The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-22 00:00:00

THE ,qtiN, LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 22. iPzio.

A GAMEKEEPER SHOT BY HIS
MASTER.

On Wednesday we gave an account of the melan-
choly death of a gamekeeper, named Thompson, who
was shot by his master, on Sunday night, at Roundhay,
near Leeds, and we now give, from the York Courant,
some further particulars of the melancholy event de-
tailed at the inquest on the body.
Mrs. Nicholson, wife of the gentleman who fired
the gun, was first examined, and stated that, on hearing
a noise at the front dour, she called her husband, as
she believed the house was attacked by robbers. That
he went out, and she shortly after heard the report of
a gun, and her husband say, " Good gracious, Charles,
why did you not speak ?" It appeared from her evi-
dence that an attempt had been made to break into
the house on the night of Saturday week, and that
almost every house in the neighbourhood had been
tried within the last four months.
George Hudson, the servant who went with Mr.
Nicholson to attack the supposed housebreaker, detailed
the particulars of the unfortunate accident, and the Rev.
J. A. Rhodes produced the d. position of the deceased
which he had taken down from his own mouth when at
the point of death. It is as follows :
West Riding The Examanination of Charles George
of Thompson, of Roundhay, gamekeeper to
Yorkshire. Stephen Nicholson, taken before me, one
of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, in
and for the said Riding, this 18th day of
May, 1840.
Who on his oath saith—Last night I went out for to
watch, in consequence of so many thieves having been
about trying to rob the houses belonging to Mr. Nichol-
son and Mr. William Nicholson. The other men
also watched in their turns. My turn came twice
a week, and it was my turn last night.
It rained hard. 1 got within the front door to shel-
ter myself. It was about twelve o'clock, I sat down
to keep my gun dry. I think I dozed a little ; but I
overheard Mr. William Nicholson speaking to the
mistress—nothing more. I might stay there two hours,
and I had my gun sometimes on my knee, and some-
times in the corner. It still continued to rain. I think
that I made some noise with my back pressing against
the door. The door gave way, but I only made a little
noise—not a deal of noise. I heard two men come past
the west corner of the house, and I got hold of my gun.
Mr. William Nicholson shouted out, but I did not know
him, nor did he know me ; I am sure he did not know
me, for he would never hurt me if he knew me. I did
not know him. I received a shot in the body from Mr.
William Nicholson, which doubled me up. I pulled
my hammer off the capper, ready to have a go myself,
for I thought they were housebreakers. I know now
that it was Mr. Nicholson that shot, because the ser-
vant was separated from him at some distnnc®
I have no doubt at all that they thought I was a
housebreaker, and that I was at that time in the act of
forcing the front door. I had never on any former
night been in the doorway ; but I thought it was a
good shelter in the rain, and I thought it a good place
to catch the thieves. I never told Mr. Nicholson that
I should stand there. I had lain under the clumps. I
do not know that Mr. William Nicholson was aware
that I was watching at all,
The barrel of my gun was loaded with No. 4 shot ;
and the other barrel with six pistol bullets. I had also
a pistol loaded with me.
I do not blame Mr. Wm. Nicholson at all in this
transaction—not at all. It is God's truth tha

am telling. I should have shot them, but George,
the servant, discovered that it was me. When
this took place, Mr. William Nicholson came
up and took me in his arms, and said—" Oh,
Charles, why did not you speak ?" I said, I took you
for a housebreaker. I did not know your voice because
you spoke with an austere voice. Mr. William Nichol-
son showed great concern for the accident that had hap-
pened, and was very feeling indeed to me. Whatever
shall happen to me I declare that I think Mr. William
Nicholson was in no way to blame at all. Nor do I
blame him in any respect at all, for in another moment
I should have done the same thing. I have never at
any time had any dispute whatever with Mr. William
Nicholson.

The mark of

CHARLES GEORGE THOMPSON,
Sworn before me this day and year above written,

J. A. RHODES.
Several other witnesses were examined, and among
others the Rev. Thomas Davis, who, according to the
report, gave satisfactory proofs that the unfortunate
deceased was in liquor.
Mr. Nicholson, who had been in the room during the
examination of the witnesses, in a statement of extreme
agitation, said that the evidence which had been given
was true in every particular, and expressed his regret at
the untoward event which had occurred.
The CORONER summed up, and the Jury returned a
verdict of " Homicide by Misadventure," thus excul-
pating Mr. Nicholson from blame.
The deceased, who was a very steady man, was 49
years of age, and has left a widow and four children ;
these of course will be provided for by the bounty of
Mr. Nicholson. It is a fearful reflection that, had it
not been for the flash of Mr. Nicholson's gun, Thomp-
son would have fired both his barrels, one at Mr. Ni-
cholson and the other at the servant ; and thus, in all
probability, three lives might innocently have been sa-
crificed, each deeming the other to be the robbers.

thinks there remaineth no other deliberation in this
case, out how most sufficiently and with greatest per-
fection possible, most speedily the same may be accom-
plished."

The description nail appeal of Sir Walter Raleigh
then made to Queen Elizibeth are highly suitable at
present, and, in fact, they ought to come home with
double force ; for if the decay of the havens along the
coast at that time was so great and so grievously felt,
how much more must they be so now, seeing that the
shipping of the kingdom is perhaps quadrupled, whilst
there is not a harbour from the Thames to Portsmouth
where a vessel of ordinary tonnage can run to in the
hcur of need. We trust, therefore, that the Govern-
ment:will profit by Sir Walter's advice under the pre-
sent circumstances ; and that, though the plan which
we understand hqs been proposed, namely, to throw a
breakwater across the bay, may cost something consi-
derable, they will at once adopt it, seeing that it will
be: the means of effectually rendering Dover Harbour
what it ought to be—a place of shelter at all times for
the shipping of this mighty empire in storms, or con-
trary winds, or in distress.

THE LATE COLONIM LIGHT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—Having some time ago seen a short notice in
your journal relative to the lamented death of Colonel
W. Light, Surveyor-General at Adelaide, in South Aus-
tralia, I am induced to believe, from the general character
of your paper, that you will be liberal enough to insert
the following passage from the last volume of Napier's
" Peninsular War," for the sake of more widely spread-
ing such a tribute of respect to the memory of a gal-
lant but unfortunate gentleman, who, after weathering a
six years' storm of French bullets, has at last sunk into
an early grave, under the official insults and contemptu-
ous injustice of two membersof the South Australian Com-
pany, men who appear to be as little able to comprehend as
they are to appreciate genuine zeal, or talent, or in-
tegrity in a public officer, and whose account with
Colonel Light would have been long since balanced,
bad not his contemplated return to England for that
purpose been stopped by a more awful summons to a
more awful reckoning. But this is one of many in-
stances where the self-government of a public body
may be vitiated by its own indolence, which often
allows one or two individuals to assume the undivided
control of its councils. H. E. V.

(From the " History of the Peninsular War," vol.
p. 614.)
" Soules march through the deep sandy plain of Ger
was harassing, and would have been dangerous, if Lord
Wellington had sent Hill's cavalry, now reinforced by
two regiments of heavy dragoons, in pursuit ; but the
country was unfavourable for quick observation, and the
French covered their movements with rear-guards,
whose real numbers it was difficult to ascertain.
" One of these bodies was posted on a hill, the end
of which abutted on the highroad, the slope being
clothed with trees, and defended by skirmishers. Lord
Wellington was desirous to know whether a large or a
small force thus barred his way, but all who endea-
voured to ascertain the fact were stopped by the fire of
the enemy.

`• At fast Captain William Light, distinguished by
the variety of his attainments ; an artist, musician, me-
chanist, seaman, and soldier, made the trial. He rode
forward as if he would force his way through the French
skirmishers, but, when in the wood, dropped his reins
and leaned back as if badly wounded ; his horse ap-
peared to canter wildly along the front of the enemy's
light troops, and they thinking him mortally hurt ceased
their fire, and took no further notice. Ho then passed
unobserved through the wood to the other side of the
hill, where there were no skirmishers, and ascending to
the open summit above, put spurs to his horse, and gal-
loped along the French main line, counting their regi-
ments as he passed. His sudden appearance, his blue
undress, his daring confidence, and his speed, made the
French doubt if he was au enemy, and a few shots only
were discharged, while he, dashing down the opposite de-
clivity, broke from the rear through the very skirmishers
whose fire he had first essayed in front. Reaching the
spot where Lord Wellington stood, he told him there
were but five battalions on the hill."

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL

Yesterday a Court WAS held for the dispatch o
a great deal of public busine.;s.
THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY PRESENTED TO LORD

SEATON.

To wield authority in a country disorganised by
domestic feuds, and distracted by the jealousies of rival
races, required a combination of military and statesman-
like qualities not often comprehended within the grasp
of a single mind.

" To-the exigencies which the Government of the
Canadas created, your Lordship proved yourself fully
equal. By undeviating impartiality and unbending,
firmness you inspired confidence in the peaceful inhabi-
tants of those colonies, and for years kept in check the
factious disturbers of their tranquillity. And whe❑ at
length the designing agitators, in concert with despe-
rate adventurers from a neighbouring State, succeeded
in fanning into open revolt the dying embers of dissatis-
faction, the enthusiastic loyalty of the volunteers and
militia of those provinces, rallying under the standard
of your high military renown, enabled you, under Pro-
vidence, speedily to extinguish rebellion, and to become
the honoured instrument in preserving those valuable
colonies to the British Crown "—(Loud cheers.)
Lieutenant-General Lord SEATON then addressed
the Court in the following manner :
" MY LORD 111AvoR,—I beg to offer my grateful
acknowledgments and thanks for the honour which
your Lordship and the Corporation of London have
deemed me worthy to receive, and for the expression of
the very favourable opinion of my conduct recorded in
the vote conferring on me the freedom of this ancient

"- Your Lordship has done me great honour to refer
to my military services while serving in the armies corn-.
mended by that great man, and great captain, the Duke
of Wellington, under whose orders I had the good for-.
tune to be placed, and to the affairs of Canada, during
my administration of the Government of that Colony.
" I feel much indebted to your Lordship for the
terms in which you have mentioned my humble services.
" Through the whole of my long residence in that
colony I was firmly supported by a large portion of
its inhabitants ; and to their loyalty, and exertions, and
determination to uphold the institutions of the mother
country, is to be attributed, under Divine Providence,
whatever benefit the Provinces have derived from my
endeavours to promote their welfare and prosperity.
" I trust that the attention of the City of London
will be closely directed to the value of the North Ame-
rican Colonies, their vast resources, fertile soil, and com-
mercial advantages.

" I again return my thanks for the mark of appro-
bation and the high distinction it confers upon 111.a."----
(Much cheering.)
The Noble Lord, who was accompanied by Colonel
Moore and Colonel Chichester, afterwards left the
Court amidst the cheers of the Members,

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.
Mr. Cockerell, one of the competitors for the en
gagement to build the Royal Exchange, appeared at
the bar, and presented a petition which was read at length.
He then addressed the meeting at considerable length,
and called upon the Court to deliberate maturely before
they came to a decision on a subject of so much im-
portance.

Mr. HEPPEL, who presented the petition, moved that
it should be referred to the City side of the Royal Ex-
change Committee, and that Mr. Tite should be in-
structed to propose a model. The Court ought not to
look to the interest of competitors, but to the great
object of having an edifice worthy of the City of Lon-
don. If, as had been stated, a model was the best sort
of evidence, it would be judicious to call upon Mr. Tite
to prepare one. For his part, he should like to be sup-
plied with the testimony of models as well as of draw-
ings.—(Hear.)
An amendment was moved by Mr. JONES, when the
motion of Mr. Heppel was rejected by a very great
majority, and Mr. Jones's motion to agree with the re-
port approving of Mr. Tite's plan was adopted.

POLITICAL OFFENDERS.
(CHESTER GAOL.)

1•ETITION OF PRISONERS NOW CONFINED IN TIIE CASTLE
GAOL OF CHESTER.
The humble Petition of the undersigned Prisoners,
who are now confined in the Castle Gaol of the county
of Chester,
Most humbly showeth,
That your petitioners have been sentenced to various
terms of imprisonment, of from twelve to eighteen ca-
lendar months each, and in every instance to procure
heavy bail to keep the peace, for having, as alleged on
our trials, committed certain political offences ; and
your petitioners consider they have great reason to
complain of their present treatment, inasmuch as, al-
though no single individual was even charged by the
prosecutors
with having even a tempted to injure either
the person or property of any man or set of men, yet
they are compelled, in almost every instance, to subsist
on a dietary wholly unfit and quite insufficient to sup-
port any person in possession of health.
That your petitioners are only allowed one pound of
coarse bread per diem, with two quarts of meal-gruel,
or skilly, and for dinner one pound of potatoes, and
two ounces of salt per week ; while those persons who
have been or may he convicted of felony or misdemea-
nour, are supplied with animal food twice every week. I
Your petitioners complain that, while those who are
on the debtors' side of the prison are permitted to re-
main out of their cells until nine o'clock in the evening,
your petitioners are locked up for eleven consecutive
hours every night. or from seven o'clock in the even-
ing until six o'clock in the morning ; and during one
half of the year, or the winter season, for thirteen
hours out of every twenty•four ; an arrangement which
many of them find, after eight months' experience, to
be prejudicial to their health and personal well-being.
Your petitioners also complain of the severe restric-
tions under which they are permitted to correspond
with their families and friends, as an order now exists
on the books which prohibits them from holding commu-
nication with any person more than once a week ; and
even then, if your petitioners' letters contain any politi-
cal remark or allusion, they are neither forwarded nor
returned for correction, but withheld, in direct viola-
tion of the printed rules of and for the regulation of the
gaol ; a practice which, if carried out, will be wholly
subversive of all family arrangements and interests, and
which entirely prevents all correspondence with the
press, and takes away any advantage a literary charac-
ter may possess from the exercise of his abilities, and
prevents any one from sending to to the best market
the productions of his genius ; and thus deprives him
of the power of providing for those who naturally look
to him for support, contrary to all rule and precedent
hitherto established.

Your petitioners are not permitted to have any books
or newspapers for reference, study, or perusal, but such
as the Visiting Magistrates (however sectarian) may
approve of, and they are generally several weeks in de-
ciding which books are admissible : thus all advantages
to your petitioners are lost, even when concessions be
made ; neither are they allowed to purchase or have
any newspaper, except the London l'imcs, a daily
paper, which is wholly opposed to their views, and
which a majority of them are too poor to purchase.
Your petitioners then pray your Honourable House
to take their case, and those of all other political pri-
soners throughout the land, into your most serious con-
sideration, with a view to make such arrangements as
will in future secure to your petitioners, and all others
who may in future be charged with political offences, a
sufficiency of nutritious and wholesome food ; as, not-
withstanding the permission of the Visiting Magistrates
to purchase necessaries in addition to the prison allow-
ance, your petitioners are already too poor to take ad-
vantage of this benevolent offer ; which circumstance
may be easily proved from the following fact, that
while, with two exceptions, they are all of the operative
class, one of their families (that of John Wright, late
of Stockport) is now actually located in a Union
workhouse in the parish of Holden, in the West Riding
of the county of York ; while he, in the last stage of
infirmity, ;.nd now lying in the hospital, is sentenced to
be imprisoned fo. twelve calendar months in this gaol.
Your petitioners then pray you to take such steps as
will protect inviolate their correspondence, and insure
them the use of whatever books and newspapers they
may require, with permission to retire for the night with
the debtors.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray,
P. M. WDOUALL.
JOHN LIVSEY.
GEORGE WAREHAM,
&c. &e. Ste.
R

EVISION OF RAILAVAYS.—Lord Seymour
on Wednesday entered upon the Commons books a notice that,
June 2, he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to establisl;
a superintendence of railways'.

Lord SEATON appeared in the Court immediately
after it was formed, for the purpose of receiving the
freedom of the City, agreeably to the resolutions of the
26th of February and the 3d of April. The Members
appeared in their gowns upon the occasion, and the
reception of his Lordship was enthusiastic.
Sir James Shaw, the Chamberlain of the City of
London, havii g sworn Lord Seaton, the LORD MAYOR
addressed his Lordship in the following words :
" My LORD SEATON—The vote of the Corporation
of London, which I have just read, conferring upon your
Lordship the freedom of this ancient City, expresses,
though briefly, yet in terms so appropriate, the high
estimation in which your services are held by a grateful
country, that I am fearful, lest, in adding to the expres-
sion, I should impair its force.
" I cannot, however, deny myself the gratification of
slightly glancing at a few of the events which have dis-
tinguished your equally brilliant and useful career.
Having dev,•ted your early years to the profession of
arms, it has been your good fortune to serve your
country in one of the most eventful periods of her his-
tory. In the glorious achievements of the Peninsular
War and the crowning victory of Waterloo, you bore
a distinguished part under the illustrious Commander,
whose penetrating judgment selected your Lordship in
after years to represent your Sovereign in the Govern-
ment of one of the most important Dependencies of the
British Empire.