The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-22 00:00:00

LECTURE ON THE INQUISITION

Mr. J. SPENCER NORTHCOTE delivered a lecture upon the
Inquisition at the Concert Hall list night. The hall and
galleries were very much crowded. The chair was taken by
the Rev. Mr. NUGENT, and upon the platform, besides seve-
ral Roman Catholic gentlemen, there were Messrs. J. C.
Corbally, John Lynch, John Yates, jun, James Levingston,
R. H. Shiel, Clements, Hare, V. Challoner, &c. &c.
The lecturer commenced by describing the origin of the
Inquisition, which might be traced to a decree of the council
of Verona, published in the 12th century, enjoininc, all
bishops to make an inspection regarding the number of
heretics in their dioceses. He then proceeded to vindicate
it as a legal tribunal. He contended that so far from being
bloodthirsty in its nature, it showed every leaning towards
the accused, by allowing full pardon, only awarding some
slight canonical punishment if the offence were confessed, by
compelling the accuser, before any other step were taken, to
prove the grounds of suspicion upon the oaths of five wit-
nesses, and to take an oath that he was not actuated by
malice. By distinguishing offences committed in the heat of
passion, which were only visited with a nominal punishment,
and by granting the accused the fullest extent of time neces-
sary to bring forward witnesses in his favour, even from the
most distant countries. He replied to the arguments ad-
duced regarding the private manner in which arrests were
made, and the concealment of the names of accusers and
witnesses, by contending that the first measure was adopted
in order that the accused, if innocent, should not be sub-
jected to loss of character through public exposure, and that
the latter course was rendered necessary, as otherwise
accusers and witnesses would have been in those days liable
to assassination. Ile then came to deal with the torturing
of the accused, in order to extort confession, and the punish-
ment awarded to the condemned, and contended that in both
instances the Inquisition was more cautious and moderate
than the other tribunals of the age.
[At this period of the lecture, some confusion was caused
by the gas, which had been for some minutes growing fainter,
becoming at last extinguished altogether].
Rev. Mr. NUGENT came forward and stated that he had
heard that the gas in many parts of the town had gone out;
but that if the audience would keep their places candles
would be brought in.
After some delay, (during which the room was in total
darkness, cheers were called for and given for the Pope,
Mr. Northcote, and Dr. Cahill), candles were introduced
into the building.
Rev. Mr. NUGENT then said the lecture would proceed if
the meeting desired it. (Loud cries of " go on, go on.")
Mr. .NORTHCOTE then proceeded. He declared the inquisi-
tion to have been holy in its objects, just in its measures,
and beneficial in its results ; and denounced the Protestant
historian, Lorente, as a bad man and a perjured priest, whose
history was a series of exaggerations, and the very amount
of whose exaggerations could not be known, because he had
himself destroyed the testimonials by which they could be
refuted. He argued that the histories of the numbers de-
stroyed by the Inquisition were altogether exaggerated, and
that where a number of persons were merely sentenced to a
light punishment, they were stated by historians to have
been burnt. In conclusion, he accused Protestants of having
been at all times intolerant, and as sheaving that intolerance
in the present day by the manner in which they acted to.
wards persons who had adopted the Roman Catholic religion.
The lecturer was loudly applauded.
Rev. Mr. NUGENT proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. North-
cote, which was carried by acclamation.
The proceedings then terminated.

EXECUTION OF MOBBS
_FOR THE MURDER OF

HIS WIFE.

Yesterday morning the extreme penalty of the law was
carried into effect upon the body of this wretched criminal,
who was convicted, at the last session of the Central Crimi-
nal Court, of the murder of his wife, by cutting her throat,
at their residence, in Enoch-court, Aldgate. As usual, on
such occasions, a vast concourse of spectators, principally
the very dregs of society, were assembled at an early hour in
front of Newgate to witness the melancholy spectacle, hun-
dreds in fact having taken up their position shortly after
midnight, preferring to wait all night sooner than be de-
prived of a good position.

It being apecied that the crowd would be unusually great,
the authorities had caused additional barriers to be erected at
various points of the Old Bailey, so as effectually to pre-
vent accidents, the dread engine of death being erected about
one o'clock.

During the whole of Sunday, crowds of persons were
assembled round the prison eagerly discussing the forthcoming
strangulation of a fellow creature, with a morbid pleasure
painfully disgusting to behold. The crowd actually as-
sembled at th time of execution, there is some pleasure in
remarking, was far from being so great as on former occa-
sions, there not being more than from 4,000 to 5,000 persons
present, and, what is more unusual, but few females. The
windows of the houses facing the drop were also compara-
tively unoccupied, shewing that hanging, even for the crime
of murder, has lost much of its morbid attraction.
After the wretched culprit had taken his final leave of his
four children on Saturday, he became more calm and col-
lected, and continued absorbed in religious meditation, being
frequently visited by the Reverend Ordinary, Mr. Davis.
From his first admission into the jail, both before and
since his condemnation, he has had no hope that his life
would be spared, and has repeatedly so expressed himself,
and never altered his statement from that contained in his
petition to the Queen for mercy—that he was driven to the
act from a belief that his wife was unfaithful to him.

On Sunday he attended for the last time in the chapel,
when the Rev. Ordinary preached the condemned sermon,
and paid the most marked attention to the discourse ; in
fact his conduct has been such that the prison authorities
state a better conducted criminal was never within its walls.
After the conclusion of the sermon the convict was visited
by the Sheriffs and the Rev. Ordinary, and he repeated his
thanks for the kindness that had been shown to him. He
continued reading from his bible the particular portions of
scripture which had been pointed out for his instruction.
He retired to rest at an early hour, and appeared to sleep
calmly. He rose soon after six o'clock yesterday morning, and
haring partaken sparingly of some coffee and toast that was
provided him, he was visited by the Rev. Mr. Davis, who
found him devoutly engaged in reading. About 20 minutes
to eight he expressed a desire that the prayers of the day
should be read.

At half-past seven o'clock the sheriffs, alderman Wire and
J. T. Wallis, Esq., with the undersheriffs, Mr. Anderton and
Mr. Smith, arrived at the prison, and about a quarter to
eight they were introduced to the cell of the prisoner, in the
Chapel-yard, where they found him seated at a table, with
his bible and prayer book open before him • he appeared
quite prepared for the visit, and looked up calmly, perfectly
resigned, and being told the fatal moment was nearly arrived,
he expressed himself prepared to meet it. At his request,
all left a e cell, with the exception of the sheriffs,
who continued with the doomed man upwards of ten
minutes; the usual time having been exceeded by several
minutes. Mr. Cope entered the cell with the undersheriffs,
and announced that the last moment had arrived for
the procession to move. The wretched man at once rose,
but at the request of Calcraft, the executioner, who had
entered the cell, he resumed his seat while his
arms were being pinioned back by a strong
leather buckle strap, instead of tying the hands, as hereto-
fore. During the operation the only apparent struggle
within him was a sort of spasmodic cough, which he could
not restrain. He then rose with a firm step, and walked
out of the cell, the Rev. Mr. Davis reading the burial ser-
vice, preceded by the Sheriffs, the bells of the chapel of the
prison and St. Sepulchre's tolling forth the death knell. As
soon as the sound was heard the shouts and outcries of the
crowd, of " hats off ! " and other eager manifestations of
desiring to witness the last scene of the tragedy, were ap-
palling. As the wretched man passed through the narrow
passages to the lobby, which was hung with black cloth,
leading to the fatal drop, he appeared to gain firmness,
and ascended the steps without any assistance, and
placed himself beneath the fatal beam. Calcraft speedily
placed the cap over his head, and adjusted the fatal noose,
the ordinary continuing the reading of the service, and the
wretched man appearing to be absorbed in inward prayer,
his lips not moving, or speaking a single word. The signal
being given, the bolt was drawn, and the wretched man fell.
His struggles appeared severe for many minutes. The body
having hung the usual time, the sheriffs returned to be pre-
sent at the cutting down, which having been done by the
executioner, it was placed in a coffin, and in the course of
the day buried in the precincts of the prison. The prisoner,
who was attired in the usual prison dress, was a small spare
man, about five feet six inches in height, about forty years
of age, with a calm expression of countenance, wholly free
from any appearance of ferocity.

PRINCE ALBERT AT CAMBRIDGE.—Prince Albert, accom-
panied by the Duke of Brabant, is to visit Cambridge Uni-
versity to-day. He is to arrive this morning, and remain
till to-morrow afternoon. A rumour is current that the
Prince Chancellor will (in person) confer a degree upon the
Duke.

DEATH OF THE LATE HEAD-CONSTABLE.—On Sunday
forenoon last, Mr. M. M. G. Dowling, who for several years
filled the office of head-constable and commissioner of police
in this borough, expired at his residence at Wavertree. Mr.
Dowling had for some years been declining in health, and
since seceding from the police he had had several attacks of
paralysis, which had destroyed the use of one side, and
almost entirely deprived him of the power of speech. At
the time of hi's decease Mr. Dowling was in his 66th year.
THE CORPORATION OF MANCHESTER V. THE OVERSEERS
OF MANCHESTER.—In the Court of Queen's Bench on Sa-
turday last an appeal of the Corporation of Monchester
came on for argument. The case was taken under Mr.
Baines's act for the opinion of the court. The question was,
whether the corporation of Manchester were liable to be
rated to the relief of the poor of the township of Manchester
in respect of the Corporation Gasworks, which had been
assessed upon a rental of £5,000. The question turned
entirely upon the construction to be put by the court upon
the I 3th section of all at passed for lighting the town of
of Manchester, by which it was enacted that the property
held by the corporation should be exempt from parochial
rates so long as the corporation held it in trust for the said
township. After hearing the arguments, Lord Campbell,
and Mr. Justice Erle concurred that according to the act
of parliament the corporate property was exempt. Judg-
ment was therefore. for the appellants.

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY EVENING,

Owing to hurry and pressure on our columns,
caused by the receipt of our intelligence from New
York yesterday, and which was TWO DAYS later than
that contained in any other European paper, we
omitted the important fact that flour had advanced
in the New York markets 1 shilling per
barrel after the departure of the iagara.
This advance was caused by the advices
taken out, as we have before stated, by the steamers
which sailed during the late period of excitement
in our own markets. This has entirely subsided
for quite a fortnight, and the next intelligence re-
ceived from Europe will cause a marked reaction ;
and when we take into account the stringency of
the American money market, and impossibility of
speculators holding stocks, we should not be sur-
prised to hear of a disastrous panic being the re-
sult of recent operations. The system followed by
the American Banks at the present moment is pre-
cisely similar to that which causes such rapid de-
preciation in the value of every commodity in this
country. And when we find money rating at 12 to
18 per cent., there can be but little power left to
speculators to hold stocks or maintain prices. We
therefore repeat that the trade should use increased
caution at this critical moment.

The London Corn Market was fully attended by
country buyers ; but the supply of English wheat
being light, the rates of this day week were obtain-
ed. There was a good inquiry for foreign wheat
of intermediate qualities, at Monday's quotations.
There was a good supply of barley, and a decline of
Is, to 2s. per quarter was submitted to. Beans
were ts. dearer. Oats were in fair demand. Rus-
sian was quoted 6d. to Is. per quarter higher. The
price of flour and peas was unaltered.

The London Produce Market was active to-day.
Teas were in demand at a slight advance. Sound
Congou realised ls. 14d: to ls. 2d. Coffee was dull
but very firm. Native Ceylon 465. to 475. Sugars
were in increased demand. Yellow Havanna 235.
6d. to 265. in bond. Refined brown lumps 445.
Rice is still wanted. Madras at 13s. 3d. to 13s. 9d.
White Bengal at 14s. 9d. to 16s. Cotton remains
firm, but demand limited. Tallow is not so much
sought for._ P.Y.C. at 565. 9d. to 575. on the spot.

THE STOCK IS 33,605 CASKS
Against 41,831 „
Deliveries

Against....

2,917

By the Port -Wallace, from Melbourne, whence
she sailed July 4, we have to announce the arrival
of 10,108 ounces of gold, and by the Childe Harold,
from Sydney, with advices to July 20, we have also
to announce the arrival of 2,300 ounces, value about
49,6001, to which we have to add 350,000 dollars,
making the total imports since Saturday 119,600/.
These large imports of gold, in addition to the large
sums brought by the Solent, Niagara, and Manches-
ter, has helped to increase the value of all kinds of
stocks in the London market. Consols closed to-
day at 951 to 951. Three and a Quarter per Cents
95i to 96k. Ban4lc Stock 217 to 218. Exchequer
Bills ss. to Bs. premium.
The Foreign Stock Market was also better. Prus-
sian 11] to 112. Mexican 241 to 24k. Spanish
46 to 461. New Deferred 22k to 221. Russia 41
to 5.

The Railway and General Share Market was also
much more bouyant.
The Euxine steamer, which was to leave South-
ampton yesterday for the Mediterranean with the
East India mails, took out 481,9601. in specie, of
which 442,6201. was in silver.
The advises from Havanna to the Ist instant re-
port the rate of exchange on London 11 to per
cent. prem. Freights were lower, and on the de-
cline ; the last terms were London or the Clyde,
3/. ss. ; Falmouth and a market, 31. 10s.

The Liverpool Cotton Market continues quiet
and firm. The sales to-day amounted to 6,000
bales, 1,000 of which were taken for export and
speculation.
The import of American cotton so far, this week
amounts to 5,813 bales, including ships reported
this day. The clearances advised per Niagara, for
week ending 9th November, are 13,637 bales, and the
quantity now at sea for this port sums up 27,467
bales, as follows :

New York,

Oct.
19 Colonel Cutts 221

Brought forward, 10,632
Oct.

22 Empire State 1117

6 Guiding Star 2120
18 Chasca - 2247
26 Bell Rock - 2491

Liverpool 318
24 Compromise 344
...

- 9318

27 Franklin King 1040

Charleston,

28 Will Stetson

Menapia

28 Irvino - 1356
29 Switzerland 2443
Nov.

1 G. A. Hopley 2705
Waltham - 2038

- 8052 Mobile,
Oct.

- 8542

1 Hartford - 1555