The Sun. — London, England, 1827-04-13 00:00:00

LINT ASSIZES. WESTERN CIRCUIT-TAUNTON, ARIL 16. CROWN COURT. ♦TTIYPT OF ♦ HUSBAND TO POISON' HIS 'WIFE. /1 2 ;. Hockey was indicted for having feloniously administered to his wife, Mary Hockey, a certain deadly poison, with intent to murder her, at Hor sington, near Wincanton. Mary Hockey.—l am the wife of the prisoner, and have been married 17 years. On Monday the 12th of March he went off to work early in the morning. (The woman here seemed deeply affected, and a chair was brought to her.) He said he would return on Saturday evening; he returned on Tuesday evening at about half-past six o'clock ; I think he said he had dreamt I was ill; he behaved very well, very kind to me; he always behaved very well to me. (The Judge warned her, that however painful to her feelings, she must speak the truth, as she was upon her oath.) I cannot say that he ever gave me rough usage. We drank tea together ; he said he thought there would not be too much tea for my own break fast next morning. We went to bed about nine o'clock ; he rose about half-past six ; I got up at five, and sent my son to work about half-past five. I lighted my fire, and did what I had to do. I stayed up stairs about a quarter of an hour; when I had returned down stairs, the tea-things were put on the table. I dont believe there was more than one tea-cup on the tray. The lea-caddy was on the shelf, and the tea-pot on the table. I went to the shelf to get another tea-cup and saucer. He told me he should go to Frith to breakfast, for he considered there was not too much for myself. It was not his habit to put out the breakfast things, except I was ill. Ido not remember his having done so. My little girl is twelve years old. I was not in the room when the water was put in the tea-pot. I drank some of the tea. I asked him to have some: he told me he should go to Frith, and said he had some tobacco in his mouth. I had not drank any tea whilst he was there ; he stayed less than a quarter of an hour after I poured out the tea. I took neither sugar nor milk in my tea. There were sonic little bits of stuff sailing about on the top of the tea. I drank the cup of tea, and took a second cup afterwards. I found myself grow ill before I got up from the table. I found myself a very little ill after drinking the first cup. My daughter did net drink any of the tea. I spoke to my daughter about the tea. I looked into the bottom of the tea-cup, and saw something there. I did not know what it was; it was of a light colour. I was very sick afterwards, and vomited a good deal. I sent my daughter for some salts. I took them and after wards drank some mint tea. I was very ill, but did not know the cause. I went to William Chorley's, who was my neighbour, more than half an hour after I drank the tea. My daughter went with me. I had no great difficulty to get there. I took the tea-cup with me out of which I had drank the tea, with the grounds in it. I vomited after I took the salts, and at Wm. Chorley's house. I found my self very hot in my inside. My mouth was very hot. fremained at Wm. Chorley's house three or four hour s . Th ey sent f or Jane Wadman. There had been no disagreement between me and my hus band just before this time. Cross-examined.----There was no quarrel at this time between ;my husband and me. We had a great many mice in the house: My husband talked at one time of having some stuff to poison mice. Ido believe that some was had. I know it. I believe I did ask my husband to get out the breakfast things. I do not know whether my husband was out or not whilst I was up stain. I did not rinse the second cup. Ido not know if I did the first. There was only a very small quantity of tea. Nothing had passed before this between my husband and me to cause me to entertain any personal apprehensions from him. The witness was desired to withdraw, when she said—" My Lord, I hope you will have mercy on ray poor husband. He always behaved very well to me." JUDGE—Public justice, not individual wrong done t o you, is the ground of our inquiry. Mary Anne Hockey, a child of about 12 Years old, cried violently when put to the bar, aria whilst giving her evidence. The last witness is my mother; I got up that morning about seven o'clock. My mother was at breakfast. My father was going away. I had not been down stairs until I saw my mother going to breakfast. I emptied the tea-pot into the gutter. I saw some white stuff on the leaves. Jane Wadman examined.--I remember Mrs. Hockey's coming to Charley's house on Wednesday tnorning about 10 o'clock. She was sitting in a chair, very sick, vomiting very much. I observed in the tea-cup some lightish powder. Mr. Eastment examined.—l am a surgeon at Wincanton. I went to see Mrs. Hockey about 11 -" clock on the day in question. I f oun d h er vom i t i ng Il violer : s tly; she was complaining of extreme heat in and about the throat an d mou th. Sh e her stoina:' h : had a quatitn.,' of frothy saliva about her mouth ; her strength way ver y much depressed ; her extre mities cold. lam :.'ot aware of any thing likely to produce these effects but some violent mineral poison. A tea-cup was shown me by a woman of the name of Wadman. I experimented the next morning on the contents of the cup, and the impres sion on my mind was that it contained arsenic. Elizabeth Taylor examined—She had packed up a tea-cup in a piece of brown paper, for .Nlr. East ment, and delivered the cup to Mr. Eastment's ap prentice, at Wincanton, in exactly the same state as she had received it. The JUDGE said, justice would not be done if Henry Bernard were not called. Henry Bernard examined—l was at Russell's a f l e uggist, at Wincanton, on Tuesday, the 13th of March, in the afternoon. Mr. Francis Russell was there. - ---- Mr. BAYLY here observed, that the part of his brief which related to Mr. Bernard was not in its right place, and he did not observe it. The JUDGE said, that there was great carelessness manifested by those who instructed counsel. In deed, the attornies in this part of the country seem ed not to know what they were about. Winess resumed—l saw the prisoner come into the shop. I saw Russell take a bottle from the shelf, and weigh out a small quantity of white powder. I heard Russell ask the prisoner what it was for. Pri soner said it was for rats. Francis Russell examined—l am shopman to Mr. W. Russell, the druggist. I never saw the prisoner until the 13th of March; it was some time in the afternoon he came into the shop. I do not recol lect what he asked for. I sold arsenic that day once, if not twice. Cross-examined—We sell arsenic a great many times in the course of a week. Prisoner was there that day, end I sold arsenic, but whether he bought it or not I cannot say. Mr. Eastment recalled—Said he had applied three or four different tests, in order to discover if the contents of the tea-cup were arsenic. All concurred except one, for which he could account. (Described the tests used.) He was satisfied that the contents of the tea-cup were arsenic. The prisoner being called on for his defence, said he was quite innocent of the thing, and had always lived happily with his wife. Mr. George Fearn spoke to the prisoner's charac ter for 20 years, and another witness for two years. The Jury consulted for about 20 minutes, and re turned a verdict of Sot The JUDGE told the prisoner that he had had a very narrow escape. Although it could not be ob tained from the wife, who had evidently endeavour ed to screen him, and therefore it could not come before the Jury, it appeared on the depositions that he had been a most cruel and rough husband : that he had at one time left the country, leaving his wife behind him, and that since his return he had never treated her in a becoming manner. If the Jury had pronounced a verdict of guilty, his life could not l ia ve been saved, and he had better reform his con duct, and thereby prevent the possibility of an igno minious end. addition to the 210 prisoners on the calendar, there are about 230 in the different gaols of the county on orders. Most of them have been con victed of petty offences, and a great number are very young. It seems to be the general opinion that the alarming increase of criminals in this county, as compared with others, is, in a great measure, owing to the failure of trade, and the excessively low rate of the wages of labourers in agriculture. CIVIL SIDE—WzowEsDAY, APRIL 11. ACTION FOR LIBEL. Mr. HALCOMBE opened the pleadings. The plain tiff was Mr. H. Mackey, an attorney of Bath : the defendants, John and James Keene, proprietors and publishers of the Bath Journal. The libel imputed to the plaintiff that lie had acted injuriously and op pressively towards one Ambrose Child. To this action the defendants first pleaded " not guilty," and secondly justified, by stating that the statement was true. Mr. Sergeant WILDE for the plaintiff, stated that his learned friend Mr. Erskine had made a commu nication to him, stating that the editor had been se duced to an act, which he now felt to have been in judicious, by the affidavits of an interested person, and that he had no wish whatever, to injure the character of Mr. Mackey : but thought it was due to the interests of truth and justice, that a transac don of this kind should be brought before the pub lic. He was now satisfied that the charge against Mr. Mackey was untrue; and as his (Mr. Wilde's) client had come into Court to defend his own repu tation, and was neither influenced by vindictive feel ings, nor wishing to make a profit &at of the trans action, his ends would be satisfied by having stated publicly all the circumstances of the - Case, and the declaration of the defendants that they are fully sa tisfied of the falsehood of the letter. Mr. ERSKINE for the defendant stated, that the instant his Learned Friend had declared that the action was brought neither from vindictive feelin g s nor to obtain damage s , b u t th a t the sole aim was t h e vindication of his client's character in the face of the whole country, both himself and the defendants had felt that this was a very justifiable and proper feeling. He was now convinced that Mr. Mackey had been calumniated ; and he made this public de claration of such conviction, gave up the letter to enable the plaintiff to prosecute the author if he though tit, and engaged to indemnify him from pecuniary loss. _ - A juror was then withdrawn; Mr. Justice BURROUGH commended the plaintiff for bringing the action to defend his own character, which he had now completely done, and the de fendant had acted with equal propriety in the course which he adopted. The conduct of both was ex cvedingly proper, and Mr.Mackey went out of Court quite clear of every thing like imputation. GLOUCESTER, 'WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11. CROWN SIDE. Leonard Jones was indicted for uttering false and counterfeit money to Sarah \Vhitchurch, on the :3d of February, at Beachley, in Tidenham. The Jury immediately found the prisoner guilty. Mr. Baron VAUGHAN—I am much afraid that you are not a purchaser, but a maker of this base and counterfeit coin. I have no discretion in your punishment. The law adjudges, that for this your first offence, you be imprisoned in the Penitentiary, and kept to hard labour, for six months, and find sureties for your good behaviour for the further term of six months. CIVIL SlDE.—tsuts v. mouse, &e. Mr. GODSON—This is an action of assault and false imprisonment. The defendant has pleaded the general issue. Mr. PHILLIPS—The plaintiff is, and has been for many years, a butcher at Thornbury, where he has always lived in good repute and estimation. The elder defendant is a farmer, the two other defend ants are his sons. They had dealings together, and in September last the plaintiff purchased some sheep of tile elder defendant. Shortly after this purchase the defendant thought fit, most wantonly, to accuse the plaintiff of stealing one of his sheep, and in the most public manner he with his two sons surround ed the plaintiff in the inn at Thornbury, and with out any reasonable ground, or any warrant for the purpose, seized him aed took him into custody upon that accusation. They soon relinquished their charge, but the plaintiff has been in a desponding stare of mind ever since. He had always bore a most excellent character, and was known to ha'f the magistrates of the county, and for the preservation of his character, which has been thus wantonly at tacked, he now comes before you. William Willshire examined by Mr. GODSON.— The plaintiff has been a butcher at Grovesend, in Thornbury, for the last twenty years. On Thurs day, the 28th of September, I was at New-inn, Thornbury. The plaintiff and several others were in the kitchen there. Farmer House and his two sons came in, and all the three collared and seized the plaintiff. House said, " The butcher has stolen my sheep : he has been a sheep-stealer all his life." In about ten minutes' time they let him loose. The plaintiff tried to get up before then, but could not, they held him fast. The defendants produced no warrant. Verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 2UI. SPECIMEN OF MR. CANNING'S CONVERSA TION.—Mr. Wentworth's energy moved his hearers, and even Herbert, who was too classical not to be shaken by these arguments. " Still, however," said the latter, "we admire, and even wish to emulate Camillus, and MiWades, and Alexander; a Sully and a Clarendon." "Add a Lord Burleigh," replied the Minister, "who, in reference to Spenser, thought an hundred pounds an immense sum for a song Which is now most thought of, or most loved? the calculating Minister, or the poor poet ? the puissant treasurer, or he who was left "in suing long to bide Sir George and De Vere, considering the quarter whence it came, were delighted with this question. The doctor, was silent, and seemed to wish his great friend to go on. He proceeded thus :—" I might make the same question as to Horace and Mecienas; and yet, I dare say, Horace was as proud of being taken in Maczenas's coach to the capitol, as the Dean of St. Patrick's, in Oxford's or 80.. lingbroke's, to Windsor. Yet Oxford is even now chiefly remembered through that very Dean, and so would per haps Bolingbroke, but that he is an author, and a very considerable one, himself. We may recollect," continued he, " the manner in which Whitelocke mentions Milton —that " one Milton, a blind man," was made secretary to Cromwell. Whitelocke was then the first subject in the state, and lived in all the pomp of the seals, and all the splendour of Bulstrode ; while the blind man waked at early morn to listen to the lark bidding him good morrow at his cottage window. Where is the lord keeper now ? where the blind man ? What is known of Addison as Secretary of State? and how can his excellency compare with the man who charms us so exquisitely with his wri tings? When I have visited his interesting house at Hilton, in Warwickshire, sat in his very study, and read his very books, no words can describe my emotions. I breathe his official atmosphere here, but without thinking of him at all. In abort there is this delightful superiority in literary over political fame, that the one, to say the best of it, stalks in cold grandeur upon stilts, like a French tragedy actor,—while the other winds itself into our warm hearts, and is hugged there with all the affection of a friend, and all the admiration of a lover. " Hear, hear," cried Sir George ; which was echoed by De Vere, and Herbert himself. " This is very good," said Sir Herbert, looking at him with great keenness in his small black eyes —" and we are to understand, therefore, that you would have been happier in the pursuit of letters and philosophy than of power. You would, no doubt, prefer, like Waller, ' All on the margin of some flowery stream, To spread your careless limbs ;' rather than like Sliakspeare, in a storm, ' To look abroad from some high cliff, superior, And enjoy the elemental war.' " " I know not," said Wentworth, " but among friends I may say, that though I have pursued, and, as some think, ob tained power, I have not been the happier for it." All were struck with the emphasis which he laid upon the words, " as some think," and each looked at the other with a significance which seemed to say, more was meant than meets the ear. He perceived it, and in rather a hurried manner returned to the subject. " With regard to my self," said he, " I repeat, among friends, that the glare we all live in is not what I should say was real happiness ; though, like drunkards, few can quit their acquired taste. I trust, however, I could return to the shade at an hour's warning, and find a repose far from the gaze of men, more gratifying than in buffeting and being buffeted as we are, although victory be the consequenm"...De V ert. LITERATURE. VIVIAN GREY.—VoLs. 111., IV., ♦rm V. The two former volumes of this novel, were distinguished by the boldness and rapidity of their conception—the personality of their satire, and their piquant smartness of style. They had all the usual faults of youth about them—its rash estimate of human nature—its hot and hurried spirit—its self-sophistry—its reckless audacity ; but mixed with these, were germs of excellence, that promised at no distant date to ripen into a successful maturity. This promise, to a_ certain extent, has been fulfilled in the pre sent volumes. There is a greater maturity of mind about them—a more temperate and enlarged portraiture of character—and, what is still more satisfactory, less of that coxcombry and perpetual ' display of fashionable life, which gave such ge neral disgust in the preceding sketches. Vivian Grey, having luckily ceased to be a monster, is now content to become a man. He has conde scended to look upon his companions with an eye of equality, and even to fall in love, which, from so pert, precocious, and unfeeling a politician, is really a very great condescension. But though he may have fallen in the estimation of his author, by having thus degraded himself, we think him not only improved, but even exalted by the humiliation. We have no sympathy (be cause we cannot understand them) with these very extraordinary intellects—these prose Don Juans—who affect to stand apart from their fel low creatures ; we cannot forget that the master spirits of our literature—our Milton, Shaks peare, Scott, and Burns, reduced even their worst characters to the level of humanity: that Milton made his Satan susceptible of remorse— that Shakspeare's Richard felt one lingering touch of penitence when fancy shadowed forth his crimes—that Scott's Serjeant Bothwell, de spite his bullying ruffianisM, died with the love letters of the gentle Alice in his pocket,—and that even the Devil, in Tam o' Shanter, was a sociable well-disposed sort of fiend. It remain ed with Mr. d'lsraeli, nobly disdainful of those inferior minds, to make his Vivian Grey a monster; and having exhibited him long enough in that capacity, to change the entertainment, and reduce him to the level of a man, in which humi liating capacity we now proceed to discuss his merits. At the opening of the 3d volume we find him at Frankfort, where he meets with a certain Baron Von Konigstein, an agreeable mixture of the politican and the pick-pocket (we, beg the Baron's pardon, gambler, we believe, is the gen tlemanly term) whom be accompanies to the Baths of Ems. At this place Vivian meets also with two English ladies, one of whom, Lady Madeline Trevor, is described as being uncom monly beautiful and moral ; while the other, Miss Violet Fane, is slim, sentimental, con sumptive, and so forth. With this last, our hero, as in duty bound, makes all possible haste to fall in love, and would, we really believe, have been successful, had it not been for the awkward circumstance of her dying just at the moment of acknowledgment. From Ems, Vivian sets out on a sort of rambling tour through Germany, where in the midst of an extensive forest, he chances to light upon a set of Bacchanals, whose drunken orgies, as he himself witnessed them, is described with amazing spirit and richness of effect. Escaping from these tormentors he jogs slowly onward, accompanied by his servant Essper George (a half-witted nondescript), and contrives by good luck, to rescue the German Prince of Little Lilliput, who chanced to be out hunting at the time, from the fangs of a voracious wild boar. By him he is warmly befriended ; invited to his Castle ; introduced to a Barc.astie man of the world, Mr. Sievers (a well-conceived character), and finally persuaded to accompany the Prince on a visit to the famous German Diplomatist, M. Beckendorff. An admirable detail is gives! in this interview of the Minister's peculiar eccen tricities. He is a humourist, it seems, as well as a politician ; and, though strictly private, even parsimonious, in his mode of life, is supposed to be the most powerful of Continental Ministers. By means of this gentleman our hero is ushered into public life at the Court of tls, Grand Duchy of Reisenberg, where, for the second time, he falls in love with a young lady, who, agreeably to the good old novel receipt, turns out to be a dis guised Princess—no less a character, in short, than an Archduchess of Austria. She requites his tenderness ; but unluckily, at the moment of confession, the parties are surprised by that old fox Beckendorff, who gives Vivian a passport, and compels him, within twenty-four hours, to quit Reisenberg for ever. Here terminate the chief incidents of the novel : there is to be sure a thunder-storm, in which our hero and his unwearied servant, Essper George, are caught ; but as it possesses no marked peculiarity, we dismiss it with this brief mention. The characters now demand our notice, among which Beckendorff stands pre-eminent. There is indeed a vivid reality about this personage, which renders it difficult to suppose it fictitious. The alternate mixture of shrewdness .and eccentricity, the sly but subdued humour, the calm decisiveness with which the minister is invested, betoken the art of a master. Lady Madeline Trevor, on the other hand, is a downright failure. She is described as being highly moral in her notions, yet chooses as her dearest friend, the man whose chief re commendation to that character consisted in the fact of his having made her dishonourable pro posals. This may be very fashionable, but it is very false sentiment, and reminds us of a remark we heard made the other day at a party, where a Baronet's wife was described as being " all soul," which same wife nevertheless eloped next day with her footman, a fellow with about as much " soul" in his composition as a baked leg of mutton. To resume, the character of Vivian Grey himself we have previously described ; that of his friend, the gambling Baron, is • more objectionable. He is, forsooth, not merely a gambler, but a man of the most refined sensibility, a little neutralized, perhaps, by his invariably playing with marked cards.— For our own parts we think bins far less senti mental than a man at the tread-mill. The Prince of Little Lilliput is an infinitely better-conceived character. The perpetual struggles between his pride and prudence are inimitably told, especially the detailsof his interview with Beckendorff, and subsequent acceptance of office under the Grand Duke of Reisenberg. With respect to incident, we would point out, for particular approbation, the detection of Baron Von Konigstein's disho nesty ; the drunken orgies in the Forest ; the Ball at Reisenberg, and the love-scene between Violet and Vivian. The following extract from this last is, imbued with a high spirit of chivalrous generosity and, when uttered by a man of even tolerable address, would instantly find its way to the heart of a woman were she as cold as the North Pole. We give it for the gratification of young ladies : cannot speak —My face burns with I taaw am c ov ; er l w h h a e v lm e culated gry atrogth of nand._,, perhaps my physical strength ; what, what must you think of me ?" She spoke in a low and smothered voice." " Think of you, Miss Fans ! every thing which the moot devoted respect dare think of an object which it rever ences. Oh ! understand me ; do not believe that lam one who would presume an instant on my situation—because I have accidentally witnessed a young and lovely woman be trayed into a display of feeling which the artificial forms of cold society cannot contemplate, and dare to ridicule. You are speaking to one who also has felt ; who, though a man, ha.s wept ; who can comprehend sorrow ; who can under stand the most secret sensations of an agitated spirit. Dare to trust me. Be convinced that hereafter, neither illy word, nor look, hint, nor sign on my part, shall you feel, save by your own wish, that you have appeared to Vivian Grey in any other light than as the accomplished Miss Fane, the idol of an admiring circle." " You are too, too good—generous, generous marl, I dare trust any thing to you that I dare trust to human being. s s On the whole, we may safely recommend this novel as a work of very superior merit. Its style is elevated and gentlemanly ; its diction elegant, sometimes, but not often, energetic ; it 9 humour pleasing ; its descriptions (particularly two of sun-rise and sun-set) vivid, striking, and we have no doubt, correct with respect to loquacity. MUSIC. Dzux COTILLONS, OU VALSES F/CURES POUR LE PIANO FORTE, PAR MARIE SZYMANOWSKA....—If these Cotillons or Waltzes have not all the freshness and vivacity of some similar movements, they are free and pleasant in their style, their passages flow out of each other, and pro duce (what, in our judgment, constitutes no inconsiderable merit) a connected and uniform effect. In a word, they are pretty much, if not wholly, what they were intended to be—agreeable frivolities--and hold no mean rank among compositions of the lighter description. Musmtn's 47th SET OF QUADRILLES, AS PERFORMED BY MESSRS. COLLINET, MICHAY, AND MUSA RD, COMPOSED AND ARRANGED FOR THE PIANO-FORTE, BY P. Musann. —These Quadrilles, which are here accompanied with a flute part (ad. lib.) are founded on certain movements in Rossini's Opera of Maomatto, and have been introduced at Ahnack's, the Argyll Rooms, and Nobility's Balls, &c., where their reception has been highly favourable. The themes are certainly selected with judgment, and serve the purpose to which Mr. Musard has applied them, as well as any that we are aware he could have selected, either from Rossini, or any other composer. In addition to the advan tage of the chosen movements being so easily convertible into dances, they are both pleasing in themselves and vari ous as compared with each other, all which are points too recommendatory not to render them popular. CORONERS' INQUESTS. Yesterday evening an inquisition was taken in the Board room of Guy's Hospital, in the Borough, before Ttiomas SHELTON, Esq. the Coroner, on view of the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Pallet, aged 32, whose death was currently re ported to have been occasioned by the ill-treatment of her husband. William Winch, of No. 13, Fishmonger-street, Borough, carpenter and undertaker, deposed, that the deceased was his wife's daughter, by a former husband ; about eight years back she married Mr. Pallett; soon after the mar riage the deceased was shamefully neglected, and not un frequently beaten in the most violent manner. The de ceased was the mother of four children, who also 'expe rienced at times their father's severity. About a month back the deceased complained to witness that her husband was in the habit of going out whole days, and not leaving any money to procure necessaries for herself and children. The deceased also complained to witness, that a few days previous lie had dreadfully ill-used her by striking her over the head, and kicking her in the bowels and limbs. Wit ness is of opinion that the deceased's death was caused by the cruel conduct of her husband. Margaret Winch, wife of the last witness, could swear to the cruel treatment that her unfortunate child had re ceived from her brutal husband for the last six or seven years. About a week previous to the deceased going into the hospital she came to witness's house in the most pitiable state, both her eyes were blackened, and her poor body bruised all over ; she told witness that she was sure she should die; that her husband had beaten and kicked her most dreadfully the night before, and that she felt excessively ill in consequence; witness went home that evening with her daughter, who was taken very bad and miscarried. The witness concluded her evidence by saving that she was sure her unhappy child had fallen a victim to her inhuman husband. Several other witnesses were examined, all of whom spoke as to the uniform cruelty the unfortunate deceased •zperieneed from the hands of her unnatural husband. Mr. W. Smith, one of the house surgeons of the Hospi tal, deposed that the deceased Will admitted on the Sd of April, with a cancer on the left breast ; she was properly treated for that complaint, and was going on well ; on the following day (4th) she was seized with violent pains in the abdomen, which continued without intermission, and ulti mately brought on inflammation, which terminated her existence on Tuesday, the 10th. Her death was caused by the said inflammation, which, opening the body, was found to extend over the liver, spleen, &c. Juror—Were there any external marks of violence on the body ? Witness—There were bruises on the thighs and legs. Coroner—Would external violence have brought on in flammation of the abdomen ? Witness —Certainly it would; but the inflammation might have arisen from natural causes. Coroner—Did the deceased:dt;ingthe time you attended, complain of any ill-treatment she had received? Witness—She did. Her general conduct denoted her to be a very unhappy woman. The Jury, after consulting some time, took a second view of the body, mad on their return, brought in a ver dict—" That the deceased died from inflammation of the ab domen : but whether the said inflammation was caused by the brutal usage of her husband, or from natural causes, the jury have no evidence to prove." Au inquisition was on Wednesday taken before TuomAs Hices, Esq., at the Hospital for the Grenadier Guards, in Rochester-row, Millbank, on the body of Joseph Carter, a private in the 34 battalion of Grenadier Guards. The ease excited considerable interest, in consequence of a re port which had gone abroad that the deceased's death was occasioned by virus introduced into the system by a foul lancet used in bleeding him. The hospital, it appeared, was founded, and is wholly supported by the voluntary contributions of the officers of the Grenadier Guards. George llardy, a private of the 9th company of the 3d battalion of the Grenadier Guards was a patient in that hospital. The deceased was a patient in the same ward with witness. About twelve days ago he told witness "he thought he had been bled with a foul lancet, and had tak e n harm." Witness asked what a foul lancet was, and he replied, "I hope you may never know." The following I I day the deceased was moved into another ward, and wit ness never saw him afterwards. Edward Boyce, a private of the 10th company, same battalion, wag told by the deceased that he had been bled, as be believed, with a foul lancet. _ Mr. John Harrison, one of the surgeons of the said Hospital, attended the deceased, who on his first admission laboured under an inflammatory attack on the chest. He was discharged cured, but returned on account of his arm, which was inflamed ; but the orifice of the puncture made by the lancet was not festered, which it would have been if infectious matter had been introduced by the puncture. His arm in a few days became quite well, when symptoms of typhus fever presented themselvee, which increased rapidly, and the deceased died of the fever on the 4th inst. Witness does not consider the inflammation of the arm had any connexion with the fever which followed. The Jury expressed themselves satisfied, and returned a verdict, finding that the deceased died from an attack of typhus fever. HEART RENDING OCCURRENCE. -- At Blakely, on the 2d instant, an old Woman, named Sarah Whitelegg, upwards of 70 years of age, in attempting to put her husband to bed, (the old man being very infirm, and approaching his eightieth year), by scrne accident set her clothes on fire. Her husband being too feeble to rende r her any assistance, th e poor old creature was so dreadfully scorched before the neighbours came to her assistance, that after enduring indescribable agonies for six days, death put a period to her sufferings.—Manchester Herald. SHOCKING CIRCUMSTANCE.-011 Tuesday, as two persons, named Sau n d e rs, (uncle and nep h e w), w ere at work in a fi e ld, i n th e parish of Most er ton, near this town, some words ha v i ng arisen which induced the uncle to strike his nephew, he, watching an opportunity, str uc k his uncle so v i o l en t a blow With a hook which h e was using, that it b ro k e se veral of his ribs and entered hi s body. The circumstance was witnessed by a per son work ing in the same field, and the poor man was t a k en h ome . Medical assistanc e was immediately sent fo r , b ut we are sorry to learn there are no hopes of the uncle's surviving. The nephew, who is a bout sixteen years of age, is in cus tody...l)onm chronicle. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, HOUSE OF LORDS, APRIL 12. The Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Shaftesbury, and Lord Bexley, as his Majesty's Commissioners, gave the Royal Assent to the Costs on Distress Bill, the Promissory Notes Bill, and several other Bills, public and private. The Bishop of EXETER presented two Peti tions from Parishes in Cornwall, against granting further concessions to the Catholics. Mr. Johnson presented the Fifteenth Report o the Commissioners of Public Accounts in Ireland. Mr. Crafer presented the Returns ordered relative to Sheep and Lambs' Wool imported between July 182.5, and Jan. 1827. A Gentleman from the East India Company pre sented a Copy of the Resolutions agreed to by the Board of Directors, relative to Pensions and Gratui ties, pursuant to Act of Parliament. __ The Passage Vessel Regulation Bill went through a Committee, and several Private Bills were for warded one stage. The Marquis of LANSDOWN presented a peti tion from the Roman Catholic and Protestant Inha bitants of Glasgow, in favour of the Catholics. The Noble Marquis also presented a Petition from the Protestant Dissenters of Liverpool and its vicinity, praying their Lordships to take the Corporation and Test Acts into their consideration. On the Motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, their Lordships then adjourned till Wednesday, the 2d of May. HOUSE OF COMMONS, APRIL 12. • The Speaker entered the House at half-past three, and at a quarter to four o'clock the House was sum moned to the House of Peers, to hear the Royal Assent given by Commission to several Public and Private Bills. During the Speaker's absence the House pre sented a very unusual appearance; there were a great many Members present, all of whom stood in knots, on the floor, and appeared most anxiously en gaged in conversation, evidently upon some interest ing subject. The Speaker having returned, announced his hav ing witnessed the Royal Assent given to several Bills in the usual form. Mr. HUME said it would be recollected that he presented, on the 29th of November last, a Petition from a person named Taylor, one of the Christian Evidence Society, praying that he might, in taking oaths, be allowed to swear by the works of nature ; Mr. Taylor had since declared that that petition was a forgery, and was written in the same hand with some hundreds of letters which had reached him from various quarters. He (Mr. Hume) had, in the course of November, promised to present a petition from Mr. Taylor, and in a few days after he received this forged petition, with a note, pur porting to come from him, stating that he was going out of town. This threw him (Mr. Hume) entirely off his guard, arid he presented the petition as genuine. Mr. Taylor had also complained of a letter which appeared in the Times newspaper of February 26 (and purporting to be from Taylor's brother), in which lie was grossly assailed. That letter, Taylor also declared to be a forgery. He now presented a petition from that person, who denied the expressions imputed to him, but admitted that he was a Deist. If the author of those forged letters should be dis covered, he (Mr. Hume) would take care to have him called to the Bar ; in the meantime he had only to move, " that the petition be brought up." The petition was brought up and read; but on the question that it be printed, A Member under the Gallery (Mr. G. ROBIN SON, we believe) objected, and Mr. Hume did not press the question. COUNTY OF GALWAY ELECTION. Lord FORBES brought up the Minutes of Evi dence taken before the county of Galway Election Committee. Mr. S. RICE expressed a hope, that in the event of any inquiry being instituted, it would not be to the punishment of the past, but the prevention of such outrages in future.—The Evidence was ordered to be printed. COUNTY OF MEATH ELECTION. Mr. R. COLBORNE brought up the report of the county of Meath Election Committee, in which they prayed leave to adjourn to the Ist of May, in order to give the parties time to prepare lists pre paratory to the appointment of a Commission to ex amine persons in Ireland.—Leave given. ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. Mr. VAN HOMRIGH presented a petition from Drogheda, praying an extension of the Elective Franchise. DISTRESS (IRELAND). Mr. G. 0. MOORE presented a petition from the Mechanical Operatives of Dublin and its Vici nity, complaining of distress, and praying relief. SHIPPING INTERESTS. Captain GORDON presented three petitions from the Shipowners of Peterhead, Leith, and Aber deen, complaining of the present state of the Nevi gation Laws. RELIGIOUS DISQUALIFICATIONS. Mr. W. SMITH presented a petition from 1,200 Protestant and Catholic Inhabitants of Glasgow, praying the removal of all disqualifications on the ground of religion. IMPORTATION OF CORN. Sir A. GRANT presented a petition from the Hundred of Willingdon, in Sussex, praying for pro tection against the importation of foreign corn. DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE. ' Mr. HOBHOUSE presented two petitions; one from the Cotton-weavers of Manchester ; and the other from a similar class of persons, in another dis trict in the same county, complaining of distress and praying relief. EDUCATION OF THE POOR (IRELAND) Mr. lIOBHOUSE presented a petition from the Roman Catholic Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of Ferns, praying for Funds for the Education of their Poor. CORN—MALT—SPIRITS. On the motion of Mr. CURWEN, a variety of Returns were ordered, relative to the Importation of various kinds of grain, the c onsumption of hops, and the quantities of spirits distilled in the three king doms last year. MR. CANNING FIRST LORD OF TUE TREASURY. Mr. WYNN moved that a new W r it b e i ssue d for the B orou gh of Newport, in th e room o f t h e g, th w e ho T i r i e a a d su a r c y c . e_pt ( e L d o t u il t e i House.)—The writ was c ß Chief t s c l f r i oo o rnm n m . u G ios teshioorstg,i des op f n t n ho i l e ; ordered. THE ADMINISTRATION. Mr. WYNN moved that the House at its rising s h ou ld adjourn to Tuesday, the Ist of May. Mr. TIERNEY rose amidst the greatest confu sion, and said, that before this proposition was put to the Vote, there was one question which he wished to ask. He thought it was impossible for the public affairs to go on much longer in this way. It had hadbee n s a b d o m w i n t t e g r d e t a o t h f i o m r b a ear fortnight ane e the f orma ti on o f a new Admini s t rat i on ; and, he thought, th a t if that forbearance sh ou ld now be car ago, th at t h e House upon th e q uestion of car ried any further, it would be highly improper. It was now more important than ever that the question he had before put should be answered. All the Mi nisters had now gone away, except one, who, they were now told, had accepted office, and upon this single piece of information the House were called upon to give up their functions for the space of three weeks. He had no inclination to embarrass the Administration, or to throw any impediments in the way of the arrangements that might possibly be in progress. But he must say, that it was extremely reasonable for him to inquire what progress had been made, before the House agreed to any further ad journment. It seemed to him that the object he had in vier. , might b e o btained, a n d th e country m i g h t be satisfied u p on this mo s t i mportant quest i on , if the adjournment was made from this day to Wednes day next, instead of at once adjourning for the time i proposed. He recom men d e d th a t th a t course should be adopted, and he begged the House would not part with the power they now possessed, till thi obtained that information which they had a right', require. Mr. WYNN said, he apprehended that the grows' of the adjournment was to be found partly in tl time of year at which it was usual for the House adjourn for a short time. The motion for the journment had usually been a mere matter of forts Mr. TIERNEY, across the table—Yes, but tl was when a complete Administration was in existenr Mr. WYNN proceeded—Difficulties had occur' in the formation of a new Administration, but 0' arrangements were in progress, that he trusted 6' would soon be completed, though they required tf a certain time should he allowed to bring them maturity. That time, it was to be hoped, the Rig, Hon. Gentl eman wou ld a ll ow t h em, an d b e f ore t . House met again, he had no doubt they wou ld able to communicate the information which the Rig Hon. Gentleman required. Mr. TIERNEY said, that the Right Hon. Ge tlemen seemed now to require time just in the S' manner as they had required it before. Time h' already been afforded them, and two months been consumed without hardly any perceptible Pr: grese. He thought that to allow more time vro' r be to indulge them too much. He had himself lir deratood, that within the last ten days power h t been given to a Right Hon. Gentleman to forty new Administration, yet those ten days had clap' and, instead of any Administration being formed, appeared that seven of the Cabinet Ministers (' least such was the report, and whether true or no t was impossible to know) had all at once run e 0 for what purpose was best known to themselves, what scheme or cabal nobody knew, and when the intended to come back, or whether they ever tended it, nobody seemed to know. Under for circumstances he must say, as a Member of t' House of Commons, that le should be betrays' his trust, disgracing his situation, and abstainiug fr e the performance of his duty, if lie suffered Of things to pass without notice, and abandoned ' country in this situation. The gallery was about to be cleared, but the qu f tion was finally put and carried without a division., Mr. C. WYNN moved for a new writ for S e ', ford, for the election of a Burgess in the room Augustus Frederick Ellis, Esq. who had a ccept the Chiltern Hundreds.—Ordered. A return was ordered of the manufactured articl e and of their official value, imported out of or is ported into the United Kingdom, from the 5 0 ' April,lB2s, to the sth April, 1827. An Account of the Unredeemed Funded Debt' to the sth January, 1827, was also ordered. , On the motion of Mr. C. GRANT , an A e c°lj of the Amount of the Supplies voted in 1826, g r ' remaining unpaid up to the sth of April, 1827, s O 6 posed to be about 239,2711. was ordered to be before the House ; and also an Account of th Amount of Exchequer Bills outstanding end unPa' and which remain to be made good, up to the 6 of this present month. EMIGRATION. Colonel WOOD pr esen t e d a p et i t i on from }%, Liam Spencer Northhouse, Hon. Secretary to t' Society for Emigration, praying for means to foc,', tate the emigration of person s f rom th e Ci ty o f ( 3 °. gow and its neighbourhood. Mr. LEYCESTER said, that he objected to ti` system of emigration, as lie thought its only ef f*f was to carry awa y t h e s kill and i ndustry o f 11 country. And for what purpose were we to be prived of the advantages of this skill and industil Why, to benefit Canada, which was now called integral part of the British dominions. B u t did l' c Hon. Gentlemen see that every benefit of this 01 which we conferred upon Canada, was only may' a step towards the final se p ara ti on o f t h at c ouo from this ? It was because he thought it calculate, to produce this effect, that he objected to it. Mr. WILMOT HORTON said, that if the IV Member had any information which he really thoofS, worthy of communicating to the Committee 1 ! ° , engaged in investigating the subject of Emigre'', they would be most happy to receive it. He cod; assure the Hon. Gentleman, that none were called`, to go, nor would any be sent, but those who actuN ' petitioned for it ; and if they thought it was for the benefit, and the Government could see that theirs, vantage was united to that of the country, 61114 they ought not to be called on to turn their back!. petitioners of that sort, merely upon such speculaV grounds as those alluded to by the Hon. Gentlesd He (Mr. W. H.) trusted that the House would O f .. pend their opinion till the Committee made th Report; and, above every thing, he did depreol any efforts, whether made in that H ouse or ou t of to chew that any thing was attempted by the pf`' posed system but that which had for its end the nefit of the people. He should abstain at pres e from speaking more at large on the subject. After a few words from Mr. CUST, Mr. LEYCESTER again addressed the HS; and said that he thought the poor would b e betf o, provided for if they were allowed to cultivate the we' lands in the country free from rent, taxes, and rat; by which means this country might retain strength, and give employment to the skill a nd 1 , , dustry of its population, inst ea d o f d r i v i ng the si l rto - oi i oc o i; R rNeyt T aitishe O ietr N hi reon a oN g :l •a n:r i i n oepua a agr s ns s hse t ta l s r gtt e ie d pd. the e : ir e l: a o n n d o u n rs u b o : sgb G a eer b sa e r M T r sst ni eh t ar do l e .d d e f N t m . ipto( V ihe a . pet n n that the a ir people eady is whoused every lver e m eaabnosu they po Mr. LEYCESTE R, in the absence of read. Mr. his Friend th e M em b er for Essex, presented a petitisq from th e O wners and Occupiers of Land 111 1110/, neighbourhood o f C o l c h es t er aga i nst t h e P re° Corn La ws . Mr. STANLEY presented a p e ti t i on f ro m Je 4 Fitt and James Wilson, deputies from the suffer,' operatives of Lanark, praying for assistance to e rates; referredinurhile the malit'e grate. 1 Mr. MAXWELL hoped the Government Avoal,': take the subject of the present distress into the; serious consideration. Many of the people 11 `. il praying for assistance to emigrate from their nsti, j, , country, had been at one time independent of 01 , f and were honourably supportin g themselves on the own labour. Mr. W. HORTON again said he should declirl to make any observation upon the subject. ;to Colonel CAVENDISH presented a petition ° l7 '„l the Inhabitants of Derby, against the impositica , - any additional Duty on East India Sugar. t ill Sir GERARD NOEL gave notice, that 0° - ( 0 ( 18th of May next, he should move an Address J.' l , the purpose of conferring the Palace recently ll ti for the late Duke of York, upon his Royal Highae the Duke of Clarence. ma A de l MEMBERafeNy observations, v,' hosen ame whichw On the motion of Mr. C. GRANT, the Order c, i t l h e e mb D ra.d a F y eyx for the third reading of the Corn DutiO Bill was read. Gallery. honeo thetl as r to e p a p c i na h ri 0i t i0,, 11 .: subje ct p B r H ez E sed PA on LA t p l l i o E is o ß i. ment, and stated his satisfation that he could c ol! , scientiously support the present measure of Ministe r, Both parties complained of it : the agriculturist 0 jected to it, that it would not afford him adegiili, protection, or secure him against the constantly l' i , facturei: insisted that the price of bread would i kept far too high_ Both parties being dissettisfies he was much inclined to believe that Ministers 111‘ creasing charge of the taken a fair and impartial course. He hoped thator we could not lese; would be followed by a considerable reduction , taxat ion. As his first vote i n t h e prese nt P4r,lidf was in favour ment of Administration, he 11 0 1 3 ,, - 1,1 whoever the Mi nisters hereaft er m i g ht be, he s ho " • of frequently have opportunities of giving them his port.—(Hear, hear.) o b .( Mr. WARBURTON observed that the i i os ti on to the old Corn Laws 'that breed J? . was, bro / A double the • • price in this country to its value ow"; and he asked whether the Bill now to be read a co la tilliC Would remedy the evil? The potion' It