The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-29 00:00:00

THE PREVENTION OF INFANTICIDE.

Mr. Walpole, Secretary of State for the Home
Department, was waited upon yesterday by a deputation
of the Hanel= Society of London, Dr. Tyler Smith, pre-
sident, to procure same legislation by which the crime of
Infanticide might be lessened.
Dr. DATSDALE read the recommendations of the com-
mittee, the principal of which were—That the registration
of all births should be compulsory. That all still-born
children should he registered, and that certificates of still-
births should only be received from medical roes and cer-
tified midwives. That no still-born child should be
buried wiebeiet a serkiiimes. TIM is 40009 of Milkier&
children where neither a medical man nor • certified
midwife has been present the poor-law medical officer of
the district should make inquiry into the case, and, if he see
6t, acquaint the coroner, who may then hold an inquest as
to the cause of death. That the registration of an illegiti-
mate child in any other name than that of its mother, when
known, or the registering an illegitimate child as alegiti.
mate one, should be ► punishable offence. That the crime
of infanticide should no longer be punishable by death,
but that the recommendation of the Royal Commission on
Capital Punishments be adopted, and that the offence be
considered se murder in the second degree. That evidence
be no loogerrequireil of complete separation from the mother
—that is, of entire live-birth—for conviction ; but that it
be held sufficient for the medical andotherevidenoe toprove
that the child was alive during birth, and that it died from
violence or neglect. Theta single woman, certified to be preg-
nant by a medical man, should be enabled tomske A declara-
tioil of the fatherbef ore amegistrate, when there is ram:ate
believe that he is likely to abscond. That any pregnant
woman being destitute should be at once admissible into
the workhouse by application on or about the completion of
the eighth month of pmnancy. That, after the period of
four months has elapsed, the mother, if a single woman,
should be allowed to leave the infant in the workhouse;
and that the guardians be empowered to recover from the
mother in such cases a portion only of the sum required for
the maintenance of the child. That the guardians should
have power to recover from the father of an illegitimate
child • weekly sum towards its maintenance ; sod that the
legal process of recovery should bs assimilated to that
fur recovering the coat of maintenance of legitimate chil-
dren deserted and left chargeable to the parish. The
committee consider that the maximum sum which may
be assessed on the father of an illegitimate child should
be raised from half-a-crown to five shillings per week.
That, for the rearing of children left in charge of the
guardians, a colonising system should be adopted similar to
that pursued by the Foundling Hospital. and to that fol-
lowed under the old Poor-law system. That no person be
allowed to take charge of an illegitimate child to nurse who
is not registered as a fit and proper person ; and that she
and the child, or children, in her care, should be under the
supervision of the district Pooi-law medical officer. Any
person acting as a nurse to an illegitimate child and not
being registered should he liable to a penalty, and penalties
should be enforced in all cases for neglect or ill-treatment.
That no nurse should be allowed to take charge of more taunt
two children without the consent of the district medical
officer. In conclusion, the committee are desirous of ex-
pressing the opinion that the following causes of illegiti-
macy and indirectly of infanticide require the attention of
government :—L The overcrowding of the dwellings of
the labouring classes in urban and rural districts. 2. The
custom prevailing in the north and west of England and iu
Scotland of public hiring of servants. 3. The gang system
in agriculture. 4. The promiscuous lodging of the sexes
(luting hop-picking, harvests, cider-making,
Several members of the deputation having urged these;
points on the government,
_ _

Mr. IVacrole said the observations that had been made
were forcible ; but the only thing be could say now with
regard to any legislation on the subject, was that a bill
would be brought in this session dealing with capital
punishment. He could promise them no legislation beyond
that without much more consideration.

The Weekly Register, commenting upon the
recent disavowal by Archbishop Manning of "his connection
with the We4minster Gazette, and especially with the
article which lately appeared in that paper, on the subject
of religious toleration, says :—'' Whether our new-born (*-
temporary means what be says we do not atop to inquire ;
but as catholic, and as Englishmen we, in common with
every right-thinking man of our creed and country, believe
persecution for religions opinions to he utterly contrary to the
spirit of Christianity, and to he detested and disavowed by
every true member of the catholic church. That a catholic
paper should avow such opinions, or that any catholic should
really hold them, seems, as Dr. Newman would say, ' like
a bad dream.' In common with every true catholic in
England, and throughout the world, we heartily avow
that our opinions on the subject of religious toleration are
those of the Archbishop of IVestminster, and not such as
are put forth by the Westminster Ge:ette." Writing on
the same subject, the Gaxtte says that it is " edited by a
layman, and written by men having no special relations to
the ecclesiastical authorities."
The Manchester Examiner says that short time
working has been commenced in earnest at Blackburn and
throughout the Rosaendale Valley. The majority of the
cotton mills in those districts will now only work four
days a week, and the manufacturers and spinner, of East
Lancashire generally are expected to come to a similar
decision within the next few days.

MR. SAMUEL MORLEY AND HIS AGED WORKMEN.
—The Nottingham Daily Express states that during a re-
cent visit of Mr. Morley to Nottingham a portion of his
time there was spent in the performance of an act of wise
liberality. On Wednesday, January 9, a number of frame-
work.knitters, who have been in the employ of the firm
for many years, were invited to the establishment in
Fletcher-gate, and after having partaken of refreshments
they were addressed by Mr. Morley in a kindly manner,
the subetanoe of his observations being, that he felt deeply
interested in their welfare, and was desirous of promoting
their happiness. Acting on these feelings, he had decided
upon allowing each of them a pension of 7s. aid. per week
for life. Some forty of these aged workmen had this
weekly allowance granted them, independently of their
earnings, and arrangements were made for its regular pay-
ment. On Thursday about the same number of frame-
work-knitters, employed by the firm but rather more
favourably circumstanced, met Mr. Morley, also at the
warehouse in Fletcher-gate, and after being supplied with
refreshments were addressed by him in similar terms : to
each of these workmen • sum of W. was presented. The
Nottingham Express understands that it is the intention of
Mr. Morley to continue this system of benevolence, the
allowance being determined by age sod circumstances.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT A RAILWAY STATION.—
Yesterday • dreadful accident occurred at the carriage
department, Oldham-road, of the Lancashire and York-
shire Railway Company. At 10.30 that morning a body of
men were at work on the hoist, sending up quantities of
timber from the lower story to the middle one. A
wagon load had just been got on the level, and was about
being pushed off, when two of the chains supporting the
hoist snapped asunder, and the men on the hoist-table,
timber and all, fell in one confused mama. The team,
which was in planks and boards, was much broken up,
and several of the unfortunate men were completely buried
under it. Three were picked out dead or in a dying state,
and seven others were found more or less hurt, moue of
them having sustained compound fractures, and all of
them suffering much from the shook. They were taken to
the infirmary.
LADIES' CLASSES AT OXFORD. —The ladies' classes
at Oxford have proved a great success, and the committee
have just issued • programme for the present term. The
course of instruction includes Latin, } rench, Arithmetic,
Euclid, German, Ac. The Rev. W. C. Sidgwick, M.A.,
Fellow and Tutor of Merton College, has undertaken to
deliver a course of lectures on the Italian Republica of
the Middle Ages.
THE ROYAL INFIRMARY, CITY-ROAD.—Since the
foundation of this hospital feral' chest diseases, 70.088 cases
have been admitted. The number under treatment last
week was 002. Acute cases are received for in-door treat-
ment nithout any letter of admission. The present win-
ter is already being felt, and public benevolence alone
can help the hospital to keep pace with the claims on its
resources.
As was feared (says the Leeds Mennt ry) the rapid
thaw of last week has caused most of the rivers in the
North and East Hidings of Yorkahire to overflow, and con-
siderable damage to property has been the result.
Du BARRY'S DELICIOUS REVALENTA ARABIC&
FOOD cures dyspepila, indlEcAtion, cough, asthma, consumatioe,
debility, constipation, disaThics, palp talon, 'tenon+, ens,
liver, and stomach complaints. Cure No. 65,41&—" Rome, July
51, MISS.—The health 4 the Holy Father is excellent, especially
duce, shmidonbut an other remedies, he has weaned himself
entirely to At itarry's Food, sad his Holiness cannot prides
this excellent food too blithly."—liatettedu MOLL Du berry sad
Co., No. 77, Regent-Oz.:I, Loudon. W. Itt tins, at Is, led.;
is FA Sala.. 401.—(Advertisement.]

[TWOPENCE

THE MEMBERS FOR MARYLEBONE AND THE
REFORM QUESTION.

A public meeting to discuss parliamentary re-
form was held last evening in the Vestry-hall, St.
Pancras. Mr. Rciurrr, one of the churebwardene, was in
the chair. There was • large attendance. The meeting
was convened by the St. Pancras branch of the National
Reform League.
The as in openng the proceedings, read ex-
tracts from a speech de 'livered by Mr. Got, win Smith at
Oxford, in 1866, showing the defective state of our repre-
sentative system. He also brought forward numerous
statistics, showing the anomalies existing at the present
time in English boroughs. It was not creditable to the
free institutions of the country that there were in the
United Kingdom 6,000,000 of its adult population and
forty-nine•fiftietha of the working-classes without any
means of representation in the House of Commons. (Cheers.)
The chief resolution was, " That this meeting protests
against the present state of the representation, under
which the people are amenable to laws in the waking of
which the great majority of them have no voice ; and de-
clares that no reform bill will be acceptable as final which
does not include residential and registered manhood
sufirsge."
Mr. Tolime proposed this motion, Mr. Slack seconded it,
and Mown. Dodd and Beales spoke in its support, the
latter gentleman calling upon the working men of London
to support the Reform League:Demonstration on the 11th
of February. The resolution was carried with acclama-
tion.

---ireeolution was also passe* in favour of the ballot, on
the proposition of Mr. CUNNINGTON„ seconded by Mr.
/KERMAN, who hoped the borough members would leave.
the electors in no doubt as to their views.
The CHAIRMAN, not altogether with the approbation of
the meeting, then announced that the borough members
(who entered the hall about ten o'clock) preferred
waiting until the whole of the resolutions were peened
before they delivered addresses.
On the motion of Professor Hoppers, seconded by Mr.
Woifendale, a vote of thanks was passed to Lord Russell,
Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Mill for defending the
working people from the slanders heaped upon them dur-
ing the past session of parliament. The seconder re-
gretted that he was not able to add to the motion
the names of the members for Marylebone. He hoped the
hon. gentlemen would give no unoertain sound on the
question of reform in the remarks they intended to make.
(Loud cheers.)
The resolution having been passed,
The CHAIRMAN hoped the hon. members for the borough
would be heard without interruption. (.• Oh.")
Mr. HARVEY LEWIS, M.P., who was greeted with cheer-
ing, mid that for himself he believed a reform bill was
necessary now, but he would not pledge himself to
any particular course, because by doing so he would
sacrificethe independence of which he was aro proud, and
which he would maintain so long as he represented the
borough. He could not efficiently and honestly represent
thee. if he bad not perfect freedom, but be begged to re-
mind them that he sought their suffrages as a reformer,
1 end would ask them to look back upon the various measures
brought before parliament for the purpose of advancing
reform, and see whether he had been absent from any divi-
sion. (Cheers.) He was as anxious for reform now as
lever he was; be had supported reform and should
continue to do so, but he would not under any circum-
stances, or to please anybody, pledge himself in any way
whatever. Of this the constituency might be sure, his
future acts would not be inconsistent with those which had
characterieed his conduct in the past. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. CILLWRIRS, M.P., said that the most liberal measure
brought in by the government—the liberal govern-
ment—would have his support. That was a more prac-
tical form of pledge than the pinning of one's faith to in-
dividual items of a subject upon which the House of Com-
mons had not yet decided. People were apt to think
that a man was a real reformer if he pledged himself to
various things, whereas the most practical reformer was
the man who determined to take the best the government
would give. The proper thing to do was to wait and see
the course the House of Commons intended to pursue, and
he should then be ready to do his duty. (Cheers.)
A coedial vote of thanks was then passed to the hon.
gentlemen, and another to the chairman, for their attend-
ance. The meeting then terminated, but owing to the
inordinate length of the speeches on the first resolution,
not until nearly half-past eleven o'clock.

LORDAMBERLEY ON PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.—
Lord Amberley addressed an enthusiastic meeting of
reformers last night at the Exchange.&all, Notting-
ham. He said, without hesitation, that reform would
not be obtained, and that parliament could only
be iefluenced to pass a satisfactory measure by a
strong and decided expression of public opinion. He
would venture to say that the mere fact of the exclu-
sion of the working classes from the suffrage was in itself
a grievance of no small magnitude. In the boroughs the
present representation excluded a large number of the
most intelligent of the population, who would be most
competent to vote. A resolution was then passed in
favour of residential manhood suffrage and vote by ballot'
_ _

THE REPRESENTATION OF STEM' o.—At a large
meeting of the electors of Stroud, hat night, a resolution
was passed to support the return of Mr. Wlaterbothana
instead of Mr. Horaman at the next election.

REFORM DEMONSTRATION AT EXETER.—A de-
monstration in favour of parliamentary reform took place
at Exeter yesterday, and was in every respect creditable
;
in
t A l
thefiircei sslowinl)araded order:-Band;the
mite the metropolis
sumetrope:tilisaofththeeciwts
committee of Reform League; members of the League;
friends of reform; bond; joiners; stonemamins; cabinet-
makers and painters; band; bricklayers, plasterers, and
labourers; brushmakers and cork cutters; Land; metal-
workers; band; members of Total Abstinence Society;
and friends of reform in carriages. Besides the reformers
of Exeter there was a large camber from the neighbouring
towns-the total gathering amounting to between 4,000
and 5,000. The utmost order was preserved. The out-door
proceedings were followed by aublic meeting presided
over by the veteran reformer Sir John Bowling. All the
speakers were Working men. The following resolutions
were carried unanimously :-Moved by Mr. Pyne, seconded
by Mr. \leery, and supported by Mr. Rex' "That
this meeting desires to record its opinion that any
measure of reform introduced into the Mouse of Commons
(by any government) that does not take registered and re-
sidential manhood suffrage as its basis will not be ac-
oepted by the people as a final settlement of this great
question. Any measure short of this would be unwise,
unsatisfactory, impolitic, and would keep the question in-
definitely before the public ; be a fruitful source of agita-
tion, when it ought and could be allayed by • wise and
generous measure of reform." 211.1. Moved by Ur.
Thomas, seconded by Mr. Spicks- " This meeting desires
to record its conviction that the best means to cure the
bribery, corruption, and intimidation, with the many other
evils under which our representative system is cursed,
and to cause any measure of reform that may be intro-
duced to work satisfactorily, is for the votes of members
of parliament to be taken by ballot. And this meeting
further pledges itself to use every legitimate mums to
support the ballot." The Rev. W. It. Bonner attended as a
deputation from the Reform Le•gue, and delivered a tell-
ing speech on the principles of that hotly.
REFORM DEMONSTRATION AT NFWCAisTLE.—A
t reform demonstration was held in Neweastle-on-
Tyye yesterday. At noon a procession, including the
pitmen from twenty collieries, mid workmen belonging to
thirty-five other trades and sucietiee the members of the
Northern Reform League, &c., headed by mounted mar-
shals, marched from in front of the Central-station, by
way of Collingwood-street, Mosley-street, up the west
side of Grey-street, round the monumeut to Earl
Grey, down the east side of Grey-street, along
Mosley-street East, up Pilgrim-street aud Northumber-
land-street to the Hay-market, where an open-
air meeting wns held. There were six platforms and
fifty-four speakers, all workmen, and the following
resolutions were submitted to the meeting :-let " That
this meeting enters its solemn pretest against, and its
denial of, the charges of venality. ignorance, drunkenniss,
and indifference to reform, brought against the working-
classes during the List session of parliament ; and declares
registered residential manhood suffrage and the ballot to
be the only just and proper Weis of reprenentation." 2nd.
That this meeting desires to acknowledge the services of
Earl Russell, the Right lion. W. E. Gladstone, Mr. John
Bright, The O'Donoghue, Mr. John stout Mill. Mr. G-
O. Trevelyan, Mr. Joseph Cower' Mr. John Candlish,
and all those who have supported the people's claim,
and viudicated their character in perliament.'
3rd. " That this meeting expresses its indignation at
the conduct of those members of parliament who have re-
fused to aid the working classes in their endeavour to
obtain • fair share of the franchise ; and hereby pledges
itself to unite with the men of London, Birmingham, Man-
chester, Leeds, Glasgow, Dublin, and elsewhere, in their
determination to press the question of reform to an im-
mediate settlement, to maintain the peace, and secure the
contentment of the country." A pulilic meeting was held
last night in the Town Hall, under the prebidency of Mr.
Joseph Cowen, jun., when the speakers were Lewd Teyn-
hain, Mr. Ernest Jones, Lieutenant-Colonel Perkins, Mr.
Ablenuan Cowen, M.P., Mr. George 0. Trevelyan, M.P.,
and Mr. Alderman Candlish, M.P. The day was remark-
ably tine. It was estimated that fully 20,01/0 men were
in the procession. The proceedings were very orderly.

The annual meeting of the Manchester Chamber
of Commerce was held yesterday, Mr. Malcolm Roes (the
president) in the chair. The secretan. read • report
showing the questions which had engaged the attention of
the board during the year, which, atter a brief discussion,
was adopted.