The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-03 00:00:00

JEWISH DISABILITIES.

A very numerous meeting of the inhabitants of the
borough of Finsbury was held last evening at the Belvidere
Tavern, Pentonville, to petition parliament in favour of the
ministerial measure ; Mr. Richard Taylor in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN introduced the business by expressing the
pleasure he felt in presiding on this occasion. One of their
representatives, Mr. Duncombe, was ill; and Mr. Wakley
bad been prevented attending by an engagement at the
National Hall. In a letter to the secretary, that hon. gen-
tleman assured them that he should be at his post when the
measure came under discussion. (Applause.)
Mr. W. PAYNE moved the first resolution, as follows:

That this meeting is of opinion that religious belief ought not to
exclude its possessor ftom the enjoyment of civil rights.
The Jews were not a few mushrooms, of the growth of yes-
terday; they were the ancient and beloved people of the
Deity, by whom they had been, and still would be, pro-
tected. ( Applause). God had invariably destroyed their
enemies, the mighty Roman empire not excepted. It was a
positive injustice to exclude these people from parliament ;
and he rejoiced that Lord John Russell had carried out his
principles by the introduction of a bill to do away with this
last remnant of intolerance. It was absurd to allege that
the admission of iJews to parliament would un-Christianise
the legislature. (Bear, hear.) The object of this meeting
was to strengthen the hands of ministers, in order that this
great measure might not be lost through the supineness of
the country. (Applause.) Let the bill be backed by the
unanimous voice of he nation ; and the lords would be very
chary about rejecting it.
Dr. SIMI,SON seconded the resolution.
Mr. J. Witsox moved a .9 an amendment—" That it is
not expedient that unbelievers should be admitted to legis-
late for Christians." As Christ was the " Xing of kings,

and Lord of lorda," it would be en indignity to him to
give the Jews seats in the legislature. He maintained that
the Christians were under no obligetign to the Jews, m
that
had done all in their power to suppreia the goepel of salvo,
Intim. England had more to fear from a Jewish Uemia,
than from a French invasion. (Laughter.) The eprejt,
then proceeded to read a long statement, which was vim
impatiently listened to, and au his using the expessi,,,i
" vagabond Jews" a perfect tumult of disapprobation broly
out, mixed with cries of "Turn him out," "pug hilt
I dawn." At length the Chairman put it to the meths.
whether he should be heard any further, and it was deeideil
in the negative by a large majority. As be persisted
is
speaking he was removed front the platform amidst grata
uproar.
Mr. T H. Notiuts supported the resolution. He °Nereid
that the Jews cheerfully acquiesced in the payment of pea?,
rates and church-rates; while to the latter impost severs)
Christian sects objected. After the removal of catholic din.
bilities and those of other sects, it would be a shame to el.
dude the Jews front participating in the same liberal me,
sure because they were small in numbers and not forisido*
in influence. (Hear.) Whatever might be the fate of the
government measure, he was confident that the citizens st
London would re-elect Baron Rothschild again and maic
in order fully to assert their freedom of choice. (64
applause.)
The resolution was then put and agreed to, with very fig
dissenfienta.

Ye. TS 01616 moved :
That the Jews having for many years been reerired snd tread
as eitiacas in thin country, thee eac;usion from wannest
of religious opinions is repugnant I the genuine and tolerant tog
of Christianity and injunous to Ili • !yid interests of the maj, "
meeting, therefore, riews with natin'acuon the intrcluction of a big
by Lord lobo Russell into the Commons Home of ParliamentSor
the
removal of Jewish &inabties,.
Mr. E. MULL seconded the resolution. Be believed that
the people were the only legitimate source of power, and that
taxation and representation ought ta be to_ottoosin.
these grounds all classes and all religions tbol hod to brat
the expense of government, hod a natural and inalienable
right to their share of representation. Cbristianity bad in
no case set the example of refusing political rights to on/
ear or creed; and it was only the fact of our having an mt.
Wished church in this country that had led to such tuba.
sions. (Rear.) Christianity had nothing to do with sew,
civil rights, beyond inspiring is them an ardent dears to tie
to others as they would be done by.. (lieu )
Petitions founded on' the foregoing resolutions wept
Agreed to, and ordered to be presented to both holism eipn.
liament.—At the close thanks were voted to the chairman.

f

A CUSTOM-ROUSE ORDER has been published di.
recting many improvements in the mode of examining
luggage of passengers arriving is England from the casts
neat. The object avowedly is to lessen the delay and es.
pense heretofore incurred is the landing, examination, std
delivery of travellers' baggage.
GOLDEN GLEANINGS.—" We believe," says tlit
Daily News," there is now a probability of a sweeping rt.
form being applied to the ill-managed sod expensive este.
blishment called the Mint." We should be very glad ta
have some of the sweepings of this reform, as Mint-dust, es
should imagine, must be valuable. We heard lately of et
establishment in which gold and silver are largely wised, sad
of which the proprietors make some 3001. a year out of thus
washings of their workmen's hands. We would dirmt thus
attention of the servants of some of our millionaires to thus
contents of their master's wash-hand-basins, which, consider.
ing the deal of money that passes through the hands of thins
capitalists, are, we think, very imprudently thrown away.
We would also suggest that the linirgs of the pockets of thus
same gentlemen, properly treated, may yield a considerable
quantity of the t recious metals ; and thus, we flitter OS:-
selves, we have opened an entirely new mine of perquirire
to their footmen.—Punch.
FIRE AT MR. APSLET PELLATT'S GLASS Worn
This morning, about a quarter past 12 o'clock, a fire tiros,
out in the extensive premises known as the Falcon Gime
Worlo, the property of Apeley Pellatt, Esq., situate new
liolland.street, Blackfriars. An instant cry of tire no
raised, and messengers were despatched in various direction'
for the engines. As soon as possible the brigade engine
from Southwark-bridge-road arrived, followed by the
West of England and others from Farringdonstreet
and Waterloo-road. The firemen then found that the
flames were furiously raging, apparently in what
termed the cutting-shop," immediately over the swan.
engine-house. The hoot of the engines were quickly drawu
out, and everything was in readiness for work, but, unfor.
tunately, not a drop of water was flowing from the fireman'
in the district. To obtain a sufficient supply, the engines
were taken down one of the wharfs and set to work
from the Thames. This, of necessity, took up
considerable time, and the II imes meanwhile con-
tinued to travel—so much so, that the immense pile of
buildings appeared doomed to destruction. The moment
the engines could be charged with water, a powerful stream
was scattered into that portion of the premises where the
flames appeared to be raging, but without producing any
impression upon them. The firemen eventually cut
a number of holes in the upper window shut.
ten, and by inserting the hose pipes into the spur.
tures they were at length enabled to reach the
fire, but it was not entirely extinguished at two o'clock this
morning, although all danger of any further extension waist
an end. The origin of the fire or the extent of the damage
cannot at present be ascertained. The mischief, however,
from the outside of the premises, appears to have been con.
fined to that portion of the building in which it began.
THE MIRPIELD MERDERS.—Respecting M'Cribe,
who was tried at York in conjunction with Patrick
Reid for the murder of Mr. Wraith and his wife and
servant, and sentenced to death, a communication has been
transmitted from the Home-office, intimating that Sir G.
Grey has recommended that her Majesty should commute
his sentence to transportation for life.
INQUESTS.—MYSEERIGES DEATIIS. —Before Mr.
William Baker, by adjournment, at the Queen Catherine
public-house, Brook street, Ratcliff, to inquire into the Mr-
cumstauces attending the deaths of Mr. Andrew Witham,
an engineer, aged 68, and his wife Ann Witham, aged 59,
who died at their residence, 45, Caroline-street, Commenial-
road East. Mr. Buchanan made a post reorient examina-
tion, and forwarded the contents of the stomach to Dr.
Letheby, lecturer on chemistry at the London Homital.—
On the re-assembling of the jury yesterday, Mr. Frimley, a
solicitor, who appeared on behal fof the relatives, said a will had
been made only a few days before the death of the deceased,
Andrew, and that he had left the whole of his property to
his nurse, Elisabeth Taylor, who had attended him during
his illness. He was instructed that the deceased was imbe-
cile at the time, and that he had two brothers living. This
circumstance had caused great suspicion, and the sadden.
ness of their deaths had caused rumours to be circulated that
they had died from unfair means.—Mr. Doane, a soli-
citor, said he framed the will according to the direc-
tions of the deceased, who, he considered, was in a
sound state of mind. Elizabeth Taylor applied to him
on the 19th ult., and informed him that the deceased re-
quired his services. She told him that he wished to alter his
will, and the manner in whichhe intended to dispose of his
property. He went on the following day, and the will,
which had been made, leaving the whole of his propertyto
his wife, was altered, and made over to the nurse. Hi
wife was in a dying state and died two days afterwards. His
brothers visited the deceased on the day he died, and be told
them distinctly that he should not alter his will.—Mr.
Buchanan said he attended deceased first about 18 months
since, when he was attacked with a paralytic stroke, and
since that period he bad been in an imbecile state. Whet
witness called on the 21st ult., the deceased was in bed,
and appeared in the same state. His wife was
also very ill, and died the same night. Witnes
was called in by the constable in consequence of the
sudden death and the reports that were circulated in the pa.
rish. Witness placed the contents of the stomach in bottles,
and forwarded them to Dr. Letheby. Dr. Letheby stated
that he examined the stomach belonging to Andrew
Witham. It contained about half an ounce of a thick, brown-
ish-green matter, which had the appearance of mucus mixed
with some vegetable extract. This matter had a peculiar
heavy odour, strongly resembling that from mice. It was
examined by six others who are conversant with the odour
of medicines, and they all agreed that it was strictly idea.
tical with that from hemlock and its preparations. Winter
could not affirm positively that the deceased Andrew
Witham died from the influence of poison, but be enter-
tained strong suspicions of the existence of hemlock, or of
some preparation thereof. He had also analysed the stomach
of the deceased Anne Witham. It had the same dull au-
cotte odour as that from the stomach of her husband. tipon
analysis he was unable to detect the presence of any mineral
poison, buthe thought the existence of the odour of hemlock
was a suspicious circumstance.—Mr. Buchanan considered
deceased was decidedly imbecile when he saw him, and not
in a lit state to make a will.—The Coroner said it was a very
peculiar case, and required further investigation. The in.
quir' y was accordingly adjourned until Friday next.