The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-17 00:00:00

THE ItEPOIX LEAGUE.

Last night a meeting of the council of the
Reform League was held at the offices, Adelphi-terrace ;
Mr. E. 8141/11 in the chair.

The Catumus, in opening the proceediugs, said the
finance committee had not quite finished their investiga-
tion of the accounts, which were accordingly held over till
the next meeting of the council. He repeated that those
accounts could bear the utmost possible scrutiny, and
there was not the slightest ground whatever for certain
insinuations that had been very ungracieualy thrown out
in certain quarters as to mysterious funds being used by
the League. Everything erases clear ILS day, as it always
had been. (Hear, hear.) In the course of the week an
unjustifiable attack had been made on them by a journal
professing to be friendly to them, with regard to
the proposed banquet to Mr. Iteverdy Johnson. Ho
begged to say that that attack was wholly un-
founded. The League had nothing whatever to
do with the invitation given to the American
minister. (Hear, hear.) They were never consulted
about it; in fact, they never interfered in the matter at
all, until those who had given him an invitation asked per-
miision to use that room, that they might arrange their
further proceedings, and requested that • deputation
from the League, U. with others, representing the feel-
ings and opinions of working men of metropolis, would
meet them at a conference, to be held for that purpose.
A deputation from the League met them, and felt it their
duty to state what was their entire conviction, namely,
that they thought there was some difficulty in the matter,
and that they were not convinced that the proposed ban-
quet would have the cordial support of the working men
of London, their impression being that the working men
preferred some other mode of renewing, their expression
of deep sympathy for their American brethren—
those expresilens of sympathy to which
they M so warmly and opportunely given utterance,
in contradiction to other classes in thi country, at the
time of the civil war. (Cheers.) If, in consequence of
the expremien of that opinion on the part of the depute-
tion, those who had originated the banquet thought it
advisable to give up the idea of carrying it out, the
shame, if there be any, did not rest with the Reform
League. (Hear, hear.) There was ono point upon which
there could be no difference of opinion whatever, and that
was in their cordially concurring with the sentiments so
.Ire=, so abl, and so expressed by Mr.
ifYfor the s y warml
peedy and settlement of all
questions in dispute between Great Britain and America.
(Applause.)
The President then called attention to A petition to her
Majesty praying for the release of the Fenian convicts. Its
concluding pages ran thus :—" That after the late
terrible civil war iu America. in which so many lives were
sacrificed, the United States government did not resort to
the principle of severe and now almost obsolete punish-
ments on those who had been the cease of so much
national disaster, but, on the by the
exercise of clemency, to induce ice o,
to
the laws and constitution ; may it therefore please your
Most Gracious Majesty to exercise your royal prerogative
of mercy during this holy Christmas season, by •
to their sorrownig relatives the political prisoners ssauL
your petitioners shall, as in duty bound, ever pray."
Mr. Beales, and most of those present, signed the
petition.
The meeting shortly after adjourned.

ILLEGAL FISHING IN TUE TILUIES.—A con-
viction has just taken place before the Greet bench of
magistrates, in a case m which Isaac Gillis, owner and
master of the stow boat Lucy, of Gravesend, was charged
with having wilfully taken and destroyed a large quan-
tity. of the fry of fish in the river Thames, in the
plumb of Aveluy, contrary to the rules, ordinances, and
orders made by the Court of the Mayor and Aldermen of
the City of Loudon on the 4th day of October, 1785.
= Tacker, EN., the harbourmaster of the central

el tau pat of Laotian, raddimmg at Gremawicia,
maid he bad bees abasing by Ms Gasereasey °oasis-
misers at the rise Timms te ids the prenal prooeed-
ings against the delendent, wader be 400 by-law
made in perweenee of an sat of the 30th year
of the reign is= Osage IL, idltaisd "An Act for
the more wad isaprovemnait of
spawn and fry of Mohr trrerThaniss and the waken
a/ the Medway, and to the balk, regulating the=
thereof." Oa the Ilth Nessaber last witness
the delsailears Was meek, at webs off Aveley, and
*sad ahead IS lashes of the try of fish. Two days
afterwards he blesibil the same Mid again, sad head
90 bile sae; and as the hirabs day, ca SaMiss
another Smlt, be ANSI IS heeds, whisk bad hes Shan
was
on that day. 04Taisr added that so treader.
this Mod AM last RS less Saa
teas of the try whiling. hadyear hes team boa the
bag amid te ihrosse swum sad is lisped
1111= SI amid's' had bass abliameL The defend-
ant bid Wks been easielad et a lbeelinee, and he
was new slated in the tall tanelly el dL GM sets.
CATIITAL PALACIO. •••• On 8112911310 Dui.m•e
Wzransmao, Due. 16.--AddidtutviLkllNllMU tioisda,
1,440; ditto ea payseet, 338: Wei LW.
EZA117171,1; HAra.--Nrs. B. A. Atha'. Watid's
Fara MinietaZers"= 1et.4.6147761=CLZ
hew Ws
,:siamowg t=tZ
ilt Pun yew Wok sal TI
wither a arm
_la al%
pithistew BOPS% M.

DRAT' l

Another ,
Bairatow, of
age of 90 years. ,
able one, showing
aided by wealth.
position arid --
toms head 1 ___ unsparingly w _
public utility. There is scarcely a society peermaieg
national claims that has not received aid ffoni
hands; and locally the poor have lost, without ea•
caption, in Mr. baintow their best friend. lie was
born in AIM; Yorkshire ; was the son of a poor wool-
stapler, who gave his ninths best education his mane per-
witted. At the age of 16 be was scut to Preston to Isere
the cotton msnufactuelpg business at the well-known dm
et Means. Horrocks, =ler, and Co., of which Mr. Z.
Hermon, M.P., is at present the head. llr. Bairetow
early showed good qualities, and in the days oil
the old stage coacher, ea fixed days, he visited the market
towns of Lancashire as chief sale am& of the Sem, of
which lie ultimately became a member. It was always
the boast of the deceased and his servants that hie
house was maintained by a sum that was wasted
by most people, and his pereoual domestic expense
was little over 2001. a year at the period of his greatest
affluence. This characteristic may be taken as one of the
secrete of his attaining his immense wealth; but having
acquired each vast means be gave liberally, and hie
generosity may be said to have been LobouMe& lie was
a contributor to every worthy object in his own town, and
many powerful organisations in the centres of industry
have been assisted in a substantial way by him. 111. chief
objects of assistance were churches. sciiools, and societies
for disseminating Christian truth. There is not a church
in the town to which he has not leen a largo con-
tributor, and he used to consider the sacred
edifices particularly under his charge, and that it was hie
duty to supply any delimency found within them. The
deceased was never married, and although he was one of
ten children he has not a blood relition left. By his will
be has bequeathed his large fortune to charitable objects
and personal friends. Throughout his life his habiti were
scrupulously exact, and when an active perkier in the
manufactenog concern he was never absent from the
mill at six o'clock in the morning, and whilst be sets able
to walk about he did so before Weakling. To this he
attributed his good health and long life. Among
his numerous bequests are the following :-:-Prorton
and County of Lancaster Royal Infirmary, 20,0001.;
Church Missionary Society, 3.0001. ; Bible Society, 3,0301. ;
Moravian Miriam!, 2,0001. ; Religious Tract Society,
1,0001. ; Pastoral Aid Society, 11,0eig. ; Curates' Aid So-
ciety, 2,000/. ; Irish Church Mission Sodety, 6001. ; Chris-
tian Knowledge Society, 3,000/.; National Society for
Promoting Religion among the Populations, 2,0001.; Deaf
and Dumb Institution, Manchester, 6001. ; Naval and
Military Bible Society, 6001. ; Maud/ester Diocesan Church
Building Society, 8,0001.; Chester awl Manchester Dioooolllll
Board of Education, 1,000/. ; Casterton Schools for the
education of the daughters of the clergy, 1,0001. ; Medina
and Benevolent College, London, 200. ; Kendal Clerical
Charity, WV. To the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty.
to be applied to the endowment of the alter-mentioned
churches in Preston he bequeathed the following sums:—
All Saints, 2,0001. ; Christ Church. Lend. ; tnt. Luke's,,
6, OWL ; St. Murk's (for the completion of the tower), 1,0001. ;
and St. Saviour's, 1,0001. To the Northern Counties
Asylum for Idiots, at Lancaster, he leaves 5,000/. Weider
personal beque.ts he has not forgotten the Preston Me-
chanics' Institution, Preston Teinperunce Society, Preston
Orphan School, Preston Institute for the Blind, Bible
Woman's Mission, Samaritan Society, the Associated
Institution (Loudon) for making greet. to provide houses
and board for people reduced in circumstances, Society for
the Conversion of the Jews, Army Scripture Readers'
Society, National Society for the Propagation of Chunk
Principles, Priests' Protection Society, Colonial and Conti-
nental Church Building Society, Missions to Seamen, &c.

THE LATE SHOCKING OCCURRENCE ON THE
BRIGHTON RAILWAY.

An inquest was held on Tuesday, at the Suites
County Hospital, Brighton. on the body of Frank French.
the under guard of the train to which the shocking acci-
dent reported a day or two ago occurred.
After having been sworn, the coroner and jury pro-
ceeded to the accident ward, where the injured man,
Harris, the principal guard, was lying. His deposition
was taken by his bedside, and wheu the coroner returned
to the board-room, where the general inquest was held, it
was read over as follows:—John Herds, on his oath,
saith-1 am a kuard in the service of the London.
Brighton. and South Coast Railway Company. About
three o'clock on Sunday morning last 1 was at the
Three Bri4es station with Frank Fan* the decivod,
who was my under guard. He was coupling some
trucks on a siding. 1 heard a leakage. 1 wear to set
what it was, and got into the truck. I think it was an
iron box truck. 1 had my lamp with me. Directly I got
into the truck there was an expiation, which reedered
me insensible. N% hen I came to I found I was in dames.
I did not see French then; he was a little further from
the truck whin the exp:osion happened. I did not know
at all what was in the trick, or what the barrel-, con-
tained. I taw " Newhaven" chalked on the truck. I
did rot smell any smell till I had opened the d 00... Di-
teetly aftt r 1 opened the door I smut the oil. Our train
came tram Hoe ham, aud was hound for Tuubridgo is ells.
John l'hileex sworn—l am au engine driver in the ser-
vice of the railway company. 1 was in charge of the
goods ttain from Horshum to 'i'unblidge Wells on si.anday
morning last. We arrived at Three badges station (wit-
nets referred to his time book) at one o'clock exactly. We
commenced shunting our train for Tunbridge Wells .it 2.30,
with Frank French and Harris, the guards, and Coliwelh
the pointsnian. I was within five trucks of where the
explosion occurred.
Alfred Collwell sworn—l am a shunter in the employ
of the railway company. I was within about 60 yards
of the explosion. There was an explosion. I afterwards
saw French in flames, and helped to extinguish them.
The Coroner said the cause of death seemed self-
evident, but he thought an important point might wire
for the consideration of the jury ; namely, whether proper
precautions bad been taken in the carriage of an areele of
this description.
Mr. Brewer said these goods were consigned to the care of
the Brighton Company by the London and North Western
Company, who had had them conaigned to their care as
reined middle," which was not considered dangerous
under the regulations of this and other companies.
The Coroner asked if there was anyone who oould
tell them what is understood in the trade by " refined
naphtha"
Mr. Hawkins said that railway companies had not con-
sidered this naphtha an explosive article. It is now being
carried to a large extent all over the country as oil, and
d • all the years that naphtha had been so carried he
never knew an explosion occur from the vapour it gave
off. _ _

The Coroner—One of two things. If naphtha will not
explode, then this was not naphthr. Then, t not naphtha,
we want to know who sent it as naphtha, and what it
really was.
Eventually the inquest was adjourned till next 'Monday.
on the understanding that evidence is to be called from
the senders, and irons the North Western Railway.
Chemical evidence will also be produced as to the pro-
pettier and nature of " relined naphtha."

AN INDEPENDENT ELECTOR HOAXED. —A good
story, and one which has the advantage of being true, is
told in Shrewsbury at the expense of a free and inde-
pendent elector of this irreproachable borough. The
elector in question exercised the privilege of the franchise
for the first time during the recent election, and having
been induced to give one of his votes to Mr. Figgina, the
conservative candidate, he appears to have livid in the
daily expectation of having conveyed to him, from some
unknown and mysterious source, a substudial se new-
kdgment of his support. lie did not make any secret of
his expectation, but frequently opened his heart upon the
subject to some of his fellow-workmen, and after uidulg-
ing in wild hopesof receiving la from •• The Man in the
Moon," ho gradually came down to 2/., a sum which hap-
pened to be urgently needed in his domestic economy, and
the lack of which he daily lamented. One morning his
waning hopes were suddenly revived by the receipt of a
letter, couched in guarded terms, but from which he
clearly gathered that the expected guerdon was at length
forthcoming, and was to be obtained from a stranger
who might be met that night at 8 o'clock on
St. Chad's-terrace,_ and who was to be recognised
and approached by a stated code of signals. The
• night proved wet and atomay, but the free and inde-
pendent &dor was faithful to the appointment ; and.
after waiting twenty minutes, and getting wet t
be beheld the man wham ha was to wet--s maah=ihri
=they maid up far, • man who whistled to the free
and elector, and who, whoa the free am
doffed big bat, beamed him to cso&
DI &dust motions of the eatewled fors Eger of
the left hand. The colloquy between the Whir and the
bribed was brief. atuati.i.formail= ehotor for
Vbie vote with
for the man with the tacePhM
into hoodt too bright the
'leek., harriallYikettelfet 111 the Vl"
ea the two ecivereigaefor which ba bade. long looked in
vain. With a trawapreasise that he was " right for
next time," be the advice it hie interlocutor.
and amide the bad rinds way hen" where epos furtively
=eat Os prim et his votir be laud that the mina.
vow mia WON and %Wei. * impress of the
Mhos, ware ant elciewatm bat—
Hornisraminias. WOW from glaring gather-
wlisit=ll.l4 trisr 6.*.tehflt. Irdst
lea .fit
meanemamr* ergelatedalagilimmoia".l;Fr-,

r

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11

:x~
t

-7,1•11111111 r"
seress:
• ,
•
ONE PENNY. . •
f OF A PUBLIC BENIIPAOWII
YUIVIFICEXT BAQL*BatiTS.
•
benefactor, in the person of Mr. John
Prinks, has just died, at the rile old "A 4
in. The history of his life is a most reuiark
towing perseverance and iiido6,y for, us.
oath, he gained for lumself a Ugh eocial
I a pnnoely fortune, which with a boon-
he distributed unsparingly to pompom of
7. There is scarcely • society pa/inside%
was that bas not received aid from bre
L locally the poor have lest, without ewe
beintow their beat friend. lie was
fax, Yorkshire ; was the son of • poor wool-
gave his smiths best education his means per-
the age of Hi be was scut to Preotee to leers
en badness at the well-known dm
lon'oFink and Co., of which Mr. E.
.I'., is at preset the head. Mr. Balmiest
I good business Tualatin, and in the days oC
s coaches, ea deed days, he visited the market
mashie ea chief sale am& of the arm, of
nasally became • nieniler. It was always
d the deceased and his servants that hie
maintained by a sum that was wasted
ople, and his piteous' domestic expense
er 200/. a year et the ',mind of his greaten
This characteristic may be taken as one of the
attaining his immense wealth; but having
ch vast means he gave liberally, and his
my be said to have been LebouMe& lie wag
r to every worthy object in his own town, and
till organisations in the centres of industry
misted in a substantial way by him. Ili, chief
instance were churches. whouls, and societies
sting Christian truth. There is not a church
to which he has not leen a large oon li
-
nd he used to consider the sacred

111