The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-28 00:00:00

do you understand by the public peace ? Do you all the
present state of things is Ireland peace? (Cries of ' no,
no; and cheers.) Ido not. I consider it a most deadly
war. I say it is a misnomer of the government to call the
revolting and soul-harrowing state of things now existing
peace. I do not call it peace, as I ride along the road, to
see the young children moaning with hunger as they crawl
by me, half lifeless things: that is not peace—it is a most
dreadful war. (Hear.) But it is all according to law ; and if
we say anything to dot: rb that law we are seditious, we are
liable to be called traitors. I don't say anything against the
law, I don't excite ysu to break the law, I call on you to love
it, for, oh! is it not a beautiful law !—(laughter and cheers)
—and is it not really a most excellent law, that is sending
out hundreds and thousands to die from their homes, and
not like Christians but like dogs. (Sensation). But, my
friends, let us all say before God that it is an elegant law,
that we love it, and that wo will submit implicitly to it.
(Loud cries of ' No, no ; , never,' and cheers.) Oh!
shame upon you, tie on you, won't you cherish this paternal
law ? You are all ignorant Irish they will say; you are all a
set of savages, who don't kr.ow what is good fur yourselves.
(Laughter and cheers.) You don't feel the great gratitude
you should feel towards the English government for per-
mitting you to fatten on a pound of porridge in the day.
(Laughter.) Would you rather have a tenure in your ',ow-
ings and eat wheaten bread—would you, you savages?
(Laughter and cheers.) There is a way of escaping that
degradation and attaining this desired end, of eating the
produce of your own lands. God Almighty clearly intended
that the inhabitants of this rich and fertile land should live
like men, and if we be true to ourselves it shall be the case

again."
Ex EPtirioNs.—The papers to-day mention two executions
—one at Kilkenny and one at Nenagh. Two men were ex-
ecuted at each place. That at Nenagh was attended with
horrible circumstance•, thus described —" The hangman,
either through the grossest neglect of duty, or from 601111
other more wicked cause, did nut pull the cap over the head
of Connolly, who had been reading. The fact was that
the rope was adjusted about his neck, and the unfortunate
man, with his brother, launched into eternity with the 'ace
fully exposed to the people and police. It is impossible to
describe the dreadful appearance of the man as he 1,11
through the grating of the gallows t All the sufferings
and pains of strangulation were visible in the contortieus of
his countenance. his eyes shot out; in a moment the face
became blood red ; in another moment it as.umed a ghastly
livid hue, whilst again the facial muscles quivered in every
fibre. Death was almost instantaneous; but as it was, no-
thing could be more revolting—nothing more calculated to
disgust and outrage every human feeling, or to expose to un•
mitigated condemnation the barbarous punishment of public
strangulation."

SCOTLAND.
EDINItURGH, APRIL 26.

The Edinburgh town council are to present an
address to the Queen expressive of their attachment
to the throne and government. Bailie Stott made
some caustic remarks, on the draft of the address
being read. Ile said that—
He had no objection whatever to a loyal and dutiful
address to her Majesty ; and he was of opinion that a pro-
position of this kind would meet the ready and enthusiastic
acquiescence of the council. While, however, this was his
honest and sincere conviction, he must say that, as be
heard the address submitted, it appeared to him to express,
in a stronger way than he could assent to, attachment to her
Majesty's government. As he was not prepared to give
credit to her Majesty's present advisers for anything like
consummate wisdom, he must therefore take exception to
anything which might in the least degree appear to indicate
this. Abhorring the shedding of blood in any way, he
entirely disapproved of the sentiments expressed a few days
ago in parliament by the Premier. Violence was
inexcusable in any party. How indefensible con-
sequently was it to meet such wickedness with equal
folly. Hence it was that he viewed with repugnaece
the declaration of Lord John Russell that he would
fight to the death it neeessary. lie deplored anything like
a state of feeling in this country which might appear to some
to justify such language ; but he at the same time looked
upon it as a most lamentable thing that educated men
should stand up and talk of shedding blood Ile thought it
would have been more becoming in the ministry to have fol-
lowed the advice of the Times newspaper, and to have set
themselves vigorously to the promotion of economy and re-
trenchment in every department of the national expendi-
ture, as well is to the removal of the grievances under which
the people laboured, and the extension of the franchise.
These were the three things to promotes which Messrs.
Hume, Cobden, and others had combined, and which the
middle and working classes ought to unite in promoting by
every peaceful and legitimate mans. He would, therefore,
suggest that a clause should be inserted in the address, re-
spectfully. suggesting to her Majesty the necessity of urging
on her ministers the propriety of introducing economy and
retrenchment in the national expenditure, the removal of
public grievances, and the extension of the franchise. As
he did not wish to create any discussion he had not stated to
what exeunt the franchise should be extended, and would
be perfectly content if it was alluded to in the most general
terms.
As the introduction of these topics was not gene-
rally relished, Mr. Stott gave notice of the following
motion for next meeting :
That a memorial be presented to the government urging the crest
neceesity of taking into imnrsliate consideration the financial affair%
of the country, and the different grieranors complairust of Lr ...lion•
dames of thecommunity, with a stew to the efFeetinft of economy and
retrenchment in every department of the state, a more equitable
adjustment of taxation, as well as an extension of the elective
franchise.
The Glasgow circuit commences on the 2nd May,
when 39 parties connected with the late riots will be
tried.
Returns have been received of the letting of toll-
bars in Renfrew and Ayrshires. Three places in the
former, which let last year for 4,5001., 3,9301., and
1,0001., have this year only brought 2,1801., 1,700/.,
and 980/. In Ayr the total falling off is about 300/.

CURIOUS CONSPIRLCT.—At the Dumfries circuit last
week, William Mitchell, innkeeper, and Provost of the
Burgh of Lochmaben ; William Wells, shoemaker, and
procurator-fiscal; Thomas Tait. writer, and town-clerk;
James Johnstone, tailor. and burgh officer; all of the game
burgh, were charged with malversation in office by public
officers; wilful neglect and violation of duty; conspiracy by
public officers to defeat the ends of justice, by means of a
mock or friendly trial or sentence ; fabricating, subscribing,
and uttering false documents. The particulars of the charge
were, that the panels being aware that information had been
given to the procurator-fiscal for Dumfriesshire on behalf of
William Johnston, farmer, Cockwell, against William Wells,
blacksmith, Lochmaben, for the crime of assault, committed
on 30th July last, which was under investigation, with the
view of being tried before the Sheriff Court ; they conspired
to screen William Wells, by subjecting him to a mock trial
and sentence before the Burgh Court of Lochmahen. Ac-
cordingly, they held a court on 25th September; no libel
had been served upon Wells; and none was produced ex•
cept a pretended one prepared by his own instructions, which
was deficient in various respects ; a plea of guilty was taken,
and a tine of 11. imposed, or imprisonment for 14 days.
Wells did not pay the fine, however, and was allowed
to go at large. Information of these proceedings having
reached the procurator-fiscal for Dumfriesshire, he wrote to
the tows-clerk of Lochmaben for a copy of the papa rs con-
nected therewith ; whereupon the panels assembled in Mr.
Mitchell's inn, and receiving the 11, fine from William Wells,
the blacksmith, the sum was divided among the provost,
fiscal, and town-clerk. The deficient libel ssas then filled up
with dates, as of the trial, and the false execution signed by
Johnson, the burgh officer, and subscribed by witnesses;
while a copy of the pretended libel and execution were certi-
fied by the town-clerk, and transmitted to the fiscal for
Dumfriesshire, for the purpose of deceiving and misleading
him. Panels all pled Not Guilty. An objection was taken
to the indictment, on the ground that the copy served on the
accused was not in accordance with the principal. Nit hen the,
copies for service were sent out to Dumfries to be executed,
it was found that some omissions had been made in the in-
dictment, which were supplied in the espies, and afterwards
added, in Edinburgh, to the prine,pal document. It was i
submitted that these additions ought to be struck out. The
depute-advocate admitted the facts to be as stated, but'
urged that no prejudice had been done to the defenden
thereby. The practice of making such alterations was
sanctioned by instructions from the court ; but if their
lordships bad any doubt upon the pint, he would con-
sent to these additions being struck out of the indictment.
The Lord Justice Clerk ruled that the practice was erroae.
ous, and that the additions should be struck out ; but hinted
an opinion against, in the circumstances, going on with the
case.—The Depute-Advocate did not think that in conse-
quence of the court ruling that these additions should be
struck out he ought to ask for a delay of the trial.—The
Lord Justice-Clerk thought Mr. Young (the Depute Advo-
cate) should consider well in taking upon himself the responsi-
bility of going on with the trial, especially as, in consequence
of the unexpected absence of Mr. Dean, he had been called
upon to take up the case at a day's notice. After some other
observations, his lordship advised Mr. Young not to proceed
with the case.—Mr. Anderson (counsel for Mitchell sad
Tait) said the objection to the indictment hadnot been stated
by him. It would be a great hardship to his clients to have
this charge hanging over them. They were willing to make
any admission on the subject of these additions, being anxious
to go to trial.—Various attempts were made by all the coun-
sel to get over this objection, in reference particularly to an
addition to the designation of Provost Mitchell ; but even-
tually the diet was deserted pro loco et tempore, end a new
warrant moved for.

:LT ••• ;noel rAto The

WALES.
" REBECCA" REDIVIVES.—A correspondent writes:
The agrarian disturbances which charactenied the southern
portion of the principality of Wales in the years 1843 and
1844 have again manifested themselves in precisely a simi-
lar manner. The new county roads board does not operate
in the way it was intended to do by the legislature. The
purpose of that enactment was that gates should only be
erected at intervals of seven miles, and that if the tolls arum;
from these gates should be insufficient, then a read rate
should be levied in the same manner es the income tax, to
be paid in the first plate by theroads
tenant, but deducted by him
from the rent payable to his l
benefit. The act, however, never contemplated the pos-
sibility of the county roads board being constituted en-
tirely of landowners (even the members elected from each
district board being in fact the great men of each locality
er district), to the exclusion of all but those whose interest
it obviously would be to screw up the tolls and to cut down
the superintendent general's estimates, in order to avoid the