our most enlightened legislature, that those powerful measures, which are called for. be adopted to abo lish this accursed traffic in the East as well as the West, the most de grading of all ills of "bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh, so un na,enal and revolting to the feelings of cbristians, and diametrically opposite to every noble sentiment of charity and civilization. an act that would be extolled as righteous and most merciful."—Rae Wilson's Travels in the Holy Land, Egypt, 4c. just published. PANORAMA OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. COLCHESTER GAZETTE-APRIL 16. This paper contains an elaborate display of the voters in the late contest. The corporation influence prevailed in Colchester; but at Alresford, Bromley, Beryholt, Briton, Braintree, Bocking, Brightling sea, Clacton, Coggeshall, Doryland, Felstead. Hadleigh, Kelvedon, Messes, Nayland, Stoke, Southminater, Tendring, Tolleshunt, Wi tham, and Woodbridge, the voters were unanimous for the popular can didate, proving the astonishing spread of knowledge. At the quarter sessions held at Woodbridge, Suffolk, on Wednesday the 6th that, the following novel occurrence took place : Before any of the appeals were called on, Mr. Wood, jun, a solicitor at Woodbridge, rose to claim the indulgence of the court, and stated that he was pla ced in a very unpleasant and unexpected situation ;he had two short briefs, with each of which he had offered Mr. Pendergrast a fee of two guineas, who refused both unless he would pay a fee of three guineas with each brief. Mr. Wood then stated he had made a similar offer to NI r. Collyer, another counsel present, who had also re fused to accept the briefs with such fees, alleging that as they had been refused by Mr. Pendergast, he could not as under counsel underbid him ; that he, Mr. %Wood never, during the course of 1.1 years'prac tice, met with a similar refusal. The Court then asked Mr. Wood if he had offered the usual fee,when he produced seven briefs, upon each of which a fee of two guineas had been paid to different Counsel, upon Appeals made in this Court at former Sessions. and he Mr. Wood, thought he should be doing injustice to the two! parishes for which he was concerned unless he mentioned these facts to the court, and added, that it Mr. Pendergast could demand a fee of three guineas, he might hereafter demand a fee of ten, and there would 1 be no limit to such demands. Mr. Porter. a solicitor, said he was simi larly situated. Mr. Pendergast then rose and said, that he did nut wish to insult the Court, the Jury, or the audience in general, with any pri vate business between Alr.lVood and himself, and he would not occupy their time, as he thought they had nothing to do with what passed be tween counsel and attornies. The Court, without hearing hlr. Wood in reply, asked him whether he did not, under the circumstances he stated, apply for leave to conduct his appeals without counsel ? Mr. Wood stated that certainly was the object of his application ; and the Court, after retiring to consider it, returned and requested Mr. Wood to tender Mr. Pendergast In open court the usual tee of two guineas upon each brief ; which he 'did, and afterwards tendered the same to `lr. Collyer, who also refused it upon the same round as he had done be fore, a nd on their refusal, the chairman said it was the unanimous opi. nion of the Court that Mr. Wood should be allowed to plead in both the appeals. At the Essex Quarter Sessions, Anne Williams, laundress, was indicted for assaulting Sophy Hance, at Purleigh, on the 20th March. The proaecutrix, who is about 11 years of age, was called to the wit nesses box, but from the weakness and sufferings, she with difficulty ascended the steps. In a faultering voice she gave the following evidence :—" I have lived with Francis Williams, the husband of the prisoner, as servant, since Michaelmas ; the prisoner used to make me go without my dinner, and hide one with a stick; she used to make me take off my shoes and stockings before I made the beds; in the winter 1 used to go t' the pond when it was frown over, and wash flannel. On Sunday, the 20th March, the pri soner hided me three times with a large stick, while I was doing the stairs, because I did not sweep them fast enough ; I cried very much : she hit me on the back, and (said the witness, crying bitterly,) she made me gore all over. Elisabeth Jennings deposed, that she lived next door to the prisoner ; on the '2oth she saw the girl crying, who told her that her mistress had been beating her with her hands; she afterwards eryed, and called out "Oh pray, oh pray ;" had seen her washing of clothes in a pond during the frost. 111 reply to a question from the pri soner, Mrs. Jennings said, she had only once been a witness to her beating the child, which was at Christmas, when she used her bands only. William Smith, who lodged with the last witness, stated that on the 20th he was in a room over that of the prisoner, and heard the child cry as if she was in much pain ; the prisoner told her to go into the corner. Witness called to her not to lay on so heavily, and to remember she had children of her own; the prisoner did not reply. Mr. J. Thorp, sur geon, of Maldon, said he was called in on Wednesday, the 23d, to exa mine the child; he found bruises about her person, which he thought were from a kick, and not by a stick. The Court asked whether the child's intellect was perfecto The surgeon replied that it was, but she was rather childish. The prisoner, upon being called on for her de. fence, said she had two small children, and she hoped the Court would bemerciful to her. The girl was very false ; she was always stealing, for which she had slapped her at times : she had only beaten her for not being clean, and that was at the time mentionel by Mrs. Jennings. —Guilty. The prisoner was then indicted for assaulting Sophy Hance, on the 21st of March. The little girl, whose sufferings appeared to have in creased, stated, that on the 21st her mistress told her to make the beds; she then put on some water for her to wash the dishes; at four o'clock the prisoner kicked her on the thighs, which brat her down. [Here the child became quite affected, and cried aloud, as if suffering from great pain.] Her mother, who was present, endeavoured to soothe het, but her cries continuing with increased violence, she was taken out of court, and the case proceeded, the counsel relying upon substantiating the as sault from the kick, without entering into the charge against the pri soner of forcing the girl's hands into boiling water. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Toe chairman commented upon the cruelty of the assaults, and sentenced the prisoner for the first offence, to be impri soned four months, and, for the second, one month in solitary con finement. _ _ We do hereby protest against such adjournment as unnecessary, and rendering it impossible to conduct the business of the meeting with propriety ; and think it right to make the following declaration of our opinions of the measure before Parliament : to this declaration we in vite the signatures of such noblemen, gentlemen, clergy, freeholders, and other inhabitants, as may concur therein, who were not present at the said meeting : A declaration, in the usual strain, was then signed, by Lord Stop fotd, two or three baronets, fifteen or sixteen squires, forty clergymen, and about two hundred butchers, labourers, servants, and the like: Saturday evening last, a meeting was held at the Peacock Inn, in this town, to take into consideration the propriety of inviting Lieut.. Col. Maberly to become a candidate for this borough in the event of a disso lution of Parliament. Mr. W. Marshall, on the mother of Mr. Wil liams, seconded by Mr. Heatheote, took the chair, and finally a re quisition was proposed, and immediately carried. On Thursday eve ning, we understand it to have received 1,144 signatures. Tuesday last, Sir T. Denman, Attorney-General, passed through Kettering, in this county, on his way from Nottingham to London ; and as soon as his arrival was known, a meeting was called, which, though it took place at a moments notice, was attended by almost all the respectable inhabitants of the town. T. C. Gotch, Esq. being re quested to take the chair, a complimentary resolution was unanimously adopted. Wednesday, a meeting of the members of the late Whig Club, and of the late Patriotic Union, took place at the Ram Inn, for the purpose of forming a Society which was named the Northampton Consti tutional Union. Ranicausim—As the town.crier of Sleaford, remarkable for his facetious and dry manner of expression, was procuring signatures last week to a petition to the House of Lords in favour of Parliamentary Reform, an old Tory exclaimed," Why, George ! you old radical ! !" " No," replied honest George, " I was a radical for forty years, but now I am a loyalist; the King's turned o' my side." OXFORD, APRIL 9.—Yesterday, John Edward Walker, B.A. of Baliol College, was elected a Fellow of Oriel College, and Edward Ernest Villiers, Esq. B.A. of Merton College, Probationary Fellow of that Society. Northampton, Saturday.--Wheat, 725. to 745; Barley, 311. to 445; Oats, 24s to 30s ; Beans, 384 to 42s ; Peas, 57s to 435. MARKET HARDOIOI/011, Tuesday.—Wheat, 78s to 80x; Barley, 38s to 411.1 ; Oats, 251 to 30s; New Beans, 40s; Old Beans, Ms; Fine Flour, 625; Thirds, 575; Malt, 76.: Butter, 14d to lbd per lb. Eggs, 22 for Is. DAVENTRY I Wednesday.—Wheat, 70e to 87s; Barley, 34s to 41s; Oats, 25e to 30s. MARRIED.—Mr. Chessman, of Dorking Surrey, to Elisabeth, third daughter of Mr. John Sanders, of Wollaston.—Mr. Richard Harbert, son of the late Richard Harbert. El. Orimsbury, to Ann, eldest daughter of Mr. a. Cox, of Greens Nurtoo Mill, near Tower:stet. DERBY REPORTER. Ihe Derby grand Trie.mial Musical Festival, for the benefit of the general Infirmary, will take place on the 27th, 28th 29th, and 30th days of September next, and will be upon the usual grand scale. The public will be happy to hear that it is the intention of the committeee of management to engage the most eminent talent in the kingdom in both the vocal and instrumental departments. One of the most impor tant suggestions as it appears to us, is the gre at advantage to be derived purposes a o p t p t r h o e pr e i v a en tio i n ng o pe f the entrance hall o f our county courts to the We beg to call the immediate attention of all persons who have any claim to the freedom of thib borough to an advertisement, announcing a common hall on Saturday next. All persons that do not take up their freedom before the reform bill passes will lose it, if they claim it by birth or servitude. ------- Mr. Speakman, a farmer, residing at Galleywood Common, near Chelmsford, had a tine flock of down sheep and lambs, which were put into a fold near the Common, and were observed to be all right on Thursday evening, on Friday morning on going to the field, the most disastrous scene presented itself—the lambs were laying in all directions, some of them literally torn limb from limb. A great part of them were dead, but some of them were seen crawling about in a most hor rible state—their legs, &c. dragging after them, and their entrails pro. truding. It was found impossible to save one of them. Several of the sheep had also been attacked, but only two of them were seriously in jured, and it was found necessary to kill them. At the instant of going into the field, two dogs were observed a short distance from the sheep, but on seeing a person enter the enclosure they made their escape, and it could not be discovered to whom they belonged. A few days since, Mr. Alexander Chamberlain, of North Lapham, near Market Hailing, in Norfolk, was proceeding through the city, he was accosted by a well-dressed man, who entered into conversation with him, and so tar insinuated himself into Mr. Chamberlain's good graces, as to prevail on him to accompany him to the Kent and Essex Tavern, Whitechapel, where another man dropped in accidentally, and joined ' them. After the glass went round, and the badness of the times de plored, one of Mr. Chamberlain's friends said it would be as well to secure their money, and he eventually induced him to produce his pro. perry, when Mr. Chamberlain laid on the table two ten pound Norwich notes, two five-pound ditto of the Norwich Joint Stock Company, one ditto of the Dias bank, and several other country bank-notes for five • pounds and ten pounds, also thirty-five sovereigns, amounting in the whole to one hundred pounds. One of the sharpers proposed to de posit the same in.lllr. Chamberlain's fob, in order that it might be mole secure, which was acceded to ; but shortly after Mr. Chamberlain was ' left solos, he discovered that, instead of his hundred pounds, they had substituted some tissue paper and a lot of halfpence. Saturday last an inquest was taken at Bletsoe Falcon Inn, about five miles from Bedford, before the Rev. J. Leate and the Rev. W. Davis, Justices of the Peace, assisted by Mr. Nankin ' solicitor, on the body of Mr. Budd, the coroner for the county, which had been taken out of the river Ouse on the genre morning. It appeared that the deceased had been on the preceding evening to Blestoe to take inquisitions on the bodies of two persons, workmen employed in taking down an old building; a stack of chimneys fell down on them, and they were taken out of the rubbish quite dead. Mr. Budd had left the Falcon Inn on horseback the preceding evening, in company with hi s c l er k an d a person of the name of Walton. They all proceeded along the high road together, for about three miles, and on a sudden his companions missed him. They proceeded as far as Clapham toll-bar, and inquired if the deceared had been through ; and finding that he had not, they returned to look after him, without success. The next morning his horse was found in a field near the river Ouse, the saddle dirty, and the great ' coat buckled to it. Near Ahe river footmarks of the horse were dia. • covered, and also traces of footmarks, supposed to be those of the de ceased, near the spot where he was taken out of the river. The place near the river is very swampy. A surgeon was examined, who proved that there were no marks of violence on the body. The jury re turned " Found drowned in the river Ouse; but how the de. ceased got in the river, no evidence appeared." COLCHESTER MASEET, April 9 —Wheat had a very dull sale, but not considered cheaper. Barley much the same as last week, with a very scanty supply ;—White wheat, 74s to 78s; red ditto, 70s to 745; Barley, Sels to 44s ; Oats, 24s to 32s ; Tick Beans, 36s to 38s; Horse Beans, 388 to 425; White Peas, 38s to 44s ; Grey ditto Sis to 365. MARRIED.--At Bury, Mr. George Mirage, to Miss Anne Mary Lyon.—Mr. John Stevens, to Elisabeth, only daughter of Mr. Edw. Scott, both of ChelmsforL—Mr. James Barnard, of Nayland, to Mrs. Sir OswaldMO; ley, Ban. as chairman of the Staffordshire Sessions, has signed a petition to the house of commons, in behalf of the magis trates of the county, in favour of the bill for altering the law of settle ment by hiring and service, and praying that " such mode of settle ment may be entirely abolished, by which the expenses of vexatious appeals and many other evils resulting therefrom will be in a great mea sure avoided." A deputation of gentlemen waited upon Mr. Paget, at Humber stone, on Friday, and presented to him a beautiful and massive silver vase, in token of th e i r approbation of the bold and manful manner in which he denounced and opposed, at the late election, ducal nomination in this county, and the borouglimongering system in general. It is ornamented throughout with tasteful and elegant decorations, richly embossed and surmounted with a cluster of grapes; and vine -leaves, of the most exquisite workmanship. It beats the following appropriate and explanatory inscription : . of the Election for the County of Leicester, August, 1830, when 2,196 Voters, of which 1,600 were single ones, were registered in opposition to the united aristocracy of the county, at an expense of only 5001. this piece of plate is presented to Tuoteas PAGET, FAQ. or Husixasvoitz, their intrepid th ough unsuccessful candidate, as an inadequate testimonial of their respect for his private character, and their gratitude for his public services, in the name of the Independent Freeholders of Leicestershire. la consequence of the indisposition of Mr. Coleman and Mr. Oldacres, the deputation consisted of Mr. Birkley, Mr. Inett, Mr. George Coops, and Mr. Warner. We understand this costly tribute of respect was es. dre i let e rnished by,small individual contributions. is now Hying in a village near Trentham, Scafibrdshire, an astonishingly fine youth, Lis height being six fees seven inches and a half 1 be is proportionately robust, and in action displays wonderful Lucy Potter, of Thorrington-street.—At Lougbton, W. Matedid, Esq. muscular power. What makes these particulars more singular is, that of Tunbridge, to Harriet, fourth daughter of Wm. Browning, Esq. he has not yet reached his twentieth year. —Mr. John We considered. last week, the situation of the Continental pow ers, itenton, of the Hythe , to Miss Mary Ann Squirrell. DIED.—The Rev. John Walk er, WA Vicar of Hornchurch.— and we may again observe upon the reluctance with which the peewee Martha Anne, wife of Thomas A rcher, Req. of lay.—At Ipswich, government of France lends itself in any degree to the political agitati on Mrs. Russell, 82. , which the revolution of' last July has excited in other countries. Th e NORTHAMPTON MERCURY, APRIL 16. government of France has endeavoured to lay aside its revolutionary character, and it has succeeded so well in this object, that it is without Wednesday last, the meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of an . character at this county, convened by the Sheriff in compliance with a requisition r Mr. T. P. Cooke, so distinguished for the excellence of his perfo rm. which had been addressed to him for that purpose and of which notice aims I n t h ose spirit ed and impassioned pieces, generally classed tied" was given in our last, assembled at the County Hall, in this town. The the undefined names of meld-dramas, has presented the public of Derby, opening of the doors was succeeded by a clamour absolutely deafening, during this week, some interesting proofs of his powers in delineating amidst which the word " adjourn " was occasionally to be distinguish the pure, strong and simple impulses of unsophisticated human nature Some time was suffered to elapse before any attempt was made to cow. mence the business of the day, in the hope that the noise would ulti. in various deep, trying and impressive situations. , Woos.— There has been a great falling off in the demand f or wool and prices have declined, particularly in English wool. The ac count , miserly subside, and the discussion of the proposed question be suffered received from York represent the trade as at a stand still ; an d i ron. to proceed in an orderly manner. At length, further delay having been d e emed useless, Mr. Burton, the Under Sheriff, read the requisition in t he west o f England also the accounts are unfavourable. A few days ago, a soot of rhubarb just budding was remo ve d f ro , compliance with which the meeting had been convened, amidst increas ing noise, and cries of "adjourn.' the Depot Mill gardens to a tub filled with soil and placed in the en. gine-house. In five days it was found that some of the leaves had grown The Under Sheriff then attempted to read some letters, but the continued clamour rendered every word that he uttered totally inaudible. 2 feet 41 inches. Saturday last, the plain silk hose hands of this and the adjoining Sir W. Wake (who for some time acted in the absence of the Hcounty of Nottingham, returned to their employment at the old prices. r e Sheriff) said if the noise continued, he was determined to dissolve having been out a month. meeting, but every attempt to obtain a hearing was utterly fruitless, FISHING ron COMPLIMENTS." I really cannot sing, believe me, Sir," was the reply of a young lady to the repeated requests of an and the Hon. Capt. Spencer then moved an adjournment, which was seconded by Mr. Bouverie. empty fop. "I am rather inclined to believe, Madam," rejoined he The clamour still increased. and several fragments of wood, some with a smirk, "that you are fishing for compliments*" " No, Sir," upwards of two feet in length, (and one panel, torn, we believe, from excla i med the lady, .. I never fish in such „ham, stream." the wainscoting of the hall, nearly a yard in length and about half as Early on 'Thursday morning, the 31st ult. four thieves, with their wide) were thrown from the body of the hall towards the chair. Mr• faces blacked and their coats turned inside out, entered through a win. ,low the house of Mr. Charles Fielding, Croasgate, near Monism, i n Thornton moved that the meeting should be dissolved (several gentle - Longdendale. The inmates consisted of Mr. Fielding, his wife, and a n men declaring that there was still room in the hall for upwards of 200 persons) and was seconded by Mr. Carter. The confusion now became wed gentleman, who had gone thither the day before to reside in a pan . ' worse confounded',—the vociferation, and motions for adjournment jam house Mr. Fielding, who was awake at the time the thieve s became mingled with cries for &dissolution, and the mass of the people , broke in, opened his bed-room window and called out, " Thieves, m from the b od y of the hall, among whom were numbers of the lowest murder," but being several hundred yards from any other hous e , classes, rushed towards the chair. The upshot of the business was en no one heard him. The villains after effecting an entranc e proceeded up stairs, and one of them opened the bed-room door where adjournment to the Market Hill. We regret to add that on quitting the aged gentleman was sleeping, who immediately rose and present e d the ball Sir It. H. Gunning and several of his friends were grossly as saulted. a gun at the fellow, on which they all rushed into the room and took the gun from him ;they then compelled Mr. and Mrs. Fielding to go It was now raining heavily, and those of the noblemen and gentlemen into the same room and foreed them all into bed together, and covered who had opposed the adjournment repaired to the George Hotel, en them over head with the bed clothes; one of the villains stood over tered into a protest against the adjournment, and drew up a declaration them, whilst the others were plundering every room in the ho use . Th e y of their opinions of the measure before parliament, abstaining entirely from giving their attendance at the adjourned meeting. broke nearly one hundred locks and did considerable damage to the furniture. They turned every thing out of every drawer, box, ward- About three o'clock, a body of between two and three thousand pee. robe, and cupboard ; but it appea d their object was in search f mo sons having assembled on the Market Hill, Mr. Under-Sheriff Burton ney, sod in a box under Mr. Fielding's bed there was about 421. twenty addressed the meeting from the balcony of the Peacock Inn, as follows : six pounds ten shillings of which was the property of the old gentle -Gentlemen, I am dished by the High Sheriff to attend this adjourned meeting on his behalf, and which, from a recent and severe illness, he men, which they pocketed. They also stole one dozen and a half of sil. is unable himself to go through. I request, gentlemen, you will ver tea spoons, 2 table spoons, and some wearing apparel, b e sides b e d a dently hear every person who chooses to address you upon the hig hly and table linen. important question upon which you are assembled. At Chester assizes, Samuel Swainscow, 35, was charged with tieing at Mark 3lotnam, William Birchenough, John Rowbotbam, a nd G eo . The Sheriff has received several letters on the subject of it, which I shall proceed to read. Tomlinson, on the Bth January, with intent to kill and murder. All the counts in the indictment for the intent to kill and murder were in. The Under Sheriff then read letters from the Duke of Grafton, Lord Spencer, Lord Althorp, Sir George Robinson, and General Thornton. formal, and consequently bad; the prisoner was therefore charged with Sir firing at the parties with intent to do them some grievous bodily h arm . W. Wake, Mr. Bouverie, Lord Milton, at great length, Mr. V. Smith, Lord Pomfret, Mr. Otway Cave, Capt. Spencer, Mr. BulbuThe case was connected with the Ashton turn-outs. M. Mottram said l Lord Sondes, and Mr. Hill, severally addressed the meeting, and t that he was a cotton-spinner living at Newton, and in the employ of Mr. resolutions and petitions for the Reform Bill James Ashton. 4to the night of the Bth Jan. he was in the company o f were carried with sods - mations. the above named individuals, about half-past ten o'clock. They had been to Joseph Cashe's house, and when between his ho us e a nd Q ua li t y- The other party drew up in private, a counter declaration as follows : row, they met three men, who exclaimed, " 'Tian% five h u nd re d We, the undersigned noblemen, gentlemen, clergy, freeholders, and other inhabitants of the county of Northampton having this day at. we want, but four and two.pence." The words "five hundred" a ll u d e d to the 5001. which had been offered for the discovery of the murderer of tended a public meeting, convened by the High Sheriff of the county of Northampton, to be holden in the County Hall, for the purpose of ex- Mr. T. Ashton ; the "four and twmpence" to the wages which were 'messing our opinions upon the bill now in Parliament for the reform of demanded by the turn-outs. One oft he plaintiffs exclaimed, "three the House of Commons :—and the said meeting having, during more and nine-pence we think 'ill do." Upon which a pistol was immediately than an hour, been interrupted by clamour and turbulence, under pretence fired at them from over the shoulder of the middle man of the three whom of adjourning, in a dripping rain, to the Market Hill, although the spa- they had met. That man was the prisoner. The pistol was fired at a clout hall in which we were assembled was capable of receiving many distance of ten yards. The Judge stopped the case here to enquire if more than were present;—and the High Sheriff having thought fit to any evidence could be adduced of the pistol having been loaded with comply with the proposition for adjournment, although being in ill shot. The Attorney-General replied in the negative, and the Judge health he could not venture to preside at it, but deputed his Under then instructed the Jury to acquit the prisoner Sheriff:— . MARRIED.—The Rev. G. B. Blackleg, Curate of St. Michael's, -is Derby, to Mary, only daughter of Thomas Ilembaa, Eatts—Francois Louis Ruchonet, Esq. of Lausanne, to fiasawiaa, daughter of the late Benjamin Boomer, Esq. of Haworth HalL—Joshua Bower, jun Egg. of Leeds, glass manufacturer, to Miss Middleton, daughter of Richard Middleton, Esq.—at the Friends' Mecting.house, Castle Donington, Dr. Godfrey Howitt, to Phebe, second daughter of John Bakewell, both of Nottingham—George, youngest son of Robert Elliot, Esq. of Upper Gloucester.place, London, to Frances Elisabeth, third daughter of the Rev. Henry Hunt Piper, of Norton—at Roaster, Mr. Lath. bur). to Anne, third daughter of Captain Taylor—Mr. Gould, of Roy ston, near Bradbourn, to Miss Twigg, of Sandy Brook House, near Addiauss—Mr. John Pidcock, of Lonfoor, surgeon, to Grace, second irsighlor of Mr. Francis Coates, of 1 oulgreave—at Youlgruire, Mr. hoods Coates. to Ruth, widow of Mr. Ryley, late of Manchester. DlED.—Mary, aged 26, daughter of Mr. Edward Lowe.—Mrs. Wright, relict of the late James Fawcett Wright, Req. of Eyarn Hall —At Gloucester, Sarah, the wife of Mr. Thomas Davidson, surgeon, late of Breaston.—Mr. Thomas Bacon, 70. of Alderwuley.—At Bole hill, Murtha, 35, wife of Mr. George Buckley.—At Northalkvton, Mrs. Elgie, 100, relict of the late Mr. Matthew Elgie.—At Gonna. vern, near Ramelton, Ireland, Mr, William M'Veagh, 116. The Common Council have renewed their discussions about the forms of bankruptcy, and object to the Chancel lor's regulations. No member remarks, however, on the false principles of the system itself. If the object be to get debts paid—would not this be effected with ten times more certainty by arrangements between debtors and creditors, under more legal regulations, than by throwing the entire property into the grasping and wasteful power of the law. Why should a debtor, in fighting against the law which utterly ruins him, be obliged, in self-defence, to fight also against his creditors ? If a certain propor tion of creditors were enabled to settle with their debtor, 158. in the pound would be got instead of Is. and 10e. instead of 6d.—but the law in not denying the power of dissent to any one ill-conditioned creditor is itself the SOLE CAUSE of all the losses and misery of the system. The forms are of no consequence —it is the system which is in fault ; and it is the want of discrimination between cause and effect, which blames the Commissioners and the instruments. The Commissioners are to blame only for craftily opposing a plan of arrangement, which by diminish ing the number of commissions, would reduce their fees, thereby creating a public loss of £lOO for the sake of di viding II among their list. 111ARRIED. The 16th inst. at Christ Church, St. Marylebone, F. Rose, EsqL. pea, to Elisabeth Chapman.—The 16th inst. a t S t . James's, Pleat- . dilly, B. Driver, Bog. of Riehrnond.terraa, to Mrs. Burr, widow o f the late S. Burr, Esq. of Luton, Beds. DIED. The sth inst. at Kingston, Portsmouth, after a long and painful newt, Elizabeth, the wife of Major Alexander Stewart, late of the 3lst regiment, much regretted by a numerous family. The 18th inst. aged 64, Mr. Wm. Collins, of Durbam-street, Vaux hall —The 16th inst. Wm. Thompson, Esq. of the Stock Exchange, in the 70th year of his age.—The 18th Inst. at his bouts at Lee, Kent, J. R. Williams, Esq.—The 16th lost. Mr. J. Umphelby, of Skinner.street. Snow-hill, in the 41st year of his age.—The 15th inst. Catharine, second daughter of J. A. Du Bulimia, of Newington-place, CORN-EXCHANGE-THIS DAY. Wbeat,new,Kent, Easel 76. 78s Peas, Grey • Xs 40. Old . —s —s Beans, Small . . ges Cs Suffolk. (*bite) . 74. 78•1 Tick . . 32. Abs Norfolk & Suff. (Red), Ms 724 Oats, rotates . 26s 3h Rye • . 30s 34. Poland . 241 27 8 Barley, Mt 40s ..Fine 44e 48. Feed . . 22s 24s Peas, Wbite . 40. 42. I Moor, per sack, . . 05s es Boilers . . 45s 48s1 Rapeseed . £36 £3B per last asatesma. Wheat, English (qrs.) - 2,385 Barley, Foreign . Irish . - - —' Oats. English . Foreign - - - 05,813 Irish . Barley, English - - 2,730 ; Foreign - Irish - - - English Flour (sacks) • 18 4 11X 4,4111 1.934 7.983 SMITHFIELD-THIS DAY. CATTLII AT MARKET : Beasts, 2,B79—Sheep, 15,800—Pip,160--ealves, WO. Beef ....... 4. Od to 4. fld Pork Hatton .... 4s 4d Oa Od Lamb ..... —6. Od 74 041 Veal.. loa klld 6s Od Hay (per . al 15s. to An Os. Clover. £3 10s. to £3 3 s.— !tea*, An lei - Os. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW. Morning 7e. Ittee. I Afternoon Printed and habliabed by Joint MATINZ, at the STA'. Or►tcs, Na 1, Pickett.plme, Temple Bat. • BIRTHS. The 14th inst. at Darlington-place, St. John's 'Wood, the lady of J. Daly, Esq. of a son.—The 14th inst. at Blackheath, the lady of John Meadows White, of a daughter. ~~ x •i !~~ 1 ' 't .~ ~