The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-17 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

LANCASIURE.
ATTEMPT TO MURDER A FAMILT.—On Saturday
the metropolitan police received information of an attempt
made at Wigan to destroy the lives of William Stopford and
his family be an explosion of gunpt)wder. It &poems that
Stopford resides in a small house near the Star Inn, and
within a hundred fret of the North Union railway station.
A few days ago, a tarn-out of the hands at one of the col-
lieries at Stai.dish took place. Stopford was employ ed by
the owners to make arrangements with some of the men as
to their resuming work. This proceeding Bare oft:glee to
most of the men, and they were not i.ow in saying that they
would one day pay him out icr not joining the ranks of the
disaffected. Shortly after midnight on Thursday lest a
number of persons were observed standing round Stoptord's
raidenee, and aeon after they had left a terrific explosion
occurred, which forced the roof partly off, and lifted the
floorings. Fortunately the whole of the inmites escaped.
Upon making an examination it was tunid that one of the
squares of glass had been removed from the lower window,
and a glass vessel, fill-d with gunpowder, had been placed
in the parlour, f, Ann which a train of p. ow r had extends d a
trocei,erable ditdance. the latter was then tired. A re-
ward is offered lot the aperehension of the guilty parties.
PRESTO:C.—ADDRESS TO LORI) J. RUSbELL.—A
meeting of the town council and magistrates of Preston was
held on Thursday last, for the purpose of considering the
propriety of adopting an address to Lord John Russell, ex-
prea-ive of the loyalty of the memorialists, their attachment
to the present constitution, and their gratitude to govern-
ment for their energetic measures for preserving the peace of
the country.—Mr. I. Miller in the chain—Mr. T. B. Addi-
son, in a speech eulogistic of tire conduct of Lord J. Russell
and the government, in reference to the measures taken by
them at the recent crisis, raid he considered it would be an
honour to the town of Preston to take the initiative in an ex-
pression of this kind, the more particularly when he remem-
bered that a few years since the tide of outrage and r tbellion
had been rolled back by the energy of their first cilia r, now
no more. lie had great pleasure in moving the address,
which, if adopted, would be useful in inducing the
government to obtain still greater facilities and
powers for the protection of life and property.
Mr. Barstow seconded the motion.—The Rev. J. Clay sug-
gested the appointment 01 a committee for the more efficient
obtaining of signatures.—Mr. German expressed his belief
that not only the middling and higher classes, but even the
operatives would willingly sign such an address. The pre-
sent government were entitled to great credit for their en-
deavours to maintain order, teed promote the welfare of the
people. There were several plans maturing for the im-
provement of the condition of the working classes, such as
the sanitary measures : and he thought it was a remarkable
fact, that whilst the rest of Europe was in a state of inter-
national agitation, England was quietly maturing measures
for the amelioration of the COUChtion of its people. lie did
not wish any man to be solicited to sisa the memorial,
for he felt assured that it would be signed by
all. His operaive brethren be believed would be
as ready as any class, and he was convinced that
6,000 oe 7,01)0 of their name, would In appended to it,