The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-04 00:00:00

THg EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 4, 1846.

whether It woo thedectrine of Canon low engrafted mh Sheoges-.
mon law, or of the ems law ore?. ;hog roams* ,h,
tl,lll
olowegorism tt MOO wise thing this. • "..1 of poverty sOMMI,L,7
construed Itterally, end that a vow of plata:we should sever e°°°'d
oak • vow of poverty. And what the 94114D100 carnet to be
ensidered as to what the rights of suelt sit ODDIDIUnity 110 W
maws he emit tblok it tho duty (.f It WOW tonsistent with
the mime et god of law) of any person having to °4-
Mildelor ilews of • Judge determining :hat right. So
pies linet! am I* Ns be could esset the tetwita:o.
hew saimi In, edgenteeting at the thus she law so pren2ool
:sr is ea egett the mos priselpte, *oh se be had adverb* to, db.:
to tarrying lit thetterge girths M bee eidoesta semgebeng
his Ronal NW, bretbrea, the gene up* *AO they
acted threads* when the Rama Mem wee the melee of
the redeem ef de usesits7. He condo* Isi ft* *my wen *tided
* min that be we dispeeed fully * eve them; en' be would
Y*lllll. OrithiAke body, It be egebk aaeeeig*the mks of
kw awl Imam and!, vim they shied when It wee the religion or
the lemkeed ghee the Reams eolk hag Ihemegves, Is bog*
Wog mid edgedleeleg en thee very switter, eemselesi r would be
=the ry of the country that Ms we porertY
beizosneeming but that which was them Wash* to it.
The anise Labour Rate Act are being expressly
extend . The Gazelle of last night contains proclamations
for holding extraordinary sessions in 13 baronies.
The remote and comparatively poor county of Kerry ap-
pears to be the most munificent in its contributions to the re-
lief of the poor. Besides, Killarney, in which the gentry
arc at the head of Irish liberality. Tralee has contributed
nearly 1,0001., and the small village of Kellorglin the same
sum, Of this Mr. Offlienddy, of the Reeks, has contributed
the sum of 5001.
Her Majesty's frigate, the Andromache, has crrived in
Bugle harbour with a cargo of Indian meal, and the steamer
Blazer, is employed in conveying it rouad the coast to those
parts of the country where there are no local markets, or
the purchase of food rendered unusually difficult. The
Andromache was received with great rejoicing.
This day has been fixed by the general assembly as one of
humiliation and prayer, with the Presbyterians of Ireland.
The country papers received to-day, contain the average
number of outrages, robberies, and petty therm Here a
gun is taken from some stray fowler—then an attack is made
upon a dwelling for the same purpose. In another quarter
sheep and bullocks disappear, all buttke heads and hides ; and
yet in another, we hear that flour is appropriated, and
money plundered by roving bands—one-third of whom,
perhap., hare not the poor excuse of poverty for these
enormities.
THE Ilitsit Pouce.—This, though an admirable, is not a
very popular force in a disorganised social state, yet it is of the
last importance to a government that the men who put the
law in force should enjoy the confidence of the people. To
bring about such a result the government arc determined to
confer pecuniary rewards on such of the penpleas voluntarily
assist the police in casts of emergency. In the late affray at
Mountmeilick between the military and police, two men
assisted the latter, and the government, through the
Inspector-General of Constabulary, has sent them three
pounds each.
TIM OLD AND NEW Buries ON Cosa.—The money
which the parties in the corn trade in Cork were entitled to,
es remission of duty from the government, paid by them in
their own wrong between the lapse of the old corn-law and
the operation of the present, was this week paid to them. One
eminent firm in this city receive,' sn large a sum as 13,0001.

SCOTLAND.
STIRLING BURGHS.-OH Saturday last a meeting of elec-
tors took place at Queensferry, for the purpose of hearing
the political sentiments of A. Alison, Esq., a candidate for
the Stirling Burghs. Mr. Alison gave a general view of the
grounds on which he came forward to solicit their suffrages,
which appeared to give general satisfaction. On the motion
of R. Wyld, Esq., that ISlr. Alison is a fit and proper person
to represent these burghs, seconded by Mr. W. Sharp, a
show of hands was taken, after which an amendment was
propoud by Mr. M'Arthur, seconded by Mr. Walker, that
J. B. Smith, Esq., of Manchester, would be a fitter repre-
sensative, which latter motion was carried.
THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS of EAST LOTHIAN held
a meeting at lladdington last week, for the purpose of con-
certing measures for the advancement of their wages. The
meeting principally consisted of representatives from
dilferent parishes throughout the county, and resolutions to
the effect that the wages of the labourers be advanced to 12s.
weekly, together with certain other perquisites, making in
all about 401. yearly, were unanimously passed. A central
association was formed, into which every member is to pay
a weekly sum, and it was announced that a thorough orga-
nisation was to be immediately effec:ed throughout toe
county. The speakers emphatically deprecated " a strike,"
and seemed to think that the intellectual improvement of
the labourers was one of the essential means for ameliorating
their physical condition. We (Scotsman) understand that
the demands of the agricultural labourers relate rather to
the mode than the amount of payment. Payments in kind and
the " bondage r" system are the two principal subji cts of com-
plaint. A number of farmers arc willing to pay 12s. a week
in money. but demur to give these wages in addition to free
houses and other perquisites at present possessed by the
I labourers.

PROVINCIAL.
LANCASHIRE.
SETF.NTEEN MEN WERE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL by the
magistrates at Warrington, on Wednesday, on a charge of
conspiring to intimidate Messrs. Jones and Pott and the
workmen in their employment. The conspirators were
members of a trade union, and the charge arose out of their
attempting to prevent Messrs. Jones and Pott from getting
any workmen, because those gentlemen had taken adult
apprentices into their employment.
AN ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP THE 110CSE of Mr. Brit-
wistle, a builder, at Bury, was made on Sunday last. It
appears that some evil-disposed person pulled up a flagstone
in front of the house, and lowered into the front cellar a
considerable quantity of gunpowder. Mr. Britwistle heard
a noise, and thinking that some one was trying to get into
his house, he looked out of window, when he saw four men
in a stooping position ; he called to know what they were
doing, but they made no answer, and skulked away. Before
he had time to dress himself, a loud explosion took place,
carry int, a way the front and back windows, driving out several
of the fivors, destroying furniture, glasses, and pictures, and
very nearly causing the destruction of fifteen persons, at that
time on the premises. The bowie is cracked and shaken
from top to bottom. It appears that some months ago, Mr.
Britwistle had a bulk of timber, which his sawyers refused to
cut up. He sent it to Liverpool to be sawn by steam power,
and for this simple offence (if offence it may be called), his
sawyers turned out, causing all his workmen to turn out
with them, and the place has been " picketted " ever since,
Mr. Britwistle not being able to get a single hand to do his
work. A reward of 1001.1tas been offered for the discovery
of the person who caused the explosion.
THE JUVENILE REFUGE AND SCHOOL OP INDUSTRY at
Manchester, is likely to be brought into early operation. The
subscription list gradually augments, and now exhibits dons
Cons to the amount of 2401., and annual subscriptions of
1401. The Recorder of the borough offers his testimony to
the usefulness of such an institution. In a letter he says :
The project is most wise as well as humane. I expect great
moral good from it; and in no locality could it be more Elle-
ful than in such a place as Manchester. It is a mistake to
suppose, as I have seen it stated, that the children of mere
wayfarers or persons casually here without any settled em-
ployment, are those mainly to be benefited. I think the
children of persons in regular work stand quite as much in
need of such an institution. Even nursing mothers leave
their babes, to go to the factory at five o'clock in the morn-
ing ; and the children of married people generally, who work
at the mills, see nothing of their parents from morning
to night except at meal times, and not always then.
It frequently happens that several children, belong-
ing to different parents, before they are able to
work, but long after they are old enough to get into mis-
chief, are left in the care of a little girl barely of an age to
take care of herself ; or what is still worse, they are some-
times left in the care of a young woman competent enough
from age for the charge, but who is either too idle to work,
of too weak intellect to learn any trade, or of such a cha
ratter as to prevent her getting other employment. lam
not speculating about supposable cases ; instances such as all
of those which I have enumerated have come out before me
on judicial inquiries. When such a system is common, as I
believe it to be, can we expect anything else but that youth-
ful delinquents should be numerous? In this state of
neglect, or worse than neglect, in which they are left, the
most towardly children, and those of whom, under proper
nurture, the most might be made, are unhappily those most
, likely to be led astray. Often and often, in the discharge of
the most painful part of my duty, that of passing sentence
' upon a mere boy, but who had become utterly depraved,
have I felt that he might have been only one of the many
victims to neglect, such as I have described, and that early
and better training might have kept him a good lad, to
grow up to be an honest man and a valuable member of
Tull SAILOR CHARGED WITH STABBING a man in the
streets at Liverpool, has been committed for trial.

the magistrates in.qnarter sesaiasi, at i;::..lbabersCitirosst Moods;
last, of various delinquencies. A long itiv thin too.
plate. The chug(' were arranged under seven tads, as to
which the bench found, substantially, that Eve were not I
proved, and that the other two were substantiated ; but that
one of these bad been previously visited by their diaapproba-
trait. They conclude a report on the subjeet, by recom-
mending to the coast that the Rev. W. 0. Eaton, the chap-
lain of the gaol, who had preferred most of the charges,
should be removad, and that four subordinate officers
of the prison (two of each sex), who bad been called
as witnesses against the governor in the investigation,
also be dismissed. The courtadopted all these
should
regonim,dis:ions by considerable majorities and a mo-
tion of Mr. E. Lloyd, that Dunstan, the governor himself,
be also dismissed, was set aside, for want of previous notice.
It was alleged, amongst olher things, that this chief officer of
a gaol had allowed transports to remain in the prison a very
long time after the order of the secretary of state for their
removal to Milbank had been received; that he was involved
in debt, and was thus in various ways improperly situated
with regard to the tradesmen supplying the gaol ; and that
he had allowed the female prisonere in the gaol to wash for
himself and 'amily,—sixteeu in number,—and also, formerly,
for three sons in Manchester, and now for one son there ;
this being clearly a contravention of the prison rule that the
prisoners should do no work for the governor. This last charge
brought from the Rev. R. N. Fielding, one of the visiting
magistrates, the extraordinary avowal that the visiting
justices were cognisant of this washing ; and they " let it
continue as it was." That is, the visiting magistrates of the
gaol permitted the governor to continue habivally to violate
one of the rules :of the prison, which they were bound, as
visitors, to see enforced. The whole of the proceedings pre-
sent a singular picture of the state of the gaol, as regards its
government and general management One thing seems to
be tolerably clear (says the Manchester Guardian), that if
the magistrates desire to restore order, regularity, and disci
pline, they cannot decently continue to keep the present
governor in his office. By discharging from their situations
his accuser and the four principal witnesses again.st him, they
will most effectually deter any subordinate officer in future
from making a complaint; unless they also remove the
governor, who, as Mr. Lloyd well observed, had in several
instances been guilty of irregularities which sufficiently war-
ranted his dismissal.
INFORMATION AGAINST AN ENOINE•DRIVER.—On Mon-
day, at the Borough Court. Stockport, Charles Winter-
bottom, an engine-driver, lately in the service of the London
and North-Western Railway Company, and who, u the
driver of the passenger train engine, was one of those
iwpli-
rated in the late collision which occurred on the line near
the Stockport station on the preceding Tuesday, appeared in
answer to an information, which charged him with negli-
gently running into the tender of a coal-train engine, at the
time and place before-mentioned, by which considerable
injury was done to both persons and property. After a
lengthened investigation the prisoner was fined 40s. and
costs, the mayor remarking, " The bench think that other
parties are quite as blarneahle as yourself."
WORCESTEttSIIIRE.

REPRESENTATION OP EAST WORCESTERSHIRE.—No less
than four gentlemen are already named as likely to come
forward as candidates for the representation of this county in
the stead of the late Mr. Barneby. These are the lion,
Capt. Rushuut (C.), the Ikon. Humble Dudley Ward (C.),
Richard Spooner, Esq., M. fit Birmingham, and John
Hodgetta Foley, 1:41., of Prestwood, near Stourbridge, a
Liberal. With reference to Mr. Spooner, we have the best
authority for stating that he has no intention of offering
himself, and we have also good reason to believe that Mr.
Foley will not come forward on the occasion of this vacancy.
It is alleged, too, that Mr. Ward is nut desirous of obtaining
a seat in the House of Commons. The probability, there-
fore, is, that Capt. Rushout will be the new candidate ; but
until the late member is interred no steps will be taken by
either party.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
EXTRAORDINARY BLUNDER IN THIS CAMBRIDGE ER-
GISTER.•- The register of electors of this borough fur the
next year was published on Tuesday, and we understand
that a most serious blunder has been made by the omission
from the register of the name- of no less than 49 persons who
made their claims to be placed thereon at the last registra-
tion, and whose claims were allowed by the revising barrister.
The number we have mentioned is composed of 27 Liberals
and 22 Tories. We are unable at present to ascertain who
is in fiult in the matter ; but whether it be the revising
barrister or any other person, most serious responsibility rests
somewhere fur this wholesale disfranchisement, and the mat-
ter demands (what we doubt not it will obtain) the most
rigid investigation.—Cambridge Advertiser.
HERTFORDSHIRE.
Jusrica or PEACE SCEPTICIEM.—At the adjourned Quar-
ter Sessions for the county of Hertz, a case, trivial in some
respects, but of importance to railway companies, came on
for hearing. A young man of the name of Saville, a dra-
per's porter of Bishop Stortford, was charged with stealing
25:be. weight of iron on the 12th of November, at Bishops
Stortford, the property of the Eastern Counties Railway
Company. Evidence haring been given, showing the pos-
session of the property, which consistedof an iron chair, or
support for the rails, by the defendant, Mr. Nicholson, the
chief clerk at the Stortford station, in answer to the chair-
, man, said he had not got a copy of the act of parliament
constituting the company with him.—Mr. Chambers, who
appeared for the accused, submitted that as the property was
laid in the indictment as belonging to the Eastern Counties
Railway, it was necessary that the act of parliament which
made the c,mpany a corporate body should be produced.
—The Chairman was of opinion that it was necessary to pro-
duce the act of parliament.—Mr. Nicholson said the exis-
tence of the Eastern Counties Railway Company was so well
known, that he thought there would be no necessity for the
production of the act of parliament, added to which the let-
ters E. C. R. were stamped upon the iron, which showed
that it belonged to the company.—The Chairman said they
knew nothing of the Eastern Counties Railway as a com•
pany, without the production of the act making it a corpora-
tion, and, as that was not produced, the prisoner, who there
was no doubt had committed a felony, must be discharged.
ISOM ERSET,HIRE.
A LETTER dated " Southmolton," and bearing the
names of the mayor of that borough, the mayor of Barn-
staple, and others, and addressed to the editor of this paper,
solicits attention to the following " Distressing case :"
" Mr. 11. Ilibberd, a practical farmer and considerable occupier
near Wardour Castle, in Wiltshire, was a omit time since in-
duced, through the representations of • gentleman a young
county member, acting as his father's agent -to undertake the
cultivation of a tract of waste moor land, situate on the western
borders of Somersetshire, at an altitude of one thousand feet
above the lend of the sea, the landlord covenanting to erect necessary
and suitable farm buildings and fences theron. This, from some
unaccountable COUPS', was not done; and the unfortunate farmer's
valuable stock of horses and cattle were, through exposure to the
rigours of the climate, nearly all chilled and destroyed. With these
ruinous prospects before him, Mr. Ilibberd appealed in the most re-
spectful manner to hs landlord, who stated (throuh his bailiff for
the first time that hetwas only an agent to his fgather, who was in
Rome. Thus he was not only refused compensation, but his goods
and implements were detrained upon and sold (as might he expected
in .rich a wild country) at an enormous sacrilicc. Toe unfortunate
man, together with his wife and four infant children, are now left
upon the inhospitable ulcer, 100 miles from their native village, with
scarcely • bed to lie on. Mr. Ilibberd's lasses are not less than 1,400 f."
CLEVEDON AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.—The ninth
anniversary of this association was celebrated on
on Tuesday. The cattle show took place as usual in a
field under Clifton Hill. The supply of stock was very
large, and the animals exhibited showed the improvements
which within a few years have been introduced into the
breed and feeding of stock. There was a large attendance
of gentry, farmers, graziers, and dealers on the ground, from
various parts of the county. A dinner took place in the
evening, at which Sir Charles Abraham Elton, Bart., pre-
sided.

WILTSHIRE.
A SOIREE in aid of the funds of the Literary Institution
at Chippenhant was held on Tuesday evening. There was
a very numerous attendance. Capt. Boldero, M.P., was
present, and took part in the proceedings. The committee
had invited T. Moore, Esq., who lives near Chippenham,
and received an answer from him accepting the invitation
he was prevented, however, from attending, by unexpected
circumstances. His acceptance of the invitation is a refuta-
tion of the report current a short time since, of the dan-
gerous illness of the poet.
SUSSEX.
SERtots CHARGE AOAINST THE POLIOE.—The Brighton
Guardian says :—" A strong feeling of indignation exists
throughout the town at the escape of a titled offender, by the
culpable connivance of the servants of justice. During the
evening of Tuesday, the lith ult., a stranger was given
into the custody of one of the police in the open street. The
stranger, after some parley, was brought to the hall, where
he gave a false name, and where the charge on which he was
arrested was reduced to writing. He remained in custody
all night, and the next day was discharged without being
brought before a magistrate, and without being confronted
with his accuser. The worthy magistrate, who, it seems,
assented to the prisoner's being discharged in this most un-
usual manner, partakes of the general indignant feeling that
prevails, and affirms that he was led to give his assent under
a wilful misrepresentation of some of the facts, and an un-
pardonable coacea!ment of others. A more disgraceful oc-
currence is not within our recollection. Rumour says that
the delinquent is a peer of the realm."

liausit.
"THE SPIRIT OP THE SHELL."—A concert WM
given in the Hanover-square Rooms, last night, by Mr. T.
H. Severn, the object of weich was the production of a Can-
tata, under the above title, composed by him. The subject
of the poem, which is written by Mr. Wyman, is of that wild
and fanciful character which German poets and musicians
love. Two youthful lovers are strolling on the sea-beach by
moonlight, giving themselves up to the dreams of fancy
inspired by such an hour. The youth gives the maiden a
shell, telling her to hold it to her ear, and she will hear the
voice of the spirit that dwells within it. The maiden com-
plies, and interprets the murmur of the shell into a tale of
two lovers, who, like themselves, wandering of old on the
same sands, plighting vows of love, were surrounded by the
sea, and perished in its waves. While she continues listen-
ing, the murmur of the shell changes into moans and shrieks
of terror ; the storm-clouds gather ; the rushing of waters is
heard, and the lovers find themselves in the situation they
were fancying. They fly in terror from the pursuing waves;
while their friends, assembled in distracted groups on the
beach, are endeavouring to save them ; and after an interval of
surprise and agony, they are rescued, and restored to life and
happiness. This subject, which affords much scope for
musical painting and expression, is well treated by the poet.
His verses have much beauty, and their variety of measure
is well filled for the exigencies of the composer. The can-
tata opens with a short instrumental introduction, well calcu-
lated to awaken attention, which leads without interruptiin
into a chortle describing the lovers and their tender moon-
light walk. This is followed by a tenor recitative and air, in
which Edwin tells M 21.1011 to listen to the song of the shell:
In the lowly cells
Of these lovely shells
The spirit of the mermaiddwells :
And of lovers that sleep
On the gems of the deep
To livening ears it sweetly tells

This ,so'ng is exceedingly beautiful ; its round and flowing
w-engi-b.,ing supported by a rich but clear accompaniment.
Marines takes the same subject, which is carried on in
• highly-wrought anti misterly duet, to which the utmost
justice wu done by Mr. Loc•er and siss Birch. The song of
the spirit* of the shell is represented lir a chorus which
would have been effective, had it been sung u the author
evidently intended; but the mystic murmur, which should
have been breathed in the softest pianissimo, lost all its
etherial character from the remorseless loudness with whieh
it was sung. The next movement is the air in which Marian,
listening to the shell, describes the fate of the two lovers :
A gentle maiden and a youth,
Wandcr'd en these sands of yore;
Pledging vows of love and truth,
Heedless of the ocean's roar !
Warning came, alas! too late.
Listen to the lovers' fate!
liemm'd in by the rushing wave,
With no human hand to save,
On a shelf of rock they stood,
Gazing wildly at the Soul
Seeking in each other's arms,
Shelter from those wild alarms:
Till one rest o'erwhelining wave
Became their bridal-bed and grave
The last twin sigh of that food pair,
I rescued from the troubled air!

The musical treatment of this subject is admirable : the
vceml melody is parsante, admitting of clear elocution
of the words, while the horror of the situation is painted
by the wild and agitated sounds of the orchestra; and the
same powerful musical description accompanies the distracted
cries of the lovers. There is afterwards a vocal quartetto,
sung without accompaniment, so pure and beautiful in its
harmony, and so well sung, that it was loudly encored.
With all its musical merit, however, it appeared out of
place, as it consists merely of reflexions which stop the
action at a time when its impetuous current does not bear
interruption. The duet and chorus, in which the despairing
shrieks of the peri.hing pair are heard amid the storm,
and the cries of their friends on the cliffs, are full of
striking effects. Marian id saved, but not seeing her lover
at her side, believes he has perished; and her phrenxied
grief is expressed in an air, " Ah, tell me not that I am
safe," which struck us as the finest thing in the piece, and
which Miss Birch sung with great energy and passion.
At length Edwin also is saved; and the finale is a song of
jubilation, reminding us a good deal of the conclusion of
Fidelio. This finale, including Miss Birch's song, was
loudly called for a second time ; an', at the end of the
performance, the composer was greeted by reiterated
plaudits. The room won well filled, and we observed among
. the audience a great number of the most eminent members
of the musical profession. The other principal singers, be-
sides Miss Birch and Mr. Locke y, were Miss Cubitt, Miss
Solomon, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Shoubridge, and Mr. Wether.
b.*. The instrumental orchestra was numerous and good ;
and the performance was, altogether, careful and correct.
The work does the highest honour to Mr. Severn's talents.
It belongs to a class of compositions which, iu this country,
are not likely to be very popular. But the breadth and
sigour of its style, its open and flowing melody, and variety
of dramatic effects,convitmed us that Mr. Severn is capable of
at least rivalling any of his countrymen in writing for the
stage.

MILAN.—At " La Scala" great preparations are making for
the carnival season. Four new operas and two ballets are
promised. The principal singers are Mies Mayes, an Irish-
woman, Elena Angri Stephanone, Luigi Mei, Marteni, and
Masset, formerly of die Paris Opera Comiqns ; Moriani, and
Fanny Elssler, are also engaged ; and Perrot is the ballet-
master. Mini Mayes has obtained the most complete success,
and the Italian journals go so far as to compare her to Mali•
bran : but the latest accounts express anxiety as to tke state
of her health. .

Nartvs.—A new opera by Mercadante, " Oli Orazj e
Curiazj,".has been produced at the San Carlo with immense
applause. ha success is ascribed in a grew. measure to the
brilliant performance of Madame Frezzolini.
PItAGVE.--The " Midsummer Night's Dream," with
Meudelssoho's music, and Donizetti's " Don Sebastian,"
have been recently produced here. The first of these pieces
was successful, and Mendelssohn's music was received with
fu►ore. In " Don Sebastian," the scenery and dresses were
much applauded, and the music wu listened to with the
utmost indifference.