The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-28 00:00:00

a notes. The 20/. oote, irhas been ameertained, was paid
to wow on the inoenbg of the occurrence, at the Roebuck
Inn, where he had 'tom ed for the night. The remaining
201.-note has been bnmdrto „is Mr. Stephen Massey, to whom
it hid been paid by the prisoi. el' on Friday afternoon, soon
after the occurrence took place, These several sums, with
the gold and silver found upon tZ`e prisoner when appre-
hended, make up the whole sum of whi:k McGill was robbed.
On Saturday, the depositions of frPOill were taken at Man-
chester, after which the prisoner was remanded until Tues-
day week, by which time the probability or not of poor
WOill's recovery might more certainly be ascertained.
SOMERSEISHIRE.
AN EXANPLE.—COL Gore Lan n, M.P., has, owing to
the failure of the potato crop, and the consequent high pnces
of provisions, again generouslygiven directions to his steward
to remit the whole of this last year's rent to his numerous
allotment tenants at Newton, Cordon, Bedminster, and
throughout the whole of his property. The colonel has
more than 150 allotment tenants on hie different estates in
Somersetshire and Gloucestershire, towards whom he has now
foetwo successive years exercised the same liberality.
CORNWALL.
ROBBERIES IN MINES.—At the Cornwall General
Quarter Sessions, held at Bodmin last week, a series of cases
were tried, which exposed a complete organised system of
plundering mines. The prisoners were chiefly convicted
through the agency of a man named Moyle, who was ad-
mitted an approver. It appeared that four or five months
ago several valuable mining implement', composed chiefly of
brass, were missing from various mines in the western
parts of the county, and in consequence of some suspi-
cions this mar's house was searched, and a large quantity
of the articles found concealed in a cavity in the
chimney. Moyle is a dealer in marine stores, and lives at
Redrutla ; on being taken before the magistrates, he con-
sented to confess, and became an approver, on condition of
receiving a pardon. He then acknowledged himself an ex-
tensive receiver and buyer of brass and other metal from
different miners, and in consequence of that information
several parties were taken up and convicted. The depreda-
tions appear to have been carried on to a considerable extent.
W. and J. Prince, two miners, were convicted of stealing at
Wheal Unity Wood Mine, in the parish of Kenwyn, a brass
air-pump bucket, 1,000 lbs. weight of brass, and 50 pieces of
brass. Several other cases of a similar character from the
Wheal Jowell and other mines were heerd, the priPoners
being sentenced, according to the aggravation of their cases,
either to transportation or imprisonment with bard labour.
DEVONSHIRE.
WHILST THE STORM of wind and rain, which raged at
Exeter on Wednesday, was at its height, the wall of a dila-
pidated building in Queen-street came down with great
violence; and a young woman passing at the time was
knocked down by the descending materials, and literally
buried beneath the bricks. Several inhabitants of the street
rendered speedy assistance, and the poor woman, on being
extricated was carried to the hospital in great agony. This
(says the Devonshire Chronicle) is the second accident which
has occurred within the last week from the dilapidated walls
and abutments of buildings, which disfigure and disgrace the
finest street in the city, and render one of the principal tho-
roughfares positively dangerous to the public. A few days
previous, a quantity of stones and bricks fell into the street,
and inflicted several injuries upon a boy.
DORSETSHIRE.
A COUNTT MEETING, called by requisition to the High
Sheriff, was held in the Town-hall, Dorchester, on Monday
afternoon, with a view to the formation of a society for
ameliorating the condition, morally and physically, of the
agricultural population, by carrying out the field garden
allotment system, under judicious regulations. The an-
nouncement of the meeting drew together a very large as.
semblage ; indeed, it has seldom happened that Dorchester
has enjoyed so large an influx of visitors. This was attri-
butable partly to the interest which has recently been
excited throughout the county with respect to the improve-
ment of the labourers, and partly to the fact that the day
fixed un was that devoted to the great annual exhibition
of stock.po Most of the farmers who were induced to visit
the town for the sake of the exhibition, attended the meet-
ing, and some of them joined in the proceedings. C.
Porcher, Esq., High Sheriff of Dorset, was called to the
chair. He was supported by the Lord Bishop of Salisbury,
R. Floyer, Esq., M.P., R. by
Sheridan, Esq., M.P., the
Archdeacon of Dorset, and a large number of other clergy.
men and gentlemen of the district. Resolutions were car-
ried, for the establishment of a society for improving the
condition of the agricultural labourers of the county. An
influential committee for that purpose having been appointed,
the meeting separated.

THE QUEEN is expec7;dto;isit the Isle of Wight in a
few days. We believe (says the Ilampshire Adrertiser) her
Majesty will be in the island before the ensuing week ex-
pires, and will remain some two or three days, the visit
being merely to give directions respecting the alterations on
the estate.

RICA BURNING IV HAMPSHIRE. - SOUTHAMPTON,
TURSDAY.-At an early hour this morning mounted messen-
gers arrived here bearing the alarming intelligence that
an incendiary fire, threatening destruction to an immense
amount of valuable property, was ragtag at Fisher's Pond,
about eight mles from the town, and about six from Win-
chester. The principal hotel-keepers were applied to for
post-horses, and no time was lest in forwarding the engines.
On the arrival of the early trains from Winchester and Gos-
port, it appeared that similar applications for engines had
been made at those towns, which induced fears that other
fires had taken place, causing considerable excitement here,
as most of the principal resident tradesmen have farms in the
vicinity. Such was the case in the present instance, as the
farm selected by the incendiary for the perpetration of his
diabolical deed was in the occupation of Mr. William Lan-
ham, a butcher in an extensive way of business in this
town. On arriving at Fisher's Pond, the scene of
the devastation, I found that two ricks of hay
of about 50 tons each, which had beedfired were, nearly con-
sumed, and two others to which the fire had been communi-
cated were in a state of rapid combustion. Strenuous
exertions were made to save five other equally valuable ricks
which were in dangerous proximity with the fire, the more
so as they would in all probability have been the means of
communicating the fire to adjacent cattle sheds (containing
much stock), and thence to the farm dwelling, which must
inevitably have led to the destruction of a vast number of
corn stacks on the other side of the homestead. Notwith-
standing the prompt and vigorous efforts which were wil-
lingly afforded by nearly all present (and it is with regret
that I feel obliged to make any exception), the flames sud-
denly burst from a fifth stack far removed from the great
body of fire, indicating, were other proof wanting, the cause
of the calamity. This, as well as the other four stacks, was
entirely consumed. The other property was saved. During
the progress of the fire a group of persons stood around, and
one on whom suspicion rests, observed to another, " It's a
great pity it didn't blaze more," a circumstance which,
added to other information received, has caused him to be
carefully watched by the police. The damage sustained by
the fire is, I understand, upwards of 1,0001., and Mr. Lan-
ham is uninsured, or at all events insured for a very trilling
sum.

......
THE FATAL FIGHT AT STEEPLE CLATDON.--FRATEA.
cum.—Some particulars of a fatal fight at Steeple Claydon,
between Joseph and Thomas Shirley, of that village,
brothers, have appeared in our columns. It will he remem-
bered that they were with others drinking at a public-house
on the night of the 14th, that they quarrelled and fought,
and that Thomas died shortly after the fight terminated.
After two adjournments the inquest on view of the deceased
was brought to a termination on Friday last, the 23rd inst.,
and all the evidence of the facts having been Riven, the jury
returned a verdict of " Manslaughter against Joseph Shirley
as principal, and against John Pangbourne and Richard
Cross as accessories." The coroner committed them to
Aylesbury gaol for trial at the assizes, and bound the various
witnesses over to give evidence, and tke parish officers to
prosecute. The prisoners were taken back to gaol.

MILITARY RIOT AT WINDSOR FAIR. -On Tuesday
evening, between nine and ten o'clock, a serious disturbance
was created in the High-street, opposite to the parish church,
by a large body of privates in the Ist Regiment of Life
Guards, in consequence, as it was stated, of a man, named
Chippenfield, the proprietor of one of the booths, containing
wonderful pigs, boa constrictors, crocodiles, <ke., having
" insulted " one of their comrades in the afternoon, by telling
him, when he had paid his twopence for admission, that he
would have to go without " 'bocce " for a week. In the
early part of the evening the showman was threatened by
several of the Life Guards to be "paid out " before night.
Accordingly, shortly after nine o'clock, a large body of the
soldiers came into the fair (between one and two hundred),
although not more than about twenty were engaged in the
riot, the rest merely looking on. They commenced by drag-
ging away the flight of wooden M. ps leading into the booth
which they entirely demoli-hed. The soldiers next dragged
away the whole of the platform in front of the booth ; is
doing which, the wife of the proprietor, Mrs. Chippenfield,
fell through upon the stones beneath, and was considerably
injured. Mr. Chippenficld addressed the soldiers from a pro-
jecting piece remaining of the platform, begging them
to desist, as he had a wife and large family depend-
ant upon him for support, and humbly apologising
for anything he might have said to have given
them offence in the early part of the day. The
work of destruction, however, still proceeded ; the
large canvas painting on the outside being torn,
after an attempt had been made to upset the van, but,
fortunately, ineffectually. We understand that the learned
pig got loose, and that the crocodile had a very narrow
escape during the meWe, which lasted for nearly half an hour.
Many persons, some of whom were females, who were stand-
ing in the High-street at the time, got knocked about and
severely injured. The proprietor of the exhibition had his
hands severely scalded by the upsetting of the boiling oil,
which was burning in jars on the platform at the time of the
attack. Mr. Blunt, oae of the borough magistrates, was in
the High-street during a great part of the riot; but, from
the large body of the Life Guards who were present, it was
judged inexpedient for the police to interfere, who would,
assuredly, have been overpowered. It is a question, how-
ever, amongst the inhabitants of the neighbourhood (who
closed their shutters when they found how serious was the
nature of the affray) whether some steps ought not to have
been taken by the local authorities to have endeavoured to
put a stop to the disturbance at the onset. A picket arrived
from the cavalry barracks a little before ten o'clock, but not
until the affair was at an end, and the ringleaders had dis-
persed. As soon as the work of demolition had been com-
pleted, the proprietor of the booth, addressing the soldiers,
said, " Now I hope, gentlemen, you are all satisfied," to
which the leader of the emeute replied, " Oh, yes, we are
quite satisfied; you sha'nt have any more tuppences
Olaf we have taken d—d good care of. So good night, old
fellow." The mob then left, and the exhibition classed.
NORFOLK.

POLITICS Is NORNVICK.—II is pretty generally known
that the Reform interest in this city is, at the present
moment, stronger than it has been for many years—perhaps
than it ever was before—so favourable has the late registra-
tion been to this party. It is said that a struggle is contem-
plated to turn out the Marquis of Douro from the represen-

tation of the place, notwithstanding his support of Sir R.
Peel on the corn question, the Whip considering the noble
marquis in everything else a Tory; and S. M. Pete, Esq.,
the great railway contractor, is to contest the city with Ben-
jamin Smith, Esq., the present Liberal member.
CROXER.—The attacks of the sea, and the insidious work-
ings of the land springs, have taken effect upon the cliff at
Sidestrand, near Cromer, on which the village church is
erected. The tower is, in consequence, partly in ruins, and
the whole edifice ia rendered unsafe.
SUSSEX.
PRISONERS' CONFXSB/ONS.—A long discussion took place
at the recent Quarter Sessions for West Sussex, between the
chaplain of the prison, Mr. Longahaw,and the visiting magis-
trates of Petworth House of Correction, respecting the course
to be taken by chaplains of prisons relative to confessions
made by prisoners to the spiritual heads of prisons. It appears
that a man named James Steer is now waiting his trial at
the assizes, having been apprehended by a bench warrant,
signed by Lord Denman, on a charge of conspiring for the
purpose of obtaining from Percy Burrell a large sum of
money, to prevent an unnatural offence being charged
against him. This prisoner, it appears, made a confession to
the chaplain with a view to restitution to a person whom he
had formerly injured, and the chaplain carried the confession
out of the prison in order to carry the wishes of the prisoner
into effect. A letter written by the prisoner, and passed by
the chaplain, was detained by the governor, and the whole
affair then came under the notice of the visiting justices,who
reported their opinion to the Court, that the chaplain had
been guilty of great indiscretion. The chaplain contended
for the inviolability of the confession, and maintained his
right to carry out the penitential resolutions of a prisoner in
the way of restitution, without becoming the accuser of the
penitent, or, what would amount to the same thing, making
the confession known to the visiting magistrates, since they
would be bound to carry the law Into force. The whole
court was against the chaplain, Mr. Sergeant D'Oyly, the
chairman, and the other magistrates, holding that the chap-
lain was bound to divulge nothing, but that if he desired to
use such confession out of a-prison he must first submit it to
the visiting magistrates. The chaplain said he had acted
conscientiously. This was a spiritual matter, and he owed
obedience only to his spiritual superior, the bishop of the
diocese, to whom he was willing to refer the question. Tho
chairman thought the chaplain, by accepting office in the
jail, owed obedience to the visiting justices and the prison
rules. It was at length arranged that the subject should
stand over for consideration till next session, the chaplain
agreeing to act on the opinion of the visiting justices, should
another such case occur.

ESSEX.
COLCHESTER PORT AND CHANNEL.—Last week an ad-
journed meeting of the Channel Commissioners was held at
the Town-hall, to receive the report of the committee ap-
pointed to consider the best means of improving the port,
and of superintending an application for a new bill. Mr.
Goody, the clerk, read the resolutions passed by the commit-
tee ; they embodied a letter from Mr. Bruff, who gave an
estimate of 40,0001. for deepening and widening the channel,
constructing a ship lock at New Quay, wharfing the present
quay property on both sides of the Hythe (which will be
converted into a floating basin), forming a public wharf, cut-
ting a compensating channel for drainage and tidal scour,
and for land and compensation to owners of property injured.
A subsequent resolution of the committee recommended the
adoption of the plan.
A LETTER POSTED AT BRAINTREE FOR BILLERIC
both market towns, distant from each other 21 miles, ocen-
pies tiro days in the transit. This fact has been renresinted
to the Post-otfice authorities, but no redress can be obtained.
STEALING SHEEP AND ROASTING THEM ON THE PILE-
MISES.—On Sunday week information was received at Oraett
police station that a lamb had been stolen from Mucking
Marshes, the property of Mr. Causton, farmer, and a sheep
from Mr. Sewell, farmer, at East Tilbury. Inspector Smith
immediately despatched two police-constables, who, after
searching the marshes, found, in an osier ground, two
shoulders of lamb, and, a few yards off, a Dutch oven, sus-
pended to a stick, which was stuck in the ground. Under-
neath the oveu a tire had recently been lit, and the oven
contained particles of mutton. The constables remained on
the marshes the whole of Sunday night, and the following
night observed a lad, named Wilding, about 10 years of age,
lurking about the osier ground. They went in pursuit, and
about two o'clock , on Tuesday, captured him in a shed
belonging to Mr. Sewell. He at first denied the charge, but
afterwards admitted that he stole both the sheep and lamb.
.. ..

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