The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-10 00:00:00

JOHN 'IHOROGOOD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
BUNGAY, DEC. 6.
SlR,—The Patriot has recently bestowed upon me
some notice, which I take pride to myself was in its
lest style of abuse. The only distinct charges I can
and are the followintz :-1. That I was myself bought
att of prison. 2. That I have advised John Thoro-
rood to refuse to be released by similar means ; and, 3.
That I have falsely charged the London Societies with
taking no step in John Thorogood's behalf.
Here are my answers. My refusal to appear in an
Ecclesiastical Court, was founded on the unscriptural
tnd unconstitutional character of that tribunal, and
when committed for contempt, I positively refused to pay
iny fees of the Court itself, its officers, or Proctors, or
o take the oath of submission which they require, be-
fore granting a discharge. The fees of the Sheriff's
officers, and of the Chancery Writ, were paid by the
Ipswich Committee, and the very act of paying these
lull fees, while the Ecclesiastical fees were unpaid, was
the highest testimony that could be borne by my
triends, and the heaviest blow that could be dealt
tgainst the whole system of the Court Christian.
Mr. Conder says in the Patriot," it is strange to find
[Tie advising the good men of Leicester not to do for
John Thorogood, what the good men of Ipswich did
or me, that is, to pay the demands of his Ecclesiastical
)ersecutors." To this there is no need for any'
oher other reply than a simple denial in the most em-
phatic terms ; I have neither advised the good men of
Leicester, nor the good man of Chelmsford, on
the subject ; nor do I believe Mr. Conder understood
:ny letter as offering such advice, when he made the
statement. I commended to the notice of the Leicester
people a subscription which was " already commenced,
and about to be opened on his behalf ; not to pay the
demands of his Ecclesiastical persecutors, but to cover
some portion of his losses." My advice was to help a
subscription ; it was already commenced ; its object
was distinctly settled, and I informed them what that
object was, because it had not then been advertized. It
.vas thus distinctly guarded, not by my advice, or that
of any other party, but on Mr. Thorogood's own em-
phatic declaration, that he would rather die in gaol than
oe liberated by the payment of the Ecclesiastical fees.
The last of Mr. Conder's complaints, in which lurks
the cause of all his resentment, is, that I have charged
the London Societies with taking no step on Mr.
fhorogood's behalf. I admit that I have made the
charge, and I beg you to observe the facts by which
slr. Conder, and and his coadjutor, Mr. Boykett, would
disprove it. They tell us, the Societies have done all
which it was in their power to do in the case, and we
have thus the additional benefit of knowing what these
Societies can do, and of measuring their value to Dim.
scoters. They addressed by circuliaicritli,telotphreersuLmoendtohret
Societies ; caused articles or paragraphs to be inserted
in five London papers (among which,
Sun and the Globe represent the " heaven and earth"
Mr. Baykett promised to move), they sent down to Mr.
Thorogood a draft of a petition which Mr. Baines
presented ; that gentleman carried a motion " at a late
period of the Session" for a return of the writ ; they
have formed several deputations to the Home-office ; and
at meetings of the Religious Freedom Society's Com-
mittee, the case has been repeatedly discussed. And this
is the sum. Now see what the efforts of individuals,
neither paid, nor professing to protect religious liberty,
have accomplished. The operations of the Society,
through the press, have been limited to a very dry
notification by the public papers, that Thorogood was
in prison, and notices of his case in the Patriot, than
which nothing could be less efficient—no public meet-
ing has been proposed, no subscription in his behalf,
no effort to produce that amount of public sympathy,
without which other means must be inoperative. On
the other hand, without solicitation, The Sun has
contained numerous and powerful appeals to the public
feeling ; the Leicester Mercury has, evel:y week, headed
its leading article with a notice of the period J. Thoro-
good has been in prison ; and other country papers
have adopted the same means of keeping the fact pro-
minently before their readers. When in despair of
help from the Societies, other means had been found
of arousing the public feeling, and the Liberal papers in
town and country are teeming with the subject, and de-
nouncing the apathy of the London leaders, we learn from
the Court Circular that the Religious Freedom Society be-
comes vigorous, and has an audience of Lord Normanby
—and again, when a deputation from Leicester, attended
by three members, have enforced upon the same Mi-
nister the real opinions and feelings of Dissenters, the
long lost Church-rate Abolition Society bethinks itself
of waiting on Lord Melbourne.* Such second hand
wares are all their labours in the cause.
Mr. I3aines's motion was, Mr. Boykett says, inevit-
ably—l say, fatally—postponed till a late period of the
session, and he obtained a copy of the writ, which I bad
long before obtained for sixpence, and this was the
Parliamentary Agency of the Society. The case
was submitted to Mr. Duncombe in July by individuals
not of any Sod !y, but who saw the barrrnness of what
I had been already done, and although the House was

then crowded with business, that gentleman was not
prevented by " the regulations and constitution of the
House" from at once bringing on, and carrying a pledge,
which Mr. Baines was not present to support, that early
next Session the existing law of Church-rates sh )uld
be altered, so as to " prevent the occurrence of like
violence" to religious scruples. Of the Deputations to
Downing-street and Committee meetings I do not
speak, because the Dissenting public has long known
the " sati factory" character of these exploits—how
consolatory to the self-importance of officials—how mag-
nificent in the Court Circular—how empty of results !
The private friends of Mr. Thorogood caused a writ
of Habeas Corpus to be moved and argued, and
although on informality it was disallowed, Mr. Sergeant
Wilde has been instructed to make a similar motion at
the earliest possible time. lam not aware that the
legal functionaries of the Societies have discovered, in
the writ so laboriously obtained, any means of legal
red ress.

I now revert to my charge. The Societies have talked
in the conclaves of their Committees ; they have gra-
tified themselves by all the cheap means of wasting
Dissenters' money ; but they have not " taken one step"
(these were my words) in the matter—not one inch of
progress has by them been made, either towards effect-
ing the poor man's liberation or in turning his imprison-
ment to account in furthering that high and just cause
to which he has devoted himself.

A single word to Mr. Conder. He remarks upo❑ a
letter from my friend and solicitor, Mr, Ashurst, stating
the facts relative to my owe liberation, that the " de-
mands of my Ecclesiastical persecutors were paid," and
adds, " possibly it may now be more difficult to procure
Mr. Thorogood's release ; but whose fault will that be?
Not our's." I notice this, not to show Mr. Conder's
mendacity, in repeating that the Ecclesiastical demands
were in my case paid, when he had just been informed
that nothing was paid for any Ecclesiastical functionary,
but to show him, and the Dissenting world, how the
Court Christian was in my case, driven from their
demands, and what has been the treason of the London
Societies, in failing to use the same means, nay, in re-
storing the Court to the courageous assertion of all
their barbarous privileges.
When I was committed, the Dissenters of the coun-
try, having no Societies to rely upon, felt their own
rights were in question, which they were personally con-
cerned to maintain ; and hence, through the Press, and
by every other available means, a demonstration was
made, by which the ecclesiastical authorities were panic-
struck, and the feeling then aroused might have been
directed to the speedy abolition of Church-rates.
When John Thorogood was committed, a Society
was existing, specially constituted to advise and aid
such cases. , He, in fact, proceeded by their advice,
1 although Mr. Conder would intimate that the Society
was not accountable for advice gives at their place of bu-
siness by their resident Secretary. When they counselled
submission to imprisonment, it was their duty to prepare
all the materials for vigorous action on the public
mind--every congregation in the kingdom should have
been requested to hold meetings, and prepare petitions ;
every liberal constituency invited to act upon their
Members, and a just excitement should have
been raised, which no Ministry would have
Ventured to resist, and which would have
made the Ecclesiastical authorities glad to get rid of
their prisoner, on as easy turns as they did in my case.
Had this been done, I can assure Mr. Conder neither
the public, nor the Society he represents, would have
been asked to contribute to the amount of the civil
costs. Nothing of this kind being effected, no event
but a feeble motion in the Commons having transpired,
which could encourage the prisoner, or show to his
persecutors that his cause was recognised as that of the
public, they have taken courage, and they demand again
the full pound of flesh.
I do not ask, with Mr. Cornier, whose fault is this?
but I assert that the fault lies with the Societies, which
by his help have become inefficient to our cause, and
contemptible to our opponents. Mr. Conder's article
closes with a series of expressions, " jump Jim Craw,"
and the like, matched well by the abuse which,
about the same day, I received from the Times, in
the hohoured company of Joseph Sturge. Such terms
do not surprise me, as the produce of Mr. Conder's
mind ; but they do cause surprise that a man who can
suppose such ribald and unchristian language suited to
the taste of his readers, should be employed as the
Editor of the Dissenters' Paper. He concludes by asking
What lam driving at? I answer that I am striving
with the humble means I possess, to persuade my
fellow Dissenters, to use their own efforts in their own
cause, and to repudiate the needy adventurers, whose
labours are guided by the consciousness that their own
interests are served by the permanence, and not by the
redress of the Dissenters' wrongs.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN CH/LDS.
* For nearly a year the Church-rate Abolitien Society
has " made no sign." The last public event in its history,
was a controversy respecting alleged malversat!on of its
funds, Mr. Besley pledging himself to prove at the first
public meeting the grave charges he advanced, and the
Committee pledging themselves to call such meeting in
May last. No public meeting was called in May, nor at
any other time. The charge, therefore, returns, and if
there really be any present members of such a Society, they
are invited to say what became of its funds.

THE PATRIOT" AND MR. JOHN
THOROGOOD.
(From the Scottish Pilot.)
We are surprised and vexed at the recent ebullitions
of our metropolitan Contemporary ; some of them not
only weak and foolish, but even malignant and contemp-
tible. We fear there is some nersona/ pique at the
bottom of these demonstrations, and would advise the
leading Dissenters to look after this matter, and see
that their work do not suffer by the rancorous hostility
of private feuds. We venture to remind our able and
useful Contemporary that he cannot serve two masters,
—the cause of civil and religious liberty and the interest
of a Parliamentary agent ; and if he would continue to
be respected iu the provinces, he must avoid the cant
phrases of Toryism as applied to the sufferers under
Church-rate exaction, and the vulgar allusions of thea-
trical buffoonery to men who are quite as well known
and as much respected as himself.
We shall be parties in no such controversy, though
we know a little of both sides. But this we aver, that
our Contemporary has no popularity to throw away by
abusing the Leicester Dissenters, or by attempts to
thin the ranks of the Liberal party, in expressing a wish
from his heart that Mr. Childs would jump Jim Crow
with Lord Brougham." Our Contemporary might
learn that there is a spoke in the wheel large enough to
prevent his smooth progress in his present course, by
the manner in which his policy has been assailed, not
only i❑ The Sun and Adv(riiser, two unquestionable
Liberal papers, but also in the Leicester Mercury, as
well as by ourselves. If by his allusion to wire-drawn
articles he applies to a London Dissenter, then we
conclude that, besides Mr. Childs and Mr. Besley, and
Mr. Ashurst, there is a leaven of discontent among the
metropolitan leaders. The manner in which our Con-
temporary has attempted to parry the remarks of his
Liberal antagonists by clubbing them with the Standard,
and answering them by animadversions on the language
of Tory slander, may please a Parliamentary agent, but
it will not settle the question with country Dissenters.

We have no exoteric and isoteric doctrines—we have
no opinions which we can hold, or which we can lay
aside. In these free strictures we may displease the
London Patriot, and shall, perhaps, not be quoted in
his columns for a month and a day. Duty is ours,
however, and we anticipate a better state of things when
a little reflection shall have helped our Contemporary to
a clearer and a wiser course. But, in the meantime, is
John Thorogood to be crushed in this ungenerous and
discreditable war/arc! Is it to be wondered that be
should both cherish and utter severe opinions about the
party who have neglected or stifled his complaints?
We know that his property has been injured, and his
health has been suffering, and that private and local be-
neficence has been necessary both to bear up his spirits
and to provide for his wants. Whatever were the ef-
forts of London friends when he was first incarcerated,
and whatever be their influence now in his cause,
we think it is palpable his complaints have been
too long allowed to sleep, and the sighing of
the prisoner has not been echoed by the organ
of the Parliamentary agent. Had the Anti-Church-
rate Society done its duty, the Tory press would not
now be warranted to sneer at Dissenters in reference to
John Thorogood. The country should have rung long
ago from one extremity to another, and never, for an
hour, should the authorities have had repose till some-
thing was done for his liberatien. Had it bee❑ a
Parliamentary agent, or a religious freedom secretary,
who was all the while lying in Chelmsford Gaol, we
should have heard of it before eleven months' bondage
and neglect had well-nigh broken the heart of the
victim. We are glad to perceive the activity which now
pervades the party, and it implies something that they
are so anxious to be accounted faithful and zealous.
We only would observe, that had allthis appeared a little
sooner, and before other parties aroused the public, it
would have been less suspicious, and far more to the
credit of London patriotism.
Now that our own good city is on the move, we anti.
cipate that Scotland willdo its duty, and that other places
will follow without delay. There is in Glasgow aßeligions
Freedom Society—so is there in Aberdeen. The inha-
bitants of Dundee and of Paisley, of Greenock and of
Perth, have never been indifferent to the cry of the
martyr, or the cause of freedom. Will they now stand
aloof in this holy and generous movement? This suf-
ferer is an humble and consistent member of a Chris-
tian church. He has no hope in the clemency of his
persecutors or the disposition of Government. We
firmly believe that he has confidence in the God of
truth and freedom. But how does that God work ? He
says to us, " Remember them that are in bonds as
bound with thee." " If thou forbear to deliver them that
arc drawn nnto death, and those that are ready to be
slain,—if thou sayest, behold we know it not,—eloth not
He that pondereth the heart consider it!" Let no ex-
pediency or compromising calculations interpose. The
credit of our city, of Edinburgh Dissenters, and Liberal
politicians, is now to be tested. The effect of the
approaching demonstration upon the country and the
' Government, upon English societies, and in behalf o f

the afflicted victim, may be most powerful, if we, evcry
one, do our duty. Imprisonment for debt has been
abolished. The highest court of the realm could not
incarcerate a prisoner for the sum due by John Tho-
rogood. For five shillings and sixpence has he lain in a
dungeon eleven months, and there is for him no prospect
of liberation but by death, or the voice of an indignant
people. Up, then, ye citizens of Edinburgh !

RIOTS AT NEWPORT.

MONMOUTH, MONDAY, DEC. 9.

We yesterday stated to you that the gaol here had
been put into a state of defence, and that a guard of
24 men was mounted there. We have to-day, by fa-
vour of our order from Major Marriott, one of the vi-
siting justices, been permitted to view the interior of
the gaol, and have had an opportunity of seeing the pri-
soners unobserved by them.
Upon approaching the gaol you are struck with its
formidable appearance ; it being a building of immense
strength if defended, having only one weak point, which
is, however, only approachable when unguarded.
The gaol has •ompletely a castellated appearance. It
is surrounded by a high wall, in which is the entrance
lodge, which is very strong, and furnished with loop-
holes, by which a few men may defend it against almost
any number. After passing through the lodge, you cross
a small yard and a gravel-walk (which passes entirely
round the gaol within the walls), and the gaol itself
stands before, formed of towers, and having four bas-
tions, one at each corner, from the tops of which an in-
cessant and most destructive fire might be kept up against
any number of persons who should venture to attack it.
A winding staircase conducts you entirely through the in-
terior, and every passage is guarded by iron gates of
great strength.
Vincent, Edwards, and Dickenson, the convicted
Chartists, at present sleep in one of the condemned
cells, which is near the chapel, and can have no kind of
communication whatever with the untried Chartists who
are confined in yards Nos. 1 and 2.
Happening to be within the gaol at the time for serv-
ing the prisoners' dinners, we had a❑ excellent opportu-
nity of seeing them as they came out of their day-rooms
to the yard gate for their dinners, which is given them in
a small tin panikin. John Frost came out first, and
stayed for some tine in the yard. He was dressed
as he appeared at his examination, and although
the gaoler informs us that all the prisoners are in
tolerably good spirits, yet Frost is somewhat altered
since his confinement, and the reddened and haggard
expression about his eyes is immediately perceivable.
Aust, the gardener, appeared to have the same careless
expression as upon the day of his committal. Jones,
the watchmaker, and Edmond Edmonds were in another
yard, and were standing, when we saw them, with their
hats off, reading a letter, upon which Jones appe Jed to
be making some comments to his companions. Jones
does not appear in the least altered, but maintains the
same dogged composure which he did when before the
Magistrates.
A Chartist prisoner, who has been shot through the
chest, named William Jones, who had been apprehended
in Brecon, was brought in here last night, and committed
to the gaol, his examination having been taken at
Brecon.

We have procured the following calendar of the pri-
soners :

Calendar of the Prisoners for Trial at a Special Com-
mission to be holden at Monmouth, on Tuesday,
December 10, 1839, before the Hon. Sir N. C. Tin-
dal, Knight, Lord Chief Justice of her Majesty's
Court of Common Pleas ; the Hon. Sir J. Parke,
Knight, one of the Barons of her Majesty's Court of
Exchequer ; and the Hon. Sir J. Williams, Knight,
one of the Justices of her Majesty's Court of Queen's
Bench.
Mr. Colthurst Bateman, Sheriff.

1. John Frost, aged 54 (r. and w. w.)—Committed
November 5, 1839, by Messrs. R. J. Blewitt, W.
Brewer, Lewis Edwards, George Hall, and James Coles,
clerk, for having, on the 4th of November instant, at
the borough of Newport, committed high .reason against
our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
2. Charles Waters, aged 26 (r. and w. w.)—Com-
mitted November 5, 1839, by Messrs. R. J. Blewitt,
W. Brewer, Lewis Edwards, and George Hall, and
James Coles, clerk, for having, on the 4th day of No-
vember inst., at the borough of Newport, committed
high treason against our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her
crown and dignity.
3. John Partridge, aged 44 (r. and w. w.)—Com-
mitted Nov. 7th, 1839, by James Coles, clerk, Messrs.
William Brewer, R. J. Blewitt, and Lewis Edwards,
for having, on the 4th day of November instant, at the
borough of Newport, committed divers acts of treason
against our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her Crown- and
dignity.
4. James Aust, aged 25 (r. and w.)—Committed
November 6, 1839, by Messrs. W. Brewer, Lewis
Edwards, R. J. Blewitt, G. Hall, and James Coles,
clerk, for having, on the 4th day of November instant,
at the borough of Newport, committed divers acts of
treason and sedition against our Sovereign Lady the
Queen, her crown and dignity.
5. Thomas Davies, aged 43 (r. and w. imp.) ; 6.
John Rees, aged 40 (r. imp.) ; 7. Richard Benfield,
aged 20 (r. and w. imp.)—Committed November 7,
1839. by ,James Coles, clerk., Messrs. R. d Blewitt,
W. Brewer, and L. Edwards, for having, on the.4th day
of November instant, at the borough of Newport, com-
mitted high treason against our Sovereign Lady the
Queen, her crown and dignity. _

8. William Jones, aged 30 (r. and w. w.)—Com-
mitted Nov. 8, 1839, by James Coles, clerk, Sir B.
Hail, Messrs. W. Brewer, and Lewis Edwards, for
having, on the 4th day of November instant, at the
borough of Newport, committed treason against our
Sovereign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
9. Amy Meredith, aged 45 (n.) ; 10. James Mere-
dith, aged 11 (r. imp.) ; 11. Thomas Keys, aged 29
(r. imp.)—Committed Nov. 11, 1839, by Messrs. W.
'Faddy, C. H. Leigh, and W. Needham, for having, on
the night of the 3d of November instant, at the parish
of Trevethin, burglariously and feloniously broken open
the dwelling house of John Jones, and stolen therefrom a
quantity of bread and cheese, and one cask, containing
six gallons of beer.
12. Solomon Britton, aged 23 (r. and w. imp.)—
Committed Nov. 11, 1839, by James Coles, clerk, and
Messrs. T. Hawkins, W. Brewer, and Octavius
Morgan, for having on the 4th day of November inst.
at the borough of Newport, committed high treason
and sedition against our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her
crown and dignity.
13. William 'Williams, aged 29 (r. imp.)—Com-
mitted Nov. 11, 1839, by Messrs. John Gwynny,
Somers Harford, Charles Harford, and Joseph Bailey,
jun., for having, on the night of Sunday, the 3d of
November instant, together with divers other persons
unknown, members of an unlawful combination and
conspiracy, burglariously and feloniously broken open
and entered the dwelling-house of John Lloyd, at the
parish of Bedwelty, and then and there, being armed
with spears and other offensive weapons, and with
threats, putting Anne Walter in bodily fear, and de-
manded and took from her a quantity of rum, gin, and
beer.

14. George George, aged 37 (n.)—Committed Nov.
12, 1839, by J. Coles, clerk, Messrs. T. Hawkins,
George Hall, and Octavius Morgan, for having, on the
4th day of November instant, at the borough of New-
port, committed treaso❑ and sedition against our Sove-
reign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
15. Thomas Davis, aged 28 (n.)—Committed No-
vember 13, 1839, by Messrs. S. Homfray and S. Har-
ford, for having been, on the 4th day of November, inst.,
illegally armed with a pike, and having been riotously
assembled at Aberby and Abercarne, with other per-
sons unknown, and threatening one George Hitcbings
to do him some grievous bodily harm, and with force of
arms compelled him to join and go with them for an
illegal purpose.
16. George Turner, otherwise George Cole, aged 37
(n.)—Committed November 15, 1839, by James Coles,
clerk, Messrs. T. Hawkins, T. Fothergill, 0. Morgan,
and W. Brewer, for having, on the 4th day of Novem-
ber inst., at the borough of Newport, committed trea-
son and sedition against our Sovereign Lady the Queen,
her crown and dignity.

17. William Shellard, aged 36 (r and w.)—Com-
mitted November 18, 1839, by Sir B. Hall, Messrs. F.
Lewis, clerk, and W. A. Williams, charged with the
crime of high treason and sedition against our Sovereign
Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
18. Edward Edmunds, aged 34 (r. and w. w.)—Com-
mitted November 18, 1839, by .1. Coles, clerk, Messrs.
0. Morgan, S. Homfray, and T. Hawkins, for having,
on the 4th day of November instant, at the borough of
Newport, committed high treason and sedition against
our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
19. Samuel Etheridge, aged 61 (r. and w. w.)—
Committed Nov. 19th, 1839, by J. Coles, clerk, Messrs.
0. Morgan, G. Hall, and S. Homfray, for having, on
the 4th day of November inst., at the borough of New-
port, committed high treason and sedition against our
Sovereign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
20. John Lewis Llewellen, aged 49 (r. and w.)—
Committed Nov. 19th, 1839, by Messrs. 0. Morgan,
S. Homfray, G. Hall, and J. Coles, clerk, for having,
on the 4th day of November instant, at the borough of
Newport, committed sedition against the peace of our
Sovereign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
21. Jenkin Morgan, aged 40 (r. and w.)—Committed
Nov. "10, 1839,
by J. Coles, clerk, Messrs. T. Haw-
kins, W. Brewer, 0. Morgan, and G. Hall, for having,
on the 4th day of November inst., at the borough of
Newport, committed treason and sedition against our
Sovereign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
22. Evan Edwards, aged 24 (r. and w. w.)— Com-
mitted N0v.21,1839, by Messrs. G. Hall, T. liawkins :
W. Brewer, S. Homfray, 0. Morgan, and J. Coles,
clerk, for having, on the 4th day of November inst., at'
the borough of Newport, committed high treason and
sedition against our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her
crown and dignity.

23. Benjamin Richards, aged '4l (r. imn.)—Com-
mitted Nov. 21, 1839, by Messrs. T. Hankins, 0.
Morgan, William Brewer, S. Homfrav, George Hall,
and J. Coles, clerk, for having, on the 4th day of No-
vember inst., at the bsrough of Newport, committed

~ ~"~

n'ENIIN.Tu EDITION.,

high treason and sedition against our Sovereign Lady
ti.e Queen, her crown and dignity.
24. Tnomas Llewellen, aged 44 (r. and w.
Committed November 26, 1839, by James Coles, clerk,
Messrs. T. Hawkins, W. Brewer, 0. Morgan, Fother- •
gill, and G. Hall, for having, on the 4th of November
instant, at the borough of Newport, committed treason
and sedition against our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her
crown and dignity.
25. Thomas Morgan, aged 26 (n.)—Conamitted Nov.
23, 1839, by Mr. Samuel Homfray, charged upon the
oaths of Thomas Williams and others with having, on
the night of the 3d of November inst., together vvjth
divers other persons, armed with guns, spears, and
other offensive weapons, entered the dwelling-house of
William Adams, of Ebbw Vale, in this county, and did
then and there, with threats, put the said Thomas
Williams in bodily fear, and compelled him to join them
in an unlawful combination and confederacy.
26. Zephaniah Williams, aged 44 (r. and w.
Committed Nov. 27, 1839, by J. Coles, clerk, Messrs..
Thomas Hawkins, W. Brewer, S. Homfray, 0. Mor-
gan, and G. Hall, charged on the oaths of John Par-
sons and others with having, on the 4th day of Novem-
ber instant, at the borough of Newport, doomitted
high treason and sedition against our Sovereign Lady
the Queen, her crown and dignity.
27. Moses Horner, aged 21 (n.); 28.. Williant.
1
Horner, 18 (n.). 29. Thomas Davies, 23 (n.)—Cem-
mitted Nov. 26, 1839, by Mr. G. Hall, charged oti the.
oaths of Mary Thomas and others, with having, on the
3d day of November inst., at the parish of Alonythu-
loyne, stolen, taken rand carried away one shotbelt, 31b.
of shot, and one dagger, the property of William
Thomas.
30. Thomas Edwards, aged 28 (n.); 31. Williarn
John Llewellen, 29 (n.) ; 311. Job Harris, iM (n.) ;`-.1
33. Joseph Coales, 24 (r, and w. inip.)--Carmaitte,d
Nov. 28th, 1839, by James Coles, clerk, ,Messrs...-Q.-
Morgan, S. Homfray, and George Hall, for having, on
the 3d day of Nov., at the parish of Bedwelty, felo-
niously and burglariously broken and entered the dwell-
ing-house of John Waiters, and 'did then and there
violently and unlawfully assault the said John Walters.
34. Lewis Rowland, aged 37 (r. and .w. imp.)—
Committed Nov. 28th, 1839, by -Messrs. G. Hall, 0.
Morgan, S. Homfray, and J. Coles, clerk, charged on
the oaths of Jacob Thomas and others with having, on
the Ist day of November instant, at the parish of Bed-
was, committed sedition against our Sovereign Lady
the Que,n, her crown and dignity.
35. John Owen, aged 28 (r. and w.imp.)—Com-
mitted Nov. 29, 1839, by Messrs. 0. Morgan, S.
Homfray, George Hall, and James Coles, clerk, charged
on the oaths of John Thomas and others with having,
on the 3d day of November inst., at the parish - of
Aberystruth, in this county, committed high treason
against our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her crown and
dignity.
36. John Lovell, aged 41 (r. and w.)—Committed
Nov. 9, 1839, by Sir B. Hall, J. Coles, clerk, and
Messrs. T. Hawkins, and W. Brewer, charged on the
oaths of Daniel Evans and others with having, on the
4th day of November inst., at the borough of Newport,
committed high treason and sedition against our Sove-
reign Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.
37. John Batton, jun., aged 18 (r. and w. imp.)—
Committed Nov. 30, 1839, by J. Coles, clerk, and
Messrs. George Hall, Octavius Morgan, and Thomas
Hawkins, charged on the oath of Israel Firman and
another with having, on the 4th day of November in-
stant, at the borough of Newport, with others unknown,
conspired against the peace of our Sovereign Lady the..
Queen, her crown and dignity. JJ
3S. Isaac Phillips, aged 18 (n.)—Committed Decem-
ber 7, 1839, by James Coles, clerk, and Messrs. 0.
Morgan and G. Hall, for having, on thei 4th. day of 1.
November last, at the parish of Machen, stolen one
cleaver, of the value of 10s., the property of Charles
Harris.

CHARLES FORD, Keeper.

MONMOUTH, DEC. 8, 11 O'CLOCK, P.M.

In consequence of a despatch received at Newport
yesterday afternoon from Lord Normanby respecting
the seditious publications so widely disseminated through
the country, stating it to be the intention of Govern-
ment (at length) to use active measures for their sup-
pression, a seizure was made last night at Newport at the
house of Edwards, one of the Chartists at present un-
der sentence in Monmouth Gaol, of a large quantity of
ll'estern Vindicators and other seditious publications,
which were kept on sale by Mrs. Edwards, and mea-
sures have been taken by the Newport Magistrates for
the prosecution of the vendors.

Upon our arrival here this evening we took measures
to ascertain the state of the town, which we find to be
still in a very excited state. Every measure, however,
which military prudence could suggest has been takin
by Col. Considine to frustrate any sudden attack upon
the gaol, or any part of the-town.
The military force here at presefit is but 'isms% con-
sisting of one company of the 45th Foot, and a troop of
the 12th Lancers, the whole being under the command of
Major Armstrong. Two companies of Rifles will, bow-
ever, arrive here to-morrow, the billets for them being
drawn, and the Horse Artillery, from Newport, will
be placed between the two towns, so as to be capable
of being brought into the town within two hours, if
needed.

The accession of military strength by the arrival of
the Wiles will be very acceptable, for being, as there
is, a constant guard of 24 men at the gaol, 12 inside
and 12 without, who form a complete chain of pickets,
any one acquainted with military tactics will readily be
anti are that such performance of duty by a single com-
pany mu=t be sufficiently arduous.,
In addition to this guard for the protection of the
gaol, loopholes have been, by Colonel Considine's orders,
cut in the walls and at the entrance lodge of the gaol,
in order to render the fire from within more effective,
and, in fact, to enable the little garrison to keep up a
constant fire, which would completely enfilade any party
attacking the gaol. The arched gateway of lotinow
Bridge, leading to the town, has likewise been put in a
state of defence. The shops on each side base been
appropriated for the reception of military, to prevent any
suece-sful attack upon the town, and videttes of horse
patrol the surrounding roads to the distance of three or
four miles from sunset till six o'clock in the morning,
the White Swan being appropriated as a guard-room for
them, to which they bring their reports every half-hour
during the night. And, indeed, if the rumours afloat
here be true, these precautions are not unnecessarily
provided, for there appears to be a considerable feeling
of uneasiness in some portion of the hills, and a very
respectable commercial gentleman, who arrived here
yesterday, states, that as he was coming from Aberga-
venny on Eriday night he saw a rocket thrown into the
air upon the hills, in the direction of Nant-y-1.316w,
which in a few minutes was followed by another in an
opposie direction, and, as he supposes, near the Gar-
We understand that application has been made to
the Haberdashers' Company for leave to allow their free
school here, founded by Mr. William Jones, of that
Company, to he appropriated as a barrack for one com-
pany of the Rifle Brigade, and that the National School-
room will be used as a barrack for the other company.

Lovell, who was shot through the thigh, and three
other prisoners, arrived here to-day, and have been cou-
veved to the gaol.
Zephaniah Williams continues in the same dejected
state as when taking his examination before the Magis-
trates at Newport. Frost, on the contrary, not only
eats and sleeps well, but appears upon the whole to be
in good spirits.
THE SPECIAL COMMISSION.
Every preparation has been made here for the recep-
tion of the Judges, the Assize Hall having been properly
fitted, and the lower portion partitioned off for the better
security of the prisoners.
Their Lordships wrote to have the Judges' seat
made large enough for four persons (the three Judges
and the High Sheriff.) Any alteration has, however,
been found unnecessary, it being ascertained, upon
measuring the seat, that it was sufficiently large. Their
Lordships, it is understood, will sleep on Monday night
at Barrott's Royal Hotel, Ross, and they will be met
at half-past nine o'clock on Tuesday morning at
" Crocker's Ash," about two miles from Monmouth, by
the cavalcade, consisting of the High Sheriff and other
officials, the jarelinmen, and the gentlemen of the county
in their carriages, who will escort their Lordships to
the Assize-hall.
Some of the subordinate officers of their Lordships'
establishments have already arrived here.

LEARNING TO WRITE.—" The active use of
the pen, in transcriptions, compositions, &c., in the
usual exercise books, is so powerful au assistant in the
work of a good education, that the learning of the mere,
art of writing ought not to occupy an, great portion of
time. The art, being purely mechanical, ought to be
treated mechanically, as in these copy
books, in order
that it may be acquired with facility ; it being obvious
that every week unnecessarily devoted to mere manipu-
lation in penmanship, is a week lost to the improvementof the mind."—The Smith and Dolier Copy Books.
CHARTIST DRILLING.—III the Journal, last
week, it was stated, on the authority of the principal
officers in the police, that a party of Chartists had been
seen drilling, at Holloway Head, one night last week.
We have since made narticular inquiries, and are now
fully enabled to contradict the statement altogether.
The facts are these :—A party of young men, consist-
ing of sonic twelve or thirteen, met on the night in
question, to enjoy themselves at what is called a
Free and Easy," in the neighbourhood ; and on their
return home, across the fields, being in a merry mood,
party proposed to whistle for the others, if
two of the
they would join hands and have a dapce. . Anything,
at the moment, in the shape of a lam,. being accept-
able hands were joined,. and, more like a parcel of
fairies than drilling Chartists, they amused themselves
for a few minutes. They were, while dancing, espied
by Sergeant Lanigan, who, being unable to discern
properly the nature of their evolutions, scampered off
to procure assistance at the station, to apprehend them
for meditated treason to our Lady Victoria, whilst all
they aimed at was a humble act of worship to our
Lady Terpsichore.—Birmingham Journal.

•R k+.
A "

' any account of him since his accession we copy it ;
and also the description of his Prime Minister :
" His Majesty was seated near the window sup-
ported by a pile of cushions, while a single attend-
ant knelt behind him waving a broad fan of feathers
above his head. His dress was as usual, perfectly
simple, the rich-jawelled handle of his dagger alone
betokened his rank. His age does not exceed one
or two and thirty, but his thick beard and heavy
I figure make him appear an older man ; his counte-
/ trance is rather handsome, and except when his anger
is excited, of a prepossessing and good humoured
expression : his manner, especially towards Euro-
peans, is extremely affable ; he generally speaks
Turkish, the language of his tribe, but, both in that
and in Persian, his enunciation is so rapid that it re-
quires some practice to understand him. Compared
with the generality of Asiatics, the Shah is a man
of considerah'e energy, and by no means deficient
in information : he is well versed in the history of
h's own country, and has a tolerably correct idea of
the geography and political state of Europe. His
iarmy is his hobby, and to his thirst for military
fame he sacrifices both his own ease and comfort,
and the welfare and prosperity of his country. His
' Court is far inferior in style and splendour to that
of his grandfather and predecessor, the principal
1 offices of State being occupied by men of low
\ origin, deficient in that magnificence and courtli-
i o ; s of manner which formerly distinguished the
1 Persian Noble. The late King was always at-
tended by a numerous and gallant retinue of princes
i of the. blood, and officers of state, besides a crowd
; of inferior retainers ; the present Monarch often
i rides out with a few ill-mounted and worse ap-
i pointed followers. The Shah is a strict and con-
; scientious Mussulman ; he never indulges in the
forbidden juice of the grape, an abstinence rare in the
ro:, al family, nor does he follow the universal prac-
tice of smoking. His harem, unlike that of his grand-
'father, the number of which exceeds all credibility,
1 is within the limits prescribed by the Mahommedan
I law. Well would it have been for Persia had Fatteh
f Ali Shah been as moderate, for every government,
however insignificant, was conferred upon one of his
I cluntless sons, who drained the very heart's blood of
1 the country. Since the accession of the present mo-
-4 nareh the greater part of these have been removed,
and many of them are now reduced to the ut-
I n;ost distress, living from hand to mouth by the
sale of shawls and jewels, the relics of better days.
Some of the late king's wives have passed into the
i Harems of private individuals : others, who had
i amassed some property, live in their respective vil-
lages. Mahomed Shah has two sons ; the eldest, his
Idestined successor, is now at Tabreez, under the
care of Suleiman Khan, his maternal uncle. The
1 mother of the boy was of the royal tribe. The se-
mid, who resides at Tehran, is a chubby little fel-
low, about three years old, the son of a Koordish
i woman. Having answered some questions put to me
by the King on military subjects, and recommended
1 , i to his Majesty's notice several of the officers who
I had been under my command, I quitted the royal
1 presence and repaired to the tent of Haji Mirza
1 Aghassi, the Grand Vizier, which communicates by
i a private door with the Nigaristan. The Haji, or pil .
grim, as this important personage is always called,
1 from his having performed his devotions at the shrine
1 of Mecca, is the most remarkable man that I
have met with. He is by no means destitute of
talent, but his words and actions are strongly
i tinctured with real or affected insanity. He is said
)to be deeply versed in the mysteries of Soolecism,
the wild theories of which, though incompatible
1 with the religion of the Prophet, are daily extending
1 the number of their votaries. The extraordinary
1 degree in which he has possessed himself of the
confidence of his sovereign, both as political and
spiritual adviser, rendered him almost omnipotent,
and emboldens him to treat the ancient nobles, and
even the princes of the royal family, with the utmost
hauteur and coarseness, doubly galling to them
( from the lowness of his origin. The whole
( ousiness of the state is transacted by him,
and the other Ministers of the Shah are
mere instruments in his hands. It is impossible to
introduce any subject, but the Haji immediately
assures you that he understands it more thoroughly
'than any man alive ; and I have heard him utter
the most consummate nonsense about military'
matters, while the whole assembly, with impertur-
-1 bable gravity, agreed with all he said. On one
eccasion, some one having ventured to praise the
1 generalship of Napoleon, the Haji sharply inter-
, rupted him, saying, ' Napoleon 1 whose dog was
Napoleon ?' The good sayings attributed to the
Haji would fill a volume, but unfortunately few of
them would admit of repetition to ears polite. His
tent was as usual crowded : on either side of the
great man, with the most punctilious regard
to precedence, sat a long row of ministers, priests,
and soldiers, whilst several secretaries, seated
behind him, were writing despatches, or present-
ing them to him for perusal and signature. The
approaching departure of the army occupied every
mind ; and gholains, or couriers, ready booted for
the journey, stood in readiness awaiting their orders
to proceed to the different provinces from whence
new levies were to be summoned. The Vizier is a
short but athletic man, of about sixty, with a
sareiad grey eye and a thin scanty beard, the cause
of much witty remark in a country where that ap
pencl...!ee is cultivated with so much care. Until the
accession of the present Shah, the Haji filled a
subordinate station in the household cf the Prince
Royal, and had something to do with the education
of the reigning King. He was raised to his pre-
sent dignity in 1835, when his predecessor, a bold
clever man, having excited, by his ambition, the
' jealsavy of the Monarch, met with the fate of the
bowstring. He affects a great friendship for the
English, overwhelming us frequently with expres-
sions of regard, such as 'My life,' INIy soul,'
4 My ancient friend ;' but it is almost hopeless to
. transact any business with him ; for, whenever the
' subject becomes disagreeable, he turns the conversa-
tion :o some other topic, and his ready made pus-
mises are as readily broken."

FRENCH POSSESSIONS in AFRICA

NI. Blanqui, sen., who WRS sent out by the Aca-
demv of Moral and Political Science, with the
concurrence of Government, to make inquiries
into the actual condition of the French possessions
in the north of Africa, read the first part of his
o'lservations to the Academy at its last sitting.
We suljoin an account of his memoir, the length
which is compensated by the interest of the sub-
lect

" AT. Blanqui observes, that he found Africa
Very different from either the flattering or the si-
nister pictures which have been represented of it.
The country is not the same throughout. Oran,
I,‘ tglers, and Constantine, with Bona, form three
utiff'ir,,nt• modes of social existence : Oran, by its ex-
ternal trade—Algiers for cultivation on a small
—and Constantine for agriculture on a large scale.
The three points represent the past, the present,
and the future of the colony. The two extremities,
Bona and Oran are as distant from each
other, a 3 they are all three from France.
Thc province of Oran, provisionally left in the back-
Lji.)tinti, retains the habits and recollections of the
Spanish administration ; but, as he could not visit
1 this province, which he considers destined to great
things,
he directed his attention especially to Al-
,
I Biers and Constantine, and to the means of coloni-
zation which have hitherto been attempted in Africa.
On setting his foot on the African soil, the traveller
Alders
is struck with different impressions, according as he
1 lands at Algiers or Philippeville. .At he is
astonished at the sight of this white Alo
town, built in
the. form of an amphitheatre, and enclosed within
I 4
hi,.,(,11 circular walls. Its environs are covered with
1 a
country houses, surrounded by lame trees,. and an
is filled
i exceedingly rich vegetation. Its harbour
:i .0
throned with an ani-
.s with vessels, and its quays are thron,
the vi-
-1 mated crowd, which reminds one of the move-
t} 1 rent of the largest French towns. I •
! sitor enters the streets, he is still more as-
' tonished at geeing new houses built in the Euro-
C^D style would
t.) , and full of elegant shops. He
tapcy that he was in a town of Provence or Italy,
if hands of negroes, Biskiris, and Arabs, carrying
:Airders, did not keep up something of the original
1.1 physiognomy: Already two-thirds of Algiers have
10 Yone this unt -rt, rnetamorph,;sis, which is extending
ii itself, and driving before it the Mussolinan popula! ton, who reject European habits, and cannot tole-
!