The Express.
London, England, 1847-05-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1847.

perches of land. There have, however, been
lions; and the most recent example is furnished by a
nobleman who, throughout all the suffering and sick-
nese of the country, has not abandoned it for a day,
and proved as munificent as he has been zealous. The
Earl of Kenmare has placed the Killarney Junction
Railway in possession of the land from the town of
Killarney to the boundary of the county—about 11
miles—on the most reasonable terms ; so that em-
ployment in that most impoverished district will be
afforded to nearly 2,000 persons. Some conception of
its poverty will be formed from the fact that, on one
day's sale of soup at 1 Id. a quart, there was a loss
of W. Hs.

The poor-rates for the present year are no test of
the permanent burthen which the poor-law will im-
pose upon property. If the future were to equal the
present estimate, the opposition of the proprietors
could be scarcely deemed unreasonable. The increase
has been universal, and in many places enormous.
For instance, the rate for three months on the Nenagh
union, struck on Wednesday last, amounted to 24,2171.
In one electoral division, Knigh, the three months'
rate was Bs., or 325. in the pound! In two, 6s. 6d., or
265. in the pound ; in three, 65., or 245. in the pound;
in twelve other electoral divisions the rate varied from
3s. the lowest, to ss. 6d. the highest; in two it was
25., and in two more Is. 6d. Thus, out of the 24
divisions composing the union, the rate far exceeded
the valuation in 8; and in 9, it reached 80 per cent.
of the valuation ! This alarming social condition,
which would de facto make the duplicate receipt of
the collector the tenant's discharge from all rents,
stuns the landlords, who look for refuge and safety in
such vain experiments as the Bentinck clauses.
It is supposed Father Mathew will be honoured
with the crozier and mitre—for two reasons—because
he stands at the head of the candidates, which, unless
cause be shown, the Papal court recognises as a title
to priority; and because of Pius IX.'s attachment to
the temperance cause, which would be ineradicably
confirmed in Ireland by the episcopal prestige of its
apostle.
The topic of the day in clubs, and where the
flonetsra " most do congregate," is an event which
occurred last night in the United Service Club.
A gentleman well known in " fashionable circles,"
officially connected, and long lying under the whie-
pered imputation of having augmented his resources
by those artful means which the name of a deceased
lord has immortalised, was caught in the act by a
major of hussars. 'fho train was laid, and certain
officers were incited to whist and vigilance. When
the culprit had won about 1501., he was discovered in
the unlawful act of helping himself to an ace, and
charged with the baseness. He appealed to a court
of inquiry. The investigation goes on to-day.
The officers and men of the Enniskillen Dragoons
have contributed nearly mu. for the relief of the pixie
of Longford. Some of the former are represented to
have taken a most active though unostentatious part,
having paid for seed, and otherwise stimulated the
small cultivators of the district to till their fields. The
British army without and within the " four seas" has
been prompt and liberal.
Notwithstanding the influx of provisions, govern-
ment still continues its supplies to the remote locali-
tiee. H.M.S.Badger discharged a cargo of Indian
meal and rice in the beginning of last week on the
south-west coast, which was distributed gratuitously
among the poor of Valentia and Cahirciveen. The
Emerald discharged a cargo of seed barley and barley
meal for the use of the same districts. On both sides
of the Kenmare river relief has been administered
from the government depots. The poor people have
been very tranquil under the most terrible destitution.
The Board of Works issued an order yesterday
for the instant dismissal of a number of pay clerks. A
great many had been previously reduced, consequent
on the reduction of the labourers on the public works.

SCOTLAND.
EDINBURGH, HAY 7.

What the May meetings in Exeter Hall are to
' London, the general assembly meetings are to Edin-
burgh, with this difference, that, along with the
didactic which forms the staple ingredient in mission-
arc addresses, the legislative and judicial functions of
the assembly combine in giving a miscellaneous cha-
racter to its oratorical proceedings which the
ordinary routine of platform procedure cannot fur-
nish. The recent discnption of the chinch has put
an end to the debating gladiatorship of former days ;
but the popular spirit of presbytery will not long
admit of this ; and in proportion as the chasm or
time widens between the separated parties, fresh
causes of excitement will spring up in each, and
fill their floors with combatants. In the esta-
blished assembly, which meets in a fortnight,
the marriage and reighleatiaa bills, the education
scheme, the question whither the parish clergy
should be university professors, will likely form the
leading topics of discussiUn. The marriage and
registration bills will infallibly be condemned ; the
education scheme may meet with moderate support,
and probably plurality of offices will be declared
against. In judicial matters some of the recent
government presentees may have their claims sifted—
as the church has rather a cold eye for crown nomi-
nees when the whigs are in office. In the free church
assembly financial details will necessarily occupy some
time ; then the education scheme, site question, the
sending back of the money received from America,
the property of the chapels of ease, &c., will fall
to be discussed. The education debate, if it assume
that form, will be favourable to the government
plan; but the money will not be sent back, for this,
among other reasons, that no public body ever likes
to be "bearded" into compliance with a request
which it is averse to. The voluntary dissenters are
also to have a general assembly, as their two great
divisions, called the secession and relief churches,
which respectively left the establishment in 1740 and
1752, are now, after nearly a century of independent
progress, about to unite into one mass, and so will be
able to form a supreme representative court like their
neighbours.

It has been ascertained that in the county upwards of
100,000 people have only partial employ, and that neatly
25,000 are wholly unemployed.
YORKSHIRE.
Etecrtore Pitosracrs.—The Leeds Mercury says &strong
contest is anticipated for the borough of Knareshro' at the
approaching election. The new candidates will be the Hoa.
W. 8. Lamellate and J P.Westhead, Esq., the eztensiee Man-
chester manufacturer, both of whom stand on the fibula In-
terest, and Mr. Lawson and Mr. Holstead Ferrand, as oon-
servetives. Mr. Weethead has been occupied for several
Tears as a director or otherwise in several lines of railway.
No final arrangement is yet made to supply the vacancy that
will be created at the nett election in the representation of
the borough of Wakefield by the resignation of Mr. Laseelles,
but it is understood that both Mr. Daniel Gsakell and Mr.
Holdsworth have declined the honour of being put in 'Load-
nation, rather on private than on public grounds.
ODD Fettowsuir.—On Tuesday night last, the Rev. Dr.
Hook, vicar of Leeds, the Rev. Thomas Nunns, incumbent
of Trinity Church, Leeds, the Rev. Edward Jackson, clerk
in orders of the parish church of Leeds, and curate of St.
James's Church, and Mr. Alderman Dunton Luocock, were
admitted members of the Grand United Order of Odd
, Fellows, by the merabersof the Lord Duncan Lodge, usually
anew:ling at the Bee Hive Inn, Vicar-lane, Leeds, but
which, on this special occasion' met in the Music 11.11,
Leeds. The vicar of Leeds, and Alderman Lucoock, when
recently mayor of the borough, had previously been admitted
memben of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, the Rev.
Dr. Hook being initiated at the Jolly Sailor Lodge, as-
sembling in Meadow-lane, Leeds.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
REPRESENTATION SF NORTH NORTHUSTERLAND.—A
requisition was presented to Sir George Grey on Thursday
lust, soliciting him to SPOORe a candidate for this division.
To this Sir George has declined to respond ; so that, in all
probability, Lords Loraine and Ossalston will be elected
without a contest.

POISONING AT DEVONPOSIT.—Henry Humphrey Gilbert,
a young man about 26 years of age, formerly clerk-in-charge
of the Avenger, but lately borne upon the books cf H.M.S.
Caledonia' died by poison at Devonport. It appears that
being on shore on Wedneeday evening, he met with Bliss
McMinn, a woman of bad character, whom be accompanied
to a beer-shop, known es the Victory of China." He re-
mained with her during the night—a man, named Joseph
Pedler, the party now an custody charged with the murder
of Gilbert, occupied a separate bed in the same room Pedler
is an attendant employed in the sick berth of H.M.S. Queen.
Nothinwas observed in the conduct of Pedler which MY
caleulalM to excite the slightest suspicion that he entertained
any ill feeling towards either Gilbert or McMinn, with whom
he was seen to convene upon friendly terms, and en Thurs-
day morning the whole tarns were drinking together in the
same house. It was whilst they were thus occupied that
Pedler handed to McMinn a glassof porter which he re-
quested her to drink; but a girl who was present, named
Eliza Card, having whispered to her that she had seen Pedler
put into the glass a white powder, which be had taken from
his waistcoat pocket, McMinn tasted the porter, and conceiv-
ing that it hod a disagreeable flavour, she threw away the
contents ef the glass. Shortly after this, a glass of porter was
also offered by Pedler to Gilbert, which he drank, and won
after became Insensible. It was then discovered that Pedler
had left the house • and, alarm being excited, medical aid
was sort for. Mr. Tripe, surgeon, employed the usual means
of recovery, and in his capacity seam police magistrate directed
Pedler to be taken into custody directly he could be found.
This was between twelve and one o'clock, and at helf-past
three o'clock Gilbert expired, having been in a state of in-
sensibility from the moment medical aid was procured.
It was not tuitil three hours after the death of GilLert that
Pedler was apprehendel and charged with having adminis•
tered the poison. He now awaits the result of the coroner's
inquest, which wee commenced, and, after the above facts
' had been given, was adjourned till Thursday next.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

THE BITTING DIRMBRILY FOR BIIOTOL, Mean. Berkeley
and Miles, will, it is said, he opposed at the neat election.
One opponent is spoken of in the person of Mr. William
Tripp, who was a candidata at the last and preceding elec.
tions, but was, upon each occasion, defeated. It is aloe
rumoured that the Anti-State Church Association, aided by
the chartists, will start a cindidate to represent their pecu-
liar Fleirg, and the name of Mr. Robert Norris has been
mentioned. _ _

SUSSES.
AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE BRIGHTON RAILWAY
on Saturday moriing, by which several carriages were de-
molished, and considerable damage done to the Brighton
station. It appears that a train of luggsge-waggons
having been hacked into a siding, the engine was detailed,
and the engien driver proceeded with it through the points
on to the main down line on the London aide of the cos-
pany's works (above six hundred yards from the terminus).
There, from some cause so yet unexplained, it wee left
on the line, the engine driver and stoker attending to some
trifling business in the engine-houve. According to their
statement, they left the gear of the engine in a proper and
secure state ; but this seems somewhat improbable, as in a
few minutes it was observed in motion, bearing down the
line in the direction of the terminus. The engine-driver and
stoker ran vo overtake it, and many others joined in the
chase, but it gained speed every moment, and dashed into
the carriages with terrific farce, breaking them to pieces, the
fragments of which struck the front of the psroels office and
the refreshment room with such violence es to force them in.
The engine, strange to say, kept its equilibrium, although it
van off the rails, and sustained ;little injury. The directors
have ordered the driver to be taken into custody, he having
acted contrary to the rules and regulations of the company.
SUFFOLK.
THE MURDER OP A GERMAN GIRL, at Ipswich, by •
man named Barker, has already been reported in this paper.
The culprit was immediately arrested and taken before the
coroner and jury on the following day, and at the dose of
the proeeidinge was removed to this borough jail. The next
day when the jury met, the police intimated to the coroner
that the prisoner had made his escape. Early that morning, he
had been taken into what is termed the airing-yard, and di-
redly the turnkey had turned his back, he scaled the veal I ofthe
yard, and dropped into the prison-garden. There he obtained
• pair of steps, which enabled him to re aeb the top of the
outer-wall, and then jumped to the ground, a depth of 18
feet. Here he met with a tent ;le, at whom he shook his
fist, and threstened her injury it she made any alarm. lie
then made off. The escape of so notorious a character
created much indignation amongst the jury, who expressed
an opinion that the jail authorities had been guilty of the
most culpable neglect. The inquest was resumed, and a
verdict of " Wilful murder" Woe recorded against George
Barker. Sinai the above was written, it has been sadden- '
torily ascertained that the prisoner Barker is again in cus-
tody. Having suffered greatly from want, and tortured
with the consciousness of the crime be had committed, be
I
determined to seek his relatives, and then give himself up to
justice, which be did on Friday, at the village of Swilland.
He has since expressed the deepest contrition ; he nye he
I had no intention of killing the girl.