Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-24 00:00:00

SPEECH OF PRINCE ALBERT.

In our publication of yesterday we gave a mere outline
of the proceedingB at the Educational Conference in London.
We now append the speech of his Royal Highness in
full :

Prince ALBERT addressed the meeting in the following
terms : —Gentlemen, we have met to-day in the sacred
cause of Education—of National Education. This word,
which means no less than the moral and intellectual de-
velopment of the rising generation, and therefore the
national welfare, is well calculated to engross our minds,
and opens a question worthy of a nation's deepest interest
and most anxious consideration. Gentlemen, the nation
is alive to its importance, and our presence here to-day
gives farther evidence, if such evidence were needed, of
its anxiety to give it that consideration. Looking to for-
mer times we find that our forefathers, with their
wonted piety and paternal care, had established a
system of national education based upon the parish
organisation, and forming part of parish life, which
met the wants of their day, and had in it a
certain unity and completeness which we may well
envy at the present moment. But in the progress of time
our wants have outstripped that system, and the condition
of the country has so completely changed, even within
these last fifty years, that the old parochial division is no
longer adequate for the present population. This has
increased during that period in England and Wales, from,
in round numbers, nine millions to eighteen millions, and
where there formerly existed comparatively small towns
and villages we now see mighty cities, like Liverpool, Man-
chester, Hull, Leeds, Birmingham, and others, with their
hundreds of thousands, springing up almost as it were by
enchantment; London having increased to nearly two and
a half millions of souls, and the factory district of .Lanca-
shire alone having aggregated a population of nearly three
millions within a radius of thirty miles. This change
could not escape the watchful eye of a patriotic public, but
how to provide the means of satisfying the new wants
could not be a matter of easy solution. Whilst zeal for
the public good, a fervent religious
.spirit, and true
philanthropy are qualities eminently distinguishing our
countrymen, the love of liberty, and an aversion to being
controlled by the power of the state in matters nearest to
their hearts, are feelings which which will always most
powerfully influence them in action. Thus the common
object has been contemplated from the most different
points of view, and pursued upon often antagonistic prin-
ciples. Some have sought the aid of government—others
that of the church to which they belong; some have de-
clared it to be the duty of the State to provide elementary
instruction for the people at large; others have seen in
State interference a check to the spontaneous exertions
of the people themselves, and an interference with self-
government. Some, again, have advocated a plan of
compulsory education, based upon local self-government,
and others the voluntary system in its widest develop-
ment. Whilst these have been some of the political
subjects of difference, those .in the religious field have
not been less marked and potent. We find on the
one band the wish to see secular and religious
instruction separated, and the former recognised as an
innate and inherent right, to which each member of society
has a claim, and which ought not to be denied to him if
he refuses to take along with it the inculcation of a par-
ticular dogma to which he objects as uusound ; whilst we
see on the other hand the doctrine asserted that no educa-
tion can be sound which does not rest on religious truth is
too sacred to be modified and tampered with, even in its
minutest deductions, for the sake of procuring a general
agreement. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, if these differences
ware to have been discussed here to-day, I should not have
been able to respond to your invitation to take the chair,
as I should have thought it inconsistent with the position
which I occupy, and with the duty which I owe to the
Queen and the country at large. (Hear, hear.) I
see those here before me who have taken a lead-
ing part in these important discussions, and I am
happy to meet them upon a neutral ground
—(loud cheers)—happy to find that there is a neutral
ground upon which their varied talents and abilities can
be brought to bear in communion upon the common
object, and proud and grateful to them that they should
have allowed me to preside over them for the purpose of
working together in the common vineyard. (Cheers.) I
feel certain that the greatest benefit must arise to the
cause we have all so much at heart by the mere free
exchange of your thoughts and various experience. You
I may well be proud, gentlemen, of the results hitherto
I achieved by your moral efforts, and may point to the past,
that since the beginning of the century, while the popu-
lation has doubled itself, the number of schools, both pub-
lic and private, has been multiplied fourteen times. In
1801 there were in England and Wales —of public
schools, 2,876 ; of private schools, 487 ; making a total of
3,363.7e1n 1351 (the year of the census) there were in Eng-
land and Wales —ofpublic schools, 15,518 ; of private schools,
30,524; making a total of 46,012 ; giving instruction in all
to 2,144,360 scholars, of whom 1,422,982 belong to public
schools, and 721,396 to the private schools. The rate of
progress is further illustrated by statistics, which show
that, in 1818, the proportion of day scholars to the popu-
lation was one in seventeen ; in 1833, one in eleven ; and
in 1851, one in eight. (Hear, hear.) These are great
results, although I hope they may only be received as
instalments of what has yet to be done. But what must
be your feelings when you reflect upon the fact, the in-
quiry into which has brought us together, that the great
boon thus obtained for the mass of the people, and which
is freely offered to them, should have been only partially
accepted, and, upon the whole, so insufficiently applied, as
tccrender its use almost valueless? (Hear, hear.) We
are told that the total population in England and Wales of
children between the ages of three and fifteen, being
estimated at 4,908,696, only 2,046,818 attend school at all,
whilst 2,861,848 receive no instruction whale ear. At
the same time an analysis of the scholars, with reference
to the time allowed for their school tuition, shows that
forty-two per cent of them have been at school
less than one year, twenty-two per cent during
one year, fifteen per cent two years, nine per cent three
years, five per cent four years, four per cent five years,
Therefore, out of the two millions of scholars eluded to,
more than one and a half million only remain two years at
school. I leave it to you to judge what the results-of such
an education can be. I find further that of these two mil-
lions of children attending school only six hundred thousand
are above nine. Gentlemen, these are startling facts which
render it evident that no extension of the means of educa-
tion will be of any avail unless this evil, which lies at the
root of the whole question, be removed ; and that it is high
time that the country should become thoroughly awake to
its existence, and prepared to rheet it enereetically. To im-
press this upon the public mind s the object of our con-
ference. Public opinion is the powerful lever which in
these days moves a people f. n. good and for evil ; and to
public opinion we must therefore appeal if we would achieve
any lasting and beneficial result. You, gentlemen, will
richly, add to the services which you have already rendered
to the noble cause if you will prepare public opinion
by your inquiry into this state of things, and by discussing
in your sections the causes of it, as well as the remedies
which may be within your reach. This will be no easy
matter ; but even if your labours should not result in the
adoption of any immediate practical steps, you will have
done gent pod in preparing for them. It will probably
happen that in this instance, as in most others, the cause
which produces the evil will be more easily detected than
its remedy, and yet a just appreciation of the former must
ever be the first and essential condition for the discovery
of the latter. You will probably trace the cause to
our social condition, perhaps to a state of ignorance
and lethargic indifference on the subjects amongst the
parents generally, but the root of the evil will, I sus-
pect, also be found to extend into that field on which
the political economist exercises hi; activity—l mean the
labour market—demand and supply. (Hear, hear.) To
dissipate that ignorance, and rouse from that lethargy,
may be difficult ; but, with the united and earnest efforts
of all who and the friends of the working classes, it
ought, after all, to be only a question of time. Wha- mea-
sures can be brought to bear upon the other reot of the
evil is a more delicate question, and will require the nicest
care in handling, for there you can cut into the very quick
of the working man's condition. His children are not only,
his offspring, to be reared for a future independene posi-
tion, but they constitute part of his productive power, and
work with him for ihe staff of life. The daughters especially
are the handmaids of the house, the assistants of the
mother, the nurses of the younger children, the aged, and
the sick. To deprive the labouring family of their help
would be almost to paralyse its domestic existence. (Hear,
hear.) On the other hand, carefully collected statistics
reveal to us the fact, that while almost 600,000 children,
between the ages of three and fifteen, are absent from
school, but known to be employed, no less than 2,200,000
are not at school, whose absence cannot be traced to any
ascertained employment, or other legitimate cause. You
will have to work then upon the minds and hearts of the
parents, to place before them the irreparable mischief
which they inflict upon those who are entru ted to their
care, by keeping them from the light of knowledge -.to
bring home to their conviction that it is their duty to exert
themselves for their children's
education, bearing in
mind, at the same time, that it is not only their most
sacred duty, but also their highest privilege. Unless they
work with you, your work—our work—will be vain ; but
you will not fail, I feel sure, in obtaining their co-operation
if you remind them of their duty to their God and Creator.

(Hear, hear.) Our heavenly Father, in His boundless good.
ness, has so made His creatures that they should be happy,
and in His wisdom has fitted His means to His ends, giving
to all of them different qualities and faculties, in using and
developing which they fulfil their 'destiny, and running
the uniform course, according to His prescrip-
tion, they find their happiness which He has in-
tended for them. (Cheers.) Man alone is born into this
world with faculties far nobler than the other creatures,
reflecting the image of Him who has willed that there
should be beings on earth to know and worship Him,
but endowed with the power of self-determination,
having reason given him for his guide. He can develope
his faculties, and obtain that happiness which is
offered to him on earth to be completed hereafter in
entire union with Him, through the mercy of Christ.
Bat he can also leave these faculties unimproved, and
miss his mission on earth. He will then sink to the
level of the lower animals, forfeit happiness, and
separate from his God, whom he did not know how to
find. Gentlemen, I say man has no right to do this.
He has no right to throw off the task which is laid upon
him for his happiness. It is his duty to fulfil his mission
to the utmost of his power, but it is our duty—the duty of
those whom Providence has removed from this awful
struggle. and placed beyond this fearful danger, manfully,
unceasingly, and untiringly to aid by advice, assistance,
and example, the great bulk of the ieople, who, without
such aid, must inevitably succumb to the difficulty of their
task. They will not cast from them any aiding hand, and •
the Almighty will bless the labours of those who work in
his cause. (His Royal Highness sat down amidst loud
applause.)

A DISAPPOINTED Courm—The new law against
Gretna Green marriages appears not to have come within
the " ken" of all whom it may concern. A couple of
English runaways arrived at Murray's the other day, and
requested his former reverence to tie the Gordian knot.
Murray informel them that the law had rendered the
operation to difficult now that it would require 14 days'
preparation to do it. Another couple (Scotch) on the
same doubtful errand, happened to be within hearing of
this remark, which had no sooner escaped Murray's lips
than the fair one fainted, and her loving swain had well
nigh followed her example. Restoratives were applied,
but the young lady did not become convalescent until
Murray had informed her the harsh law only applied to
the Southerns, not to the canny Scots, and he proved his
words by uniting the couple. The others were obliged to
go away as they came.—Carlisle Patriot.

SPIES. --A great many "real men" have to submit to
being under a regular system of espionage. Every captain
of a man-of.war keeps a private record of all that occurs
in the ship, and of the conduct of every officer under his
commend. He notes down anything worthy of notice in
their conversation or their opinions. And this record is
preserved at the Admiralty, and referred to whenever an
officer is proposed for .promotion. The officials of the
" Horse Guards" have some analogous mole of obtaining
information with regard to the characters of military
officers. In the Church, Archdeacons are the official
spies ;on the conduct and opinions of the Clerey, and
"real men" are obliged to submit to all this. They feel
it to be no degradation, because their safety lies in their
innocence, and their integrity, and not the reports of spies
or the opinion of their superior, is the ground of their self-
respect. To he a spy is, indeed, a contemptible office.
To be the subject of espionage is the lot of every one who
holds office, and brings with it no disgrace.—Literary
Gazette. [Can this be true? If so, it is a disgrace to the
British nation.]
MELANCHOLY SUlClDE.—Considerable excite:neat was
caused in Oldham, on Monday morning, by the rumour that
Mr. William Heginbotham, landlord of the Ang?l Inn,
the principal hotel in the town, had committal seicide by
hanging himself, and on inquiry the fact was found to be
so. The house was closed on Sunday night at the usual
time, eleven o'clock, and shortly afterwards Mr. Hegin-
botham went up stairs to his bedroom, but in a few
minutes he returned, and asked his two daughters if they
wete not going to bed ? They said they were, and he
again went up stairs. In the morning, about half-past
eight o'clock, as he did not come down to breakfast, Miss
Heginbotham went up to his bedroom, but not .finding
him there, she commenced to search all the rooms, and on
en'ering the assembly room, she was horrified to see her
father suspended by the neck from the railing which crosses
the front of the organ loft. She saw at once that he was
dead, and went down stairs and gave an alarm. Mr.
Jackson, chief constable, was sent for, and, on reaching
the inn, he at once cut th body down, lint it was quite
cold, and he had evidently boon deal for some hours. He
was undressed, having nothinc, on but his socking,a and
shirt; and it appeared that he had got a kitchen roller
towel, one end of which he fastened to the rail, which is a
considerable distance from the ground, and the other end
he tied firmly round his throat, and then jumped off the
form on which he appeared to have been standing. The
towel was tied so tightly round his throat, that the skin
was broken on both sides of the neck. The deceased was
sixty-six years of age. No cause has been assigned for the
perhaps transpire at the inquest
fatalwhi e
ha
willct the body.
; be but
heldit

MORMON PREACHERS AND THEIR DOCTRINES.—OR
Monday, at the court-house, Rotherh ma, two young men,
named Ellis Gascuigne, and Walter Holroyd, were sum-
moned before the Hon. and Rev, W. Howard, and J. Ful-
lerton, Esq., by a Mormon preacher, named Jonathan
Eaton, for an assault. Mr. Whitfield appeared for com-
plainant, and Mr. J. Badge for the defendants. Mr.
Whitfield stated that the complainant belonged to a body
called the Latter Day Saints, or Mormonites. On Friday
evening he, along with others of the same persuasion,
went to preach to a number of persons in the open air, at
Greasbro', where the defendants lived. A gnat number of
persons congregated together for the purpose of hearing
Eaton preach, but before he had commenced; the defend-
ants, along with others, got into the crowd, and showed
their determination to prevent his preaching. They there-
fore left the place, and the defendants, not content with
having removed them, followed them on the road for some
distance, pushing them about, throwing stones, and
treating them in a most shameful manner. The
complainant, after being sworn, said that he
appealed to the people, and wished to know whether
they should be allowed to speak or not, and they came to
a unanimous decision that they should not, and they went
away. Cross-examined: Did not you preach in favour of
Polygamy ? We did not. We dent believe in preaching
it in England. (Laughter.) —That is because it is not be-
lieved in England ? The laws of the land are against it,
and we believe in being subject to the laws of the
lend.—Mr. J. Badger, in reply to the charge, con-
tended that the preachers had brought the assault upon
thernoelves by going to Greasbro' to preach against the
wishes of the people. The people felt most indignant at
the'conduct of the Mormonites, whose strange doctrines
ha I enraged their feelings, and, after being told to go, he
understood they had begun to propograetgeeitdlt,e
ddroecvterintehseomf
polygamy, and the temple, being enraged,
away.—The defendants were each fined 10s., including
expenses. We understand that it has barn arranged in
Greasbro' that if the Mormon preaehers go again, the wo-
m.-,n are to attack them and tumble them into a ditch, their
husbnds watching fair play.
AN INCESTUOUS MARRIAGE CASE IN VENEZUELA.—
Lqt,-!rs from Venezuela give particalars of a singular and
extraordinary occurrence which has lately transpired in
Caracas, and which has ,caused a good deal of feeling
among the native population, but still more among the
Protestants, and especially the English residents. The
occurrence was no less than the ur.ton of a step-father to
the daughter of his lately deceased wife. The point that
more especially toucued the English residents was, that
the ceremony was performed by the Bri ish charge d'affaires,
and at the office of the British leg Ition. The following
are the facts :—Dr. Diego Bautista Urbaneja, a lawyer of
high standing in Caracas, inarjad some years ago a widow
14dy who had several children by her first husband. Little
rn:r. than eighteen months ago she (lied, and at the time
of fur dene tie one of her daughters was fully grown.
This daughter soon became the object of her step-father's
desire, and in twelve months after the death of the wife
and mother, it was rumoured that the gentleman in ques-
tion was anxious, if possible, to marry his step-daughter.
The Archbishop of Venezuela was applied to in the case
in question, hut an unhesitating refusal was given. It is
reported that application was then made to the, Pope, but
with the same result. Efforts were then made to see
whether the ceremony would be solemnised in Curaeoa,
under the Dutch Government, but unsuccessfully, as well
as in some of the other West India islands. In the last
resort application was made to to Mr. Bingham, her
British -alojesty's charge d'afaires—Engl,sh ministers and
consuls, resident in foreign countries, being authorised to
solemnise the marriage ri'e, after the form of the Church
of England, where one or both of the parties are British
subjects. In the present case the father of the intended
wife WAS an Enelishman, though her mother was a native.
kir. Bingham fo-und no difficulty in uni-ing them, and the
.crel rite was performed by him. Tee Catholic popula-
ion are not a ltttle excited about it, and the Protestants
still more. The Protestant residents there have done all
they could to dis tvow any sanction of such a marriage,
andit have mi
Bingham,
g hant,
the
eade a public
charge
air
aprotestires
is throughbrotier tohfe press.the M
Lunn, of Crimean notoriety.—New York Paper. arlori
CASH AND DEED BOXES.—The next important thing to the posses-
sion of casts is, how (when you have got it) to keep it safely, either in
the counting-house or at home. The same remarks apply to deeds
and other valuable documents. We have seen a large and varied
stock of both these desirable articles, manufactured expressly for Mr.
E. T. Hall, of South John-street, that challenge attention. These
boxes are made on new and admired principles, and possess patent
logs, which defy theingenuityte kof any "pick-lock" in the world to
le .
key. To
mustome proverchan altsv,uindeed
bsolicitors, and
oothers,pen, exceptthese
nweitwhstahfeesl,eogintannsamali
scale,
—Northern Daily Times, 21st May, 1857,

MR. JAMES M'DONALD & THE CORPORATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

was in hopes that my friends- (?) would
have allowed me a short respite, a little breathing
as it were, after the various garrotttigs I have
been subjected to during the last few years, but, as
usual, I, have hoped against hope. In your impres-
sion of to-day I find a letter signed, " A Town
Councillor;" intimating to me that there are some
Christians abOut making a movement to place me
beyond the influence.of absolutestarvation in my
old- age.— But your correspondent, the " Town
Obuiidilldrj7:.hints an insinuation, or rather, in
plain: language, he makes a demand on me
to explain my conduct in regard to, the " Smoke

Prevention Committee." Your correspondent is
perfectly right in his general statements. It is
qaite. _ true .I was s. common policeman, and
that I was inspector, superintendent, and so on,
and it is equally true that I was, unfortunately, for
myself, but fortunately for the inhabitants of Liver-
poolas every day's experience will prove, appointed
manager of the Water Works. Your correspon-
dent appears to admit that my conduct in these
various departments was unimpeachable, and
moreover, he s iys, " I did render some service to
Liverpool," but that " I had got myself into a mess
because I would have nothing to do with the Pike
water," and that having got an office under , the
Corporation, I ought to have been perfectly
contented. Now, Mr. Editor, I am about to wash
my hands of the Pike and all connected with it;
and I think it just as well that I should make a
• clean breast about my smoke experience. As my
kind friend (?) I have no doubt, who calls himself
Town Councillor, demands an explanation at- my
hands, "before he unbuttons his breeches pockets"
he shall have it. But you must pardon me, sir, if
I, in making this confession of faith, should so far
forget myself as tocell " a spade a spade?'
I can assure you, sir, no recipient of a bounty
ever felt more grateful than .
-I did .to the' Health
Committee when they conferred on me the high hon-
our of appointing me their Inspector for the S uppres.
sign of the Smoke Nuisance, I entered on the duties
of that office with a zest which I had hardly ever
,OXperienced before. Not merely because I was the
fortunate recipient of 1501. per annum, but the
duties were to me a labour of love. I was, sir, a
smoke inspector—not a mere police spy. I knew
the duties of my office, and performed them so long
as I was permitted to do so, honestly and conscien-
tiously. My mission was not to play the part of
a detective, but to prevent the offence. Acting
upon this principle, I undertook a task which had
baffled all the so-called smoke engineers who had
ever meddled with it.
"It is all very well," said an intimate friend of
my own, and a large fifrnace owner, to me one
day, " I must admit that 'you can prevent the
emission of ' dense volumes of black smoke' from
stationary furnaces, but the thing never can be
done on board steamers." Well, this was the
question which had to be solved. I asked and
obtained permission from the Smoke Committee
to pursue my own course. I went on board these
steamers as a common stoker, and something
more ; for, at first, when I made my appearance in
the stoke-hole, there was a general migration to
the deck, leaving me, of course, responsible for the
entire machinery ; not only so, but the most
villianous tricks were resorted to, by certain
engineers, to cause a disaster, hich would
-have been, as a matter of course, laid to my charge ;
but, fortunately for the Smoke Committee, there
was no blow up. I knew my duty, and I per-
formed it. Ignorance is the curse of the human-
race—always has been, and unfortunately it is not,
confined to a class. In my experience of smoke
'burning • I have found as much—aye, more, in
certain crooked ferry boat pioprietors than I have
amongst their own stiff-necked stokers and engi-
neers. However, perseverance will always prove
successful in the long run. I did persevere. I
wrought in these hot holes, while the thermometer
sometimes indicated 1.80 degrees, days, weeks,
-and months, until I had gained the ascendancy,
and even more, I may say, the friendship
of a class of men who, at one time, would
--nay, tried to give me my quietus. I
shamed them out of their perverse prejudices.
And, as a general rule, it will be found that our
Liverpool steamers emit less smoke than any
lay class of vessels in the country, using the Bailie
description of fuel. And how has this been ac-
complished ? I will leave my rather crooked
ferry manager, one of the most bitter and unscru-
pulous opponents I had on this subject, to speak
for himself. Meeting this gentleman the other day,
I asked him, " How are you getting on with
smoke ?" "Oh," says he, "we have no bother
now ; we make no smoke, we save our coals, we
save our boilers, and we save labour. They are
only humbugs who would turn out smoke !"
What a confession from the quarter from whence
it came.
But I think I hear you say, " That is all very
well, but what has it to do with the present posi-
tion of the question ?" You have been called upon
to give an account of the reason why you fell into
disgrace with the Smoke Committee, and got
turned out of your situation. We all know that
the Smoke Nuisance is virtually extinguished, but
that circumstance is no reply to the charge made
against you by a Town Councillor, of having for
feited your office by some act or acts of indiscre-
tion, which is impressed on the minds of- many of
your very best friends.
Now, sir, I am aware that this is the
common tail of the town. I have, however,
already informed you, that although only
a common policeman, I never condescended to be
a common informer. So long as the Smoke
Committee placed -confidence--in my proceedings,
I was their most zealous and devoted servant.
When they tied me down to prosecute parties of
whose guilt I had grave and -serious doubts, I
ceased to look upon them with respect. I had to
attend a committee once a week, and at that com-
mittee I had a fierce battle to fight, in order to
keep down frivilous and cruel information. A'
man's profession ought to be no degradation to
him. Character, conduct, and intelligence, are as
likely to make good legislators as the " scions of
the, veriest aristocrat" who ever wore an imperial.
Perhaps you will not longer wonder that I
reeolved-to wash my hands clear of all such
parties ; perhaps I did not adopt that bold and
straightforward course which I usually pursue, but
I did not wish to make myself more notorious than
I had become, and hence I walked out or the way
to enjoy a mouthful of wholesome air, Now, sir,
your correspondent, and my other friends (?) know
the reason why I did not appreciate, in the way a
more discreet man would of course have done, my
position as Smoke Inspector, with my handsome
stipend of £l5O per annum. —Yours truly,
J. M'DONAT.D.

LOSS OF THREE LIVE; IN A SEWER.—On Saturday
afternoon an inquest was held, before Mr. W. Baker, at
the town of Ramsgate, Wapping, on the bodies of Georee
Groves, Francis Wortley, and Evan Macarthy, who lost
their lives, en Wednesday afternoon last, in a sewer at
Wapping Wall, by the escape of mephitic gas. From the
evidence of a witness named Miles, it appeared that the
three deceased, in company with others, .repaired to the
sewer for the purpose of cleansing it. On opening the
sewer a lighted candle was lowered for the purpose of
ascertaining the state of the air, when all being found
correct, they commenced ;work. A second and a third
opening were then made, and on each occasion lights were
lowered. On the last occasion, after the men had remained
below some time, a sudden flow of water overtook them,
the effect of which was to disturb the sediment, causing it
to emit a noxious vapour, technically known by the name
of melhitic gas. One of the men, being operated ea by
the inhalation of the gas earlier than his companions,
exclaimed, " It is so bad, I cannot stand it," and witness,
on Wining his attention to the speaker, discovered, to his
aarprise, that the light was extinguished, and he had, con-
sequently to grope his way towards him. Another candle
was then procured and lighted, which, on obtaining .a
certain depth, also went out. Means were then rapidly
taken for the extrication of the men, and after considerable
difficulty they were all brought up, the above being unfor-
tunately found dead, and taken to Wapping workhouse.
The jury returned the: following verdict :—" That the
deaths of the deceased were occasioned by the inhalation of,
mephitic gas which was caused accidentally, and they
recommend that in future great caution should be observed
when engaged in such worko,,,