The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-17 00:00:00

(fOrt4S

615.] LONDON, THURSDAY, AUG. 17, 1848. [THREEPENCE.

ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH-
WESTERN RAILWAY.

again and issue from their clubs on the following night
(ruesdey), and make an attack on the mills and principal
public buildings, to burn or pillage them. Against some cf the
persons known to be in their club-rooms, warrants were oat I
from distant towns, and against others informations were
sworn an Tuesday, befoge the Manchester magistrates, con-
necting them with the Ashton and other club', sis having
one common object In view, and with having ',Gest-Wien of
arms. The magistrates were auembled on Tuesday night at
the Town-hall, to the number of 10 or 12, and so:n alter tan
o'clock Capt. Willis, the chief constable, and Mr. Beswick,
chief superintendent of the detective force, divided a
force of nearly 300 policemen into five bodies, under
the command of Superintendent Sawley, Taylor, Leary,
Saynor, and ll'Mullin, and despatched them by the most
private routes, so as to make a simultaneous attack on the
dish rent clubs. At the same time, two bodies of military,
consisting of two troops of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons and
two companies of tine 30th Infantry proceeded by other
routes, so as to take up a position to aid the civil force in
crim of need. They succeeded in taking 15 chartist and con-
federate leaders in all, the greater portion of them being
found at Whitaker's Temperance Hotel, Anenats, the prin-
cipal club room, and these men they escorted to the lock-ups
under the Town-hall, having taken them without try re-
sistence. Mr. Daniel Lee, Mr. Joseph Peel, and Mr.
Matthew Kennedy, three borough magic-
.rates, accompanied
he police.
YEsTEEDAT, AT Tits Boliollow COTur, MAKCHEsiTit,
the whole of the 15 prisoners wile brought up before the
lollowin • magistrates for examination Messrs. E. Armitage
Jhe mayor), D. Maude, F. linkman, F. W. Kennedy, W.
ackson, Alderman Watkins, Alderman Walker, R. Glad-
stone, and J. Kennedy. The names of the prisoners placed
at the bar were: J. Leach, T. Whittaker, H. Bilis, G.
Rogers, IL Williams, G. Webber (Englishmen) • 1). Dono-
van, J. J. Finnigan, P. lieolin, M. Carrigan, J. Leeman, G.
White, J. Dowlan, S. Cairns, Irishmen; and T. Rankin,
Scotchman.
Mr. i'olleck, barrister, appeared for the prosecution, about
twelve o'clock, and tick.ed the indulgence of the court for a
short time in conveimence of not having received his instnic-
[ions, intimating at the same time that he blamed probably
have to apply for the remand of all the prisoners without
going into evident ..—Mr. W. P. Roberta, attorney ifor the
prisoi.ers, and who is better known as the miners' attorney-
general, trusted that the court, before they attended to any
such application, would see that there was some charge
against the prisoners beyond the mere fact of their Ming
chartists. Some time baying elapsed, during which Mr.
Pollock was receiving Isis instructions, he rose and said he
should now have to make the application of which he had
before given an intimation.—Mr. W. P. Roberts said the pri-
mates had all been apprehended at a late hour, just as they were
retiring to bed, and they were taken without any crime
being albged, except tile they were chartists. He therefore
asked that the application for a remand be refused. These
men stood there on their deliverance, there being no evidence
egoist them, anti they having no consciousness of having
offended against the law. To say the least, if the magis-
trates determined on a remand, he hoped they would take
bail, and let the prisoners be informed of the charge against
them, that they might have some op' ortunity of being pre-
pared to meet the charge when it did come. He knew there
was a fashion of saying, " Wait till you meet your judges,"
but he protested against such a course in this case, and
contended that it would be most unjustifiable. Mr. Pollock
said the learned gentleman bad anticipated him. He had not
yet made the application, but he was not sorry to have heard
the olsiervations which had just fallen, because the applica-
tion he had to make would meet one of those observations,
and that the principal one, most completely. He applied to
have the whole of the prisoners, some of whom had
been apprehended with warrants and some without, remanded
to some future day, in order that full evidence might be
brought before the court with reference to their alleged
guilt, and thati n the meantime, he would take care suffi-
cient intimation was given to the prisoners of what the
charge would be. The charge on which these men were
brought before the court dill not cocsist as he was instructed
in their being chartists simply, nor would they. have been
brought there for any political opinions they might hold if
they had not been guilty of other offence,. He was glad to
say that the authorities on whose behalf he appeared were
anxious to give to the prisoners every
_fair chance of defence.
On a future day he should be able to show that these men
had been apprehended at a place where p club was held,
which was only one of a greet number of clubs ; and with
respect to these clubs, they would be ready to prove
that they had been organised for a considerable
time, and acted together in concert with each
other, and with clubs outside the town, and in distant paste
of the manufacturing district, which had counselled resist-
ance to the lawful authcrities, and some of which had already
come into collindou with the police—in one instance, as the
magistrates were probably aware, with the loss of human
life, and under circumstances of a most alarming character.
Some of the prisoners had taken an active part in some of
the chits; had communicated with them by means of passl
words, and some of those pan-wordseind their proceedings
had come to the knowledge of the police. So far from this
being an attack by mere chartists, they had reason to hope
that the number of those persons sympathising with the
prisoners as regarded their determination to attempt obtain-
ing their views by phyiical:force was very email. With re-
gard to the prisoners, they had reason to know that they
and others who might be made amenable to justice, and
imainst whom warrants had been already issued, had
taken such a part as to lead to a fear that they
intended to excite their follower', and to disturla
the peace, ant that come of them, more dangerous and
disaffected than ethers, had carried out their designs in
a manner which tell very little short of treason, and would
certainly amount to a very serious charge of sedition ; for
they mould be able to show that these clubs not only con-
templated the destruction of property and the resistance of
authority, but even the destruction of human life. The
ground on which be applied for a remand was, tnat not only
were the police unable at present to bring forward all the
evidence, but that the commission for the Liverpool Malaga
was to be opened that day, when many of the principal
wit sows were summoned to, give evidence in other can",
and in consequence of which the prosecution in this ease
would be deprived of their services —Mr. Roberts, on behalf
of the prisoners, resisted the application, and said that his
clients had been driven to hold their meetings in secrecy and
privacy by the stringent and unconstitutional means adopted
by the authorities in preventing them meeting in public.
Mon were not allowed to meet in public, and to urge their
complaints openly and fairly, as:tree-born I' Englishmen ought
to do, there was reason to suppose that they would meet in
private. His opinion was that the authorities, by deny-
ing them the right of public meeting, were going the
right way to destroy that bold independence of character
which had been the boast of this country, and to convert it
into a nation of assassins. But be that as it might, let the
prisoners have the semblance of justice. Let the evidence
they had be taken at once, or if they had none, let the pri-
soners be discharged. He asked no favour ; he knew they
would have none; he only feared that if they went to trial
in the present state of the.country, if they were tried, juries
would he found too ready to convict them, under the name
of chartists, of any offence. But let the forms of the law be
gone through, and let there be at least a prima Janie case made
out before the prie ,ners were remanded. He was the morel
anxious to have the policemen's evidence taken at once, be-
cause he knew it was apt to grow, and that they recollected
many things after a lapse of time which was not in their
knowledge on a first examination.
Mr. Mande said there seemed to be two classes of persons
in the dock, some of whom were taken on w.uvants from a
distance, and some on warrants from the court. They could
not be expected to be prepared with evidence from *dim
Lance.—Mr. Roberts thought there might be reason to d.
min those from a distance, but those taken in the town he
urged should be examined at once.—Mr. Pollock urged that
the publication of the evidence would be detrimental to the
apprehension of other parties against whom warrants were out.
After a short consultation the magistrates agreed to divide
the prisoners into two classes. Those taken without war-
rants were dismissed on their own recognisance/ in 201. till
next Wednesday, and those taken on warrants were also set
at liberty on finding two sureties each in 201. to answer the
charges against them on the same day.

The train from the north, which should have
reached Euston-square at 11 quarter to five this morning,
did not arrive till ten o'chick. It is understood that the
York train ran into that from Peterborough, a little below
Wolverton. The result of the accident is nut yet known.

Since the aboiro was in type we have received the follow-
ing letter front the general manager at the Euston station :
Sir,—L :mall be obliged by your giving the following
statemen a place in your columns:—An accident, happily
unattended with Remus consequences to the passengers,
occurred to the early un mail front York this morning,
a few miles north tram Wolverton. The branch mail train
from Peterborough left Northampton at its proper time, and
OM proceeding on the main line towards Wolverton.
when the connectieg-rod of the engine gave way, and
the train was brought to a stand. The guard was in-
stantly sent back with fog signals. He bad placed
one upon the rail, and was proceeding to place another,
when the York mail came up. The driver made every
effort to stop it, end the epee,' was greatly reduced ; but the
rails were so slippery trout the state of the wt ether, that n
collision took place. Several of the pawiengers were
shaken and allirmei, hat as far as can be ascertained 'none
sustained injury. Two of the carriages were much dullest ul.
Considerable delay occurred in replacing the engine on the
rails, which detained the mail. The accident happened at
a l past 2, a.m. ; the night wns not dark, but the fog was so
dense that the signal could not he teen at more than a few
paces' distance. A careful inquiry in being instituted into
the matter ; hut, as exaggerated statements may reach you, I
think it right to place you in p .ssession of the facts of the case,
as reported to me by the guards and one of the passengers
who was in the train.—l remain, eite., Mang Ilona,
Llencral Manager's Oilier, Euston-station.

ARREST OF ARMED CHARTISTS.
Last night a strong body of police surrounded tho An.
gel public-house, Webber-street, Blackfriars, when Superin
tendent Hutt, accompanied by a numb,r of constables, at
armed, entered the parlour and arrested 11 men who were in
the room. The prisoners were conveyed to the Tower-street
station. Pistoix, daggers, and other weapons, were found
in their posse.aion, together with a quantity of
balbesrtridges. Thu reporter who tumishea the ahem
statement adds: It is but right to state that Mr.
Smith, the landlord of the Angel, nail made no provision for '
any meetii.g to take place at his house. On the contrary,
the parties had made preparation for the assembly to take
place at the Peacock, in trances-street; but the landlady,
on gaining intelligence of what the objects of,,the men were,
immediately gave them order,' to leave her premises, and
they forthwith started off to the Angel, Mr. Smith at the
time being Item home.—At one o'clock this morning Mr.
Superiatendent Hutt and Inspector liessell,acting on private
intorination which they received, proceeded to Blue Author
yard, York-street, Westminster, where it was stated a gang
of armed chartists were waiting to march out and join other
parties, in the es ent of is procession being formed. On
mg the house of a known leader, a man and a pike were
seized, and taken to the station house. In the neighbour-
hood of Ormond-street, lied Lion-square, it was stated that
11 persons base been apprehended, cud safely lodged in Bow-
street police-station. The whole of the metropolitan and City
police not on duty in the streets were to a man in reserve at
the several station-houses, all under arms and ready to
march off to any part in ease their services should be re-
quired. Upon the police proceediug to the house of Samuel
Morgan, one of the men taken prisoner, the police
found the leg of i chair ioaded with lead. It was about the
length oft policeman's trunchmn, and V) heavily laden that
a violent blow on the head with it must cause death. Swords
and weapons of various kinds have been found at the resi-
dences of other prisoner.—Mr. Inspector Carter, with
several constables, aftertwards proceeded in a body to search
the abodes of other auspected persons. The military quar-
tered at tke various barracks were, it is said, wider arms,
and a continuous line of communication was kept up be
:weep the metropolitan and City police.

THE WEATHER ANIS THE CROPS.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE.—AIthough an extraordinary
breadth of wheat was sown, such was the influx of Irish,
&c., that it soon fell beneath the sickle. The weather at the
beginning was rather changeable, but last week, although
showers fell partially, such was the activity displayed that
the greater portion of wheat in this neighbourhood was car-
ried by Saturday last. Although the straw is not so strong
or eo thick on the ground as last year, the ears are heavy,
well filled, and of excellent quehty; indeed the farmers
around seem perfectly satisfied that though the quantity may
be somewhat less, the sample is far superior to that of Jut
year. In the Isle last week they were very busy with the
wheat, and apparently well satisfied with it, many holders of
old wheat putting the machines to work, and getting it out
as fast as possible. In Huntingdonshire the wheat by some
is said to he light in hand, and not expected to yield in well
as in Cambridgeshire, though thi, may only be taken as a
criterion of the hilly parts. Barley will not be so good, as, in
consequence of the long drought which set in soon alter
it was sown, some did net make its appearance till
June ; consequently, where some of the crops are
nearly fit for the scythe, the other is quite green. This is
also the case with oats, and in many parts they are very
light with a partially tilled ear. Peas also, generally speak-
ing, are a light cop, the pods being very short. Beans
probably be be a good average crop. Potatoes: So contlich..,
are the opinionsof most men upon that inexplicable mystry,
the potato disease, that it is almost impossible to say any-
thing upon it as far as our own observation goes. We con-
sider it more prevalent this year in gardens than in the op..n
fields, appearing in the former for the most part in patches,
and the larger open spaces nearly escaping, leading to the
inference that it may in such cases be caused by a stagnant
atmosphere. It is very plain that there is not so much in-
fection as in 1846 ; and as the later sorts were then
chiefly infected, and this year the disease seems more preva-
lent in the forward kinds, the better plan is to house them
as soon as the stalks begin to wither, and with once or twice
carefully looking over you will soon discover whether they
will keel . But such is the quantity sown, that if half were
to rot there would still be an average crop in the opinion of
several of the larger growers.—Cambridgeshire Adrertiser,
Aug. 16.
DETONSHIEE.—In the past week we have experienced the
most unpropitious weather ter the harvest. We have had
rain, more or leas, every day ; and at the time we write