The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-26 00:00:00

MR. HETHERINGTON'S MISSION.

Mr. FROST was then called to the chair to enable Mr.
Hetherington to report the result of his mission to Wales
to the Convention.

Mr. HETHERINTON thought it better to make his
Report to-day, as they would have a good de-1 of basis
nesi before them on Monday. He arrived in Belper,
Derbyshire, on E titer Sun 1 ty, as he thought it
hatter to reach that town a day before the meeting was
held, in order to ascertain the state of feeling there,
arid become acquainted with the leading men of their
party. He boTind litany intriligeut, active and excellent
men there. The announcement of the meeting had
excited the attention of the Magistrates, and he learned
thj Mr. Strutt w ts a little king in the town and its
neighbourhood. The Magistrates resolved to swear in
100 special constables, but there was a great reluctance
on the part of the Conventionists that the county should
be put to so much expense, and late on Saturday night
a communication was sent to the Magistrates that they
were ready to tender themselves to be sworn in as con-
stables. The Magistrates were very much pleased to
find that there was no disposition to break the peace,
but stated that they would rather have men se-
lected by themselves ; that if there was any ne-
cessity for their appearance the parties holding
the meeting had nothing to do out send for them, and
they would act according to their suggestions.—(Hear,
hear.) These arrangements were rather favourable to
the meeting, but on learning that persons had been sent
down from the Convention the Magistrates took the
alarm, and an express was sent to Derby for a troop of
horse.--(A laugh.) They came, and were kept a mile
and a half out of town all day, ready to act if called
upon. The meeting was held in the market-place, and
about 2,000 persons were present, although Mr. Strutt
arid all the large manufacturers kept their mills closed
to prevent their men attending. The meeting was ad-
dressede_ by Mr. Woodward, of Nottingham, and Mr.
'e king, a working man, and they pledged themselves
to suPPort the Convention in all its proceedings, that
they might think it wise and prudent to adopt to carry
out their objects. At night all the public-houses were
closed at teno'el°ek and a public supper was given to the
Delegates from the Convention the same evening. It ap-
peared from all he had heard and seen, that Mr. Strutt
exercised an immense authority
tyliattho7 town and neigh bour-
thathis conduct was
every .ho was resolved to persecute n
m petty tyrant,
intelligent man who
took part in the proceedings o Ithe Convention. He

ties. His reply to this was, the production of his in-
structions from the Convention, by which it would be
seen the use of violent language was entirely forbidden,
which, together with the manner in which he addressed
the meeting on the doctrine of Universal Suffrage,
Vote by Ballot, Annual Parliaments, &c., seemed to
disabuse these people of their preconceived notions of
Charter principles. The meeting was most enthusias-
tic in its manner and spirit, and the resolutions indica-
tive of support to the cause of Radicalism were passed
with much applause. The Shrewsbury Chronicle gave
two columns of the proceedings. The fruits of that
meeting was that a vast number of persons joined the
National Union, and all who did so were energetic in
their desire to obtain -signatures to the National Peti-
tion, and to contribute to the National Rent.—(Hear,
hear.) During the whole of his progress he was highly
delighted at the spirit of the people—they were zea-
lously determined to give their best assistance to the
cause of the millions ; and from his past experience he
could safely give an opinion on public feeling, he would
say he had never seen any body of men more zealous
and enthusiastic in their determination to obtain liberty
than the working men of the districts through which he
he had passed.—(Mr. Hetherington sat down amid
loud cheers.)
Upon the motion of Mr. Pitkeithley, seconded by
Mr. Sankey, the marked thanks of the meeting were
given to Mr. Hetherington for his conduct on his late
mission to Wales.
Passed with acclamation.
Mr. Hetherington then resumed the chair, upon
which the Secretary proceeded to call over the names.
The Assembly then dissolved.

would give the Convention one instance of the invete-
racy of Mr. Strut. A meeting was called on the sub-
ject of the Corn-laws, and a few stone masons, who
were working on the railway in the neighbourhood, at-
tended. They were intelligent men, and moved amend-
ments to nearly every resolution that was proposed ;
and so equally were the numbers divided, that it was
doubtful whether the amendment or the original motion
was carried. Mr. Strutt actually followed these stone-
masons to their work, and endeavoured to have them
discharged,but without effect ; and it was a fact that some
of his own men, whom be had brought in great numbers
to the meeting, and who had expressed their approbation
of the sentiments of the stonemasons, and appeared to
have been convinced by their arguments, were dis-
charged.(Cries of " Shame.") That gentleman had
caused his factories to be fortified with cannon. All
that indicated great fear, and he never saw a man
evinciug such fear and taking such precautions in the
town where he resided, that it did not turn out that he
bad been in the habit of acting oppressively to his work-
men and dependants. He had gone from Belper to a
village about five miles off, where a room had been taken
for the purpose of holding a public meeting, but Mr.
Strutt sent word to the party to whom the house be-
longed not to let the room. With great difficulty a
room was procured, and he (Mr. H.) had addressed the
people, stating the objects of the Convention, the nature
of the Petition, and the People's Charter, and a number
of persons set their names down in order to form an
Association in that village. He was afraid, however,
the district was so much under the influence of Mr.
Struth that little good could be expected from it.
He had thence proceeded on his destination to
Stockport, and the next day arrived at Welch-
pool. He found the same objection existing
there as at Belper. Lord Clive was like a king
in that town, and the whole of the middle classes were
so much influenced that there was hardly a man in it,
however much he might be in favour of the views of the
Convention, dare avow his sentiments. As an instance
of the spirit by which they were actuated he would state
that when he and Mr. Jones, another Delegate, and Mr.
Powell, were walking through the streets, some of the
inhabitants were standing at their doors, and exclaimed
loud enough to be heard by them, that three such men
ought to have their heads cut off. Now he (Mr. He-
therington) was satisfied that if they (the Convention-
alists) had said half as much of any other party, every
one would be ready to exclaim, " What a blood-thirsty
set they are."--(Hear, hear.) They found it impossi-
ble to get a place to meet in, and they were threatened
with a second Devizes if they met in Welchpool. Seeing
that they would be only losing time there, they set their
friends at work to organize an association, and promised
to visit that town again on their return. They then pro-
ceeded to Newtown,and there they found almost the whole
of the town in their favour—they being all physical force
men. It was stated in the Shrewsbury Chronicle that
the people were very much dissatisfied that the meeting
had not taken place at the time announced, but that
was occasioned by their having waited upon Mr. Evans,
the principal Magistrate, whom they wished to take the
chair. Although the gentleman expressed his anxiety
to do anything that would promote the happiness of the
working classes, he respectfully declined to take the
1 chair on the ground that it might be objectionable to
some parties. The meeting, which was most nume-
rously attended, was the most enthusiastic he had ever
witnessed. The Convention might count upon the
men of Newtown supporting them unanimously with
funds, and in every other way that it was required.
They seemed to think that it must end in a fight, and
were preparing to arm very extensively.—( Hear, hear.)
He was obliged to state that fact because he had heard
while there, that one party bad sent an order to Bir-
mingham for 300 muskets.—( Hear, hea-.) Another
man had been persecuted for having carried on an ex-
tensive manufactory of pikes in the town, and sub-
mitted these matters to the Convention, although it
was known that he (Mr. H.) was a moral force man.
From thence they had proceeded to Llanidloes, and
he had ascertained that 600 men were enrolled in the
Association there, one half of whom were well armed
and all determined to stand by one another to the last.
—(Cheers.) It was also a fact that at a small village
near it one hundred able bodied men had entered the
union, and some of them stated to him that they con-
sidered the affixing of their signatures in the same
light as the shilling which the recruit received when
entering the King'sservice,and that it enlisted them in the
army of liberty. The Welsh people were timid, and reli-
gious, and if they could only be inspired with the same en-
thusiasm in politics as they felt in religion, they would
be a most valuable accession to the Convention. They
were men who would walk miles, and make any sacrifices
in order to uphold what they considered their rights.
The physical force men in that district, he believed,
could turn out 600 armed men.—(Renewed cheering.)
He had repeated to them the instructions he had re-
ceived from the Convention, that he was bound to dis-
courage every thing illegal, and to counsel them to
confine themselves to moral exertions for the recovery
of the rights of the people. In order to show how well
these men were knit tog, ther, on one or two occasions,
when there was a strike, the windows of several factories
were broken, and although a reward of 3001. was offered,
the parties who did it were never discovered. On
1 another occasion, a Poor-law Commissioner came into
Ithe district, and the people said he should rot remain,
but he said he would, and the next night his gig was
put over the bridge and smashed to pieces. The parties
were never discovered. A Policeman, from London,
was sent down there, and one night they half killed
him, npon which he said he would stop there
no longer. Really he thought them a very honest, good
people—(Roars of laughter)—beceuse they set their 1
faces altogether against bad measures.—(Renewed
laughter.) He did not like to go much further info
Wales, because he found that the further he went the
less English was spoken, and the more difficulty he ex-
perienced in relishing their local eloquence. They had
afterwards visited Rhyader in Radnorshire, and unfor-
tunately there was a small Baptist chapel to be opened
the day of the meeting—they had two full days of that
chapel opening.--(A laugh.) One service ended at
four, and the next commence i at six, so they had only
two hours to get up the meeting and address Lhe panple.
The clergyman, however, very liberally, permitted them
to announce the meeting in the chapel, and the second
service was put off for about an hour.—( Hear, hear.)
The same thing had been done by Mr. Williams at
Llanidloes, and he had also announced a series of four
lectures on the People's Charter.—( fir ar, and cheers.)
Oa their return to Newtown, they found that the
Shrewebuey Chronicle ha I been making a violent attack
upon them. A meeting was held the same night, which
was extremely crowded ; in fact, be (Mr. 1-.1.) could
scarcely get into the room, and all the passages were
crowded by persons who could not obtain admit-
tance.—(Hear.) Resolutions were passed, declaring
the statements in the Shrewsbury Paper to be false.
He then proceeded toWelchpool, where, on b-ing, intro-
duced to some of the Reformers of the place, thee,
proceeded to get up a requisition to the Mayor to con-
vene a public meeting, which requisition being nume-
rously and respectably signed, they had presented to
that functionary, who positively refused convening the
meeting.—(Hear, hear.) They then engaged the public
club room of the place in order to hold one without the
authority of the Mayor ; but as soon as lie found out
that this was so, he sent for the landlord of the room
and threatened him with every possible vengeance that
might come in his power to inflict if be should give
them the use of the room for the evening. Those
threats had sufficient influence on the landlord to in-
duce him to withdraw the consent he had given, upon
which, as many of the labouring classes, who were
collected in the streets in great numbers, were cla-
mouring for a meeting, he consented to address them in
the market-place. Here, again, they were disappointed.
No sooner was it known to the Tory party that we should
assemble in the Market-place than they said they would
proceed to any extremity sooner than allow us to meet ;
apprehending from this that a similar attack as the one
at Devizes might be made, he (Mr. Hetherington)
prudently desisted from going on with the meeting then,
but had notice given that one should take place at the
" Rock," an open space outside the town. The state
of feeling engendered in the neighbourhood at this con-
tinued opposition of the Tories was raised to the highest
pitch of excitement. Newtown and others of the villages
offered to send in to assist us bands of armed men
in flannel jackets.—(Hear and cheers.) This was de-
clined, as he (Mr. Hetherington) told those persons that
they were sent by the Convention to instruct the people
as to the great truths of the Charter principles in peace
and good-will, and that he was against anything that
would lead to bloodshed. The assembly at the Rock
was very numerous, and very enthusiastic in their ap-
plause of the principle which was explained to them—but
before he had been speaking one quarter of an hour,
they found the Tories had ensconsed themselves on a
shelf of the rock commanding the position, where the
Assembly was congregated, and had commenced tum-
bling stones down on the people, one of which struck
a respectable female, who had been present from curi-
osity.—(Hear, hear.) He did his best to restrain the
people from executing on those miscreants summary
vengeance, and was so far successful—in as much as
that they were only throwu down from the precipice,
and then allowed to escape from the enraged multitude.— _ __.. ..._ _ _ _ .
(Hear, hear.) After this the Meeting got on in the THE CROPS.—Accounts from various parts o
most favourable manner for the cause of the Convention, the country, as to the appearance of the growing crops, al.
and the people all testifying the greatest anxiety in the concur in stating that the young wheats are looking strong
success of the Charter, and all equally determined to and healthy, affording the prospect of an abundant harvest,
support it. Towards its close many of the: middle should the weather continue favourable.
classes, who were afraid to be seen assisting in the day- AN OVERSEER'S EXCUSE.—At Worship-street
light, were there, and were also very warm in their manifes- on Wednesday, Mr. R. Wilks, vestry clerk of the parish of
tations of assistanee.—(Hear, and cheers.) He then got St. Luke, attended with the list of overseers nominated by
to Shrewsbury, where they also got up a meeting, the vestry for the purpose of their appointment being certi-
although every exertion had been used by the Tory fled by the Magistrates. Mr. R. London, whose name was
party in that great Tory town to prevent one.—(Hear, on the list, pleaded his inability to administer the Poor-
hear.) However the expressed determination of the law, alleging that he had not sufficient nerve to carry the
working men to wreak vengeance on any one who provisions of the Act into effect. The appellant produced
should oppose the holding of it, had had its desired
effect, for there it was helSwithout being opp osed. He a certificate from the family physician, in which it was
stated that he was subject to a nervousness which rendered
j he
incapablef of anyfi dexerthion, and
The
nattacked wnoitthit
was told by persons there connected with the Press to
al-
restrain himself from the use of the habitual violent ewewdas;4)rten
Broughtoncon ne ato e
lowed, remarkingm . thate all excusem en wwaesr e more
language which the Chartists made use of; as that town, l
e or less nervous, and that exercise would do the gentleman
being nearly all composed of Tories, the use of such good. The appellant said he would rather pay the tine
language might draw on them the notice of the Whorl- 1 than serve.

WIGAN ELECTION COMMITTEE

The Committee met yesterday at the usual hour, and
the scrutiny was proceeded with until four o'clock, when
both parties were equal on the poll. There were only
two votes decided yesterday.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF LORDS, APRIL 25.

The House sat to-day to hear Scotch appeals. The
Lords in attendance were, the Lord Chancellor, the
Earl of Cornwallis, and the Earl of Mayo.

FRASER V. CARNEGIE.
This case came before the House upon appeal from
the decision of the Court of Session, declaring the ap-
pellent bound to cancel a deed for securing to himself
2,500/. It appeared that the appellant was the law
agent of a person named Tyffe, whose affairs were very
much involved. In that character, according to his own
statements, he made large advances to Mr. Tyffe, to
secure which the deed in question was obtained. On
the part of the respondent it was said, that the ap-
pellent was not entitled to the deed, and that it had
been improperly obtained by him. Upon this case
coming on before the Court of Session, that Court
ordered the reduction of the deed, and from that deci-
sion the present appeal was brought.
Mr. BUCHANNAN appeared for the appellant.
Mr. STUART was Counsel for the respondent.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, without calling upon Mr.
Stuart to address their Lordships, gave judgment
affirming the decision of the Court of Session, with
costs.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, APRIL 25.
STOCKDALE V. HANSARD.

This was an action against the defendant for having
published a libel on the plaintiff in the report of the
Inspectors of Prisons. The defendant pleaded that the
report was printed by him in his official capacity as
printer to the House of Commons, and the case now
came before the Court on demurrer.
Mr. CURWOOD and Mr. CARRINGTON appeared for
the plaintiff. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Sir F.
POLLOCK for the defendant.

The argumwi.3, which commenced on Tuesday, oc-
cup edthe whole of Wednesday, and at half-past two
yesterday, at the conclusion of the Attorney-General's
address, the further hearing of the arguments was
postponed till next term.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, ArazL 25.
IN RE TILE CANADIAN PRISONERS.
(Continued fom our First Edition of yesterday.)

Mr WIGHTMAN apprehended not, and further he con.
tended that our colonies, all owing allegiance to the Crown
could not be called foreign countries. But take the con-
•erse of the points made by his Learned Friend. If the
Courts here were not to take Canadian laws into consider-
ation, so the Canadian Courts, on the same principle,
would not be bcund to take anynotice of English laws; but
would they contend that if a convict ship were to put into
a Canadian port, would theCahadian Courts grant a habeas
corpus, and discharge the prisoners? He apprehended
not. The Learned Gentleman then brought under the
notice of the Court the statute regulating transpor-
tation, and concluded by saying that he had no
authorities to cite—he had no Acts of the British
Legislature, giving the Co!onies power to transport :
they had, however, always recognised that power,
which had 'been often done. A.t alCevents, even though
the Court should he of opinion that the return was not suf-
ficient, they were bound to return the prisoners totheplace
they came from, and let them be dealt with according
to the laws they had confessed they had broken in a
very heinous degree.
Mr. HILL then replied, and went over nearly all of
the arguments he had formerly ❑sed. He contended,
even were the return held sufficient, still it was a
principle of the English law that no man could
consent to his own transportation, therefore the
supposed contract was void. He contended that
the C+ own had no power to impose a lesser punishment
without the consent of the prisoner, and that given
after the conviction of the party. This was an attempt
to force upon the Court the laws of the Legislature of
Canada which they would defeat.

Lord ABINGER—The Queen i 3 the Sovereign of
Canada as well as of England and Van Diemen's Land.
Had she not then the power to carry out the sen-
tence of her Courts in any of these countries ?
Mr. 11. said the pardon in this case was not given
under the Prerogative of the Crown—which could not
be communicated to any Lieut.-Governor--it was under
an Act of Parliament of the Legislature of the Province,
which had no power out of tl,e Province, as was
shown by the Act of Indemnity, which had been
rendered necessary by the Proclamation which had
been issued by Lcrd Durham, and which had been
pronounced illegal ia their places in Parliament by the
Lord Chancellor, the Solicitor-General, and others.
Lord ABINGER said it was not usual to quote the
speeches of any one in Parliament as precedents in law.
Mr. HlLL—lie was merely usin., them, to
show that the laws of Upper Canada had no force
out of it. There was nothing on the face of the
return to show that the parties had been guilty of any
sufficient crime to justify such a punishment as trans-
portation for life. He contended that the return was
bad on the face of it, as it gave no show of warrants
from the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada to the
person who made the return, and if it was bad
in one instance it was a mere piece of waste
paper. He said that in this country nothing was
done with a prisoner without a written warrant, and
surely the same principle was at least necessary in
matters connected with the life or liberty of the subject
in the colonies. He hoped that
_he, and his Learned
Friends, had satisfied the Court that the prisoners then
before them, were entitl(ll to their discharge.

The LORD CHIEF BARON, after complimenting the
whole of the Counsel engaged in the cause for the able
manner in which it had been argued, said the Court
would take time to consider their judgment.