The Express.
London, England, 1850-05-23 00:00:00

THE BOROUGH OF FLNBBURY.

The following letter has been addressed by Mr•
Wakley, MT., to the ebalmaa 01 • meeting of (Itc:ors of
1. umber, :

Ilasefi-ld-park-wood, Middlesex, May 21.
Sir,—A friend Las is/armed me of the olject nor which the
meeting of this evening is held. Had I been favoured with
an invitation I showlel have attended.
I am not nwprised that a feeling of diwontent should aid
ha Finsbury Malin to the state of the rf prewntation of that
borough in parliament ; and it Is my misfortune, end not
my fault, that I am are dike MIMI of that feeling. During
13 years a close attention to my parlixmentary duties ob-
tained for me frequent ezpassions of approbation from my
generous and indulgent constitu- .4h. Atter a long. ardor,.
and anxious servitude my health gave way, and the duties
which I bad to execute is par.iamentremainedanduchargvd
'
by me from a powe:ful and irresistible necessity. In the isa
bowies 1 oothd no; attend the House of Commons at all ; in
the present session my attendance hes been both seldom and
irregular. linen alone, of a distressing kind, prevented me
from speaking and voting against the detestable window-tax,
when the motion fur its repeal was lest before the h,use.
These things have gaoled me macs anxiety. I feel that I
hare no moral right to continue as the representative of
Finsbury if 1 cannot perform the duties of the great trust
that has been eLefiied to my charge. If I were to act so un-
worthy a part 1 should all requite my noble-hearted rowel-
tenets Air their generous fgroearance during my protracted
illness. I place myself, therefore, entirely at their dispueal.
It is • duty which I owe to them, and I do mot shrink hem
Its avowal,

The end of the present session of parliament is rapidly ap-
proaching, and here* mp resignation at this time would be
of little utility. l'ermit me, twerefore, with perfect 'rook-
seas to state that if I were to be allowed to make choice of
the course of proceeding at this juncture, I should prefer to
remain in the honourable position of your reprowntative
until the commencement of the nest session of parliament,
at which time, should my health not be sufficiently ►e-estab-
lished to snub!•: me to resume my labours In the House of
Commons, I shall, with ,at hesitation and with the liveliest
feelings of gratitude, restore to the patriotic and independent
electors of Finsbury that honourable and dignified trust
which I have so long cherished as the highest object of my
ambition.

------
I hare the honour to remain,
T Cu. your obedi
WenAIL LEYt servant,
HOMAS .
To the Chairman of the Committee of the !Military
Liberal Electoral Areociation.

" DISTRESS IN AGaicuvriatAL DIBTRICTB."—The
poor-rate for the ensiling quarter at Carmarthen is only 6d.
in the pound, instead of le., the usual average for rainy pen
plat. As Carmarthen is situated in as agricultural district,
it may fairly be regarded mg Uy reflecting the condition
of the working classes of that district. Why does this state
of things exist? Because the abundance of food enables
the working man, even with the present demand for labour
and the existing rate of wages, to procure the means of
subsistence, and thus places him above exposure to want, sad
strove the necessity of having recourse to relief. Atter all
the bluster about agriculturel distress, one het is certain, that
never were the poor better off, having the @minuend of more
of the necessaries and comforts of life than at present. We
should like to see oar protectionist contemporaries reconcile
the fact to which this paragraph points, with the talk abort
fans labourers being thrown out of employment by the
abolition of the corn laws. In 1813, is addition to the low
prises, the fanners of Carmarthenshire were doubly sm-
artened by being almost eaten up by paupers. They had the
Cora-laws then. In the year 1850, it is a greet feet, that in
Carmarthen, the centre of a large &indultam& district, the
rats for the present quarter is the lowest that has been made
for for., pearl Will we are told that the poor in *picot-
total districts are In great distrees.—ffiealessa and Glamor.
rin Herald.

"Th. alarm
ocieasioned amongst the occupiers of land by
the present low prices of agricultural produce, and the
pried/as demands which are, In consequeece, made to most
hullords foe abatemmits °trent, lead me to believe that as
explanation of my views upon this 'abject may be ezpeeded
by my temente ; and I accordingly propose to state them in
this memorandum.
I as of opinion that land ought always to be let on lease,
for such a term of years as to afford to both landlord and
taunt the means of ululating, with a reasonable probabi-
lity of not making any serious error, the fair value of the land,
according to its situation and quality, epos an average of
mastics sad of pikes.
" Both parlors having made their calculations upon this
principle, I think the agreement ought to be strictly adhered
to on bath aides, and that this is anti* equally for the advan-
tage of both landlords and tenants as a class. If it is under-
stood that when bad times come, tenants are to look for
abatements not agreed upon when their farms were takes,
this is an inducement to persons of little substance to offer
rent. which 'evident men, possessing capital and intelligence,
will not undertake to pay, and the consequence will be that
the best farmers will suffer from an undue competition with
the worst. To the landlords, on the other hand, each a sys-
tem will be still more fojuriou., slaw it will lead to their
estates being let to tenants not likely to do justice to the
land, at nominal high ren's which, man average of yserserill
not be realised. hues I entertain the atteeretold
so priasigis, to • pupa oa4 iotilsotiodotiO ithdooolossilima
roam la years of pressure.
t. But, on the other hand, I admit that there is some-
thing peculiar in the present state of affair), owing to the
change which has taken place in the laws relating to the
importation of corn from abroad. Although 1 am per-
suaded that the system of protection to it is called) was
not in reality btu, ficial to the agricultural interest, and
that if its practical effects during the thirty years for
which it existed are inquired into, it will be found that
under that system, tanning wen not a business which was
generally profitable, u compared to other modes of em-
pbying capital ; still there can be no doubt that the law
which existed did create expectations in the minds of
farmers which mast have influenced the calculations en
which they proceeded in the agreement into which they
entered. It is na•ural, therefore, that in oddities to the
immediate difficulty to which they are exposed by the
present low prim, they should feel mach apprehension
of future loss from a range of prices below that on which
they reckoned when they took their farms. This fear of
futon loss is, of course, ci!culated much to discourage those
attempts at improvement to which I believe they ought to
look for relict. lam anxious to do whatever I canto remove
this feeling of apprehension from the minds of my tenant.,
and, therefore, though nothing that has occurred has at all
shaken limy own opinion that the change of policy which has
created this alarm, will ultimately raise end not lower the
value of land: because, this cannot fail to be the effect of
whatever promotes the general prosperity c f the country ; I
em prepared, under present circumstances, to depart in same
degree from what 1 moieties to be the sound principle of re-
quiring that the agreements entered into by my tenants, in
taking farms under lea'., shall be tanding upon them es well
as upon myself; end that as I obtain no increase of rent in
years of high prices, nu abatement should be looked for in
years of low price.
" The ground upon which I have said that I am ready to
make mone concession, at present, is that my tenant, might,
when they took their lanes, expect prices, which ender the
altered state ef the law, they think canuo. he 'maintained;
accordingly I propose that an abatement should be made in
their several rents, to the extent of the difference which shall
actually be found to 'aid between the pr:ets which they
receive, and those on which they had a right to cal •ul.de.
Bet as 1 hive said. I cannot lock merely at the prices of
single year; whatever may be the state of the law, it tales
possible that there should not he glutei:dons in priers,
and on say farm that is prop-rly conducted, the tenant
must be prepared to inset some years of low prices ; I
will, therefore, look to an average of years as affording the
proper test of it e prices which my tenants were justified in
expecting, and of those which they actually receive. I will
assume, therefore, that in taking each tans, the tenant
reckoned upon receiving the price• of the pri ceding seven
years, es shown by the value at the time, of a tithe rent
charge of 1,0001. ea& r the Tithe Comkosition Act; and 1
will in like manner take the same rent charge, as showing
the price* he hee actually received, and in whatever propor-
tion the letter may he lest thee the former. I will make an
abatement beta the rut which it has been agreed on should
be paid.
" In adopting this yrinciple I wi:l further give my tenant.
the advent -ge of excluding the high prices of the year 1847
altogether from the calculation, because I as aware it is
the cirennutacces of that year were altogether peculiar,
as and that the I arm.rs in general derived,
no advantage from
the extravagant t.riccs. they ought not to boa reckoned
against them. At the same time, I must observe that those
' high prise sobbed with watiottod Modem of troth, and
that greeting the you in qaezion to have been an creep-
Mosel one, I believe the present ono to be equaly so in the
opposite dirge' ion, aril that, fact, the present low prices
have been occ3sioned by the very high prices of 1947, just
as the still lower prices of 183.5 were the mnsequence of
1831-32.

" It is obvious that by this arrangement, if low prim., cam
tinue, the tenants will obtain a proportionate abatement of
their tents, while, on the other hand, if they cis not con-
tinue, bat the depression should prise merely tempor.try, I
conceive, fa. the reasons I have stated, that nty t nants, who
all hold under lease, are cot entitled to expect any abate-
ment, since, even under the old corn law, they were nut
exempt from periods of still lower pekes than we now have,
and that too her a longer time than the present great degree-
si AI has yet continued. Nor ought it to be lost sight of that,
in thus allowing my tenants an abatement, according to the
difference between the prices they have actually received
for their cora and those upon which they rtsy Ise: cal-
culatiol, they will hove the advantage of er.ony eireum
stances reducing the cast of cultivation, on which ttoy could
not reckon when they to'tk their forms. There is hardly
one of these ?arms which has not gained considerably by
the construction of the reilload which now passes through
the country, giving them access to better markets than
formerly for their produce, diminishing very much the ex-
pense both of delivering their produce, and of obtaining
mentor, lime, &c. There has likewise been a gre re•
daction in the price of almost eventhing they consume on
their farm, especially of clover seed, oil cake, and other arti-
ficial food. .

In making a general abatement upon this principle, I
have also looked into the circumstances of each separate
fum, and in these cans in which I have thought tiat there
are special reascu for au additbnal concession, I have de-
termined to make it.
. .

• • Lastly, as this abatement is made in consideration of a
change to the law, which re bcht nut hare been anticipated
when the farm+ were taken, it will not splay to lettings mails
after the beeinnlne of 1646.

" April 21, 1850."

" GREY."

FLORAL. FETI AND FANCY AAR.—Yesterday a
iori
floral fete and fancy bazaar was kat the Ranover-rquare
t Rooms, in aid of the funds of General Annuity
Society. The room were most tastefully decorated, and
the articles exposed for sale were more than usually varied
and attr..ctive. There was a band of music in the gallery,
and the " business " of the day was frequently enlivened
by some very agreeable performances. The stalls were pre-
sided over by ladies of title, and amongst the most distin-
guished were—the Duchess of Argyll, the Lady Charlotte
Denison, 'the Countess Grey, the Countess 'Talbot, the
Couatees Craven, the Countess of Lichfield, the Countess of
Gainshorough, the Countess of Antrim, the Lady Fanny
Howard, the Lady Robert Grosvenor, the Viscountess
Drumisarig, the Lady levenham, the Do eager Lady
Abinger, Lady Buxton, &c. The visitors continued
to assemble in large numbers throughout the day,
and every possible temptation was offered ;them, in the
shape of toys, articles of dress, specimens of worsted work,
manufactures in silk, pasteboard, ivory, and papier macho,
together with all the usual varieties of embroidery, jewel.
lery, stationery, &c., which are generally to be foand at
similar places of resort. There were, moreover, several
" lotteries" established in the room, and those who risked
their fortunes for the chance of gaining a pr:z 3 had every
excuse for so doing in the snares which were placed in their
way by the fair stall-holders. The exhibition of II swore was
of too insignificant a character to command much attention,
but on the whole the tete was so well conducted as to reflect
great credit upon the directors of the institution. The fits
will be continued to-day (Thursday) and Friday, and if the
same extent of patronage should tu3 bestowed upon it, which
it appeared to receive on the present occasion, the result can-
not be otherwise than b-neficial to the society.
__
EXTRAORDINARY LEGAL

Nester-

day um lower than 28,000 ponces weft summoned by the
Glasgow Water Company before the Sheriff Small Debt
Court for non-payment of their water rates. The court-hall
was so densely crowded with the defendants, that the sheriff,
for_ want of accommodation in any of the court-halls, war

under the agesseity of poatponing the hearing of the cases
until future diets, when they will be taken up in separate
Ices. It is perhaps right to mention that the parties sum-
moned ware entirely of the poorer cleans, from whom the
water eseepeay have always experienced the greatest diffi-
salty in mffiectiag their water rent.—North British Mail.
St. AND 141111.4 AND WOOMITOCIL (CANADA).-IWipeCt-
iag the St. Andrew's and Woodstock lisilway, we learn by
a private letter from Bt. Andrew's this week that the tenders
ware opened on the 14th inst. for the first 26 miles of rail-
way at St. Andrew's, when it was found they were too high,
12,000 dollars a mile being the terms, and they were conse-
quently rejected. A subsequent mg reement was,bovrever, made
with some of the parties tendering for completing the first
16 miles, which is oonvidered the most difficult and expensive
portion of the line. Further negotiations are to be made re•
Wive to the remainder of the 2G miles, which, it is expected,
will be done at a lower rate. We learn also that a locomotive
Is expected out this summer from hagland.—Quebec
May 1.

W-ST.
111171DIZOIII ATTACu tIPONTRE • PEOI4III-00/111TABL1.—W.
Prim, J. Norton, and Catharine Clark, were charged the
two former with assaulting Edward Fern, No.loB E division,
stifle le the eremitism of his ditty, and the latter with
entities a dieturtruce.
The peseesutor, who appsared tohave received severe ill-
ussge, and was seemly able to walk, deposed that about two
this morning his attention was attracted to the prisoners and
others, who were creating a great disturbance in the New-
road. The female prisoner was lying upon the ground, using
themes' disgusting language, and appeared to be querrelling
with the other primers. Witness desired them to leave the
place. They persisted in remaining, and witness caught
bold of Price by the arm, and attempted to move him on, !I
whoa be struck witness • violrat blow upon the left eye.
Wit's,' took Lim into etutedy, but be refused to go.
Norton then approached thins, andstruck witness upon the
chest, closed with him, and both the prisoners, with the es.
natures of their companions, knocked him down. While
upon the ground they all commenced kicking him about the
legs and body in • most dangerous manner. He received •
kick under the jaw-bone, which pained him very much.
He, with coneiderable difileulty, got his staff from his posher,
and struck Noma upon the head. He they rose from the
ground and they all fell upon him sole, knocked him down
a second time, and repeated then ill-usage. The prisoners
then decamped, but were ultimately apprehended.
re=pollso sonatahlt of the R divides /thew ell the
qtently banal b 1 killer:Cl= pollee.
Mr. Hall committed the female prisoner for eight days'
imprisonment, and the two men for 21 days each.
On the prisoners being removed from the bar, Norton'
struck Fern upon the chest, and was proceeding to further
acts of violence, but was fortunately prevented by the other
constablee. He was brought back by the direction of Mr.
Ball, and wee committed for one month's imprisonment for
the second assault, to be served at the expiration of the
21 days.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
CHAIOE or FRAUD —Ann Mafia Totfrey was charged
with obtaining 361. from Mr. W. Richardson, bootmaker,
multr fraudulent pretences.
The prosecutor deposed that, in July, 1918, be became
acquainted with the prisoner, through a sister of his,
when the prisoner sent a letter to him, stating that if
he let her (prisoner) have 601., she would get him
a government situation. la consequence of this
communication he went to the di fondant's house,
in Coveetry4treet, and raid he would do so pre-
sided be was satisfied the aft.ir was right. She said, " Oh,
you have to occasion to doubt me ; I am • person of greet
influence, sad am personally acquainted with Lord Alfred
Paget, and he is the person to whom I shall write to about
the appointment, and I will let you know the result in the
course of a few days." She then pressed him Ur same
money, but he declined to advance any at that
Urn., but a few days after he sent her Va.
by his sister. About the 10th of July in that year
(1319), he received from the, prisoner the letter produced,
which was to the effect that if he waited upon her she
would give him the necessary documents, appointing him
to the situation. He accordingly called upon her the came
day, when she showed him a letter which she elated she
had received from Lord Alfred Page', wherein his lordship
informed her that he had succeeded in getting him
• situation in the Herne office, tnrough her recom-
mendation. soe then asked Lira for more money,
and he gave her 101. She wanted another Pit, but not
hewng so much with him, she went home with him, and he
gave her the money. After that, in October, 1849, she
called upon him and told him that he was to be installed
into his situation on the following hloneny, on which day he
was to meet Lord Paget at her house, and that his lordship
would be his surety. Ile went there on that day, but the pre
riser had left the place, and no one knew where sbe was
gone to. This exeita his suspicions, and, on his coiling
upon Lord Alfred Peget, he was informed that his lordship
knew nothing at all about the prisoner, end that she bad used
his lordship's rams without his authority.
Witints saw nothing more of the prisoner till last night,
when he met her at Knightsbridge. He followed her to
her ludeings, 17, Pork-side, and having procured the assist-
ance of a constable, gave her in charge.
fbe prisoner, who is suspected to bays duped others by
sien.lar memos, was remanded for a week.