The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-12-06 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT AT PORTLAND.

An inquest was held on Thursday morning, at
the Portland Arms, before 0. Andrews, Esq. on
the body of • labourer, named George Richt:Ms,
who was crushed to death, when the following
evidence touching the resident was adduced :
George Biller said he was a labourer. On Tuesday
morning be was at work in the West Ditch on the
Verne. Deceased was working with him. He wee
taking out "spells." and handing them to another
man who treed them to the top of the ditch.
There was • travelling crane above deceased, on
which • large stone was attached, which being
slightly out of plumb, and before dressed could get
out of the way, swung round and caught him in the
thigh, jamming him what • stone. He was stand-
ing about two yr& from the stone in the
clips. The clipunan gave Draft to the
, men working near to get of the way, before
the stone was raised. The deriseasd and another
man were in the way, and tried to make their escape,
but decreed was unable to do so, and was struck.
Owing to the stone in the clips being on a elope, it
moved away sooner than was expected, and swung
with more force than usual. It is the practise of the
clipenian tory " look up," when • stone is about to
be raised, and the one at the gram did so. Before
the stone was scarcely moved the cliproan cried out.
Wither could not tell what time elapsed between
the cliproan crying out "look up," and the stone
striking decreed. Wares was in the way of the
roue when the clipienau cried out, but he made his
He could not tell whether the olipeman
ce7rje. out "heave up" or "look out" now The
clipsman was about two yards above the deceased,
and wither thought he cried out loud enough for all
the men working is the quarry to bear.
Lieutenant Robert Home, of the Royal Engineers,
said he was in charge of the works connected with
the War Department in the Wand. He was not
present at the time the accident happened; it was
reported to him, and he went to the spot about five
minutes after. He had seen the men at work about
20 minutes before. Derailed was excavating the
foundation in the ditch for a wall to be built, and
had been engaged on the works for some month'.
He was working on • lower bed of stone than the
one raised by the clips. Several men were working
under &patrol, to which • travelling crane was at-
tached. The stone was raised by a chain from the
"crab." it was the duty of the clipanna to cry out
before the stone was raised. The loyal of the bed
on which the clipennui stood was about three
feet above where deceased was standing. From
the portion in which deceased was, witness
thought be could have seen what was going on, and
could have got out of the way on the warning being
given him. Deceased as engaged on the same
work as tbe clipsman ; the latter bad to superintend
the raisiug of the large stone, whilst deceased and
others picked up small stones. The etone ought to
hart been plead In plumb, and size clipatnan ought
not to have given orders to have raised the stone
until it was in plumb. The breakemao and clip..
man had charge of the crane. There was no reason
at all why every stone in the ditch should not be
raised in plumb. These travelling cranes had been
introduced for that purpose ; end he had often
cautioned the men not to rare a stone unless it was
in plumb. If the stone had been in plumb he did
not think the esculent would have occurred. There
was a foreman to the works to which wither in.
trusted his orders, Mit it was impossible for him to
see that every stone was itt plumb, as the wotks on
the Verne Were very extensive.
Thomas Gement said, on the day in question be
was at work with the damaged in the ditch. The
clipsolan was raising stones from a bed about 18
inches from the level were they were standing.
Deceased was in • stooping attitude, but witness
could not tell whether his face was towards the crane
or not. The stone which was about bring raised,
weighed between these and Mir tons. His beck was
towatde deorased. He beard the clipiman cry "look
up," and in less than • minute the stone inning
towards them.
,When it struck deceased they were
in the act of moving. Witness got out of the way in
time, but deceased, owing to moving in the wrong
direction wasstruck. lf he had moved towards the
right, ini:tead of towards witness, the stone would
not have struck him, but gone between them. As
It was the stone struck deceased in the thigh, and
pinned bum against another stone. As soon as the
accident occurred, the than on the top of the Itaveller
moved the stone, and deceased was carried home.
John Wilson, foreman of the quarrymea, masons,
labourers, working on the Verne works, said, that
at the time the accident happened, he waa about 40
or 50 yards from deceased. Deceased had nothing
to do with cranes, but was engaged in removing
mull stones. He had nothing to do with the of ipe.
man at all. It was the first duty of the clips.
man when • stone was about to be ringed, to tell
persons near to get out of the way, and then to tell
the men to heave up. It was the duty of the clips-
man and brestruan to see that all stones were in
plumb, but as the chain was 60 feet long, it was
difficult to tell whether • stone was always in plinth
or not. John Bowyet wee the clipstrian of this
crane. Be was • most careful man, and witness
selected him especially for this crane. If
the chain had only been three inches out
of plumb the length of it would have caused it to
swing considerably. He did not consider there was
any blame attached to the clipernan. The labourers
were often careless, and did not get out of the way
as soon As they might. He had been forma's' of the
wbrlll (oh • considerable time. It would be
impossible to tell whether a stone v.-ould be in plumb
with 60 feet of chain. The chain would sway
considerably by the action of the wind.
William Combo°, a quarrymen, who was working
near deceased, corroborated Osment'a evidence in
many points.

B;veral of the jurors considered that the clipanan
should be examined, in order to beer his version of
the affair, but

The Coroner thought that, *apposing any groat
negligence should be shown by hit Statement, it
woul.t not be hardly fair for the 1/31113 to criminate
hinter if.
Uriali P. Broadribb, surgeon, said on Tuesday
morning he was called to Dee deceased. On ea-
sunning him be found that be had met with a serious
wound in the thigh, and judged from the symptom
that one of the principal arteries was broken. He
Out °pep the thigh and OW tin artery. Death was
°marooned hum love of blood, and from the shock the
Bynum had siistained.
The Deputy-Coroner, in lamming up, showed the
jury that the great point to be eoneldered was,
whether the deeetsed net with death by accident
or by 1001111 negligence on the part of John Bowyer,
the clipenisin, such as to wazraut them in returning
a verdict of manslaughter.
After considerable discussion, the Jury returned a
verdict of •• Aceidrotal Death," and recommended
that the authoritiee should tinf.rce on the men em-
ployed at the cranes, that more warning should be
given before stoney were hoisted.

CEASE ABBAS.—Fatrnot Count or BANN.
arirrcr. —November 94. —(Before Mr. Commissioner
Andrews.)—Rs William Beach, of Cern* Abbas,,mhoel-
uuter and foemen—lllietieg Ihr last etlikmr.Hub sn.l
di.cliarge.—Mr. Symonds appeared for Hums.
Williams and Co., hookers • Mr. Clarke for the ..tat •
sad Mr. Fryer for the bei;krupt. Tb• report of WIZ
•fiSsiLl &Reignite is as follows :—Owieg to creditors tin-
secured, ELMS 18.., payable in full, £110; helding
security, £5O lii. Sd.; property held of the lame value,
44,f111 18..; usete— good debts, .flO6 2.a. 3d. • doubtful,
11.65 8.0 ; total estimated veto.. 1110 ; property giver. up
(furniture). a;180; stock•in-trade and propeity, £1251;
total, £1,521 deficiency. 8275 18a —The rase had been
adjourned, that the bankrupt might Al.. cub account
for two years preeedie4 his baskruntity. The bankrupt,
examined by Mr. Byuionda, said he bad kept • school
at Corse Abbas since 18118, when he vela to **aide
there. About fifteen years ago he wee appointed Mark
to the Board of Guardiant, but mill curled on tba
achool. He Instil the fanning busies-a at or sewn
years, sod continued the three occupalions to the time
of his bankruptcy. He lint rented the farm of Mr.
Cockersto, but the estate fell iota Mber bands,and he be- !
Came Lord Rivers's tensat In the *hail he bid from
lifmen to twenty boarder who paid eighteeb guineas '
per bead yam*, and between twenty and thirty day ,
b_als..lmlng M. About twenty years ago be became
of thirty-air shares in the Witte and Dorset
'pm which h;380 had beam paid up. The averse
divideud we. 8 per cent. The cieritehip was worth MO
a-year ; so that his gran Memo* was about 1140
Out of this be bad to meet the minimise*, of the
and other school .Ip/um'. His four eons were partly
educated at his alma For his eldest sons *duration
he paid first £4O a-year, sod then sent blot to Cam-
bridge for three year% al • soot of MOD a-year. He
took his degree seven or eight years ago. The mound
see wee eetirely educeted with him. Tbe third to
to the Bridal grammar =sr a east ef between MD
and £4O a-year let thee at borne, and went to
take his esaminetion from time to time at the Dublin
University. The fourth was at the Bristol grammar
school two years, and was now in London. His
daughter married abut Wu years ago, and he gave
her between £4OO and MOO at different times. He
had about £9OO or £1.1410 to coinneoce farming
epee. He borrowed £BOO of Mr. George Blade. and
deposited the bank abates with him es security.
Bighlren additiosal shares had been allotted to him,
which Hr. Blade hottest for £2O each, two and • haft or
three years ago. Ho owed rustiting when be ecommenced
fanning. Munro Williams sad Co. bad an as.ey at
)eeisteraßlone. Pilt".trdied er
•••). mad be (beekrepti) was requested by the
hankieg sampan, to ea& the *bevies drum by the
• WM of mosey beteg pissed hi, band..tirteli"; iiii to draw from Moms. Wolliund bask frees time
to tints as he wanted mosey. Ti. balsam on the draw.
25 Ramat beim itgatoni to *two, and &boat /Bd.

simmer, 1862, when the balance against him woo
sed 6d, he was mitten to on the subject. Mr.
Williams, one of the firm, was the treasurer of the
Limas and the order, were made on him by the Board.
He (bankrupt) continued the amount after 1862, hut the
balance spinet him "till increased, ae be drew more
than the amount of the orders made on the Demurer.
He had no authority to use the book money for I nWn
purpose, or for any pimp. bed (*.mpg the Union
orders. He bad prhably applied the money be drew
Irons the bank to his fanning nurposee. He hodlre"
quently drawn from Mean. Williams' look, and paid
;
money to his own account at the Wilts end Derma bank
Meyers. mat the same time. He bed never paid Mrs. Willias
money to the Wilts and Dorset bank '
hot he might have
changed Messrs. Williams' money. and paid part of it to
bin naa bank "count. He paid off his debt to the
Wilts and Dorset bank before his bankrontcl--Mr
m •
Syonds drew his Honor's attention to the fact that on
several occasions the bankrupt had drawn amounts from
Mews' Willimee' heel', and paid mailer amounts to
the Wilts and Lionel bank at tbe same time.—Hie
Honor promised to examine the bank books before de-
ciding the case. —The beakrant continued to state that
he never paid anything into Messrs. Williams' bank but
Union orders He told one of the firm that he had
!suffered considerably from looses in his farming bueinese,
and that was the reason why
he bad overdrawn the
account. Messrs. Williams praised him for the balance
against him, and he wrote to them, stating Hut they
need not be anxious about it, for he had a valuable
stock, which was unencumbered. He never informed
Mesas. Williama or Major Sykes. one 07 the partners,
that he owed any one else anything, nor did he tll
Mr. Symonds that he had plenty to pay them
with. He did not recollect telling Mr. Andrews
that he was indebted to no one but blown and Mr.
Cockeram. He might have represented to Messrs.
Williams that be owned the hank shares after be had
disposed of them. He recollected being 'chilled to sell
the shares, and might have alleged m Ilia reason for not
doing so that they were valuable, and he did not wish
to part with them at • sacrifice. Is August, 1862. he
owed the Wilt, and Dorset bank over £4OO, and the 36
therm were charged to this, In 1863 he had paid
Slade over MO, and the Will, end Dorset bank their
Mamma against him ER £554 18s. 61. He did not
represent to the Wilts and Dorset hank in 1862 that the
36 shares were previously pledged to Slade. He con-
sidered they were worth the money be bed borrowed
of Mr. Slade, and the sum he owed to the bank. They
ultimately realised E9lB, which was below their value.
Laid season he harvested from twen.y to thirty acres
of whom, and from forty to fifty scree of barley, and had
180 sheep. Since his bankruptcy Ito had not removed
anything from the farm, eor had he offered to sell
anything.—His Honor said be did not see the neetewity
for protracting this examination, am the general conduct
of the bankrupt would not affect the question 'Allis
discharge. The case must be brought within one of the
specified objections of the 119th erection. —Mr. Symonds
said he thought if he showed that debta had been
contracted under false prstences, that the bankrupt
had been unjustifiably extravagant, his Honor would
be justified in prinidhing the benkrupt.—The bankrupt,
examined by Mr. Fryer, said he had lost a considerable
amount of farming stock, and the crops of 1860 and
1861 were very had. In 1863 he had • consultation
with Mums William*, and an orreemernt wee made
that be should pay his debt in yearly in.tahnents of the
amount of the salary of his cle-kahip. Thee atarwar's
primed him for an additional £6O a-year, which he told
them he could not pay. He, h , offered to get
two persons to become sureties with him for the par
num of the amount by annual instalments of £lOO.
Mama. Williams declined this, and put in an execution.
—Mr. Symonds said the bankrapt hod etnharked on a
telsiniss Which he did not understand; that he had
speculated with other people's money ; that he made
representations which were entirely untrue ; and that
in rending his sons to grammar schools and universities,
and by giving his daughter such a large marriage
portion for his station of life, be bad born uojustifiahly
extravagant. He hoped his Honor would carefully
consider theft point., aed examine the bank bock,.
and that if he decided to grant the discharge, to suspend
it for some time without protection to the banerupt.
The bash account filed by the bsokrupt wan, he
considered, • concocted one throughout—Hi' Honor
adjourned the further hearing of the case to the next
day.—The cue Rs Beech was resumed on Friday morn-
ing. The bankrupt, in answer to iii Honor, said when
he commenced farming in 1859 he had from Slade £5OO,
and he hdd £3OO Irsidra—The Commissioner said in
June, 1860, the bankrupt o•ed the Willa and Dorset
book £470, so that in reeltty he had DO capital to begin
farming with.—Ur. Fryer replied tl.at the money he
had was advanced in share@ worth row, so that the
money he had was really his —The bankrupt said the
' shares fetched L'9lB.—Mr. Clarke said he was very glad
the investigation of the previous day had taken place.
The moments had been carefully gone through, and
meemsd, with the eteeptiOn of eime absurd calculations
about milk, butter, sod cheese, to be correct. He had
no specific charge to make against the bankrupt, though
the assumes were not satisfied with hid conduct. His
Honor had beard the whole cue, and he would leave
it to him to deal with—Mr. Fryer, on behalf of the
haehroPti said Meseta Williams were naturally a !lite
sou, that having levied on the bankrupt's goods On
amount of this claim, the bankrupt should come to this
Court that his estate Might be fully distributed. He
considered that Mr. Symonds had faded to make good
either of his charge. against the bankrupt. The first
was that the bankrupt bed appropriated the moneys of
the Messrs. Williams' against their consent, and with-
out their knowledge. This was perfectly monstrous,
for the bankrupt's pun book was seen by them every
week. In 1663 they must have been fully satiofied of
the fact, because they made arrangements for the bank.
Ft to pay off the debt by instalment. After he had
' d one they broke faith, and instated on his paying •
rger amount, and when he could not, they put
in in retention. Then the bahkropt came to this
Court. The bankrupt said when he corninenchd
fanning he had I'Boo or £l,OOO. This would hove
been sufficient for him to go on with, but for his
severe looses of sheep, and the unfavourable nature of
one or two harvests. He did not come to the Court
without • shilling to divide among his creditors. Hie
stook realised between £BOO and £9OO, and hie delete were
but about double that amount. This handsome
dividend would have been larger if the execution bad
not hindered his taking another half-year's crop. It
was complained that the bankrupt gave a fortune to his
daughter. It was but about E.. 10, given over a scrim of
yeses; and the young lady would have cost nearly as
roach if she had stayed at home. Neither could the
bankrupt be blamed for giving his two sons • good
edneattran. After some further observations Mr. Fryer
said he believed his Honor would bold that no cue had
been made out It cell upon him to refuse tbe order of
diacharge.—The Commiosiobet, its delivering judgment,
said there was no 9nemion as to the bankrupt's peeving
his last examination, but it was urged on behalf of
Mums. Williams that he ought not to be allowed his
discharge, or at any rate not an immediate discharge.
Their opposition was nothing more than the bankrupt
had every remon to expect. Originally they famished
bins with about £lOO, not for his own um but to pay
VGradually this w allowed to inm to ate E4OO. 4- as
were theutselvep pertly to blame, bemuse they
were not his Priest* bee- The Wilt, and Dorset
took got the usual proet', and m item were in arranged
that when he failed they lost nothing, and Ileum
Williams all the dividend. His Honor said there was
no doubt in his mind, looking at the evidence, that
Harm Williams were led to believe that the shares
in the Wilts and Dorset bank were the bankrupt's own
' property and in his own pormion. The probability
was that when it eras discovered this was not so, they
sued for the debt. They got judgment, and then the
bookrapt auntie ibis Court. Na doubt a man should
have come to the Court under such circumetancea, bat
the degree of praise which he deserved for doing so
depended ape the motive. In some cases It was
purely to benefit the macs of creditor", end in others
with • vindictive feeling against the detaining
creditor, and to prevent him reaping the benefit
of his mention, H • (the Coturntssioner) was
rather inclined to think the bankrupt was
actuated by the bitter motive. Messrs. Williams
opposed the bankrupt's diwth orgy, first for his
unfair conduct in Ming into the Wilts sod Dorset bank
the money got (Into Wore. Viniu ls second, for sin-
justlfbilate tittravalis ; thint y, for rash apectilsktion
in carrying on the farming business; fourthly, for false
pretense, In order to obtvin further advances; and
fifthly, that he had no reasonable expectation of paying
the debt. As to the firm the 011S1111.4•001111 were errd
saspietioud, though not clearly proved. As to
the woond the money we. spent in pushing on Li,
family in the world,and was not equondered on himself;
ni ithar did he think he trag,eailty of nub ereculattons in
carrying on the farm, for la had repital, thlingli not
enough to carry it on properly. He did not tell his
shares, but borrowed repay upon them. For this
neoney he bad to pay interedt, and therefore the affair
was not likely to prove very profitable. At the seine
time he did not think it necessary to further adjourn
the ease for withers' to prove the false pretense., for
it was alter 13 his Mibd that lie led Menu. Williams to
Wises the shares were not mortgaged, and they kept
advancing money he that false belief. This we, not on
offence punishable tinder the Act, but when they lotted
a Pereetteo acti„1111. it Wowed that be Iged net reaburiabie
ad Mint his debts. There were rubet
harts of the caw, with reference to which be was not at
▪ @oilseed with the remind of the bankrupt; but on
the principles of the present law of bankruptcy, and '
os the law was applied in snob eases in the superior
courts, be did not think it a case for imprisonment
He should, however, mark his sense of the bankrupt's
doodad, by anspeedirm his disabuse for all months,
givintitvtoeterction in the meantime.
B ap,—,CAlrrtoir to Bose. —Oh Mon.
Ili Joplin, a lad about 15 years
cia, lately in tlchassiteto loy of Mr. %Gilead, of the
liz
Bear, was t l•dore the Meyer mod R.
Burden. Fag, with having on the previous
day broken a WlndOlr balolllll4 to the Bev.
James Neut.—The (3thoolier, *ho ideiltted
the offence, said that he cerriessiy threw • stone
out of his hand. —Mr. Penny rid that the damage
was about 4a 64.—Th• Mayor said the offence was
• serious one, as from the prisoner's automata it
appeared be did not awe what mischief he did. The
damage and expeesm amounted to lint 63., and
the fine imposed was 58.—Prisooer said he was not
prepared to Fey that amount, and was committed
for 14 days in default.
_ - . _

Form's; Lscroane.—The first of a series of
lectors, the preens of which are intesded for the
fornithisi el the new Industrial Training establish.
inset tor domesUo esevente, was given by the Rev.
B. Hansa, vicar of 81serbonee, who selected for his
subject, "A Winter in West Cornwall" The rev.
gentleman's lecture was a very interesting one, and
at the close Mr. Jams proposed, and Mr. Thurston
seoooded, • vote of thinks, which was carried
ananitnottsly. The next lecture will be given on
Friday, the 9th of December.
LOCAL BOARD, ?BLOAT. —At the eseeting this
Jay there were preset Mr. Dards, chain...;
Kr. Fisher, Mr. -Byers, Mr. Groves, Ur. Hodges,
lilr. Perk, Mr. Bell, and Mr. S. Abbott.—Proposed
by Mr. Fark, seconded by Me. Byers, that James 1
Moen be appointed inspector of common lodes'. I
at • salary al se shilling per week=
nneninesely. —Proposed by Mr. Byers,
by Mr. Park that the bralaws
*Semen lodging bosses now produced be
the meeting, be confirmed by the Board, and
when approved by the ftemiliery of State,
prishoL—Cented.—The reports of the Inspector

of Nuisances as to daughter-homes were
then read by the Clerk. —Resolved that notices
be "treed on George Haverstock to cleanse and
repair his alsughter•bouse, and on Richard Daminy
his
report to the nieeting.—Ordered that • notice for
torefunaprov—idrenpernipenip,r vneeeekorlosffnNentihnnennecanrrykibngen aignaday all
the erection of a closet on premises in the occupaVon
of Mr. Henry Domoney be served.
eel Lecrugg.—On Monday evenint. the
ranee miesionroy of the West of Fngland Temp ranee,
14Mrt.hFuealt...t.hel"witulr k
nwoas.rnd t leamr nienrekd t
advn.% ekeTnonwdo Ft:01 lby
League. Subject "American and English t'liVo7.'
Mr. J. G E. Lawrence presided, and opened the
meeting with singing • melody, after which the worthy
chairman offered a very fervent and appropriate Prayer,
and then briefly introduced the lecturer, who, on rbinr.
I eras greeted with rapturou. applause. The lecturer mid
this was, he was happy to say, the third time that be
had bad the favour of speaking to a Blandford audience.
Sometimes announcements of lectures contained subje.ts
which was scarcely touched on by the lecturer—a sensa-
tion subject to attract an audience—but such was not
the case this time, for Pi tbe present moment American
slavery engrossed all attention, and having been among
them he knew something of it, direful effects. He
asked what right bad MO,OOO white men to bold in
bondage, and use over 8,000,000 of their felow-creatures
as goods and chattel,, to buy, sell, and barter, as if they
were so many Lead of cattle instead of sonlipowseed
creatures of the living God, "for had not God made of
one blood the nations of the earth ?" This slavery: he
said, was indeed a dark spot on the page of Amentian
independence, and must, ere long, and he prayed God to
hm+en the day, when slavery should be one of the in-
stitutions spoken of as a thing that was, something
that had passed, as • diabolical institution of America's
dark days, and lt horrible consequence., no dishonour-
ing to God and degrading to men, would be looked beck
to with feelings of horror and diegust by those very
men. Many of them were clergymen, who tried to
prove by God's Hely Word that it was an institution of
Divine origin. At one time there was a better oppor-
tunity for slaves to escape than now, for since the
posing of the Fugitive Slave Law, it was considered
almost impos.ible for • slave to escape; but they did '
escape, and although by the same law it was enacted
that any person assisting or mewing any a gstance to be
given to any fugitive slave, the whole of his property,
no matter how much, wies to be confiscated. At
Wilmington there lived a member of the Society of
Friend', commonly called a "Quaker," who was deter-
mined to do all in his power to twist any fugitive that
might some in his way. Me was fainiharly culled
"Tommy Garrett," and be alone, in eight yeera, suc-
ceeded in sebiating 1,850 sieves to escape; bat he was
caught at last, and buffered confiscation. Homeless,
houselese and penniless, he went to Philadelphia, and the
Society of Friends reinstated his,, pat him in • similar
110Pit00 to that which he held before, and "Tommy,"
nothing daunted, again set to work at his old business,
assisting all who came in his way, refusing none, for
he had a secret conviction within that he was doing
right. Again he was caught, everything teas sold, and
after the sale a "Sam Slick sort of a fellow that had
assisted at the sale, said, " I guess we have madeaclean
sweep of you this time, Tommy." " I guests yes," said
Tommie, " but if you meet • fugitive slave on your way
rend him to Tommy Garrett." Not a very long time
since Engand's character was dyed with the sante stain
of sin, shame, and dishonor, but thanks be to God be
sent us • Wilberforce, who, with other emancipationist',
net to week to rid their country of that damnable curse,
the diabolical traffic in human flesh. The philanibto-
phis,' of thst day met with obetaeles not easily over.
oome, and eft. r •11 ither obstacles and barriers bad been
removed, the huge barrier " vested interests," stood
before them like • black p 11 which seemed insurmoun-
table. Merchant+ had sunk millions in the tr*Me—they
wanted compensation. Parliament asked the amount
required. The answer was six hundred millions. The
philanthrophiets shuddered, but Mr. Disraeli raid that
six hundred minim:, was but • Ilea bite, and John Bull
was aprealed to. The money was raised and freedom
given to all the slaves in British dominions. Eugliab men
stood appalled, and shrank from the details of this Gal-
dishonouring, soulidestroyine, man-degrading traffic,
but they pees over the well-filled columns of our daily
papers, which contains barbarities and cruelties, crime
and vice, uith all its attendants, as if it was some
common-place matter not deserving their notice. The
able lecturer then went on to compare the state of the
drinking customs of our country to those is America.
He did not want to go to teetotalers nor to teetotal
newspepers to learn what drink eas doing, but he
would go to the drinker, themselves, and out of tbeir
own months he would condemn them. He then read
extracts from the report of a select committee of the
House of Commons, who at for six weeks to
find out how many lives were lost annually
through drink, and their report stated not
less than 60,000 died every year. Alter • few more
remarks, in which the lecturer ably handled his subject,
a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded him, and •
similar vote for the Chairman. There was a very good
audience, and after singing the Doxology the meeting
closed.

°nem] Moen CLUB. —On Tuesday evening, the
29th tilt the Town Hall was denaley crowded
with • highly respectable audience to heat the second
of the winter series of readings in connection with the
above club. The popularity of the gentlemen who
kindly preferred their services, and the low prioe
charged for admission, induced • large number of theee
for whom these entertainments are specially designed—
the working men and women of the town and neigh-
bourhood—to avail themselees of this pleasing means
! of instruction. Long before the chair was taken every
! available seat was fined, and those who came late had
either to avail themrelthe of the anteroom or
; stand at the door. The chair was taken by the
! Rev. J. R. Quirk, who, before introducing the
! rustlers and singers, said he was highly gratified to
I see so many present. Though the charge via. only
I one penny, he bad no doubt that when they had listened
to the gentlemen who had kindly come forward they
would consider that the readings and singing were
worth far more than that amount. When he saw the
names of Mr. Johns and Mr. Penny sia the readers he
felt quite sure a large number would be present. He
regretted the unavoidable abeence of Mr. Chamen, but
was glad to say that Mr. Atkinson had cemented to
take lila place. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Quirk then called
ourTlatyh,e"chwolltotheympene7 lit:the a glee—"
r 1 style, Mrs.
; Edwards, with her uthal kiodueisi, presiding at the
! piano-forte. This wee followed by Mr. F. T. John's
reading "The Wedding Day' from the Ingokiaby's
Lelyee.,s, which, being read in a clear and pleasing
' manner, evidently gave very great malefaction to the
! audience. Mr. Furmage then favoured thecompany wit It a
song—" The Lugger ;" and we most heartily eonyratolate
him as an amateur singer of no moan promise. This
was followed by a mediae by the Rev. James Penny,
the subject being "The Blank Bible." The rev, gentle-
man said that lie hoped his arsdientie would not think
from the title of his subject that be *as going to newish
a sermon, for notwithstanding the serious nature of it.
the author had to tattered parts made rue of the most
bitter satire, and in others had recourse to humourous
fancies. The subject is • suppose:Ft drain] in which the
I writer, wishing to read • portion of Scripture in his
Greek Testament, opens its leaves only to find that they
are • block; he thee takes his Family Bible, which is
in the same state, and then his Hebrew Bible, and
whilst lost in astonishment at the change, his servant
comes in and declares that there have been thieves
in the house, for her bible is away, and another
volume with blank leaves substituted in its place.
This is followed by friende suit neighbonrs finding there
the mine, and soon it is found that the whole of the
;Bibles are is the ranee way, and every book containing
! its sacred *lithe hate these truths erased from their
! payee. The consternation and alarm of some, the
sudden interest shown by others, who, when they had
Bibles, never eared to peruse them, and Cl,. different
rattan assigned by different pieties to this strange
• change, weird all admirably &Meted by the author, and
well read by the rev. gentleman. The joy of the true
Christian who, though deprived of the written word,
heti treasured up in her memory the giving truths of the
gothrl, were most forcibly contrasted with the
hypocritical expressions of interest of the woman who
I cared chiefly about the lmo of her bank notes tee:wed is
the Bib* the contents of which elm never read. The
futile attempt to reemmtruct another inspired volume
front the paragon remembered by various parties,
and from the uncertain light of tradition was also clearly
shown, and the joy and mtisfem on of the writer to Ind
it was only • dream beautifully expressed. We need
hardly say that Mr. Penny's subject, sod the able •
meaner in which be read it, called forth loud cheers.—
The next on the programme was a song, entitled
"John Brawn," by Mr. Dance, of which we would
simply remark that the sentiment and the singing were;
of • par—firevrete, and called forth a rapturous encore. I
—Mr. Atkineoe, who was introduced by the theirman
as " • bashful man," then mos • reading from :
"Nicholas Nickleby," selecting ON thtrndaction of .
Nicholas to that far-famed establishment " Dothehoy's •
Hall," where the young gentlemen, Goosed noblemen,
kg., were treated to "brimstone and treacle" three
mornings in • week, for the double purpose of preserv-
ing their health and saving the victuals. The
'Arians antheing incidents provoked moth laughter, and
the reader *as loftily cheered on resuming his east —A
very well executed duet, "The Minute Gun at
Mr. Lanes and his son, followed, and the gs
closed with the National Anthem.—We trust that this,
the second of the series of readings, will quickly be
followed by a third, to that the interest may not be
suffered to flag.