The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-09 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

MIDDLESEX.
SOUTH-WEST MIDDLESEX AGRICULTURAL SO-
CleTT.—Yesterday, the eleventh anniversary meeting of this
society, established for the encouragement of good plough-
ing and other agricultural improvements, and for the giving
rewards to servants for good conduct and long service, took
place aeUxbridge. The principal feature of the day's pro-
ceedings was the grand ploughing match, which took place
on the farm of 'Richard Henry Cox, EN , of Hillingdon
Park, which, from the brilliancy of the weather, was nume-
rowdy attended, nearly the whole of the neighbouring
gentry and farmers being present. At eight o'clock the
ploughs commenced arriving at the ground, and by nine
o'clock seveuty-two had arrived and were set in operation.
In the ploughing field were erected several handsome
marquees, and numerous flags were exhibited about
the grounds, bearing appropriate devices. At
twelve o'clock the premiums awarded by the so-
ciety to male and female servants in husbandry,
bearing characters for honesty, sobriety, and general
good conduct, were distributed in a large tent by the chair-
man of the day. They consisted of ten classes and
eighty-five recipients. At two o'clock the plough-
men, &e., lined together at the Three Tuns Inn,
Uxbridge, where they were plentifully supplied with food
old English cheer. At four o'clock about 120 of the pnuci-
pal gentry, farmers, and leading agriculturists, in Middlesex
and the adjoining counties, sat down to an excellent dinner,
tastefully laid out in the large public rooms in Uxbridge.

DIE NEWTON FARMERS' SOCIETT.—On Thursday,
the third annual meeting of the above society took place at
the village of Newton, the show being held in the timber-
yard belonging to Mr. Recce. The number of cattle ex-
hibited was not very large. The show of horses consisted
principally of the cart breed, but they were not very
numerous, nor of • very superior kind. Of bulls the number
was also limited, and they were of a mediocre kind. Of
dairy cows and keifers a great number were entered for com-
petition, an& many of them were of a very superior order.
The display of pig. was also very small, and those
brought forward were very inferior, one of the judges re-
' marking that the breed of pigs in the neighbourhood of
Newton required improving very much, and recom-
mended the farmers to pay a little more attention to that
part of their stock. The finest pig in the list of competition
belonged to a cottager. The vegetables were very fine in-
deed. No seeds or implements of husbandry were in the yard,
and this was attributed to the very unpropitious state of the
weather during the early part of the day, but which, for-
tunately, cleared up, and towards noon became beautifully,
fine. After the prizes had been awarded, the members of
the society adjourned to the Horse and Jockey, where about
two hundred gentlemen eat down to dinner. The Rev. B.
Loather presided.
THE EXPLOSION OF FIRE-DAMP. —On Tuesday last
the adjourned inquest on the body of William Rutter, whose
death had been caused by an explosion of fire-damp, at Mr.
Eccles' colliery, was held at the Balcarrea Arms, Scholes,
Wigan, when a verdict of " Manslaughter " was found
against Peter Rutter, the brother of the deceased, through
whose negligence in leaving his lamp uncovered, the acci-
dent occurred. The brother, Peter Rutter, still lies in a
very dangerous state, from injuries received at the lame
explosion.

PCI3I.TC SOIREE 01".-.TIIE—fiR.ADFORD MECHANICS'
INSTITUTION.—On Thursday evening, the second annual
soiree of the Bradford Mechanics' Institution was held in
the zooms of the institution, under the presidency of the
Right Hon. Earl Fitzwillintn. The oratorical and musical
portions of the evening's entertainment were prefaced by a
public dinner in the Athenteum of the Institution, the Rev.
Dr. Acworth, of the Horton Independent College, presid-
ing. In the evening letters were read from Viscount
'alorpeth, the Rev. Dr. Scoresby, and Charles Dickens, '
Esq., apologising for their unavoidable absence. Earl
Fitzwilham opened the proceedings by expressing the
pleasure which he experienced at having an opportunity of
meeting so large an assembly of the inhabitants of that
town—a town which in the course of his memory had grown
1 from a veryjordinary-sized market town into such a large
city he might almost call it. If one looked to what bad been
the cause of that great change it could not escape the notice
of even the moat superficial observer, that it was entirely
due to the industry of the inhabitants of the district. To those
who had been active in the formation of the institution in
which they were assembled, his lordship was sure that a
large debt of gratitude was due, whether they considered
simply the sources of intellectual enjoyment which it af-
forded to those who became connected with it, or looked to the '
still larger influence which it exercised upon the destinies of
industry. Besides the ornamental advantages, if he might
so term them, which were to be derived from institutions of
this description, there were, he apprehended, many sub.ran-
tial advantages in the advancement of manufactures and
commerce, not but that, in kis lordship's opinion, they were
the more valuable for being calculated to open the minds of
those who were engaged in the dry pursuits of industry ;
but, at the same time, it was impossible to shut their eyes to
the advantages of such institutions, especially of schools of
design, for the improvement of those manufactures which
were to attract the attention of the trader and the con •
sumer. —Mr. Busfield, M.P., moved the first resolution,
which was seconded by Alderman Rand. It was as follows :
flat the intellectual nmessities of the people are better understood
at the present time than they were at the period when Mechanics'
Institutions were fret projected ; and that such aseicties as are
framed to meet those neomaities have en important career of useful.
nese and prosperity now opening before them.
The Rev. Dr. Burnett, vicar of Bradford, said he had great
pleasure in moving,
That a provi,ien for elementary instamction must enter largely
into the plans of all societies designed fur the education of the people,
as conett tuting the only basis on which real knowledge can be
founded, or its extension hoped for.
After alluding to the benefits' of mechanics' institutions, he
went on to say thathe harr paid great attention to their working,
and believed that there were two things which they should
carefully avoid—religion and politics. Let them steer clear
of Scylla and Charybdis, and their institution would succeed.
He believed that object had been diligently attended to in
that institution. But whets they advised the steering clear
of religion, they did not wish that institutions of that kind
should pander to any description of infidelity. The rev. gentle.
man went on to urge the formation of classes, fur want of which
many institutions had failed ; and the instruction derived
from them was far preferable to that derived from lectures.
Lectures were very well, but they gave rather railway views
of knowledge—they afforded rapid and extensive views of
the subjects treated on, but they did not admit of that steady
application of the mind to the tracing out, step by step, of
the various processes of nature. By lectures the fancy and
the imagination were fed—but only for a while—and the
mental powers were not strengthened. There was no royal
way to learning. Young men coming to the classes should
look upon themselves as apprentices Inc information. Lec-
tures were only the sweetmeats—not the solid food of the
mind. Plato said. "General ignorance is neither the
greatest evil nor the most to be dreaded. A mass of ill-
digested and unasserted information is much more perilous."
That should be the motto of all institutions of this kind.—
Mr. W. R. C. Stanfield, M.P., seconded the motion. It
was supported by Mr. G. S. Phillips, of Huddersfield, and
adopted.—Col. T. P. Thompson, M.P., moved :
That It Is of the utmost moment that those to whom is Nalsoist
the application of the great discoveries of science, should peons a
knowledge of the principles on which they rest; and that ci sash
knowledge should be sought from the highest and meet eallusiis
Karon.
The gallant colonel spoke briefly in rapped of hits
resolution, in the cows) of which he soninii MD
concurrence in the observation' which had Weft Ikea
the vicar of Bradford, especially with repot Is the
separation of their intellecesa meeseibes hen paled
or religious investigations, as that was limit lb' ady conies
to !secure unanimity, and the enstin se tank Institution.
—Mr. J. W. liudian, of Lenin insairi, the motion.—
The meeting was subsequently solkessed by the Mayor of
Bradford, Dr. Acworth, the president elthe institution, Mr.
Beaumont, one of the vice-presidents, sad other gent'emen ;
and other resolutions were adopted in accordance with the
objects of the meeting.
THE SWINTON MURDER.-011 Wednesday after-
noon last, the third adjourned inquest respecting the murder
of Caleb Barker, was held at the Canal Tavern, Swinton-
bridge, before Thomas Badger, Esq., coroner, and a jury.—
Mr. Thomas Raynor, the superintendent of police at Shef-
field, produced a lead pencil which WAS taken from the
pocket of Sellars when apprehended at Sheffield. Since the
adjourned inquest had conversed with the prisoner. He
stated that he had come down to Swinton by the train on
the night of the 4th of September, and that he had a con-
versation with Mr. Ravnor, of Bolton, and with Mary Tay-
lor, of Mexborough. 3e went immediately by the canal side
from Swinton to West Milton, where he slept all night in
Mr. Brooke's hayloft, and several subsequent nights.—Mr.
Johnson, a bookkeeper at the pottery of Mr. Samuel Barker,
of Swinton, had known deceased, Caleb Barker, some years
before his death. He was employed as awarehouseman at Mr.
S. Barker's pottery. Knows nothing of the pencil now pro-
duced. Deceased generally carried one or two pieces in his
pocket, but witness could not identify the piece now pro-
duced as belonging to deceased.—William Athorn,
_junior
clerk in Mr. Barker's counting house, knew the deposed
Caleb Barker. He generally tarried a piece of lead pewit is
his pocket. Did not remember ever to have seen the piece
now produced.—The Coroner here stated that the roma he
had ben thus minute in his inquiry respoetiag the peen
was to see if it could be properly identified, ill thil Oleo wig*

had been seen in the possession of the deceased, and if
so, tt would bare formed a very strong ease of circum-
stantial evidence against the prisoner Salem, and the
establishment of which, by leading to a further investigation,
would have probably brought other more important particu-
lars to light. The coroner then stated that he hod written
to the Secretary of State, requesting that he would order the
prisoner Sellars to be brought up before him (the coroner)
the Sheffield magistrates having refused to part with their
prisoner. This Sir George Grey replied he had no power to do.
Mr, Badger then resumed: Although very strong suspicion
attached to Sellars, sufficient evidence had not been adduced
to warrant them in saying that he was the man who corn.
mitted the murder; therefore, in the absence of additional
evidence, the only course which remained for the jury to
pursue was either to return an open verdict, or a verdict of
wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. Ho
would state to them, however, that after they had delivered
a verdict, if any further evidence should be elicited tending
to implicate the part now suspected, they bad still the
power reserved of preferring a bill of indictment against
him. There being but few other parties in the room, they
retired until the jury bad considered their verdict. In about
twenty minutes Mr. Wood, the foreman, banded in the fol-
lowing written verdict to the coroner :
The jury find that on the evening of the 4th of September last,
Caleb Barker was brutally beaten with some heavy weapon, and hit
skull severely fractured by some person or persons to the jurors un-
known, In consequence of which the said Caleb Barker died on the fol.
lowing morning. The jury have to express their strong conviction that
if the shelSeld =mannas had sot (as they conceive) improperly inter-
fered and prevented a party strongly suspected of the murder being
brought before them, they would have now been in a position to re-
turn a different verdict. They are of opinion that the ends of justice
are detested be collinons between the coroner and magistrates sa to
the qunttion of jurixliction, the county put to extra expenses, and also
that inquiries of this nature should not be conducted in the compul-
sory abeence of Imp:Witted or suspected parties.
Mr. Wood, the foreman, added, that before the parties left
the room, he was desired by the jury to make the following
statement, which they had intended to have appended to
their verdict: "The jury cannot but express their surprise
at finding an impediment in the way of eliciting infor-
mation respecting a crime of no less magnitude than mid-
night assassination should have come from that quarter to
which they conceive they have a right t 3 look for the main-
tenance of every facility for the protection of both lift and
propert"
Tyrny.us FEVER of a malignant character has be-
gun to show itself at Balby, in the immediate vicinity of
Doncaster. In one bowie lest week two children died of
that disease in two days. The medical men who attended
them, on examining the premises, found a sewer running
underneath! the house which emitted the most noxious ettlu-
view ; and Dr. Shearman, of Itotherham, stated his belief,
that the fever was caused by the sewer, He ordered the
parties to leave the house, and every particle of clothing in
it to be burnt. The sewer is also to be tilled up.

CIIEBIIIEI,-
A MEETING OF FACTORY OPERATIVES took place
on Wednesday at Stockport, on the subject of the late turn-
out at Moseley, and the threatened reduction of wages at
Ashton, and with a view to considering how the extension of
similar reductions to other districts would be best avoided.
The chair was occupied by Mr. Wm. Hibbert..—Mr. Pilling,
an operative from Ashton, then moved a resolution to the
effect that it would be mutually advantageous to both
masters and operatives to agree to a general cessation front
labour for a time, rattier than reduce wages, and strongly
deprecating all attempts at reduction. He spoke at great
length, strongly tinting the meeting to contend with
all their might for reducing the time, and uphold.
ing wages. The speaker was loudly cheered.—Mr.
Peter Devenah proposed a resolution to the effect that
they should pledge themselves to endeavour to carry out a
general cessation from labour. The resolution was carried
unanimously, amidst cheers. A. resolution was also adopted
to enter into subscriptions in support of those who are or
may hr thrown out of employment in resisting a reduction.—
Mr. Councillor liarner then addressed the meeting, and
gave an account of his mission, on Friday last, to Moseley
and Ashton, in favour of the turnouts, and stated that he
had had interviews with the Mayor of Stockport, Mr. in°.
Maryland, Mr. Relit. Gee, and Mr. Thos. Penalty, on the
subject of the proposed reduction, and they were a 1 strongly
opposed to it. The other business being disposed of, and a
vote of thanks given to the chairman, the meeting separated.

LINCOLNSHIRE.
DEALERS IN TREMENDOCS SACRIFICES."—Tho
people of Lincoln, during the last two or three days, have
been amused with a choice specimen of temptation for the
million. Sealed papers, looking at first like income-tax
papers, have been left at the houses. When opened an.im-
posing coat of arms appears; but un a closa inspection what
seemed to be the royal arms turns out to be only a crown
placed upon the shamrock, the rose, and the thistle. Then
follows the announcement of an " Eventful Distribution of
Confiscated Foreign Manufactures." The whole clap-trap
is so got up as to make it appear that the sale is by order of
the Commissioners of Customs. The goods include costly
shawls, which are " perf.ct wonderr," " chameleon satins of
imperishable dye', manufactured chiefly for the court of
Russia." All sorts of costly goods are offered at " nominal
prices," to cover the fine and duty paid to the crown.
Frauds of this nature have been successful in many towns in
the north of England and in Scotland. A corps of swindlers
who made a great eclat at Edinburgh some months sineo
ended their visit by some very disagreeable transactions with
the police authorities.
IminEsrr ON A FIRE.—Mr. Hitchins held an in-
quest at Coleby on Menday last, respecting the cause of the
fire on the premises of Mr. Lister on the preceding Thurs-
day, by which two fodder-stacks, a large hay.atack, a barley-
'tack, and a wheat-stack, were entuely.consumed, great
injury being also done to the buildings, involving a loss of
not leas than 7001. In the barn were seventy quarters of
thrashed barley at the time of the fire, and a large clipping
of wool, which, by the exertions of the persons present,
were removed and saved. On viewing the premises, it was
clearly apparent that a mat awful destruction of pro.
peaty had been intended, same straw being laid from tho
stack-yard to six large stacks of wheat, but which by the
wind bearing towards the stack-yard were saved from
destruction. After an inquiry, which lasted from ten in the
morning to eight at night, and after examining nearly 20
witnesses, it was quite plain, from the areas discrepancy in
the testimony, that • party on the premises must hays been
the author of the burning, although there was net sufficient
proof whereon to base a specific verdict against that party.
The jury, after considerable deliberation, returned • verdict
that the fire was wilfully caused by some person or person
unknown. Sir C. Tempest, Bart., the landlord of the pro-
' perty, subscribed 1001., Charles Msinwering, Esq., 501., and
the 'Yorkshire Fire Insurance Company 1001., towards a
reward ; and meetings were held in the adjoining parishes
to add to the amount.

MELANCIIOLY StICIDE FROM SHAME.—An inquest
was recently held at Monntsorrel, on the body of Sarah
Thompson, aged 13 years. The deceased got into an apple-
tree in the garden; she was seen by an elder sister, who re-
quested her to get down, and offered her assistance. In at-
tempting to reach the ground she slipped backwards, and
hung by ono leg from a bough ; she was released from this
perilous situation by two men, who were at work in a shop
close by, and they remained a few minutes in consequence of
the deceased appearing in an unconscious stute. After they
hod left, the deceased ran away, without speaking, towards
a deep pond, which bad once been worked so a stone quarry.
Her sister, hearing a splash, ran to the water, and saw her
sister in the pond, waving her hands. She went into the
water and caught hold of her. The two men who had be-
fore assisted her from the apple-tree rescued the elder sister,
but the younger one perished. From the evidence of tho
surgeon it appeared that great excitement of mind might
have been produced from the girl's situation in the tree, as
also a determination of blood on the brain, which had ren-
dered her partly unconscious. The jury returned a verdict
of " Accidental death."

THE WORCESTERSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
held its annual meeting yesterday. The proceedings com-
menced with ploughing and digging matches, on the farm
of Mr. G. Smith, of Wick, alJout a mile and a half from
Worcester, on the Malvern road. Five premiums of 31.
each, and the same number of 2!. each, were awarded for
excellence in the several descriptions of ploughing, besides
angler rewards to the ploughboys, drivers of the successful
teams. The competition was spirited. The exhibition of
stock, implements, corn, roots, fruit, Se., was held as usual
in the new cattle market. The show of bolls and of neat
cattle and pigs was good, but There was, as at all the pro-
vincial agricultural societies' meetings this year, a falling off
in the show of sheep. There were some good specimens
of fruit and corn. The show of agricultural im-
plements was one of the finest, perhaps, that has
ever been got together at any provincial meeting.
Every description of implement was contributed, and
samples Mall the recentimprovemeats were shown—ploughs,
harrows, carts, liquid manure pumps and distributors, tile
machines, chaff.cutting mactunes, winnowing machines,
thrashing machines, turnip-cutters, sauifiers, rollers,
drill., dibbling machines, et hoc genus ovine. A good
deal of interest was excited by the worging of two
rival tile and pipe machines, of great utility and ingenuity.
Mr. Chamberlain, of Bredicot, near this eity,and Mr. Swain,
of Pembridge, Herefordshire, were the inventors, and the
latter took a prize, Mr. Chamberlain having taken two prima
for his machine at previous meetings of the society. The
premium of 10!. for the best collection of implements was
divided between Messrs. Proctor and Ryland, of Birming-
ham, and Messrs. Webb, of Worcester. The annual prizes
for horses, sheep, cattle, pigs, roots, corn, and fruit were
awarded, and also others to agricultural labourers and domes-
tic servants for long servitude, honesty, and industry. One
of the winners eras an aged man of nearly 70 years, who had
worked on the same farm 45 years. Some of them had
brought up families of twelve children. There was a close
competition for the prizes for corn, which were awarded to
Mr. Herbert, of Powick, Mr. Walker, of Whittington, and
Mr. Dunn, of Cropthorne. A numerous party sat down to
dinner at the Crown hotel, at half-past four o'clock, under
the presidency of T. C. Horrogold, Esq.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT ATTENDED WITH F TAL
CONSEQUENcas, happened on the works of the Oxford, Wor-
cester, and Wolverhampton Railway, at Norton, on Satur-
day last. A youth named George Ayland, aged eighteen
years, was at work " driving tip" with another person named
Henry Hooper, when he slipped and fell immediately in
front of a waggon, heavily. laden with soil, which, lousing
over his body, crushed him in such a manner that he died
almost immediately afterwards. An inquest was held and
verdict of Accidental death" returned.
KENT.
EXECUTION OF HUTCHINGs. -- THE ELECTRIC
TBLOARHthings, the man found guilty and sen-
tenced to death for poisoning his wife, was to have been exe-
cuted ea Maidstone gaol at twelve o'clJek on Thuday.
Shori:iy before the appointed hour for ,:areyina the sentence
should be sent by We electric) telegraph instructing the
mreoecc,.i.;eq.uaest
ttinbe do
giothnatann-boniedgeer
Winatoirittsectiroam mther4g-tteomwe"