Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-12 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

THE. DUKE or MANCELESTM—The Duke of Man-
chester is organising a body of gentlemen who are to be
styled " The Duke of Manchester's Mounted Volunteer
Corps." If a sufficient number of volunteers can be
obtained, the corps is to be divided into two troops, one
to be called the Huntingdonshire and the other the Bed-
fordshire. The uniform will be a scarlet tonic, with
rolled collar, cord breeches, Napoleon boots, and a
black felt double-peaked hunting cap. Considerable
subscriptions and a fair number of volunteers have been
obtained.

HORLEY.—The rifle corps in this neighbourhood is
progressing very satisfactorily, and an additional im-
petus was given to it on Thursday last, by a visit
of about thirty
.gentlemen belonging to the Reigate
corps, accompanied by their captain, the Hon. W. J.
Monson, and preceded by their band, who marched
to the house of J. Monger, Esq., where the British
flag was flying, and by whom they were all very kindly
entertained, and after enjoying themselves for about two
hours, they marched home, the band playing " The Girl
I left behind me." In the evening a public meeting
was held in the National School, for the purpose of
receiving subscriptions and taking down the names of
those persons willing to serve—the Rev. W. H. Hughes
in the chair. After some able speeches from the rev.
chairman, J. Monger, Esq., and J. C. Sherrard, Esq.,
several young men came forward and offered their ser-
vices. A vote of thanks was passed to the rev. chairman,
and the meeting was adjourned.
LFiVES.—The volunteer movement in Lewes has met
with signal success. Upwards of 100 have enrolled
themselves as effectives and are now only awaiting the
communication of acceptance. Drill has already com-
menced with vigour under the direction of Serjeant
Major Paisley, of the Artillery Militia staff. In con-
sideration of the time devoted to drill, the effective
members will not be called upon to pay anything, their
uniform, &c., being entirely found by subscription.
CucKFIELD.—On Friday the first division of the 2nd
Sussex, or Cuckfield Volunteer Rifle Corps, attended to
be sworn in. The muster took place at Serjeant Tester's,
the Rose and Crown Inn, at two p.m., when, having
formed, they marched to head-quarters, the Talbot
Hotel, where the oaths of allegiance were administered
by J. M. Norman, Esq , the captain—G. Meek, Esq.,
taking the first oath, followed by W. Sergison, Esq.,
first lieutenant. They were then sworn in by fours to
the number of 72, principally from Cuckfield, with 14
from Balcombe. As soon as the ceremony was gone
through they formed at the bugle call at the front of the
house, many being dressed in the uniform of the corps,
and after going through their facings marched to Cuck-
field-park, returning to head-quarters, where a dinner
was provided by Mr. Dumsday, to which upwards of
eighty sat down. The room was tastefully decorated for
the occasion with evergreens, and over the chair was a
well-executed device, " For our Queen and Country,"
while stars formed with bayonets and rifles crossed
finished the decorations off very appropriately, and over
the door floated the banner of England.

LORD MACAULAY.--We (Post) understand that Lord
Macaulay has left behind him the materials for another
Volume, the publication of which may, for private and
family reasons, be some time delayed. But whatever
delay may unavoidably occur in_the publication of the
narrative of William 111. and Queen Anne's times,
we sincerely trust that at no very distant period
our country may be instructed and enriched by a
true' and faithful account of the part which the
historian played, of the friendships which he formed;
of the judgments which he had passed on the
men and measures of the times in which he lived him-
self. If we might judge from those specimens of his
correspondence which it has been our fortune to peruse,
a collection of Lord Macaulay's letters, extending over
the last thirty years, would be a history of England in
the age of Canning and Grey, of Peel and Palmerston,
Tfite as fascinating, quite as brilliant, but infinitely
more instructive, than Horace Walpole's chronicle of
the age of Chatham and Lord North.
A MAN DROWNED IN A HORSE TROUGH:AT HALIFAX.
—On Tuesday, an inquest was held at the Earl Grey
beerhouse, Halifax, to inquire into the death of John
Abbotson, a middle-aged man, whO had been employed
as under-ostler at the Old Cock Hotel for some years,
and who lost his life, under the following circumstances,
on the previous day. In the Old Cock yard, near the
hotel stables, there is a horse trough, about six feet long
and three feet deep, raised a few inches above the level
of the pavement. It was customary for this trough to
be left in an unprotected state ; and on Monday evening,
when the deceased was passing it with a basket of ma-
nure from the stables, he fell into the water. Some time
afterwards the head ostler went to the trough, when he
found the deceased under the water, quite dead. The
deceased was intoxicated, and seems to have hurt his head
by the fall, or he would probably have been able to save
himself, as the water was but three feet deep.
POISONING A CHILD.—A long inquiry was concluded
on Monday before the coroner, at the Swan Hotel, Pet-
worth, respecting the death of the illegitimote child of
Harriet Moore,, a girl of 20, an inmate of the Petworth
Union, who, it is alleged, gave the deceased white pre-
cipitate. It was proved that the prisoner had purchasad
precipitate at a chemist's shop, and that the child
had suffered intense pain before its death. Dr.
Taylor, of Guy's Hospital, who examined the
contents of the stomach of the deceased infant,
deposed that he found an insoluble compound of mer-
cury which had all the -powers of white precipitate.
From the explanations of Dr. Taylor it appeared that
this was an extraordinary case, from the fact of white
precipitate having been so rarely administered internally.;
he knew of only one case, and that was at Chelmsford
Assizes, twelve years ago, in which he was engaged.
The patient had taken 25 grains and recovered. The
whole point was this—whether the system possessed
sufficient strength to throw it off by vomiting. The
jury, after consulting for about an hour, returned unani-
mously a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against Harriet
Moore, who was committed for trial at the next spring
.assizes, to be held at Lewes.
A HUSBAND GIVING HIS WIFE LEAVE TO MARRY
AGAIN.—On Monday afternoon, a well-dressed middle-
aged woman, named Annie Birkhead, was charged before
T. Taylor, Esq., at Barnsley, with intermarrying with
Matthew Jessop, of Hoyland,_ her former husband, Geo.
Birkhead, being still alive. Mr. Broadbent, of Sheffield,
appeared for the prisoner. The prisoner was married
to Birkhead at the parish church, Ecclesfield, on the
18th July, 1836, and after living with him for some time
they separated. Prisoner about two years ago went to
live, as housekeeper, with Matthew Jessop, of Hoyland,
and after being with him about ayear and a half, he made
overtures of marriage to her. She had acquainted
him with the fact of haVing been previously married,
but, nothing daunted, he pressed his suit, obtained con-
sent of her previous husband, and married her at the
parish church, Sheffield, in September last. Mr.
Superintendent Hockeiday spoke to apprehending the
prisoner at Hoyland, on the 2nd instant. In reply to
the charge she said her former husband had deserted her,
and had given her leave to marry again, and she there-
fore did not know that she was doing wrong. Wm. Bower
said he knew the prisoner, whose maiden name was
Annie Fairhurst. He was present at her marriage with
George Birkhead, which took place at - Ecclesfield
parislt church, in 1836. He afterwards', spent the day
with them. Matthew Jessop, the second husband, gave
evidence to the effect that the prisoner lived with him,
as housekeeper, for a year and a half, after which he
married her. He was aware that she was a married
woman. He was 68 years of age and she 38. In cross-
examination witness said the prisoner had conducted
herself while living with him in every way as a re-
spectable woman. Mr. Broadbent said he should
not waste the time of the Bench with a defence, he
should simply call two witnesses whose evidence
might have some effect upon the case at the assizes.
William Chappel, innkeeper, Chapeltown, near Sheffield,
said that Birkhead, the first husband, called at his
house about a year ago, and said in conversation that
he had been to Matthew Jessop's and given his (Birk-
head's) wife leave to marry again, as he did not intend
to live with her any more. Mary Allott, Elsecar, said
she saw Birkhead about a year ago, when he said he
had been to tell his wife that she was quite at liberty to
get married again, and that he had bid her good-bye for
ever. This being the whole of the evidence, the bench
committed the prisoner to take her trial at the next
York assizes. On the usual caution being read over to
her, the prisoner made a statement which was in effect
like those made by the witnesses called for the defence.
Mr. Broadbint applied for bail, which was granted and
readily obtained—among those by whom it was offered
being both husbands of the prisoner,—Leeds Kercupy,

THE EARL OF MALMESBURY ON THE
LATE ITALIAN WAR.

The annual meeting of the Vales AYOU and Stout
Farmers' Club took place on Monday at Christe,hurch.
It was numerously attended; and among the distinguished-r
guests were—the Earl of Malmesbury, whose seat, Heron
Court, is near that town, and Admiral Walcott, M.P.
They both delivered admirable addresses, a prapos of the I
Volunteer movement; but the chief feature of the meet-'.
ing was the noble earl's statement in relation to the late
Italian war, and the share taken by the Earl of Derby's
Government concerning it.
Mr. Tice proposed " The Health of Lord Malmes-
bury." He observed that when the noble earl succeeded
to office, it was at the time of a continental crisis—when
Europe was in such a position that it became a matter
of difficulty and tact for any government which might
be at the helm of affairs. 'the noble earl showed by
his administration that he was an ardent lover of peace,
and when he resigned the seals of office, the threatened.
danger had in a great measure passed away. (Cheers.)
The Earl of Malmesbury, in reply, said—l am,
indeed, deeply touched at the very flattering speech
which I have just heard from Mr. Tice. Com-
pliments are commonly paid on these occasions
compliments of course compliments which are
expressed of course, and received of course, yet mere
compliments they are ; but more than that has been
expressed, as far as my personal feelings are concerned,
by my friend Mr. Tice ; for you may safely believe me,
that among the changes and chances of public life, its
immense anxiety in such a position as that which I had
the honour of holding for some fifteen months, in very
difficult times ; when relieved from the heavy weight of
responsibility—a responsibility almost too much for
human nature on many occasions to bear—you may
safely believe that being relieved from such a responsi-
bility, and returning to a quiet home and to domestic
habits from so stormy a sphere as that which I have
it is with the greatest satisfaction that a man can
possibly feel to know that his neighbours, whom he
knew before taking a heavy task, meet him with open
hands and smiling faces when he returns to scenes so dif-•
ferent from those stormy ones. I do not boast of having
succeeded in the great task which was before me. I
did not prevent a great and a bloody war—l did not
prevent the deaths of some 80,000 or 100,000 men who•
fell on the fair and fertile plains of Italy ; but this I
believe, with the help of God, I did prevent—l pre-
vented a general European war. (Cheers.) This, I
believe, with the help of God and the assistance of my
colleagues, I did prevent—the extension the war beyond
the sphere to which it was confined ; and if my word'
doubted, it is proved by the statements of the-
Emperor of the French and of the Emperor of
Austria themselves—the one complaining that he was•
not assisted by England, and the other saying that
Prussia did not come to his aid, and both circumstances
being those which prevented their continuing the strug-
gle any longer. (Cheers.) It has been properly stated
this evening, that this is not a political meeting ; but I
should not be acting respectfully to Mr. Tice, who has-
just spoken, or to you who probably listened to him,
and heard his remarks on me with pleasure, if I did not,
say that to the last day of my life I shall always thank
Heaven that I was the humble means of preventing a
war which I believe would have extended to as great a
length of time as that great war which swept away so .
many millions of men and swamped so many millions or
money. (Loud cheers.)