The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-11 00:00:00

THE IRISH PARTY.

At a meeting of peers and members of the House
of Commons, connected with Ireland, held Feb. 6, 1847, the
following resolutions were adopted, for the purpose of being
respectfully submitted to the consideration of her Majesty's
government:
gmolvM,—/bat any abandonment, at the present, of the pate n of
electoral diereses., by which the poor-law aascanment of Ireland ie
generally regulated, for the purpose of aubstituting the larger dirt-
-6011, of mime, appears to us to be fraught with danger, aa lemming
the motives for a liberal and enlightened management of Mims, and
the comecquent improvement in the mutation of the occupying
tenantry, and also lemening the means of adminiateriog relief with
that discrimination and economy which sr., perfectly compatible with
real charity and benevolence. That • departure from the prevent
gatem becomes the more fatal if applied to the aut-elosr relief of the
able-bodied labourer, because such relief by of all modes of applying
the principles of a poor-law, the one which requires the greatest care
and caution to prevent it from leading to consequences dangerous to
M, subversive of aerial order, and ultimately injuriona to the P"inters-ta of the labouring clever - That the principle
of giving old-door relief to the able-bodied labourer of Ire-
land has been condemned by the meow, rerliamentary committee*
and commissioes, as well as by the public officer appointed to con-
sider this subject, and that the experience of the last twelve months,
by which it has been Mown how relief, even though accompenied
with work, has inter red with ordinary agricultural labour, and en-
dangered the future production of food fir the people, deenoestrates
conclusively how much mom fatally a aysteux of gratuitous
owl-door relief to the abbriodied labourer will produce and per-
petunte the same lamentable consequences. That tie powers of out-
door relief proposed to be entreated to me single indirklual, under
the name ota relieving officer, appear to us why inapplicable to the
social condition of Ireland, and leading to the mow. diaintrows come-
(maces. That these resolutions ere intended to apply exelo-
steely to the permanent tows propmed to be enacted, and
not to the temporary measures which the prevent cala-
mity may render iv expellent to enact. That our chair-
man be instructed to forward these rmolutions to the
and member. of parliament connected wkli Ireland, who ter7
been unable to attend this day, reariesting that such of them as may
approve of these resolutions may return this paper with their ohm-
tures Ogled, with the view that the whole should be submitted to her
Majesty's government far their most 'serious consideration.
blotermobr, Palace-yard, Feb. 5, 1841.

ROYAL GENERAL ANNUITY SoclETY.—The festival
of this society took place at the London Tavern last evening.
Lord Stanley presided, and was supported on his right by the
Lord Mayor of London, and on his left by the Lord Mayor
of York. The dinner was served up in the best style of the
spirited proprietors of the tavern, and the wines were of the
finest quality. The object of the society is to afford relief to
those whom age and distress render utterly unable to assist
themselves—decayed merchants, bankers, professional men,
and the widows and dello of such persons, as well as single
women, whose change of circumstances may bare ren-
dered them objects of charity. This festival was
intended to celebrate the patronage of her Majesty,
who hes within the last year become a subscriber to the
institution, and also to commemorate the twereieth anni-
versary. Upon the removal of the cloth the usual loyal and
patriotic toasts were given, after which the noble chairman,
in an eloquent and feeling address, proposed "permanent
prosperity to the Royal General Annuity Society. In the
course of his observations, he stated that at one time the in-
stitution assisted in the support of ninety persons, allowing
21. 10s. per moath to the males, and 11. 12s. per month to
the females, which sum he was sorry to say had been some
time subsequently reduced as low as 15s. for the former and
10s. for the latter. At the present time there were 24
recipients of the charity of the institution, receiving I/. 9s.
per month. Of these, nine were above the age of 80, nine
more were upwards of 70 years of age, and the remainder
were above 60. The noble chairman then proceeded to
make a powerful appeal on behalf of the funds of the insti-
tution, which we are happy to say had the effect of producing
a rubecription at the table amounting to nearly 1,5001. The
healths of the Lords Mayor of London and York were subse-
quently given, and responded to by their lordships, and se-
veral other toasts were drunk during the evening. The room
was graced by the presence of many of the fair sex, wbo ap-
peared to take a great interest in the proceedings, and the
evening was enlivened by some excellent singing, under the
superintendence of Mr. Shoubridge, aided by Miss Cubitt,
Mrs. A. Newton, and several male vocalists of eminence.
The company separated at a late hour.
GRAY'S-YARD RAGGED SCHOOL.—A public meet-
ing was held last evening on behalf of this school at the
Literary and Scientific Institution, Edwards-street, Portman-
square. Mr. B. B.Cabbell, M.P., presided. The report of the
committee elated that the school was established in 1840,
since which time 511 boys and young men had been
admitted. The number at present on the books was 170,
whose average age was 14 years, and of whom the average
number attending was between 70 nod 80. Out of the 170
boys, 82 had both parents living ; 3i had no mother ; 38 no
father; and 15 had neither one nor the other 95 had coca-
sional employment; 38 no employment whatever ; 37 too
young to work; and during the last eight mouths 29
had been committed to prison. The committee contem-
plated an extensive enlargement of their sphere of operations
as soon as the elate of the &oda permitted. The report
having been read, the Chairman briefly addressed the meet-
ing upon what he conceived to be one of the most important
movements of the day. Mr. Maxwell then proposed the first
resolution, for the adoption of the report, and suggested
that the bora should be taught a trade, as at present they
left the schools without soy means of subsistence. Mr. Payne
seconded the resolution in au amusing speech. Speaking of
the chairman's political and scientific distinctions, he sug-
gested some new readings,—that " M.P." would be best
interpreted as " Mindful of the Poor," and " F.R.8." as
" Friend to the Ragged Schools." The resolutionia.=
been carried, Mr. Ludham, the treasurer, stated the
condition of the society : they had begun the last year with
only a balance of 21. ss. 6d. ; the amount received during that
time was 381. is. Mr. Ludlam bore testimony to the excel-
lent working, f the system, and concluded by beetowing.a
donation of Si,l towards the funds. Two other resolutions in
furtherance of the objects in view were passed, when thanks
were voted to the chairman, from whom a donation of 51.
was announced, and the proceedings closed. A collection
was made at the doors.

THE KENT AND SURREY COMMISSION OF SEWERS.
--Yesterday, the adjourned commission of inquiry was re-
sowed before the surveying alters, Mr. H. Horn, barrister, I
and Mr. J. Walker, civil engineer, at the Horns Tavern, I
Kennington, when additional evidence was addueed in sup-
port of the measure. Mr. Cf. Drew gave in a statement
of the districts to be rated, which were in the parishes of
Lambeth, Camberwell, Battersea, Clapham, Streatham,
and Wandsworth, which would give an additional rental on
which rates were to be imposed of nearly 400,00 W., making
the total rental about 1,375,0001. The commissioners pro-

4

pose to have the power to raise money to the amount of
one-fourth the rental; the anuaint for which there
was now a most pressing necessity, to arch over
sowers and to erect new ones, being 160,0001. The
commissioners were also in debt between 30,0001, and
90,0001. Mr. Vourley, from Bermocdaey ; Mr. Harper,
solicitor, from Lambeth ; Mr. Shaw, &c ; urged upon the
aurveying °facers that there was a general desire that the
, commission should be established, so that rate-payers should
have tour control in the election of the commissioners.

They had no charge to make against them either indi-
vidually or as a body; but if a gentleman from each pariah
(the churchwarden or other parochial officer) was to repre-
sent the pariah at the court, it would give eomo satisfaction.
Mr. Walker observed he had sat at many inquiries, and he
was able to say that on the present occasion he found
scarcely any cause of complaint, which was not often the
ease. (Hear.) Mr. Horn stated that the remarks in
reference to the construction of the court should hare his
attention. The commission again adjourned.

FIRES.—A fire suddenly burst forth yesterday from
the cabinet and bedstead manufactory belonging to Messrs.
Bales, situate at No. 23, Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square.
The premises were at the rear of the private dwelling, and
were adjoined by a spacious timberyard, and by nume-
rous houses in Pitt-street, so that at one time a most
fearful conflagration was expected. The alarm having been
promptlya given, iektoheocomse of a few minutes two machines
from Fire arriveed, and the paetyrifsehr the
enginesProwithennuomferboufes
others of the London brigade, and the one belonging to the
West of England Company. No time was lost in setting the
engines to work, but owing to the firm hold the fire had
previously obtained, it became quite apparent that the ma-
nufactory was doomed to destruction. Accordingly, the fire-
men exerted themselves in such a manner as to cut off the
further spread of the fire: whilst they were so engaged, the
roof and part of the outer wall fell with a tremendous crash,
I and the flames then shot into Mr. Oliver's mahogany loft,
setting fire to the building, and also to a number of pieces of
valuable cabinet wood. The hose of several engines were
taken through the surrounding houses, and by that means
the firemen were enabled to attack the flames in the right
1 quarter but it was past nine o'clock before they had suc-
ceeded in extingtlishing them, and not until Messrs. Beaks'
manufactory was burned down, the whole of the valuable
stock in trade and men's working. tools destroyed, the tim-
ber in the loft of Mr. Oliver's premises considerably damaged
by fire, and the building itself much burnt. Several houses
in Pitt-street have also their back premises destroyed. The
cause of the disaster is not known. Messrs. Heilman insured,
hut not to near the amount of their loss. —Flan IN TNEOLD.
STREET-ROAD.—Last night, a fire broke out in Mr. Berry's
coffee-house, Old-street-road. Information was given, and
the parish engines, with others, soon arrived. The fire,
however, was not quenched before the building (chiefly of
wood) was burned through and its conten's consumed. The
fire is supposed to have originated through some defect in
the flue. It is said that the occupier is not insured.
INQUESTS YESTERDAY.—ALLEGED DEATH PROM
STARVATION.—Before Mr. W. Baker, at the Duke of Wel-
lington, Wellington street, Stoke Newington, on view of the
body of Jane Wittman, aged 3 years, who was alleged to have
died on Tuesday last, from neglect and starvation. The body
of the child was moat frightfully emaciated, and had evi-
dently suffered from great privations. About seven months'
since, the deceased and another child about five years of age
were left by their mother, who s eat into Kent hop-picking.
The father of the deceased was afterwards convicted fur steal
ing a bed, and sentenced to the House of Correction for six
months. The two children then became chargeable to the
parish and were removed to Shoreditch workhouse.
The mother returned about two months ago, and also
entered the same workhouse. On Friday last she appeared
before the board and represented that she required
a bed and bedstead, for the purpose of making
her husband a home, when he left the prison. Her pe-
tition was granted, and on the following Monday she re-
moved her two children from the workhouse to the house of
her mother. She remained at her mother's house several
hours, when she left, and said she would return in the even-
ing. In the afternoon she told her sister that she intended to
let her two children remain with her mother until she became
tired of them, when she would be obliged to remove them
again to the workhouse. She failed to return as she pro-
mised, and has not been beard of since. On the following
Tuesday the deceased appeared very ill, and a surgeon was
sent for, but she expired before he arrived. He said he could
not account for death, unless he made a post-mortems exami-
nation of the body, but he considered the deceased had been
greatly neglected. Inquiry adjourned until Friday next. --
ACCIDENT OM THE CROYDON ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY.—
By Mr. Carter, at the Jolly Sailor, Norwood, on the body
of Thomas Smith, aged 34, a man employed to grease the
tube on the Croydon Atmospheric line.—Henry Sandford,
porter at the Jolly Sailor station, stated that the quarter-
past eight o'clock train from London, propelled from Forest-
hill on the atmospheric line, arrived at that (the Jolly Sailor)
station shortly before nine o'clock on Sunday evening. It
was then discovered that something was out of order iu the
machinery of the piston-carriage, and that they were unable
to ran to Croydon. Intelligence of the detention of the
train was sent to the Forest-bill station, in order that a
locomotive might be Pent from thence to draw the train on,
but a reply was sent that they were to persevere in endea-
vouring to adjust the works of the piston-errriage. They
did what they could to put them in order, hut failed, and
again signified by telegraph that they must have a loco-
motive. While the engine was coming towards them, the
deceased, who stood on the same line, was knocked down
and killed. The deceased was at the time greasing the tube
between the Annerley and Norwood stations. The stoker
felt the engine go over; something, and, stopping as soon
as possible, found the deceased lying on the line, dread-
fully mutilated. The whistle having been blown, the de-
ceased should and might have got off the line. The orders
given to the men were, that they were to get off the line when
an engine was coming. Verdict : Accidental Death."