The Sun. — London, England, 1830-03-13 00:00:00

THE ODDINGLEY MURDERS. (Concluded from The Sun of yesterday.) [At the conclusion of the Rev. Mr. Clifton's evidence. the confession of Clewes was put in and read. As thi. has already appeared in the columns of The Sun, we have not thought it necessary to republish it.] John Collins—l lire at Bradely, in this county; I lived with Mr. Clewes on the 24th June, 1806, at Nether wood Farm. [l.lere he identified the prisoner.] Ire member the death of Mr. Parker ; I knew Richard Hem ming; the last day I saw him with Clewes was on the Sunday morning before Mr. Parker was killed ; Mr. Parker.was killed on Tuesday; they were talking in the Trench wood, on a pathway; when I first saw them the were standing still ; I walked towards them, and the move I away; I saw Clewes about an hour and a half after, near the house; I saw Hemming at the farm a time or two before, during the preceding fourteen days ; Hem ming did not work for Clewes; I remember that about nine days after Mr. Parker's murder, some merle was put into the barn ; there are two bays in the barn ; the mule was put on the bay near which there was a small pool ; I got the merle ; it was by the direction of Clewes I got the marls; it was Clewes drew it away; besides myself, there were—John Clewes, Thomas Hardinge, and Wm. Smith, upon the farm ; the two first were employed at plough the day I drew the merle to the barn ; I do not know where the other was; we drew the merle in two carts; Thomas Clewes drove one of them ; the reason he gave me for drawing the marle was, that he wanted to make the barn and the court-fold level. William Low—ln 1815, I was at the White Horse public-house, Silver-street, Worcester ; Clewes, to the best of my belief, was in company with me there, but he is considerably altered ; I went with a friend at dinner time there; we had souse beer, and Clewes drank with us ; we afterwards had some wine ; our conversation turned upon the landing of Bonaparte from Elba ; and I and my friend went out to meet the London mail ; con sequently the conversation was very general, about the landing of Bonaparte ; Clewes said he liked our conversa tion. and would join us drinking ; some one observed that there would be terrible slaughter again between the con tending armies ; Clewes remarked that there would not be half so much fuss about that as there was about the death of a parson ; some little time before, my friend fell ioto conversation with him relative to the death of Parker; it was a very long conversation, and much of it very painted ; Clewes said more than he was asked, which led my friend (Fennell) to wink to me to go out, which I did ; we then went back again, and the conversation was renewed, and a remark was made th it wherever Flem ming might be, sooner or later he would be discovered, and brought to justice, and hanged for the murder of Mr. Parker: Clewes's answer was, that he knew better than that—Hemming would never come to be hanged, for he was safe enough ; I am sure that I have repeated the con tereation as accurately as I can remember. Croes.examined—l understand that Mr. Fennel is dead ; I volunteered this conversation by writing to the Mayor of Worcester; I had never seen Clewes before. Mr. CUILWOOD announced that this was the case for the prosecution. Mr. Serjeant LUDLOW—The case for the prosecution being finished, he had to submit to his Lordship that tak ing every word of the evidence to be true, Clewes was en ded to his acquittal. Notwithstanding the anxiety of the law of England to keep felonies in all criminal prosecutions from being intermixed, still there were some cases in which it was impossible to prevent more than one being involved. This bad been the case in this instance, so that he might say that Clewes kid not only been tried for the murder of Hemming, with which the indictment charged him, but also the murder of Mr. Parker, which otherwise ought not to have been heard of in this case. What he had now to contend was, that on the evidence, as it stood, Clewes was entitled to his acquittal. Mr, Justice LITTLEDALE—Is not that, now, a question for the Jury alone to decide? Mr. Serjeant Lunsow—lf the prosecution had been able by evidence to contradict the confession of Clewes, no doubt he might have been convicted; but instead of con tradicting it, they had confirmed it ; and he therefore con tended for Clewes's acquittal. In points of law, before a man could be made one of the principals in a charge of murder, it must be proved that he was present aiding, comforting, and abetting others to do the deed ; though, at the same time, there was such a thing as a constructive presence, as in the case where while one man was com mitting a murder, another stood outside the door to keep watch. In the book which he held in his hand, it was laid down that if A happened to be present at a murder, taking no part in it, but at the same time making no at tempt to prevent it, or to raise the hue and cry after the murderer, he was, though highly culpable, not open to the charge of being a principal i n the murder ; the authorities cited in support of this point were Foster, p. 350, and Hale, 439. MI that Clewes had done, according to the confession, did not constitute him an eider and abettor; and if he was not that, then neither could he be a prin. cipal. In all charges of so grave a nature as the present it rested with the prosecution to prove every point; and therefore they were bound to prove that Clewes was present aiding and abetting. Now what one single tittle of evidence was there which went to show that, fact? If they chose to take the case exclusive of Clewes's confession, there was nothing from which the in ference could be raised that he was even present at the scene. The most that the remainder of the evi dence went to chew was that there had been some vague expressions made use of by Clewes, which might throw some slight sort of suspicion upon him. What did the confession go to show? Why that Clewes was exactly in the state contemplated by the Law Authorities that he had cited. He was present, it was true, when the murder of Hemming took place; but so far from being an eider and abettor, he haul been inveigled by Captain Evans into being present at all ; and certainly, when he bad resolved to com ply with that wish, he had not in the least contemplated the catastrophe that had been forced upon him. He (Mr. Serjeant Ludlow) therefore thought that the circumstances of this case were exactly parallel to those contemplated by Mr. Justice Fowler and Lord Hale; and he therefore con fidently applied to his Lordship to direct an acquittal. Mr. Justice .LITTLICDALE decided that the case ought to go to a Jury without hearing Counsel in reply. The prisoner declined saying anything in his own de fence. He would leave all to his Counsel. His &minitr then proceeded to charge the Jury. He said the evidence in this case is now closed. It is a charge of wilful murder against Thomas Clewes, the prisoner at the bar. He is accused of having been present, aiding, abetting, and assisting Samuel Evans and Joseph Teylor in the murder of one Richard Hemming. The circum stances of this case, Gentlemen, have strongly excited the public attention. The discovery of this murder, so long concealed, and now so strangely brought to light, is one of those extraordinary incidents which now and then occur in human affairs. I do not, therefore, wonder that it should have excited a strong sensation amongst all ranks and classes in this county. Gentlemen, in the course of the trial, a great deal of evidence has been given about the death of Mr. Parker. It appeared he was not upon the best terms with his parishioners. Several of them were heard to use expressions of deadly hatred towards him.— Amongst those was the prisoner at the bar, who, it is to be observed, has been proved to have 4:id, on the very day of Mr. Parker's death, that lie hoped to find a dead parson at home before him, Now the death of Mr. Per ker has been inquired into, because it has something to do with that of Hemming. But you have only to con cern yourselves with as much of these details as bear upon the question respecting the guilt or innocence of Clewes. There is certainly a clear case of the murder of Parker, and there is a very great proba bility that Hemming was the murderer. But you will naturally ask what has this to do with . Hem ming being murdered by somebody else ? Well, Gentlemen, it is connected with it after this manner :—There strong presumption that Hemming was hired by some persons to murder Mr. Parker ; and as there was immee diately a hue and cry raised against the maxi, it certainly was of vital importance to these persons to get h;ria out of the way, since, if he were arrested, he might in all proba bility he led to inform, and their lives would be compro mised. But, Gentlemen, we have in the first place to in quire if Hemming was murdered at all. Of this I think there can be no doubt, We find that in the December of 1829 a barn was pulled down, in which human bones were discovered. A regular search way in consequence made, and you have heard Mr, Pierpoint, the sorgeon, state, that be found the bones of a'perfezt skeleton-e-lie discovered the height of this skeleton, and found with the body a knife, a rule, 4 pair of shoes, and several other things, which were produced. Some of these articles were re, atackable, and were identified by his wife. His skull was fractured—battered is pieces; therefore, there can be no doubt that he was murdered. Now, that Clewes was desirous that some mischief should bp done to Mr. Parker is certain, and that he entertained thia feeling in common with Captain Evans, is, I . think, equally clear ; but even though I s h ou ld own that Clewes was an accessary before the fact, in the murder of Mr. Parker, it does not follow that because Captain Era!l wished to murder Hemming, I should allow that (;Mitts participated in this desire. You will observe that, in the evidence before you, the confession of Clewes terms the leading feature. In this he confesses himaelf. a criminal amenable to the law—he confesses himself an accessary after the fact ; but it does not seem that he knew any thing of the intention of murdering Hemming until the fatal blow was struck ; and, gentlemen, the rule id law is, that when you take a criminal's confession, you must take the whole as it stands, unless you have evidence to contradict any part of it, or evidence to supply its de ficiencies. Gentlemen, it would hardly appear to me, by the words of this confession, that there was any participa -6(11 upon the part of Clewes in the design of Captain Evans to murder Hemming. In order to arrive at this conclusion, you must supply some evidence ; but where is it to be procured? It is said that some male was brought by Clewes to this barn, iu which the body was buried. This, gentlemen, would be good evidence to make him an accessary before the fact; but it is not sufficient to implicate him as a pr.ucip.,l. With respect to the con fession, yi,u will remark that it was made with great de liberati tn. He, in the first instaece, made a confession to Mr. Clifton, of which we know nothing—of which the particulars never were divulged; and after this, Mr. Clifton wrote in his behalf to the Secretary of State, and receiving an unfavourable answer, he afterwards told limo in the strongest language he could use, that there was no hope of any pardon, or favour, or mercy towards him from his Majesty's Government. Still, notwithstand ing this, lie (Clewes) sends for the Coroner, and makes another t onfession; and therefore it is to be con- eluded this confession was voluntary; and it ought to be accepted in evidence. Now, gentlemen, though we have very decisive proof that Clewes was an accessary after the fact, in the murder of Hemming, we have not, perhaps, sufficient evidence to show that he was engaged in it as a principal. Parker was murdered—there is considerable reason to think—by Hemming. The prisoner was aware that something wicked was going on with respect to Parker—he was also cognizant of the murder of Hem ming—and his statement, thAt " Hemming was safe enough, and would never come to be hanged," was only confirmatory of what he said in his confession. Clewes knewa greatdeal about Mr. Parker's murder—this is quite clear ; but you have nothing to do with this farther than it bears upon the case before you. You are to presume that there was no participation in the actual murder on the part of Clewes, as there is no evidence to ccntradict his confession and prove that he was in any degree court selling or assisting. Gentlemen of the Jury, the case is before you. If you think he was present at the murder of Hemming, aiding, abetting and assisting the man - who struck the blow, you will, of course, find him guilty of the charge on which he is indicted ; but, remember, you are to take the evidence altogether, and dismiss from your minds everything you may have heard upon the subject, before this day, and come to a conclusion as if you had never previously thought upon it. The whole question rests upon the confession. There are not, in my opinion, sufficient grounds fur thinking that Clewes has made a false statement. The Jury then retired for a few moments, and brough a verdict of Guilty as accessory after the fact, The Juncz informed them this verdict could not be re ceived, as the prisoner was indicted not as accessary after the fact, but as principal. The Jury again retired, and almost immediately returned a verdict of Not Guilty. It was received with some shout ing and clapping of hands from the hall where the popu lace were assembled. Mr. CAMPBELL said, that as he had heard from his Learned Friends who conducted the prosecution that it was not their intention to offer any evidence against the parties to be arraigned on the Coroner's Inquisition, he would not of course trouble the Court with what he had to offer in opposition to this indictment. Banks, Barnett, and Clewes, were then arraigned upon the indictment to which we have alluded, and no evidence being offered against them, they were all three declared Not Guilty. Mr. CAMPBELL then applied for the prisoners' discharge from the consequences of the first indictment (that touch ing the murder of Mr. Parker), to which it will be re membered they refused to plead, and a discussion took place between his Lordship and the Counsel for the pri soners, as to the mode in which this could be effected. The prisoners could not be discharged by proclamation; and his Lordship objected to quashing the indictment, stating that it was too summary a proceeding, and that the regular practice would be for the prisoners to demur to the indictment, if it were faulty upon the face of it. Mr. Campbell thought, that though it was in the power of the Judge to make the prisoners declare their option of pleading or not pleading to the indictment, yet that he had not the right of inflicting the peine forte et dare on them, of leaving the consequences of this indict ment hanging over their heads from Assize to Assize. It was finally determined by his Lordship that the prisoners should be discharged on the following morning, by a spe cial order of the Court, declaring that the prisoners should not be brought again before it, except by a Judge's order. He sugge-ted that an application might be made to quash the indictment next Assizes. The case was a new one ; and he might, meantime, consult the other Judges, as to the manner in which the prisoners were to be freed from the consequences of the indictment. As an instance of the strange way in which the human feelings will be sometimes affected by the slightest ills, after sustaining the most terrible, we may remark that Banks, who had borne himself all day with an air of en tire firmness, now, when he learned that his liberation was to be delayed for a few hours, burst into tears. A strange revulsion, by the bye, seemed to have taken place in popular feelings on this subject. The acquittal of Cleves was received, as we have said, with applause; and Banks and Barnett, who were persons of a far higher order, might to all appearance have counted a friend or wellwisher in the person of every second man in Court. FURTHER PARTICULARS.-....FRIDAY AFTERNOON. At the close of the trial the parties accused of being concerned in the Oddingley murders were re-conveyed to prison, but with an understanding that they were to be discharged the following morning. Annexed is a copy of the record made in this case : " Thomas Clewes, John Barnett, and George Banks, standing indicted as accessories to a murder, but the prin cipal felon not having been tried, and being now dead, and the prisoners therefore declining to plead, they are to be discharged." It will be seen from the above that the circumstances under which they are liberated are peculiar. The in dictment charging the offence still exists, and the charge may at any time be brought to trial should they see fit to come forward and challenge inquiry by pleading " Not guilty." This, however, they are not likely to do, and without it they are sheltered by the forms of law. Banks and Barnett, after an interview with several of the magistrates, in which they were advised to quit the town quietly, and as early as they could, were discharged about eleven o'clock this morning. They had to pass out of the prison through the gateway, above which the gallows was then fixed on which Michael Toll was about to suffer fcr murder. Several friends attended to receive them, in whose ccroppy it was generally understood they imme diately left the town. Clewes, at his own request, as he did not like to face the crowd which was then collecting to witness the approach ing execution, was allowed to remain till the evening. EXECUTION OF MICHAEL TOLL, FOR MURDER. On Friday, at noon, the dreadful sentenceof the law was carried into effect on the top of the platform of the gate way of Worcester gaol, on the body of Michael Toll, con victaa of murdering a woman named Ann Cook with whom he cohabited, by throwing her down a coal-pit. The demeanour of the man since his conviction, was becoming, neither displaying excess of timidity, not un becoming confidence; he looked forward to his approaching fate with calmness, and declared to his attendants that lie was perfectly happy—that he was never happier in his life. He stated hunasli to be a native of Newry, in Ireland, and that his friends were respectable. Ile was a Roman ,catholic, and consequently declined receiving spiritual &Isla-epee from the chaplain of the gaol, but was attended by the Rev. air. Trimmer. On the arrival or the fatal hour being intimated to him, he walked forward with a firm step, and ou reaching the foot of the gallows, remained for nearly tcn minutes joining in the prayers read by the Rev. Mr. Trimmer. He then quietly rescgned himself into the hands of the executioner, and having been pinioned, ascended the seaffold. The arrangements there being completed, the drop fell, and in less than a minute life was extinct. It does nut appear that he made any conf‘ssion beyond the simple declaration to a fellow prisoner, that his sentence was a just one. Whatever ccinmunication he may have made to the Rev. Mr. Trimmer must remain unknown, as that Rev. Gentleman states it to be against the canons of hir ,church to disclose the secrets of the confessional. According to the custom of the gaol, the prisoners were drawn up in the yard: farming the gallows, that they might witness the execution. liGvi fa; such a practice is likely to be productive of good may be fairly questioned, There was a considerable crowd, as is usual upon these ocpsions, collected. THE VACAIIT SERJ4ANTCY.-Mr. NORTH is to be the new Serjeant, and in consiNuence of his ac ceptance of the office, the Learned Gentleman vacates his seat for Melbourne Port. Mr. GooLo, as a matter of course, is now First Serjeant.—Dublin Morn. Register COVENT-GARDEN THEATRICAL FUND feelings, would excuse him from making further observa tion.—Mr. Kenible delivered this speech with visible emo tion, which was properly appreciated by the company, and at its conclusion e nthusiastically applauded. Duet—Messrs. Stansbury and Bedford—" Little Pigs." Toast—" The Arts snd Sciences." Mr. Sum in a neat speech, eulogised the memory of the late Sir Thomas Lawrence, whose loss, he said, had left a chasm in the arts not to be supplied ; but not only in the pictorial art, he was the friend of the drama, and po.s.;ssed extraordinary histrionic talent.; and if he had directed his energies to that profession he would have been as prominent on the stage as he was at the Royal Academy. Participating in the feelings he evinced for the stage, it would be his pride to follow him. Song, Mr. Sinclair—" Hey the bonny breast knots."—Sweetly sung and encored. After paying a high compliment to the talents of Mr. Shee, his Royal HighneAs proposed " The French Drama," two of the most talented members of which were then in the room, MM. Potier and Laporte. M. LAPORTE, in returning thanks, remarked, that two great nations, divided by war and national prejudices, had been united by the Arts. This argued much in fa vour of the Drama. He would avail himself of an expression used by the Royal Chairman, that theatrical representations were highly useful in a civilized country, and it was extremely gratifying that the mutual intercourse between two countries was greatly facilitated by the inter course of talent in that profession of which be was a humble member. He would not take up any more of their time, which he knew would be much more pleasantly em ployed than in hearing an English oration from him. He begged, on behalf of himself and his Gallic friends, to re turn thanks for the great kindness they had experienced from the British public. _ _ On the health of the Stewards being proposed, Mr. ABBOTT returned thanks in a clever speech, and about half-past eleven his Royal Highness quitted the chair, leaving a numerous party to prolong the pleasures of this very agreeable evening. DINNER. The Fourteenth Anniversary Festival of this excellei and moat useful Charity was yesterday celebrated in the Freemasons' Hall, and a snore gratifying and numerous assemblage of the friends and patrons of the Drama we do not remember to have seen. His Royal Highness the Duke of CLARENCE, the President of the Institution, was in the Chair, supported by— The Duke of St. Alban's ' Lord Amelius Beauclerc, the Mar quis of Clanricarde, Lord Ranelagh, Lord Louth, Sir Andrew Barnard, Horace Twigs, Esq., Martin Arthur Shee, Esq., Lord Arthur Hill, Lord Charleville, General Phipps, George Byng, Esq. M.P., the Hon. Edward Byng, Lord W. Lennox, Went— worth Beaumont, Esq. M.P., C. Kemble, Esq., M. Laporte, M. Potier, Sir Coutte Trotter, and many other distinguished indi viduals. Atter dinner, his Royal Highness, on proposing the health of his Majesty, alluded to the peculiar patronage experienced by the Society they were met to support, and stated that he was commanded by his Most Gracious 1114- 1 jesty to forward his usual donation of 100 guineas. " The King, God bless him"—excellently sung by Messrs. Sin clair, Duruset, T. Cooke, Bedford, Stansbury, Morley, Terrail, I.eete, C. Taylor, and Master Phillips. The Royal CHAIRMAN then observed that he would not have made any prefatory remark in proposing the health of the Royal Family, if he had not been requested by the Duke of Sussex to apologise for his unavoidable absence. Air—" Rule Britannia." The Duke of CLARENCE, in a short speech, remarked on the vicissitudes of an Actor's life, and hoped that the many he saw around him, who, like himself, were attached to the drama, would reflect in their serious moments upon the satisfaction and delight they bad experienced for many years of their lives from their exertions, and extend their benevolence to them when they were incapacitated from further efforts As long as it was in his power to serve charities of this description, his presence and firm support should always be afforded. His Royal Highness pr , sposed " The Covent Garden Theatrical Fund, and success to it." MATTHEWS was then called upon by his Royal High ness for a songs Song, MattlnTws—.. The Fund Song," The following additional verse, written by himself, al improvista, was received with shouts of applause. " I commenced with a high Parliamentary tone, I'll take a few words just by way of a loan, In another place, said by an Illustrious Field Marsha', • I'm happy to say—' Our distress is but partial.' " His Royal Highness, who seemed exceedingly delighted with this song, at its conclusion said, "Mr. Mathews, you must be your own second--encore." Tire song was then repeated, to the great satisfaction of the meeting. The Duke of ST. ALBAN's, in a complimentary speech, proposed the health of the Royal President. - His Royal Highness returned thanks, and proposed the health of the Vice-Presidents. The Duke of ST. ALBAN'S on behalf of the Vice-Pre sidents, returned thanks. Song, Sinclair—" Garde a vous." His Royal Highnes then proposed the health of Mr. Fawcett, to which that gentleman made the following rep) , :— ‘• May it please your Royal Highness, my Lords and Gentlemen—When at the preceding anniversary I had the honour of addressing this company, I took occasion to ob.. . . serve, that it would probably be for the last time in my official situation—circumstances having delayed that event for a season, I once more present myself to you, in the bumble hope that what I now advance may have some weight in your decision relative to this Fund—a Fund in tended to give a few years of comfortable existenee (when unfit for the labours of the stage) to those who have passed all the vigour of their lives in contributing to your enter tainment. " Gentlemen, before a public dinner was adopted, we actors were in the habit of meeting annually at a dinner by ourselves ; here mirth was the order of the day, and busi ness left far behind. In 1815 I first seriously addressed my brethren on this (to us) important subject, the mea sure was new and unexpected, and though I received thanks for my good intention, I was nevertheless consi dered ♦isionary. " Let us, gentlemen, see in what state the fund stood at that time. It was instituted in 1765 ; it was confirmed by Act of Parliament in 1776, and In 1815 (a term of fifty years) we had only been able to put together in the Funds, as much as produced us something under 4001. per annum ; this you will admit was a very slender in come to be divided amongst the numerous claimants which fifty years had begotten—and certainly its paucity in some measure justified the despondency of my brethren. But observe, gentlemen, what perseverance, and your assistance has done for us. From 1815 to the present time (a period of only fifteen years), we have increased our 4001. a year to nearly 1,200/. ; having put by double the sum in the List fifteen years, than what we did in the first fifty. And I beg you to believe, gentlemen, that it is not by with holding from our poor annuitants, we have thus increased our capital. Every claimant from the beginning has been paid his full demand, without at any time reducing his sti pend; and though our claims at this moment amount to near 1,0001. per annum, economy has never made us deaf to the voice of distress, even when the cold form of our laws might have justified us in refusing. " Again I deprecate a charge of vanity for introducing this subject; I declare, upon the word of a man, my only motive is (as I am about to leave the profession) to sti mulate my brethren to a continuance of their laudable exertions. " The Fund (governed as it now is) pays from 331. up to 801. per annum, which is the highest allowance; and though in the infancy of the institution great difficulty was found to fulfil these obligations, still no one will deny that it would be very desirable to increase the rates, could that be effected without shaking its stability. " I speak from bitter experience when I assure you that many actors pasi through their whole professional career under dreadful apprehension of what is to be their fate in the decline of life; for though some (particularly of late years) obtain enormous incomes, the great majority have a mere subsistence; and when untoward circumstances, expensive and numerous families, and perhaps a charitable and hu mane disposition have drained their little savings, they are left with their grey hairs, shunned by the Managers, for gotten by the public—pitiable examples of the vicissitudes of fortune. " Gentlemen, this Fund is well calculated to soften these evils, and, as I sincerely believe, to have great influence on the moral character of actors. Much exaggeration is in dulged in relative to the dissipation of performers. Per haps the publicity of their calling makes them more ob noxious to this charge than others—but from the bottom of my heart, where they are dissipated, that dissipation is, nine times out of ten, the child of despair, begotten in the dirk horizon by which they are surrounded; they see no escape in old age from poverty and destitution, they there fore become reckless of consequences, and often lavish their . . time and talents on the entertainment of convivial asso ciates, for the purpose of casting off the gloomy garments of despair. Give them, then, a motive for temperance, give them an object to live for ; show them a bright sky when their sun is setting, and you will do more towards improving the morals of the Stage, than all the saints and methodist parsons could do, if they preached till they were black in the face." Mr. FAwcErr's address was received with every demon stration of satisfaction. Toast—" The prosperity of Covent-garden Theatre." Mr. CHARLES KEstsr.E briefly returned thanks. Song—Mr. Mathews—" The 9th of November," one of the most humourous, witty, and sarcastic songs we have heard for a long time. His ROYAL HIGHNESS then said he bad great satisfac- tion in announcing the evening's subscription to be up wards of 1,223/. He trusted everyyear it would increase. He thea propose I—" The Health of the Trustees of the Fund." Mr. FAWCETT returned thanks, and said be was happy to have the opportunity of acknow:edging how much the Fund were ind tbted to the house of Sir Coutts Trotter, who not only took care of their funds, but in the hand somest manner gave them their advice and assistance in every thing relating to the advantage of the institution. Mr. T. Cooke was requested by his Royal Highness to favour the Meeting with a song. Italian Trio—Mr. T. Cooke. The Royal PRESIDENT remarked that he had proposed prosperity to Covent-garden Theatre, but it yet remained to him to notice one of the brightest ornaments, who, in a time of trouble, had, with the most pure and amiable of motives, come forward to rescue the Theatre from its fallen fortune. Ile proposed the " Health of Miss Kemble," which was received with a fervour of applause, long and repeated, that must have been highly gratifying to every admirer of that excellent and talented actress. Mr, C. KEMBLE, whose feelings seemed almost over powered by the great approbation with which the last toast had been received, rose to return thanks amid con tinued shouts of applause. He said that if, on the former occasion of addressing them, he found a difficulty in the task imposed upon him, what must he then f e el when his heart was throbbing with gratitude, which the plaudits of the meetin had inspired ? in what manner should he ex press himself? No words could convey an idea of the pride, gratification, and delight he experienced ; he felt nothing was left him to do but, as th e representat i ve o f his daughter, as modestly as possible to return thanks to the brilliant assembly of talent, rank, a n d wea l t h, w h o h a d so kindly seconded the toast his Royal Highness had pro posed ; he begged them to accept the expression of his most sincere and grateful acknowledgments, and he hoped his Royal highness and the meeting, compassionating his LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 13, 1830. The Lords of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council had a meeting this morning in Down ing -street. Those present were, the MASTER of the ROLLS, Sir CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON, and the Right Hon. J. W. CROKER. Their Lordship• were engaged the whole morning in hearing the argument of Mr. Serjeant SPANKIE, in the part-heard Appeal of FRANKLAND v. M`GASTY, remitted from Demerara. We are happy to perceive that the state of the Northern Roads is at length to be inquired into. That spirited and patriotic young Nobleman, Lord MORPETH, last night moved for and obtained a Select Committee " to inquire into the state of the roads between London and Edinburgh, and London and Portpatrick." It has been to us a matter of astonishment that a subject of such vital im portance to the commercial interests of the country should have been so long neglected in that quarter, where alone it could and ought to have recceived effective attention. For the last few years the great towns of the North have repeatedly ap plied to the Treasury for a more direct route for the transmission of correspondence, and an increased expedition in the passage of the mails, but up to the present time little or nothing has been done in the one or conceded in the other. Let us hope that the labours of the Committee may be productive of better consequences. The thing is practicable, and ought therefore to be done. Shorter and better roads, with increased celerity in travelling, would carry the mails from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow in thirty-air hours—instead offorty-four,as at present. The following are the Committee : " Lord Viscount Morpeth, Mr. William Dundas, Mr. Liddell, Sir James Graham, Mr. Anthony Maitland, Mr. George Dawson, Mr. Irving, Mr. John Marshall, Mr. Bell, Mr. William Henry John Scott, Earl of Surrey, Sir Henry- Parnell, Lord Viscount Maitland, Mr. Beilby Thompson, Lord Viscount Lowther, Mr. Loch, Mr. IVyvill, Marquis of Tavistock, Mr. Fyues Clinton, Lord William Poulett, Mr. William Smith, Mr. Frankland Lewis, Mr. Davies Gilbert, Lord Viscount Howick, Mr. Cust." The French Papers of Wednesday contain no news of immediate interest, and we have no space for extracts. The Address of the Chamber of De puties was expected to be discussed in the Chamber yesterday : Th e .4..9.1burg Gazette of the 6th instant contains the following extract of a letter of the 23d ult. from Lon don :—" The appearance of Russian ships of war at Bu jukdere has given displeasure at London, because it is looked upon as a kind of sati.faction which the Russian Admiralty has thought proper to take for the unaccount able cruises of the British frigate Blonde, although our Ambassador at the Porte sent a letter in justification which is to be transmitted without delay to the Cabinet of St. Peteraburgh. It was, indeed, rather hasty in Sir Robert Gordon to give, without being au thorised to do so, a destination to a King's ship which might create misunderstanding, and give rise to complaints on the part of Russia. Fortunately, the friendly relations of England with her Northern Ally are too strong, and our Cabinet too much inclined for peace, for any serious consequences to proceed from this insignificant cause. By the protocol of January 4, the boundaries of Greece are fixed as follows:—The line of demarcation will begin at the mouth of the river Aspropotomas, and follow the river to the height of the lake Arghelo-Castro, traverse this lake and those of Vrachori and Saurowitsa ; from thence it will run over mount Artolino, the peak of mount Ixos, the valley of Callouri, and the peak of mount Oeta, to the Gulf of Zeituni, which it reaches near the mouth of the Sperchios. There will likewise appertain to Greece the whole island of Negropoat, with the Devil's Islands, the isleof Skiro, and the isles known by the name of Cyclades. The protocol requires that the Government of Greece . shall be monarchical, h e reditary, and in the line of primo geniture. The Monarch will bear the title of Sovereign Prince. This demarcation will displease the Greeks and Philbellenists as much as the title of " Sovereign Prince" given to the Prince of Saxe Coburg. We are persuaded here that representations will be made, especially against the former point. Yet little can be expected from them, because the Greeks obtain by this arrangement more than they had a right to expect, as, by the established principle of the Allies, only that part of Greece which had conquered its liberty could claim independence. In consequence of this, the isle of Negropont ought to remain under the Turkish Government, as it is almost entirely in the hands of the Turks. All acts and papers relative to Greece will be shortly laid before Parliament; Ministers only wait for answers from St. Petersburgh and Constantinople." The Augsburg Gazette gives the following open the authority of private letters from Dalmatia :—" A horde of Montenegrins have taken the castle of Cataro by assault, with a horrible carnage among the Austrian garrison." FaaNcu FYNDC , PARIS, M.►ecu 10.—Flys per Cents., ex. div. 105 f. 955. 50c. 95e. ; Three per Cents., 821. 25e. 20c. 45c. 40c. 35c. 30c. 35c. 30. 40c. ; ank Stook. 1,915 f; Reines de Naples, 92f. 80c. 85c. 75e. Sec- 85. ; Rentas d'Espagne, 1234 4 ; Royal Spanish Loan, 89Sy ; Routes Perpetuelle d'Espange, 713 1 ,4 ; Haytian Loan, 535 f. 510 f. 5151 Exahange on London—One month, paper, 25f. 70c. ; money, 25f. 70; three months, 251. Cour: Amthentiques. The following are extracts from Frankfort Papers of the 7th instant, received this morning : Lowaß Inas, iris. 24. Great efforts are now making in Mecklenburg to render the national manufactures more flourishing, and more espe cially to establish manufactories of woollen cloths which the country does not now possess. With this view the Government has sent several persons, at its own expense, to Flanders and England, in order to collect the necessary in formation in the most celebrated manufacturing towns. rsAlocrozT, MARCH 6. The Official Journal of this city contains an Ordinance of the Burgomasters and Senate of the free city of Frank fort, publishing the convention for the formation of the Ecclesiastical Province (or Archbishopric) of the Upper Rhine, the boundaries, the endowment, and the organisa tion of the five Bishoprics which compose it, with their chapters, as well as the nomination to the Arekbishopric, to the Bishoprics, and to the Prebends of the Chapters. The five Bishoprics are— Friburg, Maymace, Fulda, Rotheuburg, and Limburg', the Archiepiscopal dignity being attached to the See of Friburg. ILBERFILD, MARCH 4. On the 2d instant there was a general meeting of the shareholders of the Rhenish West India Company, in which the proposal of the managers, as they were deve loped in the report of the directors of 25th of February, were approved of more unanimously, some with the decisive majority of 1104 to 44. LUCERNE, MARCH 2. The lake is now almost entirely thawed. Last week it was so covered with ice that the market-boat from Uri, which commonly arrives at Lucerne on Monday, could not get in till Thursday. A discovery has lately been made between Ichlieren and Dietiken, in the bed cf the Limmat, which river is now very shallow, of a number of large oak trees, which have probably lain there these many centuries. Some of them have been taken up without much trouble: they are in good preservation, and have been sawn into boards. FRANKFORT, Mancu I6.—Exchange on London, two months, 152 i. The petition against the East India Company from London, lately presented by Mr. Por►Lsrr THOMPSON, is an evidence of the incorrectness of the assertions which have been made—that the Merchants and Ship-owners of the Metropolis were indifferent to the continuance or extinguishment of the monopoly. It is not a very probable supposition that any number of traders should be satisfied with being excluded from participation in an extensive commerce, nor is it very likely that Ship-owners, who are complaining of the reduction of freights, and of the increase of the number of foreign vessels resorting to our ports, should prefer being shut out from China, to having their just share in the traffic now carried on by the East India Company in con cert with foreigners. It:is already in evidence before the Committee that British manufactures have been exported in considerable quantities in American ships, and that the United States have often been made the medium of our private trade with China. It has been proved that our own merchants are driven to employ foreign shipping, in order to carry on indirectly a trade which, contrary to all reason, and all justice, has been assigned to a Joint Stock Company as its private property. " Companies of all kinds," says Mr. HUSEISSON, " are now a days out of fashion," and we believe them to be at pre. sent, at least, as injurious to industry as they ever were beneficial to it in earlier times. Mr. ASTELL, the Chairman of the Company, and a disinterested member of the Committee of Inquiry into the affairs of the Company, in answer to Gen. GASCOYNE'S very proper exhortation to the House to consult the general interest of the country instead of that of individuals, was pleased to observe that " justice:ought to be done on abstract principles, " without regarding whether millions of people, or " only a few thousands, might be benefited by the " result." Now we hope, that on some future oc• casion, the Honourable Chairman will be requested to state what those abstract principles are, which, in the consideration of a measure of commercial policy, ought to prevail over the welfare of the man of the people ? To what end does the Legislature delibe rate, if it be not to promote the interests of the mil lions of whom the nation is composed ? Let the Company show that the public will be losers by the abolition of their monopoly, and their case will be made out ; but any other principle—abstract or concrete—upon which its continuance is defensible, we defy Mr. ASTELL, or any other East India Di rector, to mention. We constantly hear abuses justified under pretence of the public good, but it is a rarity to find any one who openly assumes that the nation exists for the benefit of a Company, or that the State was designed for the good of a few individuals. These abstract prin ciples are, in fact, the same as would justify all the oppression and wrong that have been committed since the world began—they would warrant any amount of injustice—they would sanction the feel ings of the person who is reported to have said to Cardinal RUFFO, when he represented, that if the capitulation of 1799 had not been signed the Nea politans must have been exterminated—" What of " that ? The walls of Naples would nevertheless " have remained to the King I" The settled principles of public economy are on the side of the free-traders. It is for the Company to rebut the presumption which every one who knows any thing of the nature of trade, must enter tain in favour of an unrestricted intercourse with the East ; and to show that their monopoly is an ex ception which ought to exist to our liberty of com merce with the whole of the-known, world. It must be made out that there is a moral certainty of the Chinese putting an end to the free trade, unless the Company's servants are the sole traders; and if the host of agents and supercargoes who continue to be brought before the Committee, can satisfy it that there is any such moral certainty, it ought ,to report accordingly; but we suspect these gentlemen, with all their knowledge of China, and all their zeal in the service of Leadenhall-street, will be very far from carrying their testimony to any such length. The Company is very active—but, we trust, the commercial interests of the country will not suffer themselves to be outstripped in acti vity. They should remember that whatever they can do must be done now—that it will be too late to talk of the information they could have adduced when the Committee shall have made its report, — and that it is not less important that evidence should be given, than that it should be given quickly.—Bis dat qui rib() dab. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE..-(THIS DAY.) FROM LLOYD'& DLit, Mancit 12 —Wind W. moderste.—Arrived I the Albinia, Purvis, front Demerara and Antigua; British Monarch, Pearson, and Paragon, Austin, from Jamaica. PORTSMOUTH, MARC* 12.—Wind S.—Arrived the Prince Regent, Scott, from St. Michael's. His Majesty's ship Wolf is got off, and coming up the West Channel in tow of a steamer; her masts and bowsprit were cat await her rudder knocked off, and guns, anchors, cables, and all her stores thrown overboard to lighten her. His Majt sty's ship Galatea, which went to Ler assistance, in returning this evening got aground on the Middle Bank, but is expected to be got off next tide, PLYMOUTX, MARCH 11.—Wind N. N. W--Arrived the Solare, Cross, from Denia. Far.mourir, MARCH 11.—Wind W. S.W. to W.-- Arrived his Majesty's cult r Bramble, for Plymouth. LIYRRYOOL, MARCH 11.—Arrived the Ulster, Shannon, from Honduras ; Atlantic, Johnston, and Robert, Hood, Candler, from Charleston ; Percival, Forrest, from Sa vannah; and Alert, Raymond, from Charente. The Sally, Rodham, from Maryport to Dublin, is totally wrecked on Dundum Bay. The Isabella, Gilliam, from Sierra Leone to Plymouth, and the William, Weer, of Liverpool, were wrecked at St. Michael's. THU MARKETS,-(THIS DAY) COVENT-GARDEN MARKET. There was a good supply at this morning's market, and a dull trade. Turnips, Turnip Greens, Brocoli Sprouts, Spinage, Onions, Sea Kail, Raddishes, Apples, Hazlenuts, Carrots, Parsnips, Asparagus, and Small Sallad, w ere cheaper than on this day sennight ; in prices of other things no alteration. The Flower Market exhibited a gal appearance. _ s.d. s.d. Potatoes (cwt.) 2 6 to 5 0 Cabbages (12 heads) 0 0 0 0 Ditto Red .. 1 6 t 0 Ditto Savoy 0 9 1 6 Horse liadish(bundle) 1 6 2 6 Brocoli 0 9 2 0 Celery 0 9 1 9 Turnips (12 bunches) I 0 2 6 Coleworts or Greens 1 6 3 0 Leeks 1 0 1 6 Carrots (per bushel) 2 6 5 0 Parsnips (dozen) Brocoli Sprouts (bush )0 9 1 0 Turnip Greens 0 6 0 9 Small Sallad (basket) 0 2 0 4 s. d. s. d. Spillage (half-sieve) 0 4 too 6 Onions 1 6 3 0 Apples 1 0 4 6 Sweet Oranges (HO) S 6 10 0 Seville Oranges 8 0 12 0 Lemons 4 0 12 0 Asparagus 3 0 6 0 Span. Chesnuts (peck) 6 0 10 0 French ditto 4 0 6 0 Spanish tiaslenuts 5 0 6 0 French Walnuts 4 0 6 u Eng. Grapes (per lb.) 0 g 1 0 Sea-kail (pnmmet) Radishes 0 6 0 9 HAY MARKETS.—(At per Load of 95 Trusses.) ST. JAMES'S. Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay 42 8 to £2 18 New Meadow Hay 0 0 0 0 Useful Old Ditto Fine Upland Meadow and ltye.grass Hay 4 0 5 0 Clover Hay 3 13 St Oat Straw £9 2to £9 1 Wheat Straw.— 2 6 210 Both Meadow and Clover Hay from 2s. to 5s , Straw 4s. to 10 0 . per load lower than last quoted. A great supply, and a very dial trade. SMITHFIELD. Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay 211 S to £2 lb New Meadow Hay 0 0 0 0 Useful Old Ditto 3 8 8 IS Fine Upland Meadow and Rye-grass Hay 4 0 b 0 Clover Hay (extra fine)....fb 10...Geaerallv Oat Straw £2 4to XI 8 I Wheat Straw 2 9 4 1 4 A great supply, and a very dull trade; prices as last quoted, but threatening to be lower, THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.) CITY, TWELTI O'CLOCK. The Address by the Peers of France to the King, and his answer, is looked on as very conciliatory ; his MaiedY honours them with being good Judges, and knowing well the meaning of the latter part of his speech, there is n o d o ubt but the Chambers will also comply to his request, and accept of the olive branch. Our arrivals this morning are very few, and not the least important, consequently we are destitute of political intelligence. Consols, which left off yesterday at 92ii for the Ac count, opened at the same price; but the market at pre sent appears rather languil, and Consols have seceded to 92i- to and for money 92 to 1, with little or nothing doing. In the Foreign Market there is not a feature worth ob.. serration, and the prices may be quotes' as per yesterday. HALF-PAST ONE. Within a short period the Consol Market has been very heavy, and Console hare been done at 911 for the Account. Greek has fallen 2i per cent. EN GLIM( Buk Bkmk, -- India Stook, S per Cent. Cuns. *ll 2 D.. for Aro:rent, 9! Ditto %Klima, UNE% St per Coat. -- New 4 per Cent., 102 i 3 4 per Cent. 1826 India Bonds, 77 7$ Excheepaw Bills. 77 78 FUNDS. Greek, 42 Si Maxine, STi 8i Peruvian, ISi I9i Portuguese, 40} CO Prussian, Russian, 109 i 10 Spanish, 14 1 Fonnw Ilrailion, 71i f Buenos Ayres, 519 30 Chilian, Colombian, 201 Danish, 75 4 French, 5 pot. Cont. 109 i Dile, 3 per Cwt. 81i 24 TWO O'CLOCK. The Consol Market since the early part of the morning has been very heavy, owing to 150,0001. Consols being sold at 92, but within a short period a re-action has taken place, and Consols are at present 92 for the Account ; 91- 92 for Money. We also had a report that the Chancellor had put off his Budget ; one might suppose had this been the ease, it would have been announced in the House last night. We understand that on Monday there will be a reduc tion of '73. in the duties of British raw sugar. In the Foreign Market the only business doing is in Greek Bonds, which have declined 2f per cent., from 44} to 42, owing, it is said, to the the speculators being disap- . pointed in their orders from Holland, as the Dutch Mail still remains due. THREE 0 1 EL 0 CIL Coleco% for Account, FOUR O'CLOCK.—CLOSING PRICES. Consols 92f Danish 75i Do. for Ac. 92f / Greek, 1825 43 Brazilian Bonds 71i Mexican, 1825 29} Buenos Ayres Peruvian 19 Chilian Do. 26 Russian 109} Columbian, 1824, 20/ ,Spanish The Hon. Mr. BOYLE, a younger son of the Earl of Coar, was generally mentioned yesterday as a caw didate for the city of Cork, the election for which is fixed for Saturday. If Mr. Boras should start, he will, it ill said, hare the support of the Shannon interest, in addition to that of his own family.—Dublin Morning Register. A manifesto is in town of the Emperor Don PILDILO, declaratory of his intention to maintain the rights of his daughter. It will be published as soon as an account has arrived of the installation of the Regency of Terceira. BERKSHIRE CHRONICLE OIIICE, EIGHT o'cLocx.—Our Market-place, and a great portion of the higher parts of the town, are just aow (yesterday) illu mined from the effects of a fire somewhere near Kidmore End, Oxfordshire—the engines are dispatched with al expedition, particularly those of the Berks and County Offices, and Mr. B. Simonds's. ATTEMPT AT ASSASSINATION.-....We have just heard of one of the most diabolical attempts at murder in Wisbech by a man of known character, whose name we have not yet ascertained. It appears he was in the act of breaking some lamps near the bridge leading to Waist,- ken, and was detected by a watchman, who pursued him, telling him he need not run away, as he knew him well• The villain immediately returned, and being a powerful man, threw the watchman down, and made a most delve' rate attempt to cut his throat, which happily was p a rtly prevented by the holding up of his arm, which was dread" fully lacerated. The cries of the poor fellow alarmed another watchman near the spot, whet immediately cam* to his assistance, and secured the monster; who is own' witted to Wisbech gaol.—Cambridge Chronicle'. BIRTH. On the 12th inst. Mrs. Bentley, of 8, New Burlier on-street, of a son. MARRIED. On the 11th inst. at St. Clement Danes, Mr. 3. par minter to Maria—at the Paine Church, and at the same time, Mr. W. Gray to Jane—twin daughters of Innell Clement, Esq., of the Strand. On the 10th inst. at St. George's, Hanover-square, by the Rev. Henry Reginald Yorke, M.A., Grantham Mu iv ton, youngest son of Vice-Admiral Sir Joseph S. Yorker K.C.8., M.P., to Marian Emily, eldest daughter of the late Sir Henry C. Montgomery, Bart. PRICES OP STOEICS TMIS Belk Stock 3 per Cent. Red. 3 per Cent. Cons.... 92 i 9 1% 2 per Cent Ditto Red. shut t per Cent. Ann. Ditto, DV shut Rank 1.. Ann. Ditto 30 years Ditto 30 years India Stock shut D tto Bonds 77 pra. DAT ♦T ONE O'CLOCK. South Sea Stock Old Annuities New I)itto Ex. Bills, .Z 4000 2d. 77 78 pie. Ditto lid. 77 78 pm. Ditto ..... 2d. 77 79 pm. Ditt0.." .. DittsSmallall Ditto lid. 77 '79 pm. Bank for Aeconst 218% Isdia ftw Acesunt Cons. for April 16 ...92'4 4% 2 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS TEIS DAT AT ONE O'CLOCK. Austrian Bonds — Neapolitan — Brazilian Bonds 71% Peruvian Bonds — Buenos Ayres Bonds — Portuguese Bonds 5934 Chilian Bonds —;Prussian, Old Colombian Solids 19% Ditto, New — , Ditto, 1924 20% U t Russian — Danish — Spanish, :821 143( 5 % Greek Bonds ....... ..... 42 1 1 4 % !-- 1823 — Ditto, 1824 ....44 2% 3li 21. i% French Renter, sp. e.: —f —e. Guatimala - Exchange —t. —c. Mexican Bonds 23V, , S per cent B3f. —c. Ditto, 1825 27lj3h ! Exchange...—. 25f. 70 PRICES OF BHA EIS THIS DAY AY ONE O'CLOCK. Paid. Per Share. Anglo Mex. Min. Co. (Ise. at 5/. pm.) £lOO Brazilian Imp. Min. Co. (iss. at 51. pm.) £2O Ditto National lO Real del Monte Mining Co. £4oo United Mex. Min. Co. (ise. at 2/. pm.) £3956 Alliance Fire and Life Insurance Co. 10 22% 22 51 20% 9% PRICES OP IRISH STOCI Bank Stock 247% Consols, 3 per sent. Gov. Stock, 334 per cent 99 Ditto, New - 4 per Cont. lO2 Gov. Deb. 2% per cent - Royal Canal Stock 415% Grand Canal Stack -, City Deb. 4 per cent -1 Ballast Utflee Deb. 4p. e -I MA. Arrived. Dee. O America , 0 O Brazil O Buenos Ayres 0 O Carthagena, 0 1 Dublin • O Flanders 0 O France 0 O Guernsev&Jersey 0 :S, DUBLIN, MARCH 10. St. Patrick lnsur. (per its.) I Royal Irish Ditto — National Ditto — !Patriotic Ditto — Hibernian Bank — ;Provincial Ditto Royal Irish Mine — (Imperial Mine — Mining Co. of Ireland ,Commercial Buildings — Il Arrived. Due. Hamburg O 0 O Holland O Jamaica 0 O Leeward Islands O Lisbon ..... ..... 0 O Mexico O Sweden I Waterford 0 AIOII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW. Morning ... 48 minutes after 4. I Eyeuing... tS minutes after 5. 'atm. DIED. On the 9th inst. in Grafton-street, Fitzroy-Nue! , Thomas Taylor, Esq., aged 61, deeply lamented by W I fami'y and friends. PJIWrED AND Pitsusuan sy IJIJRDO YOUNG, ♦¢ Ala lAD SUS 011114 D, 11t, IiTAAND, 1.014D0 . I 4 11‘ ILAN 1 ." Id a Elev e , and ah on Tit • 41te Ft of ( No•tir fh 4 . 11 e I ,a ?went 4 414 , the El 1.,01 1 11 y Iket *ii.t I 111,m I I he ilia 1- 0.t..n a C 18i011 111 nt, tgititle UNIT T that t ft 'in I April p N nyi tinue in gen ANI `Dal gre ate `Open fiirour ..:pOrtm ;ntrifor have f and al relax ftirta a is in c be co feel ki fixing and ai tionab 'WAR PENT DISH 1111N1 PAT and C TI STO' new li sive iv king& dow n Eames 1111 JO much to be given 44%. , JO p B' Wa Um& fully nouri! --i s tin i so andl Tin I Chew) owl HAR "7"Tr? "ftt AN • the i able