The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-15 00:00:00

THE lAJTY ON HOPS-MEETING AT

STAPLEHURST.

Oa Satui day last a numerous meeting of the lead-
ing hop growlrs of Mt and Bose:, e d hr eiredar,
was held at the Railway Hotel, Stapleharat, Cu the subject
of the hop &visa
Amon, those present were the Earl of liomnry, Sir E.
Fttener, Bart., NI P., T. L. Hodges, Eso , N.Y., W. Deedes,
E q . A. J. H. Hope, Esq., M.P., E. Ilussey,
W. C. MorlenJ, E.q., rfo. Mr. Kell attended as honorary

secretary. -
Mr. PUNISETT having been called to the chair, cad be
was persuaded the time bad arrived when the great go...ties
of the Lop duty should be brought to some kind of
This meeting reas called by circulan sent out by Mr. Kell,
en the part of the Weald of Kent and 84.11 X Committee,
and higneelt as ebsirmen of a former committee. He had
received several lettere from parties used, to Word The
chairman west no to sty there were two courses open to them.
Om was to peti.ion pariiament for a repeal of the war duty
and 5 per cent.; the other was to petition parliament for a
committee to inquire into the 'tote of the bop planters. If
the (mare were carried the lat.er would he
considered unce-.lreary, since if they bad made up their
minds es to the bast remedy for their grievance, it was
absurd to go to parliament to point one out for them.
Heeides, the Boum of Commons might have a very d:gerent
notion of what would be the beet remedy for th jr• c,mplrin,e
from what they then:melees en:malarial. Ile thoovht it
would be advisable, in the first place, to rrii%e to e resolu-
tion to petition parliament to re,tice the duty on hope to
ld. per ib., for that war whet they really meant. Ile would
War, thL matter in their Lands, urging them to lay and do
nothkg to itrerrupt the unanimity ',hie:: had at length
been brought about, In cedar that uaicy ct ucaon be

satsuma. (Cheer]
lir. ELVY, as one of the largest planters, wag c
that the abllition of the war day was the wisest step
coal:, possibly take. Bet he ohpetcd to fricg to the 11,Am,
of Common., as prabably they mot; catch a Ttr.ar, sod
ga mote than they a'ked fn. {Cheers.) Mr. E:cy cm-
ch•lo.l by that a ta.morial be riot t, the La.'s of
the Treasury, praying for a repeal of the war duty and the

pa ant.
The CHAIRMAN said this rcialulion wesli not be

Striay is T;i111111C ; with the object. far wh:eh the me Et!rg
was ea:led; but it would br, if, ins:ead of We 14ttlt of the
Treasury, the prtitioa wto addressed to the li9ese of
Ournarnt. lie presumed that wtala wake uo dificitcoe to

Mr. Evy
Mr. ELVY.-011, yes ; it makes all the difference. Ile
would be very sorry to petition the Moose of Common,.
The Earl of ROMNEY 0' seared that they had no t 'IO:C3.
If the war duty was to be repealed, thoy must go to the
II of Commas.
Mr. ELVY said in that cue he would withdraw his motios.
Mr. HOLDING (Peckham), who had risen to second Mr.
Elve3's mottos, begged :o make a few observations. He
would tdd.it that he bad ON red his opinion. (Cheers.) Ile
did now think tt.at the planter was enti.led to a rectal of
the war duty. and for this reason, they had lost three parts
out of four of the protection they formerly p Awned. At
the same time, he thought :here woe gnat dang rot theie
losing th: protection they sti I nod, by going to parliament.
The great eask:r.ty of the 11. use of Comm ris were ft,: •
trona*, sod the protectionist members kn. w little of the
hop duty, and eared little (or the hop is...inters. ILL merefere
did not think it safe to ge to parlismaat without the sanction
or support of ministers.
Mr. BERESFORD ROPE, DI P., said their excellent
frieud had sts.ed en objection to going to parliament, which
was like the cast of the gentleman alto r.sole.drot t 0 po into

the water till he learned to swim. (Cheers sad laughter.)
He was for not going to parliament nate. he had secured
the friendly MA art the raiment, but the best way to make
a friend of the ministers in parliament was to make
him afraid of as. (eh,. tr.) He (Mr Ili-pe) was not such a
believer in the immaculate virture of any minister—whig,
tory, or radical, freerrader or port ctiontet— as to hope
to mate a friend of him in a mitten of this Rind, unless
he was shown that it was Lis Interest to be co. They
ware now embarking in a nouns of agitation, just as much
as they did in Ireland. only in n more legitimate way ant (or
a more reuonatee ebjeet. They were agitating strainq •
grievance—a moat tiejust and oppressive grievance—which,
if they would not be considered the most despicable ot men,
they must b, deirreffined to rid themselves of. (Cheers.)
They must begin a battle fur it. They might no: get it this
session or my bat they would be sowing the seeds of •
movement which would eventuslly rid the hop district. of
this unjust and oppressive barthen. (Lend cheers.) What
happened when they sent deputations to the minister?
They went to Downing-street—were received very kincl'y
—chairs enough far the whole party—Chancellor of
the Exchequer very kind, but unfrrtunately he coneot
erect what we sek, and we slink away with our tails br •
twee n ma legs to mike the best story we can to those who
lend us. (Lsueiter.) The matter, in short, lay in a nutshell.
There were 52 oinneles, of which mile four were hop
Cluo, ie.. The government say then are four to torty eight,
and these four, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and W. nester, may
be at the bottom of the sea for aught they cure. But we
toon't be at the bottom of the sec (Lead them.) We wilt
make the government attend to us. Lock at what they did
with the brick duty, and what they are mid to be about to
do with the window tax. Their conduct is just • bidding far
popularity, and we must stir this hop duty quesiien till we
make them see that attention to ft must be a part of that
bidding for popularity. (Cheers.) We mast do this by a
parliamentary struggle. All elsi—this going to the Chsn-
cell r ot the Exchequer—is but " leather and prunella." Let
es agitate till the name of a hop-grower shall bo • regular
bore to them. Bluish alt your miserable contentions about
free trade and protection—hers we are neither free-traders
nor protec.ioniits, but Kentish hop planters. Let us now
act nni eilly likely men, cud boldly go to gunmen*, lay
oar case heists it, and demand a repeal of the war duty and
5 per cent. Tee hon. member concluded by moving u reso-
lution to this effect. and sat down a.o islet loud cad continued
cheers.
Mr. Seem, seeonded the resolution.
L rid ROMNEY wished to ask eau question. It had been
very truly sail that the Mule of COIII2IOIII was not very
conversant with the hop question. Was intended by this
resolution to ask for a committee to which the facts and ar-
'cameo's bearing on this question might be submitte I ?
The CHAIRMAN thought the resolution went to isle for
• fixed remedy, and one which alone would satisfy them.
Mr. ELVY thought Mr. Hope had given the very best
reason for not going to the House of Commons—namely, that
the hop interest was but as four in fifty-two. lie feared an
applicalon to parliament would be fatal to their remaining
protection.
Mr. JEREMIAH SMITH thought Mr. Hope had given
oho very beet reasons 'or going into parliament. They had
nothing to blink; their object was honest and straight-
forward. He was convinced if their position was under-
stood by piriamatt they should receive rather more than
lees protection.
Aster a good deal of conversational discussion on this
point,
Mr. T. L. HODGES congratulated the meeting on the
unanimity which hid been obtained en far as reenacted a
repeal of the war duty and 5 per cent. Ile apprehended that
there would be parochial Petitions, on which he or some
other member would found • motion for a committee, which
could not report till the (nil of the station. So that it was •
not to be expected that any relief could be obtained till
1852. He had no desire to disturb the unanimity of the
meeting, but he must state that his objections to the con-
tinuance of the excise laws at all was as Wrong es ever.
If they attained their present object they would not be
satisfied—they could not be—because the vicious principle
still remained. I give you fair warning, said the hon.
member,—you seem all united in favour of it, and I
will not oppose you, but I warn you, it will be no remedy—
you will be in as great a difficulty as every, from the depre-
ciation in the value of your commodity, which must always
result from the collection of the duty. And that was my
object in suggesting another course, which would give go-
vernment 1500001. a year without expense, and the only
objection to the adoption of which is we cannot agree among
ourselves. I do not come here to rein any opposition, bat
to enter my protest splint this being considered the remedy
ter your difficulties.
After some further discussion Mr. Hope's resolution was
put, and carried by a large majority.
Mr. J. SMITH then moved that the members for the hop
districts be requested to take charge of the patitione, and to
obtain • committee of the House of Commons to investigate
the case of the hop planters.
Mr. HILDER seconded the mttioa.
Mr. J. MONCKTON thought they were putting the
cart before horse. They had decided upon asking for •
specific remedy, and then they asked for a committee of
inquiry.
Mr. GOLDING a ould take the liberty of telling Mr. Smith
what many there did not seem to know, and what they were
very ignorant, if they did not know—namely, why the
planters were in their present condition. It was because the
plantation was too large. (Disapprobation.) The remedy
was in their own hands. (Here the interruption was re-
doubled ; cries of " Question.")
The CHAIRMAN thought Mr. Golding's observations
were fairly challenged by Mr. Smith's; bat still it was for
the meeting to say whether it would hear this discussion.
Mr. GOLDINO.—Mr. Hope never touched on the main
point. We have now • protection of 21. 55.; if we go to
the House of Commons, we shall have a free trade in
hops. (Question.)
CHAIRMAN.—This is distinctly the queetion.
Mr. GOLDINO.—If you go to the House of Commons
ou'll have free trade. I've heard Mr. Hodges say as much.
I'll join you as far as I can, but not to endanger our protec-
tion. We don't want free trade. It don't signify about
repealing the duty if we over produce. The county of
Sussex had better by half set to and grub up half their hops
—(disapprobation)—and we do the same. (Hear.) But all
the time we over-produce and glut the market there will be
these difficulties. It is all nonsense to talk about our
labourers. Let us talk of ourselves. We over-produce and
Injure ourselves.
The CHAIRMAN said they should be very happy to hear
the sentiments of the hon. member for East Kent (Mr.
Diodes) on the question.
Kr. DERDES said he had not attended there to express
nay opinion, but to listen to the opinions of the hop growers,
M enable him to arrive at a correct judgment. He confessed
he had great doubts as to the prudence of an application
to the House of Commons. He thought there was the
greaten danger of such an application being met with
the remark—" You are protected beyond another clese ;
I take care what you are about, or you will lose it
all." (Hear, hear.) He had heard It said on • former
aseasion, by • distinguished member of parliament,
" What do you come here for? Mind what you are about—
I you are living in a glass house." He (Mr. Deedes) merely
stated this as a caution. Ignorant as members of the Home
of Commons might be on the subject of bop growing, they
had termed an opinion, and were decidly disinclined to
go further in giving relief. He doubted whether a govern:

Slat would =rant • committee. They would leave it to
the Chancellor of the Kubegun to decide whether
he multi Weed to girl sp tee ditty (witch he Mr.
Medea, rru-t sty was ar. unfair ttx) and is his reply, their
deldrion would be bend. If they west to parliament in•
dependant, t. we. a matter of rest doubt whether the
govern...eat—which could always outage the matters—
would not put a stopper on it at ease. It was therefore i
ilraa mati•r of paw eassideration es to the course they
take. Kew.) Whisker= they might &mildew., they
alibi &pied on his amistieg then Is the beta way hi.
jrniistt stabled kfm. (Cheers )
Alter soar lords= Amu/ion the rootlets was pat sod
Olfried by a lame st4nrlty, Mr. Golding being on. of the
Milhertty, and exclaiming be should bold up for everythin.
=it the 6use of Commons, (or he had no ordains or
(Lenghter.)
Lead ROUNIIi swggested that without asking fora comp
leittes evidence mighthe =ken by some gentlemen, and =b.
Mined to tb. Ch.acellor /f the Exchequer.
Mr. BMITU sod they had already the whole rue fatly
prepared.
A resshitl• n waa ibis preFoold by Mr. Alexander, sr
goaded by Mr. lioddy, that a memorial to the Clutcallor el
the Exchequer ha prepared, stain/ lb. ger (rat user inity
which u:w prevailed on this subject, and aceompanli d by a
statemert or c....s to move the great pressure on too hop
rowers, ants to Neuf, tie prepneed atieratina.
r A tionunitive of mum Mid Meat planters wee appointed
to to operou ert.ll the miring esmatittee uf seven Su.. I
and Vs said of Kest plantars in cerryiag the readatious tutu
dire.
Tanaka were voted to the Earl of Kimsey and the numbs=
of parlisente unseat for their mundane*.
tier M IMAILK, in pro,,uaing • vote of thank. to the
chairman, wid he should be most maim* to cony out the
views of tae 'meters in every possible way, and hoped the
result wetalo ;toys that the Chareallor cf the Multequer
WM made 66 6 qui *sable matotiols, sad would give Mess Wait
they regain.%
'lue meow/ this brok• up.

THE FATAL COLLISION ON TILE EASTERN
COUNTILS RAILWAY.- INQUIET, AND VER•
DICT O 1 NANZIACONTER.

Mr. Diger coroner for a. Dschi dLoncliter,
coseisiled gi.tert.sy an Irvin of three days' dangles into
the emirs of the death of V. Laeowick, who was killed at
Ponder's Ei Sfatfoo. b 7 a *pail eagles. As It eras an
&vetoed that a searching Inquiry would be made, Mr.
Basloy Maenad from the °Ma 01 the c :Jimmy's welielfor,
togetha tiff': Mr. E Richert:moo, anpariu'endeat of the
line ; and ?dr. Ciark, of 1 insburycirow, watched the sae
for the frier. • of the deceowid.
The wits. •see examined was the gaud. andergwerd,
end driver a toe Norwich up anode trout, whit& was WI.
piers at** s Ann when the as ideat occurred ; the station-
master at P. uder's End, the driver el the epeeist @seine,
the mane" in attemataxim, and the driver of the liertford

goods tro;ri.
This Norwllt up roods train arrived at Ponders End,
at 10 admit. a rwt ill o'clock, its usual time, jut u the
lortfcrd tr in was miming. The Norwich twos one
d ins Ito, as up the Hoe a little way, toil it
was taken 'll to the sidirg by the und.r guard an,
dammed It bile this 11211 •ransacting a special simile
Mem down, at about twenty miles an hour, caught
the truck. turntel it over, acd crashed deceased between the
en& as* the wall. It has been stated that a telegraphic
meiv..go lust: bets sent down the lice to dear it for the
coming spell engine. Oa this pint, Henry 13tokoi.,
algid inapt, or of the telegraph at Snoreditch, said—On
Wednesday v..ening I rewired instructions to "speak"
with all the stations between Load.= End Cambridge,
idaraing Hum that a special train had lett Shos4itch, and
&saris, r. to keep the lase clear. I first spoke with Tot
tais minute, rimed, however, benne I could
atti.ict their attention. The neat station I communicated
with, was Pandisti-Bud. It was then abut four minuses
postsir. I cottinnad calling for tea minutes, and fielding
emelt/Atkin was paid to me, I colleit Wsl'bsa, and there
also no reply wes given for ems time. Th. re are some
inormediwe stations—Lea Bridge, Water-lane, Illanh-lane,
'Da Clarkin t. Etch has a telegraphic communication ; but
it woe co toe calling them, as they are supposed to be shut

ap after dark.
Mr. Ilsebeey, surgeon, attended the poor man in his
moral ageoy :and Sand a large lacerated and c tntueed
wooed on 0... right side of the abdomen, through which the
viscera wet !rounding. Before dyirg he bad a ensues"-
tior; with th. surgeon resnecung the accident. Mr. Hasbury
state. he said that be had get a ted light up, bat that the
train pot up so wan k. He added that there was no time
lost in doing the work.
The Coroon—bid he say n !tether be had any ietima.
ticn of the approach of the *pedal ?
Weiner,— toss add that he red no intimation, it was not en
Sea train std he did not clone it. lie afterwards edit
that somebody called oat to him, but he was stn :shed
immediately.
With retreats to the red light here spoken of, the
driver of tie special" declared that he could no see it
until he erri..-el at it, and another witness nukes this state-
mf more creo*.ible by ooticit g that en engine was blowing
off its Ens right under the red signal.
John Baton, station minter at Pooderrend, altid he did
not hear the :el-graphic bell ring on the eight he quest: .0.
ft was the owl of the deceased to listen end attend to the
bell. The tint witness described the other duties of the
poor man as sallow.:—" I believe the deemeed Ina the only
penes left in charge of the station at night. He had to
Stead to the telegraph,the gates of the level mossiog, the
signals, the 'mire and their ehuntiog."
As this evideoce was g yen Mr. Richardson, manager of
the line, interposed to add soother to the list of duties:—
" He begged to call the attention of the jury to the 91st rule
of the eonepanee remalatiose, which stated that when the
main hoe was to be used for shunting, hand and percussion
Noels were to be plead at • distaste of at least 600 ante
before the ob-"tertion was ettentoted. If the deceased hind
adopted that pricaullos before he allowed the Sack to be
passed on to the down Ilnie the probability was that be
would not bane Ice' his life "
Mr. Baldry, d etion master, when asked if he did eel
the k ell IL..e dative were too many for one to perform
ansided, reptied—" I do sot."
(In this vitt the jury, on a view of the whole emeet,
wrefsed their opinion in the suNoined declaration appended I
to toe verdict .
" The juro cannot generate without expressing their
asantasens e pinion, that the duties assigned to the deemed,
who wee kilted darts' their peeper performance, were more
mu:tifeeions tests a penis Is hie station of life and with hi.
esolumens c odd reasonably be expected to perform, and
that snider enrciutionary measures, by mesas of the else-
the telegroph, might have been adopted. They :think It
right, also. to add, that the regulations of the Eastern
Counties Kwitny Company elves to require modilLation,
sad that punt." oaety should be more strictly enforced."
The driver• uhitormly dlnlsllll atop 411C3U0t4If with frg
limb on the Leila is qusetioe, and Chapman, the guard to
the Hertford teed., said that the weather was clear enough
hr hum to we l'Ondelle end from a distiller of two miles.
The engine .* neer of the Hertford down train states that
be left dhseediteb on the morning et the accident 20 minutes
bond time, I e , at 10 senates to five ; the special stetted
at 10 senate. t.; sin, Hit words are, " 1 had no Sensation
et
the station that a special sous was to follow me till 1 got
to Waltham."
The For. mho remarked that It was plain that the line
had not beer, cleared, sad the Skeane, was that had the
special train sawed the Ponden.end station in safety, it
would have woos into the Hertford train in advance, and
something same MOMS might have resulted.
Nearly every witness remarked the punctuality with
which the ':ea-rased wee in the habit of discharging his
duty, mid Mr. O. Richardson, one of the superinteudents
on the lids, tti I knew the deceased person. He was
cossetted with the company two years and six months. lie
first mitered the *MX* as porter, mai was placed on probe-
Weary duty Bishopegate. He was then removed to St.
Ives, but a dicilnution of the truffle there having occurred,
a redaction ot tier staff took plec4, sad the demand was one
who had to leave. Owing to his meriteeina condone, how-
ever, I made a yeeasse fee him at Woolwich. I afterwards
appointed him at Bisispegate, and a vacancy occurring at
this station, he was sat, down to act es night inspector. I
engaged hiss in the first instance, and I had a high opinion
of him as being well qualified for the office. I never bad
occasion to make the slightest complaint Shim. I furnished
hies with a copy of the company's regulations then in fox:*
when I 1111111&.4.11 him, red I mdse. his receipt.
. Baxter, the driver, of the special was a new man on the
Mae. He told the jury—l have Sion in the service of the
company about ties months. I have been employed driving
ea the Colchester line. On bringing up the mail train from
,Colchester onWedneedaymoraing I was informed that I would
I have to take a special train to Cambridge. 1 was only se-
•enSlnted with the road as far as Brozbaurne, having run
with trains there for several weak& Os reaching the twelfth
telegraph post on the Loudon tide of Ponders End, I sounded
the whistle and brought up, and s-ring nothing but the white
signet lights I went easily on. Just uthe train was going
past the station I saw the reflection of a red signal. I in.
randy retested the elegise, but was unable to bring the
train up until elute the accident. I have had five yeses ex-
perinea as ouches driver on the northern lines.
The Coroner, is summing up, mid it appeared that the
Leered was doing kb best is getting the truck over the
line; sad, as it hid ben stated, that it would rettaire twenty
minutes to ran and place the fog gigue! six hundred yards
beyond the obstruction and to get beck, it was obvious that
he could not h eve done it. Then, with reference to the
special train, did they consider that the, driver of the engine
.observed that caution which was expected from him whoa
running under each peculiar ciscumetanoes. They had
evidence as ii the rate be was going ; they would judge
whether he was going at a reckless speed. If they were
satisfied that he was, and that be did not exercise those
precautions which he ought under the circumstances, then
:their verdict would be one that would criminally effect
, The jury retired, and, after three hours' deliberation,
interned a v. relict of ° Manslaughter" simian Hamad
Beater, drive r of the se Mal Engine, appending to their vier-
diet the de clarstion already quoted.
' The Coroner then made oat his warrant for the committal
of the engine driver Baxter to Neweate, to await his trial
IA the Silt sitting of the Central Criminal Court. Is the
amuse of the erasing he wee conveyed in custody to the Old
Bailey.

•
DESTRUCTIVE FlLL—Shortly before one thu MOM-
JAR a ea broke oat en the premises of Mr. J. Murray, tallow
chandler and alma, 49, Bridge Mouse plata, Newington-
casomay. The Mutes were fortunately misted to make
their masa In the window, bat the Are could not be stayed
until all the back MIEN, the shop front, aid warehouse, and
ontral et the trout rooms had bola burned out.

,~.

FIRE AND LOSS OF THREE LIVES.

This morning, at a few minutes lx fore three o'clock,
one of the most edematous fires that has occurred in the
metropolis for sums mo...ths pov, broke out in the premises
belonging to Mr. B:rjamin Count, known as the Comb and
Lionel Tavarn, S:. Ear in's lace; it being attended with
fatal mutts to three of the limits,.
•

The fire appears to have been duoovered simultaneously
by the police on the beat and a perms passisg at the back
of the hone.; at that time flumes were raging in the second.
floor back room. N. a moment was I:4t in sending for the
eagi,.,s and alarmieg the inmates. After 11.41111 truuble
Yn Cost was 111/111CoLt3, sod !Wring aroused several other
Iversen* alee2irg In her establishment, she es ceded in
rescuing some of her chldren, but in consequence of the
rapiday with which the firs extended, she was unaSle to
return after ores leaving the preiniscs, and one of her
dasibten and aeon perished to the fire, as well es one of
bet domestics.

I■ lin than tLree minutes slur the alarm was given, the
Ertel Sonaty's fin neap, mired, and wu el nely followed
by the brigade engine, from Chandeastreet elation. At that
pert Al the etaireue from the secend-fl tor upwards presented
one e•.eat of flaw, which prevented any one from ascending
to render ►aLtana to tLe un:ortunete creatures who were
kauwo to be within tln burning premien. The ste•e o!
hire. Catust may be eonceirad whew it is stied that she wee
terinly conscious of her children being in the midst of the
lire unatil, to ruder than the hut aid in ,fleeting an
escape.
' • "

An abunaent supply or water WU obt•ietd, and rawly
ot►er engiosa of the London Brigade and West of England
la Lana, Office haying arrive 3, the firemen let to work
vigoroney, but, in spits of the peat stream of water
tbr Aro upon and into the burning property, the work of
destruction cautioned. The lime•, which reu some Cu. a-
dorable distance above the hone-tops in the neighbourhood,
wt re not subdued until the whole of the upper part of the
premises war destroyed, end the lowa parties extensively
demtged.

At soon u the premises men ufficiently cooled to admit
of any one entering, the Astons procured acme lergths ci
scaling ladder, which they coast cted toggle's, and, having
thus ascgaded the staircase, wine in search of the thee" par-
ties rsiseing. Aftir so..ta time, they Lund, in the upper
beiroom, the lifeless Indies of the two children and the
nursemaid. To all cppearante the children bad male
,n attempt to escape, for they were both lyirg par-
underneath the bed, and the nun: was within a few
fee: of them, favor/beg the supposition that she was going
t, their anistance wneu she butane (iv, rpowered, and
dr .pped sexiest the flame and ssmke. Tcg children wars
mauled respectively Martha sod Benjamin ; cue was about
ri y. on old, and the other shout 3 year" The nureenudd
was .bout 18, and it is etwei wet related to Mel Quint
She was mat frightfully bulled. The remain.% of the (Its
cces.d were goiluted together, sod reuatval to St. Martin's
workhouse to await a coroner's icgugst.
Respecting the origin of the catastrophe nog ing that could
be depended upoc could he sienna.
Mr. Cesar returned hone hone the country this meaning,
and thus learned thetas" he bas sustained.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

THIS DAY.