The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-11 00:00:00

Sudden Death of Mr. Justice Wightman,

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We deeply regret to announce the sudden death
of Mr, Justice Wightman. The learned judge was
at York, trying prisoners at the Yorkshire winter
gaol delivery, slid on Wednesday was in his usual
good health, and tried a long and important Post
Office robbery case. The Court rose about six

o'clock, when his lordship manifested no signs of
fatigue, although his labours during the day had
been of an arduous character. His lordship retired
to rest at his usual hour, and was then quite well,
but on Thursday morning, at seven oVock, when
his valet entered his room he was alarmed to find
his lordship breathing very heavily, and to all ap-
pearance in a fit of apoplexy. Miss Wightman, who
accompanied her father whilst on circuit, was in-
stantly aroused, and Mr. Husband, surgeon, and
Dr. Shann were sent for. These gentlemen were at
his lordship's bedside in a few minutes, bat their
services were of little avail, for it was evident that
the hand of death was upon the learned judge. He
remained totally unconscious, and lingered in this
state of unconsciousness until a quarter-past one
o'clock, when his lordship expired.
_ _ _

Mr. Justice Wightman had been a judge of the
Queen's Bench for 22 years, and was universally
esteemed by the bar for his amiability of disposition,
and also for his high legal attainments. His lord-
ship's death has' put a stop for the present to the
business of tl-,e Yorkshire winter gaol delivery. Mr.
W. B. Maule, of the northern circuit, whose name
was on the commission at the winter gaol delivery,
entered the court in the morning, and announced
that it would be impossible to go on with business
that day, stating that he should return to court in
the afternoon and receive the bilis for the gran
jury.

Mr. Justice Mellor left town this morning for
York.

INDEPENDENCE OF POLAND.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of Maryle-
bone was held last night at the St. Pancras Vestry-
hall, in order to express sympathy and aid for
Poland. It was stated that the chair would be taken
by Lord Fermoy, M.P., punctually at 8 o'clock, but
as at that period the hall was about a quarter filled,
some time elapsed before the promoters of the meet-
ing made their appearance. The impatience of the
meeting was at length so loudly expressed that the
chairman took his seat on the platform, surrounded
by Lord Campbell, Mr. E. Beales, chairman of the
National League for the Independence of Poland,
Mr. J. R. Taylor, honorary secretary to the League,
Mr. J. A. Nicholay, Mr. N. E. Zaba, a Polish dele-
gate, Mr. C. Szulczewski, and several gentlemen of
local influence in the borough of Marylebone. Lord
Fermoy, having been called to the chair, said they
had met there for the purpose of expressing their
sympathy with Poland in her struggle and their
horror and disgust at Russia for her oppression.
(Hear, hear.) The brightest diadem in our consti-
tution was our free press, and he could not describe
the present state of the Polish question better than
it had been done in a leading article of the limes of
that day. Having read a portion of the article in
question the chairman proceeded to say that the
Times was not only read by the body of the people,
but was extensively read by the higher and upper
classes of this country, and when such a paper spoke
out in this manner concerning the treatment of
Poland by Russia, there was clear evidence that the
people of England of all grades and classes sympa-
thised with the people of Poland. If, too, such a
paper as the Times continued to address itself to
this question as it had done, there was still hope
for the people of Poland so far as England was
concerned. (Applause.) It could not be said that
the Russian atrocities were done without the
knowledge and consent of the present Emperor,
because he had lately sent Mouravieff to Poland.
To this butcher in the superlative degree, the Em-
peror had just given the order of St. Andrew—the
highest compliment that could be paid to a subject
in Russia, and which had been described by the
late Lord Durham as equal to our order of the
Garter and the gift of a dukedom besides. And this
reward had been given to this butcher, this demon,
this devil incarnate, who had done everything that
could disgrace humanity in Poland. (Applause.)
Many Englishmen wished to do more than express
their sympathy with Poland; and it wad desirable,
therefore, that they should, as men of business,
" take stock" and see how the matter stood. He
did not know all the considerations that had de-
termined the Government not to go into the Con-
gress, but he could well understand the circum-
stances, referring not to Poland alone but to other
countries, and even to the state of affairs across the
Atlantic, had led her Majesty's Government to the
conclusion that a European Congress at the present
moment would be a very questionable and dangerous
thing. At the same time he regretted that their re-
fusal had not been conveyed in more temperate and
conciliatory language. The question then arose, ii
all remonstrances failed what was the next thing
(A voice—War.) War meant a permanent and in-
creased income tax, the reimposition of indirect
taxation, and the throwing out of erorloyment of
hundreds and thousands of the working classes.
The great leading nations of the continent warmly
sympathised with the Poles, and if the Governments
of those countries joined England and France in
their representations Russia must give way before
the opinion of Europe. Meanwhile it was the duty
of the English people to call upon their Government
to use every means in their power to obtain the
blessings of liberty for the unhappy Poles. (Ap-
plause.) Mr. R. Furness moved, and Mr. Hearnden
seconded, the first resolution, declaring that the
devoted heroism of the Poles entitled them to the
admiration and support of Great Britain. Lord
Campbell spoke in support of the resolution. The
borough of Marylebone had an especial right to
appeal to Parliament on behalf of the Poles. It was
not until he visited Warsaw a few months ago that

he learned how deeply and how gratefully the
Poles appreciated the character and services of their

former representative, Lord Dudley Stuart. (Hear,
hear.) The Polish leaders had assured him that they
placed a high value on the expression of popular
sympathy in this country. The Polish Government

had made two demands—first, that their belligerent
rights should be acknowledged ; and, secondly, that
our Government should repudiate all further title
on the part of Russia to dominion over Poland. The
English Government might be induced to concede
both these claims if it were backed by public opi-
nion, and, if so, who would say that popular agita-

tion Was useless or unnecessary ? The resolution
having been carried, a person named Webb in the

body of the meeting here proposed a resolution

declaring that the Government ought to have at-
tended the Congress to settle the question of nationa-
lities by peaceable means if possible, and if not to
have joined any Power willing to assist in punishing
the barbarous Russian Government, and to secure

,he permanent independence of Poland and Cir-

cassia. This resolution was received with favour

by the meeting, but opposed by Lord Campbell as a

vote of retrospective censure on the Government,
which would array against the meeting many of

he friends of Poland.

After some little discussion

it was, however, carried by a large majority. Pro-
fessor Beesly proposed the next resolution, which

asserted that the English Government is no longer
bound to recognise the sovereignty of the Czar over
any part of the Polish territory, and would be fully
justified in acknowledging the belligerent rights of
the insurgents. Mr. E. Beales seconded the reso-
lution, which was carried without dissent. The
proceedings v►ere then brought to a close by a vote
of thanks to the chairman.

THE LEGACY TO Ma. DISRAELI, M.P., By A
TORQUAY RESIDENT.—It was intimated a few days
ago that a lady, recently deceased, had bequeathed about
£40,000 to Mr. Benjamin Disraeli. The testatrix was Mrs.
Brydges Willyarns; she resided many years
a
Braddon, Torquay, and when she died she had ettatinied
extraordinary age of 93 years. The deceased lady
was I:
hloi et
her Jew
executor,ill lescenhta,sa
givennd of aS
directionspa n i Spanish
forfam
tiiy, Mr. Disraeli, as
he house and furni-
ture to be sold. Some men, it seems, entered the house on
sAhluonttdearyinnitghhet,Wbinydbozw•eaokf ninogae pane of glass and removing a
of the lower rcoms. They
were disturbed, however, by the
precipitately, taking with theta house dog, and decamped
—Western drfornin- 41v- only a few trifling articles,
,v ‘,IcS,