The Sun. — London, England, 1844-05-20 00:00:00

0 - Nosle, with the'wretches who . joined with him, shall, be made acquainted NI ith the shouts of indignation which his conduct raised here.—(Loud cheers.) But the excellent and patriotic gentleman who spoke to you a while ago seemed to entertain stronger hopes than I do, that the annexation of Texas with the American republic would not be agreed to. Recollect, if Texas be united to the southern States, nine new slave States will be created. Hitherto the progress of slavery in America has been retarded by the northern States being free from that taint ; but, if there be nine more slave-holding States, there is an end of any check whatsoever. The nor thern and western States will be completely swamped by the additional force on the other side ; nine States, where at pre sent there are scarcely any, to be peopled by slaves and the hideous process which is called " raising slaves." Bringing up human beings as they do cattle in stalls, in the same total absence of morality and religion, and by such means that I would not pollute the present meeting by describing them. I hardly dare pollute my , own thoughts by thinking of them. —(Cheers.) Yet nine States more are to be so peopled ; and is humanity to stand heedless by ? and are generosity and pity for the wretch who is not his own property, but cattle • an the hands of his master—are they to be silent ? Is there to be no British and Foreign Slave Society ?—(Great cheer ing.) Is there to be no indignant voice to be raised against it ?—(Cheers.) I wan t th e G over nment to take a more active part in this matter.--(Cheers.) The President of the United States has actually- signed the treaty for this annexa tion. It is already on the table; and the only question now is whether it shall be ratified. Pardon me for dwelling so long on these topics, strange to you, perhaps, but not indif ferent to us.—(Cheers.) They quite come within the scope of the 'object for which we have met, and are all in the pro vince; of the British and Foreign Slave Society. lam only an humble advocate ; but I eall on you "to become apostles of this persuasion, which calls for the enforcement of rules of humanity and of morality as the first duty cif a Government, which its subjects should stimulate them to exercise. —(Cheers.) I now beg you to remember that we are engaged in this mighty strife : recollect that it is our object to make man his own property, to bring him within the scope of education—for it is a crime in the North Ame rican States to teach a slave to read or write—that it is our duty to have the book of God opened before him, and to see that the beok of science is not closed to him—that it is our duty to prevent the.child being separated from its father, the infant being torn from its mother's bosom—to prevent the mother (instead of rejoicing when a man•-child is born) from weeping with sorrow at her dusky-coloured babe, remember ing that she has produced a man not for the purpose of hu manity, but of slavery.—(Great cheering.) The division which has arisen amongst ourselves will require a stronger and more general appeal to the entire country. There never was a period so fit for making that appeal. There never was 80 great a necessity for having your ranks increased : the Mi nistry and their supporters, every man engaged in the Go vernment of this country, should rally, to prevent, if possible, the annexation of Texas, to prevent murders such as that contemplated by O'Neale, to cheer one another on in the cause, to open the door of Christianity to the ignorant and uncivilized, and, above all and before all, to place the glorious name of this Society in the first ranks of those who battled nobly and manfully for the liberty of the human race.—(The Hon. and Learned Gentleman resumed his scat amidst loud cheering.) The Rev. Mr. ALDIS seconded the resolution, which passed unanimously. The Rev. J. SHERMAN, of Surrey Chapel, without any prefatory observation, moved the next resolution, as fol lows : "That this meeting would earnestly call the attention of the friends of the anti-slavery cause, throughout the United Kingdom, to the fact that a large portion of the existing slave population of Brazil, the Spanish colonies, and Dutch Guiana, entitled under treaties with this country, as well as by the municipal la ws o f th e St a t es , i n t o w h ose 'territories or colonies they have been illicitly introduced, to their liberty, are nevertheless subjected to an atrocious system of bondag e. That to this large and unhappy class of persons must be added many thousands of Africans, manumitted at various times by the courts of mixed commission, established in these countries, in a state of slavery of the most cruel cha racter. That in the Spanish, Dutch, and French colonies there are many British subjects, estimated to amount to several thousands, illegally held in bondage, who ought to be free. And that, therefore, appeals should he made to her Majesty's Government promptly and perseveringly to urge upon the Brazilian, Spanish, and Dutch Governments the duty of removing every obstacle to their immediate and entire emancipation. That this meeting having further learned the existence in countries, or the dependencies of countries, at peace with Great Britain, of laws which affect the rights and liberties of British subjects, being persons of colour, who may have occasion to resort to them on their lawful business, they would in this case also urgently call on the Government to obtain the repeal of such laws, as at variance with friendly relations and the stipulations of treaties." The Rev. T. Surrn, of Rotherhithe, in seconding the reso lution,.expressed his regret that any difference of opinion should have arisen in the course of the discussion which had taken place this day. Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., having been loudly called for by the meeting, next presented himself to its attention. The Hon. Member said lie had not had any intention to take up the time of the meeting : but he felt extremely glad that he was permitted to make a few observations, particularly after the speech of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who sat next the Chairman (Mr. O'Connell). He agreed with that Hon. and Learned Gentleman in every word of reprobation lie had used when speaking of the atrocious trial and sentence which had taken place and been pronounced in the United States; but. at the same time he thought there had been something too wholesale in the manner of speaking of th a t co unt r y, f or he (Mr. Bright) was prepared to state f r om what lie had known of its citizens, that there were hundreds and thousands of men in the United States who would be worthy to stand on any platform in this country when the interests of humanity were to be vindicated. It should be borne in mind that the American abolitionists were not in the same position as the abolitionists in this country. Here they saw the horrors of - slavery at a diStance, and those horrors had been, if it were posSible, magnified.—(Cries of " No, no.") If not magnified, the 'difficulty of abolition had been diminished by the dis tance. Why, if there had been slavery existing in Ireland or in Scotland, would there have been that union of parties engaged in seeking its abolition? No : on the contrary, there would have been all that bitter party feeling which arose in this country on the consideration of every great poli tical question, and year after year would have rolled on be fore that great triumph which Great Britain had effected in its own colonies would have been achieved over slavery at home.—(lfear, hear.) It was nut the love of slavery that perpetuated it in America ; on the contrary, look at the writings of Tappen, Levitt, and all the best men who have come to this country from America—all of them express a horror at the system with which their country was accursed. While the crime of Judge O'Neale was execrated, let it not be forgotten, that it required in America the greatest possible courage and daring to defend abolition at all.—(Hear.) He (Mr. Bright) equally deprecated the argument by which su periority was ascribed to the Crown of this country over the institutions of America. It was not wise for this country to ridicule the institutions of America ; nor would it be wise for America to speak harshly of the institutions of Great Britain. There were in America milions of men who had descended from English ancestors, and who were carrying on the great and glorious _work ofcivilising that great continent, and he thought the object of this and all other meetings should be to counsel America kindly, but firmly, to get rid of all that was bad amongst its people, and to endeavour to draw closer the ties which bind America to her mother coun trv.—(Cheers.)l •As lie was speaking, perhaps he might be allowed to sa:',lt'fibrd or two upon the question which had very nearly divided the meeting in opinion. He agreed in the terms of the amendment which had been moved by his friend Mr. Thompson, inasmuch as it ascribed every good and honest motive to the Committee, who, lie believed, had risked much popularity and had encountered agood deal of odium from the course they had taken, and lie was quite sure that in all they had done they believed they were act ing not only as their constitution empowered them, but that the course they had taken was likely to serve the great ends of total abolition. He believed the Committee to have been purely honest, but mistaken, and it was for the meeting to decide whether the principle they have adopted was or was not essential to the working out the objects of the Anti- Slavery Society. Ile was of opinion that it was not essen tial.—(Hear, hear.) To lean on the Government (either the paet,, the present, or the next), was to lean upon a broken reed. The moment it s erve d t h e object of the party in power they would sweep away all discriminating duties between slave and free-grown produce, and the great arguments which Sir Robert Peel had drawn f rom t h e memorials of the-Com mittee would only be regarded for what they had - effected, and would be useless for the future. He (Mr. Bright) was persuaded that public opinion Was going in the direction to overthrow such duties as those which they had been dis cussing; and he would ask the Anti-Slavery Committee whether, even if they shbuld succeed for a time, it would not be but a very short time, in preventing the abolition of these duties, and whether it was worth the sacrifice they were making to adopt a principle which had weakened the Anti-Slavery party in this country ?—(Great cheering, and cries ot " No, no.") He knew that in some towns many of the most zealous of their body had declined to co operate in the meg - sures recommended by the Committee. He was most anxious to prevent disunion. If the principle was absolutely necessary fur the prosecution of their efforts, he should be disposed to agree with their recommendations; but when he saw it was a doubtful principle, he contended it would be wiser for the, Committee not to allow the apple of discord to be thrown among the anti-slavery party, but leave the matter an open question, and not to act in their official capacity. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite (Mr. O'Connell)-had said, that the most powerful instrument to be Used in the matter was public opinion. In that sentiment he (Mr. Bright) agreed. There was a proposition now before Parlia ment fixing a duty of 3-Is, on free-labour sugar, and 635. on slave-grown ; and the effect of this he contended would be to stimulate slavery in Brazil. and evils would arise from the mode adopted by the Government, and based on the scruples which the Committee had felt. Mr. SGOBLE here rose to order; but Mr. BRIGHT proceeded to urge the necessity for the aboli tion,ofrestrictive duties, and concl u d e d b y express i ng a h ope that, with the abolition of slaYery, there would also be an abolition of all monopolies. The CILA,I UM AN said, before he put the resolution he hoped, as Mr. • Bright had dilated upon matters not con-' tamed in it, he might be allowed to say a few words. It was his (the Chairman' s ) fi rm conviction that, if th e diff eren ti a l duties proposed not adopted, and if the sug ars of Brazil, Cuba,' and ot her e s i aise- labour count r i es were a d m itt e d on equal terms to the, mark et of this country, it would be produced by the lash, and the lash alone.—(Cheers.) He was.certain it would be the means ofea of consuming the sinews and lives of the unhap py those col o ni es , an d th os e lives would only be repl aced b y traffic in slaves from the coast of Africa.—(Hear, hear.) ghat ai s lmitted of no dispute ; and .he was astonished at the inconsistent de clamation of his two friends, Measly . Thompson a l nd d. and Bright. proposition his Mr. THOMPSON rose to order. amendment on the understanding that his a 'tie was not to .be canvassed.—(Cries of " Order, cb.air.")siH e h ad not been dealt fairly with ; for it had been discussed by Mr. O'Connell, by Sir George Stephen , by Mr. Buxton, a n d now . the-Chairman was entering upon it. He called upon the Chairman to adhere to the strict line of his duty. Teims had not been kept with him ; and he should now again move the amendment he had previously withdrawn.—(Confusion.) Mr. O'CoNNELL denied that he had violated any pledge; forle was not aware that any had been given. Mr. THOMPSON—You have misrepresented me ; and I shall reply to_ cou, even if there are only twenty persons le ft in the room. Renewed uproar.) Mr. 0 Cosnesurepeated that lie had only spoken his own individual sentiments, and they had been ably replied to by Mr. Bright. Where was the necessity for further dis cussion? Mr. TnoaresoN again rose amidst great confusion and uproar, and insisted that his amendment should be put to the I - meeting. He complained of the Chairman designating his speech as " inconsistent declamation." A long and angry conversation, carried on amidst the most Indescribable uproar and confusion, followed, and at length it leefkpat an end -to lay _ ' T he _ ss eu_ A mmax declaring his intention to put M r . Thomp amendment to the meeting. A show of hands was then . Z": 7 1 .1 1,4 u i t pis the Ch a i rman d ec l ared the amendment to s Ttmtt announcement was received with loud cheers. . ;1 47: 10 1` t : .441.1 in uo- addition t n henmoved the resolution which had tie to it the following -- - ; • meeting, whilst objectingtOthe swim col°. vial and Government schemes already propounded for supply ing the British colonies with labourers, admit the wisdom and necessity, so long as the present plan is permitted to exist, of confining emigration from Africa to the West India colonies strictly to the British settlements under the control of Government. That this meeting, however, offer their de cided protest against the regulation which authorises the shipment of male labourers alone to these colonies, as mani festly injurious to the moral elevation and religious culture both of the emigrants themselves and the emancipated classes among whom, for a time, they will be settled. That whilst this meeting loudly protests against this permission in reference to Africans imported into the West India colonies, they would especially reprobate it in its application to the export of coolies to the Mauritius, and the contemplated elingLation of Chinese labourers to the British colonies gene rally, as fraught with the most melancholy consequences, and would earnestly call on the Imperial Legislature to inter pose its authority to prevent the further occurrence of so great a social evil." The Rev. G. EVANS seconded the resolution, which was also supported by Mr. ELIJAH WRIGHT, of Boston, who took occasion to defend his countrymen from the attacks of Mr. O'Connell. Mr. O'CONNELL said he had been evidently misunderstood by Mr. Wright. Ills censure was upon the American slave holders and those who countenanced slave holding in Ame rica, and he thought he had made a distinction between them and the abolitionist party in America. The abolitionist in America was to be highly esteemed, because he took part against the prejudices of his countrymen, and against their supposed interest.—(Cheers.) On the motion of Mr. G. CArtrastz, a Dissenting minister, seconded by Mr. SCOBLE, a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman for his kindness in presiding, which was briefly ac knowledged, and the meeting separated. THE WILL FORGERS. CONFESSION OF MRS. DOREY. On the first indictment against the prisoners Barber and Fletcher, the confession of Mrs. Dorey was put in evidence, but upon objection being taken by the counsel for the prisoners, only that portion of it was read which applied to the case of Stewart. We are now enabled to lay before our readers the remainder of this extraordinary statement, in which Mrs. Dorey details all the particulars connected with these enormous frauds, but it is thought better that certain names mentioned should be omitted, as inquires are still going on, and their publication might tend to defeat the ends of justice. After detailing the parti culars connected with the Stewart case, Mrs. Dorey proceeds as follows :—" About this time I went with Fletcher and his wife to the Bank of England. Fletcher went there to see his friend, and while we were in the Rotunda Mr. Chritmas passed us, and stopped to speak to Fletcher a moment. Fletcher left us to go and have some conversation with him, and after Fletcher returned to us, he said that Mr. Christmas and himself avoided as much as possible being seen conversing together. I asked him why. He replied, he did not wish persons em ployed in the Bank of England to know from whom he got information. Soon after this Fletcher said, from the information he had received from his friend he thought he could do some good for me, provided I would do as he instructed me. After some conversa tion with him, I said I would do so. Soon after this I was living in Dean-street. lie brought to me a will of Eliza Burchard, of Westminster, and several other places, written by himself, and wished me to copy it. I did so. There was only one name written on it. He told me to disguise my hand, and write closer than usual, or I should not have room. He brought some ink of a peculiar description, in a small phial, to write it with, and also a strip of paper, with the name Eliza Burchard written upon it. Fletcher said he had received it that same morning from his friend in the Bank of England, and that he (the clerk) had copied it from the original handwriting of the de ceased in the bank books, and to which it bore as close a resemblance as possible. After I had copied the will, Fletcher, in my presence, made a fac simile of the same handwriti ng as that sent to him on the slip of paper by the Bank clerk, at the foot of the will, observing it was what he should do to the will that would render it useful, and not what I had done. In thinking deeply on the past occurrences since I related them to my solicitor, I perfectly recol lect that Fletcher made an impression on the will, with, I think, red wax, and probably with my seal, at the same time he wrote the names of Eliza Burchard, and William Saunders. He took it away with him and would not stop to dine with me, because lie wished to be in time to show it to Barber the same day. I expostulated with Fletcher for writing the name of William Saunders, that being the name of my brother-in-law. lie assured me nothing could ever come of it, and said he intended to see IVilliam Saunders and talk to him, for he was quite sure that he could do better for him than ever he would be able to do in his own business. Fletcher said I must take a lodging, and told me what I should say to the land lady in case she required a reference. I was to say my name was Eliza Burchard, and that I had come from the country to stay a short time in London, and that if she pleased I would pay her rent in advance. I was also to say that as I had friends liv ing a short distance out of town, perhaps I should not sleep often at the lodging, but if any let ters were brought she was to be particular in taking care of them. I accordingly took a lodging in Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, consisting of one back room on the first floor, for which I paid eight or ten shillings per week. I only slept there one night. I was disguised when I took the lodging, therefore I do not think the, person I took it from would be able to identify me. It was Fletcher's wish that I should disguise myself. He said he had a particular reason for my so doing, which he would hereafter make me acquainted with; for the present I was to leave it to him. He bought me a pair of spectacles, and desired me to wear a light hair front, with curls, so as to con ceal my face as much as possible, and to represent an old maid ; and I did in all things as he directed. Some few days after I had taken the lodging I went to Flet cher's house, in Southampton-place. My mother was at ; this time alarmingly ill. I was in a dreadful frightabobt fulfilling the promise I had made to him, and I was very uneasy in consequence of having to disguise myself.' Qn expressing my alarm to Fletcher; and my , 'anxi4y to do nothing more in the matter, ''he assured me ill was right ; that he had heard from his fllend in the Bank. He showed me a note he had received frUm him, on which there was a good deal' orfiguring. saw the name of Xmas' written on',the foot 'of the note. Fletcher also showed me an unclaimed dividend book, in which several names were written against in the margin; he said his friend in the Bank had marked them as dead' cases. I asked him what that meant. He replied, They are dead in law, and arethe cases we seek (here he mentioned the names of— and —), who he said transacted business at the Bank in the same way he did.' Fletcher said there was no law to prevent individuals having the money if they knew how to proceed to get it ; and that if any obstacle was thrown in his way I should see that he would immediately carry it into the Court of Chancery. He here observed that he had done so in one case ; that an objection had been raised to his obtaining the money, but they were afterwards obliged to give it up. After this informa tion, I acted with confidence. Fletcher told me he had shown the will to. Barber, who said it was all right. As the time drew near, when I was to go to the Bank, Fletcher said I must be identified. I asked, Are you goinc , to identify me ?' He replied, No ; he should not be seen with me, but Mr. Barber would do all that might be required ; he knew all about the business, therefore, he would answer all questions.' Mr. Fletcher then gave me Barber's address, and said he would take me to him on the following morning. He told me to disguise myself as I had done before, and to get into an omnibus that would put me down at the corner of Farringdon-street, about eleven o'clock. I did so, and passed Fletcher, who was wait ing for me, several times, and he did not recognise me until I went up and spoke to him, and he then took me to Mr. Barber's office in Bridge-street. Fletcher introduced me to Barber as Miss Burchard, and I sat down in the office for some time. Fletcher and Barber, after conversing, left the office together, and after a short time both returned. After a few minutes, Fletcher left, and Barber took me to a Proctor, in Doctors' Commons where the will of Eliza Burchard was produced, t o th e best of my recollection by Barber. The proctor, on reading the will, observed that it must have been a clever woman to write it. Barber replied, " Oh, co pied, copied, I dare say.' I was then taken before some gentlemen, and had to make an affidavit. I was not aware I should have to do so before I went. Some questions were asked, and Mr. Barber answered them all. I returned with Mr. Barber to his office. He said he should want me again. and would write to let me know when. Fletcher and Barber seemed to un derstand each other very well, and it was quite ob vious that all the papers it was necessary to have were in readiness before my arrival at Barber's office. I went subsequently to the Bank of England with Mr. Barber, and wrote the name of Eliza Burchard in several books. Barber identified me as Miss Burchard He was the only person who accompanied me, either to the Commons or the Bank, through the whole busi ness. The money was obtained. It was paid over in my assumed name of Eliza Burchard to Barber. I cannot say what he did with the money. When I re ceived it f rom hi m , Fl e t c h er was wa i t i ng f or me. I gave um the money, and he went to my home with me. He hcoandsai4peeredn a d n u d e ii to k, in a e n . d m A ad fte e r a d c e a d l u c c u t l i a n t g ion the of e w xp h e a n t s l e ie s and five per cent, for the Bank dd clerk, he gave me be tween six and seven f h t un re pounds, which he said his. Barber's account was was half the sum I paid me the money. The other half he said was as made out at the time he Fletcher previously sly i tol a d et mee on him 5/. more than the amount pay Barber, and give of his bill for hastening the b everything as Fletcher di recte d me. A few day s after the settlement, Fletcher told me that Barber had kept more money than was sufficient to pay t and as it was proposed that Mrs. Fletch er s h ould accompany me to Bristol, Fletcher said I had . better write to Barber from there about it, which I did, and he (Barber) remitted the difference of amount by post-office order. It was about 4/. I gave Fletcher two sovereigns. I have never had any communica tion with Barber since, nor ever seen him until I was at the Mansion-house. I think it was previously to my going to Bristol Fletcher changed some Bank notes for me at the Bank of l England, and brought me gold for them in a small canvass bag. Ile brought it to me on London-bridge, where I was waiting for him. I put the money into my own bag with some sovereigns I had in it, and took it all to the London and Westminster Bank, near the bridge, where I invested it in my own name. The money was in a velvet bag, and the clerk ob served it was not many ladies' bags were so rich. I cannot speak with accuracy as to dates, but to the best of my recollection this occurred three years ago. I afterwards withdrew the money from the London and Westminster Bank, and placed it in the Bank of England, where I had previously purchased stock to the amount of 3501., in the New Three-and-a-Half Reduced Annuities. Philpots was the name of the broker employed by me. Fletcher introduced me to him. Some time after my mother's death my sister from Bristol visited me while I was living in Dean street. She visited the Fletchers, for, I think, the first time. Mr. Fletcher came to my lodgings to see her, and at his request I took a lodging in Museum-street, for a Miss Cole. He said she was a lady coming from the country that he was going to do business for at the Bank. I was to charge particularly the person who let me the lodgings to be careful of all letters that might be brought there for Miss Cole. The same day I took the lodging my sister and myself met Fletcher, by appointment, in St. Paul's Church-yard. 'We went into an office near there, where I signed the name of Jane Blake, ac cording as Fletcher told me to do. Ido not remem ber or not whether my sister wrote. This is all, to the best of my recollection, that I know or did know concerning anything that might have been done. Some time after this, Fletcher having observed that a young gentleman was paying his addresses to me, spoke to me on the subject. Mrs. Fletcher had then been dead some thirteen months. Three months after her decease, he intimated a partiality he felt for me, and had for many years. Soon after this he met the gentlemax he was fearful I liked at my house, and the following' day wrote me a strong letter on the subject (I having told Fletcher previously that the gentleman was only a friend, and that I was anxious to retain his friendship, as we had known each other for many years, and he had been a favourite of my mother's), in which letter he said it was useless for me to say the gentleman in question, whom he saw at my house, was only a friend, for it was well known that when a young gentleman frequently visits a young lady, it must be for some purpose, either ho nourable or dishonourable. If the first, why did I deny it ? If the second, the sooner such visits were discontinued the better. I mention here the contents of this letter sent to me by Fletcher, because I gave it to three or four of my acquaintances to read, and it being sealed with the same impression as that found by Forrester at my house, they might probably re member it. The letter, with others, I unfortunately destroyed previous to my marriage with Mr. Dorey. During the time my sister was in business at the Pantheon, Mrs. Fletcher went with me to see her there, and purchased two seals precisely the same. She kept one herself, and gave the other to me. Fletcher was at variance with me because I expressed such indignance at the letter he had sent me. Some time after this my brother-in law, Mr. Saunders, came from Bristol ; he was angry with me for refusing to accept Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Saunders visited Fletcher, and talked to hint on the subject, saying it was injudicious of him to pro pose to me at a time when I was so grievously afflicted by the loss of my mother, and he having so recently lost his wife; therefore, Fletcher came again to see me. It must have been about this time that Mr. Saunders said he should like to see Miss -, an acquaintance of mine. He saw her two or three times, and talked to her. He did not sleep at my house, as was his usual custom, but was lodging near Hungerford Market. I met him one day, and he told me he was thinking of calling on Miss --, to get her to sign the paper he had in his hand. I looked at it, and found it to be the will of Mary Hunt. I talked to Miss -- about the gentleman, my friend (meaning Fletcher), and said it was very likely he might be able to get some money for her. She signed the will. I took it after she had done so, and looked at what she had written, and commented on her not having written her own name, but that of Mary Hunt. She replied, she dared say that would do as well. I returned it again to Saunders, and never heard anything more about it. What I state here is all the knowledge I have, or ever had, in the matter. I lent Mr. Saunders 401. or 50/. when he first came up from Bristol, and he repaid me before he went home. Both he and Fletcher were angry with me, therefore they'were not commu nicative with me as to what they were doing. Fletcher again urged his suit, and I repulsed him, upon which he said he must know, once for all, whe ther I would receive him as my future husband or not. On my determined refusal of him, he said he would never again be on terms of friendship with me, nor give me his advice, as he had hitherto done. From that time, up to January, 1843, I neither saw nor heard anything of him, only that he was married, and had visited Mr. and Mrs. Saunders at Bristol. I was married to Mr. Dorey in the month of Fe bruary following, and living at No. 45, Oxford-street. At that time my sister was visiting me. I think about March (I cannot speak with certainty to the exact time) Mr. Fletcher called at my residence to see my sister. He came, I think, twice. On one occasion of his coming I remained in the room with him and my sister some minutes. He said to my sister, " I hope you will soon get it done." My sister replied, she did not know what to do about it, as she was such a bad hand at writing. Fletcher said, " Perhaps your sister will do it for you." I asked what it was, and he said, " Some writing." I immediately replied, " I would do all she required," and then left the room. The same evening my sister gave me a will that Fletcher had brought• her, written in his own handwriting, and asked me. to copy it, which I did, and signed one name as Flefeher had written it. I th en t oo k a l o d g i ng i n Francis-street for Miss Slack. I do not know what other proceedings were taken in the matter, because my sister was fearful I should relate anything about it to Mr. Dorey. She did not tell me any thing about it. On one occasion of Mr. Fletcher visiting my sister at my house in Oxford-street, I heard him say to her she must lose no time in going to Bath. She said to my husband she had occasion to go there on business, but would return to town again, and that she would pay my expenses, if he had no objection for me to go with her. He assented, and we went. We slept in Bath one night, and the following morning called at his offices, one near the York House and the other near the Abbey Church-yard. My sister inquired something about a register, but I cannot tell what, after she had remained in the lodging in Francis street some time. She returned home with me, and one morning she gave me a thousand pound note to look at. It was the first I had ever seen, and I took it into the shop to show to Mr. Dorey, and afterwards re turned it to her again. Soon afterwards my sister returned to Bristol, and I heard nothing more of the matter until I saw by the newspapers that Fletcher and Barber were in custody. I should im mediately have given to the prosecutors all the infor mation I knew (had it not been that my sister was implicated, and suffering under severe illness), I felt so assured that Fletcher had nearly all through my life been playing on my credulity. I have, in this statement, given an account of all the money that I ever received for what I did for Fletcher, or any one connected with him. I know nothing more of his transactions, or anything of moment relating to him, other than a relation called on me in Oxford-street a few days previous to my being apprehended hy For rester, and told me that he came by Fletcher 's wish to inform me that the officer was coming to ex amine me. He also said that Fletcher had been getting plenty of money, for he had, within the last day or two, made over property to the amount of nine or ten thousand pounds belonging to Fletcher, and if Fletcher was sentenced to transportation, he should not be sent out of the country, for he would provide him with some prussic acid. I have never in my life given the least information to any individual regarding Fletcher's transactions, or what I had done from his advice. Mr. Dorey (my husband) was per fectly ignorant of all my transactions up to the mo ment of Forrester taking me. Ay mother'sG l iltspur-str meent a‘e' as Susannah Prison, G w E O reb G . l 2 .l B N , A Cm 1840 D 4. 0 b3 R: Y. MODESTY AND PIETY.--The following advertise ment appears in a Manahester paper :—" To Drapers, Haber dashers, Warehousemen, &c.—Wanted, towards the latter end of April, by an eminently pious young man, of Scotland, who has been regularly bred to the above branches, and con siderably experienced generally, a:situation as assistant clerk, manager, salesman, or traveller. The advertiser is twenty four years of age, possessed of excellent health, an amiable disposition, good ability, extensive knowledge of the great Scriptural doctrines, strictly evangelical, and would be found of immense advantage in assisting to advance the claims and reign of the Messiah's kingdom, amidst all the civil and ecclesiastical opposition so prevalent amongst the nations of the earth in these latter agitating times. Testimonials and references to several eminent evangelical dissenting ministers and members of the Gospel, as well as to the former and pre sent employers, of the most strict and satisfactory tendency as to character and ability, with portrait, may be had on ap plication. No objections to town or eountry, and would be willing to conform to the rules of a lib er al Church or dissent ing family, holding evangelical principles, and make himself generally useful. A house favourable to evangelical, pres byterian, or independent Church principles, affording per manent employment, and progressive advancement of salary, preferred." DBATII FROM CONTAMINATION BY A CORPSE.—A poor woman named Owen, residing in Water-street North, Colchester, was, a short time since, engaged to " lay out" the corpse of a man for interment, and on entering the cottage of the deceased for that purpose, slightly scratched her finger with the latch. Having performed the required duty, she re turned home, and shortly after her hand became painfully in flamed, which increased so much that medical aid was ob tained. The fatal poison had, however, reached the springs of life, and, after lingering in great agony for several weeks, she died a few days ago.--Essex Standard. HORRIBLE CASE. On Saturday, after the disposal of the night cases, at Queen-square Police-office, Mr. Ryder, chairman to the Board of Guardians of St. Luke's Chelsea, re, quested the advice and assistance of the magistrate under the following very extraordinary circumstances: —Mr. Charles Morris a person who had lately come to reside in Chelsea, had his attention called to groans which proceeded, night after night, from No. 4, Princes-street. He accordingly brought the matter before the Rev. R. Burgess, rector of the parish, who having frequently received intimation that other par ties heard the same sounds, had written him (Mr. Ryder) to take some steps to see whether the groans and cries did not proceed from some human being being confined in a room of the house. He instituted inquiries, and found that the information given to the Rev. Mr. Burgess in the letter, and confirmed by his own, was too correct. Some dark and horrifying scene was being acted in that house ; and the groans and cries of a human being, chained as it was sup pose d to a wall or bed, for he was never seen near the window, appalled the ears of the neighbours almost nightly. Mr. Burrell inquired whether the neighbours had ever heard any articulate sounds ? Mr. Ryder re plied they had not. Mr. North and Mr. Hall, two immediate neighbours, could confirm this account ; and whoever this poor suffering creature in human form was, he had been immured in that room for ele!en or twelve years. Mr. Burrell expressed his astonishment that it could have existed for so long a period without the interference of the neighbours. Mr. Ryder said that door of the house, as they could best learn, had not been opened for years, and, unable as they were to obtain any evidence on the subject, and fearful of getting into some difficulty, it had been suffered to go on until the present moment. Mr. Burrell asked if they had ascertained who were the inmates ? Mr. Ryder replied, that as far as they could learn, it was occupied by a woman named Pelham, who had been the kept mistress of some noble lord, and who had had two natural children by him, for which she received an allowance. It had been rumoured that one of these children, a son, was of unsound mind. It was then agreed that an entrance should he made into the house without any previous intimation being given, lest that should frustrate their object in learning the real state of matters. Mr. Forbes, in spector of the B division, was accordingly desired to take a party of police with him and proceed to the house in question. Mr. Ryder, and the chief usher of the court, accompanied the police. On the return of the latter, at about half-past four, he communi cated to Mr. Burrell the result of their visit to the house. He said, that they had effected an entrance by getting over a side wall, and in at the back door, and, after much hesitation, the back room on the first floor was opened by a female, when the most revolting scene that had ever come within his view during a very lengthened experience burst upon them. On a small straw bed lay a poor human creature of the male sex, without one morsel of clothing more than an old and filthy rag, which might be termed a shirt, and a small piece of flannel or blanket. Beneath him was a hole rotted through the filthy straw of the bed, evidently by his own excrements, and maggots and loathsome vermin of every description were crawling on his frame which was so obscured by filth, that it was al most difficult to discern in him a human being. his beard reached nearly blown to his middle, and his nails protruded some inches beyond his toes. In a few minutes afterwards the police returned to the office, bringing with them a fashionably-dressed female, from 50 to GO years of age, and a heavy working man about thirty. On being placed at the bar, the female gave her name as Harriet Eleanor Pelham, and the man was described as her son, Wilson Pelham. Mr. Ryder, who was deeply affected, said that such a spectacle as that they had just witnessed had very rarely been seen. He proceeded to describe it in substantially the same terms as those already given. He added, that after their admission, the poor creature, who was evidently a lunatic, was dressed, a portmanteau full of clean wearing apparel being brought from some other part of the house, and he was then put in a cab and conveyed to the work house. The female at the bar said that the unfor tunate man was her son, and that he and his brother (Wilson Pelham) were natural children of General Spencer. In concluding his statement, Mr. Ryder expressed his surprise that the filth in the room had not engendered some fatal disease. Inspector Forbes stated that the female defendant had said that her sons were the natural children of Sir Brent Spencer (some years deceased), and that she had some allowance for the one deranged. Mr. Burrell asked the female what she had to say ? She replied that, with respect to the clothes, his always had been kept separate, and his brother never was allowed to wear them. Although he had been for many years a lunatic, everything was done for him that could be ; but he was very filthy, and if anybody interfered with him he became very violent, and beat himself. He was not perhaps quite so clean as he ought to be, but he was sometimes cleaner a great deal than at the moment the police entered the house. She was sure his shirt was not ragged, be cause it had only been washed twice, and it could not be dirty, because it had not been on him three days. There was a convenience in the room, but he would not use it, and it was his own fault that the bed was in such a state. There was a mattress in the passage, but he would not have it, and his nails were long, which was in consequence of his not letting her cut them. He had got fat lately, and was as happy as any man could be ; and to prove that she used him well, he would not get into the cab w i t h out h er. The policeman denied this, and sa id th at t h e poor man seemed quite pleasedatg u o ie i t n , g a i n n d to t w h a e it c e a d b, so a m nd e m that iAn fur t. Burrell h e s whileewa s si exceedingly nheluwirwas s dwhy she h a d no t put hi m in dressing. quiet, some asylum ? The male defendant said it was no use ; he was incurable. Dr. Sutherland and another medical gentleman had said so. Mr. Burrell said that this was a most horrible and deplorable case. The treatment o the mother and son who controlled the unfortunate man, had gone on until they were callous to all feeling. Thepoor creature was now rescued and placed where every attention would be paid him. Defendants must stand committed in de fault of finding heavy bail until Thursday, when they might produce any evidence they thought fit. The prisoners, who appeared surprised, said there was nobody to look after their house. Mr. Burrell said he could not help that. INQUESTS.CORONERS' On Saturday forenoon Mr. Baker, the Coroner for East Middlesex, held a lengthened investigation at the Lord Nelson, John's-row, St. Luke's, touching the death of Mrs. Caroline Crump, aged 31, the wife of the painter and decorator of the Grecian Saloon in the City-road, who was supposed to have committed suicide, owing to the extreme suddenness of her disso lution, and having once before attempted her life, as also frequently threatening to do so. of 20, Ratcliffe-grove, St. Mary Ann Cooper, Luke's, stated that she resided in the same house as the deceased, who had left four young children, and generally lived very comfortable with her husband. She had latterly, however, been frequently addicted to acts of intemperance, which caused them to quarrel at times. On Thursday evening, about 11 o'clock, witness last saw her alive ; she had been during the day very lively, and appeared to retire to rest in very good spirits. On the following morning, about seven o'clock, she was alarmed by deceased's husband knocking at her bed-room wall, as if for assistance. She immediately proceeded, and found the unfortu nate woman lying on a bed dressed, with her eyes half closed, and her face becoming black. To all appear ance she was quite dead. James Crump, the husband of the deceased, said that she went to bed on Thursday night in good health, and shortly before seven o'clock he got up and began to dress himself. Whilst so employed she sud denly caught hold of one of his legs and violently shook it. He instantly looked up and saw her point ing to her throat, and thinking that she wished him to introduce one of his fingers into her throat, so as to make her vomit, he did so accordingly. Scarcely a few seconds, however, had elapsed before she ran down stairs to the water-butt, and having procured a cup, she attempted to swallow some water. All this time she appoared suffocating, and witness was slap ping her back in the hope of restoring her. She at last fell into his arms, and he removed her to the bed, when he found her to have perished. CORONER—Had you any idea that she had de stroyed herself by t a king poison ? Witness—l had, from the circumstance of her having attempted once to commit suicide, and threatening to do the same se veral times since. For some time past, unfortu nately for him, she drank very freely, and when he used to complain of her conduct and attempt to rea son with her about her folly, she would reply, "Well, take care of the children, and I will take care of my self. You shall not have long to complain." She would go on a stroll for a week at a stretch, then con duct herself very properly for the next fortnight or so, when she would break out again. On the day previous to her death she was sober, but on Wednes day she was in liquor. Mr. Henry Paul Ree, a surgeon of the City-road, deposed that he was called to the deceased on Friday morning, about seven o'clock, whom he found lying on a bed, black in the face, and life appeared to have fled several minutes. On making a post mortem exa mination of the body, he found a large scar across the throat or windpipe, which induced him to make some inquiries about it, and he ascertained that about t..m years ago she attempted to destroy herself by cutting her throat, through some ill treatment she received from her parents. The wound was, however, healed, but it materially affected her speech, so much so, that she could only giv e ven t to a mere whisper. On opening the throat he took out the larynx, and on examining it he discovered a corresponding indenta tion to the scar, and it was so narrowed at this part that a small sized probe could not be passed through it. Between the opening there was a quantity of mucous, which so choked up the air vessels as to cause death, and an examination of the lungs also showed that death had been occasioned by suffocation. Could not discover any trace of poisonous matter in the stomach. The CORONER having addressed the jury on the ex traordinary nature of the case, a discussion arose as to the propriety of returning a verdict that the de ceased had died from an attempt upon her own life. The Coroner thought they could not consistently do so, and after some time they recorded the following special verdict,:—" That the deceased bad died from suffocation, produced by a congregation of mucous in her larynx, and which was caused by a wound she made in her throat in attempting to destroy herself ten years ago." FATAL CART ACCIDENT.—An inquest was held by Mr. Higgs, at the Black Horse, Bedfordbury, on the body of Dennis Dwyer, aged 47. Deceased was a vender of oranges, and on the afternoon of Saturday, the 27th ult., he was standing in Little Newport street, with a basket full of that fruit slung before him, when a cart belonging to Messrs. Parker, rail way carriers, New Inn, Old Bailey, came along. The driver called to the deceased to get out of the way, when he moved on to the pavement, but some persons at that moment passineby, pushed against him, and in trying to save his oranges he slipped and fell under the cart, the wheel of which went over and broke his left leg. He was conveyed by the driver in his cart to Charing-cross Hospital, where he remained till Saturday last, when erysipelas, induced by intem perate habits, came on, and he died on Thursday.— Verdict, " Accidental death. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (SATURDAY.) BOW-STREET. Henry Griss, a sergeant of the F division, appeared before Mr. Twyford, by the directions of the Police Commissioners, to answer a complaint preferred against him by Thomas Dell, a cabman, for using abusive lan guage to him. Mr. Lewis appeared on behalf of the complainant, and demanded to see the written order that had been sent from Scotland-yard on Wednesday last, when the case was partly heard, and adjourned to give the Magis trate time, as he then said, to look over the depositions before he would come to a decision. Inspector Logan replied that the document alluded to was in the possession of Sandrock, the superintendent. Mr. TWYFORD ordered him to be sent for, as he had not seen him for many days.—(A laugh.) Sandrock having shortly after made his appearance, handed in a paper to the Court. Mr. Lewis said it was the duty of - the superin tendent to put the complaint against the defendant in a proper form on a police-sheet, which having been done, by order of the Court, The complainant stated that on the 24th ultimo, being with his cab in York-street, Covent-garden, about half past ten o'clock at night, the defendant came to him and told him if he took any more jobs from Smith's public-house (the White Hurt) he would mix a pill up for him if he could ; to which he replied, he would take any jobs that came to him, that he did not wish to abuse him or to receive any abuse, upon which he called him a d---d vagabond and a thief, and that he was robbing the rank in the Strand. On the 25th, being at the head of his horse in Wellington-street, about a quarter before five o'clock in the morning, the defendant came up and said he would take the number of his badge, and after much abusive language he concluded by saying, " If I can't do it for you, the waterman can." Witness touched him on the arm and told him he had never given him any offence ; to which he said, " Go away, you d-d vaga bond, go away." The next day he caused the letter pro duced to be written to the Police Commissioners, com plaining of the circumstance. - Frederick Collins, an accountant, was present on the 25th with another man, and heard the language made use of by the defendant. William Charlock, a hairdresser, corroborated the ac count given by the last witness. Sandrock said the complainant was perfectly sober when he came off duty. In answer to the charge, Sandrock proved that the defendant was in the force since April, 1831, and he never knew him to be guilty of using abusive language. Mr. Lewis—Have you not had complaints five or six times made against him for such conduct ? Sandrock— None in writing, to my recollection. Mr. Lewis—None for dragging a cabman from his box and using violence? Sandrock—Don't recollect. Sandrock said he wished to correct an error that he had fallen into at the former examination, for, after he had looked into the books produced, he discovered the defendant had been fined 20s. in 1838, for using abusive language to a female, and being suspended, he was, shortly afterwards reinstated in consequence of a recom mendation from the magistrate. The defendant had preferred two complaints against Dell for obstruction, both of which were dismissed. The Court was occupied some hours in hearing the discussions of the solicitors, after which, Mr. TWYFORD said he was inclined to believe the evidence of the complainant, and, therefore, he would convict the defendant fir using the language imputed to him, and order him to pay a fine of 20s. The fine was immediately paid, and the parties left the Court. WORSHIP-STREET. Charles Emile d'Atrobus alias Emile Vercoustre, a well grown and rather respectable looking Frenchman, was placed before Mr. Broughton, the sitting magistrate, for re-examination upon a charge of stealing 27L from Mrs. Elizabeth Mead, of the Jamaica coffee-house, Commer cial-road. About the middle of last November the prisoner, who was then believed to be as he represented himself, a young Frenchmen of good family, on a visit to England, went to lodge at the coffee-house. At the commence ment of the present year a young fellow named Frederick Watson, who had committed numberless robberies about town, paid a visit to the Jamaica coffee-house, and stole amongst other property a coat, with a neck scarf in the pocket, belonging to M. Emile d'Atrobus. Wat son was at length detectel, and committed to Newgate for trial upon many charges, and being convicted, was transported for ten years. The Frenchman whom he had robbed did not appear against him at the trial, although bound over with other prosecutors, for he had himself, in the meantime, absconded from the Jamaica coffee-house, and was charged with stealing a purse con taining a 101. note and seven sovereigns from Mrs. Mead, the landlady, and making away also with a coat which Mrs. Mead's uncle, Mr. Elliott, a pawnbroker, had lent to him to wear when he attended at this court as a com plainant against Watson. Westbury, 215 N, who apprehended the prisoner last week in New Inn-yard, Shoredith, said the prisoner then denied the robbery, and asserted that he had only been in England a month. It was ascertained, however, that he had been some time a patient in St. Thomas's Hos pital, in the borough of Southwark, and that during that time he had scraped acquaintance and corresponded with a smart servant girl in the neighbourhood. Several letters were proluced, professing the most ardent love for the young woman, with whom the hos pital patient corresponded, and from thence it appeared that the prisoner at that time assumed the name of Emile Vercouste. _ _ Mr. Elliott, the pawnbroker,. who had, after the rob bery and disappearance of the prisoner, caused search to be made for him in France and elsewhere, said he had received information that he was a deserter from a French regiment, and had left a wife and family in Paris. The prisoner, however, told the Magistrate that he was not a married man, nor a deserter, but had been a soldier in the French service. He knew nothing of this robbery, he said ; and the cause of his being out of the way was illness, which had confined him three months in the hospital. Mr. BROUHTON, being informed that further evidence was expected, remolded the prisoner again. THAMES POLICE. Richard Repson, a Lancashire man, was brought up on remand from the previous day, charged with assault ing a young man named Charles Repton. The com plainant, who appeared to suffer excruciating pain, and besides the support of a pair of crutches, had to be aided into the Court by two porters, was accomodated with a chair, which, however, from the nature of the injuries he sustained, he found it very difficult to use. It appeared from the evidence that the complainant and the prisoner both worked for Messrs. Ditchburn and Mare, at the Orchard House Iron Steam-boat-yard and the former had been in the employment of the firm for the last seven years. On last Thursday week he went to the tool-house, where the prisoner was at work, when the latter turned him out, and then gave him a kick be hind, inflicting the injuries under which he now labours. It appeared that the kick took place directly in the peritoneum,- a muscle full of the most delicate fibres. From the motion of the complainant, who can scarcely drag himself an inch, at every step, the whole of the muscular system of the lower limbs appears to be thrown into disorder, and it was most painful to witness the ef forts by which he endeavoured to drag himself along. James Reeves, foreman in the establishment, proved that previously to, the alleged assault the complainant was in excellent health and spirits. There was no quarrel that he knew of between the parties, but there was a young man at present in the hospital suffering from the effects of a kick inflicted by the prisoner. Repson denied having kicked the complainant, but admitted that he had pushed him out of the tool-house, having directions not to-permit any person to be there. He suggested that the complainant in reeling out might have come in contact with an iron peg which protruded from a wall without. Barber, one of the warrant officers, by direction of the Magistrate, examined the place to ascertain the pro bability of the defence ; but from his statement it did not appear likely that the injury was sustained in the man ner suggested by the prisoner, and, in addition to this, a pot-boy in the neighbourhood proved that he saw the prisoner kick the complainant. Mr. Hislam, surgeon, of High-street, Stepney, who attended the complainant, having given it as his opinion that the poor fellow is by, no means out of danger, the prisoner was remanded until nest Saturday. UNION-HALL. Harrington Bache, a builder at Peckham, 'was charged be fore Mr. Cottingham, with forging a bill of acceptance for 501., purporting to be drawn by D. and M. Davis, with in tent to defraud Ebenezer Fitzgerald. The complainant stated that he was in the habit of lend ing money, and that he discounted a bill of 501. for the pri soner, purporting to have been drawn by the above-named parties. When it became duo, and he presented it for payment, . he was then informed that the name of the drawer was forged, and having communicated this fact to the prisoner. he insisted on his im mediately accompanying him to Mr. Davis, to have the matter cleared up. Complainant then, in the presence of the prisoner asked Davis whether his name, attached to the bill, was his hand writing. He disclaimed it ; upon which the pri soner asserted that it was, adding that he was present in the room, and saw Davis write his signature to the bill. Davis, however, having still persisted that he knew nothing what ever of the transaction, the complainant gave the prisoner into custody. The prisoner, through his solicitor, declared before the magistrate that Mr. Davis had drawn the bill in question, and as the latter person was not in attendance, Mr. Corm:G lum directed that the case should stand over for his attend ance. A woman named Hickson was charged with having in her possession a quantity of smuggled tobacco. The defendant was stopped carrying a basket containing tobacco, which she said was given to her by her sister-in-law, whose husband belongs to one of the Hamburgh steam vessels. She added that there were other articles in the basket, and the tobacco being underneath she was not aware of its presence. This latter assertion, however, was contra dicted by the officer, who said the defendant must have known that the basket contained tobacco; The MAGISTRATH said that as the defendant was not known there before he should fine her twenty shillings, and in default, sentence her to be committed for seven days. CONFESSION OF A MURDER COM MITTED NINE YEARS AGO. (From the Essex Standard.) A report having been circulated in Colchester that a native of Polstead, at present in the East Indies, had been appre hended for having committed a murder nine or ten years back, and for which an innocent man was hung, we have ascertained the following particulars : On Monday morning last, Sir Joshua Rowley, Bart., of Stoke-by-Nayland, received a communication from Colonel Dear, of the 21st Regiment of Fusiliers, stationed in the East Indies, with the copy of the Court of Inquiry on a case which has caused a great sensation in that regiment. A short time back a young man of the name of William Towns, a native of Polstead, whilst on guard, mentioned to one of his comrades that he was most miserable and wretched, and was determined on committing suicide, or else (pointing to a file of guns which were piled together opposite them) he must shoot one of his officers, or commit some deed in order that he might be hung, and that justice might be satisfied. His comrade advised him to get consolation from the minister of his persuasion ; but at this period of their conversation three other soldiers came up and inquired what it was that preyed so heavily upon his mind. He then told them, that nine years ago he went out poaching in Hintlesham Wood ; that he murdered the gamekeeper; and that an innocent,taan was hung for it, and he was present at the execution, with James Hills, of the same regiment. He added, that he had not been able to rest for some time ; and also stated that he saw both the men in his dreams, and was haunted by their visions day and night, till death would be welcome to him in any shape. A court of inquiry followed, and the soldiers severally de posed to the confession of the prisoner, who made no attempt to contradict them. Colonel Dear wrote for information on the subject to Sir Joshua Rowley, who placed the communica tion in the hands of his brother, Charles Rowley, Esq., of East Bergholt, as the murder was committed in the division of the county for which that gentleman is a most active magistrate. Thus— " Murder may pass unpunished for a time, But tardy Justice still o'ertakes the crime ; And oft a speedier pain the guilty feels : The hue and cry of Heaven pursues him at his heels." It appears that, about nine years ago, the gamekeeper and his assistant, in the service of Miss Lloyd, of Hintlesham Hall, heard a party of poachers in the preserves, and when they got there, finding only three poachers, they attempted to take them into custody; but they were violently attacked by the poachers, and Byam Green, the gamekeeper, was bar barously murdered, his skull being literally dashed to atoms by a blow struck with a gun, which was left behind. A re• ward was offered for the discovery of the murderer, and a man of the name of Chalker, a French polisher, living at Ipswich, was apprehended on the charge. At his trial, the din was distinctly proved to have been his, as well as the g which accompanied the poachers, and it was further proved that he was seen in the neighbourhood, drinking, before the fatal affray took place. The evidence, although calculated to throw strong suspicion upon Chalker, was purely of a circumstantial character, and it was a matter of doubt whether the Government of the day would allow his execu tion to take place. however, in accordance with his sen tence, the prisoner suffered the extreme penalty of the law, at Ipswich, protesting his innocence of the murder to the last, but acknowledging having been one of the party of poachers. We are informed that Green, the keeper, left a widow and a large family, as was also the case with Chalker. ASSASSINATION. (From the Gazette des Tribunaux.) COUR D'ASSIZES DES BASSES PYRENEES (Pau). Jacques Hourquebie exercised the humble offices of garde champetre and garde forestier with rigorous in tegrity. The zeal with which he performed his duty excited the hatred of all marauders. There was one, in particular, who regarded him with a feeling of implac able resentment ; this was the accused, Mathieu Labuig, a man of a violent and passionate character, and great bodily strength. Jacques Hourquebie, it should be remarked, was de formed and of a slight make, and oppressed with infirmi ties, which rendered every movement of his body slow and painful. Mathieu Labuig, the accused, wearied with the con stant watchfulness of the garde, which formed a con tinual obstacle to his marauding propensities, and irri tated by an imprisonment which he had undergone for the space of three years, ceased not to utter the most horrible menaces against Hourquebie. Fifteen witnesses deposed as to the threats uttered. " They will not kill that wretch," said Lab u ig, speak ing of Hourquebie. " How I should like to cut off his hump with my bill-hook; what delight to crush him be tween two millstones." On one occasion he actually predicted the manner of his death, saying he ought to be killed with the bill-hook and thrown in the mill dam. "Ah ! if I could find him between the dog and the wolf" (parts of the mill which are called chien and loiip). On one occasion last summer, the prisoner offered 40 francs to a witness to detain the garde at a cabaret until night, that he, the prisoner, might have the opportunity of meeting him on his return home. On the26th oflastJanuary, Hourquebie did not return home. His step-brother, who is the instituteur communal, uneasy at his absence, commenced an active search to discover what had become of him. At some distance from his house he found his brother's walking-stick, and a loaded pistol, which he usually carried for his own defence. There was also a large spot of blood on the road. On tracking the marks of blood along the road, he arrived at the mill-dam, where he found the body of the garde horribly mutilated by what ap peared to be a bill-hook. Suspicion was instantly fastened on the prisoner. The police searched his house, and found a blouse which he had worn the night before ; it had been washed in some places only, and was hanging out to dry. On his being asked to produce his bill-hook, he showed one that he was not in the habit of using ; the one he actually used Was afterwards discovered in a bee-hive. Footmarks were discovered at the supposed place of the murder. They presented an exact counterpart to the nails in the shoes of the accused. The evening of the murder, just after the " Angelus " had ceased, the garde was seen to pass, and soon after the accused. A witness deposed that about the same time ha heard four piercing shrieks, at some considerable distance. It appeared that before his arrest, the priibtier, Con versing with a endarme, said, " They cannot cOndemn without proofs.' " They will find proofs,' , said the gendarme. The prisoner, after a moment of reflection, said, as if it were a thought full of consolation, " They do not now condemn to death." This deposition caused a general shudder in the Court. M. Laporte, Avocat•General, showed that tho Ugh there was no direct evidence of the prisoner's guilt, there mast be a moral certainty of it. M. Lamargnere, with singular ability, endeavoured to show that the evidence was consistent with the pri soner's innocence. Labuig was condemned to 20 years' hard labour and exposure. He is 60 years of age. RAILWAY RETURNS. We extract from the Railway Magazine the sums received on the principal Railways of Great Britain for the week ending on the day of the month prefixed to each. The return includes the money received for passengers, parcels, carriages, horses, mails, and mer chandise:— Week ended Name of Railway. Total. X. s. d. May 11 Arbroath and Forfar lO3 __ _... 9 24 11 Birmingham and Derby Junction 1,321 3 9 10 Birmingham and Gloucester 2,147 14 3 11 Brandling Junction 564 12 4 10 Chester and Birkenhead 547 17 4 14' Dublin and Kingstown 1,049 18 5 12 Dundee and. Arbroath 234 1 64 11 Durham and Sunderland 243 6 9 11 Edinburgh and Glasgow 2,412 15 11 12 Eastern Counties and North Eastern 4,371 15 1 11 Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr 2,064 5 10 11 Glasgow and Greenock B6B 18 8 11 Grand Junction 7,534 4 10 11 Great North of England 1,315 19 9 12 Great Western 10 Liverpool and Manchester 11 London and Birmingham 12 London and Blackwall " 1,044 9 0 11 London and Brighton 14 London and Croydon 16 London and Greenwich 854 12 2 12 London and South Western ....... 9 Manchester, Bolton and Bury 755 11 9 11 Manchester and Birmingham 3,144 3 6 11 Manchester, Leeds, and Hull Assoc 5,766 5 3 11 Midland Counties 11 Newcastle and Carlisle 1,383 4 7 12 Newcastle and North Shields 299 5 0 11 North Midland 10 North Union and Bolton and Preston 1,272 12 0 7 Paris and Orleans 5,885 4 0 13 Paris and Ronen 6,145 0 0 16 Preston and Wyre 299 9 4 11 Sheffield and ,11 , 1ancliester 612 15 8 16 South Eastern 11 Taff Vale 12 Ulster 531 1 2 4 Yarmouth and Norwich .. 11 York and North Midland THE WEST INDIA MAIL.—The following notice was issued on Friday, at the General Post-office, St. Martin's le-Grand, and the branch offices General Post-office, May 17, 1844.—Letters transmitted by packet, between the United Kingdom and the colony of Berbice, in British Guiana, will in future be liable to an internal colonial postage of 2d. the half •ounce, &c., for the inland conveyance between New Amsterdam, Berbice, and George Town, Demerara, where the mails are landed and embarked. The internal rate will be combined with the packet rate of Is., making the total postage to be taken on a letter not exceeding half an ounce, to or from Berbice, Is. 2d., and so on in proportion. By command.—W. L. MABERLY, Secretary." The next mails for Madeira, the British and Foreign Colonies in the West Indies, Venezuela, Mexico, Honduras, Havana, Bahamas, Cliagres, and New Granada, will be made up on he morning of the Ist of June, to be forwarded via Southampton. We are enabled to announce that Mr. John Young, Member for the county of Cavan, and who, since the accession of the present Government, has filled the office of a Lord of the Treasury, is to be Secretary of the Treasury, as successor to Sir Thomas Fremautle.-ob server: [ADVERTISEMENT.] THE SUGAR QUESTION• The Sugar Bill is to be brought forward on Frld the 24th inst., and I call on all Members of the lOU to give the matter only one moment's reflection, and till will agree with the Chancellor, that it is an iniportan question. The consumers should now have cheaper sugar, anti' cularly as the revenue can afford the trial, and t he re ; venue may benefit by the change, which would give " 5 4 large amount from the produce of countries which no give nothing. fur Why should not the poor man have his sugar fourpence, instead of sixpence or sevenpence per p00 .....0 11 And the sugars of all nations would be require d. _n course, a foreigner paying a higher duty than our "a colonies. Indeed, our own colonies should only P e t Y l i e f nominal duty of Is. fir 2s. per cwt., and not make e . .. g requisite of life the mode of obtaining so large an sow; of revenue, for it is felt chiefly by the poor. But to u c i i, point. Lord John Russell has given notice of his tone, e,,,, ment on the question, which will not even be listened But I warrant him, that if he will read this, and O h o his aid all his machinery, he will carry his messure' 6 , r , receive the support of every interest—colonist, foreigts the trade, shipowner, and, in fact, every trade• m;,, him give immediate notice, and there is ample time 're, all to show if they do not take this view of the ine!l sli too He cannot carry his present amendment—it injures many interests, and will scarcely be noticed. fe rg When you wish to carry an important point, let e no , interest derive advantage from the change—injur e /I. " - and you do away with opposition. A neve r lam practically experienced on the point, and to saw a better opening. Sugar reduced from six Pe e" fourpence per pound for the poor man, will iurr, l o the consumption of Ireland and Scotland niste ri- sf where they scarcely see it now. Even the catde,lstio be fed on molasses at the duty I propose ; and fil wo. consumption is so great in India and the island s t r i o clueing it, so will it be here, if they can get three P e ners • for one shilling, instead of two pounds. The a"' Oa tien would be done away with, which is said to be., the last price -current) 100 tons per week in Lo nde "ths thus injuring the article it is mixed with and S i t th, revenue. Why is the consumption of sugar , u n 'i s lr same now that it was fifteen years ago, and the PeP o se tion 15 per cent. more ? Because the and adulteration going on to a great extent, se question of duty always on the lapis. - will " The produce of the British possessions this, o be 200,000 tons, which we should use with DO 0 111 be price is the duty, and thus the revenue, with all sweets, ivu'e._„u 5,500,0001. Next year the produce of India "pall greater, and of Mauritius, owing to the impo l4 _, Ao e coolies there. And why cramp our West India P" - IV and prohibit thiem being sent there. Demersi lh e maica, and all our islands, would thrive if free 0 %0 gration was allowed, and why prohibit it any 111 °, 11 / etr from this country to all the world ? Appoint v i e w sio meat Emigration Officers, as in this country, to go and inspect emigration ships, and the people wu e t i s ciA, into a land of comfort, and be brought in many in i ., d ito to Christianity ; at any rate, would be more "'so members of the community, and likely to improv e ' the vast increase in all trades by such a measure:, grant the boon to one colony, and not to all :kat would be the grand death-blow to slavery and the trade. toece.' I propose that Lord John Russell gives notice 10 and thus give timely notice to the country 0 00 friends that the consumer be considered, as the re if can afford the trial, and may gain instead of lose' iclei' in sugar, by the increased consumption of other sr,,l • fid It is a grand trial, and may be the means of Iro• future Ministers the power of raising two or millions of revenue with much ease. tee it We now pay the War duty, and we ought t° changed. Propose that the duty be reduced on— 00 0° British plantation to 10/. per ton, would give £ 2, Foreign do. to 301. per ton-60,000 to 70,000 tons would be required this year; say 00 0 50,000 at 301. British do. Molasses, at 20. per cwt. £150,00 0 Foreign do. do., at 12s. per cwt.... 150,000 5 00 ' 0w Other sweets 0 0° x4, o °9' Yours, respectfully, nrlB ll. A PHILANTHR MARKET NEWS.-(SATUR D AY COVENT-GARDEN. ._,, iv ; h hyoid Our market was somewhat extensively supplleu - „;007 1 ,, fruit and vegetables, yet the demand was throughou',l i t. V, A -; prices about equal to those obtained on this day se'n,l h ° 24_ no toes from 2s 6d to 5s per cwt; young Onions, 18 0 "4, 5 ,9 0 ; Turnips, is 9d to 2s 6d; Carrots, 5s 6d to 7s; and "Ay, ' Ott Is 2d per dozen bunches ; Spinach, 4d to 6d per ki;; 00 47 . Asparagus, 3s to is ; French Beans, 9d to is 6 d ; F ot stor . „ 8s to 15s ; and Lemons, 8s to 13s per 100 ; Glica 3d to 6d ; Pine Apples, 7s to 9s per lb; Hot-ho l " - bes,', 5s to 6s ; and Forced Cherries, 25s per lb regfdos qi t; to 45s ; and Summer Cabbages, 10d to 9d P,T to Strawberries, 4s per small pottle ; Cucumbers , 10 " to P A : brace ; Cauliflowers, 2d to 6d each ; Horse-radish, o r e', Celery, 8d to is 3d ; Rhubarb, 4d to is 6 d ; all.,"shroorA, 10d to 2s per bundle ; Sea Kale, 9d to 2s 3d ; 9d to is 6d; and Small Salad, 2d per punnet ; , • - •c oto 3d to 6d per dozen hands ; Lettuces, 6d to is 6d pet green Gooseberries, 4d to 6d per quart. NEWOATE AND LEADENILea i t ht . We had' only a moderate supply of pou, , Lie,osr: yet the demand was heavy, at barely late rates. t , „s u ri e jcer to is ; Guinea Fowls, 2s to 3s 6d; Fowls, 2s to 4s ; 2s to 3s ; Ducklings, 2s 3d to 3s ; Goslings, 58 to 85; 1 1 4 )3 ' 5d to 9d ; and Rabbits, 9d to is 6d each. For eac o :ro 1 prime Meat we had a steady demand at a trifling) r, fr, A ment in the quotations, while those of other qualiti e "p v" fully supported. Beef, from 2s 4d to 3s 4d ; MuttofilA IN to 3s 8d ; Lamb, 5s to 6s ; Veal, 3s 6d to 4s 6d; all° 2s 4d to 4s 2d per 81bs. ECTINGZEFOR.D. ere. Although the supplies of most articles on tale 0 4 It means large, the demand was throughout heavY, late rates. ,'OO4l NEWPORT. 'le th s 1 4 ; The supplies of Meat were only moderate , w 311 ruled steady at our quotations. Beef from 29 4h,,ejii, 3 0 " Mutton, 2s 6d to 3s 8d ; Lamb, 4s 10d to 68 2 d; to 4s 6d ; and Pork 2s 8d to 4s 4d per 81bs. tb BILLINGSGATE. For each kind of Fish, the supply of which Ira" demand ruled inactive, at previous currencies. # II J, I WECITECZAPSIL. I e ll , et With the exception of prime meat, selling ire 0 prices, the demand was in a very sluggish ob .; 51 p et from 2s 4d to 3s 4d ; M u tton, 2s 6d to 3s sa; 4 , l 0 1 6s ; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s 8d ; and Pork, 2s 6cl to 81bs. by the carcase. BREAD. *re The prices of Wheaten B r ead in the metrhl% l o af. 8d to B}d; of Household ditt o , 64d to lid per 41 ,40 BIDE !RABBET. a nd b e Tato Raw hides, at per stone of 141bs—Best steer s : fer ia ti;i f i 5s 6d to 5910 d; middling hides, 4s 8(1 to 5s 4d; 4s 2d to 4,9 6d. Sheep and Calf Skins, at per 0r6,1 doer Lte calf, 6s 6d to 8s ; long wooll e d s h ee p, 3s 6d to Ism ditto 3s to 4s 6d; lamb ski ns , 10d to Is 8d ; 411 Gd to 8d each. , „ i , Olt BAN MAREETEL. ,c o to_figi , SMITHFIELD.—Coarse Meadow Hay, 21 ~•1 4: - . . 6s "1/0; ful ditto, 31 . 3s to 3/ 8s ; fine Upland ditto to o de 3/ 15s ; Clover Hay, 3/ As to Si tis ; Oat Straw, _.,i „old w: Wheat Straw, 1/ 8s to 1/10s per load. Both kek oe met a dull sale at barely late rates. to qi 31 i SI 5.t0 4L; 1 CUMBERLAND.—CoarSe Meadow Hay, --15 e fir- 1 ful ditto, 31 63 to 31 12s ; fine Upland ditto, 11 9s ; o ta Clover Hay, 315 s to 51; Oat Straw, 11 71 to o pplP Straw, 11 lOs to 1/ 123 per load. A moderate 6, l X te keavy demand. Prices about stationar'. 31 t„ t igs.,,, WIIITECHAPEL.--Coarse Meadow Hal , A;t to 0 :,., ilel useful ditto, Si 7s to 3/ lOs ; fine Upland L - 1 / 6 ' na, SO 3/ 16s ; Clover Hay, Si 5s to Si 8s ; Oat Strew' iv gu Wheat Straw, 118 s to 11 10s per load. SuPP trade dull. !Elie ,' 1 . $ WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET.dsy'd 10000 There were good arrivals of Wheat to this g. pe r to? and as the demand is limited, a decline of ' L ittle b t ioo l . 9 has been acceded to, in order to effect salea., o al passing in Barley, at last week's prices ; an d ° ....0 0 , the value of Oats, Shelling, or Beans. ~ u ,,,,. to the 'llOl Per qr. of v".ra.e. 0 P , n o 0 • 0 Waeat Sufiblk, Essex, and ]Cent Red.'"" -- 0 60 . 0 0 Ditto ditto White.. 55 Norfolk Red .••••• '-' 5 1 0 0 Ditto ditto white.. "'"' 0 0 5 4 .. -a .• Lincolnshire and Cambridge Red..... 0.4 rr i Ditto ditto White... 4 " . 0 0 4 Yorkshire ...... ............. ....... _ 50 0 IP Ditto " Clrtio ...... Foreign tied.. ..... 0 1 0 # . ...... . e r Ditto ditto ... ....... . Wint e V e r quill $ Barley, Norfolk and Suffolk ..... .... ....... . ....... ... .... 01 1 0, , Yorkshire and Lincolnshire .................. :: ...... o r, Grinding ... ...... ........ ........... .......... .... ..- t °el ; Foreign ..... . ...................... . ............. ...:. 6 0. i 1 0 „. Per qr. """ si .. 4. Beans, Small fine ...... ..... ...................."'"'" -- ....." Ticks - _ ~_.4 , Foreign. Oats, Potato and Poised."... ........... " . ... " - -"1 ,4 " to --cl• 14 "; 9 1.,,,• 1fr..5 : 4 ‘• Healing... ..... . 10d to Id, Foreign. - 7 4 ; gen... ol 'l,er i i . . 0 1• Shelling..." .............. ......... ..... ....... I ' l ' 4 ' one per -... Malt ... ... .. ...... 6 " ...f. 0.4 Ripeseed „, 257.04 2714 °l ' • • 0 rafoP•r - V er. BIRTHS. hudY — 4 . 0 4 te On the 15th inst., at the Vicarage , S p _ i .,, , , o. e_...of, bridgeshire, the lady of the Rev. George,_: lii i,'.o„ Sol - " to On the 15th inst., at the Rectory, -r'" ii° ° ' wife of the Rev. George Watts, of a son. _ ..e the _ .4.6 f. On the 15th inst., at Bryanston-glow ' Parnell, of a son. o f 010 1 c r. e WI °` cre O se n en the t, R l e 6 g t e h nt i , i s i . s p t. a , r M k, r ( s )f . aFrdeaduerir-ihctker!_rioA.Wnet the ~ Pets On the 16th inst., in Lincoln's Inn-ne'u"' _, r , I , " Bellinger Brodie, Esq., of a son.lady of i i. • the DO On the 12th inst., at Donnington, ...,_ dr i Esq., of a daughter. AirL wis . On the Bth inst., at Grove-road, Brito n, bitt, of a eon. 'lt fe' 14 0, "- MARRIED. _ I p it ge" 'rho oil On the 7th inst., at the parish church oi the.„,,, .. _ FDoeornenissto t henH, o E But s sh q e .. ,to Helen, Lewis Fanshawe, of Parsloes, Vicar of Dag,nilf,ll/Liat, e ah~►ppl On the 7th inst., at Leyton, Essex, Sir . I . 7 bb od, P.") . " K.C.H., to Louisa Ann, daughter of John P..... , 0 , 0 0, inst., at Amershnin, Bl:::1081113:_eori:talic:$4101: Esq., surgeon, of Hackney, to Sarah 1105100 T, 0 000 of W. Morton, Esq., of Amersham. • On the 14th inst., at St. James's, Pocock, Esq., of Charterhouse-square, to Ann , li eu ter of Nathaniel Hill, Esq., of Regent-street. of tlw DIED. w i t iof -On the 13th inst., at Leamington, France* le . oe 4 " iate Oliver Hatch, Esq. On the 14th inst., at Oxford-terraee, Llydert;draL to A. Wingfield, D.D., Prebendary of Worcesterlwood, On the 15th inst., at Villa Etruria, St. Jon ° i n fant son of James WAdam, Esq. oyinifig• ife of jobl i On the 14th inst., at Kensington, Mr. .1...., w On the 15th inst. , in Harpur-street, Amelia. , Allen, Esq., aged 41 . W. 1 0 6 o On the 15th inst., Celia , the wife of Georg. of rt. of Kennington. D C hill. On the 16th inst., in Castle-street, Tiolbor , WO lict of the late Mr. Henry Chabaud. , °I "n xo. o f London: Printed and Published by MT:II4/"60 No. 112,. Strand, Printer, at The Box 0 tot Strand, in the Precinct of the Savor, ill t ab. ' Middleaea, Monday, May 20, 1844. , • • E The mss, Est Nei *Don.Do June, the t tar , . 1 LeSt ts 19th'( Th uer •%, Th, be ya i 1143 iti , allay I di have, nit e ( tioe , or' pi, A ef al en tb Unsti Ad apt Con)] 14 14 Nto: tr 014. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNIKG, MAY 20, iA44•