The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-03 00:00:00

SCOTLAND.

EDLNEURGH, MARCH 31.
During the late divisions on the income tax and
other questions, bringing out the differences between
liberal members and mere ministerialists, the lists
have been anxiously watched. The votes of Messrs.
Hastie, Macgregor, Cowan, Duncan, and others, who
truly represent the commercial and middle classes,
have given general satisfaction. Those of Messrs.
Rutherfurd, Gibson-Craig, and Maitland were what
was expected, but the impression left on the minds of
the electors is unmistakeably clear as to the indispen-
sable necessity of at least one of the members
for Edinburgh and Leith being untrammelled by
office. Lord Melgund's votes have not given satis-
faction.

PROVINCIAL.

without challenge. Naughton then took the money, princi-
pally in notes of 5001. each, to the hank of Sir Benjamin
Heywood and Co., and laid down 2,0001. on the counter,
asking for on order on one of the Liverpool banks to the
amount, stating that he was going to Liverpool to purchase
cotton. The answer given by the cashier was, that
they did not know him and could not transact business of
auth a character without an introduction or a reference. He
next went to Messrs. Cunliffe and Brooks' bank, and asked
for an order for 1,5001. with the same story. The same
objection was urged against complying with his request
there ; and as he said he was in haste, and, coming from
Bolton, could not easily bring a reference, the cashier, whose
suspicions were excited, to gain time for inquiry, said, " Oh,
go out into the street and bring any one here that can say he
knows you." He wished to have the three notes for 5001.
each returned whilst he went out for a witness, but he was
augured it was unnecessary. He returned shortly afterwards;
but the cashier had gone to the Branch bank of England to
exhibit one of the notes and make inquiry ; so he was again
put off with the excuse that they did not know the person
he had brought. At the Branch bank of England the 5001.
note taken by the cashier of Messrs. Cunliffe and Brooks' was
recognised as one they had paid half an hour before for a
cheque from Messrs. Henry and Co., and this leading to an
examination of the cheque, it was discovered to be a forgery.
Naughton did not return, however, a third time for
the notes, probably suspecting that be was in dan-
gerous hands, and the police, to whom intimation was
given, thinking it likely he had left the town by one of
the railways, set the electric telegraph to work. He was
not taken, bower, r, in consequence of these steps, and the
affair was hushed up as much as possible till Friday—
probably in order that if the forger was still in
Manchester, he might not be so likely to learn
that steps were taking for his apprehension. On Friday,
however, Mr. Superintendent Beswick apprehended a young
man, at Liverpool, who had been getting one of the other
notes cashed, and having to bring ibis person as an accomplice
before the magistrates for authority to detain him, a partial
detail of the circumstances was publicly made. The
cheques for Henry and Co. are usually drawn by Mr. W.
R. Johnson, one of the partners, and as Naughton was a
clerk there, and would know this, and also be acquainted
with the writing of Mr. Johnson, he is supposed to be the
fmger of the cheque. He has not yet been apprehended.
CONFERENCE OF UNEMPLOYED WORKMEN WITH
volt MILOISTRATEB.---.A meeting of the unemployed hand-
loom weavers and others was held on Saturday morning, in
Stevenson-square, Manchester, to consider the means of
getting relief fur such as were not in receipt of money as
paupers, and were in a starving condition. The first propo-
sition was that they should go round the city with a hand-
cart, and ask alms from the shopkeepers personally. This
suggestion was met with another, to the effect that they
should first ask permission, to prevent any collision with the
polio, from the mayor and authorities to do this. The last
suggestion was adopted, and a deputation consisting of five
persons was immediately appointed. They at once proceeded
to the Town-hall, to which they were escorted by several
hundreds of working people. The magistrates gave the
deputation a kind reception, and asked the nature
of their mission.—James Abrams, who said be was an
advocate of the people's charter, stated that it was
to obtain leave to go round with a cart to beg food.—
The mayor and magistrates, before returning an answer,
entered into a long conversation, putting questions to the
deputation as to their own personal necessities. Several of
the deputation made statements by which it appeared that
they were receiving work from the parish, at the small re-
muneration usually afforded, or were receiving relief, but to
an amount not at all commensurate with the demands of
hunger. The beat of these was only earning 70. by breaking
atones, and he had a wife and six young children to support
out of it. James Crompton said he was out of work, but had
not made application for relief. Others of the deputation, in-
cluding the chartist, said, though badly off, they had notcome
on their own account; but having been present at meetings
where hungry people talked of going round and demanding
bread, they lsadsuggested the deputation, and were appointed
upon it. They had no wish to see adisturbance, and were the
friends of the authorities in thus coming to tell them the
state of feeling out of doors. In answer to questions from
the magistrates, why those who were in a starving state did
not apply to the board of guardians, one of the deputatioa
said he had been without food two days, and where would
be the use of applying to the overseer, when he knew the
answer would be that he must come before the board of
guardians next Thursday. He could not live till then
without food. Some of the deputation also made com-
plaints that they were insufficiently relieved, or paid for
their work at oakum picking, and also 01 the conduct of
the relieving officers and other servants of the guar-
dians. They were asked why they did not make re-
presentation to this effect to the hoard. The answer was
that they could not go before the board without leave
from these officers, and in general dared not tell
the truth of them, lest a charge of some kind
should be trumped up against them, by which means they
might be deprived of what little relief they were obtaining.
One of the deputation said he had himself been sent to pri-
son under these circumstances, the pretence being that he
had refused to work. After hearing all their statements the
answer of the authorities was to the effect that they could
not suffer the deputation to go round with a hand-cart to beg
food, because it would in reality be not begging, but de-
manding, by intimidation, or virtually stealing the food.
Supposing only one or two of them went into the shops,
there would be necessarily crowds of hundreds, or even a
thousand people outside, out of curiosity or other motives.
That under these circumstances timid people, females espe-
cially, would be afraid, and in giving would act under a feel-
ing of intimidation. Nor would the relief be available long, if
allowed by the authorities. Ths result would be that alithe
bread in the town would be exhausted probably towards the
middle of the week, for bakers would not continue to bake
under such circumstances. Besides, many of the shopkeepers
were really very poor people, who were taxed to the utmost ex-
tent of their means to pay the small amount of wages given for
stone breaking and oakum picking, work which was very
unproductive, and merely used as a test. The authorities,
however, said those whs were in want of food had a right to
relief, and if the ordinary mode of granting it would not
meet the case, they were prepared that day, if a list of per-
sons really in want were brought to them at the work-
house, to cause immediate inquiry to be made into their
oases, and relief to be afforded where required. This
seemed to afford great satisfaction to the deputation, who
withdrew, after some soothing expressions from the Mavor,
who assured them that he sympathised deeply with their
condition, but firmly believed that a much better state of
trade must speedily ensue, so as to give work to all classes.
The prospects of our markets were decidedly more favour.
able than they had been, and with the Ten Hours Bill,
which knocked off at once one-sixth part of the productive
power of the mills, the demand for labour must soon over
take the supply, so as to bring all the workeeople into em-
ployment again. The deputation were received outside the
hall with loud shouts by the concourse of people aho had
escorted them thither, and who adjourned with them to
Stevenson-square to receive the answer given by the autho-
rities. In the meantime the authorities made arrangements
in accordance with their promise to meet any case of real
distress that might be submitted to them. By two o'clock a
list of persons wishing for pan -h relief had been made nut,
and was carried in procession to the offices of the board of
guardians to be presented. The list was received, and the
applicants being requested to go to their respective homes,
that the relieving officers might meet them there, dispersed.
YORKSHIRE.
COMMISSION BY THE LORD LIEUTENANT.—Straf-
ford Chandos St. Leger (and not William St. Leger, as in-
serted in the Gazette of the 10th inst.), getit.,to be ensign in
2nd Regiment of West York Militia.
KENT. . .

SUICIDE OF A VAN DRIER.—On Friday night,
about ten o'clock, a van which rune between Chatham and
Faversham with passengers wax up-set about a mile from
!Witham owing to a rein breaking. With the exception of
a lady, who was severely bruised, the puesegers escaped with
little injury. The driver, Beck, assisted in getting Ul2 van
in travelling order; and when ready to start he was suddenly
missed. The proprietor of the van, a publican at Rainham
who had brought fresh horses for the van after the accident,
said he would drive the van on to Faversham, and directed a
search to be made for the driver. In the course of an hour
he wa• found dead in a lane not far front where the accident
occurred with his throat cut. It is thought the cause of this
rash act was owing to the fear of the consequence to his
master, as at the last Maidstone mixes he had been detested
in an action for damages owing to injuries received by a
surgeon's wife from the upsetting of the same van some
time since.

g mss.