The Sun. — London, England, 1845-01-27 00:00:00

A STRANGE and PAINFUL STORY. (From the Leicester Chronicle.) It were better to acquit twelve guilty men than hang one who is innocent. Such is the general seeling that pervades society. And the principle that is herein involved applies, though with less force, to the punishment of crimes less serious in character than murder. It is applicable, indeed, to every in stance of the kind that may arise. Even in a case of orchard robbing, it would be unjust to chastise the wrong urchin. Nor is it simply as an act of injustice towards an innocent person that the infliction of an undeserved pe nalty is to he deplored—its prejudicial influence in weakening popular respect for the laws is equally, if not more injurious. In the case we are about to in• troduce to the notice of our readers, we are afraid that this painful and mischievous mistake has been committed. We are indebted for the facts to a trust worthy correspondent. They are as follow : Samuel Chambers, a servant of Mr. Benjamin Walker, of Worthington, was convicted at the last Leicestershire Midsummer Quarter Sessions of having "maliciously caused water to be conveyed into a mine, with intent thereby to delay the working thereof." The prosecution was commenced under the 7th and Bth Geo. IV., cap. 30, sec. 6. The evidence of the prisoner's master, two colliers, and the prosecutor's brother, was brought forward for the prosecution. The prisoner made a brief statement in defence, but had not the assistance of counsel ; he was found guilty, and sentenced to seven years' transportation —the severest punishment the law could inflict. The prisoner's conduct was considered to have been so bad, the counsel for the prosecution stated that the coal-masters in the neighbourhood had jointly sus tained the charge of the proceedings against him, being determined to press the matter severely, as a warning to all persons disposed to act similarly at any future time. The consequences were likely to have been dangerous in the extreme, it was said, several lives having been risked by the prisoner's malice. The court also commented upon the serious nature of the offence. While, however, the prisoner remained in the gaol , the constable of Awsworth, in Nottingharnshire,came over to Leicester on purpose to see him ; and having, during his stay here, obtained an interview with the Rev. John Brown, the vicar of St. Mary's, gave such particulars of the prisoner's former life as made it a matter of wonder that such a man should suddenly have become so vicious as he was represented to be. It was determined that some inquiries should be made into the case, not only by examination of parties residing in Leicester, but also at Lount— the place where the crime was alleged to have been committed. It was ascertained that Cham bers is a native of Awsworth, in Nottinghamshire, and was in the employ of Mr. Wakefield, coal-owner, of that neighbourhood for fourteen years. He passed thence into the employ of Messrs. Barber and Walker, of Watnall ; and these two were the only services he had had prior to his engagement with the prosecutor. The highest testimonials as to his character, while with these gentlemen, have already been given. When Chambers was in the employment of Messrs. Barber and \\Talker, the prosecutor, wanting an engineer at his colliery at Lount, his kinsman, Mr. Mark Richards, who resides at Awsworth, and knows the prisoner well, applied to the prisoner to leave his situation and enter into the service of the prosecutor. He was engaged at a salary of a guinea per week, house-rent and coal included, and removed from Awsworth to Lount with his family. Some time after he had been at Lount, his wages were lowered to 18s. per week ; and this, coupled with other circumstances, determined him to leave the place. He accordingly gave Mr. Walker three months' notice of his intention to quit his service. This is now admitted by Mr. Walker; but the re port of the trial states that the prisoner received, in stead of gave, the three months' notice to quit. This alleged dismissal from his master's service is put for ward as the motive for the prisoner's malice. The prisoner's wife has made a declaration, under the statute, that the first notice to quit was given by the prisoner himself; and Mr. Walker, on being asked whether this was so, has admitted it to be true. The prisoner having given notice to leave in three months, was served wi.h notice to quit in one month. This he was perfectly ready to do, and would have done, could he have had his wages settled. Some de lay, however, took place in this, and he was compelled to remain at Lount for a time ; but his furniture and effects were packed up in open day, and his wife and family removed back again to Awsworth, to the very house from which Mr. Mark Richards had engaged them. The prisoner remained at Lount until the 22d of May (which was long after the notice given by the master had expired), and then, having had his wages paid to within eleven shillings, he determined to re main no longer. Relinquishing the eleven shillings (which remain unpaid to this day) he returned to Aws worth—was immediately re-engaged at the works he had quitted to enter the prosecutor's service—and there remained for twelve days, without molestation, without any attempt at concealment, and without any idea that he could he charged with any crime. The prosecutor, however, being angry at the prisoner hav ing left him so abruptly, consulted an attorney as to whether he could not be punished for so doing; and as it happened that by the prisoner's departure the engine necessary to pump out the water was ne glected, and the water in the mine had risen from natural causes so as to stop the works, it was thought by the magistrates at Ashby-de-la-Zouch that this was an offence within the Statute 7 and 8 Geo. IV., c. 30., sec. 6. ; so the prisoner, instead of being punished for leaving his work, was committed for maliciously causing water to be conveyed into a mine ! But it may be asked how it happened that a man like this was suffered to be undefended, or at least tried without witnesses having been called to speak to his charncter? Surely that would have saved im from the severest punishment the law could inflict ? How negligent on the part of his friends, to permit it to he stated at the trial that he had " absconded after committing the crime !"—that he had secretly sent away his wife and family ! when it would seem that, so far from absconding, his family had removed in open day—gone back to the very house they had come from originally—were living under the very eye of the gentleman by whom the prisoner was engaged for the prosecutor, and that the prisoner, instead of being dismissed from the prosecutor's service, was so determined to quit it, that he actually gave up eleven shillings to the prosecutor, sooner than stay any longer with him ! So esteemed was the prisoner by the whole village where, with the exception of two years spent at Lount, he had lived all his life, that a subscription was im mediately commenced to defend him. So agitated was the whole community, also, that Mr. Mark Richards himself started off to see the prosecutor, and ascertain from him what crime Chambers could be charged with. The r: port he brought back was such as to make many of the prisoner's friends believe that he was quite safe, and that no harm would happen to him if he were not defended, As, however, some of the persons in Awsworth were not quite satisfied with this, the prisoner's wife went over to the prosecutor, on the Sunday preceding the trial, with a letter from the Rev. Mr. Lund (the vicar of Awsworth and the chaplain of the Nottingham prison) to know what was intended to be done. At this interview, on the Monday preceding the trial, the prisoner's wife states that the prosecutor told her it would be throwing money away to employ counsel ; that if' it were left to him (the prosecutor) no harm would happen ; that she had nothing to do but to send the prisoner a clean shirt and a testimonial as to his character. The poor woman returned to Awsworth ; and, by the advice of the clergyman, relied on the assurance of the prose cutor. For this reason no one was employed to de fend the prisoner. The next intimation was, that her husband hael been sentenced to transportation ! Unlucky was it, indeed, for the prisoner, that he was not defended. The clerk to the justices who committed him for trial, and the counsel for the pro secution, now admit that the conviction of the pri soner was, in point of law, utterly illegal ; and the Solicitor-General, whose opinion has been taken on the point, asserts that the prisoner could not be legally convicted in any way—that the statute under which he was indicted, viz., for " maliciously conveying water into a mine," does not apply to a case like his, which, at the utmost, was neglecting to pump the water out of the mine. It was hoped that this opinion, coupled with a pe tition from his native village, might save the unhappy man from transportation : the original case and opinion, with a petition from the inhabitants of Awsworth, couched in the strongest terms, were accordingly sent to the dome -office. It was signed by eighteen per sons who had known him for ten years and upwards; twenty-four wh o h a d k nown hi m for twenty years and upwards; and thirteen who had known him all his life. A separate testimonial from the clergyman (in whose Sunday -school prisoner h a d been a teacher) was also forwardedit was hoped to this, and the Solicitor-General'sl and opinion, some attention would be paid. In this, however, the petitioners were dis appointed. An impression was then found to exist that, if the prisoner were legally innocent, he had been guilty of a great moral crime. It was, therefore, determined by some parties to proceed to L oun t, and m in quiries on the spot. It was supposed, up t o that tim that considerable mischief had really been d one to Mr. Walker's mine ; and that the lives of the work men had really been put in jeopardy. It was be lieved too, that owing to the indignation which might naturally be felt there against the prisoner, some little difficulty might be experienced in obtaining anything favourable to him. But so far from this having been the case, the person inquiring at Lount met with a universal expression of sympathy in favour of the prisoner; and when the amount of damage which the prosecutor had sustained was inquired after, the very idea of any damage having been sustained, beyond the temporary stoppage of the works, was T ridiculed. It was asserted that it is a very common occurrence for the water to rise in the male, either when the slack to work the engine has failed, or the engineer has been employed on other work. This had happened thrice after the prisoner had been convicted; and so far from any attempt having been made to punish the engineer as a criminal, the work men, who had lost a day by the works being stopped, talked of fining the engineer in .ss. worth of ale ! More than this—the engineer had declared that he would submit to no such fine. He had no slack, he said, and it was no fault of his that the water rose in the mine. Mr. Mason, an inkeeper at Lount, has stated that on the very morning Chambers left the place, and before it was known he had quitted the prosecutor's service he (Mr. Mason) heard the machine-man at the colliery (Joseph Walker, a cousin of the prose cutor) talking of the water having risen. Mr. Mason heard him say "that it was not Samuel's fault (mean ing the prisoner). There was no slack to work the engine with." It is in fact declared throughout the village, that the real crime of the prisoner was, that he chose to leave Mr. Walker's service. But it may be said that the prisoner put the lives of his fellow men in jeopardy. Hear what one of these very men says. He has signed a declaration—that he and his fellow workman went down freely, and of their own accord, although he (the declarant) knew that the water was rising ; that he never saw any danger, nor does he believe that there was any; and that he would freely go down into the pit under the same circumstances as happened that morning. The constable of Lount, too, unsolicited, sent a written statement of what he witnessed that morning. He declares that the men continued working in the pit long after they had been let down by the prisoner, and that when the water rose so high as to stop the works, he saw the men come up out of the pit. This was about six o'clock in the morning. These men (who it must be remembered) were alleged to have been in imminent danger of their lives, directly they came up, began to talk about having a sup to drink, and were all merry and cheerful together. A petition in favour of the prisoner has been signed by 134 of the men and women of Lount and its vici nity—who are people employed in the mines, includ ing the men, and the wives of the men, whose lives are said to have been put in jeopardy ! Amongst other statements, they bear the highest testimony to the prisoner's character; they say that they remember the circumstance of the water rising in the mine, and Chambers leaving the prosecutor's service ; but these people declare that when they heard subsequently of Chambers being in custody they were at a" loss to con ceive what crime he could be charged with. Yet this is the man whose conduct Mr. Macaulay described as being so bad that the coal-masters generally had sus tained the prosecution against him ! These petitioners all declare that the stoppage of the mine, owing to the engine not being worked, is a matter of eomien oc currence. They say, further, that they have heard the sentence with surprise and grief, and they beg leave humbly to represent that, owing to the said Samuel Chambers having been undefended at the trial, his case was entirely misunderstood, and a degree of guilt has been supposed to attach to him, which is, as they submit, totally undeserved. They conclude by referring to the opinion of the Solicitor- General as to the illegal conviction of the prisoner, and they pray that mercy may be extended to him, as they believe him to be wholly innocent of the crime imputed to him. It may be asked whether this petition has been forwarded to the Home-office ? The reply is, No. Four petitions have already been presented. The opinion of the Solicitor-General as to the illegality of the conviction has also been sent, and has been re turned—unheeded. We leave the public to form their own conclusions relative to the treatment of the unfortunate and in jured man who is the subject of the above simple story. It is enough for us to add, that although the poor fellow has been declared, by competent judges, both legally and morally innocent of the crime laid to his charge, he was sent to Van Diemen's Land in August last. He left behind him an aged mother, a forlorn wife, and five little children. For seven years he is banished from his country as an outcast—to herd with the vilest of the vile—arid those who were dependent upon him for a subsistence may, for aught we know to the contrary, be left wholly destitute. This is a crushing calamity for any one to endure, but most of all for innocent people. THE YARMOUTH MURDER, FURTHER PARTICULARS. The case of the late Yarmouth murder does not cease to perplex those who are connected with the administration of justice in this place. The precautions that have been taken, the great exertions which have been made, and the many reports which have been in circulation, if they do not prove unavailing and false, are far from having led to those satisfactory results that are so desirable in a case of this sort. Royal, Hall, and Mapes have been committed as principals, but as the facts and circumstances of their alibis be come investigated, doubts arise at every step, as to their having any part in the affair, and even Yarham's guilt has not been so much confirmed as reports proclaim. It is not true that in a note to his wife he com municated anything of importance. These are fabrications, as is also the report that Mapes had confessed. There is even a doubt as to whe ther the stains said to be on the panel of the boards, where Yarham's coat hung, be those of blood at all. Indeed it has been examined by several intelligent persons, and chemists of reputation, who pronounce it not to be blood ; the private proceedings, therefore, of the magistrates have produced only idle conjectures, false reports, and injurious consequences. The prisoners will probably remain in Yarmouth gaol till the Assizes, and then they will be brought to Norwich for trial. There is, however, reason to suppose that two per sons at least have been connected with the affair. The watchman on duty about that part of the Denes where the money was found, speaks to seeing two persons distinctly, shortly before one o'clock, on a small hillock of sand, beneath which the bag was em bedded. He says he saw them together by the light of the sky in the back ground, and that he went round to the spot he expected they would come to, in order to turn his light upon them, but he saw no more of them. The footmarks at this place were said by Mrs. Deck to correspond with the shoes of Mapes, but it is altogether impossible to speak with accuracy to the impre , sions of the small nails in the sand, and thst after fourteen hours. The footsteps exactly corres pond with the shoes of Yarham, but there is no person at present found who saw him out that night. —Norfolk News. STATE OF TRADE. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF SATURDAY. GLOBE.—Mr. O'Connell's speech on Wednesday last, on the motion of Alderman Keshan for a peti tion to Parliament for the restoration of certain pri vileges to the Corporation of Dublin, has one or two points which, at the present juncture, we are unwilling to let pass without notice. Though the Learned Gentleman has, perhaps, no fault more glaring, or more mischievous, both to him self and to those whose interests and feelings he represents, than his habit of speaking somewhat at random, yet there are occasions on which he gives utterance to what all who know him may at once re cognise as his real sentiments—the guiding principles of his conduct, when unaffected by any merely momentary impulse. On such occasions his words have a weight with liberal-minded Englishmen which goes far to counterbalance the ill effect of his less reasonable appeals to the peculiar views and prejudices of the majority of his countrymen. We are not, as a people, and Mr. O'Connell knows it, unwilling to hear reason, or to do justice. The real battle of Irish rights has always been stoutly fought by Englishmen, and by none more strenuously or constantly than ourselves. Mr. O'Connell cannot now look back upon one of those achievements in behalf of his country, upon which his fame rests, without perceiving that he has in each case owed much to English aid, and more to an English sense of justice. It is therefore with regret that we notice his having, on the occasion referred to, and upon a subject which offered no particular inducement to the use of inordinately strong language, made such a de claration as the following : "The reason he (Alderman O'Connell) rose was this —although he thought it right to pass the resolution, and to bring the proposition before Parliament, he con ceived it would be exceedingly wrong if they were to induce the people to believe that they would succeed. The thing was too reasonable and too just to have the slightest prospect of success." Ireland has much to complain of—she has been deeply wronged—and the remedial measures which justice and sound policy combine to point out fcr adoption by the Government have encountered fla grant neglect and opposition under the Tory influence which originally generated the wrong. But this influence has also been injurious to England. For the last quarter of a century we have been struggling against it with constant perseverance, and but varying success. And who shall say that Ireland has had no share in the good results ? What was it that made the demand for Catholic Emancipation, always just, at length irre sistible ? The increasing prevalence of liberal sen timents, and the growing strength of the Liberal party in England. To the same cause, in a great measure, may Mr. O'Connell attribute his pre sent possession of municipal power in Dublin, as well as a large share of the legitimate influence he now has in the affairs of Ireland. It is not, then, because the demands of Ireland are " reason able" and " just," that they are not attended to. On the contrary, it is because they are so that they have ever had the sympathy and the strenuous aid of the English Liberals, and have been attended with a much larger measure of success than could otherwise have been reasonably anticipated. But though Mr. O'Connell says these things, we are willing to believe that he does not entirely mean them. And when we read such passages as the following, from the same speech, we are still induced to hope that he will ad dress himself to the task of Irish improvement in a more hopeful, more practical, and more worthy, be cause less exclusive, spirit : " He (Alderman O'Connell) had brought himself to the conviction that one-half of the expense of the Pav ing Board could be saved by an economical management of the business. The Corporation had it for centuries, both when it was Catholic and when it was Protestant, until it was taken away hand over head during Peel's Administration, for he was really the Adminis tration while he was secretary in this country, and that is part of the jurisdiction of the Corpora tion which they have a right to have restored to them. If the experiment were made for a few years under the Corporation, with all the vigilance that would be exercised on both sides of the house—for on that point they were all thoroughly agreed—he thought that one-half of the expense of the Paving Board would be -aved. The enormous salaries paid to the present offi cers would, for instance, be saved, and the citizens of Dublin would he disburdened from a very great quan tity of the local taxation." And again, in reference to a more general view of the subject : " No reason could be given why they should not get a considerable quantity of the powers that were pos sessed by the former Corporation. They ought to get as many of them at all events as the English cor porations had ; and if there was a real practical union, no difference would be made between them and England in this respect, and what the English corporations got the Irish corporations should also get. He was sorry to delay the Corporation so long on a subject that was unavailing, but he hoped the day would speedily come when the echo of their voices would reach the Parliament House, and when the most perfect sympathy would be established between them and the Legislature." Here we most cordially agree with Mr. O'Connell. "A real practical union" between the two countries is the one thing needful. Of this the English public are becoming every day more thoroughly con vinced; and Mr. O'Connell may be assured that no man in her Majesty's dominions has it in his power to do more towards strengthening that conviction, and giving it a practical and beneficial result, than himself. FOREIGN WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, JAN. 24.—Transac tions in foreign wools have not been very considerable during the past week, but a healthy husiness continues to be done, and prices are firmly maintained. ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, JAN. 24.—Sales this week have been equal to an average in quantity. Prices of combing and clothing wools are very firm; but it is difficult to realise proportionate rates to those for which wools are held by the growers. WAKEFIELD WOOL MARKET, JAN 24.—The improved rates we have lately reported are fully supported in any sales that have been made this week, and the market may be reported firm for both long and short wools. LEEDS.—There has this week been considerable quan tities of goods delivered from the manufacturers to order, but the sales at the halls were scarcely so large as the sales of the last few weeks; on the whole, however, there is fully as much business doing as usual at this period of the year, but the demand is principally for goods of low qualities, whilst fine and middle qualities continue to be very dull of sale, but without any alteration in prices. There have been more of the principal buyers in the town during the week than usual at this early part of the season; the foreign houses are more lively; on the whole, there is a fair business doing in finished goods, and the prospect is considered good for the spring trade. BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY.—WooI continues to be in steady request, and the supply in the market, par ticularly of hogg, not being abundant, current rates are firmly maintained. The demand for yarns is rather im proving. and as soon as the Ei be is cleared from ice, an increasing business with the shippers is expected, which fur some time past has been extremely limited, or yarns would have advanced still higher. Piece.—The recent advance in wool is pressing heavy on the manufacturer, as a corresponding price cannot be realised in the merino, Orleans, and Cobourg trade. Lastings and all other wool goods are better, and command full pikes. MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENING.—This market must be pronounced as in a most healthy condition : there is scarcely a single article produced for which there is not a corresponding demand, and in consequence prices are steadily supported, with a tendency for most things upwards. Since Tuesday the market has been firm at the rates then current. Yarns continue in undi minished request, and prices rather inclining upwards.-- Leeds Mercury. LAW INTELLIGENCE. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Jon. 25. (Before the VICE-CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND.) DITCIIBURX V. THE EASTERN COUNTIES AND THAMES JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY. Mr. Bethel! and Mr. Bacon applied on behalf of Messrs. Ditchburn and Maire, the steam-boat builders at Blackwell, for an injunction to restrain the above railway company from taking possession of a piece of land at the termination of the river Lee, in the Thames. "The facts of the case were these :—About two years ago the plaintiffs having in contemplation to enlarge their works, made a purchase of a piece of land of about three acres to extend their building establishment, it being contemplated by Government to build a great number of war steamers there, and there being no other esta blishment on the river Thames so convenient as this spot. The plaintiffs, previous to August, 1844, having this purpose in view, put upon this land marks of an intention to build or to lay out the land for their naval purposes. The Railway Company Act, passed in 1844, and, when it was in progress, the plaintiffs exa mined the plans, and found they had not the power or intention of going beyond a certain line, and they did not oppose the passing of the Act, and, therefore, they proceeded to put slips and other ship-building conve niences on the land, and no communication was made to them at that time that the land would not be wanted by the Company ; but, in September, 1844, they received a notice from the Company to demand the particulars of the land, and the claim made by them, and stating that they were willing to treat for the land, and the compen sation to be made to them. No step was taken by the Company until November, when they gave notice that they would pay them 1,5001. 17s. for the land, asking if the plaintiffs would accept the same, if not, they would issue their warrant for the jury to assess the amount, on whichthe plaintiffs filed their bill on the 11th of January. Mr. Stuart and Mr. Wood appeared for the Company. The VICE-CHANCELLOR said that, looking at the plans and the Act of Parliament, he thought the plaintiffs had established a fit case for an injunction. (Before Sir J. WIGRAM.) His HoNoun, after disposing of some unopposed peti tions, gave judgment in the two following cases : The French marine•painter, Gadin, who lately married an English lady of distinction, is at present at Berlin, where he moves in the highest circles. The King himself pays him great attention, and has lately created him a Knight of " the Order of Merit." He is called the Liszt of painting, from the truly sublime and original spirit of his compositions. his picture re presenting " the Spirit of God reigning over the waters" is an immortal work.— Court Journal. BRISTOL SUGAR-MARKET, JAN. N.—With the exception of a few parcels of crystallized Demerara. and which have found a ready sale, scarcely any busi ness has been done here this week ; the trade appear generally to hold ample stocks, and until these are re duced they see no inducement to come to market. Rum and molasses very dull.— Bristol Mercury. The Marquis of Worcester, only son of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, will attain his majority next Saturday, when a distinguished circle, including the corps cliplomatique, the Marquis and Marchioness of .Norma9by, Earl and Countess of Wilton, and the family connexions of the Noble Duke, are expected to assemble at Badminton, where 0 4 * Graces and he Marquis are now saying, E N, LONDON, MON I) A Y EVENIN which an order for their removal to Sutton was obtained, which order was appealed against at the sessions, and quashed. The overseers then told Allinson that they would not render any further assistance either to him or his family in the way of out-door relief, as they did not belong to their parish. Allinson on this an nouncement made an application to one of the magistrates on the subject, who advised him to apply to the overseers for relief, adding that it was their duty to find a settlement for him if he did not belong to Stor wood. Allinson made application to him accordingly, and they then agreed to allow him Is. 6d. a week towards his rent. Allinson again received notice to quit from his landlord, and on his applying to the overseers to know what he had better do, they told him they bad nothing to do with him, and that he had better remove his family to Sutton at once. Allinson refused to do this, and requested Paxton would go with him before a magistrate, whose order he would willingly obey. Paxton told him that if he would not go to Sutton as be had been told, he might go to the devil. Allinson again went to a magistrate, who again told him the overseers were bound to relieve him or find him a settlement. On the 9th of October Allinson was turned out of his cottage, Paxton refusing to have anything more to do with him. Allinson's wife subsequently ap plied for a lodging to a person named Pagett, a servant of Jennings, who agreed to let him have a lodging for one night, but Jennings having heard of it, came there and turned them out of the house. She then took her children to Paxton's house, where she was allowed to remain with them that night in the kitchen. The Learned Counsel, in conclusion, urged that the case was one which entitled him to the rule he had applied for. Mr. Justice Witt'Aims said there could he no doubt that the parties complained of were amenable to the law for their conduct. But the case was not one that callad for the prompt interference of that Court. It was one that might be disposed of by indictment, and did not call for the interference of that Court —Application refused. SMITH V. BEESLEY. His HONOUR said that in this case he had had the mis fortune to differ from the Master in some of his conclu shies, but, at the same time, he thought it duo to the Master to say that he had great reason to complain of whoever it was, who had drawn up the decree on which he was to act, for it was clear that it ought to hare been prefaced with an explanation for the Master's guidance. The case was cue of disputed accounts between the as signees of Mr. Charles Roberts, innkeeper, and dealer in horses, of the New Inn, St. Alban's, in the city of Ox. ford, the trustees having taken exception to some of the items of the Master's report. Having entered at length into the details of the case, his Honour decided that the three first exceptions must be allowed generally, and the fourth must also be allowed, except so far as related to the money paid to a firm called Wickens, Wilde, and Gabriel, with liberty to either party to except again to the report of the Master, to whom it was to be refened back to be reviewed. BAIL COUR7', Jan. 25. THZ QUEEN V. THE OVERSEERS OF STORWOOD-- CRIMINAL INFORMATION. Mr. PARHLEY applied to his Lordship for a rule, calling upon William Rexton and Robert Jennings, the overseers of the parish of Storwood, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, to show cause why a criminal information should not be filed against them for illegal, harsh, and cruel conduct in the execution of their office. It ap peared from the statement of the Learned Counsel, and the affidavits filed in support of it, that the defendants were both persons of property residing in the above parish, and that in the month of August, 1842, a labour ing man named IV. Allinson, together with his family, resided in that place; and that in consequence of a very long illness, Allinson was compelled to apply to the parish officers for assistance, and which they ultimately obtained. At the expiration of a month the man was sufficiently recovered to be able to work again, and had no occasion to make another application to the parish officers for assistance until March, 1843, when he again applied for relief, and obtained six shillings. In the following Midsummer the parish officers evinced an anxiety to get rid of Allinson and his wife altogether, and they induced Allinson's landlord to give him notice to quit the little cottage which he occupied in the parish. Storwood contained only twenty-five houses, and the overseers in so small a locality naturally possessed very considerable influence over the inhabitants, not one of whom would allow a poor man as tenant of his house, if they expressed a wish that he should be removed. Allinson's landlord, accordingly, gave him notice to quit, and ultimately turned him out of the cottage. This took place in July, 1844. Allin son's family had considerable difficulty in procuring an other lodging, but they at length did so, and the over seers allowed ls. 6d. a week towards their support; after POLICE INTELLIGENCE. 11tANS1 SE. (SATURDAY.) POISONOUS CANDLES.—Mr. Blackmore attended before the Lord Mayor on behalf of Messrs. Francis Tucker and Co., wax and tallow-chandlers, to hear his Lordship's decision as to receiving the oath and de claration of Messrs. Tucker and Co., that they never had used arsenic in making composite or any other candles in their manufactory. The LORD MAYOR said he had come to the resolu tion that he had not power to receive the declaration ; upon which Mr. Blackmore stated, that in consequence of the doubts expressed by his Lordship at the former hear ing, he had been instructed by his client to lay a case before the Solicitor-General, who, on the perusal of it, had written the following opinion : " I am of opinion that the Lord Mayor would not be justified in taking the proposed declarations. " FRED. TIIESIGER. "Temple, 25th Jan., 1845." C:LERKEIV WELL. BRUTAL TREATMENT lIT A SCHOOLMASTER.—A man named Michael Donovan, the master of the Roman Catholic charity school near Clarendon-square, St. Pancras, was brought before Mr. Greenwood, at five o'clock in the evening, charged with unmerci fully beating a lad nine years of age, who had been committed to his protection. Before the evidence was given the boy's back was exhibited, which presented a frightful spectacle, being covered with bruises. A medical gentleman present, a total stranger to all the parties interested, proceeded to examine it, and declared that the child had been treated in such a way as was calculated to produce a disease of the lungs to one of so tender an age. The complainant was then sworn, and said that on Thursday night, after he had retired to rest, his master came to his room, where there were ten other boys who had retired to rest, and in consequence of his being discovered with his stockings on the de fendant beat him with a strap, and inflicted the in juries he had received. Mr. GREENWOOD asked the little fellow how many stripes his master gave him ?—lie said he did not know. Mr. GREENWOOD—Is your father here? Boy— No ; he is in Bristol. Mr. GREENWOOD — Where is your mother? Boy —She is dead, Sir. Mr. GREENWOOD (to the defendant)—This is a serious charge. What have you to say ? Defendant —The boy had been often told not to go to bed with his stockings, and he knew that it was aglinst the rules. He was found with them on on Thursday night; and having been told of it, I gave him two stripes with a strap. lle then got under the bed, and I called him many times to come out. He would not, and I pulled him up, and gave him two stripes more. Mr. GREENWOOD observed that the boy's back was in that state that he would not exercise summary jurisdiction, and he would send him to be tried before twelve of his countrymen. The worthy magistrate then ordered that some of the intelligent boys that were in the same bed-room as complainant should be brought as evidence on Monday, and the defendant , was held to bail until that day. _ LAMBETH. Samuel Orde, a youth of fourteen years of age, was finally examined upon three distinct charges of felony, the first for stealing a sword from the Surrey Theatre, the property of Mr. Hicks; the second with stealing a dress sword from the same theatre, belonging to Mr. Saville; and the third with stealing two swords and a silver mounted riding-whip from the dressing-room of Mr. Roxby, of the Olympic Theatre. The first and last charges were clearly substan tiatiated, and the prisoner, who has been before tried and convicted of stealing a watch from the shop of Ilr. Arnold, of the Strand, was sent to Newgate for trial. THE HALMENEND MURDER. EXECUTION OF DOWNING AND POWYS. STAFFORD, SATURDAY APTERNOO3I.—A COM munication having been received this morning by the authorities, that the decision of the judges had been against the prisoners, the Sheriffs fixed twelve o'clock to-day for their execution. At an early hour the Rev. Chaplain visited the unhappy men, and continued with them up to the period when the fatal bolt was drawn. At eleven o'clock the wretched men received the Holy Sacrament, and paid the most marked attention to every part of that impressive service, making the responses with apparently much fervour. In the course of the morning Downing said, in reply to a question put by the Rev. Gentleman, " I have spoke the truth—it is a hard thing to suffer for other folks' deeds ; and the lad and me is as free as the Bible of this." He afterwards said, in the course of conversa tion, " If we suffer, we shall suffer wrongful ; we could na' help what folks said agen us, or the jury bringing us guilty; but we are as innocent as a child unborn ;" and Powys, in reply to the Rev. Gentleman, said, " I am innocent of it." After the unhappy men were pinioned, the chaplain asked them whether either of them had any request to make with respect to their relatives ? They both desired him to inform their friends that they hoped they would prepare to meet them in Heaven, and that they would lead a good life ; that they were going out of the world innocent, and were not afraid to die. Precisely at twelve o'clock the tolling of the prison bell announced that the melancholy procession was moving towards the place of execution. The culprits, who had undergone no apparent alte ration since their trial, walked with a firm and un faltering step. On reaching the lodge, Powys, who saw Mr. Superintendent Bergen, requested him to shake hands with him, and said, emphatically, " God bless you! It's hard to die innocent; but I can for give you." Downing ascended the drop with a hasty step, and placed himself immediately under the fatal beam, and whilst the executioner was adjusting the rope, he said—" Gentlemen, here is two chaps going to be murdered. We are going to die as innocent as a child unborn. We are free from it." Powys then ascended the scaffold, and whilst the executioner was putting the rope round his neck, he said to him, " I want to say something; don't put the rope so tight—l can't breathe." The chaplain then shook hands with Downing, anti exhorted him, in the most solemn manner, to tell the whole truth, as he was about to leave the world ; to which Downing replied, " I am not guilty ; lam as innocent as a child unborn. The Lord in Heaven knows we are, and we shall be with him in a very short time." The chaplain having also shaken hand.; with Powys, and repeated the ex hortation, Powys said, " We are going to die for a thing we know nothing about, and I hope the Lord in Heaven will protect us." He added, "We are going to suffer for that which we are innocent of ;" to which Downing rejoined, " Yes, and it will b e known before twelve months who is the guilty person, and they will be no better off than we are." Powys said, " We have had our lives sworn away; but I can forgive." Downing further said, "I hope it will come out, and that the country will know that we are in nocent, and our friends will be cleared of it. The Lord knows that we are going to suffer fer a thing that we never did." He also said he was going to die for injuring a man he never injured in his life, and the man never injured him. After the caps had been drawn over their faces, and whilst the chaplain was proceeding with the burial service, both the criminals praying aloud, apparently with great fervour, th a t their souls mimht be saved. Whilst they were engaged in prayer the drop fell, and the world closed upon them for ever. Downing ceased at once to live, but Powys was greatly convulsed, and struggled for several minutes. THE EARL OF MORNINGTON. — We regret to hear there is no improvement whatever in the health of this venerable nobleman. Up to an advanced hour, the answer given to the numerous inquiries was, that the Noble Earl remained much the same. Lord Francis Egerton has, we regret to say, been suffering from an attack of gout, at Hatchford HaIL His Lordship is, however, again convalescent. Mr. F. Egerton has joined the Excellent, at Portsmouth. JANUARY 27, 1845 EXECUTION OF WM. HO WELL. IPSWICH, SATURDAY AFTERNOON.—This wretched man expiated his offence on the scaffold in front of Ipswich gaol at twelve o'clock. His two companions in crime—Walter Howell, his brother, and Israel Shipley—were respited on Friday. The Rev. Mr. Page has been most unremitting in his attention to the condemned criminals, all of whom have conducted themselves in an exemplary man ner. When the elder Howell (William) entered the gaol, about five months since, he was not able to read or write, nor did he know a syllable of the Lord's Prayer ; but, by the excellent regulations of the prison, he had made himself a tolerable plain scholar by a close application to the books that were furnished him by the visiting justices and the chaplain. On Friday he saw his mother and sister, in the presence of the Governor and another officer, and the scene was a very distressing one. The prisoner throughout his confinement has protested his inno cence, and on Thursday night he slapped Turner, one of the turnkeys, on the shoulder, and remarked, " I know I deserve to die for the many offences I have committed, but I declare to God I never steeped my hands in human blood." Soon after he observed, " There is a man in this prison ,who could save my life if he liked." This was in reference to a smuggler lately apprehended, and to whom all the condemned criminals addressed a letter, which they entrusted to the Rev. Chaplain to deliver. On another occasion he observed, " That man ought to pray to his God to morrow at twelve, when I am on the scaffold." On Friday night, after the chaplain left the prison, the culprit offered up a sincere prayer, and then sank down from exhaustion in his bed. From an early hour thousands began to assemble in the vicinity of the prison, and the all-absorbing topic was whether all the culprits were to die, for it was not generally known iu the town that any re spites had arrived. At nine o'clock the Rev. F. Page entered the gaol, and directly proceeded to the prisoner's cell. Having remained about an hour with the culprit, he next proceeded to the chapel to prayers. The prisoner joined in the devotional service with great earnest ness, and at the conclusion partook of the sacrament. His brother, Walter Howell, and Shipley, likewise partook of the sacrament, and betrayed great emotion and penitence. The prayers having been ended, the two Howells and Shipley, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Page, went into the Rev. Gentleman's room, which is ad joining the Governor's house, at the western end of the convicts' yard. Here it was that they took their final leave, and a most distressing scene ensued. From eleven o'clock the bell of St. Margaret's Church tplled at intervals, up to twelve o'clock, a solemn death-knell for the criminal. About the latter hour the awful procession was discovered emerging out of the door. way of the governor's house, and wending its slow progress to the gate keeper's lodge, in front of which the gallows was erected. On entering the lodge the prisoner knelt down in the centre, before a stool, and the chaplain continued reading prayers. The culprit three times ejaculated, with his hands upraised and clasped together, in a firm but agonised tone, " Gracious Lord, look down upon me ; Lord help me ; Lord have mercy upon me!" Calcraft pinioned his arms while he was kneeling, and this having been done, he stood up and cried aloud, " Gracious God, be merciful unto me ! 0 Lord, into thy hands I commit my spirit ! 0 Saviour, blessed Jesus, receive my soul !" He took no notice of those who surrounded him, but ascended the ladder unassisted, and with a firm step. Calcraft having adjusted the fatal noose, and drawing a cap over his face, he continued to move his hand, and pray aloud. Immediately before the drop fell, he said, with great emphasis, to the mob, " My dear friends, I die innocent of the crime laid to me, that is all I wish to say to you." The drop then fell, and the wretched man was launched into eternity without making scarcely a perceptible struggle. The body having been suspended an hour, it was cut down, and was to be buried at night within the precincts of the gaol. It was calculated that there were above 12,000 spectators present, a majority of whom were females and boys. THE CHAPLAIN'S STATEMENT. After the last penalty of the law had been enforced, the chaplain was so deeply affected that he was com pelled to retire to his private reom in the gaol ; but as soon as he had recovered from the shock his nerves had sustained, he favoured the reporter with the fol lowing statement : " From the first moment that he (Howell) came here, five months ago, there has always been a spirit of devotion about him ; and although some points were reserved for the judges, he prepared to meet his fate immediately after his trial. When I informed him, on Sunday morning last, that the judges had decided against him, he gave himself up from that time to constant prayer, and placed himself entirely in the hands of his spiritual instructors, exhibiting the most extreme penitence. This morning he took the sacrament with the two prisoners who have been re spited. Ido not generally administer the sacrament —I did not to the last poor woman—but I believe their minds were in a fit state to receive it. He ap peared to find great comfort in the prayers of the Communion Service, the meaning of which I had fully explained to him on Friday_night. When he heard from me that Walter's life was to be spared, but his own doom remained unchanged, he said, 4 Thank God, for sparing my poor brother Walter's life ;' he made no complaint of his own sentence being carried out ; not a word of any kind escaped his lips. On Thursday, wheii he parted with his mother, he sent word to his wife and child—he told his mother, ' Oh, tell my dear wife to turn from sin and serve God, and bring up my child in the fear of God.' Up to the time the younger Howell received the message of mercy, he was young and thoughtless, and I could not fix his mind upon the awful fact that he was about to die. From the mo ment, however, that he was told his sentence was respited, he has been deeply overcome. After they had left the chapel this morning, they came into my reom and he threw his arms round his brother's neck at parting, and several times kissed him ; his brother enjoined him to repent, but his exact words I do not know. Shipley also bade the criminal good-bye, and shook hands with him, on which Howell emphatically said, Oh, Shipley, turn from sin.' The Rev. Ed ward Harstson, the Rector of St. Stephens, and the Rev. Mr. Reeve, of Trinity, assisted me in affording them spiritual consolation before the respite arrived, and we are all agreed that William Howell died in a repentant and believing state of mind and heart. We received a letter from the Secretary of State this morning, ordering Shipley and Walter Howell to be transported for life. We made very important com munications, the nature of which I cannot tell you, to the Secretary of State, and I believe they led to the commutation of their sentences. I doubt if Sir J. Graham was influenced by the petition from the town." THE MARYLEBONE VESTRY. THE CASE OF THE REV. DR. PENFOLD. On Saturday there was again a very full attendance of the Marylebone Vestry, at the Court-house, Mary lebone, created by the anxiety to hear the debate ad- journed from Saturday last, relative to the charges recently made against the Rev. Rector of Trinity Church, Dr. Penfold. The Rev. Dr. SPRY, the Rector of Marylebone, again presided, and all the local clergy were present on the occasion.. The Rev. Dr. Penfold also occupied his place in the vestry. The minutes of the last meet ing having been read and confirmed, and other routine business disposed of, the Rev. Chairman called on Sir Peter Laurie, as the mover of the adjournment on the previous Saturday, to resume the debate on the reso lution to appeal to the Bishop of London concerning the 251. which the Rev. Dr. Penfold is alleged to have improperly detained. Sir P. LAURIE said, this important matter, which had been so fully discussed in the vestry last Saturday, would, he believed, be closed that day in a most satisfactory manner.—(Hear, hear.) He was glad to have it in his power to state that it would be wholly unnecessary for the vestry to carry the revo lution which had been adopted on the first occasion, inasmuch as the 251. had been paid into the hands of the trustees of the Girls' Charity School.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") Under such circumstances he hoped that the non-confirmation of the minute for going to the Bishop of London concerning the subject, would be at once and unanimously carried.—(Hear.) Mr. WALPOLE EYRE had nothing further to say than that he entirely agreed in the hope expressed by Sir Peter Laurie, that henceforth a good feeling would exist between the clergy and laity of the parish. The Rev. CHAIRMAN now put the question to a show of hands, and said he felt great pleasure in stating that the non-confirmation of the minute was carried unanimously. The Rev. Dr. Penfold instantly rose, and having made his obeisance to the chairman, left the vestry. REPEAL OF THE WINDOW DUTIES. A numerous deputation from the Parochial Com mittee waited upon the vestry to present a memorial, signed in two hours by 638 rate-payers, praying them, as the representatives of the parish, to take im mediate steps for aiding in the present movement to secure from Government, now there was a surplus revenue, a total repeal of the window duties. Upon the motion of Mr. MICHIE, seconded by Mr. H. C. WILSON, it was resolved to call a special vestry to consider the subject, and also to call upon the Members for the borough, and all resident Members of Parliament, to attend on the .occasion. The vestry then broke up. We have more than ordinary pleasure in being enabled to state, on the best authority , that very favour able accounts have been received of Si, ' William Follett's health, and that there is every hope of kis immediate re turn to this country, and of his health Wing sufficiently re-established to undertake the discharge ,of his duties in Parliament at the commencement of the seKsion. THE MAYOR OF PRESTON'S FANCY BALL. (From the PrestonShronicle.) For the last few weeks the principal topic of conver sation among the ladies and gentlemen of this town and neighbourhood has been the Costume Ball, announced to be given by the chief magistrate of the borough, John Paley, jun., Esq. Great were the preparations made for the occasion, and great the skill, ingenuity, and taste, exercised to add to its attractions, and to invest it with every possible eclat. Those honoured with invitations to the fete lost no time in searching the stores of his trionic and fictitious literature, both in prose and poetry, as well as the pages of modern and ancient, English and foreign history, for characters wherein to make their debut. The popular heroes, in every department of lite rature, were evoked for the occasion ; and the stage had its province invaded for new personifications and repre sentations, in order that aspirants, althoug,h uninitiated in the mysteries of the " acting drama," might make their appearance for " one night only." Peaceful subjects became all at once warlike ; military and naval uniforms were inquired after and engaged, with out even communication with the Horse Guards or Admiralty; and swords were examined, as if the Otaheite question had been unsettled, and the Prince de Juin vine had been about to pay us a visit of a less ceremo nious character than his illustrious father did to our So vereign, a short time ago. Our fair friends, though somewhat more mysterious in their preparations, were not a whit behind the ruder sex. The most fanciful regions of fiction, as well as the most lovely phases of real life, were examined for becoming attire, and the display of Thursday evening attested the judgment and good taste with which their researches had been directed. It was early evident, from the almost universal ac ceptance of the numerous invitations, and the anxiety each invited guest evinced to make preparations worthy of the event, that, as a scene, it would be amongst " the gayest of the gay," and would possess, in the annals of oar civic hospitality, the most prominent and distin guished pace. These anticipations have been more than realised. The all-evenful day, looked forward to with so many anxious thoughts, and so many flutterings of hope, with such fond desires to emulate and excel, has passed with even more eclat than its hospitable promoter had expected, or the most sanguine of the joyous guests had ventured to hope. The time fixed for the opening of the ball was nine o'clock ; and, shortly before That hour, carriages began to set down company at the principal entrance to the Guildhall. A considerable crowd had gathered around the building, to catch a passing glimpse of the pic turesque attire of the several visitors; but the erection of a temporary porch, for the greater comfort and con venience of the guests, prevented anything but a mo mentary glance, and even this could only be caught by those close to the door. The crowd—as crowds gene rally are on festive occasions—was in the best humour; and their occasional critical observations upon the ladies and gentlemen, their dressses, and things in ge neral, elicited many a hearty laugh from the bystanders. The excellent regulations of the police prevented any in convenience or accident. As the company alighted, the ladies were shown into Mr. Ewan's shop, which had been set apart as the robing-room, in which, should oc casion require it, the last touch could be given to the ar rangements of the toilette,. before entering the hall. A smaller apartment was fitted up for the gentlemen. Having ascended the grand staircase, each successive guest was ushered into the " Council Chamber," no longer resounding with the dry details of our Improve. ment Commissioners' affairs, or the discussion of the "grave and reverend seigneurs," the aldermen and coun cillors of the borough. This was fitted up as the Recep tion-room ; and here, on two handsome state chairs, sat the much-respected host, our hospitable Mayor, and his amiable lady, the Mayoress, the former attired in his official robes, as chief magistrate of the borough, and Mrs. Paley in a splendid fancy dress of black velvet, in the style of Marie Antoinette, trimmed with ermine, with a corsage of white satin, trimmed with pearls and lace, and a blonde dress hat and feathers. The name of each visitor was announced on his arrival, and each then paid his or her respects to the Mayor and Mayoress. The Council Chamber is a handsome room, and re quired less of the decorator's art, for the present pur pose, than the Town Hall. Some tasteful additions had, however, been made to its ordinary features, and several large pier glasses were placed in the apartment. It was well lighted, and had a brilliant appearance. Over the entrance to the Ball-room was a neat silvered cast of the Prince of Wales's feathers. Before entering into the Ball-room, we may state that the hall usually occupied for the administration of jus tice was made available for dancing ; the Council Chamber, as we have said, for the Reception-room ; and the Guild Hall, as the Refectory.' The appearance of the Ball-room was gorgeous in the extreme, its plain every-day appearance being com pletely lost in the splendour of the decorations which met the eye on every side. On the south end a spacious new orchestra had been erected across the room ; over head, was a large east, in relievo, of the Preston arms, the escutcheon being supported by banners, cannons, swords, and other implements of warfare, as usual in ornamental emblazonments. In front was a large painting of the crest of the Prince of Wales, with the motto of the principality, " Ich Dien ;" and, on the right, the arms of Mr. Alderman Jacson ; Mr. Alderman Clayton, and Mr. Alderman Ger man ; on the left, those of Mr. Councillor Addi son, Mr. Alderman Taylor, and Mr. Alderman S. Horrocks—six of the last Mayors. On the east side of the room was gracefully arranged some extremely neat banner drapery, the centre object being the Queen's arms—the side ones the arms of Prince Albert and the Prince of Wales, all upon ermine grounds. The light blue drapery connecting each heraldic achievement, was relieved by several graceful festoons of roses and ever greens. The effect was exceedingly rich and tasteful. At the south and in the centre, over the portrait of George the Second, was an emblazonment, in relief, of the Queen's arms, supported on the right by a handsome silk royal standard, and on the other a neat union jack. On the right hand were also the county arms, and on the left the armorial bearings of Mr. Paley. The magis trates' bench was fitted up for spectators, and the steps approaching it, covered with scarlet cloth. Instead of the usual stern administrators of justice, there were during the evening numerous ladies occupying the seats. No doubt numerous decisions were given from the bench that evening, from which, of course, no appeal lies ; as gallantry acknowledges no higher court than the smiles of grace and beauty. On the west side, the " prisoners' dock" was fitted up as a tent, from which were served ices and other refreshments. The tablet of Guild Mayors, in the recess on the west side, was festooned with flowers ; as were also the large mirrors on each side—above them being ornamental devices of military arms. The decorations here were light and tasteful, and reflected great credit on the skill and taste of Mr. Moon and Mr. Carr, by whom they were principally executed. In the recess, on the west side, was a dais, capable of ac commodating a considerable number ; and on the op posite side were also raised seats, the whole length of the room. As the company began to pour in the scene became most animated and picturesque, and each succeeding visitor added to the interest of the gay display. Many scrutinizing glances were cast to detect friends in their new garb ; and although masks were prohibited, the change in some was so great that the most intimate ac quaintances could not recognise each other. Many amusing incidents of this character occurred during the evening ; in some instances it was a considerable time before the incognito could be removed. Many meta morphoses were so strong, that we fancy some would scarcely have known their own reflections in the mirrors. We have, however, heard of no inconvenience resulting from this particular feature of "Absence-of-mind-ism." Groups of characters of every nation and age were seen ; and as steam in our day has almost annihilated the bar riers of time and space, in our every.alay. -life communi cations with each other, and with surrounding nations, so here did it seem as if the dates and times, which we asso ciate with historical records, had been swept away, and every age and • clime were presented to the view. Not only were these distinctions discarded, but rank was forgotten, and, unlike parvenus in general, the lords and ladies, kings and queens, knights and chiefs, of the evening, esteemed it not beneath their new dignity to make themselves agreeable with peasants and lowly damsels. The Old English Gentleman," with frosted locks, found favour in the eyes of the youngest beauty; and the antiquated dame flirted with the gayest and, most Juvenile cavalier; the inhabitants of different na tions met, as they ought always to do, on the best terms, without the need of ambassadors or other diplomatic officials, or exchange of protocols or treaties. " All sorts of people there were seen together ; All sorts of characters ; all sorts of dresses." Amidst all this exciting pageantry, there must, at times, with Many, have been an occasional reflection as to the real object, character, and use of a fancy ball. There may have been, doubtless there were some, who with a calculating utilitarianism looked coldly upon the fete, but there are many more, and we must confess our selves among the number of those, who rather admire this revival of the old taste for pageantry among the wealthier classes. In olden times this feeling begot a degree of charity and consideration for other classes, and particularly for the poer ; and we do not see why the same results may not be expected at the present day. We need not with Englishmen argue this question ; their own frequent enjoyments are admitted to have the effect of expanding the heart and making them more philanthropic. Besides the employment caused by them for many artizans and others, it likewise prevents the growth of the unfeeling, calculating, money-grubbing, but tasteless and unsympathising, uti litarian desire, of amassing mere money wealth. With the moderate exercise of a different spirit, we should also encourage the revival of a taste for the beautiful decora tions in tapestry, paintings, statues, and other articles of uertu,rich costume, and splendidly illuminated books, in which our ancestors delighted in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This would soon extend to other classes, and we should then see in our own day more of the architectural splendours that adorned the old manor halls, monastic piles, and yeoman's granges of England. We are, however, now digressing ; we must resume our narrative. The picturesque groupings to which we have alluded, as the characters dropped in, were more marked, and more picturesque as the sets were formed for dancing, which commenced about nine o'clock, to the excellent music of Horabin's well-known baaid. Cava liers and courtiers of the troubled times of the Charleses, " When civil dudgeons first grew high, And men fell out they knew not why ; When foul words, jealousies, and fears Set folks together by the ears," forgot their differences, and danced on amiable turns together. Edward Warmsley and numerous well re presented highland chieftains, " all plaided and plumed in their tartan array," were as social as possible with the Hanoverian Georges. The Pretender was not pre sent, but numerous other pretenders to thrones and titles were. From the multitude of military uniforms of so many different nations, one might almost have ima gined the Allied Sovereigns were holding a congress in --4-------------„rt tee the vicinity. A considerable number viore el, - e - diti l w: o l l and very well many of our townsmen bgliking,rofi aristocratic withthe n tm h ( a )s b t i lni nonchalance, n c ß e, ri r g e a nd s w e re 11 : her t au ' or police, and midshipmen who galdless 0f ed. 44 The dangers of the seas.' , y D i c etiv j el There were three Earls of Leicester, and - 1 -' ; '„, tor" the life ; for not an Amy Robsart did they br'" if ee ih 'i the gay court. Eastern worthies, also, tbe r i , e o ugh,,o r but to particularise, we shoull haves to en i t e , ' .. ,ry characters were well supported ; history of almost every age and every el„ 1-- so s 7 )( but srtn g e ct well-dressed ones, it would be invidious to se y vote t° ottif, special commendation. 6 1 " of A few words, dr o l however, we must de„A and a loftier theme. The dresses of the fairer the company were generally very beautiful, siltbegtii4 there was less attempt at disguise than Oil e lueni men, some of them sustained their assurae ~f ~ excellently. Many of the loveliest creatioitsteeci prolific genius were personified, and so tne ° , s 'oe t° o heroines were represented. i'reston has oee l o os 0 proud of the display of beauty on Thursiisl,:oigbi, Swiss, Italian, Portuguese, or Scotch costunifoir assumed, but the features of the Lancashire " 0 mained undisguised, as they should ever he. f oresleo The Refectory was thrown open a little heferiao o'clock, and presented a scene by no isesssoy o f 0 1 taste, elegance, splendour, and liberality,,,e 0p66, other portions of the entertainment. ~,l'e,„tioll'r/ itself is similar in appearance to the ite c 'j f itil i rd and was ornamented much in the same v va ldtbe'll glasses, mirrors, and heraldic devices ; en s ,. o priSi s l, 4 of which was exceedingly elegant and APP . A pter A y was placed at the upper end of the rootte_Ase bony the royal arms, with the motto, "Fear Glw'osiolp Queen," with a small achievement below,-e:jobn arms of the borough, with the legend , ol' Esq., Mayor, 1844-5." , veld The collation was of the choicest kin ( ' ''''' e th e c l, cacy that could tempt the palate, and o ak 4 10 (0 tite grow by what it fed on," was supplied in - sr,„ l l, f i and the taste with which it was set out bt ‘ ,. P fe d, entitled that gentleman to the highest Praisthe!d luxury had its appropriate ornament ; ev ell o olfor moulded into the most delicate shapes, w as c r oss' de little confectionery banners, exhibiting the a , o ptis ti t iti ton, the name of the Mayor, and other sPP,,„' 0 0( 1 ;j vices ; while the numerous fruit-stands, " 0 - 0 eoe t y apples and other rich dessert dainties, we r ts• W o e' classic art in sculpture. The refresheie% OEI,OO company, were in fancy costume, and 13 1 - F 6 ose . i c ioo i quite as much disguised. We could not hu r „. o l- 0 0 the repast, to notice an item of the furniti_.:ll. to ll, l k, massive silver salver, containing an i .. ,ns ei g. I d ipto forth that it was " Presented by the inaLterie ° 0 1°. ration of Preston to Mr. Lynn, of the ~; , „- j iiiss io r o l Liverpool, for the taste and skill he eXI III I - 0 ,00 0 tending the arrangement of the refre s- illes ii ot6 e Guild in 1822." The room was brillialdliatheS by a chandelier suspended in the centre' i ls ,40 rows candelabra which graced the ta bles. 0 10 0 4 The wines were of the best quality, 1111 if ! s oar profusion-perhaps, indeed, too profuselYoftslicioo,i Judge from the effects produced upon s f a , 0 de, pany, who seemed to have forgotten tb a " d the 1 0 fe i flavour was insidious, and that little beynntioltsol eating excitement of the occasion was reQ 1 1 f for l throw the just balance of the ball-rtleels of" scarcely be hyperbolical to say that belitieliqtil and sherry, kilderkins of hock, and pipes„,-ntied,'„,,, must not only have been broached, but en`theu; 0,1 the evening ; and yet the supply exceedeilv poss..o'' The luxurious old Romans, who - Dees the 0 ',0 14 fountains run with the purple juice of the g d 0 0 not have despised the liberal flow of rare and regst, at this hospitable revel. acl, l''? Dancing continued with great spirit, sooder00)10110' of supporting_ historical character, ti le t oies;, ell was danced by the courtiers of past ee l 60'41 congruities are met with in every-dal life ol ll d wonder at the delight they afford in a - 0 . 1 especiallylntheefabrrlythpeairrtduefvellhoepmeevnetn. ing., bailie) the d r. 0 10 )0 much crowded ; but the opening of the °P r oof ) we b s the promenading in the reception-o°lo'e es si te ct 1.0 1 the pressure, and the dancing Wee r % l L r es T ric .ri i Much less inconvenience, in this "'„,se.,,tivd" experienced than was generally ellPritilerr-Qtro was continued without intermission alni co tolle i g, v , in the morning ; and, on ~ God s a t o to 164 being played by the band, as an intinisa be eel:,, e ry the loyal tune was received as if it b il w illig ae 4 ,4" a party of Highland Jacobites, so- un o s err eo i t 'i' yet numerous party to depart, ar il : e a AIY the hours had passed so rapidly. e ,. - 0,, 6 o i l eluded, promenading was continued it - lee'," iol an hour, most being yet unwilling ,i'c'best ,j , f 0 which, to all, had been one of the big ifii and gratification. aid fe it ;6 ll l r , In concluding our notice of this expressieridNiny, only repeat the sentiments felt and oocisl,";" sent,' of the hospitality, affability, en7,0070e14. which characterised the demeanour ringl" t he i f 00'0 0 his amiable lady, and the family, D, 005 0 4 f ing. Their whole desire appeared t° am ok ii , l , l O ll llP / of the general enjoyment of their gniog '' - e i t 1 they eminently succeeded. May thei,,.o th i c y r r e u c u e r i s v e f . u t r h t a h t e am respectand usemen t agnodo dawdivlal,n : go " 1 essi d o t h o e li b townsmen, on the present and former ce well merited. .................................,„,..00' i so. 1 LLOYD'S SHI PP ' ' 11' ; SAI D EAST INDIA SOL- P ING, 9;,.;. ‘ i Arrivals - Helen Mary, Gordon , '"'," Pef ie cl 5 ~, the Downs, sailed Nov. 1, St. lie l , e° , - Slst s e r Lawson, from Batavia, in the D' 7 " - ( 5 ;o1 0 "St.' l St. Helena Dec. 9 ; Trusty, El? don , -5, " fro' Romney, sailed Aug. 27, Mya'uritiiis °6. J 4 4',. 1 Nov. 16. Oe" Arrivals at Mauritius-Cassioliesini VCII ,;; Liverpool ; Belle Creole, 27th, f i r. d c)-- 03 ,„ 1 ll' • iP,:, Perseverance, Corkhill, from 31-- at h ~fi vi esl f r Handley, from Calcutta ; Anais , 9 ,;'',.' Dia+ol f C ro oli m w ß ay o ' n Briton, 30th, from Madagascar ; utatisS„d Ircheolnleyt,ofrsoimngAaplaudreag;ascar ; F",, fre,'" e rj, Ch the :On , I r L . /11 with Captain Bega and crew of i i r t h of i l jcs:; , Freres, wrecked at Agalega on the l' r op di d Departures from MauritiusSnn Si S ' P• Cork ; Persian and Derwent, 29th, and f f olor , all to Arrivals on at Ichaboe-Warrior' - r c lo o ' ° Le 1 1 ' Bay ; Mary Ann, Allen, fro m V C ' cl Owen, from London. frerrit A r Arrival at St. Helena-Scindiati• - f i er Calcutta to London. sesi sh Arrival at Rio-Richard C obden, pool and Cork, bennit to 2!f-- - P °. 101 ° 0 4 PRINCE ALBERT'S HARRIERS 4 ,tp ; .,04, , r dsti / ness T hunted with his harriers on ' The g i 0, 0 4 The meet was at Dorney-conininfl:s. SPojcpr attended by Major-General Wegrhn ' e s4 ,le• lie/ 1 Captain Meynell. His Royal wg Cas - . j CP, capital runs before he returned to the C ad 0 5 0 !l et 4 , was found close to the common, " 41 ; 1 , 0 sl iti :.,lo r ofi a fast run of thirty-five minutes in so OP' , s FA wi kit she started. The seconds orlte e ir t e a run of twenty minutes, on ~ s tej o near Maidenhead. The 'field coil ) " , PI Ili of the neighbouring yeomen and litr (20004,1 j ot, 0 ,4 iti WILL OF ILTID NICHOLL,ES4I be dooly t V ; -The will of Iltid Nicholl, 'cl ii '',,, c tor s ., 4 o ol 0, 0 , curator, has just been proved ia v o f P",;fr "V Henry Iltid Nicholl, Esq., P°e°ressedAi'..l6,ri and one of the executors. The (I x ec c ., 0 1 11 54, 1/ 0 0 1 wife his carriage, horses, plat? ar eieli f lin fe r 1,2001. a year. To eac h o r his unio, ",.. c h o m 10 0 7 sons the sum of 10,000/. each' 'Woof TO 40' 1001. each (accounting for the ste s ' cal hi by alluding to their portions advs°4ehiSPio t l ot y p' marriage). He also gives to bi s . w 'holi se ,id cie i V land-place ;to his son John bi,s ee , /A,/ street, where his business . ha s ', n ot e„ 16 , , residue of his property, after PO' 0, v" r o' orgo 0 d together with his estates in Glain rt y,b d o , his eldest son. The personal pror e ~f 4010,/ ,5 11v 04°` '0 under 160,000 L-Britannia. am AS, „ D i , r ell / i d i [ADVERTISEMENT.] ---.ASI`-"A. 1 . 14. a IP . BREATH. COUGHS, AND COLDS.---chere9ll6er 1/ IP r; CASE.-The Rev. David andsWillias. f Ado , ' e a 0 minister at Beaumaris, in the 1 1 45, o or 09,,i a letter dated the 14th of January, i . sis o t lid po or _ld le '' mended HOLLOWAY'S PILLS to a P o , on t ii 0 1 of Hugh Davis, who at the tiniehaa cletil, / walk for want of breath; that be quite 5e , 0 1 03; kA, few days when be appeared V ile ois t o e► / ) 1 breath was easy and natural, and ills will c ii, o tlf in strength." These wonderful p sor Bo be t) cold, or asthma. Sold at P l9 . , fe v i c a 0 1 0 Of . 0 blishment, 244, Strand (where a° , eO CIO : p f and by almost all respectable ' 1 00 ' 4 Ij o l i l li throughout the civilised world. oy es 00 9 ,04 STRANGE RAILWAY OCCO/010 „ 0 0,,p0h On Monday night, is arousesor * viii/v.O P tbe O Ol for t r e y the upper part of the glass s ,h, • the 132 or" le of a first-class carriage in d t he e OA • Leeds, Manchester, York, and bo at a D je..4 l o t , 'clock , a etlf i' f il ilo,.‘ ' at a quarter past ten 0 - gige- 00 0 , •• iv ) Derby station, the speed being No V e a ft ° ; - 0 41 / tory to entering the station. ,_ eac he _„ 6 31 0 ,,f ~ The carriage was afterwards nr i ",o eP:otrd j and detained at Derby, w here ii i. Th?.j e' ~ bullet or other missile was foam's es el ,- A tid io d h a t iser..,;hetSo f one of great mystery, aal lAdver Ai tl',eor,, r l interest at the station. ---13 0 ••* -5 r' ; f hunCdoraelds aannddeigflhatnynfelu3hdaievsnotLgitr::l:orel:o?iticl; in the parish of ConingsbY, th e Arc hcle.s t o , $ 0; o ty Esq., and the Venerable -"` with °las i° 1( rector, who, in accordance 4., t he t he 0 this season of the year, 5ee;1,0,0055.,„be latter 10/. to the Rev. John -i-, icharly the above most benevolent and Lincolnshire Chronicle. Carmichael, C/ Sti' . 1 etlteP pli° ./3/0118* d i of Di 4 1180 , d gro• 0 41' n t-so r ' „ile On the 23d inst., in Monume F - Arc rancis, of a son. On the 18th inst., itchheaell4tohf—ianssto.n,.at Paris, the la Pa f On the 23d hist a ickworth, i',Y,,, daughter. " irip,tor 0, OP' Cli 10 ° J , atsitlifi N 6 ll fit , valicro„, g.„.., G. S. Drew, the Rev. James Darne,!;,,,, hite '' ~ gate, to Frances, third daughter ot 1' ,ti Escl- , of Bennett's End, flees . Jo I , 01 1° V Dllo'ciatia A _ j e On the 22d inst in Ayrshire, TA"' Ballochmyle. ~ LoalAterclete On the 23d inst., a Lorasbipis rage infant daughter of the Bev. Le°. y 0 11! 04cl C" -------_— lish ed 11, go 4 ,• London : Printed a nd A in. nd, t o f t 27 1 Stra Prlu'r"' be r a ' 13 4 6 ' Strand, in the PreciAc Middlesex, Monday,3o;'l