The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-28 00:00:00

THE LATE THOMAS ATT WOOD.

A meeting was held yesterday at Birmingham, con,
vened by the mayor (T. R. T. Hodgson, Esq.), for the
purpose of devising the hest means of commemorating
the public services of the late Mr. Thomas Attwood, the
father of political unions. The following extract from
the circular issued by his worship explains in terse and
graceful sentences his own views -on the subject :
"I venture to hope for the co-operation of all parties
-and all classes-inthis attempt to do honour to the memory
of our late townsman. Whatever difference of opinion
may exist as to the policy of the measures he advocated
and was instrumental in carrying, there can be no doubt
that at a time of great peril to the institutions of the
country, and to public liberty, he exercised the immense
influence he possessed over the people in such a wise,
temperate, and patriotic manner, as to avert anarchy,
and, amidst all the political excitement of which he was
the centre, to maintain a due respect for law and order.
I hope, therefore, -tbat this consideration will induce
those who differed with him-in politics to join with those
whose opinions he reflected, and who I hope require no
stimulus in doing honour to the memory of our illustrious
townsman."

The MAYOR presided at the meeting, which was at-
tondo.' by many of Mr. Attwood's old friends, his co.-
leagues in the Political Union, and who, not alone for
his public spirit and disinteiestedness, but for his kin(7-
heal t dress and true generosity of nature, held hi name
in affectionate remembrance. Amongst the speakers
were Mr. Muntz, M.P. ; Mr. John Betts, a veteran re-
former (who seconded Mr. Attwood's nomination at his
first election) ; Mr. William Matthews ; Mr. Alderman
Cutler ; Mr. Gorge Edmonds, the Clerk of the Peace,
&o. The following resolution was adopted :
" That a committee be formed for the purpose of pro-
moting and convening a meeting of the inhabitants of
this borough and the midland districts of the kingdom,
for the purpose of deciding upon the character of a suit-
able memorial to the memory of the late Thomas Att-
wood, Esq., and that they be empowered to invite the
attendance and co-operation of representatives of the
people from all the boroughs of England and Wales."
An influential committee was appointed to carry ont
the above resolution.

THE Tuna Or W. PALISER.—The trial of William
Palmer will not take place at the April sittings of the
Central Criminal Court as is generally supposed. The
indictments i❑ the several cases cannot be brought up
from Stafford into the Court of Queen's Bench until the
9th of April, and at this point a technical difficulty will
occur, preventing their being returned for trial imme-
diately to the Central Criminal Court. The jurisdiction
of this Court is limited by statute to cases occurring
within certain counties adjacent to the metropolis, and
the power of the jtidos cannot override a statute. Hence
the indictments in the Rugeley poisoning cases must re-
main in the Court of Queen's Bench until after the pass-
ing of the new bill, introduced for the special purpose
of enabling the judges to transmit criminal cases, brought
before them from the country by certiorari, either to the
assizes of distant counties, or to the Central Criminal
Court, at their discretion. It is, therefore, considered
as settbd that the trial of Palmer will take place at the
F anima; of the Central Criminal Court on the 15th of
May. It is also understood that the three Chief Justices
will preside on the occasion: