The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-02 00:00:00

TILE WICKLOW PEERAGE OA.SE.

The Wicklow Peerage claim,—the claim of Mrs. Howard
on the part of her son to the name, title, and estates of
the Earl of Wicklow—was re-opened in the House of
Lords to-day. After some evidence had been given, Sit
Bounden Palmer rose and said, in opposition to the peti-
tioner, that it was his duty to make to their
lordships a strange statement, which had hitherto teen
withheld. Facts had lately (fume to the knowledge of
those engaged for the Earl of Wicklow, in consequeuce of
which inquiries were made stit Liverpool. It was ascer-
tained that, at the workhouse there, a custom prevailed
of allowing pauper children born in the workhouse
to be adopted with the consent of their parents.
On August the 16th, 1864, a pauper woman named Mary
Best gave birth to a child in thb Liverpool workhouse.
About a week after two ladies applied to the mistress
of the workhouse, Mrs. Higginson stating that they
wished to adopt a male child having blue eyes and
fair hair. These ladies saw several children, and ulti-
m itely selected the child of Mary Best. After some
difficulty the ladies persuaded Mary Best to part with
her child, and on August 26, the ladies left the workhouse
with the child in their possession. It was proposed now
with their lordships' permission to. call as witnesses Mary
Best, Mrs. Higginson, and some nurses at the Liverpool
workhouse, who would prove that Mrs. Howard was one
of the ladies who took the child in the manner above de-
scribed. Mary Best had had a number of photographs,
among them that of Mrs. Howard, shewn to her, and had
without hesitation said that she was convinced that Mrs.
Howard was the lady who induced her to part with her
child. _ _

Sir R. Palmer added that perhaps it would be con-
venient to call Mrs. Howard, and cross-examine her on the
above facts. He understood that she was present in the
House. Mrs. Howard was then sent for. _ _

_ .
After some delay in order to give time to Mrs. Howard
to attend, Sir John Coleridge said that a messenger had
been sent to Mrs. Howard's house. She was not there,
and had left no word as to her whereabouts. She had
been present at the House in the course of the morning,
and on leaving said that she would return at one o'clock.
Perhaps their lordships would wait till that time.
At a quarter-past one, Mrs. Howard not havieg
appeared, the further hearing was adjourned till Monday
next, an order being made for Mrs. Howard's attendance
on that day.

The Corporation of the City have decided that the
sum of money voted for the purpose of procuring a memo•
rial of the late Prince Consort, shall be expended for the
above object, in filling in the largo west window of the
Guildhall Pith stained glass, in a handsome and elaborate
design.

THE POSITION OF THE THORNCLIFFE MINERS.--
The Sheffield Daily Telegraph looks about for a way out of
the dead lock at Thorneliffe. The men on strike are Nye to
face with these difficulties :—ln the first place the pit isnot
theirs ; in the second place the coal is not theirs. The
land belongs to the landlord; the coal belongs to Messrs.
Newton, Chambers, and Co., and the heads of the miners
taken on in place of those on strike are their own,
and must be protectedfrombeingsmashed in by the Union-
ists. Here, then is an unhappy conflict between two embit-
tered parties. Such a state of things once existed at the
collieries of Messrs. Briggs and Son, until Mr. Briggs,
after pondering over the whole question of the war between
labour and capital,
i hit upon a plan which gave the em-
ployes an interest n the profits of their employers. The
plan succeeded, and it might be well if some such a course
were adopted in the present emergency.
RUFFIANISM IN NOTTINGHA.M.—The Nottingham
Daily Etpress publishes an abominable circular, which it
appears_ is being distributed to domestic servants about
the country. The thing begins "My dear young
Friends,—l write this advice, which will free you from
trouble and disgrace, it will give you great pleasure,
anil will also free you from trouble, sorrow, and grief, and
I.kope it will be the means of gaining you a husband."
The paper then goes on to narrate the misfortunes into
which many young women imprudently precipitate them-
selves, some even being driven to infanticide, which the
writer piously or blashemously " hopes and trusts in God
will not be the case with you.' " If," the paper
continues, " such should be your lot, it is because
you will not take the advice of one wbo wishes youth
well. This advice will cost you a shilling, for which I wikr
give you such things as will last you your lifetime," Thif
circular is followed up by a call from an old man,. wlk,
receives the shillings, or gets sent about his business*
according to the discretion of the servants. The object 4
clearly either to swindle or to demoralise, and in eithe
case merits condign punishment, The Nottingham Firm
suggests a horsewhip. "
Major-General Balfour, C. 13., Royal Artiller
Assistant-Controller-in-Chief, paid an officiall-
to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, yesterday,
transacted business in the Royal Carriage Del,
ment in reference to the mode of keopiogd•
accounts of the departmept,