The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-24 00:00:00

SHOCKING WENS 47 4 FIRE.

On Monday afternoon the most intense and pain-
ful excitement yea caused in Ladybank and the surrounding
district by a melancholy occurrence which took place at the
little village of Monkatown, situated about 500 yards west
from the junction of the Perth and Dundee branches of the
North British Railway, remitting in the destruction by fire,
within • very short space, of four cottages and the death
of three persons. Monlateen' is a small village composed
chiefly of those thatched houses which a few years ago were
very common in that part of Fifeshire but of late years
have been rapidly giving place to buildings of more com-
modious and safer construction. About 4 o'clock in the
afternoon smoke was seen issuing in dense volumes
from the roof of one of the cottages, which was occupied
bya labourer employed on the roadanamed John Muckaraie,
end the inhabitants of the hamlet, appreciating the danger
to which they were exposed, at once turned out to assist
in putting out the flames, which immediately afterwards
began to shoot forth, and speedily enveloped the build-
ing. The attempt, however, which the very nature of
the structure rendered hopeless almost from the first,
was soon seen to be utterly futile ; and in the absence of
fire-engines, and every effective mean, of throwing water
upon the flames, the fire rapidly spread to the roofs of the
neighbouring cottages, and in not more than ten minutes
after the outbreak was first observed, four were blazing,
The unfortunate inhabitants, seeing the impossibility of
saving their dwellings, attempted, while the dames were
confined to the roof, to save the more valuable pieties of
their furniture—a foolhardy carefulness which was the
occasion of a melancholy accident. In the absence of her
husband, Mrs. Muckarsie, in whose house the fire broke
out, assisted by her son Richard and a young man
named David Anderson, an apprentice joiner, was thus
engaged when the burning thatch roof fell in upon them,
at once choking up the doors and windows, their only mains
of egress, and by loosening the burning straw and wood-
work of the roof, causing the fire to burn all the more
fiercely. The throe persons inside the house, if not killed
by the falling &lois, must have been very speedily suffo-
cated, and, the hamlet being at the time deserted by
nearly all the male population, any attempt to extricate
them from the burning mass was impossible. The bodies,
when some time afterwards recovered, were found to be
dreadfully scorched. After this fearful warning, no
further effort was made by the other cottager. to save
their household goods, and the unhappy and excited
women and children were reduced to the situation of
helpless spectators of the sad might. Before five o'clock, or
within an hour of the first discovery of the fire, four
cottages were burned to the ground, and nearly everything
they contained was destroyed. So rapid was the spread
of the flames, that some of the villagers, and those who
were assisting them in saving their furniture, very narrowly
escaped with their lives.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

WZDNI2II24Y, Al RA 24, II ♦.Y.

REMARKS.

er i.. i ; I
Or i 1

Barometrical preasme has decreased since yesterday, and con-
tinuos to decrease, except in the north. Winds in the extreme
north of Scotland and Ireland are northerly, but elsewhere are
still from southwest. Rain has 'wen general, except on the east
coast ; and the weather is now for the most part cloudy.

WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, APRIL 23. —Royal Re-
giment of Artillery—Captain and Brevet Major William
Todd Brown, C.B. from the seconded list, to be captain,
vice George Holland, cashiered by sentence of a general
court-martial. The promotion of Lieutenant Edward Henry
Baker to second captain, which appeared in Casette of 18th
December, 184. i, should have been in succession to Second
Captain Peahen, " placed upon half-pay," instead of " re-
signed."—Garette.
THE NEW BREECH-LOADER FOR FRANCE. —A
correspondent of the Figam, speaking of the new breech-
loading rifle adopted in France, says :—" It appears to
unite all the best qualities of an offensive weapon—long
range, facility of management, greatprecision, and remark.
ably great penetrating power. It can fire sixty rounds
without becomintieeradheated ; it discharges twelve balls
• minute, and is hterthan the ordinary infantry musket.
The troops have y rehaptimed the Chassepot rifle,
and never call it anything but the Pereepeau ' (akin-

Archbishop Manning yesterday opened the new
schools of St. Joseph, Holloway.
A young gentleman, a visitor to Brighton, and
holding, it is said, a good position at the Oxford Univer-
sity, attempted (says the Brighton Guardian), to drown
himself on Thursday by leaping from the New Pier into
the sea. He was, however, quickly picked up by a boat-
man and conveyed to his apartment+, where he lies in a
precariou+ state.

4 %)14'

:4 .

1867.

TIDE WEST' RIDING RSIPORM DEMONSTRATION.
ND ...sow.-
LEFT*, Turbmt Arr!RNooN.
-Following, as it did in the autumn of last year,
close on the heels of the great Birmingham meeting, the

demonstration held here to-day on behalf of the West
Riding of Yorkshire, was one of a most impressive descrip-
tion. From an early hour the streets of our town swarmed
with those who bad come to take part in the gathering on
Woodhouse Moor, and the large square in front of the
town-hall, where the procession was to muster, and where
a huge banner was displayed, bearing the inscription of
the Yorkshire department of the Reform League, formed •
rallying point for the perpetually shifting body of reformers.
The weather in the morning looked somewhat gloomy, but
towards noon the clouds cleared away, and the march of
the procession to the moor was made under most favourable
circumstance". The display of banners and trade symbols
in the procession was ea usual very numerous, each body of
reformers having at least one. The utmdtt order pre-
railed, the greatest attention being paid to the following
memorandum, which was signed by Mr. Alderman Carter,
the president of this branch of the league :—"The com-
mittee of management urgently impress upon all societies
and clubs who will join the procession to use every effort
for carrying out the arrangements in • satisfackey man-
ner. The counfa7 must be shown that working men can
manage these demonstrations in an orderly and peaceable
manner, and that they are worthy of the position in the
state which they are now claiming. if the instructions of
the appointed officers (who will be placed at different sta-
tions in the streets where the procession will pass and
Assemble) be strictly followed, the Yorkshire meeting
will be in every respect a great success." The proces-
sion was of great length, and occupied upwards
of an hour in peeing • given point. Estimates
of course vary much as to the number of person. who took
part in it, and as to the size of the congregation on the
moor, bat it was generally allowed that the proportions of
the crowd greatly exceeded those of the gathering in
October last. At the most moderate computation there
could not have been less than 200,000 persons present.
The following are the resolutions, which were put simul-
taneously from the platforms and carried amidst general
"enthusiasm:

1. That this meeting is of opinion that no measure of
reform will be considered by the working classes as final
which does not embrace registered residential manhood
suffrage, protected by the ballot, together with such a re-
distribution of seats as will place the representation in
accordance with the wealth, population, and intelligence of
the nation.

2. That the meeting rejoices in the progress that the
principle of household suffrage has made in the reoent dis-
cussions in parliament, and earnestly calla on all sincere
reformers to oppose those restrictive provisions in the bill
now before the House of Commons, which prevent that
principle being carried out in its integrity.
3. That this meeting expresses its deep sorrow and humi-
liation at the present unsatisfactory state of affairs in
Ireland, and urgently presses upon the government to pass
such immediate measures as will tend to restore prosperity
and happiness to that country.

LEEDS, TUESDAY NIGHT.

A large and enthusiastic meeting was held this
evening in the Corn Exchange. The chair was occupied
by Mr. Alderman CARTER, President of the Yorkshire
Department of the Reform League ; and amongst the
speakers were Mr. Forster, M.P., Mr. Stansfeld, BLP., and
Mr. Baines, M.P.
The resolutions adopted were the same as those sub.
mined to the meeting on the Moor.
Mr. FORSTER contended that the bill had many
I faults, but that it was • good franchise with bad
conditions. Against these bad conditions they must strug-
gle unceasingly until they were removed, and when they
were removed the bill would be worthy their ac-
ceptance. In that struggle they most act under the leader-
ship of Mr. Gladstone—(loud cheers)—for what loader save
Mr. Gladstone could they have ?
1 I Mr. SrAssextri alluded to the changed opinion that -
had taken place on the subject of reform amongst the
ruling classes of the country, and then, referring to Mr.
Gladstone's letter to Mr. Crawford, said he did
not interpret it as meaning that Mr. Gladstone had
resigned the leadership of the House of Commons ; but
Mr. Gladstone saw the principle of personal rating having
been affirmed by the house, that it was not well to go
on with his amendments further ; that seeing the political
situation he (Mr. Gladstone) had referred to "concerted
action " in his letter in a way to show that be was desirous
as the leader of the liberal party to receive an answer to
the question of what ought to be the concerted action of
the liberal party in the House of Commons, and what are
the practical amendments which must be carried to make
the bill acceptable. His (Mr. ilianafeld•s) reply to that
was, that they ought to do all they could to prevent the
two years' residence clause passing, and to pass if possible
Mr. Hibbert's amendment for placing the compound house-
holders to be enfranchised under the bill on the same foot-
ing se the compound householders under the act at pre-
sent in operation. (Cheers.)

BE. BAINES, M.P., wan received with great applause.
He could not refuse to attend the meeting for several rea-
sons : first, as member for the borough, it was hi■ clear
duty to appear among them, in order to bear their opinions
and wishes on the reform question ; secondly, his heart
was entirely in favour of real and extensive reform,
although he did not agree with all the details of the reso-
lution now before them, and which had received the
approbation of the meeting ; yet in every part but
one he agreed with them heart and soul, and
that was getting • large measure of enfranchise-
ment for the working classes. It bad been said
that night that Beale, had done more than any man in
England to bring about the present position of the reform
agitation, but he (Mr. Baines) must beg to make exceptions
in favour of Bright and Gladstone. (Loud applause.)
After these gentlemen Mr. Bales must yield the palm to
Robert Lowe, who by his speech two years ago did such
substantial service in agitating the country. (Cheers.) If
any men were calculated to carry the question through the
House of Commons they were Gladstone and Bright.
(Loud applause.) After entering into a number of statis-
tical statements to show how the tory bill would affect
boroughs like Leeds, the hon. gentleman concluded by
stated that he was prepared to go as far as W. rental, a
remark received with exclamations of " Oh," and cries of
" Household suffrage."
The proceedings terminated with thanks to the chairman
for presiding.

A meeting of the liberals in Maidstone will be
held at the Corn Exchange to-morrow evening, to con-
sider the present position of the reform question. Messrs.
Lee and Whatman, the members for the borough, will be
present.
THE BIRMINGHAM REFORM MEETING. —The
Diriainghant Daily Post says:—" Owing to the vast crowds
that already covered the ground, very little could be seen
beyond the long line of banners—which, eventually break-
ing off here and there, resolved themselves into clusters
which marked one or other of the eight meetings held
simultaneously upon Brookfields. It is always difficult to
estimate numbers, but it is always unsatisfactory not to
make some attempt. The last meeting was put variously
at from a hundred and fifty thousand to a quarter of •
million—which latter was the estimate of more than
one of the London papers. We put it ourselves at
two hundred thousand. The present meeting,
when all were assembled was, as it appeared
to us, about half as large again as the last.
We should, therefore, put it at shout 300,000. Estimates
ea the ground varied from 150,000 to 500,000. The field
was well covered before the procession reached it the num-
ber present being 80,000 or 100,000 perhaps. The proces-
sion—the number taking part in which we are unable,
owing to the unknown quantity of tributary rills which
joined it at various points of its route, to estimate at all—
brouaht with it the vast masses which it bad gathered on
its four miles journey from Vauxhall to Hockley—
masses which could not have fallen far short, in-
cluding the procession, of from 200,000 to 250,000." With
to Mr. Bright's same
speech the journal says :—"ln
regard
respects, whether of matter or manner, it was one of
his happiest efforts of oratory—luminous in statement,
close and powerful in argument, uniting earnestness with
moderation, admirably sustained throughout, and not en-
frequently rising to the loftiest heights of eloquence. In
particular, the noble tribute rendered to Mr. Gladstone
will never pass from the memory of those who were privi-
leged to hear it ; while the enthusiastic cheers with which
it was received attested not less the power and the sin-
cerity of the speaker than the transcendent merits of the
statesman who was the subject of eulogium and the object
of applause. The only point to be regretted is that Mr.
Gladstone was nut there to hear his character and services
estimated at their true value, and to receive in person evi-
dence of the affection with which he is regarded by the
great masses of his countrymen."
WE.STMINSTER ABBEY.—The special evening ser-
vices will begin on the 28th of April at 7 11401. The fol-
lowing are the preachers for April and May :—April 28,
the Dean of Westminster ; May 5, the Rev. Stopford
Brooke. Incumbent of St. James's Chapel, Greek-street ;
May 12, the Hew. T. J. Rowsell, Rector of St. Margaret's,
Lothbury ; May 19, the Dean of Chichester ; May 2G, the
Bishop of Oxford.
It is probable that the coming wheat crop will be
the largest ever grown on this continent.—Nets York

LAW INTnLIGENCZ.

(THIS DAY.)

EQUITY COURT,
(Before Vice-Chancellor Stuart)
EDMUNDS r. BROUGHAM.

Mr. G. N. Higgins, for the plaintiff, aid is sag happy
to say that owing to the good offices of the friends of the
plaintiff and the defendant it had been agreed that, upon
the term, proposed to be embodied in the decree, which
he would not read to the court, the bill should be dia.
mined without costa. He would add that there were no
imputations on either side upon the conduct of the other
in the matters relating to the suit.

Mr. Osborne Morgan, for the defendant, wished to Bey
that the defendant had derived no ',enlace' benefit what.
ever from the sum of 300/. per annum, in respect of which
the suit bad been brought. That sum bad been applied
solely for the purposes first contemplated—viz., the pay.
went of Mr. John Brougham's debts.

The Vice-Chancellor accordingly made a decree in the
tonna agreed upon.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
Sittings in Banos—(Before Justices Blackburn, Mellor,
and Shea.)
The court eat to-clay for the first time alter the Easter
holidays.

WALIU V. BELFORD.

This was an action tried at Liverpool before Mr. Justice
Mellor, when the jury returned a verdict of 531. over and
above 101. which the defendant had paid into court as
sufficient to meet the plaintiff's claim. The action wag
for a breach of contract in the sale of a mansion, kt., the
defendant having, as the plaintiff alleged, removed certain
vines which formed a portion of the property purchased.
Mr. T. Jones, Q.C., to-day moved for • rule cAlliag
upon the plaintiff to show cause why a new trial should
not be had on the ground that the verdict was agaiart
evidence, that the damages were excessive, and also mis.
direction.

Mr. Justice Mellor said the damages were higher than
he should have given, but it was impossible for bun to y
tho jury were not warranted in giving the amount they
had.
Rule refused.