The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-31 00:00:00

tZ4 7T JANUARY 31, 1849.
4,„,„ km 7

elude inquiries of this nature in such a singular way?
The CORONER-It is quite regular.
Mr. King ( a juror) —I never heard of such a
proceeding before. You do this of course upon your
own responsibility ?
The CORONER—the judges permit a discretion in
these cases—to be sure it is not often exercised.

A juror—Can we return an open verdict'?
The CORONER—The inquiry is now finished.
The Foreman—You have certainly taken us by
surprise.

A juror—We were prepared with our verdict.
The CORONER—The inquiry is over and the jury
are discharged. I have taken great pains to arrive at
a just conclusion, and it is better for all that it should
end without unnecessary injury to any person, there
being no cause for complaint so long as the ends of
justice are answered.
The jury were then formally discharged, and thus
ended this singular shadow of an inquiry.
The following verdict was handed to the reporters
as having been unanimously agreed to by the jury
prior to the coroner's arrival:—
" We find that the deceased children, John Keen,
John Burke, William Neevan, and William Walton,
of the parish of Islington, died of cholera, at Hack-
ney; and that the predisposing causes have arisen
from bad treatment and neglect on the part of Bar-
tholomew Peter Drouet towards the deceased whilst
in his establishment at Tooting, and that the said
Bartholomew Peter Drouet was actuated thereto by
mercenary motives."

[PRICE SD.

COL. THOMPSON AT BRADFORD.

Colonel Thompson, one of the representatives of
the borough of Bradford, met his constituents last
Monday evening, in a crowded meeting, at the Tem-
perance-hall, for the purpose of explaining his con-
duct in the last session, and his views upon the prin-
cipal topics likely to be discussed in the ensuing one.
Alderman S. Smith was unanimously called to
the chair.

Colonel THOMPSON commenced by explaining that
the object he had in view in meeting his constituents
was to learn their views upon the leading topics of
the day, so that he might be enabled to work w ith
them in the promotion of that glorious cause in which
they were all embarked. He adverted to the events
of the past year, which, he said, had been most im
portant, both at home and Eibroad—more important
abroad than at home. The people of France had ex-
changed their monarchy for a republic. He did net ,
wish to see the example fellowed in England, though I
he was desirous of having republican institutions
grafted on the monarchy of England. Having de-
fended the French people from the reflection cast upon
them by the election of a Bonaparte to the presi-
dency—which, he observed, was considered by them
a kind of victorious restoration of a family which bad
been driven from their throne by foreign bayonets—
he said that the people of France, with few excep-
tions, were as peacefully disposed as the people of this
country ; and he augured that the peace societies would
find that.though they might not realise the whole de-
mand they had written down, they would yet gain
15s. in the pound. He alluded to the deputation
which had waited upon him in reference to the very
important local question of French merinos. They
represented to him that the French were 'giving a
bounty upon all merinos exported, and the conse-
quence was that the Bradford market was stocked
with them, to the exclusion of the English merinos—
an article that constitutes almost the staple trade of
Bradford. They, therefore, desired him to attend the
deputation in an interview with the Minister, praying
him to intimate that, where a bounty was given by a
foreign nation there would be a corresponding import
duty laid in this country. He did not attend the de-
putation, but he went to some of the Ministers in the
House of Commons, and by them was informed that
there was no bounty given on French merinos, though
a drawback was allowed. This settled the question,
because they could not interfere in a drawback upon
a duty which had been previously laid. He was
happy to inform his constituents that he had not
been absent from a single division during the session.
Adverting to the Committee appointed last session to
inquire into the operations and effect on the slave
trade of the African squadron, he said that he feared
the present generation were not equal to their fathers
in their zeal in the great and glorious work of aboli-
tion. He feared that there was a great chance of the
return of the slave trade upon the coast of Africa ; a
dead set was being made in some parts of the country
for that end upon the plea that the African squadron
added to the sufferings of the slaves without putting
a stop to the traffic. Now let them bring their
strong Yorkshire sense to bear upon that argument.
Time had been when the Algerines were notorious
pirates, and seized both ships and men, applying the
former to their own use, or scuttling them, and
selling the latter into slavery. Now the Government
of this country deemed it their duty to put a stop
to this, and employed their navy for the purpose.
What would they have thought of a ship's crew,
taken by the Algerines, and being conveyed into sla-
very, crying out to a British man-of-war, "Oh, don't
put a stop to these pirates; don't interfere with them ;
let them do as they like with us, lest they be made
savage by your thrashing of them, and so treat us
all the worse if they escape ?" Why, they would
say, " These men talk like idiots ; it is our duty as a
nation to do all in our power to repress these horrid
proceedings."—(Applause.) But it was said that
the course pursued was calculated Lo injure our trade
with slave countries. Their fathers were better men ;
and those who returned a Wilberforce and a Clark-
son to Parliament acted from higher motives than
mere pounds, shillings, and pence. To the men of
the West Riding, then, he would say, " Go ye, end
do likewise." The Gallant Colonel, after some ob-
servations anent the presentation of the Chartist peti-
tion, said that he had attempted, when the motion of
Mr. Hume for the extension of the franchise was
framed, to obtain the insertion of an universal suf-
frage clause, and he was successful to the extent of
drawing from them a declaration in favour of all
householders. That motion received the suffrages of
84 Members, and in the next session it might have
184. Whoever expected, he inquired, the last session
to carry a measure in favour of the ballot; yet that was
done upon the motion of a member of the aristocracy,
too, seconded by himself. The Hon. Member con-
cluded by requesting that questions might be put
to him, as he was anxious to learn the opinions of his
constituents; and he sat down amidst loud applause.
Having replied to several questions, he then adverted
to the probable topics of the coming session, foremost
amongst which, he said, would be the financial reform
question. Although he did not prognosticate the
literal fulfilment of everything which had been set
down upon paper on that head, yet they might make
themselves quite satisfied that financial reform must
be carried to a very great extent; and if the party
now in power would not do it there were others ready
to take their places, and perform the people's will.
They might cheerfully look forward to the future, so
far as that was concerned ; for England would not
again submit to the enormous and extravagant expen-
diture hitherto existing. To the people he would say,
" For heaven's sake carry the principle as far as you
possibly can, and never be afraid of any one carrying
retrenchment too far." The last news from France
was that they intended to reduce their army 120,000
men; that would make the French Government the most
popular in the world, and as it was a simple rule-of- three
question the English Government would be forced to
make a corresponding reduction in the army of this
country. But the Government must be pushed upon
that as on all other questions, and if they were pushed
they would most certainly yield. There was a kind
of perpetual combat between the people and the Go-
vernment ; and if the former insisted on driving, the
latter must work for their pleasure. Then came the
question of freedom of religion, to which the discon-
tent of Dissenters with the present system and the
misconduct of the Church were fast tending. One
half of the Church of England was half way over to
Papacy, and they were going over to it as fast as they
could drive. So long as ministers of the Establish-
ment, as a body, were found supporting liberal Pro-
testantism they might have maintained their position ;
but they had now rendered a struggle inevitable,
and it behoved all liberal men to take the right side.
Mr. RAWSON (town councillor), asked whether the
Colonel would support the separation of Church and
State ? Colonel Thompson replied that he should,
two years ago, have answered in the negative ; but
now he thought he could show good reasons for say-
ing yes. In answer to a question from a working
man. "Would he give :up his pension as a national
pauper, in order to help forward the work of retrench-
naent?"—the Hon. Member said that he possessed no-
thing for which he had not worked and paid for three
times over; but if any man would prove that half-pay
was unjust he would vote for its abolition. He thought
there were too many officers in the army ; but he did
not make it so; and if they would help him he would
strive to reduce the number. He replied to a question
whether he would support an arbitration clause in
all treaties, that he would vote for the insertion
of a clause to the effect that if there should
anydispute arise as to the interpretation of any part of
that treaty, it should be referred to a third party ;
but he was of opinion that it would be impossible to
get any two nations to say that in all disputes, of
whatever sort or kind, they would submit to the arbie
tration of another party. As far as he could see a
practicable mode of carrying it out, he was disposed
to vote for the insertion of arbitration clauses in trea-
ties between nations. With regard to the Ten Hours
Factory Bill, he said he would not pledge himself,
se
tolf
but if an attempt were made by the mill-owners
side
repeal it, he would hear the argument on
i
as well as on the part of the work
according to the best of his judgment. The
and decide
The following
resolution was adopted :—" That this meeting is of
opinion that Colonel Thompson's attention and votes
in the House of Commons during the last_ session de-
serve the thanks of this meeting and of his constitu-
ents generally."

OBTAINING MoNET
By MEANS OF FORGED SEA-
MEN'S SHIPPING NOTES.—A respectably-dressed elderly
woman, named Mary Ford, was charged at the police-
court with haying obtained 21. 10s. on a forged shipping
note; and also a sum upon another similar note some
weeks afterwards from the sameparty.a The notes pur-
ported to be written by a captainof vessel, and were
by him to be a forgery There were four other
cases of the same kind againstthe prisoner, but the evi
dence being incomplete she was remanded for a week.
The case is connected with one of a like nature (in
which a coloured man was concerned), some particulars
of which we furnished a fortnight ago.—Liverpool
Standard.
CALLS ,i, TO
TILE BATh,
th,a, 3 leisa
cams .• -- LINCOLN'S INN.—The
to 1 the bar of the Hun. Society of
Lincoln's Inn were o yesterday, and they comprise
the aftermentioneding%ntlemen:—J. H. Hawkins, Esq;
J. T. Smith,_ Esq; G. W. Leech, Esq; F. C. Clarke,
Esq; J. W. Stephen,