The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-25 00:00:00

RUSSIA

ST. PETERSBURG, WEDNESDAY.
The acceptance of the Austrian propositions has been
published here. The neutralization of the Black Sea is
put forward as the most important. Upon other points
it is announced Russia is ready to negotiate.

'Mr. J. Clementson, who, having held the office of
Deputy-Serjeant-at-arms of the House of Commons for
fifty years, is well known to the members of the Legicla-
ture, died on Sunday last at his residence, Felcourt-lodge,
Torquay.
Preparations are being made in Germany to celebrate
with great pomp the hundredth anniversary of the birth of
Mozart, which will fall on the 27th June next. At Gotha,
Berlin, Vienna, Munich, Dresden, Carlsruhe, Darmstadt,
and Hamburg, the Government have voted ample funds
for the purpose.
" WALKING '' OFF WITH BOOTS.—A woman, named
Susan Doyle, was charged with having stolen some boots
and shoes, the property of Edward Gilligan, St. James-
street. It appeared that the property was stolen, and
the prisoner was found, shortly afterwards, offering
it for sale. She was sent to gaol for one month.

THE SABBATH DEFENCE MEETING

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

THERE are, undoubtedly, some subjects which
excite the interest of large bodies of men more
than any others—subjects, the discussion of which
never palls upon the minds of human beings.
Religion in all its branches, with its doctrinal
points of every kind, and its diversity of opinion
of every shade, is one of the subjects which has
always been of never-failing interest, and the
appeal to which has roused the slumbering ener-
gies of nations, and often led to almost universa

conquest.
It was, therefore, with no feeling of surprise,
though with feelings of much regret, that we s!,,lv
the large meeting in St. George's Hall, on Tuesday
last—its countless clergy of all denominations on
the platform—its hundred upturned faces in the
body of the hall. While it is almost impossible, in
this busy town, to persuade men to meet, or to
think for a moment, much less calmly to work out,
the great questions of the day—juvenile delin-
quency—the improvement of the condition of
the working classes— still more, the great
question of Education, which includes all
these ; while to these objects, really the
types of Christianity, men give no heed—a
meeting, convened to denounce our fellow-crea-
tures, to tighten the bonds already tight enouf.zh,
in which our labouring population plods wearily
along, is easily filled, and thousands applaud the
theatrical, though Reverend declaimer.
The object of the meeting was to form a Sabbath
Defence Association, and to endeavour to meet
the growing feeling of the intelligent portion of
this community, in favour of some relaxation in the
Puritanical and inconsistent manner in which the
Sunday is now kept.
Puritanical—because opposed to all rational
enjoyment, to all real rest to those who need it
most, our working population.
Inconsistent—because the laws fall only mn the
poor man. The rich man having rolled in his
carriage to and from his place of devotion, can
enjoy a stroll in his own garden, a glass of his
own wine; and an oratorio or sacred music, played
on his own piano, by his own daughters. We are
perfectly prepared to meet the reverend orators on
their own grounds, and to prove from their own
facts, and still more, from their own treatment of
them, how grievously they are at fault.
The positions taken up by the speakers were
three :-
1. That the opening of the Crystal Palace, and
the British Museum, was contrary to the
written word of God.
We will not enter upon a Theological discussion
with a party who, though they have much pretence
of reverence for holy things, show but little of that
feeling in their discussion of them. Our readers
are well aware that our great Master's teaching
was specially directed against the Pharisaical and
Judaic observance of the Sabbath, which we are
now called upon to reinforce. That, whenever we
find any mention of the subject in His life and
teachings. it is (were we disposed to quote, We
easily might) in favor of the rational, rather than
the Puritanical, observance of the Holy day.
2. That the Crystal Palace and other places of
quiet Sunday recreation once opened, the thin
edge of the wedge once inserted, the working
classes would soon be called upon to work
seven days in the week, and " for the six days
In France and other continental countries where
the Sabbath can hardly be said to be regarded at
all—this is not the case. Every traveller knouts
that whatever work he gets done on a Sunday
has to pay double for, and every person connects
e•
with the trade of this city is well aware that 00
the same terms he can get his work done here O
Sunday. The working classes are too intelligeey.
to be deceived by this wily argument, the fallaci
of which they understand, and we wonder that
party pretending to act in their interest, and as
orator calling notice to the numbers of them wd-l°
were present, could dare to make use of an argi:
ment betraying such a low appreciation of 001
intellect.
3. That the present movement in favor °
extending the means of recreation to ala
labouring population, would be but the PI
cursor to the opening of ball-rooms an
theatres on Sunday.
This is merely the alarmist argument which the
Tory party make use of on every occasion, and i 4
as false a cry of wolf ! wolf ! as it has invariably been
proved to be in the mouths of that party.
The Sunday is dear to every Englishman ; to non
more dear than to us. Its safety may be left to
the public opinion of the country. We only Wis,'h
to raise up some rival to the gin palaces whiob
infect our town—the curse of its population. We
merely seek to give all an equal chance
of spending their Sunday afternoon in intellectual
ptirsuits, in quiet and improving enjoyments. We
only\44sk that the public libraries, museums, gar:
dens, parks, and public buildings should u"
thrown open to those to whom they belong, to
those with whose hard-earn gains they werhy
built, on the afternoon of the one day on which'
alone they can make use of them. .
We are in favour of no innovation, of no desecre'
tion ; we would only allow every, one to follow theft
own inclination on their one day of rest, taking
care that they had more than one choice left then
—and that choice the taproom or the gin palace'
We shall recur to the subject again.

The Austrian journals have now received strict orders
not to print any articles which could give umbrage to
Russia.

NUVEL AND IMPORTANT DECISION UNDER THE NS':
BILLS OF EXCHANGE ACT.—At the Judges' Chambers
decision of considerable importance has been given under
,
the new Act on Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes,
A plaintiff named Smith issued a writ in one of th
superior courts against a defendant named Evans, oa,':
promissory note for 131. ss. and costs. The defendant;
attorney took out a summons to stay the proceedings tip 7
the payment of the debt without the costs, cn the gra°, ,
that the parties resided within the same county coure tlis
trict. The application was opposed, and it was urged tbilt
the new act authorised all actions on bills and notes to 13e
;
brought in the superior courts, irrespective of the amoull"
\lr. Justice Crowder was of opinion that such was the lalg;
although he thought, with others of the judges, that that
had been au oversight, or omission, in the framing of tb,
d
act. The plaintiff's attorney submitted that it was ver.,,l
important that a decision should be given on the point,
reference to other cases. The learned judge decided tlia!
the summons must be dismissed, thereby establisbl
the principle that, in all cases on bills of exchange al)
promissory notes under the new law, the proceedings 1331),
be by writ of sumtnons in the superior courts. By the
rules, costs aie allowed in ail cases under the act.
FLOGGING IN T [IR CRIMEA.—A letter, dated Sebastopol'
January 7th, states that there has been considerable
masters
excitement during the past week among the
ci
and officers of transports in Balaklava harbour,
account of the second officer of the Star of the South, .0
large transport, of 1800 tons, having been flogged by t,,1)0
Provost Marshal. It appears that he was taken to th",,
guardhouse on Sunday night last by a policeman, "'Pt!
charged him with being drunk. He had resist,e,
capture, and his clothes were torn and soiled in tisPo
struggle. The next morning Captain Frayne, of t-Pf
Star of the South, and Captain Champion, of ilhee
Majesty's steam transport Melbourne, went to t,'e
guardhouse to intercede for him, and to request it
might have a hearing, as he denied having been data
and said he could produce witnesses to
prove 1)i,1
sobriety when taken up. Their efforts, however, were It,
vain, and he received 18 lashes; and one of the 00
transport captains having been overheard by a soldier 't
remark to his companion that this was brutal treattnerV
he was threatened with the like Übe did net go on ho3e,
his ship. A complaint was made to Admiral Fremaat'ir
and some correspondence has takers place on the sub./cci
o
between the naval and military authorities and Captli,
tgi,
Champion and Frayne, who, as highly respectable 1"e
holding very responsible situations, and well known 1
and esteemed by
aggrieved by many officers out here, naturally feet,
the menace of a disgraceful purithinealt
The second mate's friends deny that he was drunk. to
appears that he stutters, which may have contribute') or
a mistake as to his state. However, whether drunk
sober, his case is a hard one, for, besides the lashes, .4
loses his situation, which he at once gave up, fecil;ct
himself disgraced, and that he could not in future cslll`"ja
respect from the crew. The office of Provost Marshm
Balaklava is an arduous one, and the officer who wri
fulfils its duties does so in an efficient and satisfactl:.-
manner. Without severe measures it would be iali„%j)•
sihle to maintain order among the motley floating 174.06
lation of Balaklava. In the above case, if the mate `sty,
drunk, the Provost Marshal did not exceed his (11l it)
although perhaps a preliminary investigation might hap,
been allowed when asked for by the prisoner's own eii,`oe
tain, who was ready to speak to his subordinate's
conduct during many months that he had been under
command.

THE ROT:AL OAK BURIAL SOCIETY.

say that Christmas boxes were never offered to the collectors
by himself or any his colleagues on the committee. (Keep
to the point.) The fact was, that the collectors demanded
it as their right, therefore, it was not given them.
(Immense laughter.)
The Chairman tha❑ked the speaker for the information
he had given, as it proved that, instead of his being a
committee-man, and watching over the interests of the
society, he was only a tool in the hands of the collectors.
(Hear, hear.)

-..-.o,_,___._

society,

last evening a meeting of the members of thi
favourable to the inquiry into the general management of
the society's business, by the committee of investigation
appointed at a public meeting held some short time since,
(cf which appeared a full report in the NORTH ERN TIMES
vas convened at the Toxteth Hall, 11lill-strec'
"Phzpose of giving the members living in that district an
'Opportunity of expressing their views on the subject, and
of soliciting their aid and support in prosecuting the inves-
ligation. The placard convening the meeting was thus
headed : "Tremendous disclosures have lately been made of
the wholesale frauds committed by the officers and collectors
of the Royal Oak Burial Society, amounting, in the past
Year alone, to the enormous sum of £2643 8s 82."
It is hardly necessary to say, that from the agitation that
bas lately been carried on, and the dissatisfaction which
bas, from time to time, been expressed at the mode in
which the ruling powers have conducted the affairs
of this society, that there was a very large attendance.
lir. Joseph Shepherd, the chairman of the investigation

for the

Mr.
Mr. M'Coomb then gave some exelanations as to why
the collectors had demanded the money which related to
the infancy fund, and which was considered illegal, and
stated that the committee had paid the money because he
and they believed that it was right so to do.

A Voice : Was it your money that you paid away ?
(Much confusion, in the course of which the chairman
nd said he insisted upon aN parties having a fair

hearing.)
Mr. M'Coomb said he would come to the cream of the
joke. It had been stated in the papers, and the chairman
had repeated the assertion, that the committee were paid
£lO for voting the Christmas boxes to the collectors. Now
a greater falsehood could not have been invented
by Old Nick below, or the Russian Nick above, than that
was ; and he had also stated that the only honest man who
refused to take the £lO was Mr. Shaw, and that he was
kicked down stairs because he refused to accept it. (Cries
of " Go to the point.") That was a most infamous false-
hood. (A voice--" He fell down stairs because he was
drunk.") He would say that Mr. Shaw, with the excep-
tion of two or three times, never came to the committee
meeting, except in a drunken state, and he alwa3s kicked
up a row, and prevented the business being proceeded
with. (A voice—" Mr. Chairman, do not permit these
personal remarks.") He woul I say that the statement of the
chairman with regard to his—a committee man -having
received £lO, was a most scandalous falsehood. (Laughter,
and cries of "Go home.")
The Chairman : What did you receive ?
Mr. M'Comb : Not a single farthing except my pay, and
I call upon the chairman to prove that I received money.
The Chairman : Did not you receive it in instalments?
(Uproar )
Mr. M'C)omb : It is a fair question, and I will answer
it. I will say I did not.
A Voice : Did your wife ?
Mr. M'Coomb then called upon the meeting not to place
any confidence in the statements made by the chair-
man, but his voice was not heeded, and
the meeting demanded, in no very mild accents, that he
should be compelled to move his own amendment, or "hold

onamittee, was requestel to take the chair. On rising h
was received with the most enthusiastic applat
'having subsided, he commenced the business of t
by reading the placard convening the meeting. ---- --
ton which related to the defalcation of £2,643 83 81 from
'the funds of the present year, was received by the meeting
`with groans, and marks of great disapprob ttion. The
'chairman then said he believed it was the duty of all, when-
ever they had anything of a serious nature to bring before
the public, and indeed it was best, to allow a fair, free, and
open discussion. In this case they had nothing to keep in
the back ground; they had nothing to fear from taking
aeiti a course, therefore there was an open field and no
Pavouritism for all parties. As they had nothing to conceal
'they had invited the press to attend, and he was rejoiced to
Bee the reporters present, that their proceedings might go
f4th Ito the public. He believed from what he knew of the
*tatters connectel with the society, that they had a
Tight to have an investigation, and that
too, of the most searching description—(cheers)—for the
'More the subject was discussed, the more necessity, he
'thought, there was for the inquiry. For his own part, he
was extremely sorry that an inquiry was necessary, because
it Was calculated to throw mistrust, or a want of confidence,
on those to whom the members had confided their affairs.
The working classes from time to time had placed their
confidence in men, and had entrusted them with the man-
agement of their affairs, but in this case those men had
'abased the trust reposed in them. (Cries of Shame.) He
tad not the least doubt bat that most of them were aware,
Tram the newspapers, of what had been done at a meeting
'held at the north end of the town, when a meeting was
called and a committee appointed to investigate the affairs
of this society. (Cheers.) This society, he said, was
known by the name of the Royal Oak Burial Society, its
'proper name was "The United Legal Friendly
Society," but he would
'lions he had to offer, , throughout the observa-
ca it
Having, at some lenh ll
ex by the former.
pressed e deep
regret he felt that the working classes should evince such
apathy in their own affairs, by not attending to see that the
parties in whom they reposed their confidence did not betray
them, proceeded to give a history of the rise and progress of
the society, from its commencement to the present time, and
also to point out the mismanagement which had existed.
Mr. Shepherd then detailed the various acts of the presi-
dent, the collectors, and the committee; but as these state-
ments have already appeared in the columns of this journal,
when made by the same gentleman at the previous meeting,
it is unnecessary to repeat them on the present occasion.
In the course of giving these details, he was repeatedly in-
terrupted by one of the collectors (Osborne), and the geese-
tavy of the society (.Tinkins), and much uproar was occa-
sioned ; but he (Mr. Shepherd) challenged either
or both of those gentlemen to come forward on the
platform, and disprove, if they could, one single
assertion he had made, or that he intetrled to
tnake. (The majority of the meeting expressed a d'sire to
turn the intruders out, but Mr. Shepherd entreated them to
behave like men, and let all have a: fair bearing. Neither
f the gentlemen who caused the disturbance, however, ven-
tured to en upon the platform, and refute the statements
blade.) Having most forcibly explained the injuries that
the members bad sustained by the present officers of the
"EAT for past rears, he came to the last
year, when he
'no 44ted that in that tear alone they had been defrauded of
(Ch4B than £2,643 Bs. 8d; and asked if it was not time
i Management of the society should be investigated ?
the es of "Yes, yes.") He concluded by observing that
118 Whole affairs had been placed in the hands of the most
13,ectable solicitors in Liverpool (Messrs. Fletcher and
-4 'I), and called upon them to give their support, by sub-
scribing their pence towards prosecuting the inquiry. In Ills course of his remarks, he stated that be had been threa-
tened with writs and actions for libel, but that would
dno, deter him from doing that which he conceived to be his
uty, as it wag only dole for the purpose of frustrating the
their
trclaity ; the officers might " lay the flattering unction to
resulsouls" that it would be proceeded with, and that the
b!t would be that the society would be placed on a firmer
ri
patient hearing they had given him, he resumed his seat
Themost enthusiastic applause of the meeting.
.Secretary to the Investigation Committee (Mr
resol
rbillip) then came forward and proposed the following
ution :—" That this meeting having taken into consi-
deration the disclosures now made relative to the frauds
committed by the officers and collectors of the Royal
Oak Burial Society, do hereby express our hearty concur-
!epee in the measures already yadoted for ing
9vestigation into the said fraudsp, and a plsorocur into
lie he general management of the society's business."
said, before he made any comments on the resolution
he was about to move, he would read to the meeting the
ortstatement:o of the total Capital of the society, as appeared on
rei b oks, and also the capital, as appeared in the printed
P

which

evening

The Chairman called upon him, (if he had one) to move his
amendment, but as he was not permitted to explain his
view of the affair further than saying that the collectors had
given ample security for all they had in their possession,
he withdrew from the platform amidst the laughter of the
whole meeting. _ _ _

The resolution was then put, and unanimously adopted.
Mr. Smith, of the Tailors' Association, then moved
the adoption of the following resolution :—" That taking
into account the advantages derived by the community at
large from the existence of Societies of this description, by
relieving the poors'-rates from the expense of interment of
ma-:y of their members, consisting, as they do principally, of
the poorest classes in the community; and knowing that a
vast amount of expense must necessarily be incurred in pro-
senting the proposed inquiry, thin meeting feel it to be our
duty. and we pledge ourselves to support the committee
already appointed." In his remarks he alluded to the imper-
tinent conduct of the collectors, and the negligence they
evinced towards the members interests, illustrating his
assertions by what he had himself experienced. (A
collector present at once told the speaker he was a liar,
for which he demanded an apology, but no apology was
given.)
Mr. Barnes seconded the resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the busi-
ness, he stating that it was the intention of the committee
to ask the Mayor for the use of St. George's Hall in
which to hold a meeting, and make an appeal to the
sympathies of the public to aid them in carrying out the
investigation.

EXTRAORDINARY
POISONING CASES

AT MANCHESTER.

On Wednesday afternoon three men were placed at the
bar of the city court-house, before Mr. Rickards, Mr.
Ross, and Mr. J. A. Turner, magistrates, on a charge of
poisoning, which, in some of its main features, resembles
the Rugeley case. The prisoners were Thomas Bull
Holland (a surgeon), James Monaghan, and a man named
k man named Edward Dunn is implicated in the
rge, but has been convicted for another offence,
s serving a period of imprisonment.

Mr. Bradleugh, instructed by Messrs. Clay and Co.,
attorneys, London, appeared on behalf of the Diadem
Insurance Company, as prosecutor; Mr. Fernley, bar, -
rister, on behalf of the prisoner Monaghan ; and Mr. Bent,
solicitor, for the prisoner Barry. It is understood that
the prisoner Holland, who is a surgeon, has made a con-
fession or statement to Mr. Bradleugh, revealin4 the
whole of his transactions with the other prisoners, which
statement is to the effect that, being surgeon to the
Diadem Insurance Company for the district, the
prisoners had applied to him to "pass John Mona•
ghan (the prisoner Monaghan's father) as a good
life, and that subsequently they were in his sur-
gery when he was mixing a solution of white
lead with water, and asked him if it could not be
done without assuming a mi►ky colour. He then showed
them that it could be mixed with whiskey so as to be
colourless. There was reason to believe that some of
this mixture was given to the old man Monaghan, who
died some months ago, when the prisoners and Dunn
applied for £3OO, the sum for which Monaghan's life had
been insured, but were refused the money. His disclosures
had also led to the belief that two other persons had been
similarly poisoned.

Mr. Bridleugh stated that the charge against the pri-
soners, along with Dunn (who was in prison for embezzl-
ing money belonging to an insurance company), was for
having destroyed the life of one John Monaghan, the
father of the prisoner Jas. Monaghan, to obtain the sum
of £3OO from the Diadem Life Insurance Company. He
should, if he succeeded in establishing a sufficient case,
apply to the bench to remand them to a future day, and
in the interim make an application to the coroner to
exhume the body of John Monaghan, so that it could
undergo a post mortem examination, and then get a
habeas corpus, under which the body of Dunn might be
removed from prison to be placed at the bar along with the
prisoners Monaghan and Barry. His first application would
be to tne bench to liberate Holland from the dock, so that
he might be examined as a witness. There was reason to
believe, from the disclosures he had made, that he was
willing to further the ends of justice, and his evidence was
of great importance towards establishing the charge against
the other prisoners.
The magistrates having consented to the application,
Thomas Bull Holland was removed from the dock to the
witness box, and subjected to a long examination of some
hours. The examination was most painful to listen to,
because Holland prevaricated to an extent which rendered
it almost impossible to get half-a-dozen consecutive
sentences from him without the grossest con-
tradictions. Probably this was to some extent in
consequence of a warning from the bench that he
was not bound to answer any question that might
criminate himself. At the close of the examination of this
witness the bench retired for a few minutes, and on return-
ing, the chairman said they had given the case their best
consiaeration, and they were of opinion that there was a
case of suspicion sufficiently strong to justify the remand
sought for. The prisoners were then remanded for a week.
It was stated that in the meantime an application would be
made to the secretary of state for an order for the exhu-
mation of the deceased, John Monaghan, with a view to a
chemical analysis of the body.

AS Cash in hank, includinPE R BOORS. g interest,
on the 31st of October, 1865.
Two life policies of £5OO each, of
the sub-treasurer
......
Owing besides by the sub-treasurer,
Ditto collectors .......
Ditto 5ecretary.....,......''.
Ditto president

£10,757 16 8

1,000 0 0
851 3 111
1,400 2 104
38 16 8
30 6 li

£14,078 6 3

AS PER PRINTED REPORT.
To cash in bank. 185,5 £9,911 18 6
Paid in last six months.
Bank interest. 322 19 1
Two life policies

Total as per printed report . £11,434 17 7
Total as per book .......... 14,078 6 3

wo Deficiency
...... • .... • ... £2,643 8 8
nld then read to them another statement, the Compari-
son of accounts for the last two years, 1854 and 1855. By
their statement it appeared that the capital of the society
In 1854 was
In 1855

Showing a decrease in 1855 of.. £699 10 84
Re would ask, was that at all probable—was it likely ? 3ut
such was the case as stated to them. Now he would put it
in a new light, and show what the society should be worth,
if all had been conducted as it ought to have been. Suppos-
ing they collected daring the years 184 and 1855, calcu-
lating, as the officers said, there they said
members, he
would take the number at what they said themselves, at one
penny each (althouothers 3dgh there were some who paid as much as
6, others 4d, , and others 2d, each), they would
collect as much as £10,834 Ss Bd, and adding the decrease
of £699 183 81d to the bank interest. £322 19s Id, they
would have a fund of 11,857 75 51d. lie had, he said, also
considered the expenses, and he had done so on a most
liberal scale, but he would not stop to inquire into what had
become of the £2,320 957 d in arrears—
£27oB 11 8
Commission for collecting
Sub-treasurer, for extras and salary 173 0 0
Secretary
President
..•• .
Auditors
For committee men 80 0 0
Printing and stationery 50 0 0
Thus showing that the society would have been in a much
More prosperous condition than it then was. Having offered
a few remarks on the necessity of the members coming
forward and assisting the committee with their subscriptions
he concluded by moving the resolution.
Mr, Shaw seconded the resolution without any comment.
The Chairman was about to put the resolution to the
Meeting, when
Mr. John Al`Comb came forward, and in answer to the
Chairman, said he had an amendment to propose, he
did not come forward to defend wrong, but he came forward
to support his own character against the attacks Mr. Shep-
herd had made upon him. (Cries of " Get down.") He
Was a member of the committee during the time that it had
been stated that the collectors had received Christmas
boxes. (Cries of 4450 they did.") Ile said such was not
the fact—and that the chairman had misrepresented—he
Would not call it by a worse name.
A. Voice : Call it by its proper name !
shMr. M'Coomb : He did not like to designate it as it
ould
would be, but as he had been called upon so to do, he
a "tY that he had told a falsehood. (Much dis-
pProbation, and cries of " Come to the point.") Re would

SUSPECTED POISONING OF TWO
CHILDREN.

On Wednesday an inquest was held by Mr. Herford, city
coroner, at the Bridge inn, Fairfield-street, Ancoats, on the
bodies of two children, named Anne Green, aged seven, and
Margaret Green, aged four years, the daughters of Peter
Green, dyer, of 42, St. Andrew's.street, Ancoats, whose
deaths have occurred under such circumstances as to excite
suspicion that they had poison administered to them. Both
the deceased children wore eatolled hi a burial club, front
which the parents were entitled to receive on the death
ofeach child. The inquiry was adjourned to this day, in
order to an analysis of the contents of the intestines of the
deceased.

EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY IN BIRMINGHAM.-- On Thurs-
day morning a most daring robbery was committed on
the premises of Mr. H. Burbidge, corn factor, Bradford
street, Birmingham.
Upon the' shop being opened, it
was discovered that the iron safe in which Mr Burbidge
hept his books, title deeds, and cash, had been carried
off. The safe weighed nearly 400 lbs., and was fastened
to the wall by the strong brackets on which it rested.
Though nothing else had been disturbed, the booty
thus obtained was considerable, there being in the
drawers of the safe no less than £l4O, of which about
£55 was in gold, £35 in silver, and the remainder in
notes. To Mr. Burbridge, however, the cash was the
least valuable of its contents. Betwixt nine and ten
o'clock, a boat passing through a lock of the canal ex-
perienced some obstruction in its progress. An exami-
nation led to the discovery that an iron chest was lying
in the lock, The lock was completely emptied of water.
The safe was recovered, and with it all the books and
important documents, though of course the cash had
disappeared. Sledge hammers must have been used to
force the chest open. It was so bent and torn that the
maker would have been unable to identify it. We be-
lieve that the police have obtained some clue to the
thieves.—Birmingham Journal.

NORTHERN TIMES.--LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1.856.

DARING ATTEMPT AT

MURDER AND ROBBERY

IN SOUTH CASTLE-STREET

One of the most frightful attempts at murder that we
have heard of for sometime, took place yesterday morning
about ten o'clock, at the shop of Mr. Durandu, bullion-
dealer and money-changer, South Castle-street. The
facts of this most atrocious case are as follows :—A few
minutes before ten o'clock this morning, two fellows,

brothers, named Robert and Henry E' re, apparently
about 19 and 29 years of age, were observed lurking
about the door of Mr. Durandu's establishment, but
nothing wrong was suspected at the time. About ten o'clock
the confidential clerk of Mr. Durandu, named William
Hughes, went out for the cash box, which was deposited
at Mr. Hornby's, jeweller, in the same street, leaving a
youth named Stoddart in the shop. The fellows ap-
pearei to know the movements of the people in the
establishment, for they kept a close watch on poor
Hughes, who was destined soon to be their victim.
When he went out, the assassins entered, and asked the
lad Stoddart if his master had yet come down ; but
before he had time to give any reply, they struck him
with something which he thinks was a life-protector on
the head, and this knocked him down, at the same time
stunning him very much. They then carried him into
a private office, when one of them kept guard over, and
threatened to murder him, if he uttered a word. In a few
moments poor Hughes entered with the cash-box, which
contained about £1,500. One of the prisoners had, in
the meantime, placed himself behind the shop door in
wait for the victim. When llughes entered, the fel-
low inside at once struck him a furious blow
on tne back of the head, which felled him
to the ground, and inflicted a terrible wound on him.
He repeated the blow and cut the young man several
places on the head. A. death-like struggle followed, hut
Hughes was enabled to shout murder and police. The
screams were heard by Mr. Levi, who resides next
door, and he most promptly ran out and found the two
fellows in the act of beating Hughes. He immediately
grappled with the ruffians and seized one of them, calling
loudly for assistance. Immediately one or two persons
in the neighbourhood arrived, anal raised an alarm, and
then police-constable Merryweather 424, and officer 463,
being attracted by the cries, came up, and after a fierce
encounter the prisoners were captured and lodged in the
main bridewell. It is needless to describe the amount of
excitement created in the neighbourhood, in con-
sequence of this daylight attempt at murder. Hughes
was at once conveyed to the Northern Hospital, when
every attention was paid him, but it is stated that at
present he is in a very dangerous state.

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONERS BEFORE

THE MAGISTRATES,

Shortly before one o'clock the prisoners were brought up
before Mr. G. Maxwell at the police court, which was much
crowded by persons who had come to hear the details of this
extraordinary case. The prisoners were rather respectable-
looking young men, though rather poorly attired. Robert
Eyres is about five feet eleven inches high, the other, Henry,
about three or four inches less. They are described as
natives of Liverpool, and it was stated that upwards of a
year and a half ago their father was convicted of stealing
from a letter, a bank post bill for £5OO, which had been
sent from a mercantile house in this town to a firm in
Scotland. Inspector Murphy, on that occasion succeeded
in recovering more than £4OO of the money. The facts con-
necte'l with that case were curious, and are as follows—The
man (the prisoners' father) was engaged, sometimes in small
mercantile transactions for himself, and sometimes acted as
clerk or agent in other affairs. A note for £5OO was put
into a letter, and directed to a house in Scotland, but it
never reached its destination. A boy engaged in the house
that transmitted the letter, stated he posted it in due course,
but if so, how it got out of the post-office remains a mystery
to this day. Sometime before the loss was discovered, the
father of the present prisoners succeeded in getting the note
changed at Barned's bank, having previously forged an
endorsement on it. Subsequently, Inspector Murphy traced
the note to the man, and on searching his residence at
Rose-place, he found about £4OO in gold, the produce of
the note. The man attempted to account for the possession
of the money by stating that he had sold a property in
Ireland. This was found to be incorrect, although
it seemed he had a property in that country,
hut it was embarrassed. He was tried for the robbery and
forgery, found guilty, and sentenced to six years transporta-
tion. The eldest of the prisoners in the present case;
Robert Evre, went at the time to Ireland, and it was
supposed be took a portion of the money with him, but
although Inspector Murphy followed him to Ireland, he
was not able to trace any more of the money. From that
time up to the present, the police have observed the prisoners
" knocking about the docks" (as it is called), but there had
not been any charge made against them up to the present time
although the police kept a sharp look out on them, as they
suspected all was not right. They are young men of intel-
ligence, and said to have had a fair mercantile education.
Their motive in the present case can hardly be fathomed,
except that they calculated, by such a desperate and daring
course, to escape with the cash box, and perhaps had not
poor Hughes made such desperate resistance, and had not
assistance been rendered so promptly by Mr. Levi, they
might for a time have succeeded in eluding the officers of
justice. When put forward to the bar they were more
collected than any one in the crowded court, and did not
seem to feel the position in which they were placed—at
least they appeared to treat the matter with perfect
indifference and unconcern. Inspector Murphy stated the
case for the prosecution, and detailed the facts already
mentioned.

Francis Stoddart, an intelligent bop about 14 or 15
years old, was then called and examined; He said : About
twenty minutes or a quarter before ten o'clock this morn-
ing I was in the shop, where I am messenger. The pri-
soners came in and asked me if the master was yet come
down ? I had not time to answer the question when the
big one (Robert) gave me a blow and knocked me down.
The little one (Henry) then caught me by the throat and
swore if I said a word he would shoot me. Mr. Hughes,
the clerk, had gone out for the cash-box, and just at that
time he came in with it. The prisoners carried me behind
at that time. When Mr. Hughes came in they at once
knocked him down. They continued to beat him, and I
could hear the blows. These are the two men who did it.

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

:~-

The adjourned annual general meeting of this society
was held at one o'clock, yesterday, in the cotton sales'-
room, Exchange-buildings, Mr. Marriott in the chair.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, expressed
his regret, which he was shared in by all the meeting, at
the absence of Mr. Hardman Earle, who had for so many
years presided over their annual meetings, with grace and
credit to himself and advantage to them. (Hear, hear.)
He had been requested by Mr. Earle to state that his
absence was unavoidable, as he was engaged at Man-
chester on important business in connection with the
London and North-western Railway, and while he (the
chairman) regretted his absence, he at the same time was
glad to have the opportunity of paying what was only a
just tribute to the services which Mr. Earle had rendered
to the society in his position of chairman. (Hear, hear.)
On this occasion they had met to pass the accounts of last
year and to make arrangements for the coming year, and
though those arrangements. as proposed, involved few
changes of iraportance. it would'still be for the meeting to
determine whether they were desirable or not.

The following report was read by Mr. Henry Sudlow,
secretary : REPORT.

Mr. Bernard Levi was next examined, and deposed as
follows :—I reside at No. 32. South Castle-street, next door
to Mr. Durandu's office. This morning, about a quarter
to ten o'clock I was placing the goods in my window, and I
observed Mr. Hughes pass the window at the time. I saw
him go down the street, and then return back with the
cash-box. Immediately after I heard a great noise, and I
thought at first it might be some of the boys skylarking.
This was said also to me by some one else, but I did not
then believe it, as the noise became so serious. I ran out
of my shop and into Mr. Duranda's, and then I saw the
two prisoners over Hughes, who was on the floor i►► a pool
of blood. They were striking him at the time. I imme-
diately seized the smaller prisoner, and then the other
turned to go out, but was seized by some one who came in
at the moment. These are the two persons now present._

The Committee of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society
beg to submit to the proprietors the statement of accounts
for the past year.
These accounts have been prepared by Messrs. Mr-
mood Banner and Son, whose signature attest their
accuracy.

By a reference to them it will be found that the regular
receipts of the season have about balanced the regular
expenditure, nor do the committee think that more than
this could fairly be expected, when allowance is made for
the general depression that has weighed: upon the com-
munity during the past year.

t&The-committee, however, have much pleasure in adding
that two concerts given this year with M 'flame Gold-
schmidt, and which do not appear in the accounts, have
resulted in the handsome profit of £1,700. and when this
is taken into account, the present total debt of the society
may be stated at about £7,400, as follows :
Mortgage debt remaining . 0 0
Cash at credit with Bankers, say £llOO 0 0

Deduct outstanding liabilities, in
unpaid tradesmen's bills, &c... 500 0 0

600 0 0

Leaving a total debt, as above stated, of £7400 0 0
In giving these figures, however, the committee think it
right to remind the proprietary that the large sum of
£1512 was received in 1853, in anticipation of future calls,
as appears in the accounts of that year, and some small
sums were received in like manner, in anticipation, in 1854.
It is obvious that these payments in a4vance, will cause
the income to be collected from this source during the next
three years to be less than that derived from it during the
three years last elapsed. Notwithstanding this drawback,
the committee cannot but regard the present financial
position of the scciety as, under the circumstances, very
satisfactory.

The society will still retain unsold, besides the gallery, two
boxes and about 200 stalls, which the committee are per-
suaded will eventually prove a valuable property.
The subscriptions have been paid upon all seats, except-
ing eight stalls which have been forfeited to the society.
The total amount of subscriptions received has been
£3,645 14s. 6d.

The committee have much pleasure in reporting that the
third call has been met by every proprietor, without excep-
tion. The amount received under this head is stated, with
all particulars, in a separate account.

Mr. Duggan was the next witness. He said I heard
the noise and alarm as I was passing, and ran to the shop.
I seized the taller prisoner coming out of the door.
Officer 463 said he had Air. Hughes taken to the
Northern Hospital, where he is lying at present. I saw
the doctor a short time since, and was informed by him
thqt Mr. Hughes was then iu a very bad state, and
could not attend ; perhaps he would not get over the in-
juries he had received.

The system of fines for unpunctuality in the payment of
snbscriptions, which was adopted by the society in 1853,
has again been found to work well, for not only have the
subscriptions been paid more promptly than in former
years, but the fines collected to indemnify the society for
the interest that would otherwise have been lost, amount t o
the sum of £32 Os.

The committee have made it their study to render their
programmes as attractive and agreeable to the various tastes
of the proprietary as lay within their power; and, not to
enumerate the long catalogues of Artistes who have appeared
in the course of the season, they believe that the engage-
ments will be found to comprise the most eminent vocal and
instrumental celebrities who, during the year, have visited
or been resident in this country.

The committee consider that the best thanks of the pro-
prietary are due to the practical members for their ready and
hearty co-operation at all times, upon which the well-being
of the society very greatly depends.
The committee also deem it right to express their entire
satisfaction with the zeal with which Mr. Henry Sudlow
has discharged the duties of secretary and treasurer, since
the vote of the proprietors last Match elected him to that
post.
___. .

With respect to the year unon which we are now enter-
ing, the committee unanimously recommend that the number
of subscription concerts be ten instead of eight. The
extra expense entailed by this change is estimated not to
exceed £250, while the numerous advantages attendant
upon it are thought to counterbalance very amply this
additional outlay.

The committee also recommend (hut they are not unani-
mous upon this point) that the privilege of entrance at
Subscription Concerts be extended to residents not in
business for themselves, if recommended by a proprietor
and approved by the committee, upon their payment of
an annual entrance fee of lOs 6d. Such season subscribers
are of course to be provided with the necessary ticket,
either by gift or purchase. It is thought generally among
the committee that this change will be a welcome and
graceful act of courtesy to a large class of gentlemen, who,
in pursuit of commercial instruction, make this port their
temporary dwelling place, while, in a pecuniary point
of view, it, will afford an acceptable increase to the funds
of the society.

The committee also recommend that the subscription
for 1836 be fixed as follows :
Boxes and Stalls ... ... £3 3 0 each seat.
Gallery Stalls ... . • ... 2 0 0
Gallery ... 1 0 0 ...
Annual Subscribers to the Stalls 4 4 0

Proprietors to be allowed to nominate any resident gen-
tleman for the season, upon payment 01 ss, as heretofore.
The fourth call of £2 per seat will be due on the 25th
of March next. The committee have engaged to pay off
on that day .E 2001) of the mortgage debt, and they are not
without hopes of being able to increase that amount.
They, therefore, venture earnestly to impress upon the
proprietors the desirability of paying both the call and
the subscription punctually, in order that they may be
put in funds for the purpose.

- The members of the committee who retire by rotation,
but who are re-eligible, are as follows :

Mr. 0. Burchirdt, Mr. C. W. Neumann,
Mr. James Holme,
Mr. Hetherington,
Mr. A. G. Kurtz, Mr. IT, W. Meade King,
Mr. B. H. Jones, Mr. J. P. G. Smith.
Mr. James Smith.

But as the practical members, in accordance with their
privilege, have nominated Mr. Hetherington to represent
them on the committee, only eight other gentlemen can be
elected. _

Mr. Clough : I now ask your Worship to remand the
prisoner for seven days.
Mr. Wybergh : We must have the doctor here, to ascer-
tain the nature of the injuries inflicted on Hughes.
Here Officer Merryweather, 424, handed in a broken
" Life protector," which had been found in Mr: Durandu's
shop, and which, it was said, had been the instrument
with which Hughes had been so grievously maltreated.
Mr. Maxwell, to the prisoner : What have you to say
to this most serious charge?

The prisoner, Robert Eyre, replied : All that is stated
is the case, but we did not use so much violence as is said,
nor act so severely.

Mr. Maxwell

Mr. Moseley, seeing that the use of the hall was credited
in the statement of accounts for only 25/, wished to know
if that were all that had been received for it during the
past year?
The Chairman said that it was the only instance on
which they had been able to let the hall during the year,
chiefly because of the opening of St. George's-hall, and
the attractions which, for the moment, novelty gave it. He
felt assured, however, that when the merits of the two
halls were better known, it would be found that the Phil-
harmonic was better adapted than St. George's•hall for
private concerts.
Mr. Moseley said he merely threw it out as a suggestion
to the committee, that if they derived only such a small
sum for the use of the hall, they world not be acting
justly towards the proprietors, in letting the public have
the advantage of it.

What are you ?

The Chairman replied that last year had been an excep-
tional year for the cause he stated. For several years
previously, the receipts for the use If the hall, had been
250/ a year.

E. F. Jones seconded the adoption of the report
and 'statement of accounts, and in doing so, suggested that,
to a certain degree, popular music should be introduced
into the concerts of the society. He observed that the
music of Handel was altogether neglected by them, and
yet it was music generally known in England, and almost
represented the English language.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Mr. R. J. King moved that the best thanks of the meeting
be given to the "practical members" for their ready and
practical co-operation at all times. upon which the well-
being of the society very generally depended. He observed
that they could not over-estimate the services of the
practical members, and that the best compliment which
the society could pay them would be by supplying them
with a plentiful stock of classic music. in the study of
which they would not only cultivate their own taste but
delight the society. (Hear, hear.) He agreed with Mr.
Jones, and thought that Handel's music should not be so
much neglected.

Prisoner : A clerk.
Mr, Maxwell: Are they known here?
Mr. Clough : We know who they are.

Mr. Richardson seconded the resolution, which was
unanimously adopted.
On the motion of Mr. Crittenden, seconded by Mr.
Downes, it was resolved that the number of subscription
concerts should be ten instead of eight.

Inspector Murphy then detailed the facts in reference
to their father. .

The prisoner, in answer to further questions, said he
had been taking weights at the docks, and "knocking
about" in that way, but latterly he could not get anything
to do, and he was starving.
The prisoners were then remanded.

On the motion of Mr. P. G. Heyviorth, seconded by Mr.
11. J. King, it was resolved that the privilege of entrance
to subscription concerts be extended to residents not in
business for themselves, if recommended by a proprietor
and approved by the committee, upon the payment of an
annual entrance fee of 10s. 6d., such subscribers of course
to be provided with the necessary ticket, either by gift or
purchase.
On the motion of Mr. Meade King, seconded by Mr.
Clare, the committee for the ensuing year was appointed.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman; and the
meeting separated.

POSTAGE TO THE EAST INDIES.-011 and after Ist Feb.
akest office notice intimates that the postage upon letters
via Southampton will be reduced to 6d. the half ounce.
Letters forwarded via Marseilles will be liable to the same
Kate, with the addition of sd. per quarter ounce for French
transit. The Southampton rate rises is. for one ounce ; 2s.
for two ounces ; 3s. for three ounces ; 4s. for four ounces ;
and ss. not.exceeding five ounces.
The Invalide Russe of the 15th inst., contains Prince
Gortschakoff's diary to the Ist Jan. He states, that on
the left flank of his position the chain of outposts on
either side continually attacked each other. He also
gives an account of the reconnaissance made by the Allies
from Eupatoria, Dec. 31st ; and also of the affair of out.
posts in a pass leading to the valley of Baidar, on Dec
30th, respecting both of which we were previously in-
formed by the despatches of Marshal Pelissier.

THE KIRKDALE CHAIRMANSHIP,

MR. POLLOCK AND MR. J. ROSSON.

We have been requested to publish the following corres-
pondence :

8 Gambier•terraee, Liverpool, Thursday Evening,
17th January, 1856.

Sir,—ln the Liverpool paners of yesterday you are
reported to have male, at the Birkdale quarter sessions held
on the 16th instant, certain observations reflecting on my
character and conduct.

I forward herewith the reports of those observations
taken from the Mercury and the Daily Post, which agree in
the main with the statements contained in the Courier and
NORTHERN TIMES.
I have to request that you will inform me whether those
reports, or any of them, be substantially correct ; and I
particularly direct your attention to the assertion that I had
put myself forward as a candidate for the vaclnt chairman-
ship, and had canvassed actively, or otherwise, for my own
election.

If this statement be correctly attributed to you, I have
further to request that you will inform me upon what
authority you made such an assertion. —I have the honour
to be, sir, your very obedient servant,

JOSEPH POLLOCK.
John Rosson, Esq., &a., &e.
Though written on the 17th, Ihave been obliged to defer
sending this 'till to day, January 19th.

Moor-hall, Ormskirk, 21st January, 18.56.
Sir,—l only received your letter last night, and imme-
diately on its receipt proceeded to make the necessary inqui-
ries before I could answer the queries in your note ; And I
am happy to say that the result bas been such as entirely to
exonerate you from any imputation on your character and
conduct.

It appears that my informant has himself been the victim
of a mis-statement ; for, after sifting the rumour to the
bottom, be has just returned to me a-d stated, "I am sorry
that I have misled you. I find that the statement should
have run thus, • I understand that the friends of Mr.
Pollock are actively canvassing to raise him to the chair.' "
This makes all the differen"e, and I deeply regret that I
have thus been made the unconscious channel of an error.
I must now beg to call your attention to a virulent lead-
ing article in the _Daily Pose of Wednesday last, wherein
the Editor is instructed (among other observations) to

Lssail my character and conduct in the iollowinß word

No one neei

Je reminded of the cause of Mr. R

hostility to Mr. Pollock. Once upon a time, Mr. Rosson
had a notion about a sectional division of the county
for magisterial purposes, but his object was defeated, and
for that defeat he blamed Mr. Pollock." I wish to know if
you suggested, or cansrd to be suggested, that passage in
the Post? For myself, I utterly disclaim the mean and
unworthy motive. I have long since forgiven the course
you' thought fit to pursue at Preston, which filled me, at
the time whilst labouring under dangerous illness, with
astonishment and regret. The great question of the
division of our ducal province into three ridings " can
bide its time." It is as a constitututional lawyer that I
object to your election as chairman of the quarter sessions,
though I consider you are well qualified, by talent and
learning, to fill the situation. Your appointment will be
a precedent for the advancement of other county-court
judges ; and then may follow the gradual abolition of
the commission of the peace as at present constituted, and
in place of the old constitutional system, a system of
centralisation and stipendiary justices all over the country.
I am to inform you that it is in contemplation by the
magistrates, who take this view of the subject, to consult
the chancellor of the duchy on the expediency of a de-
claratory act of parliament to set this question at rest.
We could not have a more discreet adviser than the right
hon. member for Leeds—a barr'ster and Cabinet Minister
with whom we are all acquginted, and who could confer
at once with his colleagues, the Secretary of State, and
the Government, and be the proper man to take charge
of such a measure in the House of Commons.

Leaving you at liberty to publish this letter, with your
own, in the public journals, I have the honour to be, sir:
your most obedient servant, JOHN ROSSON.
To Joseph Pollock, Esq.,
8, Gambier-terrace, Liverpool.

8, Gambier-terrace, Liverpool,
January 22. 1856,

Sir —I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
yesterday, and to thank you for the readiness with which,
finding you have been misled, you " entirely exonerate me
from any imputation on my character and conduct."
So placed, I am relieved from the obligation of discus-
sing further the opinions expressed by you at the sessions.

. ,
I beg further to assure you that I " neither suggested,
caused to be suggested," or was aware of, (until after it had
been published), the leading article in the Daily Post, to
which you refer, and that nothing could be more opposed
to my ideas of propriety than that I should have censured
you in any newspaper whatever under the guise of editorial
criticism.

If, in the course pursued by me, in conjunction with
others at Preston, upon your motion for a division of the
county into three ridings, and in the discharge of that which,
however erroneously, I believed to be a public duty, I
pained you, I sincerely it.

I certainly felt grieved, as I expressed at the time to
several of our brother magistrates, that I should have been
compelled to differ from von, when I was aware you were
labouring under serious indisposition.
With respect to the grave constitutional question to
which you have referred, I can only say that it is one well
worthy of the attention of the governmont, and that I shall
be happy to ass'st in its early and satisfactory solution.
I propose to publish this, along with the other corre-
spondence which has passed between us, but not until you
have had time to inform me if you have anything to add to
it, and am, sir, your very obedient servant,
J. Rosson, JOSEPH POLLO CK.

Moor-hall, Ormskirk, 21st January, 1856,

Sir,—l have yours of yesterday, containing your satis-
factory disavowal of the pissage in the leader of the Daily
Post.

I have only to add my approval of the candid and manly
tone that pervades your communication.—l am, sir, your
most obedient servant, JOHN RossoN.
Joseph Pollock, Esq., &c.

NEW DEAD-MEAT MARKET. - The government, it
appears, has listened to the applications of the Corp°.
ration of London, and of the inhabitants of Smithfield,
and has resolved to permit the erection of a dead-meat
market on the site of the late cattle market.

THE RUSSIANS AT ARCHANGEL.—A letter from Dron-
theim, in Norway, dated the 3rd, says :—" Travellers
from Archangel state that the Russian government is at
present causing to be built in the dockyards of that port
six frigates and twenty gunboats, all on the screw
principle, and that they will be completed before the
end of the winter. As there are not at Archangel
sufficient regular carpenters, every man knowing how to
use an axe has been forced to take part in the work. At
the same time the old fortifications are being repaired
and enlarged, and new ones are being constructed."
SUPPOSED INCENDIARISM IN IRELAND. A destruc-
tive fire broke out on Friday morning early, in the
extensive out-offices of Mr. Thompson, Rathnally
House, near Trim, county Meath. There were destroyed
eight stall-fed bullocks, two horses, eight pigs, 150
barrels of potatoes, 30 barrels of oats, a rick of corn of
about 100 barrels, and a rick of hay of 100 tons. There
were 14 or 15 houses in the range, all of which were
destroyed. The loss is estimated at £2OOO. There have
been several cases of malicious burning in the county
Meath within the past few months.
VALUE OF SLAVE Lire.—A few weeks ago two intoxi-
cated Kentuckians found a negro asleep in an hotel at
Cincinnati, and, for amusement, they took a camphine
lamp. and, pouring the fluid over his whiskers, ignited it,
and the poor fellow's head and neck became instantly
wrapped in an intense blaze, which continued until the
fluid was consumed. The sufferings of the victim were
dreadful in the extreme. No refinement of torture could
have produced more excruciating misery. But, strange
to say, death did not release him from torment until after
the lapse of two weeks. No legal investigation took
place, and the young men arranged the matter by paying
the landlord of the hotel 1,200 dollars for the loss of his
servant. _ . . _

—SAOMING DEATII BY FIRE.—It is our painful duty to
record the death of Miss Caroline Luttrell, second
daughter of Colonel Luttrell, of Kilve Court, Somerset,
from the shock and exhaustion caused by a severe surface
burn, occasioned by accidentally setting fire to her dress
while lighting the tapers of a Christmas tree. It appears
that on Friday week Mrs. Luttrell—the gallant gentleman
himself being away on duty with his regiment at Cork_
entertained some friends at a family reunion, and that one
of the amusements of the evening was to be the distribu-
tion of little presents from a Christmas tree. During the
evening the deceased young lady left the circle for the
purpose of lighting the tapers on the tree, and desired
none of the party to visit the room until she rang the bell.
To insure that no intruders should enter, Miss Luttrell
turned the key of the door, and commenced lighting up
the tree. Unfortunately, she commenced lighting the
the lower tapers first, and then, reaching up to light those
on the higher branches, her thin evening dress caught fire
and she was immediately enveloped in flames. It appears
that the deceased ran to the bell and pulled it violently,
and afterwards unlocked the door and proceeded towards
the room where the company were assembled. On meet-
ing her surrounded with flame and smoke their horror, it
may be conceived, was extreme. Her brother, assisted
by others, with great difficulty extinguished the flame,
but not until after receiving a severe burn on the hand.
Medical assistance was immediately sent for, Miss
Luttrell's eyelids, face, and neck, were found to have
suffered the most from the flames ; but it was at first
hoped that no fatal result would follow. The exhaustion,t
however, and shock caused to the system, were too great,
and on Monday she died. The deceased was in her 25th
year.