Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-12 00:00:00

ATISMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

At the Southwark Police-court, Lendon, on Tuesday, William Fogg,
a dejeeted-loOking, middle-aged man, deseribed is a shoemaker, wag
charged before Mr. D'Eyncentrt with having 'attempted to destroy his
life with oxalic acid, and also with having feloniously endeavoured to
induce his daughter to partake of the poison. Pollee-constable Evans,
475, stated that while on drity,in Hackney-road, at nine o'clock on
fifitterdarmorning; hews, aceosted by the prisoner's daughter, who re-
quested aen, in shunted manner, to proceed at cinee to No. 9, Orchards
~
place, where her father had taken poison, which he had also attempted
to administer to .her. On reaching the home be found the -prisoner
sitting upon abed in the backeoorn, and having acquainted him with
what he had heard, he carelessly remarked, " Yes, I have swallowed
oxalic acid," at the same time pointing to the fireplace, where witness
found a piece of paper with some white powder adhering to it. " The
prisoner made no complaint of pain or sickness, but as he looked
ghastly pale and was trembling all over, witness speedily procured
the attendance of a surgeon, who applied a powerful antidote and
directed his removal to the London Hospital. he prisonerhad since
accounted for hie desperate conduct by stating that it had resulted
from some angry words which had passed between him and woman
to whom he was attached. Sarah Elizabeth Vyse, a young married
a oman, of rather attractive appea-ance, said she had been employed
by the prisoner for some time past to superintend his household
affairs, and take charge of his children. He had recently made im-
proper advances to her, which she refused to comely with, and a few
days ago he showed her a packet of poison, which lie told her he had
' procured for the purpose of destroying himself and his two children,
unless she consented to cohabit with Wm and abandon her husband.
She was greatly alarmed at his threats, and purposely avoided him
until the forowing day, when she wa' compelled to interfere for the
proesction of his daughter, whom he "vs beating unmercifully with
a strapewithout the slightest provocation. After rescuing her, from
hie violence, witness left the room, but returned in a few minutes, on
hearing the renewed cries of the child, who told 'her, as soon as she
entered, that her father • hut attempted to poison her. Observing
that the prisoner had a small packet containing some white powder
in his hand, she asked him what he was about to do, and he answered.
"Nothing," bat at-the same moment, he hastily raised the paper to his
mouth, into which he dropped the contents, and washed them down
with a glass of water. Witness instantly hastened down stairs with
the two children, and communicated what had occurred to the police-
Janet Elizabeth Fogg, an interesting little girl, 10 years old, said that
she was in the room with her father on Saturday morning, when he
illledn glass with water, and told . her that- he had something in his
pocket which he intended to give her before he took it himself, , The
;prisoner then .palled'out a small packet of white powder, and was`
abouteto mix it up, when she raised the alarm, which attracted the'
notice of the last witness. Mary Ann Fry, a married woman, living
in the neighbourhood, stated that on Friday last she called at the .
house to seethe witness Vyse, and on inquiring forger, the letieener
;aid that she had gone out to seek another place, but that he was re-
solved to paten end to his life before he parted with her. The prisoner
was greatly exeited at the time, and _produced .something from his
pocket which he held out in a significant manner, to give force to his
threat. Me. Donnel Burch, the resident medical officer at the London
Hospital, deposed that the prisoner was suffering upon his admission
from the effects of oxalic acid, but it was impossible to ascertain the
quantity he-had taken, as a judicious and effective antidote had been
previonsleeadminietered to him. In answer to the charge, the prisoner,
in a'clesponding tone, declared that he never contemplated the slight•
est mischief to either of his children, although he had certainly made
up his mind-to terminate his own existence. A respectably-dressed
person, who described hims'elf as the brother of the accused, here
stepped forward, and intimated that, since the death of his wife, and
from other calamities which had befallen him, the prisoner had
recently exhibited decided symptoms of mental derangement. Mr.
D'Eyncourt said that it was a very serious and melancholy case, and
he should Order the prisoner to be remanded for the completion of the
evidence. . •

Ex;halve?), for -CLOTHING BOYS from 6 to 20 Years,
LEWIS & COMPANY I,flocotwli street.

A Vienna letter says that the Princess Vogorides, who has just, been
divorced from her husband, arrived there on Frelay, with her
family, and will leave in a few days for Paris, where she Intends taking
up her residence.
Crete SERVIcE EsTlMATEg.—Yesterday morning were publishe I
the estimates for the year endine March 31, 1858, relating to e ince-
Lion, science, and art; and also the estimates during the same period
for the colonial, consular, Red other foreign services. By the former
document it appears that the sum required for the purposes therein
stated is 1,000,3221, being an increase, as compared with 1856. of
123,3851. The chief of this increase are 9e,020/ for public education
in Great Britain, and 8,180/. for science and art; 'teepee for the
British Museum (establishment). 17,6711. for its buildilgs, and 6,9441.
for purchases. There is also an excess of 5,5261. for the Nmici ial Gal-
lery (including purchases of pictures). By the latter document it is
shown that for the serviess therin specified the sum of 382,2151, 13
required, exhibiting an increase over the estimates of 1855, of
61,9501.
KING OF ROAIE AND TUE CITY OF PARIS.—On the 20th March,
1811, the Municipal Council of Paris voted an annual pension of
10, 000 fr. to the bearer of the happy intelligence of the King of Rome's
birth. This pension was accordingly enjoyed by M. Van Heekteren,
one of the Emperor's pages, until 1814, when he became a Dutch
subject, and the pension was stopped. This gentleman, who is at
present a member of the Sates-General, and the same who shot the
Russian poet Puschkin in a duel, has, since the 3rd of epril, 1856,
preferred a claim to the city of Paris tor the revival of his pension ;
admitting the justice of the motives which may have prompted the
city to interrupt the payment during the subsequent reign:, but con-
tending that, now that the French people have recalled the dynasty
of Napoleon to the throne, and that Providence has sanctioned that
act by the birth of a Prince, the city of Paris is bound to recognise
his (11. Van Heekteren's) claims. It may be remembered that last
year the Municipal Council voted an elegant silver service and a
panoply of highly ornamented weapons, executed for the occasion,
to Commandant Faye, who ennounced the birth of the Prince Im-
perial to that body.
MDR3IONISM IN BRADFORD.—A case revealing disgraceful con-
duct was heard at the Bradford Borough Court on Tuesday. Eli-
zabeth Haigh summoned Hannah Murgatroyd for an assault com-
mitted on Whit-Tuesday, in the hou-e of Robert Clough Ackroyd,
wool sorter, New Drop, Lewis Road. The complainant had, a few
months ago, been in the service of Mr. Coates, Surgeon, when Ack-
royd, a widower, with iour children, paid his addresses to her, and
they agreed to become one. The ring was bought, and she left her
place. He took her to Leeds, the ring being then in his possession,
and advised her to visit her relations at Goole for a few days before
their marriage. She went, and on her return he met her at the railway
station, got her irate a cab to drive home, and told her he ha' a
young woman cleaning cut the house. All this the poor seduced
young woman believed, and was taken to the trap which was thus
open beneath her feet. The young woman to nod out to be no other
than Hannah Murgatroyd, who was living in concubinage with him.
There was of course no marriage. as Ackroyd had never intended it ,
and the poor girl, seduced, ruined, and at a aisteuee morn home. lived
in the house with her termagant rival for fourteen weeks. When
asked why sue had assaulted the girl, the defendant said she was de-
termined that Haigh should not divide the possession of sackroyd with
I herself. The bench learning that Ackroyd had been present when the
melee took place between his two wives, he was sent for. When
ordered into the witness-box, the New Testament was offered to him,
but he of jaded to tour h it, and declare l that if he ceuld not be believed
without an oath ha could not bs believed with it. His fiippaenimpu-
dent manner disgusted the magistrates, who evidently regretted the
want of power to award him a heavier punishment, and ordered him
into the dock and committed him for seven days. The complaint of
the girl Haigh was then dismissed, the court expressing disgust at the
duplicity of Ackroyd, and the bold and unblushing impudence of the
defendant.
SUPERSTITION IN CAITHNESS.—In the west end of the county is a
celebrated muddy pool, popularly known as Loch Monate. 'retie pool
has, from time immemorial, been held to possess healing virtues of an
extraordinary character,end to It, even within, the last ten years, hun-
dreds have been known to resort. On Saturday of the week. before
last, au invalid, accompanied by an attendant, set oat from Lybster
for this charming lock. Oa arriving at the spot at the earliest dawn
of Monday morning, they proceeded to go through the stipulated
ceremonials for ensuring a cure ; which are, first, to walk three times
round the leen, tilting a drink out of the well each time, and passing
a small burn which flows from the loch, and which is believed to pos-
sess the virtue of carrying away the disease under which the pilgrim
labours: After going through these evolutions, the patient was strip•
ped, and his attendant went with him into the water, where the washing
process was gone through, and some indigenous leaves of a powerful
character were rubbed. Immersed thrice in the water, the patient
had to throw a smali piece of silver, or a button heal if he had no
silver, into the water ; and then had to run as fast as possible, so as to
be out of sight before sunrise All this was accomplished, and the
poor deluded votaries of this degrading superstition left the spot. Oa
their way hemeward they visited Halkirk. where, drinking rather too
deeply, they seem to have been mastered by the intoxicating fluid,
and comported themselves in a rather questionable manner, tearing
their clothes, and so besmearing themselves by tumbling amongst
bogs and moors as to be almost unrecognisable, concluding the sad
exhibition by challenging the whole inhabitants of Halkirk to single
combat. Numerous instances of tide eupsrstnian still take place, and
not many years ago hundreds of individuals of both sexes would be
seen at the loch, going through the superstitious mammeries.—
iVerthern b:7231c111.
Tge HANGING OF THREE NEGROES IN LOUISVILLE BY THE MOB.
—The Louisville Journal (U. S.), of May 15, gives an account of the
hanging by a mob of three negroes charged with the murder of the
Joyce family. in that place, several months ago; after they had been
tried and found net guilty on evidence which judge and lawyers say
rendered a verdict of guilty impossible. On the night following the
trial a mob attacked the gaol where the negroei were. A desperate
onslaught was made, the prison fence was broken, arei the large crowd
made to the door, they were resisted, but rushing to the artillery
building they got a cannon, loaded it, and pointed it against the gaol
door. Under these circumstances the offs dais in charge found them-
selvee forced to the painful measure of delivering up the negroes.
Three of the prisoners being delivered up, a razor was given to the
retitle, in the geed (Jack, the property of Mr. Samuels, of Bullitt
county), and he cut his throat, severing the jugular vein and windpipe,
and producing instant Beath. The wound was of the most horrible
character, and a more ghastly spectacle was scare ly ever witnessed
than the dead body when it was brought to the yard and exposed to
the view of the crowd. Ropes were obtained and the other negroes
marched off to the Court House-square. At the west end, George,
the slave of Mr. Samuels, was hanging upon a tree, amid the hooting
and execrations of te e multitude. Tne other two were than marched
through the square, and near Fifttestreet were likewise executed.
One of them, the slave of Mr. Brown, protested his innocence, and
pleaded piteously to be released. His agony of mind and sufferings
were very intense. Mr. Pendleton's Bill, the one who was the State's
evidence ire the case, was the last one executed. Fires were kindled
leader the suspended bodies, but they were not consumed. Large
numbers of persons lingered about the scene of this awful tragedy
until a late hour. The rioters having wreaked their vengeance upon
the victims, appeared to be more awe striken than exultant.
RACING IN Paats.—The cansegnences of the "military" are not
yet effaced ; and, as little as transpired concerning the real canoe of
the battle by which that great event was terminated, although the
upper circles of the " sport" have been shaken to their very cere. and
are, indeed, still quivering under the shock, we will endeavour to sot
our readers right as to the real state of the case. After the race had
been lost and won—the latter feat having been accomplished by the
two English officers—a dispute arose, as might have bean antici-
pated, between the French and English grooms belonging to the
gentlemen of the race, and high words ensued with regard to the res-
pective value of the winning worse`. On one side it was maintained
that in both eases the winner was half-bred French ; and, on the
other, teat they were both of pure, unmixed English blood. The
gain rel rote so loud end furious that tile gentlemen looking on, who
had encouraged it at first, out of sheer amusement at tee strange
accent and uncouth gestures of John Bull, whose eager desire to ho
nederstood of his French adversaries made him, for once, wholly
fergetful of that Britannic phlegm for which he is so ea ebrated all
over the Continent, grew seriously alarmed, the more so when, as if
by one consent, the English grooms, doffing their coats, and turning
me their shirt sleeves, called out in defiance to " elonslear Crapaud" to
come on and be beaten, for there was no time to spare. Before the
movement could be arrested, a general charge was mode, in which
the British gentlemen, their meitere, with that love of danger, and
l• a row," which distinguishes them in general, rushed forward, and
the melee became universal. Some time elapsed before the police
could be collected in sufficient numbers to disperse the combatants ;
and when at last they arrived on the field, they stool aghast at the
&wilt, so unusual to French eyes. of a general chahce-reedley game
of .fistieuffs, which the Englishmen seemed to enjoy eeste as much
relish as though it were tile most pleasant pastime in the world.
Three or four of the most maltreated, and consequent most defence-
less, of tee Englishmen were secured—amongst them our old friend
Sir John T--, who honestly declared, upon erimination before tee
Cernmiesaire de Police. that, having only just arrived, ha bore no ill-
will to anyone, nor did he even kno.v the canoe of the dispute; but
seeing a pock of Englishmen ire trouble, and thinking the French
way of fighting unfair in the extreme, the latter having receursa
to kicking in their mode of warfare, he had rushed to the rescue of his
countrymen; bat that such was the confusion, that he honestly be-
lieved all the blows he got to have come from English fiats, as no
French enes could have blackened his eyes in the awful and scientific
manner in which that operation had been p.rformel. The simple
tale, ae told in sir John's peculiar French, so worked upon the
feelings of the honest commissaire, that he was set free with the j
exclamation, re-echoe 1 by the attendants, of " 0 grand Dieu gaged.
eriginaux qae cos Angkiis!" Paris correspondence of the Court
journal.

'tfli-
STARTL ING TRAGEDY.

ELDER PRAT r, THE MORMON, KILLED.

SEDUCTION OF A WIFE.

The St Louis Democrat, of May 25, says : —We have
to record to-day another painful narrative of Mormon
iniquity, seduction, and vill&ny, followed up in this
instance, however, as it will be seen, by a summary
vengeance from the injured husband. The account which
we publish below is taken from the Van Buren (Ark.)
Intelligeneer, and gives in brief the facts of the case pretty
much as they have occurred. From the Fort Smith Herald
and the New Orleans Bulletin we have also confirmation
of the whole story, up to the last act in the drama, the
tragic death of Elder Pratt, the Mormon Apostle. Thus
it will be .seen what utter ruin and devastation has been
wrought in a virtuous family by the designing arts of a
saintly scoundrel, and the lures of a false and licentious
faith. Here is what the Van Buren Intelligeneer records
of the termination of this affair :
TRAGIC AL.

thronicl,

It is with regret that we have to c_ aatcte the homiciae,
committed in our vicinity on Wednesday last, by Mr.
Hector H. McLean, late of San Francisco, California,
upon the person of a Mormon preacher. More than all
do we deplore the melancholy affair that led to its com-
mission. The deceased, whose name was Parley Parker
Pratt, was a man of note among the Mormons, and judg-
ing from his diary and his letter to Mrs. McLean, he was
a man of more than ordinary intelligence and ability;'
He hid been a preacher and missionary of the Mormonk:
at San Francisco, California, where he made theil
acquaintance of Mrs. McLean, -whom he induced-
to embrace the Mormon faith. She was at that
time living with her husband, Hector H.
McLean ; they were happy and prosperous until
she made the acquaintance of Pratt, and embraced
the Mormon faith. She is the mother of three children by
McLean, two boys anda girl, and seems to be an intelligent
and interesting lady ; converses fluently, and with more
grace and ease than most ladies. About two years ago,
and soon after she became a convert to Mormonism, she
made an attempt to abduct two of her children to Utah,
but was detected and prevented by her brother, who was
then in California and residing with his brother-in-law, Mr
McLean She soon after, however, found means to elope
with said Pratt to Salt Lake, where, it is said, she became
his ninth wife. After the elopement of Mrs McLean, her
parents,who reside near New Orleans, wrote to Mr. McLean
in California, to send the children to them. He did so.
Several months after this McLean received news that his
wife had been to her father in New Orleans, and eloped
with the two youngest children. He immediately left San
Francisco for New Orleans, and on arriving at the house
of his father-in-law, he learned from them that Mrs McLean
had been there, and after an ineffectual effort to convert
her father and mother to Mormonism, she pretended to
abandon it herself, and so far obtained the confidence of
har parents as to induce them to entrust her in the City of
New Orleans with the children ; but they soon found that
she had betrayed their c aifidence, and eloped with the
children. They then wrote to McLean in San Francisco,
who, upon the receipt of their letter, went to New Orleans,
and, learning from them the above facts in relation to the
affair, immediately started in pursuit of his children.
He went to New York and then to St. Louis. While
in St. Louis he learned that the woman and children
were in Houston, Texas. On his arrival in Houston,
he found that his wife had lef-, some time before his
arrival, to join a large party of Mormons en route for
Utah. He then returned to New Orleans and from there
to Fort Gibson, in the Cherokee Nation, with the expecta-
tion of intercepting his wife and children at that paint.
On arriving at Fort Gibson. and while there, he
found letters in the post-office to his wife from Pratt, some
of which were mailed at St. Louie, and others at Flint
post-office, Cherokee Nation. We are unable to give the
contents of these letters with particularity, but they con-
tained the fact that McLean was on the look out for her and
the children, and that they were betrayed by the apostates
and gentiles, and advising her to be cautious in her move-
ments, and not to let herself be known only to a few of the
saints and elders. McLean then, upon affidavit made
by himself, obtained a writ from the United States Commis-
sioner at this place for their arrest, and succeeded in getting
them arrested by the United State; Marshal. They
were brought to this place for trial, and after an examina-
tion before the Commissioners, were discharged. Pratt,
as soon as released, mounted his horse, and left the city.
McLean soon after obtained a horse and started in pur-
suit, and overtook Pratt about eight miles from the city
and shot him. Pratt died in about two hours after receiving
the wound. This is a plain narrative of the facts, as we
heard them from the most reliable resources, which we give
to our readers without comment, and we feel we are unable
to do so with justice to all parties. But deeply do we
sympathize with McLean in the unfortunate condition in
which Mormon viilany and fanaticism has placed him."

FIVE DAYS WITITOLT r FOOD.—Thr: Journal Viennoisc
contains the following recital little girl, about nine
years of age, residing, at Chattounay (Vienne), was em-
ployed to take three young goats to browse in the neigh-
bouring wood. About ten days agoshe went out as usual with
her little flock, 'but did not return in the evening, nor on
the next two days, and considerable alarm was felt. Five
days after her disappearance, a woodman belonging to the
commune found the child lying among some brushvvood
with her head supported on one arm, and' the goats stand-
ing round her as if mounting guard for her protection.
The facc of the chill was livid, and at the first glance he
supposed her to be dead. On lifting her ❑p, the man found
that she still breathed, She wal conveyed to the house
of a farmer near, where every attention was paid her, and
she soon recovered. On the day cf her disanpearance, a
severe thunder storm had comb on, and in alarm the poor
child had wandered into the thickest part of the wood,
and havinglost her way, had fallen down fcona fatigue, and
remained there exposed to hunger and cold, for five days
until found.

THE TRIBUNAL OF COMMERCE Assomartoe(leas addressed
the following circular note to some of its leading subscrib-
ers :—" 12, Mark-lane, 9th Jane, 1857.--Sir, on Thursday,
the 11th instant. at two o'clock, a deputation will wait on
Mr. Crawford, M.P., at 71, Old Broad-street, and we beg
the favour of your joining it. Mr. Travers, Mr. Gassiot,
and other gentlemen who take an interest in public
matters, have intimated to us their intention to attend. The
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce (in reply to our question)
has informed us that ' if Mr. Crawford will move for a
committee of inquiry, one of their members will second
the motion.' We have, with a deputation, waited on Lord
John Russell, when his lordship expressed the opinion that
this course would be the proper course to take, and that
if adopted, he would support it. Our object on Thursday
is to beg of Mr. Crawford to make the motion ; and at the
same time to present the petition of the metropolis, which
will be supported by those of Liverpool, Bristol, Plymouth,
Leith, Newcastle, Worcester, and other important places.
—I am, sir, your most obedient servant, FRANCIS LINE,
chairman."
TRIAL AND Coervicrioie FOR FORGERY.—At the High
Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on Monday, Joseph
Manning Wilson, lately a merchant in Leith, was charged
with forgery and uttering six forged bills of exchange, to
the amount in all of £2,345 18s. 4d., between October,
1855, and January, 1856. About the same time several
other bill forgeries were committed in Leith, and a met..
chant there named Jacob Christiansen was apprehended,
and convicted in connection with them in May, 1856, and
sentenced to be transported for life. Wilson had, in
February or March, 1856, been examined by the Pro-
curator-Fiscal in regard to the forgeries then creating so
much uneasiness in Leith, but there was no evidence
sufficient to detain him, and soon afterwards he absconded
and took ship for Australia. In his absence he was
indicted for trial, and on not appearing was outlawed by
the High Court in ltlay, 1856. He was at length, how-
ever, apprehended at Folkestone in November last, by the
superintendent of the Leith police, Mr. Grant, having
just come ashore in a smell b )at from the vessel in the
channel, and awaiting the opportunity to proceed to
America or the continent. After the trial of eight hours
the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner
was sentenced to transportation for the period of his
natural life.
THE DIVORCE BILL.—In one particular only do we feel
disposed to challenge the wisdom of the Lords' decision
in the matter of divorce. They have refused to place the
sexes on a level. They deny the outraged wife, except in
rare instances of aggravation, the remedy which they extend
to the injured husband. Thee are chargeable herein with
that inveterate tyranny which the stronger sex has exer-
cised over the weaker from the beginning of time. No
doubt, there is a considerable difference in the social con-
sequences which are entailed by transgression in the two
cases respectively ; but not greater than is fairly balanced
by the difference. likewise, in the feelings with which each
party would resort to the remedy of divorce. If the hus-
band's infidelity do's not equally involve his whole family
in misery as does that of the wife, equally guilty as he is in
the sight of God, so neither is he so likely to be cast off by
her as an offender whom it would be impossible to restore
to her affections or even confidence. The means of redress,
even if equally available for the wife as for the busbmd,
would be sparingly and relectantly resorted to. But hhe
ought to have it as a protection from habitual outrage.
We may unfalteringly leave the use she would make of it to
her o.v feminine and wifely instincts. Differ from man,
neqnestionablv, she does ; but why should law treat that
difference as inferiority ? We are sorry that Lord Lynd-
hurst's marvellous and unanswerable speech on this sub-
ject did not prevail upon the Howe of Peers to crown
their good work.— Nonconformist.

PARLIAMENTARY DOCUMENTS.

ENCUMBERED EBTATES.—The sales in the Encumbered
Estates Court last week realised 178,000. The amount
of rental posted for sale in the month of June, is £18,263
per annum, the acreage being 83,000; The two largest
properties are those of Sir Edmund Hayes, M.P., in the
county of Donegal (.C6,000 a-year), on the 12th c f June ;
and of George Lane Fox, in Waterford, on the 26th. After
the 10th of July, and until the 2nd of November, there
will be no farther sales in the present year.
GIASGOW AND NON-INTERVENTION.—A petition to Par-
liament from Glasgow represents that the armed inter-

ference of foreign powers with the internal policy of
independent states does not tend to secure the happiness
or advance the prosperity of such states, but has been, on
the contrary, a fertile source of revolutions and general,.„,
wars ; and that the existing condition of Italy, as affected lic:1
by the continuation of such interferences, is the cause of
ficii
serious alarm to Europe.
TAMPERING WIT/I LOCAL ELECTIONS.—A memorial to
the Commons, from Great Yarmouth, states that the
petitioners have frequently had reason to believe that
local elections were influenced unduly and illegally by the
connivance, or through the instrumentality, of various
persons, owing to the facilities afforded for tampering with
voting papers during the delivering, collecting, and record-
ing the same. That your petitioners further believe, that
the votes of great numbers of persons have from time to
time been omitted, or disallowed, which ought to have been
received and recorded at such elections, and that many
votes which ought not to have been admitted or computed
as valid, have been received and rnekoned as though the
same had been good and legal. That your petition ers
regard the system of election by way of voting papers as
thoroughly vicious and corrupt.
TIIE LICENSING QUESTION.—A petition to Parliament J 4
from the Beckhampstead Guardians, says, that the present'"i
system of licensing beer-houses, does not afford that proL
tection to the morality of the labouring classes .which is
required from the hands of the legislature. That, whilit
convictions for offences against the law in beer-houses are
frequent, they are comparatively rare in houses the
licenses of which are under the control of the magistracy.
That by making the character of the applicant the
necessary voucher for a license, a material guarantee for
the more decent and orderly conduct of beer-houses is at
once obtained : and your petitioners have not in their
experience, any reason to believe that by placing the license
of such houses in the hands of the magistrates, any more
estraint than is necessary will be placed on the trade of
the brewer, or the convenience of the consumer. Your
petitioners therefore humbly pray your honourable house
to enact a law by which the license of such houses may
be transferred from the excise to the magistracy of the
district.
COMPLAINT AGAINST A Bisnor.—A petition presented to
the Commons from Great Torrington, Devonshire, re-
presents that the bishop of the diocese has refused to
consecrate or license that portion of the ground allotted
for the use of members of the Church of England. That
since the Ist of December, 1855, the churchyard of the
said parish has been closed by Order in Council, and that
there is now no ground in the parish where burial services
can be performed by ministers of the Church of England,
without becoming liable to ecclesiastical censures and
penalties, and consequently the service had been performed
in every instance by laymen.