The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-16 00:00:00

THE DISTURBANCES AT NORTHHOOR-GREEN.

(From the Somerset Cows(' Gazette.)
We have hail frequent occasion of late to express
our regret at the means resorted to by some of the baba-
bitante of this piece for the purpose of manifesting their
disapproval of the proceedings of their incumbent, the
Rev. James Hunt ; and now that they are content with
nothing less than brutal acts of personal violence, and are
even guilty of the crime of arson, we think they ought not
to escape punishment. We have to record the particulars
of an attack made upon Mr. Hunt's person on the evening
of iffaesday last, which resulted in the rev. gentleman being
severely injured. It appears that shortly after five o'clock
on the evening in question he was coming from Northmoor-
green to Bridgwater, and when passing in front of the
Thatchers' Anne Inn, he stopped and commenced a conver-
sation with a woman named Lucy Heal, questioning her
respecting an assault alleged to have been committed upon
her, on the previous Sunday, by " Turpin" Bid Un-
known to the rev. gentleman, George Hitch (whom he,
in conversation with the young woman, had nicknamed
" Turpin") was at that identical moment standing at the
door of the public-house, in company with his brother-in-
law and some other men, and upon hearing himself called
" Turpin" by Mr. Hunt he went forth and demanded to
know what right the rev. gentleman had to call him such
a name, and why he interested himself in affairs which did
not concern him. Whether Mr. Hunt volunteered any
explanation, or made any reply whatever to these queries,
we have not been informed ; but it would appear that
Kitchalmostimmediatelycommenoed aviolent assault upon
the rev. gentleman, and struck him with his fist several
severe blows about his face and body. Mitch, who is a man
apparently of strong mu/cider power, was ultimatelypulled
away by some of his companions, but not before he had in-
flicted several severe injuries on Mr. Hunt, who was taken
to the house of Mr. Hitching' (one of his church-
wardens), where be was put to bad. A. messenger was
then despatebed to Bridgwater for thfr. Brooks, surgeon,
and that gentleman was quickly in attendance. It was
at first feared that the bridge of the nose (from which
the blood had flowed most profusely, completely saturating
the coat and vest worn by the reverend gentleman) was
broken ; but on a more careful examination this was
found not to be the case. The nose, however, was most
severely injured; both eyes were blackened, and nearly the
whole of the face was dreadfully swollen. Dr. Brooks re-
mained with Mr. Hunt upwards of an hour, and then left
him in Mr. Hitchinge's house, where he remained the whole
night; and heves fetchedtherefrom onthefollowing (Wed-
nesday) afternoon, by Mrs. Hunt, in • close carriage. It
was understood that an application would be made at the
county magistrates' petty session, at Bridgwater, on
Thursday, for a warrant to arrest Mitch for the assault,
but no such application was made, nor has any information
been laid for the issue of a summons. We understand that
Kitch's statement of the affair is that on accosting the
rev. gentleman, and asking him " W hat he knew about
'Tminn ?" Kr. Hunt threw his stick into the road, and
' showed fight ;" but we are much inclined to doubt the
truth of so improbable a story. Whether Mr. Hunt will
take any proceedings in the matter remains yet to be seen ;
but it is to be hoped that, in the event of his doing so,
Mitch will be severely punished. In addition to the
above, we have to chronicle another and still more
serious and disgraceful act—one of incendiarisru—perpe-
trated on the following (Wednesday) night. rtuate close
behind and in close contiguity to the church school, which
ever since the abandonment of the school by the Rev.
James Hunt has been kept locked up, is a detached
cottage, which, we understand, is vested in the incumbent
for the time being, and was about three years ago occupied
by the Rev. Mr. Shields, and more recently by Mr. Hill, the
late schoolmaster. For some time past, however, it has
been left untenanted ; but the Rev. James Hunt, having
(according to his own statement in the pulpit • fortnight
since) engaged another schoolmaster and schoolmistress,
has during the last few days had the rooms in the house
properly cleansed, &c., for the reception of the expected
new comers. As our readers have been informed, the prin-
cipal farmers of the pariah have established another
school in the village, and this is attended by •
large number of children, and appears to be con-
ducted in a very satisfactory manner. There is no
need, therefore, for the establishment of another
school in the village, and the inhabitants gene-
rally seem to be much prejudiced against anything
of the sort being attempted by Mr. Hunt, whose foresight
must enable him to perceive that such attempt will prove
an unsuccessful one. On the night of Wednesday last,
about half-past eleven o'clock, two farmers, Mr. Godfrey
and Mr. Lovibond, were returning to their homes from
Bridgwater, where they had attended the market, and on
passing along the road near the village of Northmoor-
green they discovered flames issuing from the house the
situation of which we have above described. They imme-
diately raised an alarm, and • large number of the
irrubi-
tents of the neighbourhood were soon on the spot ; but, sin-
gular to relate—and this fact is as significant as it is deplor-
able—moet of them stood watching the progress of the
destructive element as almost passivespectators, using very
little, if any, erdeavours to put a stop to it. One man,
we believe, dashed • bucket of wa er upon the flames,
but soon afterwards the bucket itself was thrown into the
midst of the fire, and, of course, burnt. Intelligence of
the affair having reached North Petherton, Police-cor-
stable Forward was despatched to the spot, but by the
time of his arrival the roof had fallen in, and the building
was almost destroyed. The only things which appear to
have been saved were some doors and windows. No mes-
senger was despatched to Bridgwater for an engine, and so
the building was allowed to be burnt to the ground. The
house having been so long uninhabited, there was fortu-
nately aca'wely any furniture in it at the time; the loss,
therefore, could not have been very great. There is not
the slightest doubt that the fire was the work of an incen-
diary. Mr. Superintendent Jeffs, early on the following
morning, arrived in the village, and instituted • very strict
investigation into the matter, but was, we believe, unable
to ascertain anything respecting the perpetrator of the
deed, who will, we fear, remain undiscovered.

MADAME DEVEY'S COMPANY (LIMITED).—It will
be in the recollection of our readers that some year or two
ago public attention was very forcibly directed to the
question of ameliorating the condition, and promoting
the welfare of that very hard working class, the milli-
ners and dressmakers of the West-end. The grievance
chiefly complained of was excessive hours of labour, and
every London season was inaugurated by the death of one
or more victims, who succumbed under the terrible
labours to which they were subjected by the caprice of
fashion. Various remedies wore suggested, and it is but
just to the aristocracy to say that when the sufferings im-
posed upon their poorer sisters, who laboured night and
day for their adornment, were brought to their notice, they
manifested a laudable desire to *mitigate the evil.
Most of the schemes suggested at the time failed,
mainly in consequence of interfering with legiti-
mate trade ; one, however, founded on sound corn
mercial principles, namely, Mdme. Devey's Company
succeeded. tinder the patronage of the Duchess of
Cambridge and the Duchess d'Aumale, and between thirty
and forty of the leaders of fashion in the aristocracy, •
limited company was formed with • capital to the extent
of 25,000 d., of which half was paid ; an extensive milli-
nery and dressmaking business at the West-end was pur-
chesed, and the establishment placed under the manage-
ment of Mdwe. Devey and a committee of ladies, consist-
ing of the Countess of Airlie, Lady Virginia Sanders, Lady
C. Ricardo, the Hon. Mrs. Lyttelton, and Mrs. Wm.
Dent. Yesterday the second ordinary general meeting of
the company was held at 74, Grosvenor-street, Grosvenor-
square, under the presidency of Mr. W. H. Le Feuvre, the
chairman of the company. The report which was read
stated that excellent results had followed the working of
the company during the first ten months, the net profit
being 2,274/. 16c, out of which a dividend was de-
clared of ten per cent. per annum, and in pursuance
of the philanthropic object with which the company
was formed 15 per cent. of the net dividend profits after
providing the first 6 per cent. was placed at the disposal
of the ladies' committee for distribution amongst the most
deserving of the employees. It is gratifying to add that
during the busiest part of the London season the limited
ten hours of daily work had been strictly adhered to,
proving that a profitable return for capital can be obtained
without straining upon the labour of young persons. In
addition to the dividend • surplus of 1,117/. remained in
the business. The report was unanimously adopted, and
votes of thanks were given to the ladies' committee, the
manager, and the chairman.
MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLNSHIRE
RAILWAY.—The total expenses of this company's railways
and canals, including rents, tolls, duty, lee., from July
Ist to Oct. ith, 1666, amounted to 135,6441., as against
123,9301. for the corresponding period of lfitss. The pro-
portion of the South Junction receipts accruing to this
company from July Ist to Oct. 7th amounted to 11,6631.,
as against 11,6231. for the corresponding period of 1665,
and the expenses to 5,7221. as against 5,3321.
Du BARRYS DELICIOUS REVALENTA HRABICA
FOOD cures dyspepsia, indigestkm, cough, asthma, consumption,
debility, constipation, diarrhces, palpitation, nervous, bilious,
liver, and stomach complaint& Cure No. 64,413.-- Rome, July
21. 103.—The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially
since, abandoning all other remedies, he has confined 6tmself
entirely te Dia harry's Food, and his Holiness cannot praise
this excellent food too klidde."—Gasettedu Mk& Diu Barry and
Co., No. 77, Regent-street, Linda), W. In tins, at is, Sed. ;
As, 2a. ad.; Whs.. ZHU., 40c—ildveribesuent