The National Register.
London, England, 1822-04-29 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

much under such a verdict, how could Mr. Hunt's
life have furnished the means of infliction, had the
Jury found him guilty generally upon all the five
counts, unless he had lived to the age of Methusalem,
and unless the Reverend Mr. Colston (one of the
merciful visiting magistrates) hail been of equi-lon-
gevity,"—but supposing his sentence not to have
been excessive under the intention of the Court,
that it should only extend to the safe custody of his.
person, yet if a gaoler, whose very name is a disgrace
to human nature, had the power, and exercised it
too, of making his confinement doubly disagreeable
by his vexatious and brutal conduct, then every one
will agree that the excess of punishment during its
continuance ought to shorten its duration—beyond
tins Mr. Hunt had another claim to his Majesty's
mercy—he had detected and exposed the most in•
famous system of oppression and torture (which was
cherished in the gaol in question by the governor,
and had long remained unknown, unnoticed, an-
censured, or unredressed by the visiting magistrates,
who, if they had not neglected their duty, could not
have been ignorant of them) that ever disgraced a
civilized nation—yet all these claims were insuffi-
cient to weigh with the noble, Roman firmness of
Ministers, and they mustered their forces to negative
a motion, which having been carried in the affirma-
tive, would have redounded to theeredit of that House,
whose credit does not stand very high with the
people at the present time—but not content with a
simple negative, one of them, a musnnoom-Ssettx-
TART (Mr. Peel), declared in his place, that even
if an unanimous vote of the House of Commons
should direct him to do so, still would he not re-
commend his Majesty to extend his mercy to Mr.
Hunt. This gentleman is the son of a respectable
English cotton-spinner, though our readers might
suppose him to be of Irish extraction, as well from
the moday of this arrogant declaration as from the
originality of his idea of " an unanimous vote" in
favour of a proposition to which he had declared his
opposition; however, Administration's majority de-
clared against Sir Francis Burdett's humanity, and
Mr. Hunt is to remain the whole extent of his sen-
tence in prison, although his sufferings have confes-
sedly been double what the Court contemplated,
when it was pronounced.
On Thursday evening, Lord J. Russell brought
forward, with a force peculiarly his own, his mo-
tion for Parliamentary Reform—his weight and the
importance of his opinions in the House of Corn-
, mons, is evinced by the silence which prevails when-
ever he speaks, and rarely has he spoken more
conclusively—seldom has he advanced more incon-
trovertible arguments than on the proposition in
question. He observed, very truly, that the ques-
tion had been evaded from time to time, in every
possible way by those who profitted by the pre-
sent corrupt state of the Representation—at one time
the people did not want reform, because they did not
petition for it—at another the petitions were unwor-
thy of attention, because the signatures appended
to them, formed a very inconsiderable part of the
populace of England—while at a third, it was de-
clared necessary that the House should disregard
them, lest it should be supposed that they had
attended to their prayer from fear, engendered by
the excessively extensive list of signateres—thus
every ground had been successively taken and aban-
doned, which could be thought of, to oppose what
the people had a right to, and what the people
would have, and that soon too, by one means
or another.—Yet all this would not do—le con droll
knew toe well that their wealth depends upon that
system, which according to their assertion works so
well.—Mr. Canning remembering his Lisbon Job
—his pensioned mother and sisters, his recent
lucrative appointment of Governor General of In-
dia, and the many other claims " the system" has
upon him, exerted all his talents (and while we regret
that he so infamously misuses them, we allow that
they are by no means contemptible) " to male the

worse appear the better cause"—his Eloquence was
however in this instance thrown away, for had he
Oa acting Flugelman in the absence of his superior,
though once contemned colleague, the Marquis of
Londonderry) stood up in his place and said," I
oppose the motion;' it would have had precisely the
same effect—the majority against reform would nut
have been lessened by the absence of his rhetoric
powers, and the host, that can be swayed by a wave
attic hand, would, without the forcible appeal of
this colossal supporter of corruption, have rushed
with equal ardour to have lent their aid to the record
of the fact that the people of England have no right
to hope for a Reform in Parliament, at present—
unless they make use of stronger measures than an
appeal to that House, whose Members ought to be
their Representatives—an Address to the Throne
may be their next experiment.

Important despatches have been received at the
reign-office, from Vienna: after a Cabinet Council
was immediately assembled, which sat in delibera-
tion two hours. It is supposed that the despatches
contained intelligence of importance, as a fitreign
messenger was sent off to the Continent after the
council broke up. The next information from Lord
trangfOrd. the British ambassador at Constantino-
ple, wilt probably bring something decisive respect-
ing the negotiations between Russia and the Porte.

In the western part of the county of Monmouth,
the refractory workmen have been increased in num,
ber by some thousands from the Rock, Tredegar,
Sirhowey, and Pont-y-pool works. The Scotch
Greys have remained at Abergavenny, and the
knowledge that the county cavalry arc on the alert,
and that application has been made the same infan-
try, deters from actual violence; but this state of
things, it is feared, cannot last. In the day-time,
the men spread themselves through the county, and
solicit charity, with which they suppert their fami-
lies; in the evening they blacken their flees, assem-
ble on the hills, and use the most horrible threats to
deter those who think half a loaf better than no
bread, from working under the regular prices.
NEW CM/11CW, CAMIERWELL —Tuesday was
appointed far the ceremony of laying the first stone
of the new church, to be erected at Camberwell,.
which was laid by the Lord Bishop of Winchester.
The members composing the procession assembled
at the Grove-house, at half-past ten, and after there
receiving his Lordship, proceeded to the ground.—
The arrival of the Bishop on the ground was an-
nounced by a discharge of cannon, and the St.
George's ensign was hoisted at the north-east angle.
When the Bishop, Clergy, and Committee as. mdeff
the platform, the children sang the 100th Psalm,
accompanied by the band. A suitable prayer and
address were then offered, and after the stone was
laid the band played the national anthem of " God
save the King," and the procession returned to the
Grove-house in their original order.
Mr. Sergeant Hullock is shortly to become Soli-
citor-General in the room of Sir J. Copley, who will
be made Attorney General; and Sir R. Githml will
be elevated to the Bench, in the place of Baron
Wood, who retires. A silk gown has been offered
to Mr. Brougham, on the ground of hishaving been
Attorney-General to her late Majesty, but that he
has declined accepting it unless a similar compliment
is paid to Mr. Denman.
FRANKFORT, APRIL 15.—We have this moment
received the news that the Porte has placed under
embargo all Turkish vessels in the Channel, and in
the ports of the Black Sea. The object of this mea-
sure is to secure a sufficient number of sailors to man
the Ottoman fleet destined for the Black Sea.

Quantity of linen cloth imported into Great Bri—
tain, in the )ear ending sth Jan. 18::2, as far as
relates to Ireland and the Isle of Man, 45,537,172
yards. The quantity of linens. retained fix home
consumption in Great Britain, in the year ending
sth Jan. 1822, so far as relates to Irish linen,
83,888,6 18 yards.
A Dublin Par2r states, that Mr. O'Connell has
received a letter from the Rt. Hon. W. C. Plunkett,
announcing his determination not to bring forward
the Catholic question this year.
Sir William Congreve's new stamp on the coun-
try bank notes, which were put forth as inimila6le,
have scarcely been sent into circulation, but it is
found, as was previously proved by Messrs. Perkins
and Co., they may be imitated with the greatest
ease; and a forgery has already been committed on
the Blackburn bank by various parties, who have
severally been apprehended and committed to Lan-
caster Castle thr

Letters frotu Petersburgh, dated the IA instant,
have been rec Lived. The exchange has slightly
risen, being quoted at 9 21-32, and. the 6 per cent.
is perfectly steady at 102, both which are tolerably
sure indications of the public opinion in favour of'
peace.
Extract of a letter received at Lloyd's from Kin-
sale, dated April 22.—" It becomes our duty to
convey to you the melancholy intelligence of the
total loss of the 'ship Albion off the Old Head.—
This morning, having carried away her masts, she
was driven on a ridge of rocks, and went to pieces.
By great exertions sotne of the crew and one pas-
senger were taken off a part of her deck that was
driven under a high cliff We lament to say, that
21 passengers, among whom were seven ladies, to-
gether with Captain Williams, and the rest of the
crew, perished ; a fow trnnks belonging to some of
the passengers were saved.. The writer, who has
just re:urned from the spot, has made arrangements
to have the bodies buried."

A courier arrived at Amsterdam on the 20th, from
Vienna, with favourable political intelligence, and
bring the rnetallies ' per cent higher, which caused
a general improv tin the prices of the public
securities on the sdam Exchange.
The 71st regitneii ' foot embarked on Thursklie
morning tor Liver ,35u ill* route to Dublin.
• •

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

IItELAND.

It is melancholy to read of the state of the Irish
peasantry in the papers recceived yesterday, from
which we make the following afflicting extract :
STATE OP TUE POOR.—The provincial papers
of the South and West are loaded with the most
melancholy details, not only of the distress and star-
vation of the poor in several counties of Munster
and Connaught, but also of the state of destitution
to which the landlords are reduced.

It is stated from unquestionable authority, that
seven persons died last week in the neighbourhood
of Killydesart, from actual want. The streets of
Ennis are lined with labourers and tradespeople,
who stand leaning against the houses, their arms
folded, and despair in tli:!ir countenances. In con-
versing with some of them, they tell me they have
from one to six acres of land, with a cabin, but their
potatoes having failed they have neither present food
nor seed for the next season ; they have left their
land waste, and have, with their families, become
wanderers through the country.
In truth it can no longer be concealed...even if
there was any good reason for doing so—that, what
with the failure of the last potatuc crop, the total
want of employment throughout the country, and
the low prices of every description of agricultural
produce, not only is one class threaten:d with an ab-
solute want of food, but the other has before it the
the prospect of an entire abstraction of rents, and the
consequent inability on their part either to relieve
the suffering of the poor, or to contribute to the
payment of the revenue.
The trial of Robert Cussen, for breaking into tho
house of John Shelton, Esq. of Rossmore, in this.
county, at Lie head of a band of insurgents (of
which ha was leader), has excited considerable
attention. He nas found guilty, chiefly on the
evidence of two young ladies, the daughters of Mr.
John Shelton, who, however, gave the evidence
with every anxiety to be merciful, and through
whose intercession his case is likely to be mercifully
considered.—The prisoner was above the condition
of a peasant.—Limerick Chronicle.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN. BUDGE-ROW.--On Thurs-
day morning at five o'clock two houses in Butlse-row,
Cannon-street; the lower part of which, occupied by
Mr. Rory, a carpenter. as a shop, and the upper part
let, fell with a dreadful crash, and buried ad the inmates
who were in bed in the ruins. Mr. Parry who was up,
and standing at the shop window dressing himself, was
the only person who escaped, and lie was thrown out at
the window. Mr. Bowles, a merchint, and hi, wife,
occupied the first floor ; Mr. Nichols the second, acid
two maiden ladies, sisters, of the names o; Osbaideston
the third. An alarm was immediately raised, and the
neighbourhood were roused. The constables of the
night and the watchmen procured assistance; several
labourers and carpenters were employed in ',topping up
the adjoining houses, and putlogs were placed across the
street to the opposite house ; the street was barricadoed
at each end, and ihe labourers began to clear away the
ruins. The two Nliss Osbaldestons were (104 out about
six o'clock, dreadfully mutila ed and nearly suffocated,
and carried to Si. Thomas's lio.pital, with little hope of
recovery; Mr. Nichols escaped with little injury. NI r.
and Mrs. Bowles were dug out about half-past aix ; they
were found in bed nearly suffocated hoot the rubbish,
but screened by a large beam and part of the flooring.—
A surgeon was on the spot, who had them carried to the
Crown.taverii, Bow-lane, where they were pill to bed,
and their wounds dressed on inquiry we find that there
are but faint hopes of their recovery. A young woman
who was on a visit to Mr. Bowles, and a child of his.
still remained buried in the twits at twelve o'clock, acid
from the appearance of the ruins, there cannot relicalii a
doubt but they are dead. The workmen continued their
labours during the es ening, and the distrers of the rela-
tives and friends of the sufferers was indescribable
011 Friday night, at seven o'clock, an inquisition was
taken at the Three Cranes tavern, NVatling-street, before
T. Shelton, Esq. Cormier for London, on the bodies of
Charles Bowles, six years old, and I.;;thaheih Bowles, his
aunt, aged 21i, who were buried in the rubbish, and
killed by the falling of the above houses.—Mr. William
Perry, carpenter, Mr. James lk bricklayer, Bosh-
lane, employed on them, It. Kipps, a journeyman brick-
layer, who assisted in cutting away part of the party wall
in the cellar, and Nlr. Bowles, the brother of the W 41111.111,
and the huis uncle, and Mrs. Bowles, gave evidence
respecting the state of the houses and the can.e of tile
accittent.—Tite Cormier said, the surveyor of the district
should examine all houses of a dilapalaied st:ite.-1 he
Jury were sattsfied it was the removal of the chimneys in
the party wall occasioned the accident, and a verdict of
Accidental I)eatli, caused by the want of nue precaution
in the repairing of the patty wall, was returned.—A
vote of thanks was then passel to the Beadle of the
‘Vard, for his exeruotts in removing the rtiobish, extri-
cating the sufferers, and afterwards attending to their
combats.

SHEFFIELD, APRIL 24.—The Barclay undertaking
was completed here this day at nom), by Wright,. the
Yorkshire pedestrian, with apparent erne At the ter-
mination of the periormance, he repaired with his friends
to the Cavalry Barracks, on the parade of which he
undertook to walk isveltx tittles within Mae hone, en-
gaging to walk five miles within the first hour, four
miles within the second, and three within the third,
which he accomplished before four o'clock, in the pre-
r.ice of the officers of the 7th Light Uragowl Guards,
and a number of spectators. Report say., his neat en-
gagement 13 to walk WO miles within hours.