The Sun.
London, England, 1832-01-07 00:00:00

agitation in progiess, if we add a few remarks by
way of commentary upon Mr. EVERETT'S text.
It is hard to assign any valid reason for not
giving to Ireland, by the new Bill, the additional
Members that her population entitles her to ex-
pect. The addition of only five Members to the
number limited at the Union, is not propor-
tionate either to the increase of people, of
wealth, or of civilization, which Ireland has of
late years attained. And the Bill exposes itself
to the censure for want of principle inflicted
upon it by the American writer, when it bestows
upon Ireland only five-eighths of the new Mem-
bers it assigns to Scotland, where population is
only about a fourth of that of Ireland. This ar-
rangement is certainly not very consistent with
the Rule of Three plan laid down by Mr.
EVERETT in his former article, as the only
sound theory of representation ; wherein
we are disposed to agree with him, dif-
fering only in so far as the Reform Billll
ought to be supported, not as the best in
itself, but as the best measure for which there
is, under present circumstances, a prospect of
success. However, it is quite proper for the
Irish Members, while they support the principle
of the Bill, to use their efforts to obtain such an
augmentation of Irish Members as may be rea-
sonably required in reference to the importance
of Ireland as compared to Great Britain ; and we
are inclined to think such efforts would, in all
probability, be attended with success.
In regard to placing Catholics on a level with
Protestants, that can never be done whilst the
Law Church is suffered to remain on its present
footing. It is a mockery to talk of placing the
two religions upon an equality, so long as the
Catholic is obliged to contribute to both
Churches, one of which he believes to be true,
and the other false. The tithes must be com-
muted for a rent charge ; and it must then be
considered whether the Protestant clergy have
any just claim to maintenance out of that rent-
charge, beyond the lives of the present incum-
bents. Mr. O'CONNELL seems to intimate, that
the Catholic clergy have no desire to be pro-
vided for as an establishment, but would prefer con-
tinuing to subsist upon the alms of the faithful ;
and if this be really so, the only course seems
to be, to prepare for the total extinguishment of
any ecclesiastical payment beyond such as may
provide for the existing generation of Protestant
ministers. But how this is to be peacefully ac-
complished, against the struggle of the impla-
cable Orange faction, is a question full of care
and difficulty, and enough to perplex even a
Ministry of which Mr. O'CONNELL should be
a member.

The situation of Ireland is not so dissimilar
to that of Belgium before its Revolution, but
that a lesson may be learnt from the events that
have happened in the latter country. We have
seen Belgium deprived of a due share of repre-
sentation—her national religion oppressed and
discountenanced by a Protestant Government—
her civil and military offices filled by others than
natives—her welfare, in short, made, in all re-
spects, subordinate to that of her consort-nation
to which she had been united without her own
will being consulted ; we have seen the Bel-
gians persecuted by a series of annoyances,
whose gravamen lay in the undue favour shewn
to Holland in all things—and we have finally
witnessed the result whereby Belgium has be-
come an independent State. It is to be feared
that in many of these points the recapitulation of
grievances would apply to Ireland almost totidem
verbis,and it is therefore not wholly without sur-
prise that the Irish agitations may now be re-
marked. However much we may deprecate the
proceedings of the agitators as ill-timed and cal-
culated to embarrass Government, it is impos-
sible not to-entertain fears that Ireland will never
rest in peace until those grievances are redressed,
which are the remains of centuries of misgovern-
ment, and whose tendency is to dispose people's
minds to entertain that question of the Repeal
of the Union, against which the opinion of the
Government has been strongly and unequivocally
pronounced.

The KING was closeted, during a great por-
tion of Wednesday, with Earl GREY, at the Pavilion, at
Brighton. We are informed, that so extremely secret was
the interview on this occasion, that the confidential Se-
cretary of his MAJESTY was not present. In the evening
of that day, Earl GRET, the Duke of DEVONSHIRE, the
Marquis and Marchioness of BRISTOL, and their son and
daughter-in-law, the Earl and Countess JERMYN, Lord
and Lady FALKLAND, the Earl and Countess of Bxvsa-
LET, and Lord and Lady WHARNCLIFFE were of the
dinner party. His MAJESTY appeared in excellent health
and spirits. After dinner there was a Concert in the
drawing-room, by the QuaEx's private band.
We learn that a meeting of the Clergy of the
Established Church, which will be attended from all parts
of Ireland, will take place at the Rotunda, on Tuesday,
the 10th of January, for the purpose of addressing his
MAJESTY on the deplorable and persecuted state of the
Church of Ireland.—Dublin Warder.

An address is covertly obtaining signatures to
the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, from the county of
Somerset, expressive of " the deepest gratitude to them for
having, by their memorable vote, been rescued from the
' extreme peril' with which they were threatened by a Bill
• called' the Reform A circular addressed from a
newspaper-office in Bristol has been sent to most of the
Magistrates of this county, requesting them to sign and
procure signatures to this ill-timed effusion of party zeal,
which certainly does not acquire either dignity or attrac-
tion from its adoption of this " hole-and-corner" process
of getting up a county address.— Taunton Courier.
Tne Sligo mail, on its way to Dublin on Sun-
day night last, was attacked by a large party at a place
called Ballinskill, between Edgworthstown and Mullingar.
Several stones struck the carriage and horses, upon which
the guard instantly fired, and with effect, as one of the
miscreants fell, either killed or mortally wounded. It was
then perceived that the hedges at both sides of the road
were lined with armed men, and the shot from the guard
was directly returned, and the ball lodged in the luggage
Placed on the roof of the coach. The horses being at full
speed the ambush was quickly passed, and the coach
reached its ultimate destination in safety.—Dublin Ere"-
ing Mail.
In the counties of Kilkenny and Carlow, in
the course of a very few month., not less than sixty lives
have been sacrificed for tithes not more than SW. in
amount.—Dublin Paper.
MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.--(THIS
Mr. John Nicholls Walters, who was convicted of the
crime of enticing Mr. JAMES PTE STEELE, a medical
student, to set fire to his premises in Tottenharn-court-
road, was sentenced to eighteen calendar months in the
House of Correction.
CHOLERA.—It will be seen that the cholera
is increasing in virulence at Haddington. A letter dated
yesterday, states that business is greatly impeded by it.
The few medical men in the place are kept extremely
busy, and the writer expresses his surprise that some of
the young surgeons of Edinburgh have not paid them a
visit, in order to study the disease. The cholera is said
to have appeared in Wales, but it should he kept in view
that single cases of spasmodic cholera occur in all large
towns every season, and that till three or four appear to-
gether, we can have no clear proof of the existence of the
present spidemic.....Seotsman.

NOTTINGHAM SPECIAL COMMISSION,

FRIDA Y.-B Y EXPRESS.

This morning. the Court met at half-past eight, and the
Judges having taken their seats, the Court was instantly
crowded.

The prisoners, 13 in number, were placed at the bar,
rind pleaded Not Guilty. It having been arranged that
they should be tried singly, G. Beck, aged 20, was placed
at the bar, charged with setting fire to the silk-mill of
Mr. Lowe, of Beeston. There were several other counts
in the indictment.

Mr. GURNEY, Mr. CLERK, and Mr. ADIOS (King's
Counsel) conducted the prosecution, and Mr. 'Luz was
for the prisoner.
Mr. CLERK opened the case, and said a Reform meet-
ing had been held on the loth of October, and in the
night the prisoner and others tumultuously assembled. He
was the leader of the mob, and it was resolved to attack
Mr. Lowe's mill, when the prisoner called out to the mob
—" Fall to and do your duty." The mob then destroyed
the mill and machinery, valued at 13,0001., and two
dwelling-houses, which were occupied by persons named
Turton.

Mr. Turton was called, and stated that he was em-
ployed at Beeston mill on the 11 th of October ; a great
mob came there between twelve and one o'clock, apparently
from Nottingham. There were between two and three
thousand, as near as witness could guess. They came on
in ranks of two deep, and ended in a regular crowd. There
were about forty in the first rank. The prisoner was in
front carrying a pole with some coloured ribbons tied to
the end. He said when the mob came opposite the mill,
" This is the place," and the mob immediately threw
stones at the windows of the mill. They marched till
they came opposite to the mill, when he said " Halt,
front, fall round and do your duty." The front rank
marched to the doors of the mill armed with pump-
handles, pallisading, hammers, &c. They broke a hole
and crept through the door and broke the lock. The
door were thrown open ; the crowd all rushed into the
yard with Beck, the flag -man. Witness then went to his
workshop, which was near enough to see what was going
on. Saw them inside the mill breaking the windows and
throwing silk, soap, and candles out of the windows. Other
parts of the mob were employed in breaking the machinery
and setting fire to the place. The mill was burnt down,
and every thing belonging to it was consumed. A dwel-
ling-house near the mill, occupied by Turton, the engi-
neer, was also burnt at the same time. The mob were
very noisy, and some were quarrelling with others for
pelting the windows while some of their own men were
inside. There was also firing of pistols. The mob then
dispersed, and separated in different ways. A great many
went towards the public-house.
George Turton, jun. sworn—l was foreman in Mr.
Lowe's mill in October last. It was a silk mill, where
silk is wound, doubled, spun, and thrown or milled. I

was in the factory on the 11th at twenty minutes past
twelve, at the time the mob came. Had heard previously
that the mob was coming to attack the mill. Some of
the hands who were then leaving work came back again
and said that the mob was coming. I looked out from one
of the highest windows and saw a crowd of about three
or four thousand. I heard somebody say, "Halt, this is
the place," and a shower of stones was immediately thrown
at the windows. This witness gave the same evidence as
the last witness as to the entrance of the mob. He begged
them not to destroy the place, as the bread of 160 persons
depended on it and were all doing well. They, however,
took no notice of what he said, but proceeded to destroy
the mill. Saw them set fire to the machines by pulling
down the window blinds and burning them under the
machines. Saw one of the rioters pour liquid on a blind,
set it on fire and throw it under a machine which was
composed of light deal. They said of Mr. Lowe, " Where
is he, we'll cut him in pieces and frizzle him." The mill
fell in in about fifty minutes. They broke into witness's
father's house, smashed everything within it, and burnt it
to the ground.
William Lowe proved the locality, and that the property
destroyed was worth about 14 or 15,0001.
Samuel Chambers deposed that he lived at Beeston, and
kept a shop there. On the llth of October saw the mob
come at about a quarter past twelve. Saw Beck there.
He was the first man-,-

Thomas Sedger, a constable of Redford, deposed to the
apprehending -of the prisoner on the 17th of October.
Did not tell him what it was for. Had neither used pro-
mise or threat to induce him to confess. Asked him,
what be (Beck) had been doing, as he was to be taken up.
Beck said that Tom Smith, as he was coming out of a
public-house in Narrow Marsh, pressed and made him go
with them, that they gave him a stick with tri-coloured
ribands, which he carried, and they halted on the Derby-
road, that he was in the front of the mob, and halted them
for the second time at Beeston silk mill.

Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE summed up, observing that it
did not appear that the prisoner had with his own hand
destroyed property, but the only question the Jury had to
consider was, if he aided or abetted it.

The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty just as the post
left. He was recommended to mercy on account of good
character.

OLD BAILEY.-(TIIIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
MURDER OF MARGARET DUFF Y.

Bridget Calkin, aged 19, a respectable and rather
an interesting looking female, was placed at the bar upon
an indictment, charging her with having by means of
pressure o❑ the throat, chest, &e. murdered Margaret
Duffy, a child, aged about six years. She was also
charged upon the Coroner's inquisition.

„ .
The prisoner when she was called upon to plead to
the charge, appeared quite unconcerned, and said ” Not
Guilty."
Mr. AnoLrnus having opened the case called the fol-
lowing witnesses:—

Illa;y Cane sworn—Knew a privy in Hartshorn-court,
Little Cheapside. On Saturday night, the 3d of Decem-
ber, at ten o'clock, went there, and, it being dark, she
put her foot on the body of the child. She ran out and
gave an alarm, when some persons went there with a
light. Witness then saw the dead body of the deceased
lying on its back in a corner of the privy. One of its
legs was doubled up, and the clothes were above the knees.
No person could get into the place but those who knew
the way thither, and knew how to open the door. The
privy was common to the inhabitants of seven houses.
Prisoner lived next door to witness.

Wm. Newton, a boy, twelve years old, lived at No. 7,
Payne's-buildings, near Hartshorn-court. On the night
in question first witness told bins what he had seen, and he
went to the privy with a light and pushed the door, hut could
not push it quite back ; a man then rushed out,
past witness, pushing him against an opposite door, and
extinguishing his candle. The man was lusty, wore a
black coat, and bad a crape round his hat. A woman
also came out, who had on a light shawl, and a high
cap or bonnet ; she was a " littlish" woman. Two men,
Shookers and Nolan, came up and took the body of the
child from the privy.
Patrick Nolan described the state in which he found
the body. He fires took it up.
John Shookers, a costermonger, of No. 1, Hartshorn-
court, stated that on the night of the 3d of December,
shortly before ten o'clock, he heard Mary Cane scream
and went towards her. When he got to the privy he saw
the preceding witness with a candle, and he likewise
saw the body of the child. Witness took the child to Mr.
Smith, a surgeon, but it was dead.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSON—Witness took the
child from the ground first, and not Nolan, the preceding
witness.

James Duffy was father of the deceased child, and lived
in Broad Arrow-court. The deceased was between five
and six years old, was very healthy, and never subject to
fits since she had the pooping-cough two years ago. Saw
her last alive at half-past five o'clock on the 3d of Decem-
ber, when she was going out with the prisoner. Knew
the prisoner, who often nursed the child and appeared
always to behave kindly to her. The next time witness
saw the child was at the station-house, Bunhill-row, about
a quarter before ten o'clock, when she was quite dead.
Cross-examined—Appeared always uncommonly fond
of the children and kind to them.
Eleanor Jennings, a child, twelve years old, was play-
ing with the deceased between five and six o'clock, on the
3d December, in her, witness's parents' room. The
prisoner then came to the door of the room, and asked if
Margaret Duffy was there, and on being told she was, the
prisoner took her down stairs, and witness never saw the
deceased alive afterwards.
Elizabeth Kenny, of No. 12, Prospect-place, Pump-
alley, about five minutes' walk from Hartshorn-court,
stated that on the night of the 3d December, about half-
past five or a quarter before six o'clock, she saw the
prisoner for the first time; prisoner had on a light dress,
a light shawl, and a black bonnet. The child had hold
of her band walking
by ber side ; the child had neither
shoes or stockings on, and was crying ; prisoner told her
not to cry for she would be soon at home. Prisoner was
going towards Hartshorn-court.
Martin Bayley, a labourer, knew Hartshorn-court ; was
coming through there on the night of the 3d Decem-
ber, shortly before eight o'clock, and saw the prisoner
coming away from the privy door; was then only a few