The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-15 00:00:00

IRELAND.

[From the frermates Journal]
THE LIBERTY WEAVERS.

These unfortunate people, to she number of about ROO,
assembled on Monday on the banks of the Canal, near Lee-
son-street, and from thence proceeded in mournful pro-
cession along Leeson-street, Stephen's-green, Grafton-
street, and Dame-street, to the Royal Exchange. When
arrived opposite the Head Police-office, the attendance of
some of the overseers was required before the Magistrates;
with this they immediately complied, and having stated
the object for which they bad assembled, they pledged
themselves, fur their body, that the peace should not be
broken. They then proceeded to the Exchange, and pre-
sented a memorial to the Committee then sitting, request-
ing that the proposed reduction might not be made in their
wages, but that ls. per day might be continued to them
while the funds lasted. The poor people remained with-
out the Exchange in patient expectation of the decision
until six o'clock, when they dispersed peaceably. We
have not learned that any positive answer was given to
them.

We never raw a more melancholy picture than these
poor people presented, with their care-word countenances

and emaciated figures; nor can there be anywhere a more
deplorable sight than that of a people willing and able to
employ themselves, and yet unable to procure employment.
The weavers of the Liberty have, besides, peculiar claims
upon public bounty, for the patience with which they have
borne their privations, "in all the silent manliness of
grief," and from their newer having engaged in those
combinations which have disgraced so matiy other trades
in the city.
We understand that the subscription fund is nearly ex-
hausted, and we have no doubt it is the case ; but as an
opinion prevails among those whom this charil was in-
tended to relieve, that the funds have not been applied in

the manlier which would have been made most conducive
to the object, we think the Committee are imperatively
tilled upon to publish a statement of their receipts and ex-
penditure, accompanied with the necessary vouchers.—
There can be no difficulty in this, as far as regards the
money paid for actual labour; but there was MOO/. ap-
propriated as a bounty or premium to the purchasers of
Irish manufactures, which will require more particular
explanation. It was thought at the time that this bonus
would relieve the employers of so much of their stock on
hands as would enable them to give employment to a num-
ber of their workmen • this expectation, unfortunately, has
not been realized ; and a belief does prevail in some quar-
ters that this part of the business was a job. We will
stop for further information before we subscribe to such an
opinion ; for celebrated as this country always hks been for
jobbing, we cannot think that any one would be so base,
as wilfully to misapply funds raised for so sacred a pur-
pose as that of charity, particularly under the circum-
stances that this fund was raised.

The reduction proposed to be made in the wages of these
poor people is from Is. per day to Intl. There are many
featly to condemn any remonstrance on the subject of this
reduction—and certainly "half a loaf is better than n)
bread ;" but when we consider that most of these men
have families to support, and that bad potatoes, the cheap-
est food that can be procured, are 9d. and Hal. a stone, we
cannot think that a labouring man could preserve himself
in a state of health and strength that would allow him to
work for twelve hours a day on such a pittance, even if he
saatehed the morsel from the mouths of his starving
children.

We ask again, as we did on Monday, what is to become
of these people and their wretched families when the fund
subscribed is entirely exhausted? This is the time for
public exertion, before all is gone! We call upon the
Clergy of every persuasion to use their influence with their
flocks to avert the misery that awaits the unfortunate
weavers. We call upon the Clergy of the Established
Church, for they can afford it, to set the example of bene-
volence. As yet but few, very few of them, have sub-
actibed fur this object; the name of but one Protestant
Prelate stands recorded as having contribute& to the fund,
and that one felt himself called upon to come forward from
holding a Deanery in the scene of misery. Let us hope that
this appeal will not be made in vain.
THE LATE OUTRAGE AT DUBLIN.
COLLEGE STUEET POLICE. OfFICF.—TUESDAY.
The examination of the prisoners apprehended in the act of
throwing stones at the boat, who were eleven in number, and of
the three persons found in the boat, whose names are Richard
31'Kenn, Junior, son of an attorney is Dominick-street, John
Creery and Robert Boyd, was gone into this day, at the Police
Office, before the Lord Mayor, Sir 0. Needle, Alderman Flem-
ing, and Mr. Gabber.
The office was very much crowded. We noticed among the
persons present Col. Blacker. The Colonel was accommodated
with a chair, and listened to the evidence with attention. Several
peace office's belonging to this estiblidinient were examined.
Their evidence was to the fact of throwing stones by the mob,
several of whom they apprehended anti identified. They all swore
that they could not identity any of the perstms who fired the shots
from the vessel.
Mr. Ferguson, son of Dr. Ferguson, IV, Granby-row, swore
to the facts of the riot, the commencement of winch lie witnessed.
The object of the mob seemed to be the destruction of the •image
at the topmast, to attain which they commenced pelting it with
stones ; on which a person from the boat, without coat or hat, ap-
peared on deck, and tired upon the mob, from a double-barrelled
gun. Witness then proceeded to the police office, College-street,
and told them a riot was taking place, when a party of the police
went with him to the scene of the riot, where they succeeded in
making some prisoners. %Witness could not identify the person's on
board the boat.
Mr. John Walsh, No. 81, Sir John's Quay, deposed to a si-
milar effect. He heard among the mob that the image as, they
thought, was that of an Orangeman trampling on a wreath of
ahattirocks: he told them repeatedly it was no , but that of a
Hying Mercury, with his foot on the clouds; they persevered in
pelting at the boat, which they much damaged; he saw the shots
fired from the boat by a person dressed in white trowsers, without
a coat or hat ; he could not identity the person whom he saw so
firing ou the people.
Mr. William Horan, 5, Lower Sackville street, a'io swore to the
circumstances of the riot, which he first beheld fir) d his drawing.
room window. He heard tile populace say, "s t tie Orangeman
had put up a tin Orangeman, trampling on a stiamrock, on the
mast, and that they would knock him down." Several very large
stones were thrown at the boat, a great number of which struck it ;
witness made way to the side of the quay opposite to the boat ;
while there a person, dressed as the other witness described Into,
came up several times on the deck, at the cornet of an awning, and
fired at the mob out of it double-barrelled gun. He took deliberate
aim at the people; at one time firing down the quay, and again
directly at the place where witness stood. An old man alongside
witness was wounded by one of the shots, and immediately after
the next shot which was tired tore open the same man's hand and
wrist, and also struck a little boy in the forehead and eye, and
which immediately bled profusely. Witness brought the boy to
an apothecary's shop in Seaside-street, where he wits dressed.
Mr. Brown, of 22, George's-quay, swore that the image via
purchased from him, by the prisoner 1116Keon, for his pleasure
boat, called the Corsair; witness said the image had for nearly
three years been the alga outside his shop door. It was a represen.
tation of Mercury kneeling on a cloud, with a caduceus in his hand,
and it was painted flesh colour.
None of these several witnesses could swear particularly to the
colour of the ribands which were streaming from the top of the
image. Some said they were red, others yellow, and one or two
what they called a dirty red.
Ale. Alexander Johnson, of Eden-quay, deposed that he ac-
companied Sir Garrett Neville on board the pleasure hone, where
they found the three prisoners, 111`Keon, Creery, anti Boyd. The
first of client was dressed in a white trowsers and sailor's jacket,
neither of the others had white trowsers. They found a gun
there, but no powder or shot. This morning witness found some
shot in the drawing-room of his father's house, one of the windows
of which was perforated by the shot fired from the boat. It was
small shot. Ile also deposed to the damage which hail been done
to the boat by the stone-throwing. The windows of the cabin were

broken.
The next witness examined was Farrell Brady, the wounded boy
—lda face presented a most melancholy appearance ; several grains
of shot had lodged in his forehead and temples ; his left eye was
all swollen, and several grains had penetrated his ri4ht eye. He
swore that he took no part in the riot ; but was proceeding from h;s
master's, at 25. Dame-street, on a message to Eccles street, when
he heard a shot fired, and ran to see what war the matter. While
standing alongside Eden quay, he was wounded by a shot from the
boat in the eye, which knocked him down ; the people acre throw.
ing at the image, out of which witness swears there were flying two
ribands, an orange and a blue one. %Vl:en asked could he identify
the person who fired the shots, at first from trepidation he fixed
upon a wrong person ; but when the prisoners were shown to hint,
he swore it was either of the prisoners, sl•Keon or Boyd.
The little Ittllow' was then removed, with the intention, we un-
derstand. of having hint immediately sent to the hospital.
Arthur hl'Ouinness, a servant, swore to the riotous conduct of
the " wretched mob," as he chose to designate them. He ninon-
.traced with them on their conduct, and they refused to listen to his
advice. Ile heard them say that the figure was " Mr. Hamilton
turned into the devil, and trampling on ould Ireland."
The following are the names of the men who were identified as
having thrown atones :—John Murray, Pat. Corcoran, Christopher

Cowley, Pm. Phthem, Bernard Curran, John Neill, John Petit,
Mate Murphy, and Jame,' Carigan.
After one or two more wittleas a were examined, the eXaminetion
terminated at three o'clock, alt-n the 31agistrates react and ad
prlhoners were remanded to tomorrow at ten o'clock, when the inJ
veltigation will be resumed.

HOME CIRCUIT'.

C itEi.msron 0, JULY 14.
CROWN SIDE—Hem 31r. NoLAN.
MANSLAUGHTER.

George Joslin, theiOunger,eit;hiiJosiin, and it Juim
Fitch, three young men, aged respecti►ely 111, 15, and 14 year.,
were indicted for feloniously killing and slaying IVilliain Bonnicg-
ton, at Chelmsford, On the 13th id Mar.
The Grand Jury had thrown out a bill against the prisoners fur
munle►.
Mr. Kunst and Mr. Dowtisro conducted the prosecution ;
and Mr. JstssoPu and Mr. itrtopEti lc K the defence.

It appeared, from the evidence fur the prosecution. that the pri-
soners were young gentlemen, the suns of very respectable pareme
in the neighbourhood of Chelmsford. On the 12th of May lest
they bad been on horseback to Chelmsf.wd fair, and in the even-
ing, between eight and nine o'clock, they mounted their horses let
the purpose of returning home. Their horses were rather restive,
and set tiff at a gallop. In the easterly part of the town, call' tl
Duke-•treet, a crowd of persors lad assembled around a drunken
man, so as nearly to block up the way. The prisoners rode through
the crowd with great impetuosity, and after knocking down one
man, who got up again without injury, one of the horses Came in
contact whit the deceased, who tell lifeless on the ground. The
prisoner' pursued their road without stopping ; but le del not ap-
pear that they were conscious of the iejury done. One witness
stated, that one of the prisoners. in coming toward the crowd.
c tiled out to make way. The Coroner's Jury found a verdict or
manslaughter against the prisoner. The Coutt of King's Bench
had admitted the pries:mese to bail, and they now surrendered to
take their trial. It was admitted, on the part of the prosecution,
that the prisoners were young men of unexceptionable characters.
The prisoners being called upon for their defence, delivered it:
the following statement:—
s' illy Lord, and Gentlemen of the Jury—The three young pelt.
eons now standing before you, the eldest just sixteen years of age.
the youngtst only fifteen, ate called upon for their defence to a
charge of feloniously killing and slaying a fellow-creature. We
hope, Gentlemen of the Jtiry, that the simple stateniendwhich ee
now most respectfully submit to you, and whith w.• tin t w be
proved to your satisfaction, will discharge its or the heave impu-
tation tinder which we now suffer. That we, or that one of us,
has been the cause of the death of the unhappy man.Wm.Bonning.
ton, wedo not, and cannot deny; but we do most solemnly aver that
the occasion of it was unintentional on our part, and arising out of
circumstances over which we had no control. The day of ties
fatal occurrence we had been in company together to Chelmsford
lair, a few miles only from the residence of our parents; we had
rode there on high-spirited ponies, which we had left at the Lion
and Lamb, at which inn uur fathers constantly put up on market
days, and had directed our ponies to have some corn each. As we
are ell three nearly related, we then accompanied each other into
the fair, enjoying its amusements and festivities till about eight
o'clock is the evening, but without having indulged to any im-
proper excesses, and being under no other excitement than that
which such a scene ordinarily occasions at our age. We had spun.
on when we mounted, and on leaving the inn, the hat of one
of us having nearly fallen off, lie hastily put up his whip hand to
each it. IVhether at the moment his pony felt the spur, to which
he had been unaccustomed, or whether the animal was startled at
the sudden rising of the hand which held the whip, is uncertain ;
but he instantly started out of the gateway at full speed, followed
by the other tao ponies, and each, by the pursuit, accelerating the
speed of the others. The crowd of people through which the ponies
passed at full gallop was only a few rode from the Lion end Lamb,
and in sight of that Inn ; and neither of us had been able, in that
short distance, to master our ponies sufficiently to check dieM
career, till atter the unfortunate accident had occurred, which es
the time we were totally unconscious of, and which no one more
deeply deplores, or has lamented more bitterly, than we have done.
and still do. We have, however, the consolation of believing,
that you, Gentlemen, will not hastily arrive at a conclusion um,
favourable to the young persons now before you. Our parents
are in the same situation in life in which probably many of
you are; we have been treated by them with uniform kindness
and indulgence, and they bare afforded us such an education
as they judged to be sufficient to enable us to pursue through
life the same respectable path in which they have been aecustemed
to tread. We hope, Gentlemen, that you will hear from those
who have been the guides and the instructors of our youth, that we
have not so conducted ourselves, as that we can be thought capable
of wantonly and cruelly injuring a fellow-creature ; or of the des-
perate thily which we should have been guilty of, had we int'''.
tionally urged our ponies at full speed into a crowd like that of
which the unfortunate sufferer was one. We were in sight of tht
inn at which we had put up ; we were only a few miles front out
home, and our persons were well known. We repeat, Gentlemen,
that what Ines occurred is attributable to accident alone ; and were
it possible that you should entertain a different opinion, we should
still derive consolation front the consciousness of innocence which
we should feel under an adverse judgment. But, Gentlemen, we
hope to be released front this degrading situation by your verdict*
of complete acquittal ; we ti net to be restored to the embraces of
our anxious and afflicted families, discharged of all intentional
misconduct. •We have been told, Gentlemen, that were our con.
duct to be misrepresented by the evidence of those who witnessed
the transaction, and were you in consequence of such misrepresen-
tation to find us Guilty of Manslaughter, that by some recent
Act of Parliament we might be sentenced to the severe punish.
merit of transportation. ]'cu, Gentlemen, who are fathers, may
judge of the tearful anxiety occasioned to our friends and fami-
lies by the contemplation of the bare possibility of such an event;
but we all of us, Gentlemen, labour under accumulated appreben.
lion ; not for ourselves, but because we deeply fret that a verdict
of Guilty, which might be followed by such a sentence, besides de-
stroying all the credit and peace of our future lives, would consign
the grey hairs ()tour venerable and excellent patents with sorrow to
their graves."
Several witnesses were then called, who proved that the horses
which the prisoners had ridden on the occasion in question were
young and unmanrgeable. An immense number of most respects
ble witnesses gave the prisoners the highest possible character for
mildness of manners and humanity of disposition.
Mr. NOLAN charged the Jury, that if the prisoners had oc-
casioned the death of the deceased front carelessness, they would
be guilty of Manslaughter ; but that if the death was ocea.
casioned by involuntary accident, they would be entitled to air
acquittal.
the Jury deliberated a few minutes, and found the prisoners
" Not Guilty."