The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-18 00:00:00

YORK.4IIIItr-

THE LEEDS CONSERVATIVE ASSOCTATION has died a
natural death, or, as the intelligetscer has it, e' has dropped
out of existence," which, a, the same authority informs its
readers, is a proof of the strength of the party !
REPREhESTATION or SetHHOHOUGH.—The following
farewell 'chinas has been addressed to the electors of this

borough:
--
Gentlemen,—The office to which I have been appointel by his
Royal Highness l'nnce Albert necessarily incapacitates me for the
peforinance of the did ice of a member of parliament, and require...
to relinquin't all partisipatiori in the contests of party paints. Among
the many rause. that I have for happitom and gratitude for the ap-
pointment so graciously conferred upon me, I have still, I assure you,
felt deep and sincere nwret in the prnapect of a political separation
between my kind friend. at Scarti.irougli and myself. Still, lam In-
duced to hope that, though no longer a candidate for your electoral
suffrages, I shall be allowed ti canvass (or a continuance of that per-
sonal regard and esteem that has for so many years existed
between us, and which I shall never voluntarily relinquish. During
the many =nod visits that I have pad to you, I havc never met with
an unkind or discourteous word ; and, though I have been constantly
adding to my list of friends, I am proud to assert that I do not believe
I have ever made an enemy. I can mo-t honestly my, that nothing
but the very peculiar position in which I now stand could have in-
duced me to retire from the contest, when we wee., as I firmly be.
here, upon the ere of victory. I feel convinced that the party that
supported me is too powerful, and too intelligent, ever to submit to be
represented by two members in whom they have not political confi-
dence. Continue to be, as you have been, teal.as in the muse, yet
temperate in your language and conduct, unjust and untiring in se-
non, despising the threats of the powerful, and above the temptations
of interest ; and whenever the struggle may come, you wilt deserve,
and lam convinced will meet with, succCW. With sincere regard,
Sce.. C. B. Pluses, The Cedars, Norwoel Green, Jan. 11, 1141.
OPPOSITION TO THE POOR LAW COMMISSION.—Mr. John
Maxon, the clerk of the governor and guardians of Hull,
has been indicted, unrLr the 4th and sth William IV., cap.
76, for refusing to give evidencea on oath, before Mr. Alfred
Austin, an assistant commissioner of the Poor-law, touching
the said governor and guardians of the poor of Hull, and
also refusing to produce certain minute-books and accounts
of the said guardians, relating to the relief of the poor of
Hull. Upon this inoictment the grand jury have returned
a true bill, and Mr. ?dozen now stands bailed to the next
sessions on a charge of misdemeanour.
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A fatal accident, strikingly
illustrative of the danger of allowing railways to cross public
roads on a level, occurred on the Leeds and Bradford railway,
on Friday morning. The night had been extremely dark and
foggy, and the fog still continued, when an early luggage
train approached the Calverley Bridge-station at the moment
when a train of four carts drawn by one hone, each were in
the act of crossing. Unfortunately the engine came in contact
with the last cart in which the driver was riding. The horse
was almost literally cut to pieeces and died immediately, but
the driver, a man named David Anderson, aged 45 years, a
widower with three children, lingered a short time, during
which he was removed to the Leeds General Infirmary, but
died almost immediately on his arrival there. Some blame
is attributed to the engineer for not sounding the whistle
when approaching the station, and also to the station ma n
for having suffered the gates to be open at a time when a
train was about due, and for not having exhibited caution
lights. Au inquest was held on the body on Saturday morn-
ing, before J. Blackburn, Esq., coroner for Leeds, but it was
adjourned until Friday next, in consequence of a man who
was in one of the carts being unable to attend.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
Pcouott MONDAY CUSTOMS.—This annual holiday is
still kept in many parts of the county of Nottingham. Last
Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Day, according to
custom, the ploughmen of many of the more rural villages
assembled together, and in grotesque habiliments paraded
the neighbourhood of their residences, levying " the holiday
tax" upon all who were capable of ministering to their
joyousness, and in return creating a large amount of rustic
fun. In some localities this holiday was celebrated in all its
rustic simplicity and rude beauty; but in others, particu-
larly in the neighbourhood of the manufacturing villages,
it was grossly burlesqued, and turned into an opportunity
for vagrancy and imposture. Plough Monday has been
celebrated by the ploughmen as a holiday from very remote
times, being the season at which the labours of the plough
used to commence, and hence the name of the day. After
Christmas, (which, formerly, during the twelve dap, was
a time of very little work), every gentleman feasted
the fanners, and every fanner his servants and
task-men. Plough Monday puts them in mind of
their business. In the morning the men and maidser-
vants strive who shall show their diligence in rising
earliest; if the ploughman can get his whip, his plough staff,
hatchet, or anything that he wants in the field, by the fire-
side, before the maid hath got her kettle on, then the maid
loseth her Shrovetide privilege, and it wholly belongs to the
men. Thus did our forefathers strive to allure youth to
their duty, and provided them innocent mirth, as well as
labour. On thin Plough Monday they have a Food supper
and some strong drink, that they might not go immediately
out of one extreme into another ; but now, unfortunately,
we find these wholesome customs have nearly fallen into
desuetude. The spirit of puritanism has deprived the labour-
, ing classes of nearly all their periodical holidays, games, and
rustic sports.—/Voltirigham Guardian.

LORD Milner@ fitoTtrecr,;.Arineeting of electors at
Bath took place on Wednesday, when resolutions were
passed declaring that Lord Ashley was a fit and proper per-
son to be placed in nomination at the next election. It was
also agreed to raise 'a 'subscription to meet the cost of a con-
test, as it appears Lord Ashley declines incurring any ex-
pense. Several voters had waited upon his lordship as a de-
putation from the town. One of them, Mr. Sutcliffe, thus
spoke of the interview ;
We went into statements, with which I need not trouble the meet-
mg, with a view of showing his lordship that we were not asking him
to come down and light a hovels.% or even an uncertain contest. We
told him that in oar noinine —and that we believed Mat opinion was
almost universally entertrined in Bath—if hie lordship would allow
himself to be put in nomination, he would be returned. We stated that
to be our conviction, and laid before him documents, and statements,
and arguments, which appeared likely to lead his ion:trip to =quince
in that opinion. He then said be would deal frankly with os, and he did
deal frankly with He stated that on Reding himself out of
parliament and totally unable '• (for rearm which be very can-
didly went into, stating matters which we should not be quite
joatird in repeating verbatim) to incur the espouses, even moderate
expenses, of a parliamentary contest—hie family and the claims
arising from the many works of charity and benerMenir with
which be is direly =Ducted, so completely rearbing every
portion of his income. Under these eircometenem. Ikh lordship
rather onneeleed that his cell would probably be. for a canidderable
time at least, to go an, as he had recently, with his efibeta out of par-
liament, sod in a more private station; he rather looked to that r
the probable result of the position in which he was placed ; but
nevertheless he telt that any clear opening for die return to parlia-
ment would he a call—his lordship said, a providential call—which
he would feel it his duty to obey. lie said that several applications
had been made to him, and he believed with every pros-
pect of oneeess, it be were put in nomination, but that his total
inability to meet the expowe had, In every ere, compelled
him todecline. He also alluded—though I warmly feel moved war-
ranted in repeating his meet expreestor —to the difficulties he had
encountered in early ilk, in consequence of having contested
the reprerientatko of Doreetahire, under very unfavourable dr-
comidances„ relying on Faunal ppromises of support which did not
seem afterwards to bare been undesetood by those who made them in
the way which he bad been led to expect. We arum] his lordship
that we trusted that, If he had reran to complain of the people of
Doreetahlre, he would in that respect Red the people of Bath were
different. Worsted that It was never our intention that his lordship,
if he moeptal our invitation, should be placed odeer any
obligatiou, legal, mood, or honourable, In Nay drenmstanoes, to
bear any peed= of Um expenses. We rld dim that
tho brought him forward, and who immediately incurred
he expense, would do their beet to see that the funds shooki
he fortlavasatac to reimburse themselves, but that he might
ocander himself entirely a stranger to all mmey p
Having Attired his lordship on that point, we then asked tie=
to say that, as
to sock tends being raised for the expenses of the
area, his reip would °cement to stand. If I were to nay that hie
lordship authorised me to eay so,he might, perhaps, If he were
new present, iguana o You are rather eying what I author-
ised you to believe then what I authorised yon to ay."
but I undertake to say, on behalf of Lord Ashley, sad I am supported
by the other member of the deputation, that, If fonds are raised,
Loud Ashley will stand. Am I not warranted In adding that, if he
*was. he vAB be Maraud t I will Just edd, net merely that he will,
under those eizeurearresi, corer to stood, bat that he will pledge
Miner that be will sot, in the meantime, terra no. and an Or-
den—that is, between mow and the thee wk we are enabled to say
Ira will bring him exward—occept say oar from another emir-
Morey.
Ind nurgrarrytatrrsev

UULlV,l,,acavaraLno.
REPRESIFFITATION OF VIE CITY OF GLOIICERTUIL-s-NVO
(Gloucester Journal) are informed that T. G. Clayton, Esq.,
of Byerly Hall, Yorkshire, will consent to be put in nomina-
tion for the city of Gloucester, at the next general elec Lion,
on Whig-Radical principles.
CORNWALL
DREADFUL Pew pea MILL EPLOSION.—A tremendous
explosion, involving fatal consequences, took place on Thurs-
day morning last, at the Kennel Vale Powder-mills, the
property of Meson. Sampson and Lanyon, at Kennel, in the
parish of Stithian's. The explosion took place in the stamp-
ing-mill, which was almost a new building, and was blown
to atoms. Two men were working in the mill, named Martin
and Dunstan. and these unfortunate individuals we•e shock-
ingly mutilated by the force of the explosion. A num-
ber of persons on hearing the report congregated around the
spot from the neighbouring village of Ponsworth, and great
was the lamentation among them, it not being known what
family had been bereaved of its members. The bodies of the
two men were soon known. Part of Dunstan's body was
blown into the river; his arms and one of his legs were rent
from the body ! his face frightfully disfigured, and the whole
remains in such a mangled condition that they were obliged
to be taken up in a sheet. Martin's body also presented a
shocking appearance, the skull being blown entirely off.
Both men were married, but have left no children.