The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-19 00:00:00

SCOTLAND.

COMMISSION ET THE LORI/ LIEUTENANT OP DUMFRIES-
SHINE.—Lieut. and Mi. K. C. Noake to have the rank of
Capt. of Dumfriesahii e Militia.

WALES.
IMPROVEMENT OF BANOOR.—A correspondent says:—
Bangor, after having gas-works in operation for yean,u at
last lighted with gas; and it is an undoubted fact, that the
wise men of the city are talking of cleansing their filthy
streets and alleys, and acwering the place. The sooner the
talking is ended and the acting commences the better for
Bangor, the city being now an optical, a nasal, and a pedal
nuisance from one end to the other, even to the Bishop's pa-
lace. It is also much in want of a landing-place for passengers
from the packets ; fur to land at Bangor is to run two senous
risks—being drowned or having a limb or two broken, inde-
pendently of the imposition (accompanied with insults) prac-
tised upon strangers by boatmen sad others. One ferry be-
longs to the bishop, and either he or the party who rents the
ferry should be compelled to maintain the landing place in a
safe and efficient state. The bishop, however, it is right to
say, does not let the ferry at more than a fraction of its real
value. Bangor would be worth 20 per cent. more if a
good landing place were provided, as many strangers are
prevented frum visiting the place during the summer months
from the absence of such accommodation."

PROVINCIAL.
LANCASHIRE.
SHORT TIME.--In consequence of the high price of cotton
and the dept.. ssion of the cotton trade, a meeting of the
master-spinners of the Moseley district was held on Wednes-
day, when it was resolve.:
That the mills in the Moseley district commence on Thursday, the
17th inst., to work at the rite of eight hours per day, or forty-six
hours per week, and that they be entirely closed from Dec. 24th to
Jan 4th, 1847, and that they then commence again at the rate of
forty-six hours per week.
In consequence of this, all the mills in the neighbourhood
commenced on Thursday to work on short time. Mossley
district is one of considerable importance, as it now numbers
at least sixteen firms all engaged in spinning only.
Mat. BRIGHT AND HIS I.:LECTION COMMITTEE. —The
weekly meeting of Mr. Bright's Election Committee, on
Thursday night, was the largest and most influential that
has yet assembled. The Chairman, Mr. Wilson, said a
great many electors had not yet been seen, but the result of
the canvass already showed a majority of pledges of more
than a thousand over the number ever yet pulled for a Con-
servative, and of some hundreds above the number who
voted for Mr. M. Gibson at the last election. The Chairman of
sub-committees made reports which seemed to hear out very
fully this statement. Mr. Absalom Watkin then moved a
vote of thanks to the editors of the various London and pro-
vincial papers, for the able manner in which they had advo-
cated the claims of Mr. Bright upon this constituency, and
amongst them the Express. The motion was seconded
by Mr. J.C. Dyer, one of the oldest reformers in the borough,
and supported by Mr. Alderman Brooks, and carried with
great cheering.
THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE BOLTON RAILWAY.—An
inque.t on the body of Joseph Allen, the engine driver killed
by this accident, was held an Thursday evening, at Pendleton
near Manchester. W. Bell, guard of the train to which the
accident occurred, stated that he noticed the train to he mov-
ing at an extraordinary speed two milesbefore the engine got
oft the line. He calculated the speed at 50 miles per hour,
and the orders of the company being that express trains should
not move at more than '2l or 2.5 miles per hour, he tried to
signal the engineer to slacken speed, but in vain. Before
the engine got off the line, it oscilla•ed very much, and
jumped. The engine driver was afterwards found on the
line with a dreadful gash on the head, and quite dead. The
fireman was found near him, wit one leg cut otf, and the
foot of the other leg. A plate layer on the line stated that
in frosty weather the jumping of the engine was sufficient to
break the rails, and as several rails were broken it was pro-
bable that the engine had got off the line by such means. A
letter from the fireman, at the Infirmary, who is doing well
and likely. to recover, stated that, on leaving Bolton the train
was 10 minutes behind time, and they put on extra speed to
pass the East Lancashire Junction before the train from that
I doe cam up. The jury were of opinion that theoccurrence
was thee result of carelessness on the part of deceased
driver, and returned a verdict to the effect that it was an I
accident resulting from this cause.
YORKSHIRE.
THE TRUCK SYSTEM is stated to be in operation at Brad-
ford, where several firms are id to compt l their work-
people to receive, not a part, but the whole of their earninsg
in goods of very indifferent quality.
DERBYSHIRE.
A FACTORY INSPECTOR FINED.—A curious case was
heard at Glossop, before the bench of magistrates, in which
a Mr. Trimmer, inspector of factories, having brought an
information against Mr. Samuel Lee?, manufacturer, of
Padfield, for employing a g rl under age, and without a
surgeon's certificate, was himself charged on two summonses
with assaulting two girls in the mill. It appeared on
the 3rd of December, Mr. Trimmer had been erroneously
led to believe that Mr Lees was employing a girl under
age, and went to the factory in a state of great excitement
and passion, demanded to see the books, and not finding the
girl's name on them, sent for the sister of the girl, who did
work there, and used violence to one of them and to another
girl, shaking and threatening them to get mt admission, that
the girl be was is search of was on the premises. He after-
wards found the girl at home, some distance from the mill.
The magistrates dismissed the inspector's case, which failed
fur want of evidence, and convicted him in a penalty of ss.
and coats for assault.
LEICESTERSHIRE.
DESTITUTION prevails to a very great extent in Market
Harborough. Rork cannot be obtained by the poorer class
of families, and provisions are dear. Sickness, also,
is very
prevalent in the town.
THE REPEAL OF THE MALT-TAN QUESTION was dis-
cussed on Wednesday at a general meeting of the Leicester-
shire Agricultural Society. Resolutions were adopted con-
demnatory of the tax, and petitions agreed to, praying its
repeal. The chair was occupied by the Hon. 11. W. 'Wilson,
who was supported by E. B. Farnham, M.P., C. H. Frewin.
M.P., and others.
NOBLE CHAMITY.—The Duke of Rutland is now causing
to be distributed sheeting, blankets, shawls, and flannel, to
the deserving poor of forty villages around Belvoir Castle.
A Woaattoese Sctrootmesrea.—At the Loughborough
guardians meeting on Tuesday, it was proved that the schocl-
master had kicked some of the boys who are under his
charge. Mr. Palmer, who seems to be the medical officer,
was asked to state what he saw. He replied, that on going
through the kitchen to the hospital last board day, he saw
several boys standing round e fire, and one of them had
his clothes partly off. He went to see what was the matter,
and the boy said he had been kicked by the schoolmaster.
Re baked, and found two marks, which appeared to have
been caused by " a sheepish kick." lie had not had to at-
tend him professionally. The boy said another boy Lad
be en kicked. He was sent for, and " came hopping ."
He looted at him, but found no mark upon him. Ile saw
Mr. Miller in the house just afterwards, and mentioned the
matter to him. It was no part of his (Mr. P.'s.) duty to
prefer the complaint, but he thought it right that the
guardians should know. The board resolved to call the
schoolmaster in and reprimand him for kicking the boys,
which was accordingly done ; and Mr. Miller told hint that
if it had been laid before the commissioners he would have
been dismissed.

WARWICKSHIRE.
THE FIRE-ABM MANUVACTURE.—OUE Birmingham COE-
respondent writes as follows with respect to this subject .
" I have been at some pains to ascertain from contractors
themselves the actual state of their trade and the peculiar
description of articles for which the orders preponderate. It
is quite true that the demand for arms for Ireland is at thi-
e
present moment, and has for some weeks been, very cons
derable ; but it is also true that for many years the demand
has invariably n
bee heavy in the months of November and
December, up to the 24th of the latter month. Another
cause for so much briskness in the trade consists in the fact
that the articles in request are of the commonest description,
the prices varying between ten and twenty shillings each
only, and that consequently the manufacturers do net keep
stocks of these in their warehouses. It has been estimated,
but there are no means of ascertaining the fact with any greams
t
degree of accuracy, that three thousand stand
have been sent over to Ireland during the last six or
seven weeks; but of these it should be borne in
mind that not more than one-fifth or a one-sixth
are muskets, the remainder consisting of carbines, fowling-
pieces, and ordinary guns. These three last are, from
their quality, utterly valueless for the purposes which some
writers would seem to affect to believe the purchasers had
in view. There is good reason for the assumption that, in I
a great majority of cases, these arms are obtained solely
that they may be used as " house-protectors," and that, in
the remainder, the possessors contemplate only using them
for the destruction of game and wild-fowl. There may be,
and probably is, a gr2at fancy for the possession of fire-arms
amongst the Irish peasantry, but there is certainly nothing
to indicate the existence of any organised system for carry-
ing outunlawful purposes. One circumstance, in connexion
with the matter, cannot fail to cause much surprise : I allude
to the fact that, notwithstanding the vast amount of distress
which undoubtedly exists in the sister country, very
considerable sums are readily procured for the purchase
of fire-arms. I have been informed by a manufacturer that
so recently as this morning he was visited by an Irishman
from a very impoverished part of the country, whose mission
was to purehase arms, and whose well-stored pocket-book in-
dicated the existence of any thing but distress. The simple
fact in connexion with the affair is, that nearl all
ho hope
ty he fire-
arms are bought up by persons on speculation, and w
to turn the present state of things (with such aid as a portion
of the press give them) to a profitable account."
DORSETBEIRE.
POETLANIII.--It has been publicly announeed to be the in-
tention of government not to send out any DIM convicts to
Australia, but to make Portland a penal settlement, and to
employ the convicts on the breakwater, and `heirel public,
works in contemplation, such as constructing wad
running up fortifications entirely round th island,

is been publicl putnnd to be the in- - _
at not to Bend out any more convicts to claim J. Vs. 7 id- •LeeT,th class. 9Ad• `-`•
Ice Portland a penal settlement, and to E'lsgent."--._,,"31* Stso9 Grefi:l4:dirtre babe"' Reeppeecetire joint expense ofFramptem anu _ th.
on the breakwater, and other public, 15.nio,c4rett=1.• ComezmioldePewes, %t• 14s. 3d. ; fir;. the died, havmg devised the reversion in the lands in question
ion, such as eonstzucting a citadel, rod deoOnd clam. ~• ; Third 31330. 34. ; Fourth as" 21.; Fifth class, ; to the defendant, upon ejtr.eriirnaristrwits mentioned in the wil_ ; cote tor allo_wunce_of coots to the Rattles.
anoppoaliseneinuittoode _b
to otouoo.
Tune entirely round tto Wand, Etu',,licr, SixUa aro. 13e. 41.1. ; Satentli elm% Cu Joe* ti. and ingots' eV. the defendant eras
admitted as tenant of the nearly thew hole or the property going to ;au e thumb their .