The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 15, 1818.

PORTUGAL.

with &Cup of the highest satisfaction. I warmly appre-
ciate the many gratifying torpors of the loyalty of the citivon
of your ancient city, and of their firm attachment to the
principles of the British constitution. It is my earnest desire
to reign in the affections of my people, and to uphold and
strengthen the free institutions which this country has long
enjoyed, and which I feel to be the surest foundation of its
happiness and prosperity."

The Oriental Company's steam-pecket Montrose,
Captain J. Bowen, arrived at Southampton yesterday,
and landed her mails under the charge of Lieutenant
Y. Rainier, R.N., Admiralty agent. her dates are :
Gibraltar, May 6th ; Cadiz, 7th ; Lisbon, Bth ; Oporto,
10th; and Vigo, 10th. The Montrose brought 22
packages of specie.
LISBON, MAT 9.
A ministerial crisis is daily looked for, the effect of
which will be to hand over the government of the country
once more to Costa Cabral. The palace fac'ion that will
bring back the minister to power is apparently at war, and
split into two sections—the one assuming moderation U a
garb, being headed by the ex-minister himself; while the
ultras of the party have ranged themselves under the leader-
ship of Cabral's brother Jos4. The affected antagonism,
however, is unreal, and the pretended quarrel is a juggle.
A most melancholy spectacle has also been witnessed
during the past week in the Upper House or Chamber of
Peers. It may be remembered by your readers that in last
year's discussions in either Howie of Parliament in Eng-
land, upon tho subject of our interference in Portugal,
ministers in the course of debate referred to a proclama-
tion purporting to have emanated from the Oporto
junta, to have been dated from Coimbra, and to have
had appended to it the signatures of the Marquis of Louie
(the Queen's uncle), and of the Viscount de Saa, and others,
its purport tieing that the object of the revolt was " to de-
throne the Queen ;" and it was principally upon the strength
of this document that Lord Palmerston justified British in•
terference. The asserted existence of this paper has now
been the subject of violent contention in the Portuguese
chamber. The Marquis of Louis and other peers assailed have
boldly charged the ministers with " fraud and forgery," and
denied upon their honour that any such proclamation ever
was issued, or similar intent ever contemplated by the mem-
bers of the Oporto junta. The Duke of Saldanha at last
confesses that " ne such document exists, and that he now
believes it to have been a foreery," bearing in mind that
Col. NVyldo compelled the nob!e duke to retract and confess
a similar impudent forgery, in which the English commis
sinner's name was made a handle of, when the duke
pleaded " state necessity" as the apology for having pledged
his word as a marshal and a peer to a published falsehood,
Commerce of all description is suffering sadly, the most
solid firms are struggling only to meet expenses, tew are the
houses but are carrying on business at a loss, and if we have
not a speedy change in the government English trade must
be ruined altogether.
Exchange on London, 30 days, 621, ; ditto, 00 days, 621.
In metals no alteration.
The Stromboli is now the only British vessel of war in the
Lisbon waters.

DEATH OF LORD ASHBURTON.
The unexpected decease of Lord Ashburton took
place at 3 a.m. on Saturday, at Longlest, the aat of his
daughter, the Marchioness of Bath, in Wiltshire, after a few
days' illness. The noble lord had complained of indisposi-
tion hut four days before his dissolution.
Lord Ashburton had for the last 40 years taken an active
share in political affairs' and, from the high roeition he
occupied in the City of London, as head of the great com-
mercial firm of Baring Brothers, of which he became
the head on the death of his father in 1810,
his opinion on commercial matter had obtained
much respect in the House of Commons. He was
educated at Oxford University, and in 1812 entered parlia-
ment as member for Taunton, which he continued to repre-
sent up to 1820. He than sat for the family borough of Cal-
lington, Cornwall, during the two successive parliaments.
In 1831 he was elected member for Thetford. At the next
general election he was returned for the northern division of
Essex, for which he sat up to 1835, when he was elevated to
the peerage by Sir Robert Peel. The noble lord had filled
various offices in the government during the administration
of the Earl of Liverpool and the fluke of Wellington. In
1828 he was made a member of the Privy Council. On Sir
Robert Peel coming into office in December, 1834, the noble
lord was appointed President of the Board of Trade and Ma-
ter of the Mint, with a seat in the cabinet. His lordship
went out of office with his political friends, having • few
days previously received the honour of • peerage. In 1842
his lordship was selected by Sir Robert Peel to go on •
special mission to America, to settle the delicate
differences then existiug between the two countries. The
right hon. baronet could not have found • more able person
to carryout the views of the British government. His lord-
chip's visit to America was most succsseful, and ended in the
Washington treaty. On his lordship returning to England,
he received the congratulations of the right hon. baronet and
the approbation of his sovereign. His lordship was a trustee
of the British Museum and of the National Gallery, and a
D C.L. of the University of Oxford. lie was a munificent
patron of the fine arts of this country. His lordship was
born Oct. 27, 1774, and was consequently in the 74th year of
his age. Ile married Aug. '23, 1798, Miss Anne Louisa
Bingham, eldest daughter of the late Mr. W. Bingham of
Philadelphia, • member of the senate of the United States.
By that lady, who survives her husband, his lordship leaves
issue three sons and three daughters, namely,—the lion. W.
Bingham Baring, M.l'. for Thetford, who succeeds to the
title, the lion. Francis Baring, the lion. and Rev. Frederick
Boring, the Marchioness of Bath, the lion. Louisa and the
lion. Emily Lydia Baring. The Buing family originally
came from Bremen.

SIR DE LACY EVANS AND THE WEST-
MINSTER REFORM SOCIETY.
At the request of Sir De Lacy Evans, we insert
the following communication. The title, as well as the
hotly of the letter, are his. He is responsible for both. We
merely perform our duty as journalists in affording him an
opportunity to express his sentiments in the manner
which to him appear. proper :
" TO THE FOURTEENTH PART OF THE WESTMINSTER
REFORM SOCIETY.
" Gentlemen,—T avail myself of this, the first non-par-
liamentary day of the week, to reply to your communica-
tion. The above fractional denomination is, I beliese, about
the numerical proportion you bear to the society whose name
you assume. And I have thus addressed you, lest your in-
discreet proceedings should prejudice the estimation of the
great majority of that hitherto judieous and public-spirited
associatom with whom I have had the pleasureof finding my-
self invariably in accordance, since the institution of
the society, some fifteen years ago, to the present time.
You have managed, by concealing your object from me and
my friends, to scrape together a small meeting, in which to
pass a resolution of censure on my past conduct in parlia-
ment, and of direction as to what it should be in future.
You are pleased to say that my 'recent course' in the
House of Commons is deeply to be regretted. Permit me to
ask you, gentlemen, how am I to mend my ways, and so
relieve you from this deep concern, unless you will designate
a little more distinctly the conduct you object to ? I have
not been left in ignorance, however, on this point. lam in-
formed by several who attended the meeting and who voted
against you, that the ' recent course' thus evasively alluded
to meant, in fact, some remarks lately made by me, in the
House of Commons, in answer to an honourable member
who had preceded me in the debate. Seeing, then, that the
cause of your anger and disapprobation has been so ridiculous
and misplaced, I shall not take the trouble of miy further
reference to it
" But when you order me, in the name of the Westminster
Reform Society, to place myself under the political guidance
of " Messrs. Hume and Cobden," you must forgive me for
saying that you not only compromise the character of that
society, hut exhibit in a very conspicuous degree your own
folly, or that of those who have set you on. Why it was hut
the other day, previous to the threatened chartist pro-
ceeion, that I found myself at issue with the opinions
of the honourable member for Montrose. I considered
it my duty to tabort the government to prevent that
procession from passing through the streets of the city I
represent, boasting of violent intentions as the leaders of
the chartists did, and escorted as it was expected it would
be, by all the thieves of the metropolis, thus exposing the
industrious inhabitants of Westminster in particular, to
every species of outrage, tumult, plunder, and even lose of
life. In opposition to which, the hon. member for Mont-
rose saw no inconvenience to be apprehended from a
million of persons moving in procession through our crowded
streets, and ridiculed, as I understood him, the preparations
of government, &c. And with regard to the latter hon.
gentleman whom you name in your resolution to be one of
my chiefs, I feel still more astoahthed at your proposi-
tion. He it is, who has deemed it his duty pub
licly to asperse, to use no stronger term, the offi-
cers and men, without exception, from the highest to the
lowest, of the army and navy ; giving to the illustrious chief
of one of these professions a peculiar and revolting measure of
disparagement, in which strain he has been followed is va-
rious speeches as is duty bound by numerous partisans. This
may be all just—it may be quite right to warn the country
against the interested motives and evil intentions of those
persons who have sheilktheir blood in their country's service,
and who are now systematically held up to odium at public
meetings. But as I Morels to be an bumble member of nee
of these ' horrid trades,' as the phrase now is, it is rather too
much to direct me to take as ray leader the hon. member
who has pursued this course, and thus reduce myself to
silence under any amount of contumely. As to the reforms
required by the condition of the country, I consider it a gra-
tuitous affront to be admonished on the subject, as I have
always supported such measures, and always will do so, be
they proposed by whom they may.
" With a population of nearly a quarter of a million, supe-
rior in other respi•ete to every city of the empire, I have felt
it of course a high honour to represent for so many years
so pre-eminent a constituency as that of Westmiastee. But
I should feel noae were I to submit to be thus dictated to,
silenced or restricted in the freedom of discussion and action,
even by the whole body of the constituency, still less by
a dozen or two of misled gentlemen, as in this instance, how-
ever respectable they. may be individually. In that case, I
should fall at once into the degraded position of a mere
delegate, instead of remaining the independent and unfet-
tered representative of the lieerat interests end welfare of
the city and of the country generally, which it has been my
uniform endeavour to be. Gentlemen, recommending you,
when you next assume the authority of selecting parlia-
mentary leaders for your representatives, to reflect a little
as to your right to do so, and as to the qualities requisite
for useful parliamentary leadership, I remain your be odient
servant, DE LACY EVANS.
Saturday.

HOLLAND.—Tus HAGUE, MAY 11.—In the
sitting of the Second Chamber of the States General, Count
Schimmelpenninck made the following unlooked-for com-
munication:—His excellency stated that the ministers were
giving their serious attention to the modification of the
fundamental law, but that there wan a difference of opinion
upon the subject among the members of the government,
which would render a change in the ministry memory.
The King had been advised of thin state of affairs, and it
was necessary to await his decision. His Excellency
stated that the government continued to watch
with lively zal over the interests of the nation,
and announced that the project of law relative to the modi-
fl,ation on the duty of multuro rea;:y, and would be
presented in a few days, unites the new miais!ry should
make any change. Several: members urged the necessity of
the speedy decision of this important question.—M. Verwey
Migan proposed that the declaration of the president of the
ministers should not be regarded as conclusive, and urged
that the ministers would unite to consider whether
it would not be practicable for them to come to
a unanimous 'decision.--M. Gevers Von Enelegust,
after thanking the member, stated that there was little hope
of such a termination, as the ministers had been anxious to
arrive at a unanimous opinion, but found it impracticable.—
M. Von Rosenthal asked whether it would not be possibl?for
the ministers to continue their labours in the revision of the
fundamental law as far as they were of one accord upon the
principal points, and to debate at a later period upon those
respecting which there was a difference of opinion.—The
sitting of the tirst chamber of the States General will be
held on Wednesday, the 17th inst.

CONFIRMATION AND CONSECRATION OF
THE BISHOP ELECT OF CHESTER.
The lormal ceremony of confirming the election of
the Rev. Dr, John Graham to the see of Chester took place
on Saturday morning, at St. James's Church. Piccadilly.
The more important and solemn proceeding of the conse-
cration of the new bishop was performed yesterday morning
in Whitehall-chapel by his Grace the Archbishop of York,
assisted by the Bishop of Durhsm and the Bishop of Lincoln.
The sermon was preached by the Bi'hop's Chaplain, the
lire. Mr. Cartmell, who selected for his text the 10th chapter
of St. Matthew, verse 32: " Whosoever, therefore, shall
confess me before men, him will 1 confess also
before my Father which is in heaven." From
this text the reverend gentleman preached • brief but
mcst appropriate discourse, which he concluded by invoking
the divine blessing upon the bishop elect in his labours to
promote the gospel of Christ, " and him crucified." The
sermon ended, the ceremonial of consecution was proceeded
with.

gbt Qrourt.
BAPTISM OF THE LNFANT PRINCESS.
The ceremony of the baptism of the infant Princess,
fourth daughter of the Queen and Prince Albert, took place
on Saturday evening in the private chapel of Buckingham
Palace. The Queen Dowager and Royal Family, the
foreign princes in this country, the clergy, the foreign and
eahinit ministers, and the ladies and gentlemen 01 the
royal household, assisting in or invited to the ceremony, ar-
rived at the Palace between six and seven o'clock.
At 10 minutes before seven o'clock the Lord Chamberlain
conducted the Queen to the room in which the Queen
Dowager and the other illustrious visitors had assembled.
lier Majesty was accompanied by the Prince of Wales,
l'rince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice.
The procession of the sponsors was immediately marshalled
by Garter King of Arms and passed into the chapel. Prince
Albert, proxy for the Duke Gustavus of blecklenburg
Schwerin ; the Queen Dowager, proxy for the reigning
D
Duchess of Saxe Meiningen ; uctiesa of Cambridge. proxy
for the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz,
formed part of it. On the entrance of the sponsors the
Queen's private band, which was stationed in the gallery of
the chapel, played the last movement of Handel's Corona-
tion Anthem. The sponsors were conducted to their station
by the ccmmunien table on the north side close by the foot
of silver gilt, which was elevated on a circular pedestal of
white and gold.
liar Majesty's procession was then formed, and entered
the chapel. The Prince of Prussia leading Prin-
cess Alice, the Queen, leading Prince Alfred, pre-
ceding the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal,
who entered together, and were followed by the Count of
Syracuse, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Grand Duke Bee-
nerd of Saxe Weimar, the Duchess of Kent, Prince Frede-
rick William of Hesse, Princess Mary, Duke George of
Mecklenburg, Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar, Princess
Amelie of Saxe Weimar, Princess Anne of Saxe Weimar,
Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, the Muter of the Horse to
the Queen, the Duke of Norfolk, K G , the Duchess of Su-
therland, and the other ladies and gentlemen of the court.
The Queen and the other royal personages were conducted
to seats opposite to those of the sponsors by the Lord
Chamberlain and the Lord Steward; the royal children being
placed by her Majesty on her left, and the royal visitors sts-
tioning themselves in a line with her Majesty. The Mistress
of the Robes, the great officers of the household, the Groom
of the Stole to l'rince Albert, the Vitt-Chamberlains, the
Lord and Groom in Waiting to the Queen, and the Lord and
Majestyn Waiting to the Prince, took theirepr laces near her
. The Treasurer of the Household mained behind
the sponsors.
Iler Majesty being seated, the following corale, the music
of which was oamposed by Prince Albert, was performed :
la Wed gay morn, ere sprightly youth
By vice and folly is enslaved,
Oh, may thy Maker's glorious name
Be on thy infant mind engraved.
So shall no shades of sorrow cloud
The sunshine of thy eurly days,
But happiness in ensiles round
Shall still encompass all thy ways.
This conk was performed by her Majesty's private band
and the boys and gentlemen of the Chapel Royal.
When the music had ceased the Lord Chamberlain, ac-
companied by the Groom of the Stole to Prince Albert, con-
ducted the infant Princess into the chapel. The royal infant
was dressed in a robe of Honiton lace over whit* satin, and
was attended by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton. Her Royal
Highness was carried by the head nurse. The baptismal
service then commenced, and was performed by the Arch-
bishop
of Canterbury. The Queen Dowager made the re-
sperms on the part of the illustrious sponsors; and on his
grace asking the name of the child, her Majesty named
the Princess
LOUISA CAROLINE ALBERTA."
The service being completed, the Princess Louisa was car-
ried from the chapel.
A grand chorus was then performed, to the words
Rosanna to the God of Israel.
In him rejoice—declare his praise—
,
/salt kis name for evermore.
1. (From a service—Mozart.)
This concluded the ceremonial ; and the august sponsors
quitted the chapel, followed by her Majesty and her illus.
trtous visitors, and passed in procession up the grand stair-
case to the Thronemoons
THE Ramat; or.--The Queen gave a state banquet, in
the Picturegallery, in honour of the occasion. The table
was covered with geld plate, having interspersed among the
epergnes and candelabra a number of reduced copies of the
Warwick vase, filled with the choicest plants, in flower. On
the buffet, at the south end of the gallery, were arranged a
number of the more valuable and interesting articles of
plate from the Royal Treasury, enriched with elaborate
carvings in ivory, medallions, and precious stones. At S
o'clock, the Queen was conducted by the Lord Steward and
the Lord Chamberlain to the banquet in the picture.gol-
tory, accompanied by the royal family, the foreign minis-
ters, the cabinet ministers, and the other ladies sod gentle-
men s
playing atendance at the ceremonial, the military band en
duty y " God save the Queen" on the entrance of the
august party.
A cabinet council was held on Saturday the
the
Foreign-office. It was attended by all the ministers in town.
The council sat two hours.
Prince Soltikoff and suite, and Major Alex. Abazte
left London on Saturday morning early by the General
Steam Navigation Company's mail steam ship John Bull,
for Hamburg.

THE QUEEN'S ANSWER TO THE CITY
ADDRESSES.
The following was her Majesty's answer to the
address of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of
London, presented on Friday :
I have received with the greatest oatiefaction your loyal
and dutiful address, and I am very sensible of the affectionate
interest which you have expressed in my domestic happiness.
I rely with the most entire confidence on the loyalty and
attachment of the City of London. I can receive no higher
gratification than to be assured of the affections of my people,
whose constitutional rights and liberties it is my constant
desire to maintain, and with whose happiness my own is in
separably connected."
The following was her Majesty's answer to the address of
the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of
London, presented on the same day:
"1 hare marred your dutiful and affectionate addttu

Mon, the bar would have to decide all contested points upon Mr. Hildyard, M.P., said, all he could say was, that he
each individual case of hardship which any member might was a neighbour as well as a personal friend of Mr. Yorke,
wish to be brought forward. He should therefore move and that he identified the body en the previous day, at the
what in parliamentary proceedings would be called the workhouse. Ile hal known
him many years, and always
previous question, the effect of which would be, in fact, that considered him very eccentric.
no resolutions whatever should be proposed. A juryman observed that he thought too much praise could
Mr. COLliUlai then came forward, and with much warmth not be given to Mr. Buckles, the chemist, of liond.street,
of manner defended the conduct which had been pursued for withholding the poison from the deceased gentleman,
by the memben of the bar practising in the parliamentary and that it was much to be regretted that the same precut-
committees. He would, therefore, move an amendment, tion was not exhibited by the assistant of Mr. Hudson.
to the effect, " that it was competent for a barrister, if he The Coroner said he quite concurred in the observation.
thought fit, to refuse any brief that was offered to hies." He had personally known Mr. Yorke, who had on many
After rime further discussion the amendment of Mr. Col- occasions—perhaps as many as a hw.ared times—told him
barn was negatived by a large majority. Sir Frederic (Mr. Wakley) that if ever there was an inquest held upon
Thesiger's amendment was also negatived, and upon the him, he should hold it. He would also repeatedly ask him
resolutioes being put the meeting decided in favour of the (the Coroner) whether he did not thick it likely that he
Solicitor-General's resolution, in opposition to the resolu- should some day hold an inquest on another member of the
Lions proposed by Mr. Hill', almost unanimously, there House of Commons, whose name of course ho should not
having born not more than twenty hands held up in their mention. Indeed strongthe whole of the unfortunatemight
favour._ manners led to a belief that he was not d
in his right
mind; and after the evidence the jury had heard from
the medical gentleman who had examined the body, that
he found no less than 12 drachms of water in the ventricles
of the brain, and general inflammatory action of the brain,
and that deceased was walaing about with his head in that
condition, the jury could have no difficulty in coming to a
conclusion that be had !destroyed himself in an unsound
state of mind. He (the coroner) believed that all the symp-
toms which the deceased had described as being suffered by
his dog were those which he was actually suffering at the
time himself. lt the jury wished for further evidence he
would go into it, but after what they had heard he had no
doubt they were satisfied.
The jury returned a verdict " that Henry Gallitano Red-
head Yorke, M.P., died from the effects of prussic acid, ad-
ministered by his own hand whilst in an unsound state of
mind."—The body of the unfortunate gentleman was,
shortly after the termination of the inquest, removed to his
late residence for interment.

RUMOURED MINISTERIAL CHANOES.—The Hants
Advertiser of Saturday, says "We announced a fortnight
since, in reference to Sir Robert Peel's special visit so her
Majesty at Osborne, that rumour asoribed to that visit the
proposition for a change of ministry, and other measures
which no minister or en-minister, except Sir Robert Peel,
could be 'apposed capable of contemplating. What wee
mere rumour has now taken a more definite form, and we
believe we are justified in stating that from the arrange-
menta made at that visit will result a change of ministry,
with Sir Robert Peel at the head of the government, a
sweeping financial reform in every department of the state,
and recipients of the public money, an extension of the
franchise, and a shortening of the duration of parliaments."
The HIBERNIA, Capt. Shannon, sailed from Liver-
pool on Saturday for Halifax and New York.
THE DISSOLUTION OF THE "NATIONAL" ASSEMBLY.
—At the meeting of the delegates on Saturday a desultory
discussion took place with respect to the presentation of the
national memorial. It was urged that proceuiocs did no
good. One member said that go home he must, the state of
his exchequer preventing him staying longer in London
and another that the national memorial had proved a national
failure. Upon this considerable confusion arose, and noise
and uproar for a moment stopped the proceedings. A mem-
ber then got up and said there was no use denying the fact
that the assembly did not represent the chartist body ; whilst
another said it wan all nonsense to think of a procession
under present circumstances. Several other delegates then
spoke upon the subject, and it was ultimately resolved that
the presentation of the memorial should be lett with the
executive. It was then moved and seconded that the assem-
bly, at its rising, should dissolve. An amendment was
moved, that the assembly should only adjourn for six weeks;
but the original motion was carried by a large majority. An
address was then agreed to, stating what had been done by
the assembly, and calling upon the people to organise, and
to consider the propriety of forming a new assembly. A vole
of thanks to the chairman and to the officers wan agreed to
nem. eon., and the national assembly quietly dispersed,to
meet no more.
ALLEGED FAILURE OF THE GREENLAND FISHERY.
—The Hull Advertiser of Friday publishes a letter from
Lerwick, announcing the arrival of the smack Pledge, which
brings very discouraging news from the seal fishery. The
country has been full of Bay ice during the whole season, in
which most of the ships were beset, hut are liberated again.
Twenty sail, all empty, were beset in the ice from the oth
April to the 20th, in tat. 71 40 north. One Dutch ship has
been lost in Johnny Blain' nine of the crew saved. Strong
easterly winds prevailed during the season. There was,
however, a report of the Commerce having caup,ht 000 seals,
and the Traveller 1,000.
THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN
RAILWAT.-DEATH OF ANOTHER Seerestan.—lNQUEST.
Mr. Arthur Lee, of Wadnam College, Oxford, whose inju-
ries were fractures of the leg and thigh, was taken matte
rially worse on Friday, and notwithstandingthat every effort
which medical skill could suggest was employed to arrest the
unfavourable symptoms, the ill-fated gentleman expired in
the course of Saturday, from the effect produced by the inju-
ries upon his nervous sistem. When our account of Mr.
Lee's death was despatched, Capt. Blair continued in a dis-
tressing and hopeleu state. The other passengers were going
on as favourably as could be expected. On Saturday after-
noon an inquest was held in the Swindon Hotel on the body
of Mr. Lee. The witnesses examined were those who gave
evidence at the Shrivenham inquest, and the facts elicited
were substantially the same. It being found impossible to
conclude the inquiry satisfac'orily on Saturday, the inquest
was adjourned till Wednesday next.

TILE BAR ON THE SUBJECT OF PARLIA-
MENTARY FEES.
On Saturday a nuw.eroue meeting of the bar took
place in the Old Hall, Lincoln's-inn, convened by the At-
torney-General to take into consideration certain matters
relating to parliamentary feu The Attorney-General took
the chair, and stated that he had been induced to call the
present meeting from the following circumstances. It ap-
peared that a resolution had been come to by many of the
b misters practising at the parliamentary bar not to take
any briefs from companies or other persons where there
were any fees remaining unpaid to other counsel upon pre-
vious business transacted on behalf of such clients. That in
consequence of this resolution one of the Queen's counsel
practising at that bar bad felt it hie duly to decline taking a
brief which had been offered him by a particular company,
and at the same time he had solicited his (the
Attorney General's) advice as to whether he was
justified in taking such a proceeding. His answer
was, that he did not consider it was competent for the
learned gentleman to refuse a brief when offered to him,
under the perticiaar circumstances of the case. He had
then been requested to attend a meeting of the parlia-
mentary counsel upon the subject ; he had done so, but in
consequence of certain resolutions then about to be proposed,
he had feared that he might be compromising the general
opinion of the bar, and had, therefore, suggested that
another and larger meeting of barristers should be con-
vened. This second meeting also took place, but as very
few members of the bar had assembled, he had considered it
THE REFORM MOVEMENT.
better again to adjourn the meeting, in order that more
' publicity might be given to the profession, and he had ----
therefore called a general meeting, and he was happy to see
Iso large an attendance upon this occasion. Having now LEBONIL—On Saturday a meeting of the Martlebone vestry
VOTE OF THANKS TO THE MEMBERS FOR MART-
I explained his reasons for calling the bar together, he would
I took place
request Mr. Hill, as the senior member present, to move at the Court-house. The rat. rector, Dr. Spry,
such resolutions as he might think ht. occupied the chair. Mr. Nicolay brought forward a notice for
Mr. flies then rose and said, that in consequence of the a vote of thanks to the members for the borough, for their
difficulty arising in respect of business transacted at the par- general conduct in opposing the Health of Towns Bill, and in
liamentary bar, the leading members who practised there INQUEST ON MR. REDHEAD YORKE, M.P. their efforts to effect a reduction of taxation, and to those
An inquest was held on Saturday, by Mr. Wakley, me:nbers of parliament who had joined them
had come to a resolution to direct their clerks not to take movement Mr. Nicolay dwelt upon the assiduity of the
in the latter
any briefs unless the fees which had become due in the pre- at the Elephant and Castle Tavern, King's-road, Camden-
borough members, Sir B. Hall and Lord Dudley Stuart, in
virus session had all been paid. The object of this resolution town, for the purpose of investigating the death of Mr.
reference to the sanitary bill, the window tax, and especially
was, that the barristers might protect themselves air fret the Henry Galgacas Redhead Yorke, aged 45, member of par-
improper c ,one which had been taken by various parties in liament for the city of York, who committed suicide in the that of Sir B. Hall with regard to Ireland and the income
omitting to pay their fees that had become justly due. He Reg tax He next referred to the new movement for the reduc-
ent's Park on Friday last. tion of taxation under Mr. Hume, and contended that the
.
considered this a most proper and wholesome rule, and cal- W. Nicholson, butler to the late Mr. Redhead Yorke, at
advances made by the members for that borough deserved
culated to raise the character of the profession, and he 81, Eaton-equare,said • I last saw him alive a few miuutee not only the thanks of their own constituency, but those of
thought that any members of the bar who had signed this after nine o'clock yesterday morning. He then left home,
resolution were justified in refusing to take any brief from saying he was going down to the house, but that he should the constituency at large. Mr. Glasin seconded the
persons who had omitted to pay their fees. He should, be back again about eleven o'clock. The examination of resolution.—Sir J. Hamilton, Batt:, cordially concurred
therefore, move first, that it was the opinion of this meeting this witness was here broken off, and that of the surgeon in the thanks, which he considered deserved.—The
that it was competent for the barristers to enter inta the re- who had made the post mortem examination commenced. motion was put and carried unanimously, amid loud ap-
,
solution which they had done; and, secondly, that it was as Mr. J. R. Williams, surgeon, 158, Grove-street, Camden- rence in the resolution and said it had never been his lot to
louse —The rev. Chairman expressed his cordial concur-
competent for any member of the bar, who had signed that town, having made a post-mortem examination of the body
witness more zeal and attention to the interests of a coned-
resolution, to exercise his judgment in refusing to take a brief of Mr. Yorke, had no doubt but prussic acid was the cause of
tuency in his life, more especially by Sir B. Hall, whom he
offered to him where the fees had not been so paid. death. had been longer acquainted with than the noble lord.
The SOLICITOII4.II3NERAL, in addressing the meeting, said James Tonle, modeller, 14, Aldenham-street, Somers- wo (Cheers.)—Lord Dudley Stuart and Sir B. Hall having m-
ho had consulted with very many of his friends—chiefly town, said : Shortly before one o'clock on Friday,
those who practised at the Chancery bar—as to the propriety of passing across the Regent'a-park, in the direction of Cum- versify returned thanks, the vestry separated.
the present proceeding, and he was expressing the feelings of herbed-gate, and saw the deceased lying on his back on the BIRMINGHA3II.—Otth correspondent writes on Satre-
all with whom he had spoken that there resolutions were grass. I went up to him, and maw him lying with his eyes day as follows :—The declaration in favour of household
most objectionable. He disapproved altogether of a meeting half open. I endeavoured to raise him, and called for as- suffrage and the other reforms of the moderate party has
of the bar for considering a question solely relating to the sistanee, but it was more than ten minutes before any one now received upwards of 8,0,30 signatures. To the manifesto
way in which fees were to be taken. The gentlemen who arrived. I think he was then dead, but Ido not think he issued by the new political union, or complete suffrage party,
complained had the remedy in their own hands ; the rule of was dead when I first saw him. I did not see any phial about 6,000 names have been appended. It is not improba-
the bar had always been that no brief should be taken us- containing poison near him. Some medical gentlemen bled however, that many persons have signed both documents.
less the fees were paid upon it, and, if any section of the bar came, and having declared that the gentleman was dead, he To-day therm appears in the Journal a letter from Mr. Joseph
thought fit to deviate from that principle, either for the con- was removed by the police. Sturge, from which the following is extracted :
venience of themselves or their clients, they ought to bear Henry Kelsey said : I was passing through the Regent's- I have always been anxious to promote good understanding be.
tween the middle and working claw., and have recently been glad
the responsibility of their conduct. Another rule of the bar park about twerty minutes past twelve o'clock, and, observ-
was, that no barrister could refuse to take a brief except trig a small mob of people, I went tog
see what was the to wee that there is no dispn•dtion on the part of the noit-clectoth to
iiiterfere with a movement in favour of household suffrage by a
under peculiar circumstances. He did not think that the pre- matter. I then saw a gentleman lying dead, and about portion of their fellow-count en, though I very much doubt
sent cane was one which justified &departure from that general three or four yards from the spot I picked up the bottle I whether it is either consistent or politic in those who hold my
rule. It was altogether contrary to the dignity of the bar that new produce. It is labelled with two labels, marked view. to take any part in promoting it. The longer I live the
a combination should be made for the purpose of forming a "Poison." more I am convinced of the wisdom as well as justice of granting
to every man as a man an equality of politicalo rights, and I am
rule as to how the payment of fees should be regulated. If Mr. Williams (the surgeon), in answer to a question from
this were allowed there would soon be a combination for re- the coroner, said that the bottle produced was a half-ounce more
with fl and
moreupet'lliteinrt trove anthdenewthenCtris!
1 fusing fees under a narticular amount, and various other bottle, and had contained prussic acid. There were the cc- tisa forbearance, the great Way of the elector., when they have
resolutions which woufd be quite inconsistent with that high mains of prussic acid still in the bottle. examined the subject as closely as some of them have, will see that a
character which the bar of England had always maintained. Mr. W. Gibbs, assistant to Mr. ctudson chemist, of the suffrage based upon this principle is not only more sound, but far
It WM his intention, previously to entering the hall, to have Haymarket, said : I know the bottle produced. It isone I gave more free from objections, eves in a practical point of view, than
moved resolutions expressive of his disapprobation of the to Mr. Yorke, M.P., yesterday morning, about half-past to householdex suffrage, while it does not commit the great injustice of
purposes for which the meeting had bees called, but since o'clock. I sold him in it a drachm and a half of prussic acid, counclutdingeanlfar, large
acts ciiiftizoot proeide t and intelligent of their
rights. lam sangume in the Dop that
the commencement of the proceedings he had altered his of Seheele's strength. I knew Mr. Yorke well, and he said there is now such a P4irit of candour and charity abroad, that the
mind, and, with the concurrence of a great many of his he wanted some prussic acid or strychnia, for poisoning his day i not far distant ia which all the productive classes will cordially
friends, he would simply move a resolution in the negative, dog, and be remarked to me that I knew the dog well, dads
goly, but peaceably, unite in removing the power of a
that it is not competent for the members of the bar to refuse which I did, as the deceased had frequently brought the dog despotic oligarch"; and
tee u
would
residence in effecting thee union, I see
winch shall entitle to a
Ito take briefs where the fees previously incurred to other with him to our shop. He said the dog was subject to giddi-
vsoot:bi.C.et'welvew insteadn t.r siiiTernolth.l think We question has,
members of the bar have not been paid, and that it is not ness. I asked him if he was aware of the dangerous nature of however, now assumed a shape in which ft would be desirable ton hold
, competent for any member of the bar who shall have signed the poison, and he said o Yes," and asked me which I thought a public meeting fairly to test, in a friendly spirit, whether the pee-
-1 such resolution to act in accordance with it. was best, prussic acid or strychnia, and I told him prussic Pte of Birmingham are generally in favour of household or manhood
Mr. T ALHOT then addressed the meeting, and said it acid. Mr. Yorke was well known at our establishment, suffrage.
would be necessary for him in some measure to explain the from coming for medicine, and I served him without besi- MEETING AT LIVERPOOL.—On Saturday afternoon
nature of the proceedings in parliamentary practice, as he tation. At the rime he purchased the poison he ordered a meeting of the council of the Financial Reform Association
bad no doubt there were many (tentlemen present who were some pills and medicine, winch was sent to hishouse. I did was held, Mr. R. Gladstone in the chans—The Chairman
unaware of the difference which existed between that pran
ce- not note anything particular in Mr. Yorke it conduct at the stated that Mr. Wylie, whose attention had been recently
tics and any other. It was impossible, he raid, to carry out time he purchased the poison. considerably directed to the subject, had drawn up a rough
the general rule as to the pre-payment of fees. It was out Mr. William Henry Buckles, 86, New Bond-street, ex- sketch of the plan of financial reform which the association
of the question to calculate beforehand the length of time amined :lam a chemist, and know Mr. Yorke, who came to should adopt and advocate, which might be referred to a
which the business might occupy, or the quantum of labour my house about half-past nine o'clock yesterday morning. committee to be that day appointed.—Mr. Wylie read the
that might have to be expended upon it. The practice had, He said, I wish you, Mr. Buckler, to send me a pill and a paper, which was in the shape of an address from the council
therefore, grown up of allowing a certain time after the con- very mild black clraught. He ale; said, I wish you would to the public. It referred to the excessive amount of the
elusion of the busiaess for the payment of fees. This give me some poison to poison my dogs, one—you know national expenditure, calling esp.eeial attention to the increase
leniency, he was sorry to say, had been greatly abused, and which I mean—is very large,. and is affected with aof 7,200,0001. in the estimates since 1835, under the head of
it was not an uncommon thing for the solicitors or nervous irritation and giddiness in the head. I told him it " forces," and suggested that without pairingthe efficiency
parliamentary agents absolutely to refuse payment of was dangerous to have sech things, and he said yes; but that of the army or navy, the outlay for our forces in a time of
the fees, and then to take their papers to another I knew the dog, and it was better to. get rid of him this het peace should be brought down from its present
barrister, and the same course might then be repeated. weather, and the other one also, as it had broken its leg some amount of 18,900,0001. to 12,000,0001. It was also pro-
It was in consequence of such constant occurrences that time ago. I thought he looked rather strange, and I told posed to fix as the extreme expenditure for the
the resolution had been come to by which the section of him that I would bring some strychnia with me and do it following departments : the civil government, 1,000,0001.
the profession practising at the parliamentary bar deter- myself to-morrow morning. To which he said, " Oh, to- justice, 1,250,0001. • diplomacy,2so,oool. ; miscellaneous and
mined not to receive briefs unless all fees to counsel who morrow ! ah, very well, to morrow," and he then left.—By all other expenses, '1,500,000/. ; retaining uat present the
had, been previously engaged were paid up before the tom- the Coroner : I have noticed lately that Mr. Yorke, whocharges on the national debt, 28,000,0001., and making •
mencement of the following session. In the present instance quently visited my shop, has appeared very thoughtful, more total expenditure of 44,000,0001. To meet the greatly.re-
he had received a brief from a well-known company, the fee particularly since he has been in Parliament. I have known duced expenditure, it was proposed, in accordance with the
upon which was paid ; but immediately afterwards dream- him many years, and always considered him a very eccentric principles of the association, to tax property and not in-
stances had come to his knowledge which induced him to man. There appeared something about his manner which 1 dustry. The value of the real property of the country was
make inquiries, and he had consideted it his duty, having did not like, and that induced me not to let him have the stated at 2,400,000,0001., one per cent. upon which would
himself signed the resolution not to take briefs where the poison.—The Coroner: You acted very properly, sir. yield 24,000,000/., whilst flre per cent. upon achedales B, C,
previous fees remained due, to refuse this brief. He had sub- Nicholson, deceased's butler, recalled : I have lived DI , and Eof the property tax was estimated at 4,000,000
sequently asked the opinion of the Attorney-General, who with Mr. Yorke seven years. He was a very eccentric man. which united amount, 28,000,0001., it was proposed shoul
had differed with him. He begged further to state, that He was sometimes very violent in temper. He sometimes be specifically applied to meet the charge upon the national
whether ho had acted right or wrong, he was only actuated complained of pains in the head in the morning. I have ob- debt. The other sources of income were estimated to be (net
by a strict sense of honour and upright conduct, and had served that he has been much more calm the last few days. expense of colleetionbeingdeducted : Ist, stamps, 6,000,0001.;
take* the tonne he had done solely with a view of support. He latterly gave orders that none of his tradesmen should spirits, 8,000,000/. ; sugar, tea, tobacco, wine, and coffee,
ing the dignity of the bar, and carrying out those resolutions see him, and that, unless he gave special orders, he was not at (at present educing 15,000,0001.), 8,000,000 k; total,
which he considered for the general benefit of the barrister home to any one. 50,000,0001. In these estimates the amount of indirect tax-
practising with him. Mr. Williams recalled : Having examined the brain, I ation was endeavoured to be limited to those articles on
Sir F. Tunehme then came forward, and said he could say that it was not healthy as an organ. There was great which the cost of collection would be the smallest, and with
neither support the resolutions proposed by Mr. Hill, nor vascularity in the ventricles, and the general appearances of a view to pave the way for their repeal when the intbject of
could he consent to the negative resolution moved by the the brain leave no doubt on my mind that he was insane. direct taxation shall become more familiar to the public than
Solicitor-General. His opinion was, that this was sot a sub- The Coroner : There was enough disease in his brain to at present. Under the head of stamps would be included the
ject which called for any interference on the part of the bar. produce insanity in half a doren men; and after the evidence probate and legacy duty
,on real property, the repeal of the
It was the duty of each barrister ter act as he thought most of the surgeon, lflr. Williams, I really think it would be an duty on marine and fire insurance, and a general rzvisiou of
in accordance with the feelings of honour and propriety, act of inhumanity to proceed with the inquiry further. As the present duties. The repeal of the assessed taxes and of
and not to call upon the liar to give any expression or opinion Mr. Hildyard, however, is present, perluips he may wish to the excise, with the exception of spirits, wasalso included
upon the subject. If this were to be done upon every coca- say something. in the plan; and it was proposed that Ms riven') of the