The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-24 00:00:00

TO THE' EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—ln the Times of to-day there appears the
following statement made by Lord Palmerston, in
his speech to the toast of " the Press," at the La-
bourers' Encouragement Society's dinner at
Romsey; and as that statement is unfounded
in fact, and is most injurious to the late
Mr. William Woodfall, the celebrated Parliamen-
tary reporter, for whose name the public have had
some regard, and to whose career his descendants
(of whom I am one) look back with pride, I trust
that you will allow me to call your attention to it.
The words are as follow :

" I have heard that towards the end of the last century
there was a man named Woodfall who used to publish
debates, and how did ho do it ? It is said that he used to
go to the gallery of the House of Commons, listen atten-
tively, with his face in his hands, to what passed, go home,
drink two pots of porter, go to bed, get up next morning,
and from his dreams and recollections make out what he
called a report of a debate." r

Now, sir, Mr. William Woodfall was an honour-
able, well-educated man, editor of a newspaper, en-
dowed by his Creator with an extraordinary me-
mory. At a time when Parliamentary reporting
was in its infancy; when there were not the relays
of reporters and the steam-engines of the Times to
furnish a verbatim report of the night's proceedings
for the morning's reading ; and when Parliamentary
speeches, being addressed less to the public than as
arguments to the house, did not reach their present
interminable length, he attended Parliament and re-
ported from memory at the earliest moment the es-
sence of the debate, honestly and with talent. His
reports were true according to his power, and not
made up by a drunken impostor, as Lord Palmerston
would have us believe, out of " his dreams and re-
collections." They were a great boon to the public
(for which his name lives to the present time), and
were the germ of that political education of the
people which you, by the aid of modern appliances
and great expenditure, have brought to its present
perfection.

- The sons of Mr. William Woodfall are no more ;
(one of them was the Chief Justice of Cape Breton,
and the author of the " Law of Landlord and
Tenant"—a textbook of the law to the present
time) ; but I, as his grandson, must indignantly
deny the injurious character given to him by Lord
Palmerston, and assert, from my own association
with his immediate descendants (his widow, his
sons, and others), that he was regarded by those
who knew him, with respect for his moral qualities,
as he lives still in our annals remarkable for his in-
tellectual endowments.

I sm, sir, your most obedient servant,
HERNON T. WOODFALL.
5, Oakley-terrace, Chelsea, Dec. 22.

SUPPOSED POISONING _IT SEA.

The ship Hermione, Capt. Towill, which arrived
on Thursday at Liverpool, left Macao Nov. 10. On
Nov. 17 she fell in with the ship Accrington, hence
for Calcutta, in lat. 140 N., lon. 31 31 W. This ves-
sel made signals to the Hermione, and requested the
latter to heave to, and the Accrington would send a
boat to her. The Hermione hove to, and a boat came
on board her with the second officer, who was in
charge of the ship. He reported that the master
and first officer of the Accrington had died two days
previously ; that the vessel was taking out soldiers'
wives and children to Calcutta, and that many chil-
dren had died on board ; and that the belief on board
the Accrington was that the master and mate had
been poisoned. Capt. Towill requested this officer
to make a written report for him to take to Eng-
land, but he declined to do so. Capt. Towill then
sent on board the Accrington to know if the doctor
of the vessel had any report to make, and for the
log-book of the Accrington. The doctor sent ti letter,
which he requested Capt. Tow ill to post on his arri-
val. The log-book was brought on board the Her-
mione, and the following extract is taken from it

Tuesday, Nov. 15—Ten a.m., the captain came on
deck and inquired what course the ship had made for
the last two hours, and was answered E. by S. lie
then gave orders how the watch was to be employed.
The captain went below, the wind being ligkt and
variable ; sails made (or sails trimmed) to the
best advantage. The captain still below. 11.35 a.m.
observed the sun, and thought it very strange the
captain did not come on deck, as was his usual cus-
tom. I then proceeded to take the sun, and found
it dipped. I then inquired of the steward if he had
called the mate, when he answered that the mate
was sick and could not be seen. The doctor coming
on deck at the time, I told him to tell the captain
that the sun had dipped, and he said he would do
so. At 1 p.m. I was called down into the cabin,
and found the captain lying in the water-closet.
The doctor had him removed into the saloon,where
the doctor's orderly (Scott) was ordered to attend
upon him. The doctor and chief officer also very
ill. Affected in the same way as the captain—
severe cramp, attended with 'vomiting and purging.
The steward was taken ill in the same way, but not
to such an extent as the doctor, captain, and mate.
There were mustard plasters and hot tea immedi-
ately applied to the captain ; and any prescription
that the doctor ordered was carried out. At 2 p.m,
captain worse, and gradually sank, hating lost his
speech for the last half-hour, till 3 p.m., when he
expired, the doctor and mate still suffering very
severely from cramp, purging, and vomiting. I
then thought it advisable to confine the cook and
steward, as I did not think it safe to keep them at
liberty, as I had strong suspicion that something had
been put in the cabin breakfast, as the captain, doc-
tor, and mate were affected a short time after break-
fast, which took place at 10 a.m. At 6 p.m. the
captain was washed and cleaned and laid out, and
at 8 p.m. prepared coffin (told the carpenter and
joiner to prepare it), as, after consulting with the
doctor, the captain was to be buried at 8 a.m. next
morning. At 8 p.m. the doctor and mate were
slightly better, but between the hours of eight and
twelve the mate had a relapse for the worse, and
although all that human skill could do for him was
dono he gradually sank till a quarter past six, when
he expired. At eight p.m. (supposed eight a.m.)
the captain was buried in presence of the whole
crew, the doctor being assisted on deck to read the
funeral service. After consulting the doctor, it
was decided that the ship should put into Rio
Janeiro to get assistance. Five p-m. committed to
the deep the body of Mr. Walter Bevan Cooper,
chief officer, in presence of the ship's company, the
service being read by T. Cunningham, officer in
charge.
The above statement is a correct account of the
occurrence that happened on board.
(Signed) SAMUEL M'CUNE, Third Officer.
HENRY HALE. Boatswain.
CHARLES BAYTON, Quartermaster.

Mr. Cunningham reports upwards of 50 deaths
among the children by measles and scarlatina, the
disease at present abating.
(Signed) THOMAS CUNNINGHAM.

SUPPOSED MURDER OF A CHILD BY

ITS MOTHER.

LEDBURY, FRIDAY EVENING.

An inquest has been held at the union, in this
town, by Mr. H. Underwood, county coroner, on an
illegitimate female child, of which a single woman,
named Charlotte Dailey, is the mother.
It appears that Dailey entered the workhouse on
Tuesday the 6th December, and on Saturday, the
17th, was confined of a healthy female child, alive,
and fully developed. The infant went on very well
antil Wednesday night, when some other women
who had been recently delivered of children were
sleeping in the same room or ward with Dailey.
Some time in the night they were awakened by the
screaming of Dalley's child, and being without a
light, they inquired what was the matter. Dailey
said she could not tell, and the child continued to
scream, until one of the women suggested that
Dailey should suckle the infant. She said she would
do so, and told the ethers not to trouble to get a
light, as the child had commenced sucking, and
would be more quiet. The moaning of the infant
ceased suddenly, and the women went to sleep, and
thought no more about it. But about half-past six
on the following morning Dailey, to their great
suprise, informed them that her child was
bi t dineuacdh.
She was grave and serious, but did not e.x h i
dids
unpopto ks
endo Ntvh
aht oiwt
at hi
de
nbaby
camegrieL to Sithse dseaaidths, hbeut'‘
arm and got stiff." She afterwards cried, and said
she wished she had got her child back again. An
alarm was given, and on inquiry it was found that
the mother's arms and chemise were stained with
blood, with which the child's face was smeared, and
which appeared to have issued from its nose. On
making a post mortem examination, the surgeons
discovered woollen fibres adhering to the lips of the
infant, that its nose was compressed, and its hands
clenched and partially congested. Mr. Tanner gave
his opinion that suffocation was the cause of death,
and the jury, under the instructions of the coroner,
returned a verdict of wilful murder against Char-
lotte Dailey, who was taken into custody and cota-
initsed for trial at the next Herefordshire assizes.

STATE OF TRADE.—MANCHESTER, Dec. 23.
The market is suffering under the combined disadvantages
arising out of unfavourable advices from India and the in-
disposition to business usual at this season of the year,
partly due to stock-taking and partly to the enjoyment of
the holidays. Cloths for India are cheaper than on Tues-
day, and water twist from les upwards, and mule twist up
to 70's or 80's, are quieter and scarcely so firm. All goods
are quiet, but the extensive engagements still running and
the general lowness of stocks prevent any noticeable pres-
sure on the market for sales, and only the few holders and
people coming out of orders are disposed to make any con-
cession.