The Sun. — London, England, 1844-01-01 00:00:00

POSTSCRIPT POLITICAL. THE THREE HUNDREDTH ANNI . VERSARY OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE COPERNICAN SYSTEM. On Sat orday-, the 30th December, a meeting was held the Chambers of the Literary Association of the Criends of Poland, to commemorate the above event. .A. great many Poles, as well as distinguished friends of Porand,,,were present. Among the latter we noticed L'rd Dudley Stuart, the Hon. Colonel Leicester Stan hope, Cobfiel Watson, the Rev. Dr. Worthington, John Wood Eq.; Chairman of the Excise ; Professor Ber nays, of 'King's College ; W. D. Saull, Esq.; member of the Astronomical Society ; Dr. Gardner, Thomson Mulkey, Esq., &c. &e. Lord 1). STUART, having taken the chair in virtue of his office - of Vice-President (the President being absent), shortly explained that the objects of the Association were of a literary, political, and charitable nature, and, although. circumstances had for some time compelled it to devote nearly the whole of its attention to the latter objects, still that it was not unmindful of the former, mid when'any opportunity arose of attending to the first, it gladly embraced it. Many of the .Poles having ex pressed a desire that the present year, the three hun dredth since the work of Copernicus on the solar system wa-s fiest'printed, should not be suffered to elapse without some public notice of that event, the present meeting of the , Association had been called. It would give an opportunity for refuting the absurd attempt which had been made of late years to deprive Poland of the honour (1 _counting Copernicus among her sons. It was no wonder the Poles should be anxious to repel such an in justice. Spoliated and oppressed, they had nothing left thein but the proud recollections of former glory. These--and one thing more, hope—alone remained to them. May that hope, said his Lordship, be one day fulfilled to the utmost of their wishes. Colonel SZYRMO then read a paper which he had pre pared fur the occasion. He gave an ouline of the state astronomy was in at the age of Copernicus. Entering upon the Copernican system, he extolled its superior merits in application to geography, navigation, and espe cially in its legitimate province; astronomy, where it has pared the way to the vast discoveries in the succeeding three Centuries. He dwelt upon the sensation the great work of Copernicus produced in Europe after it appeared in print, and mentioned the singular fact that the first copy of it the astronomer received when on his death bed, and died on the same day. He had bestowed on it thirty-six years, and , published it only at the solicitations of his friends. The lecturer refuted the notion of Coper nicus being a German as absurd, it being of recent date, and unsupported by any historical document. Not one word is said by his biographers, ancient and modern, in confirmation of it. Copernicus was born in 1473, at Thorn, which was a town of Regal i. e. Polish Russia. That province formed at his age an integral part' of Poland, and continued for 300 years after him to belong to that kingdom, until the first partition of it in 1772. Besides, the father of Copernicus was not a native of Thorn, but settled there as a citizen of Cracow (Civis Cracoviensis). Copernicus acquired the rudiments of Greek and Latin in his native town, and completed his studies at the University of Cracow, at that time celebrated for mathematics. The most eminent of the professors there was Albert Brudzewski ; the astrono mer was his pupil. His life was considered by the lec turer under manifold aspects. He deScribed him as a student at Padua, where Copernicus was graduated doctor of philosophy and medicine, and in his character as professor of mathematics at Rome ; as a recluse ; after his return to Cracow, whop maturing his great astronomical system, and, subsequently, in the character of a priest and a canon of Warinia ; as the ad ministrator of the demesnes of the Bishopric, and as an opponent to the Teutonic Order in Prussia, whom he considered as foes to Poland and aliens to the Prussian people ; as a nuncio to the I'olish Diet at Grandentz, and calculating like Newton, debated money currency, and proposing a plan to the States for reducing it to an uniform standard in the whole kingdom; as a physician administering medicaments to the peasantry, by whom, on that account. he was worshipped like a deity (ut ;rumen quoddam) ; as a civil engineer who constructed hydraulic machines for supplying the town with water, and so forth. The sketch he gave of the astronomer's posthumous fame was not - less interesting, and having, in. a tour through Prussia, himself visited all the places where Copernicus resided, he minutely described the house, and the interior of it, where the philosopher was born, and the observatory, where he made his observations. In the portraits be had seen of him he discovered a strong resemblance to Roger Bacon ; and mentioning the representation of Copernicus on the ceiling of the Picture Gallery at Greenwich, with the firmament over his head, and his solar system in his _hand, be said—" Nowhere could a fitter association of Copernicus be made than in that place of England's naval glory, and in the very asylum of the seafaring men who, on their voyages to distant regions, might be said to hang on the abyss and to tread on the stars." Colonel szyrmo added a description of the inauguration of the bronze statue of Copernicus (by Thorwaldsen), which took place at Warsaw, in 1830, and at which he was present. Several excellent and interesting speeches were then delivered by Colonel 'Watson, the Rev. Dr. Worthington, Mr. Wood, and others, who expressed their admiration of discourse which had been delivered by Colonel Szyrmo, and their full concurrence in his views ; and thanks having been voted to that gentleman, and to Lord Dudley Stinsrt, for his conduct in the chair, the meeting separated. SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. On Saturday, a special general meeting of the Pro prietors in this Company was held at the Nine Elms station, Vauxhall, Mr. William Chapman, Chairman of -the Board of Directors, presiding, to take into considera tion the propriety of extending the line to 'Salisbury, Newberry, And Epsom. There was a numerous attend ance of Proprietors, amongst whom were Mr. Chute, IL P., Mr. Tretrart, M.P., and several gentlemen attend ing as a deputation from Salisbury. Mr, MORGAN, the Secretary, read the Directors' Re /ion, from which it appeared that Mr. Locke, the en gineer, hui completed the survey of the proposed line to Epsom, and which, by the construction from the parent line of five miles of railway, touching at Ewell, would brieg Epsom within fourteen miles of Vauxhall, the cost of the line being estimated at 51,000 L and the traffic at 5,4121. per annum, of which a largo) amount would be derived from carrying visitors to 'the races.. The propoSA Salisbury Railway, front the Bishopstoke stetton, by tlo72asey, somewhat under 22 miles, might be enmp:eted for 230 . g baring the advan tage of forming a good communication between the ports of Portsmouth and Southampton. The total estimated revenue to be derived from traffic would be 25,000/, of which 14,0001. would accrue from passengers, so that, allowing 40 per cent. for the, working expenses, there would be 7 per cent. pretit on the investment. The Directors did not propose the construction by themselves of the proposed railway to Newbury, but proposed to accept a lease of it in perpetuity , at it rental of 3,1 per cont. The length of the branch would be about 16 miles, and could be constructed for 200,000/., the traffic being Jutlicient, and more so, than to replace at least 7,0001. u-year. The Directory further proposed, en account of the accession of traffic, to increase _the public accommodation at the Nine Elms station, either bv removing the booking-offices, &c., to a new site next Site W a ndsworth-road, or by transferring thither a por; tient of the good: trade. The Director , proposed that -the requisite capital for these branch liner, the New bury excepted, should bo raised amongst the Proprietors, and concluded their Report by suggesting that they be empowered by the Proprietors in the next session to apply for an Act of Parliament, authorising the con version of the :.hare capital of the Company into stock. The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting at considerable leep-0 on the topics contained in the Report, repreeent ing then great advantages that would accrue to the parent lino by the construction of these tributairy rail wa) s, itt iuldition to the Lutac which it at present de• 'lived from its beint one of the great arteries of commu ideation by means of Portsmoto I and Sindhampton, with India and China, from its connexion with tlie shipping at Portsmouth and the m ili ta ry station et Gosport, and the general traffic of the . south-western parts of _England. The - New- Wry branch hail the support ef Lord Cautery:in. Lord Cr i tven, and Lord it dton, anal the Fupport of his Grace the Pulse of Wel!iugton. A branch to Guildford was also under cmusideration. hung and animated discussion followed, in which M e ,,Chute, Mr. Trowatt, Mr. Tito, Mr. Gilbert, and other; took part. Ultimately resolutions embodying the propositions contained in the Directors report were passed uniinimausly, and the meeting separated. • THE NELSON MONUMENT. — For some days work familavetwert employed on a new scaffolding around the the architect having found, as every passer-by had found long since, that from some defect, either in the position or stincture of the statue, it had a most awkward Appearance. The deformity, it is saul, is caused by that part of the base representing a cab? - e, which completely Judea the legs,.and orders have been given to diminish its proportion. We are not inclined to find Tank with Mr. Railton, who has erected a very beautiful pillar, the oily Corinthian pillar of such a height in the world ; but we have often wished, on viewing the statute from Whitehall, that it might be speedily dashed to the ground by a hurricane. It is a disgrace to the arts in the present day, and, we fear, cannot be mended. PEERY-JANE THEATRE.—The unprecedented at traetwn of the Bohemian Girl, and the new Pantomime, has fillet: the theatre nightly ; •and, amongst others, we bavetiotifted Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, Duke of Devonshire, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl 0f Cardigan, Earl of Wilton, Baron and Baroness Brun slow, .Earl and Countess of Harrington, Marchioness of Conyngliam, Countess of Wustmoreland, Count Nessel rode ; Lathe; Fitzroy . Somerset, Strathaven, Jersey, Dungannon, Graham, Strafford, Mary Berkeley, Towns end, Villiers, Seymour, Mary Ross, Sheffield ; Lords Castlereagh, . Dovr, Qssulston, W. Beresford, Clifton, ltussell, Seymour, De Manley ; Baron Knes,beck ; General Sir .De Lacy Evans, Sir Frederick Trench, 33art. ; Sir Henry Munloke, Bark; Sir Henry Webbe, Part.; lion. Cecil Forester ; Hon. Mr. Grevillo $ lion. Mr. Anson, Hon. Miss Tollemache. pictuorouraN IMPROVEMENTS.—On Friday, in consequence of orders from the Commissioners of Woods stud Forests, the -occupiers of the several houses facing Great St. Andrew's-street, Seven-dials, removed their goods and furniture? preparatory to their being taken down. for the imProVem, erns, it*t . that neighbourhood, for which purpoSe they wilt be sold in a few days. When removed, there will be a direct - line -from Upper St. llartin's-lane, into Broad-street, St. Giles's, which will snake a very spacious streek•- The houses which formed ?fiddle-row, Holborn have bean , demolished for the tissue object. Several houses in Plumptrn-Street, nearly oppOsite to Great St. Andrew's-street, have been pur chased by the Commissioners, and will be pulled down to toon as possible, in order to form the line from Ox for4l44,Teet to Holborn. Many houses in this line, dur ing the last few weeks, have been cleared away, _ (From Tuit's Magazine for January.) In the modern Politician's Calendar, the month of De cember might aptly enough be termed the Guessing Month. It is then, and up to the meeting of Parliament, that all sorts of rumours arid conjectures are se' afloat ; that feelers are thrown out by party organs, and tubs are launched to amuse the whale ; while every new day demolishes the lie of yesterday, and spreads its more novel fabrication. According to one late rumour, the Whigs and Tories are to coalesce ; in order, we presume, that a strong Government may show a bold face to the country and the Anti-Corn-law Laague, and save as much of the wreck of " Landlords' Protection" as is now possible. Other reports make the Whigs and Radicals fraternize, but forget to say for what purpose. Cer tainly not to carry a fixed duty on imported corn, and make a final stand upon the grand Russell prin ciple of Finality. Reports, quite as extravagant, hint at Sir Robert Peel being about to become a total repealer ! In the midst of these contradictory rumours, whether cireulated by the quidnuncs of the Clubs, or by editors at their wit's end for a new idea, and fond of being imagined in the secrets of the Government or the Opposition, we may mention a fresh report that has more of novelty to recommend it, with quite as much probability as any of those which have enlightened or amused the public dur ing the currency of the guessing month. It is whispered in " high circles," that it is understood to be theinten tion of" a great personage," on the first hitch, which cannot be very far distant, to send for Earl Spencer, who lately made so emphatic a declaration for Free Trade, and against fixed duties, sliding scales, and all the other apparatus of monopoly. We do not see that the love of retirement, or any consideration of self, could absolve Earl Spencer from obeying the commands of his Sove reign in the contemplated emergency. lie will, no doubt, receive ample powers to form a broad-based and really Liberal Administration ; - fitted to meet the exigencies of the times, and calculated by ability, integrity, and moral influence, to gain the support and win the confidence of every class of citizens. It is, however, believed that Earl Spencer will on no consideration accept of office. But is this a conjuncture in which a good man, with'the power to serve his country, can conscientiously decline the responsibilities of place, on the mere plea of disinclina tion ? Or, if' determined against place, then the new and anomolous office of Director of the Cabinet, and umpire of public affairs, held at present by the Duke of Wellington, may be vacant ; and it cannot be more un constitutional when held by a peaceful, sagacious, and Free Trade Earl, than by a warlike and Conservative Duke. If ever there was a time when, leaving factious motives and party interests to those that like them and thrive by them, enlightened and unanimous councils and energetic measures were required, it is now ; and from what party administration, whether represented by Sir Robert Peel or Lord John Russell, can the nation rationally hope for what it urgently requires ? These rumours and speculations may seem idle enough and perhaps they are so ; but not so the pertinent question, That if Sir Robert Peel be not the man who is either to work out the salvation of the commonwealth, or even to lend a helping hand in finishing what the League have all but accomplished without, or in spite of Whig or Tory help or- opposition, who, then, is that man ? Where are we to look for him ? And if none such be found in the Whig or Tory ranks, the next question is—Does the country possess none of the desired material ? IS there not intelligence and virtue sufficient in its own bosom to guide its councils and to save itself ? In the heart of the people of America and of France, the rulers of France and America are looked for and found. So, we presume, it - is expected to be in Ireland, should that country ever become an independent kingdom. England alone, though nearly all its science, knowledge, business, talent, and enterprise, are to be found among its middle classes, must be governed exclusively by its aristocracy; by Whig and Tory alternately, as of hereditary right ! When the Queen shall verify the above rumour (for which we do not vouch), by sending for Earl Spencer to aid her with his advice as to how a new Government may best be framed, we anticipate that " Honest Lord Al thorp" - will act upon the simple and true principle of, in every case, recommending the man best adapted for the office ; that he will—to illustrate our opinion—point out Mr. Rowland Rill for Postmaster-General, as infi nitely tho best choice that could be made; and Mr. M‘Gregor, Mr. Cobden, or. Mr. Grote, for the Board of Trade. Either Mr. Joseph Hume or a reformed Sir Robert Peel, might make a very fair Chancellor of the Exchequer. We are not so sure of Joseph' Sturge, a man of peace, succeeding Lords Palmerston and Aber deen as Foreign Secretary ; but are next to certain, that Lord Dunfermline would be pointed out as Lord-Lieu tenant of Ireland. We, however, merely enunciate the principle on which the new Ministry might be formed, and do not pretend to enter into details. Nor do we give currency to these rumours merely to raise a foolish laugh ; but in the sober assurance, that official appoint ments must be made on this principle, before there can be either peace in Ireland, - or prosperity in England. In speculating upon changes in the Administration, or of Lord John Russell taking, for a time, the place of Sir Robert Peel, no one appears to get farther than the hackneyed idea, that, as a matter of course, the Whigs must come in ; because .Sir Robert Peel has lost the confidence of the middle classes, and is distrusted and de serted by the High Tories. No one seems to believe the Premier possessed of that moral courage, of that confi dence in himself, and that strength of purpose which, by arousing the enthusiasm of the country, might make the day of his apparent defeat the birth-hour of his ultimate triumph. And yet so tim id is dishonesty, that some of the Whigs Sepin in trepidation lest the manoeuvring Sir Robert should - once more forestall them, by all at once giving effect to his " abstract principles." However this may be, Sir Robert will assuredly not stoop to pick up the abortive Whig " fixed duty." That is now repu diated by everybody but Whigs. They need not be alarmed for Sir Robert's manoeuvres here. Whatever becomes of his Tories, the majority of the electoral body will support any Minister who, nailing his colours to the mast, declares for total repeal. Less will satisfy no member of the League. That Association ha not, we would hope, in the opinion of the nation, per formed its work so badly, that it must all be done over again at some future period, in order to get rid of the fernientive dregs of the iniquitous impost, the eight or five shilling duty. If the principle of a tax on the people's food, for the protection, as it is called, of the land owners, be recognised, and retained in any shape, what shall prevent its increase ? We have had half-a-dozen changes of sliding-scales and corn-laws within the last thirty years ; and what is to give security against other changes and increase in the amount of duty ? What shalt prevent what is eight.- shillings this year from be coming sixteen shillings in another, or twenty-four shil linc;-; in a third ? Besides the effect of free trade can neve r have scope for ,development while any vestige of duty or restriction remains. The League have not surely, as we said, done their work in so loose or slovenly a way, that it may be all to do over again in another generation. We ara not afraid of this ; but then the feat settlement must be final. If Sir Robert Pee' .as courage to be the 'Minister that will manfully pr.( pose the only Omissible terms of final settlement, there is, we believe, a spirit in the country that will bear him out. But he has not. It is mere folly to look for it. Will Lord John Russell then, sometime between this and next Easter, looking to the triumphant.progres sion of the League—to its geometrical progression screw his courage to the proper pitch; declare, like Earl Spencer, for the total repeal of the corn-laws, and also tor the abandonment of the income-tax; and, instead of finality, take up the suffrage where Lord Durham left it in the lurch eight years since? This is surely not much. Tnis is not asking. anything either impracticable or visionary; lout it is moving onward—and that mere Whigs never will do, Sir Robert Peel has of late been fully snore liberal-20 far as a flourish of fair words at agricultural meetings goes—than, for example, Mr. La honehere. 130th gentlemen tell the farmers in substance, that since bandlords cannot hope much longer to squeeze rack-rents out of the pooplu (the agriculturists included), the farmers must contrive to !open,: them out of the soil; fur " rents must be maintained." We h4ve no spirits at this time to speak of Ireland. We anticipate a protraeted and irritating trial; and, it the Government has the ram) good fortune to obtain a verdict, a grand stroke of.graoiousnega and magnani mity, Nt the pardon of, at least, the principal culprit (if he s hould eves , be even sentenced) ; and then England and Ireland will 4tarid n 4 no better terms than betbre. THE LATE LORD f:Y 141 - Spowt.-We understand that intimation was sent to the relatives of the late Lord, that, if it would meet their wishes, or not be inconsistent w i t h the intentions of the,deccased, his remains would be tlepaiited in WestiginSter - Abbey. However deserv ing of this honour, and however gratifying such request wai to his surviving relatives, it could not be taken ad vantage of, as, we understand, his Lordship had ex• pressed on his death-bed a decided wish to be buried beside the ashes of his long.lexcented wife which lie in M tloan church- yard. With a view to this, his Lord• ship, some years ago, caused a piece of ground within that place to be inclosed fur a family burying ground. — Perthshire Courier. A few days since an inhabitant of Bamptnn, sent a man in his employ to get change for a sovereign. The servant proved a rogue, and never returned again, but_ &mud his way to this town, where he set about spending the cash. Whilst in a public house drinking, he had his pocket picked of somo of the stolen money, and detect ing the thief, ho gave him into the custody of,our active Inspector Satnuels, on a charge of robbing him. In the meanwhile his master hail traced the delinquent to Taun ton, and had given information to the police, who soon found him out. The first rogue was then given into custody charged with purloining his master's property. The owner of the sovereign eventually declined to prose cute, and the knave,_ in gratitude for his escape, refused to appear against the man who had abstracted a poetlon of the stolen coin from his pocket. Thus two rascals have escaped from the bands of justice through mistaken kindness.—Somerset Gazette. THE hum' POPULACE.. 7 —The Irish are a very ro ligious people, and have all kinds of pretty pious saluta tions always at hand. If they pass people at work in a field the regular form is n nd Mess your work," and the answer " Save you too." • It' ono praisas - a person or even a thing, or more especially a child, one must nevee forget to add " God bless it," for praise always seems stivicious to an Irishman, and, unless accompanied by an invocation of God's blessing, it 4ppefgq to him to dicate a desire either to possess it oneself or to destroy it by calliag towards it the attention of fairies and bad sphiis., who are always lipon the look ont for what is beautiful,..; An Irish isioiligr would rather hear a Stranger say, " *What a nasty, screaming, disagreeable brat your child is," than ". What a charming little angel you've got there," unlesi he instantly warned off the bad spirits by adding " God ideas him." As Owl !ever forget to ask a blessing, they are also most diligant in returning thanks. " Thanks to the great God," is a phrase often in their mouths, and certainly I believe in t h e i r b oa rp also. They often utter this thanksgiving even when speaking or a misfortune, as " I've lost my . poor dear little child , thau k s to 11w great rod."—Hu ll 4drertiper. TTIE - RUN, LONDON, MO DAY F.VENVI4G, JANUARY 1, 044. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS WINTErt ASSIZES on the side nearest to which the keepers stood by the road leading from Alsager's bank to Sladdenhill, which alone separated them from the hedge in which was the rail-place adverted to. About two o'clock in the morn ing of the 4th of August Vaughan observed two men coming up the road from the direction of Alsager's bank, who deliberately proceeded to fix a purse-net across the gap. No sooner had they done so than Vaughan and Beech issued from their place of concealment, and ad vanced towards the poachers, who were sworn to by Vaughan as being the two prisoners at the bar. At this moment Beech had round him a leathern belt, from which hung a cutlass, and Vaughan was only . armed with a life-preserver, fastened to his right wrist by a thong, he having left his double-barreled gun, which was loaded, leaning against a tree in the coppice. The moment the keepers were seen by the prisoners, a rush was made at them by the latter, and Oakes, according to Vaughan's testimony, clubbing a gun, he had in his hand raised it, and felled both him and Beech to the ground with the butt. A struggle ensued between the four, as soon as the two keepers rose, the one indicated as Spils bury and Vaughan fighting together, while Beech and the other, during the contest, got into the field on the opposite side of the road to the plantation, and out of Vaughan's sight. What occurred between them, there fore, could not precisely be ascertained. Vaughan was found lying insensible on the ground by a man named Penlington. In order to connect the prisoners more closely with the horrible transaction," a number of witnesses were called, the aggregate of whose testimony raised an amount of evidence against them which seemed almost insurmountable. It was distinctly shown that Oakes was in company with two other men on the previous evening, and was going in the direction of Mr. Heath cote's land. Several other persons saw both him and Spilsbury, about two hours after the murder, coining from the spot where it had been committed, and laden with hares. Their conduct also on many occasions after they were in custody tended to lead to the inference of their guilt. They were both notorious poachers ; Oakes had been taken up by Beech for poaching in February last, and had repeatedly uttered threats of vengeance against the deceased ; and some observations which they made while attending the inquest were proved as mili tating strongly against the supposition of their innocence. Mr. YARDLEY, in an able and powerful address, con tended on the part of the prisoners, that Vaughan must have been unintentionally mistaken about Oakes ' • that, knowing him from previous facts to be a notoriously bad character, and an habitual poacher, he too hastily con cluded that he was his assailant in this instance. The Learned Counsel further suggested, that all the other circumstances, as interpreted by the prosecution, were perfectly reconcilable with the hypothesis submitted by the prisoners on their own behalf. It was true that they were out poaching on the fatal night, and he would not deny that they had even been on Mr. Heathcote's land ; but that supposition was compatible with their inno cence, as were all the minor occurrences that had been detailed, which might have taken place, but which lite rally amounted to nothing if Vaughan were mistaken in his evidence. The jury would, moreover, bear in mind that the conduct of the two men was hardly reconcilable with that of men guilty of murder ; for it could scarcely be conceived that human beings, however depraved, could be so utterly lost to all sense of decency, and every re gard for their own security, as to ° c.. 0 on poaching for some hours after the perpetration of a barbarous murder. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to analyse the whole of the evidence adduced on behalf of the Crown, and to show that there was a sufficient amount of doubt raised by some points which appeared upon the investi gation of the case (and which it is unnecessary here to enumerate) in favour of the men at the bar to justify tke jury in returning a verdict of acquittal. Mr. Baron ROLFE, upon the close of this address, summed up in a most lucid and perspicuous manner, and the jury, after consulting about a quarter of an hour, found a verdict of Not Guilty as to both prisoners. The trial lasted upwards of ten hours, and the details were listened to with the most patient attention by a densely-crowded Court. The prisoners had also been arraigned on another in dictment, in which Spilsbury was charged with stabbing and wounding . Vaughan, with intent to kill and murder him, and Oakes was chargedl with aiding and assisting NORTHERN CIRCUIT, Liverpoo4 Dec. 29. FROM THE EVENING PA't.EAS OF SATURDAY. GLOBE.—The Standard of last evening has a letter from Mr. Abel Heywood, a tradesman of Man chester, in which the most formal and circumstantial contradiction is given to the atrocious calumny first broached by Mr. Ferrand, and endorsed and propa gated by the Standard, that " one of their members (meaning the Anti-Corn-law League), at a private meeting of their body in Manchester, declared that he was prepared to subscribe to a fund for the purpose of procuring the assassination of Sir Robert Peel." Mr. Heywood gives the most ample proof of the utter groundlesness of the statement, in a plain, unvarnished tale—" a fair and true version of the whole affair :—" " In July, 1842, a deputation from the body of shop keepers in this town was appointed to go to London, and lay before Sir Robert Peel the then distressed con dition of great numbers of their body. The . deputa tion were unsuccessful in obtaining an interview with Sir Robert, but they succeeded with Lord Ripon, Lord Ashley, and several others, before whom they laid their whole case. " On their return, a public meeting, convened by ad vertisement, was called and held in the large room at the Corn Exchange Inn, to receive their report. At that meeting, and nut at a private one, I deplored the alarm ing discontent which existed, not only amongst the working classes, who were suffering very severely, but amongst a class of men (shopkeepers) who, upon all occasions, bad been ready to lend their assistance to the authorities in the preservation of peace and order. "To illustrate and explain more positively what I meant, I stated, that upon asking a shopkeeper for a donation towards the expenses of the deputation to Lon don, he replied, that he would not object to subscribe to a fund for the purpose of shooting Sir Robert Peel." When we apply the term " formal" to this contra diction of the calumny alluded to, it will be seen that the phrase is inadequate to express the absolute demo lition of Mr. , Ferrand's fabrication,• - which it effects. The writer of the letter is the very individual to whom the expression, so ingeniously perverted to the pur poses of falsehood, was addressed. It was by him re peated, not at a private meeting, but at "a public meeting (of the League) convened by advertisement." Mr. Heywood concludes his letter in the Standard with these words :—" This, Sir, is a plain statement of the case ; and was no more connected with the League than you are." No one not absolutely blinded by private fury and a wish for revenge, ever doubted for a moment but that Mr. Ferrand's story — supported and vouched for though it was by the Standard—would turn out to be a mean and despicable invention—the product of an imagination over which truth exercises no control, and shame fails to restrain from the indulgence of the most unscrupulous ex cesses. It too seldom happens, however, that the means of vindicating the reputation of maligned parties are so promptly' afforded as.in the present instance. Mr. Heywood's letter leaves no room for the most ingenious malice to suggest a doubt upon the subject. The Premier-assassination story of Mr. Ferrand and the Standard is thereby proved to be an entire falsehood. It may now be asked, not what will these worthies, this par nobile, think of them selves—they have long since ceased to feel as ordi narily constituted minds would feel under such cir cumstances—but what will every honest mind, no matter what its party predilections may be, think and say of them f The Standard has, we admit, made some atonement by publishing Mr. Heywood's letter; and has thus become the herald of its own shame. The reparation is, however, in harmony with the original offence.' The calumny was blazoned forth with all the aids which conspicuous type, and pro minent position on the page, could effect : the unwearied allusions to, and comments upon, the alleged assassination plot, were displayed with equal. pomp of print, that they might attract the eye, and impress the mind with due horror for the in cipient assassins. The letter which confutes the cherished lie is printed in very small type, and thrust into an obscure corner. But this is Standard mo rality I—another practical exemplification of those claims to superior honour and conscience in the con duct of a public journal, which the Standard is wont to put forth, with characteristic modesty, in its own behalf! What atonement Mr. Ferrand will make re mains to be seen. Unless he can disprove the facts, or rail away the effect of Mr. Heywood's letter— neither of which is likely to be achieved, even by his proverbial ingenuity and courageous use of the powers of speech—his future efforts in furtherance of the cause to which he has devoted' his appropriate mental, moral, and physical faculties, will be worse than use less. He must be content to lie under the imputation of being what every honourable mind will deem him to be, 'but which it would disfigure our columns, without a periphrasis, to describe. STANDARD.—Mr. Abel Heywood, whose letter to the Times appeared in yesterday's S t andard, is not an accurate reasoner. Mr. Ferrand had stated, in a letter'to the Times, that a certain' atrocious proposi tion was made at a private meeting of " the League" at Manchester. No, says Mr. Abel Heywood, the atrocious proposition in question was not made at the private meeting of the League, but reported by me at another meeting—not a meeting of the League,_ co nomine, though doubtless composed of Leaguers. Now, every one must see that there is no contradiction here ; that the witnesses depose to totally different transactions, and that both may therefore tell the truth, as we very confidently believe they do. Mr. Heywood heard the proposition in one place, Mr. Ferrand's informant in a second, the Rev. Mr. Bailey heard it in a third, and the Members of the House of Commons, we may add, heard something very like it hinted at from the lips of the great Leaguer himself. Upon a view of the whole matter, indeed, Mr. Abel Heywood's statement confirms instead of contradicting the statements of Mr. Fer: rand ; for Mr. Heywood testifies that what they re ferred to was talked about by the persons whose connexion with the League it is impossible to doubt, though at the time they did not, perhaps, sit as Leaguers; the Rev. Mr. Bailey tells a similar story with reference to What was, we suppose, a bona fide Leaguers' meeting. The great Leaguer launches his menace in the House of Commons, evi dently pointed in the same direction — proofs that the minds of the Leaguers were filled with the project, and proof, therefore, of the great probability that Mr. Ferrand's informant told nothing but the truth. There is no jury, we think, which, satisfied of the separate and distinct declarations of the same purpose of a conspiracy, made by different members of the conspiracy at different times and places, would hesitate to believe an unimpeached witness, testifying to a fourth declaration of a conspirator to the same - effect, and more particularly after the purpose had been (in the attempt) cruelly realised: A thousand witnesses like Mr. Heywood will, by their multiplied evidence, only prove the extent to which the execrable feeling of which Mr. Drummond was the victim pervaded the body of the conspirators. It is much, indeed, to be wished that snore such witnesses as Mr. Abel Hey wood may present themselves; perhaps some of them many enlighten the public as to the party by whom M'Naghten was prompted. Let us not be misunder stood; we have a very bad opinion of every Leaguer without exception, because we See them all embarked in a conspiracy which deals out nothing but lies, slander, and sedition, and tries to take in as much money as it can get, and which is therefore a treason able or a swindling confederation, or both ; but with all this very-bad opinion of the Leaguers, we are from saying that every Leaguer is an assassin—strong as are the testimonies that many Leaguers have sug gested assassination. Some Leaguers are merely greedy oppressors of the poor, some mere harmless swindlers, and some few, perhaps, simple block heals; hut though we arc far from saying that all Leaguers are assassins, it is, perhaps, not too much to infer, from the evidence before us, that all who have a hankering after assassination are either Leaguers, or likely to became Leaguers. Since the time of the late Mr. Ings, one of the parties who par ticipated in Mr. Thistlewood's mkfortune," as they call it in Ireland—from the time of Mr. Trims, who waxed the handle of his knife that he might operate mare steadily in cutting a Minister's throat, nobody has talked of summarily disposing of his fellow-creatures in the same cool and business dike tone as the Leaguers. These men Entitle their proposition with the easy freedom from reserve which men employ in proposing matters of course, and proposing matters, for the proposition of which they fear no rebuke, and in effect they appear to have met with no rebuke. From all we know, 'either the project offered was prosecuted, or, if laid aside, laid aside solely on the ground of expediency. No one seems to have thought assassination, abstract edly, wrong. Nicholas Clark, late of Manchester, labourer, was ar raigned upon an indictment charging him with the wilful murder of Catherine Rippingham, otherwise Ca therine Clark, by striking and beating her with his hands, and kicking her with his feet. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr. Joseph Pollock conducted the prosecution. In answer to a question from his Lordship, the prisoner said he was a poor man, and could not afford to employ counsel, whereupon his Lordship said that Mr. James had kindly offered to undertake his defence. Mr.-Pomocx, in stating the case, said the principal question for the jury would be, whether there seas such reasonable and immediate provocation as would reduce the amount of the offence. After stating the circum stances of the case, and mentioning the fact, that for three years the deceased bad lived with the prisoner, and was by some supposed to be his wife, the Learned Counsel called witnesses. The particulars of this case have been so recently given in our columns, in reference to the coroner's inquest, that it may suffice now to state that on the 12th ult. the prisoner and the de ceased being in the house of a Mrs. Colvin, he called her out, and immediately afterwards she ran back into the house followed by the prisoner, who struck her on the head with his hand, and kicked her on the neck and breast and left side. On receiving the kicks on her side, the deceased exclaimed she was killed. She was put to bed up stairs, and died that day week. The surgeon who was called in three days after the injury had been inflicted, was deceived by being told that the deceased had a cold, and was only informed that she had been hurt the night before she died. On the post mortem examination, the surgeon found injuries to the spleen and liver ; either of which would cause death, and must have been produced by a violent blow, or kick, or external pressure. Mr. JAMES, for the prisoner, contended there was no evidence of malice, to constitute the offence murder. Ilis Lordship recapitulated the evidence, and the jury, after retiring for ten minutes, found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter. The prisoner was then sentenced to bo transported for life. The following priaoners were called up to receive their sentences :—Roger Horrocks, James Howarth, and Mary Ann Hulse, co:ivicted of blurglary, were severally sen tenced to be transported for ten years. Charles Booth, Charles Jones, Thomas Hale, James Bailey, and Henry Mann, who had all pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary, were sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, and hard labour. John Walker, convicted for highway robbery, to be imisoned for twelve months to hard labour. William Slack, convicted of burglary, to be imprisoned for twelve months to bard labour. James Francis Bentley and George Allin4on, who had both pleaded guilty to forgery, were sentenced to be ,transported for ten years. James Moss Smith, who had pleaded guilty to two in dictments, one charging him with embezzlement, and the other with obtaining money by false pretences, was sentenced, for the first offence, to be imprisoned for ten calendar months, and kept to hard labour ; and for the false pretence, to be imprisoned for three months. James Newbold, convicted upon his own confession, of stealing in a dwelling-house, was sentenced to be im prisoned for eight calendar months, and kept to hard labour. Owen Rooney, convicted of feloniously stabbing George Seymout, with intent, to do him some grievous bodily harm, was sentenced 0 be transported for fifteen years. John Sullivan, who had pleaded guilty to having fraudulently incited and procured another person, to be guilty of the crime of forgery, was sentenced to be im prisoned for two sears, and kept to hard labour. (Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.) John Cabrew, a sea-captain, was indicted under the Merchant Seaman's Act, for unlawfully foreing and leaving on shore in parts beyond the seas one John Hill, one of his crew, before the completion of the voyage for which he was engaged. Mr. Brandt and Mr. Whigham conducted the case for the prosecution; the prisoner was defended by Mr. James and Mr. Drinkwater. The defendant was Captain of the Mediterranean, a vessel belonging to Mr. T. Tobin, which sailed on an African voyage in March, 1842, and returned in No vember, 1843. Henry Leatherbarrow stated that he was chief mate of the Mediterranean. At Ambreeze, on the coast of Africa, they shipped a new hand named John Hill, from the frigate Madagascar. Believed it was in July, 1842. About three days before the 6th of December, Hill was put in irons, and kept in irons until that day, when he was seized up the main rigging and flogged, and imme diately afterwards was ordered to get his traps ready to go ashore. This was by the captain, who ordered the Kroo-boys to get the canoe ready, and the captain or dered him to get into the canoe. The canoe returned with Hill in about an hour and a half, saying the beach was so bad they could not land him, the surf ran too high. One of the Kruo-men came on board, and went down into the cabin with the captain. His name was " Bottle of Beer." The. Kroo-men got into the canoe again, and they shoved off, the captain telling them :o land him, and the canoe returned the following morning without Will. The vessel was then off Chillungo. Should say Hill went ashore against his. will. Cross-examined.—The defendant had a factory there, and at several places beside. They were stations where he kept his goods, and a person to take care of them. Hill was a very disorderly sailor. The reason of his being put in irons was in consequence of his attempting to take away a canoe, and to run away from the ship. That was on the 2d of December, in the night. He was put in irons the following morning. Did not hear him say he would not do any work. He was put into irons about eight o'clock in the morning ; but it is stated to be at eight o'clock in the evening in the log. That and .many other entries made by witness, were not true.. Witness swears he did not hear any one ask him to return to work, and he would be taken out of irons. Under the circumstances, did not think it his duty to ask him to return to work. Hill refused to work in Sep tember, whilst witness and the captain were at dinner. He used very abusive language, and said he would not do any more work on board the vessel. On his return home witness was discharged by the captain, as he said, for misconduct. Baden and Russell are not here as wit nesses. They were never punished during the voyage. All the rest of the witnesses in attendance, except Brown, were punished. Hill was flogged with a bitch or heather rod. Ile had sixty strokes, and was asked about every dozen strokes wheLher he would return to cr sa b out e work. He said, it was no use going to work for he should get no wages. We cruised u t the e a coast d for e twelve months, andwere frequently Chillongo. There were six men from our ship taken on board a man-of-war, and we received four from that vessel, only. one of whom was fit for the helm. Believed there was a town about three miles from where Hill was put on shore. Told the captain there would be a day of reckoning. Other witnesses gave a similar account of the manner in which 11111 was put on shore. Henry Hutchins, a black man, the steward of the vessel, deposed to Hill coining to the factory at Loango, of which the witness was in charge, two days after he was put on shore in a state of exhaustion ; he remained two or three days, and was carried off by an American on hoard her Majesty's inati-of- war Rapid. When the Mediteranetin came to Loango the captain came on shore and asked after llill, and was told that he had gone on board the Rapid. Loango is about thirty miles from Chillongo. Mr. James then proceeded to address the jury for the defence. It ,was clear the captain had a mutinous and worthless crew to deal with, and therefore it became his duty to the owner of the ship to resort to flogging, which he was perfectly justified in doing, but it did not appear that there was any cruelty in the flogging, as it was merely with a birch rod. Ile remarked upon the con tradictions in the evidence, which he contended left the case in such doubt as the jury could not safely convict. A number of witnesses were called to the defendant's character. His Lt)RDSHIP then summed up the case. After stating the nature of the indictment, he said there were two questions for the consideration of the jury —first, whether the defendant did force and leave behind one of his crew ? and next, whether he did so before the completion of the voyage for which he was engaged? The jury retired, and, after being in consultation about ten minutes, pronounced the prisoner Guilty. Ilis LORDSHIP sentenced the prisoner to be impri soned six calendar months. A few more cases, of no public interest, were disposed of, and closed the business of the assizes. him. In reply to questions from his Lordship, Mr. CORBETT said that as the evidence to support that indictment would be the same as in the last case, and as he con cludedthat the jury were of opinion that Vaughan had been mistaken, he should not proceed with that indict ment. His LORDSHIP concurred !with Mr. Corbett; and, no evidence being offered on this indictment, a verdict of Not Guilty was recorded. _ SOUTH WALES.--Carmarthen, Dec. 30. THE REBECCAITES. — John Jones, alias Shoni-scybor fuwr, David Davies, alias Dai y Cantwr, Win. Walters , and 'hainas Morris, charged with a riot at Spudder's Bridge, on the Bth of September last, were placed at the bar to take their trial for the misdemeanor. They were also charged with feloniously demolishing a toll-house. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL rose, and stated that for the misdemeanor he should enter a nolle prosequi as to John Jones, David Davies, and William Walters. Thomas Morris, the other prisoner, was then charged with the misdemeanor, and he pleaded guilty., The ATTORNEY-6 ENERAL said, that from what he had heard the prisoner was in part compelled to join in the riot ; and he should be satisfied if he were to enter into his own recognisances to appear and receive the judgment of the Court, whenever called upon, and be of good behaviour in the meantime. lie was bound over in the sum of 501. to appear, and was then discharged. The case of John Jones, David Davies, William Walters, and Thomas Morris, for feloniously demolish ing the Spudders' Bridge Gate, came-on next. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he should enter a nolle prosequi as against the two last-named prisoners. The other two were then arraigned, and pleaded Guilty. Mr. LLOYD HALL, who appeared for the prisoner Jones, said that the prisoner was anxious to express his contrition for the offence. Of course he could not ex pect mercy, but- if the tear of mercy would blot out a few years of the punishment allotted to him, he was confident, from what he knew of the head and heart of her Majesty's Attorney-General, that his eye would shed that tear. Sentence on the prisoners was &fold.. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (SATURDAY.) CITY POLICE COMMITTEE. Mr, Bush? idge, the landlord of the Robin Heod public house, in Robin Hood-court, Shoe-lane, Fleet-street, appeared, in company with Mr. Duncombe, the solicitor, before Mr. Alderman Challis and Sir James Duke, to answer a charge laid by the police for unlawfully and knowingly permitting persons of notorious bad character —to wit, thieves, &c.—to assemble and meet togther in his house on the night of the 14th inst., contrary to the tenour of his license, and against the Statute. He pleaded not guilty. The constable who laid the information, George Ham, No. 205, stated that on the day mentioned in the sum mons, at about midnight, he went into the Robin Hood, and in the tap-room found nearly twenty persons assem bled. Amongst them he recognised eight notorious thieves, namely, six men and two females. Five of them he knew had been convicted. He saw the defendant at the bar, and told him he should summons him for having improper persons in his house. The defendant knew what he (witness) meant, he having laid au information against him for a similar offence some months since. Sir JAMES DUKE (to the officer)—You have stated that you knew them to be notorious thieves. Do you know their names? Witness—Yes, Sir, I do. Sir JAMES DUKE—Then name them. Witness—They are called the " Piggott's Gang." Sir JAMES not an answer to my ques tion. Witness—Their names I know to be Williatn Piggott, Hugh Christ, John Luton, Little Old Man, and Cavener. Sir JAMES DVKE—What were they convicted for ? Witness—Some were convicted at the Old Bailey. Sir JAMES DUKE—Were you in the Court at • the time ? Witness—l was not. ' Sir JAMES DUKE —How long ago is it since the con viction took place? Witness—l cannot tell. Sir JAMES DUKE—Have you made any inquiries of the proper authorities, or obtained a copy of k any official document to prove to the Magistrates that these persons are convicted thieves? Witness—l have not, Sir. Sir JAMES Duxv..—Have you any witnesses to call to prove that they are convicted thieves ? Witness— No, I have not. Mr. Duricomnu (the defendant's solicitor)—Then where did you obtain your information from ? Witness —A brother constable told me. Mr. DUNVOMBE—I thought so ; and is he here ? Witness—No, he is not.—(A laugh). Sir JAMES DUKE (with much surprise)—Then how do you expect we can go into the case, upon the wholesale manner in which you have brought it into Court ? For my part, I will never decide upon such evidence. Mr. Alderman CHALLIS—Nor will I. You ought to have brought proof before us that these parties were characters who had been tried and convicted. Your statement amounts only to hearsay. The defendant said he used every precaution in his power to prevent bad characters entering his house ; respecting the man Piggott, whom the officer had spoken of as being a thief, he could positively state, that if he had been convicted, it had not been during the last ten years. Sir JAMES DUKE and Mr. Alderman CHALLIS dis missed the summons ; but cautioned the defendant to be careful for the future, otherwise the license of his house would be endangered. CLERKENWELL. WESTERN CIRCUIT, Winchester, Dec. 30. Win. Blake and Daniel Bacon were indicted for as saulting and rubbing Benjamin Twitchin on the high way, on the 17th of July last. Mr. St. John conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Saunders and Mr. Rawlinson defended the prisoners. Without any evidence being called for the defence the jury acquitted the prisoners. John Philippa was indicted for cutting and wounding Richard llaynes, a policeman, at Gosport, with infant to `murder him. Mr. Poulden conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Missing appeared for the prisoner, who was found guilty of the assault, with intent to do some grievous bodily harm, and transported f or 15 y e ars. The business of th e ass i ze s concluded on Saturday morning. - - - CRUEL TREATMENT 'Or THE HOLYHEAD AND CAR• NARVON MAIL Omen lionsEs.—Mr. Thomas, secretary to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, brought heforp the magistrates at Abergele, three very gross cases of this description. John Daven port, Esq., of Vaenol, Carnarvonshire, who had written to the Society on the subject, deposed to the wretched condition of the , horses employed in the Carnarvon mail to Chester, and ftlAo in the Carnavon day mail. The horses were all dreadffilly galled, and quite unfit for work. 'rho third complaint was proved by Mr. Thomas himself, with regard to the Holyhead mail. The mtigistrateti convicted each of the drivers, and ordered them to pay a fine of 40s. and lOs. costs each, or to be imprisoned 14 days. The drivers all ad mitted the charge, and said they were obliged to flog the liCirSP3 MAO 110111e1Tiftlilh in order to be up to time, the poor animals were so overworked, tureen, the contractor, expressed . his regret that such serious cause of complaint should have existed, and said he would pay the penalties and coias,, and take clire . to guard against it in future. Mr, groti,havin paid 4. los. gr. Thomas requested the magistrates to name some charity to pay the moiety of the penalties to ; they directed 31. to be paid to the Ahergele National School, and the remainder as directed by the Act of Parliament.--Shieterbury Chronicle. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Stafford, Dec. 29. (Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.) TUE APEDALE MURDER.—On his Lordship resuming his seat. in the Crown Court this morning, James Oates and Benjamin Spilsbury, the latter a most ferocious looking ruffian, were placed at the bar, charged with the wilful murder of James Beech, on the 4th of August last, at the parish of Audley, in this county. Mr. Corbett am! Mr. Kinnersley conducted the pro secution ; Mr. Yardley and Mr. lluddlcstono appeared for the defence. _ _ John Gibson, a decently-attired young man, was charged by Charles Gibson, his brother, residing in Francis-place, Holloway, with having assaulted and wounded him under the following circumstances : Before the prosecutor was sworn, the tno her of the prosecutor and defendant, a respectable looking elderly woman, who was exceedingly affected, addressing the Magis'rate said, that the quarrel between the parties was of a very trifling nature, and they felt desirous of arranging the matter amicably, without entering into the exposure attendant on a prosecution. Mr. GREENWOOD thought, as they were brothers, that would be the wisest course to adopt in the case. Prosecutor—But he has stabbed me, and inflicted wounds. I am willing to forego a prosecution, but I shall require him to put in heavy bail to keep the peace towards me. I do not wish him to be punished if he does so. The murder which formed the subject of the present inresti..ation was com m i tte d on the morning of the 4th of Dist August, upon the land of Mr. B. E. Heathcote, at Apedale-hall, near Newcastle, under the following circumstances The neighbourhood of Mr. Heathcote's estate was, as it seems, unfortunately much infested with poachers, whose continual nightly depredations have latterly been carried on to a consid era bl e e xtent. In anticipaion of a visit from some characters of this description. Mr. Heathoote's head keeper, James Vaughan, accompanied by James Beech, a con s t a bl e , s tationed themselves in a coppice about 250 yards from the hall, from which spot they could command a view of a " run " in an opposite hedge, through which hares were in the habit of conti nually passing. The plantation where the keepers had taken their stand consisted of young oaks, fir trees, and beeches, of about four years' growth, averaging. from six to nine or ten feet in height, and Ina skirted Mr. GREENWOOD-If you require him to find bail, I am bound to hear the evidence against him, to see whether I shall be justified inn ordering him to find sureties. The mother was much affected, and taken into a sepa rate apartment. The prosecutor deposed that on Thursday last the de- fendant came to his mother's house ; and where he (witness) resided with her, and asked for a loan of two sovereigns. Witness refused to let him have then; on Dispatches were sent off from the Colonial-office, on Saturday evening, for the Governor of Ceylon, and for the Lord liish Commissioner of the lonian Islands. which he took up a poker and assaulted witness. He took the weapon from him after a struggle, when the defendant took up a fork which lay on the table, and made a stab at witness, which wounded him on the face; and he would have done him other serious injury had not he (witness) rushed out of the house to seek the aid and protection of the police. Mr. GREENWOOD inquired whether there were any witnesses ? He was informed that the mother was the only person present at the time. They, however, dispensed with her testimony. Mr. GREENWOOD asked defendant what he had to say to the charge ?—The defendant sail he was out of employ as a shoemaker. His mother was a woman of independent property, and lived with his brother. lie (defendant) had been in difficulties, and he sent to ask his mother fur 21, when his brother interfered to prevent her lending him the money, and threatened him with a poker. He took it from him, and they struggled to gether, when he (the brother) hit him on the cheek, arid beat him. Mr. GREENWOOD—Has he got any marks of violence? —Cole, 200 N, said he had a. severe bite on the cheek, and other marks. Mr. GREENWOOD said the assault was proved against him, arid, urtler all the circumstances, he would order him to find responsible bail. IVA ND S WORM George Nickolas Gyford, whose father, up to the time of his death, held a situation in the House of Commons, was brought before Mr. Clive, for re-examination upon a charge of burglariously breaking into the dwelling. house of his brother-in-law, Mr.Williatri Cook, a brewer, at Wimbledon, who also holds a situation in the House of Lords. It appeared, from the evidence given on the first ex amination, last Thursday, that on the night of the Bth, or early on the morning of the 9th inst., a forcible entry was. made into the kitchen of Mr. Cook's house, and pro perty, consisting of four brass candlesticks, six glass cloths, some knifes and forks, a shirt, and other articles, stolen therefrom. Information was given to the police, and suspicion fell upon the prisoner, who had been seen hover. in;; about the premises on the night of the robbery. A sharp look out was kept for him and he was apprehended on Wednesday last, on Wimbledon-common ; he was wearing the stolen shirt, and upon searching him a du plicate relating to the stolen candlesticks was found. Mr. Cook was afterwards informed that the prisoner was in custodyl but he refused to attend, and the pawnbroker, who produced the candlesticks, could not identify the pri soner as the party pledging. Mr. Clive, the sitting Magistrate on that occasion, ordered summonses to be served upon Mr. Cook and his servants. Charlotte Sutton, the housemaid, was with much diffi culty made to prove the fact of the house having been broken open and the property stolen. John Davis, the nephew of Mr. Cook, was called to identify the shirt which had been found upon the pri soner, and which bore his initials. He was under exami nation nearly an hour, and said that he did not know when the robbery was committed, and that he could not tell, after examining the shirt take • from the prisoner, whether it was like one of his or not, although it was marked with the same initials and in the same manner and place. At last, when the Magistrate declared that he would commit the witness to prison if he did not cease prevaricating, the witness said it was very likely the shirt might be his—it was like his in all respects, but yet he would not swear to it. Some further evidence was given, connecting the pri soner with the robbery, and he was again remanded. Mr. CLIVE said it was evident to him that interested parties were et . oeavouring to stifle the inquiry, but he was determined it should proceed, and if the police wanted summonses to compel the attendance of witnesses they should have them. The prisoner was then remanded until Tuesday next. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS The following are the results of " A Table of Mortality in the Metropolis, showing the Number of Deaths from all Causes Registered in the week ending Dec. 23, 1843." The Table is issued from the Office of the Registrar-General:— Weekly Average 1838-9-40-1-2 CAUSES OF DEATH. Total. Air e t i u v mns. l y F ea iv r e . Epidemic, Endemic, & Contagious Diseases 192 183 182 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses 140 140 148 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration ... Dseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidnoys, &c. 6 5 5 Childbed, Diseases of the Uterus, &c l5 10 9 Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles 4 6 6 Diseases of the Skin, &c 1 1 1 Diseases of Uncertain Seat 92 106 105 0 1 . d Age, or Natural Decay Deaths by Violence, Privation, or Intem perance Causes not specified Deaths from all causes . 968 Average Weekly Deaths 908 903 Population Average Death enu- Weekly in DISTRICTS. merated Deaths the Ib4l. 18.38-9-40-1-2. Week, West—Kensington, St. George ( Hanover-square), Westmin- Five I Five ster, St. Martin in the Fields, Ye Irs..Autumns. St. James North—St. Mary-le •bone, St Pancras, Islington, Hackney 365,660 162 162 165 Central—Saint Giles and Saint George, Strand, Clerkenwell, Holborn, St. Luke, East Lon. don, West London, City of London 373,806 184 183 194 East—Shoreditch,Whitechape , Bethnal Green, St. George in the East, Stepney, Poplar 392,49'4 203 206 224 South—St. Saviour, St. Olave, St. George( Southwark),Ber mondiey, Newington, Lam beth, Camberwell, Rother hithe , Greenwich —438,060 219 227 239 Total 1,870,727 903 908 968 It is stated that under the term Metropolis are comprised th< 32 districts herein mentioned, which include the City of Lon don with am) without the walls, the City and Liberties of Westminster, the out-parishes within the Bills of Mortality— and the parishes of St. Marylebone, St. Pancras, Kensington, Fulham, Hammersmith( Chapelry), St. Luke (Chelsea), Pad dington, St. Mary (Stoke Newington), St. Leonard ( Brom ley), St. Mary-le-bow, Camberwell, Greenwich, St. Nicholas and St. Paul (Deptford), and Woolwich. The population, as enumerated in 1831, was 1,594,890, and in June 1841, was 1,870,727. The weekly average for 1838, 1839, 1840, and 1841, was obtained by dividing the deaths in the four years by 208, and the deaths in the four winters by 52. General Register Office, Dec. 28, 1843. PASSENGER DUTIES ON RAILWAYS.—From a re turn made to the House of Commons in the course of last session it appears that the railroads in England and Wales, 56 in number, have paid in the year ending Ja nuary, 5, 1843, no less than 152,663/. 13s. Old., as pas senger duty. The amazing increase of railway traffic within the last ten years may be gathered from the fact, that in the year ending January, 1833, the whole sum paid to Government as passenger duty was 6391. 16s. 10d. The amount paid in the year ending January, 1842, was 143,204/. 13s. Mid, In Scotland, in the year ending January last, 20 railroads paid 15,1251. is. being an increase of 3,4681. Os. I Id. over the preceding year. The gross amount paid by all the railroads in the kingdom during the last year was 167,788/. 14s. 71d. The amount paid in the previous year was 159,8611 14s. 6d., showing an increase in 1843 of 7,9271. Os. lid: The ten railroads having termini in London paid 82,447/. 4s. 5d.: the three largest amounts being paid by the Lon don and Birmingham, the Great Western, and the South Western, which paid respectively 25,9401, 14s. Id., 25,8041 ss. 2d., and 12,0481 19s. 7d., or more than two fifths of the whole amount. ------- - TIIE LOGIC OF A SMUGGLER.—Wherefore is a poor widow woman like myself to abide by the juggling of princes and their ministers,--who deal with nations and languages as with flocks and herds; creating as it were a line in the air, which they advance or retrograde at will, and which is to mako me French or Fleming, according to their whims and fancies ? My old grand father used to boast of having spoken with those who remembered the time when Flanders extended half way into the France of to-day,—the time when Mar'brook came soldiering here, and for all the great victories we hear so much of, left tke Grand Monarque in posses sion of our finest provinces 1 Even 1,-1, Lottje Van Kerckx, who am speaking to you,—recollect the period when the French eagle was the imperial standard for our stamps ; when Brussels, which now calls itself a capital, was but a country town like' the rest of us ; and all was France, France, France, from Rotten to Hamburgh ; paying toll and tax to the same Parisian seat of Govern ment I And why, pray—because it pleased the crowned heads of Europe to knock themselves together at Aix la-Chapelle, and decide that this patch of ground should be called Prussia, and t'other patch of ground be called France--is a poor widow woman to pay mulct and fine to this new King of ours, for liberty to drink and retail the French liquors, which in my youth I bought and sold at prime cost ? I had no hand in their rubbishing Congress I My opinion wasn't asked ? And so, without further ceremony—feeling myself guiltless in the sight Of Almighty God for violating a law which is none of his making--I make bold to catch the gendarmes of the frontier napping, whenever they are fools enough to let me !—?alt's Magazine. ASTONISHING - INSTINCT OF A CAT.--A family in Swansea, having a favourite cat, but in consequence of its thieving propensities, they were determined to part with. Pour Tom was given to the care of a captain of a vessel who was about to sail for Cuba. After a voyage of four or five months, the vessel returned to this port, about a month since. In a few days after the arrival of the ship, Tom decamped, and the vessel was about to go to sea without him. About three weeks since a cat was heard by the members of the above family about their premises, mewing most pitifully, and could riot be kep t away, despite the threatenings of the servants ; when, 10, to the astonishment of its old mistress, her old friend came up p her, rubbing against her with all the affection imaginable. What is most extraordinary, the cat had to cross the river and pass through the most dense part of the town to find its old habitation, after a voyage to Cuba, and an absence of five or six olontlis.—Cambrian. ItECAL OF LORD DE GREY.—T 6 recal of Lord De Grey from dr; Lord Lieutenantcy of Ireland is re ported to have been decided on by the Cabinet. The necessity of a more cordial union, a more perfect agreement in opinion, and c.,nsequent de cision of purpose and act than have characterised the present executive of Ireland, in order to creat ing and maintaining confidence in the govern ment, has been long seen and felt. The return of Loi'd De Grey may not take place till early in the ensuing spring ; but that his Lordship's recal has been determined on, is—we are assured from a quarter on which we place full reliance—now settled. The Duke of Richmond is mentioned as the new Viceroy.—Evening Paper. GREECI Ai ATHENS, DEC. 9.—The great and all-absorbing subject of discussion and anxiety for the last few days has been the election of the Committee for drawing up the Constitution, in concert with the King. This did not terminate until past ten o'clock last night—a very late hour for the National Assembly at Athens, though at St. Stephen's the business of the night would only then be commencing. The moderate party, who are attached to English principles of go vernrnent, have obtained a most triumphant majority. Upon this occasion, as well as upon the election of . . Vice-Presidents, Mavrocordato and Colletti agreed to support each other ; hut on both occasions it turned out that, although the Mavrocordatists, in compliance with the earnest wishes of their chief, voted against their own inclinations to a man, for Colletti, the adhe rents of the latter, about forty in number, broke the agreement, and did not vote for Mavrocordato. Upon the first occasion, Mavrocordato was disposed to think there might have been a mistake ; but, when the same conduct was repeated, it then became evident that it was the bad faith of the Muscomangites, as the party of Colletti is designated, which had placed him next to Mavrocordato in the list of Vice-Presidents, and above him in the Committee for the Address. This circumstance has excited a strong feeling of in dignation against the treachery of these persons, and a sense of the impropriety of allowing Greece and Europe to be deceived as to the real state of parties in this country, induced the adherents of Mavrocordato awl Metaxa to withdraw their votes from Colletti upon this last great occasion, when those were to be chosen by whom the fabric of the Constitution is to be constructed, and thereby to demonstrate that he cannot reckon upon the support of more than' forty three certain, and about twenty doubtful votes in the Assembly. Mavrocordato and Metaxa, however, in the spirit of peace and union, did all in their power to dissuade their friends from withholding their votes, declaring that they would prefer seeing him again in a fictitious majority, rather than risk the disadvan tages of disunion. Many would not act upon this suggestion, and the consequence is that Colletti stands low in the list; and, if:more than forty of the friends of Mavrocordato and Metaxa had not, at their earnest solicitation, voted for him, he would have been ex cluded altogether. _ _ _ In the Committee for the Address the French , party, as it is called, is represented by Colletti alone, or with the equivocal support of Anastasio Loudos. The proportion is two to five. In the more important Committee on the Constitution the disproportion is still more marked, being only four to seventeen, so that the French party, about which so much has been wr►tten and said for the last three years, has dwindled to a miserable minority; and well it may be so, when no better man could be found to supplant Mavrocor dato, in 1841, by means of a million of francs, than Christides, arid when he, "the despised of all men," finds a fit successor in Riga Palamides as champion of the party. Neither this personage nor Conduri ottis, the President of the Council of State, are in r, either Committee, though they made every effort to be elected. Tricoupi, the late Minister in England, owes his election to an accident. General Church might have been placed at the head of the Commission for the Constitution, but, having heard that his name was on the list, he did not rest till he got it withdrawn, ge• neroosly thinking that none but Greeks should take part in the solemn office of constructing the Consti tutional edifice. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. COURSING. ALTCAR COURSING MEETING, DEC. 28 AND 29.—The Sefton Club (16 dogs) was won by Mr. A. Graham's Sir Edward ; Mr. Jefferson's Lowther ran up. The Molyneux Plate (16 dogs) was divided by Mr. Adorns's Matchless and Mr. Slater's Scrutiny. The Croxteth Purse (12 dogs) was won by Mr. Temple's Titania (late Woskie); Mr. Standish's Stranger ran up. The Altcar Stakes (12 dogs) were won by Mr. Hunt's Trapball; Mr. Richmond's Rockett ran up. THE LATE ASHBURTON MURDER.—On Monday last, Edward Webb, better known as " Deaf Ned," and Charlotte Williams, a woman who accompanies him in his peregrinations, were fully committed to the county goal for trial at the next assizes, charged with being par ties concerned in the foul and horrid murder committed last summer, near the town of Ashburton. Somerset Gazette. CORONER'S INQUEST.—An inquest was held on Fri day afternoon by Mr. Higgs, Deputy Coroner for West minster, at the George, Gilbert's-passage, Clare-market, on the body of Joseph Corbyn Abbott, aged 69. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased left his home, No. 1, Selwood-place, New-road, and proceeded to the Strand. Whilst proceeding up Drury-lane, on his way home, he was attacked with apoplexy, and fell to the ground. A police-constable coming up, he was conveyed on a stretcher to King's College Hospital, where ha was attended to by Mr. Brown, the acting physician, but died the same evening. The deceased's son said he had to complain of what he considered great neglect on the part of the police. His father not returning at :1 the usual hour, and supposing that something might i have befallen him, he went to the Bow-street sta tion-house and made inquiries concerning him. The inspector who was on duty answered him sharply, and said he knew nothing about him, although it was from that place the stretcher was brought on which he was conveyed to the hospital. That was between twelv.e and one in the day after his father was taken ill, and it was not until two o'clock on the following morning that, be knew where he was. Police-constable F 56, the man who brought the stretcher, said, that he gave in his re port of the occurrence to Sergeant Weston, and he could only account for the son not receiving information by the pressute of business. The son said, that on going to the George-street station house, the inspector there gave him every assistance. The Coroner and jury were of opinion that there was great neglect on the part of the police, but they could not go into it as it did not concern the deceased's death. A verdict of " Died from an attack of apoplexy" was then murned, the Coroner advising the relatives to write to the Commissioners of Police on the subject. ' A CANDID ADMISS . ION.—We are able to state, on the best authority, that Mr. Bulwer, before his de parture for Madrid, received from the French Govern ment the most satisfactory assurances as to the policf to be adopted towards Spain, and that one important point, on which he felt it necessary to speak rather strongly, was settled entirely to his wish. It was fully understood before he left Paris, that Count Bresson would cordially support him in the views entertained by the British Goverment for the settlement of affairs in that country. DIRECTIONS TO POLICEMEN.—The Learned Judge' Mr. Baron Rolfe, in one of the cases lately tried before him at Worcester, said, with regard to policemen putting questions to persons accused, that he was sorry the 1 had got i'ito such a tender state on this point. It was gene' rally laid down that policeman were exceedingly wrong in putting any questions to persons in their custody now he thought it was often well for them to do so, for he had seen cases- in which such questions were mot; essential to the establishment of a person's innocence $ however, as he did not like to differ from his brethr' Of he alWays told policemen not to say anything to prisoners' CULTIVATION OF FLAx.—An influential meeting was held at Norwich, on Wednesday last, the Mayer in the chair, at which the following resolution was adopted: —" That this meeting being of opinion that much benefit may arise from the cultivation and manufacture of flex in this city and its vicinity, with a view to the reunr nerative employment of the poor,, and the profitable in; vestment of capital, strongly recommend that a genera' meeting should be convened of all persons who 0 0 willing to contribute to the promotion of this very de' sirable object." TEAS AT WHOI Good Common Black 3s. Od. Strong Cor.gou ....... 4d. Fine ditto, Pekoe flavour-3s. Sti. ESALE PII,ICES• Fine Pekoe Souchong 41: Superior ditto 4s. 4 7; Finest ditto imported ss. COFFEE. Good Common Os. 9d. Finest Java .........111. 6 S _, Ceylon, sound and sweet...ls. Od. Ditto Cuba Is. SP' Fine do., recommended ...Is. 2d. Finest Mocha Finest Ceylon, rich and mellow Goods delivered iti all Country orders amounting to 51. MANSELL and CO., —2: parts of Town daily. eat n sent free to all parts of —r rain. Bucklersbury, Cheap side. BIR TA S. On the 25th ult., at Spike Island, the wife of Lieutenan t Colonel Burton, Royal Marines, of a daughter. On the 27th u l t . , at Ikloergate-street, the lady of Job ° Smith, Esq., surgeon, of a daughter. I , On the 28th u l t., at U pper Clapton, the lady of a a.. Nichol!, Esq., D. C. L., of a son, who died the same day. h o On the 29th ult., at Weston-super-Mare, the lady of t" Rev. J. Hamilton Forsyth, of a son. On the 29th ult., Mrs. William Newman, of Stratfo rd House, Stratf or d -grove, Essex, of a son. On the 24th u l t., at E mp i ngham Vicarage, Rutland, 110' Levi& Cooper, of.a son. On the 29,h ult., in Harley-street, the lady of Sir Denis . Merchant, Bart., of a son. On the 29th ult., in Ulster-place, Regent's-park, the wife o John Gdiner, Es. a daughter. On the 29th ult., q the of lady of J. W. Pease, Esq., of 110 91? wood, Yorkshire, of a son and heir. MARRIED. On the 27th u l t., at S t. Philip's Church, Liverpool, Cb! , Melhuish, Esq., to Emily Martha, second daughter of the . Edwird Hull, M.A. On the 28th ult, at Axminster, the Rev. William W i ll Rector of St. Nich.olas, to Mary Elizabeth, only daughte r the Rev. W. D. Conybeare, Vicar of Axminster. ,--*" DIV D. On the 30th ult., at Lintifield, Sussex, after a lite deot6lio to the b es t i nterests of mankind, Wiliam Allen, F.R•S' his 741 h sear. - O ° On the 29th u l t , at H ast i ngs, t h e R i ght H o n. Lady sington. On the 3d of July, in India, James Lopez Leary. Esti• On the 28th u l t ., at Britton-rise, Surrey, R. %Villimns, . 00 On the 29th ult., at Annett's.crescent, I s li n gton, Charlott e T urp i n, aged 42. the irtr On th e 27 t h u l t., at Barnes•terrace, Surrey, Jane , • of Edward William Cooke. On the 27th ult., at Sellinge. Kent, William Wi se . ob t •g r * fourth son o f t h e l ate Arthur Clark, Esq., of 13i91,QP5 churchyard, London. silt On the 29th u l t., i n Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square , Sas widow of the, late W. Lumley, Esq., of Siintouth-pla London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOVI C No. 112, Strand, at The Sus Office, No. 112, Stran d' the County of Middlesei s Monday, January I, 1844' Q N POR Znrol C. p, Joh n R'illil Thou Ja me , John Josep' T. REP ME 'fit Tt i recto r DEN of its Ell afford stater prese t pit* Th rePer to th 111.1110t1 the al have Frx most Past 3 adran the A as ai m Ow 'tided, THE Tc —__, , /ears that Lori( ~~