The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-02 00:00:00

LANARK.

At a meeting of the town council on Monday, on
the motion of Provost Adams, it was agreed to petition
parliament in favour of the government Reform Bill. On
Thursday evening a public meeting of the inhabitants was
held in the Town•hall. Provost Adana was called to the
chair. The object of the meeting was to enlist the opinion
of the inhabitants regarding the Reform Bill now before
parliament, and to take what steps might be deemed neces-
sary. Resolutions were passed in favour of the measure,
and two delegates were appointed to attend the conference
to be held in Glasgow on the following day.

POLITICAL DISTITERA-NCES AT Torras.—TOTNES,
SATURDAY ETKRING.—Our town has been the scene of a
series of disgraceful riots, which originated in the unseat-
ing of Mr. Fender, on the ground of bribery ; another
cause of ill-feeling being the uprooting of some trees in
the cemetery by one of the witnesses before the election
committee. The disturbances commenced on Wednesday
night, and were repeated more or leas till to-day, when
one of the ringleaders was taken before the magistrates
and remanded. Mr. Fender, who has been moat generous
to the borough, having given several munificent sums for
the erection of schools and like purposes, is generally re-
spected, and when the news came that he had been un-
seated, great excitement and indignation prevailed, espe-
cially as according to the evidence, there had been
comiderable bribery and corruption on the aide of
the victorious party. It was determined by some of
the more zealons politicians to give the principal
witness, Mr. Harris, • " warm " reception on his return
from town. Mr. Harris's friends were equally determined
to defend him. A procession was started at the higher
part of the town, headed by men carrying trees and an
effigy of Mr. Harris with two faces under one hat ; on the
back was • large placard bearing the words, " Judea the
Traitor ;" in his hands were bags of money, dry fish, and
other emblems. This effigy underneath a gallows was
constructed by some professed liberals, anti the members
of the opposite party got up a counter demonstation ; they
made the effigy of • lady confectioner in the town (Mrs.
Thomas), who had shown a leaning towards the liberals.
The first procession was accompanied by a band of
tin pots and kettles, the second by a fife and drum
band and persons carrying lighted torches. One party
proceeded to the house of Mr. Reeves and smashed in the
windows ; then they went to Mr. Harris's, and cheered to
the echo ; afterwards they visited Mrs. Thomas's shop,
broke several panes of glass, and violently assaulted the
lady herself. Mr. H. Bowden, • great party man, was
similarly treated. Next, the ruffians went to the Seymour-
hotel, the head-quarters of the liberals, and assaulted Mrs.
Beasley, the landlady. Bludgeons were freely used, and
more than 100 persons were seriously injured. It is ex-
that the town will be in • state of great excitement
rurtd
ing the next election.
Loss oe THE QUEEN, BRISTOL A/11) FLINT=
SveAnsisri..—lntelligence was received at Bristol yester-
day of the loss of the Queen steamship, which plies be-
tween that port and Hayle, in Cornwall. The Queen,
which was • very handsome vessel, was built some 12 or
14 years ago by Messrs. Stothera and Slaughter, iron ship-
builders, of Bristol, and she has latterly been overhauled
at a heavy expense, and was considered in all reveals as
good as when first turned out of hand by her builders. On
Thursday night the Queen left Cumberland Basin, Bristol,
on her 690th voyage. She carried a valuable cargo and seve-
ral pasesagen, and had on board (including her 02600Y5 and
mew) between forty and fifty souls. The night was • fine
one and moonlight, and everything seemed to indict.
plemant and prosperous voyage. The particulars to hand
of the disaster are at preeent Tay meagre, but it would
seem that in rounding Hartland Point she in some wag
Amick and made water so fart that the captain, to rave Ur
sinking in damp water, ran into Padstow Bay, where it
stranded. The mew and passengers managed to escape, but
the fate of the venal is, we believe, considered doubtful.
Further particulars are asticionall looked for, especially br
those bomb* property oil beard.