The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUSEDAY EVENING, JANUARY 30, 1849.

bell was rung by a lodger, upon which Hr. Clarke
come to the room door ia an excited state, and called out to
doomed "to let her men in," at the same time shaking the
door violently. Deceased appeared in great terror, and told
me to go and open the room door. Immediately she bad
turned round to do so eke heard the window thrown open,
and, turning to me what it was, she saw the deceased tag
henelf out of the window into the street. Witness waisted
la pisking Oa deemed up, in sa insensible state, and con-
voying bee 'Me the isstme.-44r. Dam, surgron, said that
dm demised bed resolved s sempeund fracture of the bones
el the right elbow joint, an estimalus lacerated wound of the
mere arse, sad injury to the spin*, of which injuries she
died on Friday lam—Verdies, T inasalty."—
A Seamus Jois.—Before Kr. W. Haker, at the Omen
Gate, City.rosd, touching ttie death of R. Hays, aged 62, a
shoemaker. On Friday evening the deceased was in the
taproom of a pablic-house in 04-street, when some prim,
present. who knew the deceaaed's love for bear, thought they
would h ire a " lsrk" with him, and whilst his attention was
drawn to another part of the room, one of them mired •
quantity ofjalsp in a pot of beer, which th then me him to
drink, and before he put it down be amity empled it. He
shortly afar cards became unmade, and was placed on some
damp strew in an ent-building, where he was discovered in
the morning dead. The body not having been examined by
• medical man, the coroner said that it was necessary a post
csortmet examination should be made, and the inquiry was
adjourned for that purp.isi.

OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM.

HARWICH—(CoNcLump).

Two or three things that came out before the
Roues of Commons mmunittee last Much, were calcu-
lated rather to induce a conclusion that Mr. Att-
wood', influence In Harwich was not of the purest
character. It appeared that the honourable gentle-
man had been investing a little of his earplug nalney
in the house property of the borough. Mr. Attwood's
hone, agents were cal!ed. One of them produced a letter
from Mr. Attwood's electiln agent, desiring him " to get a
good blue tenant" for a house, "to see that all the tenants
were properly rated, and that they supported the naive on
alloccasio. s." It was sworn that Mr. Attwood's house.
were not let without the condition of a vote being a part and
I parcel of the letting. A tenant had received a notice
I to quit, and Mr. Attwood's agents admitted that "it was
banana° be voted agaiast that gentleman."

At the last election it seems Mr. Attwoes property cox-
sista of no less than 20 occupains a number aufficient,
among inch a constituency, to turn the'seale at anytime. But,
since that period, a considerable addition has been made to
this property. An entire caurt out of Church-street has been
secured by Mr. Attwool's agent, on lease, the houses put into
tenantable repair, and let for 101. or 111. a year. These
houses will give ten or twelve additional voters, when all
are tenanted, which they are not at present; so that, before
the next election, Mr. Attwood will probably have from 30
to 40 tenant voters out of a constituency of 280. And these
will not include the Baxbys and other gentlemen electors to
• horn sums of money are lent on loan by charitable friends.
Harwich is, to all intents and purposes, a rotten borough
now; In a few years, if things are not altered, it will be as
completely so as ever it was before the Reform Act. From
the peculiar local position of the bore ugh, there is little or
so opportunity of increasing its town property in any way.
Harwich stands on a promontory ;' at the upper end, of it,
commanding alike the approach to the town by sea and land,
is a huge battery, with half a dozen bristling guns. The
land about this battery is the only spare 1 old in Harwich.
It belongs chiefly to the Woods and Forests. The Woods
and Forests will neither sell, nor let on building leases,
nor do anything else with the ground that might make
it profitable to themselves or useful to the town. If
you ask the reason why, they refer you to the Board of
Ordnance, and if you go to the Board of Or lnance they .
tell yin that the land " within range of the fire from the
battery." New, inasmuch as not a shot bca been fired from
the battery lins the peace, except seawards as afro de joie,
people might stand all the chance of lying " witnin range "
without much amrehension. But the Ordnance do nit
look at things in that light ; they may have occasion t) fire
their guns some day; so the land remains uncovered.
West with the improvement-stopping battery at one end
of the town, and the decayed and gram grown dockyard at
the other, Harwich can scarcely be regarded as a thriv-
ing place. Its statistics prove this. It hem scarcely a
larger population now than in 1811, when it had
3,732 to the 3,829 returned at the last census.
According to parliamentary returns the number of houses
in Harwich is about 700; the number estimated of
the value of 101. a year and upwards, including storehouses
and warehouses, about 450. Of these, however, only about
270 are rated at that amount. Of all the houses in Harwich
in 1833 the number taxed at 201 a year and upwards was
28—at 401. a year and upwards, 3 ! One of the 401. houses
is now shut up. And yet this place has me great a voice in
the legislature as Marylebone or Westusiester, in which the
houses below 401. a year are the exception, not the rule ! In
1816 the annual value of real property in Harwich was re
tamed at 12,3921. In 1833 it was taken at 11,2,181. ; since
then it has been still further reduced. For the pur-
poses of parochial assessment the prop rty of Harwich is
valued at 7,5001. ; for the seme purposes the pro-
perty of Liverpool is valued at 815,4441., or more than
one hundred and twelve limes the amount ! Harwich has a
population of 3,732 and an electorate of 279. The Tower
Hamlets contain 425,000 population and 18,748 electors.
Whilst, therefore, Bir John Cam Hobbonse, a cabinet nisi&
ter, represents 1,866 men, women, and children, and IX
voters, of whom one-third, or 46 in all, may be supposed to
be pure, Mr. George Thompson, who has nothing to do with
the cabinet, represents '42,000 souls, and no leas than 9.974
electors, or 113 times as many individuals, and nearly 68
times se many constituents! To show the decaying state of
the commerce of the place, it need only be mentioned that
whilst in 1778 Harwich had 78 fishing vessels, averaging 40
tons each, in 1833 the total number on the register of the
port was 10 !
If Harwich is permitted by the present parliament to con-
tinue the exercise of all its existing borough privileges, what
will be its fate at the next election / Mr. Attwood will
doubtless come there with another " grateful Irishman " in
his train, and a double thick cheque-book in his pocket.
His thirty or forty tenants must bring him in himself,. his
puree, in all probability, would bring in his nominee. Thus,
as in 1841, to the parliament of England, two members will
be returned by one of the smallest constituencies of the
empire, under an influence, and by an exercise of power
which will not bear examination or discussion. The re
able *Linton of Harwich themselves feel the evil which

ensues to the oountry at large, and are far from desirous to
present °Wades to an improved system. It is for the coun-
try, therefore, to decide whether laws are to continue to be
made by representatives of such constituencies as this—and
whether taxes us to be imposed en others by men who secure
their own return to make them, by the basest use of their
accumulated gains.

worst paid—whose claims to consideration have ever been
overruled by the influence of interested pirties,who are neither
the
to apprthiata the merits, nor disposed to advance
the interests of engineer civil effhere ; but who have
always been prompt In taking advantage of every means
of improving their own condition, at the expense of those
by whom more laborious and equally, if not more, responii-
ht. executive and practical dunes have to be performed.
Boum pains having been taken to prejudice the claims of
engineer civil Mims in public estimation, I beg leave to
point out the nature of the duties and responsibility of
engineer clerks of works and clerks ; and in Jar-
feet confidence, :caving to discerning man of business
to farm a judgment and decision, whether, comparing the
relative duties and charge, the services of the engineer civi.
liens have been compensated in anything like a comparative
measure, with those of 'the store and other civil brauulds of
the ordnance, who are neither by education, nor by qqalifi-
cations, entitled to higher consideration, and whose occupa-
tions are neither more responsible, nor requiring even •
moiety of that constant and unceasing appliadson and study,
re eminently ess.ntial in the discharge of the ordinary duties
of engineer clerks of worts and clerks.
In the performance of the responsible dudes of clerk of
works, agreeably to the regulations which, " require the
strictest integrity, activity, and attention, he must be fully
acquainted with deelgeing, building, artificer.' works, ant
the qualities of building materials of every daveriptiou, com-
petent to draw with neatness and accuracy plans, seed ,as,
and elevations., qual.fied to give detailed working plans tor
the different parts of a building—understanding thoroughly
how to estimate and mown works of eli kinds—be
well acquainted with the mode of keeping as
mute," and embracing, as they do, the designing, esti-
mating, and superintending of all ordnance and barrack
work. in Great Britain and titer cotoaies, ant the e tdement
of the compiicated and vuluminoas accounts of cantrad...rs,
fur the ec:uracy of all which clerks of works an cortointly
responsible with engineer eld'ithry officers, it follows that
I the duties are most arduous in every way, and call for great
mental exertion and study.
The qualifications of the clerks of the engineer and evil
branches are expressed in the regulations as precisely similar.
The duties of engineer clerks require him to labour bard,
early and late, demand the "rentest possible attention and
esre, with muck mentel application in working out the
office duties of their districts, involving much responsibility ;
not so the duties of storekeepers' cl rks and clerks of other
civil branches, which are comparatively easy, very simple,
a id involve no material exertion.

Memorials have been repeatedly brought forward for the
removal of the invidious distinctions, so prejudicial to
the interests of the engineer branch ; but whether from
selfishness, the desire of withholding the advantage which
obtain for the civil brsnches lest, it granted, they might
prejudice the interest, of the latter; or, from the inc rpabi Ivy
acfficials to appreciate the claims of the engin. ercivi.lane, cer-
tain it is, that such memorials nave always failed to rt mqve
the feeling that nothing appears to justify the elevation of the
clerks of works and clerks of the engineer department to the
position and advantuges enjoyed by the clerks and others of
the store and other civil branches.

To embarrass the condition of the engineer civilians still
more, they have unknowingly been made amenable to the
articles of war at home and abroad, and this moreover with-
out in any other way being recognised as public officers of a
military department. Tnus, then, it appeure that ',has:the
greatest amount of integrity and vigilance is requircd in
performing their responsible doing—whilst placed
under peremptory military control, and rendered
liable to all the inconvenience*, expenses, and
lore,, consequent upon frequent and unc^rtain
removals from place to place ; every boon and advantage
so li`ierelly dealt out with novena; hands to the civil
brarchcs of the ordnance, are obstinately refused, even for
the consideration of improving the positions and inindition of
that Imthful and zealous cis's, the engineer cheeks of works
and clerks.

Despairing of anything approaching to a fair and equit-
able consideration of their services and claim:, so long
as the ordnance remains constituted as it is, I
beg your insertion of this communication is the
Erpress —a means whereby, in all probability, the 10-
jeer may possibly he brought under the notice of those quali-
fied and experienced nun in author.ty who are disposed to
teal out svrn•hsnded justice to every department cf the
public setv:ce. SUA ISLA TONANTI.

IRELAND.
DCOLIN, JAN 29.
The Freeman's Journal mats a Kr at outcry
about the removal of Mr. Wym., and sne:ety in
Dublin is equally wroth. But it is reported that Mr.
Wyse is not to be overlooked.
The question of endowing the Irish catholic clergy
will certainly be brought before parliament in the
middle of text session by Mr. Keogh, the conservative
and catholic M.P. for Athlone.
It is rumoured that the Dean of St. l'atrick will ob-
tain the vacant mitre, and that the Rev. Merle
Perrin, brother of Judge Perrin, will be appointed to
tee vacant deanery. Dan Paktlham is very popular.
He was refused a mitre when his telative the Duke of
Wellington was in power.
A new weekly journal, The Province if Munger,
has appeared at Cork. It is started on the ultra-popu-
lar interest, and one of its proprietors was confined
ander the " Habeas Corpus Suspension Act." It is
very remarkable that it flings overboard repeal, -'red
says that nationality, in any of the senses in which
that word has been understood in Ireland for the last
fifteen years, is impossible.
In the union of Listowell, in Kerry, the rates are
12s. in the pound, and in the union of Trim the ave-
rage rating is 7d. in the pound. There are 14,000
paupers receiving outdoor relief in the Listowell
Union, besides 2,000 paupers now in the workhouse.
In consequence of the apprehension felt amongst
the people about the security of savings banks, the
directors of the National Bank of Ireland have re-
solved to take deposits as low as 10a. The Clare
Journal says :
From the countyWexfird, Athlone, Athy, and elsewhere
throughout the country, requisitions lave been sent 'o the
dir. ctors of the Bank on this subject, embodying the wish.
of the most influent al of the notility, clergy, and gentry of
Ireland. In compliance with their request we are happy to
learn that the Court et Directors have resolved after the
29th inst. to accept from parties desirous of making deposits
with this bank sums not below 10s each, nor containing •
fractional part of 10s. noires the sum to be lodised.exceed
51. The resolution of the bank will, we have no doubt,
be comidered as a great boon to the poorer classes
throughout the kingdom, who will gladly avail them-
selves of it; esJecially as the losses they have
lately sustained from several of the savings banks
have mule them now generally suspicions of these institu-
tions. We should not omit to observe, however, that as far
as the Ennis Savings Bank is concerned, there casino:. be the
slightest vround for apprehension among the depositors. It
has all along fully preserved its credit, and the statement of
its present position, lately given by the treasurer and secre-
tary, is most satisfactory. But independent of this, which
merely refers to one locality—we believe that it would be
very difficult, If not impossible, to restore public confidence
generally in these institutions, sod we have much plccsure
in apprising the public of this important resolution of the
National Bank.

Inceatharism 6till continues in the north. Within
two miles of Belfast the criminal disturbers have been
doing their work of mischief in the open day. A
public meeting was held in Belfast on Thursday, the
mayor in the chair, and strong resolutions were
passed. There is en account in the Belfast Chronirle
of an incendiary outrage. The stacks of a Capt. Garner
were fired, and damaged to the amount of 501.

DINOIIIMIIIIT OP THE Naw-roxI3I7DA Romerecn.—lt
appears that the heroism "of Miss M'Veigh was an ela-
borately contrived fiction. A correspondent of the Free
man's Journal (who is corroborated by the Belfast papers)
says " Miss Greet M'Veigh's laurels have been torn down.
It was sat'afecterily proved before the magistrate this day
(Friday), that she had been in Belfast on the day prose ling
the night that she made such courageous work ; that she
was in several butchers' shops trying to get a bottle of blood;
that she got one at length from a very decent man, of the
name of John Hamill, who, le well es his daughter, and a
boy about 16 years of age, have all identified Miss Grace as
the person who tame for the blood, and took it with lost.
The cap that was found as having belonged to the man oho
was shot, has also been identified by a person in the old
clothes trade as the ore which he sold to Mist M'Veigh on
the same day that she bought the blood; he hes identified
Miss M'Veigh also. This the young lady seems to have
riddled with shot, to assist in making the story app:ar like
truth."