The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-20 00:00:00

disregard party distinctions; it would be impossible
to prevent the repeal of the Corn-laws.—(Cheers.)
He had been in business thirty years, and had been a
regular shipper twenty-five years, but had never -
brought home any corn, because he could make no
calculation as to what he could get it in for; and thus
the Corn-laws were a means of keeping trade down. He
meant not to say that the aristocracy got the fifty mil-
lions into their own pockets; it was the damage they did,
like rats in the corn. It was the injury they did to
trade in the prevention of business. Owing to the un-
certainty which the Corn-laws introduced the trade
was taken from the regular merchants and fell into the
hands of the corn-dealers, who, having no goods to
sell, were obliged to send out sovereigns to pay for corn.
Hence the runs upon the Bank of England, which caused
it to cramp its discounts. Thus, instead of sending out
goods, which gave employment to the population and
profit to the manufacturers, we were obliged to send out
gold, and in addition had our trade stopped. This was
his great reason against the Corn-laws. If things were
not altered within three years, he declared that his four
sous should not remain here to be the victims of aristo-
cratic monopoly. He wondered not at the poor hand-
loom weavers thinking that the money subscribed for
them at the tea party should be given to enable them to
emigrate. A customer of his had lately applied to him
for money to enable him to emigrate, stating that he was
losing money daily while he was at home. He believed
Sir R. Peel was the best man of his party, but he was in
the situation of one who had got a set of wild horses to
break in. He moped he would be supported and pushed
on as far as he would go in a right course ; and then, if
some other man would go further, let them support him.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was
carried with but two dissentients.

Mr. W. R. GREGG moved the adoption of the follow-
ing memorial to the Queen :

"TO THE QUEEN'S MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY.

" May it please your Majesty,
" We, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects in
public meeting assembled, in the Town Hall of Man-
chester, on the 16th of September, 184 l—convened by
his Worship the Mayor, in compliance with a requisi-
tion bearing 1,018 signatures of merchants and manu-
facturers, and other respectable inhabitants of all classes,
approach your Majesty with sentiments of profound
veneration for your person, and ardent attachment to
your Throne, at a crisis of commercial depression,
which, for duration and severity, is altogether unex-
ampled ; and when all classes, and especially the poorer
classes of your Majesty's subjects, are enduring priva-
tions more general and afflictive than were ever pre-
viously known to our oldest inhabitants.
" We beg leave to assure your Majesty that, during
the last four years, these suffer ings have been accumu-
lating, and that they have been borne by the thousands
of their victims with an enduring patience highly credit-
able to their moral character. Charitable individuals
have pitied, and rendered munificent aid; but no charity
can keep pace with the prolonged and '„extending distress
that prevails. Indeed, the ability to exec vise acts of be-
nevolence in the upper and middle classes already begins
to fail, and the causes which have so long depressed the
poor, now threaten to visit these also with their disas-
trous effects. And when we look forward to the ap-
proaching winter, with its increasing claims, accompa-
nied with the certain prospects of a still greater com-
mercial depression, our hearts instinctively turn from the
scene,_ and sigh in the bitterness of their sorrow.
" Nor is the suffering confined to our own locality ;
for the sake of our fellow-subjects, with whom we cordi-
ally sympathise, we wish it were. Suffering, though not
universal, is lamentably too general. The country suf-
fers ; and, as we conceive, not from any mere temporary
commercial derangement, but chiefly from the injurious
operation of those laws in our fiscal system which restrict
trade, especially in the articles of food.
" At the time of their enactment, these laws were
petitioned and protested against by many eminent British
statesmen and others, as fraught with direful conse-
quences ; amongst whom stood foremost disting,uished,.
patriotic, and beloved relatives of your .Majesty, whose
names grace the annals of our history, and affectionately
live in our grateful remembrance.
" The evils unavoidably cor.sequent, as we conceive,
on the operation of these laws have fearfully overtaken
our industrious population, and have reduced them in
vast numbers, to penury and want ; and with the cer-
tainty, too, that their distress will be still further in-
creased, if that relief is not speedily afforded, which
cannot be looked for in any quarter with so much cer-
tainty as in the entire abolition of those restrictive laws,
whose natural tendency is to diminish employment, and
to render food scarce and dear.

great as in 1839. He went into a long history of the
means of relief adopted by the parochial officers of that
year, of whom he was ono, and blamed the introduction
of the New Poor-law as preventing the adoption of the
same measures. The feeling of the meeting being de •
cidedly against him, he made no attempt at moving an
amendment.

" May it please your Majesty—We consider it wor-
thy of your Royal regard to notice, that petitions for
the repeal of the Corn and Provision-laws have been
presented to Parliament during each of the three last
sessions ; and that the increase to the number of the
signatures in favour of repeal, at each presentation, with
the decrease of such as were presented in opposition
thereto, shows that your people are becoming more and
more ive to the real cause of their alarming destitution.
In 1839, the number of signatures attached to peti-
tion:, praying that the petitioners might be heard at the
bar of the House, was 527,334. In 1840, the number of
petitioners praying for the repeal of the Corn-laws was
1,459,545. In 1841, the signatures attached to petitions
for the same object amounted to 1,756,645, while the
signatures against repeal for 1839 were 315,723 ; in
1840, only 240,000 ; and in 1841, only 113,300 ;
making a total majority on the three years of those
of your Majesty's subjects who petitioned for repeal, of
3,743,524. _ _

, .
" And we venture respectfully to assure your Majesty
that, since the presentation to Parliament of the last peti-
tions, the number of your subjects opposed to the Corn and
Provision-laws is greatly augmented; and will continue to
augment still more as the public mind becomes disabused
ol'opinions which opposing parties have entertained and
propagated. In proof of this (to say nothing of more re-
mote and less obvious occurrences), we respectfully call
the attention of your Majesty to the great assemblage of
Christian ministers from all parts of the United King-
dom, which lately took place in the hail where we are
now assembled ; and which, after mature deliberation
solemnly and unanimously denounced the Corn and Pro-
vision-laws as anti-Christian in themselves, and inimical
to the best interests of their beloved country ; and we
recollect, with no ordinary feelings of gratitude, that
your Majesty was pleased very graciously to accept the
dutiful and loyal address of that pious and influential
body.
" We wish, further, most respectfully to state to your
Majesty—and herein we are assured we utter the senti-
ments of increasing thousands of our fellow-subjects—
that, with hearts penetrated with sorrow at the sufferings
we are compelled daily to witness - with a fixed and
growing consciousness of the high advantages that would
accrue to all classes of our country from the abrogation
of the corn and provision laws, we cannot but continue to
use every lawful means for the accomplishment of this
object. And, beloved Sovereign, it is proper to state that
the working classes plainly understand the cause of their
heavy and unmerited sufferings. Sympathies and exer-
tions like those which have convened us together to pre-
pare this our dutiful memorial to your Majesty, give
them hope, and nerve them to a patient endurance of
their grievous privations ; and we are assured that, were
such sympathies and exertions to cease, the inspiring
hopes they originate and sustain would be succeeded by
a despondency which, in its consequences, might prove
deeply afflictive to your Majesty, and to all your dutiful
and loyal subjects.
" May it please your Majesty—Lamenting, as we do,
the critical and suffering state of our beloved country;
and dreading at this period any, the slightest, postpone-
ment of a due consideration of an effectual remedy to the
evils now endured and deplored, we are compelled, from
a sense of the duty we owe to ourselves, to our famish-
ing fellow-subjects, and of ardent loyalty to you, our
beloved Sovereign, to place this our humble petition at
your feet, praying your Majesty, in the exercise of your
Royal prerogative, to he pleased not to prorogue the two
Houses of Parliament, until such time as that portion of
your Majesty's gracious Speech, delivered at the open-
ing of the present Session, relating to the Corn-laws,
shall have been fully deliberated upon; and which por-
tion confirmed to us the cheering assurance that you are
graciously disposed, as you ever have been, to interest
yourself in the welfare and happiness of your people.
"-Encouraged by a grateful conviction of your Ma-
jesty's unceasing parental solicitude for the permanent
prosperity of your people, we humbly approach you,
trusting that our earnest prayer on their behalf will be
graciously regarded, and your constitutional interposition
secured.

The Rev. J. W. MASSIE ably replied to the allega-
ions of Mr. Clarke.

Mr. J. C. DYER, in moving the publication of the re-
solutions, adverted to the result of the late election, and
contended that there was no remedy for the existing
state of things but Universal Suffrage.
Mr. W. RAWSON seconded the motion,• which was
unanimously adopted.
Thanks were then voted to the Mayor, and, after a
highly interesting addreirs from Edward Curran, a hand-
loom weaver, the meeting separated about half-pan two.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY LAW COURTS

On Friday a Special Court was held for the purpose of re •
ceiving and taking into consideration the Report of the City
Lands Committee relative to important improvements in the
Law Courts of the City.
Deputy BRIDGE, in bringing up the Report of the Com-
mittee, called the attention of the Court to the model of the
proposed improvements, which he said had met with the de-
cided approbation of all who had seen it, and which detailed the
various advantages likely to result to those engaged in the de-
partments connected with the administration of justice, and to
the public, from the adoption of the suggestion of the Com-
mittee. The Report briefly stated " that the Committee had
viewed the Courts, and beard Dr. Reid on the subject Gf
adapting them to his plans of ventilation and sound, and di-
rected the Clerk of the City Works to propose plans for the
construction of the three Courts of Justice in the building on
the east side of Guildhall-yard—the Court of Queen's Bench,
the Court of Eichequer, and the Court of Common Pleas—
and for providing the necessary accommodation for the Court,
Counsel. Attorneys, Jurymen, and witnesses, and that the e,
timate of the expense of carrying such alterations into effect
being 8,6001., inclusive of the expense of adopting Dr. Reid's
plans of ventilation, and said the Committee were of opinion
that great convenience would be afforded thereby to the public,
and recommended that they should be empowered to give the
necessary directions for the performance of the works, and af-
terwards to draw upon the Chamberlain for the expenses in-
curred." After some observations as to the expediency of
making the proposed alterations, he moved that the Report he
agreed to, and sent back to the Committee to be carried into
effect.

A short discussion followed, when the motion was adopted by
a majority of 49 to 31.

DREADFUL MURDER AT ESK-
DALESIDE, NEAR WHITBY.

(From the York Herald of Saturday.)
It has never before been our painful duty to record so
foul and atrocious a murder, committed within the above
quiet and peaceful district, as the one which was perpe-
trated at the dwelling of Mr. William Robinson, yeoman,
at Eskdaleside, on the forenoon of Tuesday last. Mr.
Robinson, it appears, left his house on the morning of
that day, for the purpose of attending Egton Fair, and
his servants for the harvest field, leaving Mrs. Robinson
alone to manage the domestic concerns of the house.

At about ten- o'clock, Mr. Hill, miller, of Thum-
dale, made his usual call for orders, when he found
Mrs. Robinson cheerfully pursuing her avocations,
and apparently in perfect health, wishing him good
morning when he took his departure. On the re-
turn of the servants, however, to dinner at noon,

a scene the most horrifying presented itself—they
discovered their mistress lying upon her face on
the flour, surrounded by a pool of blood. After
they had in some degree recovered. .fropi their
alarm, they rais:d the bedy and
.. diseovered' her
head nearly severed frem the trunk,' and In a
rigid state. The kitchen floor on 'which the deed
of darkness was committed` appeared to be in cu:iusion,
and, on a closer examittation;, they fdund, tfat the
drawers, &c., had been broken.open. andransa*eti,‘ the
murderers leaving traces of their guilt on 'the Various
articles of furniture which they had touched during their
pilfer. Messengers were itumediately despatched to
Mr. Robinson, at Egton, and to the police at Whitby.
We will not attempt to describe the agony of the be-
reaved husband.

Mr. Wilkinson, the bead of the Whitby police, ac-
companied by two vigilant officers, promptly attended,
and after examining the premises, and obtaining all the
information relative to the foul crime which those
around were able to afford, commenced a pursuit after
two suspicious characters, who had been seen near the
house during the morning. Some clue to their supposed
destination was furnished by the finding of a pocket-
book, which was identified by one of Mr. Robinson's
servants, and which had been left in safety in his box
in the morning.
Mr. Wilkinson, having discovered that the men had
taken the road leading to Ly th, immediately proceeded
to that village, and succeeded in capturing them. They
proved to be two Irish reapers, travelling in search of
employment. On searching them, not any evidence
of their participation in the crime could be found on
their :persons. They stated they were going to the
neighbourhood of Mickleby for work, at which place
they had been engaged last autumn.
Mr. W. felt justified in their detention, and removed
them to Whitby, where they underwent an examination
before C. Richardson and J. Chapman, Esqs., and were
remanded until after the Coroner's inquest, which was
then sitting at the Tunnel Inn, which, after a lengthened
investigation, was adjourned until Thursday morning,
at nine o'clock.

" In the mean time we devoutly pray that the Su-
preme Ruler may smile upon you, and grant you and
your august Consort and your illustrious offspring, the
uninterrupted enjoyment of health and peace ; and that
you may long be spared to reign over and to live in
the affections of a prosperous, a contented, and a loyal
people."
—He observed that a little while ago Sir Robert Peel
had said that the present distress was nothing more than
what they might expect and make up their mind to ;
these distresses had existed and always would exist.
He could not rest satisfied with so easy and idle
a solution of that painful question, without endea-
vouring to ascertain the causes of that suffering,
or whether the remidies for it lay within the reach
of human wisdom to discover, or human power to avoid.
—(Applause.) It was all very well for Sir Robert Peel,
and persons situated at he was—removed by affluence and
station far above the people—who did not live with the
people nor for the people—who knew nothing and cared
nothing about the people—it was very well for them,
when told of empty houses and stagnant trade, and
ruined families, and starving thousands, to meet it will]
a cool statement that this suffering must exist. But
we, who lived in the midst of all this misery, whose
path was beset with clamorous supplications for re-
lief—whose lives were daily empoisoned and em-
bittered with the sight of suffering we could
not relieve, and which we had not the heart to flee
from, or shut our eyes to—we could not rest satisfied
with so easy a solution of the difficulty—we demanded a
searching inquiry into the causes of this distress, and an
unflinching, bold, and impartial application of the re-
medy, whatever that remedy might prove to be. Sir R,
Peel's intention undoubtedly was to do nothing this year
but to wait till the spring, and trust to the chapter of
accidents to relieve him from the difficulty.—(Hear.)
But suffering and famine would not wait till the coming
spring, and therefore the remedy ought not to be de-
layed. If something were not done before spring, things
would be so far worse, that in many cases no remedy
could be applied. He moved that the memorial should
be adopted, signed by the Chairman, and forwarded to
Mr. Mark Philips, with the request that he would take
the necessary steps to secure its presentation to her Ma-
jesty with the least possible delay.
The Rev. Dr. BEARD, in seconding the motion, gave
some affecting details illustrative of the prevailing distress.
The MAYOR was about to put the motion, when
Mr. GEORGE CLARKE, the Chairman of the Manches-
ter Conseoative pre6elitcd
claimed a hearing. Amidst much uproar he was under-
stood to protest that the meeting was one of a party
character, and that the prevailing distress was not so

During the whole of Wednesday the town of Whitby
and the surrounding neighbourhood were in a state of
the greatest possible excitement. The police and the
neighbouring farmers were unremitting in their exer7
tions to discover the assassin ; rumour upon rumour
was greedily received as fact by the multitude, and we
• regret that one name was most unjustly connected with
this mysterious affair. Unfortunately at a late hour no
information could be gained of the murderer.
On Thursday morning the adjourned inquest met, the
Coroner (John Buchanan, Esq.) being accompanied by
the Whitby bench of Magistrates. The Irishmen were
removed to the Tunnel Inn, for the purpose of being
present at the investigation. We much doubt if any
evidence can be adduced to criminate them. They were
recognised by several farmers, and from their testimony
we judge them to be quiet and inoffensive men.
The deceased was the wife of a very highly respected
farmer, and aged about sixty-one years. Though the
transaction of the tragedy is as mysterious as it is alarm-
ing, we fancy we should deceive ourselves were we to
imagine that it had been committed by the hands of a
perfect stranger. It is supposed that the deed had
been done with a shoemaker's knife, one having been
found in the fire with the handle burnt off it. There is
no doubt but booty alone has led to the crime, although
we have not as yet ascertained that more than 321. in
gold is missing up to the time that our account left
Whitby. The Jury were still sitting, and we, therefore,
are unable to give the result of their patient inquiry.

REVISION OF VOTERS.

FRIDAY.

CITY OF LONDON.

The REVISING BARRISTER took his seat on the Bench
at ten o'clock.
After some cases of a similar nature to those on which
judgment had been pronounced yesterday were heard
before the Court, with the same result,
Mr. Quin said he was totally at a loss how to act.
Mr. Milnes, who revised the City list last year, and who
had the advantage of five or six years' practice in the
same capacity, and who, it was consequently natural to
suppose, had acquired a vast fund of information, and
maturely considered all the provisions of the Act, held
such service to be good.
On the list of the Fishmongers' Company coming un-
der discussion,
Mr. Quin objected to the name of Mr. Henry Christie,
hatter, of 35, Fenchurch-street, being retained, on the
ground that he became a liveryman of the Company, by
purchase, after the 31st of March, 1831. Now, by the
32d clause of the Reform Bill, any person becoming a
liveryman by purchase, and not by servitude or patri-
mony, after the 31st of March, 1831, was disqualified
from voting.. Mr. Christie had served his time to his
father as a felt-maker, and, in 1839, he became a livery-
man of the Fishmongers' Company, and having served
his time to a felt-maker, he could not consequently be-
come a liveryman of the other Company by servitude.
Mr Douse, the clerk of the Fishmongers' Company,
handed into the Court Mr. Christie's certificate as a
liveryman.
Mr. Quin inquired whether Mr. Christie paid a
greater sum as " redemption" than the fees required of a
person who had served,,his time regularly to the trade ?
Mr. Douse—l don't think the Act requires. of me to
answer that question.
Mr. Quin—The Court .1 trust will feel it necessary
to know how the right was acquired. If Mr. Christie
acquired under the law which gives such privilege, they
should be informed if it were acquired by purchase,
whether indirectly or otherwise.
Mr. Douse again declined to answer.
Mr. Sewell said he had been for 32 years a clerk in
the Chamberlain's-office. Mr. Christie, although having
served his time in the Feltmakers' Company, was desirous
of becoming a member of the Guild of Fishmongers, and,
in consequence, petitioned the Court of Aldermen. It
was his (Mr. Sewell's) opinion, and also that of the Town
Clerk's, who was considered a high authority in all matters
connected with the rights and usages of the City, that
if Mr. Christie were admitted by redemption, he would
not be qualified to vote ; and, therefore, he was admitted
by servitude. He quite disagreed from this proceeding,
but the Court of Aldermen said they acted on precedent,
although he was not aware of any precedent to justify
them in such a course for 150 years.
The Revising Barrister—According to the certificate
I now hold in my hand he has been admitted by servi-
tude, and I can go no further than that document.
Mr. Quin—That was so far as the Court of Aldermen
went. But the question was, what would be the fate of
Mr. Christie's vote before a Committee of the House of
Commons ? It had been shown by an officer of long
standing in the Chamberlain's-office, that the proceed-
ings on the part of the Court of Aldermen was unusual.
He trusted the Court would dissent—as he was sure a
Committee of the House of Commons would—from
what was nothing more than a juggle of the Court of
Aldermen, who, he was sure, had gone beyond the law.
Mr. Douse said Mr. Christie had paid no more than
the ordinary fees.
After some further discussion the Court determined
that Mr. Christie's name was entitled to be retained on
the list.

SATURDAY.
A point having been argued yesterday as to the
elegibility of pensioners on the Haberdashers' Company
to vote,
The ReviSing Barrister on taking his seat this morn-
ing, said he considered that the law as laid down in
of Eh:caulks, p. 107, :.bi
It was then said that—" What amounts to the recipience
of such alms, in the strict interpretation of the law of
Parliament, becomes a questicrn not easy to decide,

THE .411 N, LONDON. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 20, 1841

n many old boroughs, the usage, place, and direc-
tion of Committees, have decided this point. In •
those old boroughs, where the usage is not clear, and
in all new boroughs, it seems to be a general principle
that, with respect to all charitable foundations and en-
dowments, those persons only are disqualified who are
recipients from parish resources, available for the relief
of paupers, and, which are at the disposal of the over-
seers or other officers, whose duty it is to provide for
paupers. In support of this opinion the Learned Re-
vising Barrister cited the Bedford case, the case of
Harpur's charity, 3d Douglas, page 123, and page 235,
Elliot's Treatise, where, under the head of " Per-
sonal disqualification of voters," it said, conceening
Harpur's charity—" the point under consideration arose
from the fact of certain estates having been granted to
the Corporation of Bedford by Sir William Harpur for
certain charitable purposes, namely. to be distributed
among the poor of the said town, and for the relief of
poor decayed housekeepers residing therein. It appeared
that this charity had been given to the middle classes,
and many who paid taxes, and that it always had been
distinguished from parish pay. The Committee resolved,
' Persons receiving Sir William Harpur's charity are not
thereby disqualified within the meaning of the determi-
' nation of the 12th April, 1690.' " The names of such
persons, he thought, were therefore entitled to remain
oi• the List.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
HATTON GARDEN.
Mr. James Williams, landlord of the Ship public-
hous in Glasshouse-yard, was charged with permitting
drunkenness in his house.
Mr. Buncombe, the solicitor to the Licensed Victual-
lers' Society, appeared in behalf of the defendant.
Inspector -Penny, of the G division, said, that at a
quarter-past one on Tuesday morning, the 7th instant, he
visited the defendant's house ; it was closed, but on see-
ing a light inside and hearing voices, he knocked at the
door, calling out that the police were anxious to get in,
when he was instantly admitted. In the tap-room were
four men drunk, and in front of the bar were nine per-
sons, three of whom were women, and they were intoxi-
cated. He told the landlady it was quite time her house
was cleared, and that he should mer.•!ion what he had
seen to the Magistrates at this office.
On cross-examination, witness admitted there )vas not
the least disturbance in the house.
Sergeant Hall, G No. 5, said three of the women were
decidedly drunk.
Mr. Duncombe being told that that was the case
against his client, remarked that publicans were so awk-
wardly situated, that it was very seldom indeed that
they could bring forward evidence to rebut the trumped
up charges that are too frequently made against them.
In the present instance, however, he had an abundance
of testimony of the most respectable kind to produce,
and, although he was convinced there was no necessity
to put his witnesses into the box to cause a dismissal of
the information, no charge being made out for which the
Magistrate could punish his client, still he thought, for
more reasons than one, that the Magistrate should hear
them, that the case might be put in a proper light before
the public. He then called
Sarah Sadler, of 37, Glasshouse-yard, servant. She
said she was at defendant's when the police went in. She
was there fora pint of half-and-half to take home. All
present at the time were neighbours, and were conversing
friendly together. There was a loud knocking at the
door before the inspector was admitted, and a voice out-
side called out, "Is my old woman here?" Mrs. Fos-
dick, one of the females, considering it was her " old
man" that was in search of her, requested that the door
might be opened, when in pounced the police. This
witness most positively swore that not one person in the
house was in the remotest degree the worse for liquor.
Two other witnesses gave similar evidence, .and INI;‘•
Duncombe was abbut: to call a fourth, when he vVas Sti+J.
ped by . i• ;' •
Mr. COS#E;Ao §aid there was contradiction enough
to call upod hiM to diSiniss the case. *. •• - •
Mr. Durtombe.--lanitnuch obliged to your WorShip,
and I can assure you there was not the slightest founda-
tion for the charge, which has put my client to 61. or-71.
expense.
Inspector Penny—l was desired by the licensing Ma-
gistrate to look after the house, the licence to which was
suspended on the lait licensing day.