The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-25 00:00:00

SIB GEORGE GREY AT BEDLINGTON.

On Friday evening a soiree took place at Bed-,
lington, to assist the purchase of a piano for the
use of the school of the parish. The chair was
occupied by the Rev. the Vicar of Bedlington (the
Rev. C. T. Whitley),-and on the platform were the
Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Bart.; 112 r. Joseph
Young, of Hartford; Mr. R. B. Sanderson ; and
Mr. Hood, Morpeth.
The Rev. CHAIRMAN having expressed his hap-
piness at seeing so large and respectable a company
as that which faced him,
Sir GEORGE GREY rose to address the meeting,
and was received with warm applause. On its
subsiding, the right hon. gentleman began by ex-
pressing his thanks to Mr. Whitley for affording
him an opportunity, by the invitation he gave him
a few days ago, of being present on that occasion.
He must say that he felt the greatest interest in
seeing assembled before him those who were en-
gaged, as many of them were, directly or indirectly,
in an occupation carried on in a secluded mining
Tillage in Northumberland—an occupation which
involved great labour, involved more than ordinary
risk, but which was a most honourable occupation
—(hear)—an occupation which conduced to the
comfort and the enjoyment of every man in this
country, from the humblest to the highest, and from
the cottage to the palace, by the cheering fire which
enlightened and afforded us many conveniences and
comforts, and added so much to family enjoyment,
and at the same time conduced so eminently to the
wealth and prosperity—yes, and the security of
this country. By the last census it appeared that
the population of that parish had very materially
increased, and he believed that increase was due to
the wide extension of the coal workings within the
parish. Now, it was an interesting fact, which he
durst say they might be familiar with, to notice
the great and rapid increase in the coal production
of this country. We lived in an age which gave
us much cause for thankfulness that we did live in
it. We lived in an age in which comforts and en-
joyments were greatly multiplied, and in which
seience had made such rapid strides as to add
greatly, not only to the national wealth, but to the
enjoyment and comfort of the humblest families in
this kingdom. He alluded to the security of the
country, to which this most useful branch of in-
dustry so largely conduced ; and he alluded in that
to our great navy, which had been the strength of
this country, and which, he trusted, would always
continue to be its strength and defence, keeping
far from our shores any invading foe. Tbat navy
was propelled almost exclusively by steam, coal
being the means by which they were enabled to
produce that mighty power, which carried not only
our merchant ships all over the ocean, conveying
the produce of our country to the most distant
lands, and bringing back the products of those
lands, but propelling our magnificent line-of-battle
ships, which were destined, he hoped, in case of
need, to be that defence to our shores which they
had ever been. He had never been more struck
than when looking into the hold of one of those
magnificent ships, and seeing the enormous and
beautifully.constructed machinery, and seeing that
enormous mass floating idly at the moment in the
water, but capable of being propelled at a most
rapid speed, and sailing in the most tempestuous
seas with that mighty power to which they, who
were engaged in the production of coal, were con-
tributing by their daily industry. He alluded to
that, because those who were living in that village
—he could hardly call it very secluded, but still. if
that term was to be applied to it, those who lived
in it and were occupied in the daily routine might
sometimes not be aware how much they were ful-
filling duties in the sphere in which they were
placed, not only by the discharge of their duties to
their families, providing them with the means of an
honest subsistence, obtaining those comforts and
enjoyments which he hoped many of them were
able to possess as the results of their industry, but
how they were component parts of the nation's
greatness, and what reason they had to be thankful
for those muscles and sinews which God had given
them, and which they were enabled to use so as to
enable that nation of which they were a part to
occupy the proud Position which it did occupy
among the nations of the earth. (Cheers.)
And those were only material advantages. They
had a higher existence than that which they were
leading here on earth ; and it was hardly possible
to address them within that room, devoted to the
most important object of secular and religious edu-
cation, without looking higher than those mortal
interests which came home to them at every mo-
ment of their lives, and remembering that they were
immortal beings, and appreciating—as he trusted
the large assemblage he then addressed did—those
advantages which they possessed in the moral and
religious privileges which were afforded to them
through the institutions which existed in that parish,
and he trusted in every parish which existed
throughout the kingdom. Again, he said, they had
reason to be thankful that they lived in this day,
because, contrasting the present period with 50 or
100 years ago, they possessed advantages infinitely
greater than their ancestors then possessed. They
saw schools arising throughout the land, and not
empty schools, to be merely permitted to say,
" There's a school in the parish," but schools
thronged with children of industrious parents, who
were anxious to give their children a good sound
education, which would enable them not only to
make their way in this world, but to understand
and fulfil their duties not only to their
fellow - men, but to God himself, and to prepare
themselves, as immortal beings, for that future
world to which they were all hastening. Mr.
Whitley had alluded to the intemperance which
prevailed, in not one, but in all classes many
years ago. It was a most gratifying circumstance
that that habit of intemperance had greatly, he
hoped, diminished ; and he had a hearty sympathy
for those who, by any means which they thought
were likely to effect their object, were endeavour-
ing to wage a war against a habit—he might call
it sin—which was the fruitful parent of misery and
crime. But he must say that he had much more
faith in the counter-attraction of good schools, of
meetings like the present, of reading-rooms, and of
innocent, useful, and instructive amusements and
and occupations, placed within reach of the masse
of the community, than he had in any legislative
restrictions and prohibitions. He believed there
was a marked difference in the rising generation
compared with former times, and he hoped they
should have shown to their children good examples,
and those examples would be improved upon ; and
the sin of intemperance would be counteracted by
those means which were now made use of generally
for the moral, religious, and social improvement of
the country. Another thing which he thought
Ithey had reason to be thankful for was the improved
homes of the people. Now, it was impossible to tra-
vel through the mining districts of this country
without seeing the great improvement
with in“ tthheenoelwd houses of the pitmen as compared
w;
ones. With reference to himself, there were a great
many Northumbrian men, and he believed there
twhearne
hs some md d .
B uta ,
word
ohrti mustv o r oul
a said
d cover morefor t h
ger eNu
onrd_
thumbrian women. Ho believed it had been well
said that many of the greatest niell of this country

had owed their greatness, as far as their natural
talent, education, and training were concerned, in
a great degree to their mothers ; and he believed it
was to the women of England that they were to
look chiefly for the improved character of the ris-
ing generation. (Applause.) Now, he was reminded
of this by alluding to the homes of the people, be-
pause if they gave a woman a good home to live in,
he believed she would take care that it should be
made a comfortable horse for her husband and for
her family ; and the number who were present on
that occasion showed the interest they had in
the proceedings of that evening, and bow much
they were disposed to appreciate the advantages
which were held out to them in that place. (Ap-
plause.) He could only say that he sympathised
most cordially and earnestly with all the efforts that
were made for the good of those who dwelt in that
district; and he was delighted to know and to feel:
that the improvement that was going on was
effected in a great measure through their own
doings. (Hear, hear, and cheers) There was an
admirable book, published not long ago by the
author of the' Life of George Stephenson," called
" Self Help." It was by helping themselves and
using their own exertions that they must look
for their improvement; and he must say that
from the advantages held out to them, and their
evident appreciation of those advantages, they might
look with hope to the future parish of Bedlington
and the district in which they were assembled. Mr
Whitley had spoken of the usefulness of cultivating
music, and had expressed a hope that it might be
successfully cultivated within these walls. From
the specimens they had had there that evening, he
could not shut his eyes to the conviction that it had
been already successfully cultivated to a great degree
in that parish, and he only hoped that number would
be greatly multiplied who were charming their ears
with those sweet sounds which they had already
heard with such satisfaction. With regard to his
coming there on that occasion, he could only say, he
had had greater pleasure in addressing such an as-
semblage as he then saw before him than he had in
addressing many assemblages which he had been
bound to address on former occasions on other sub-
jects of a political nature, which, however important
in their place, did not afford so much satisfaction as
a social gathering of that kind. (Loud cheers.) And
while there always must be distinctions in classes,
he believed any distance, any estrangement between
those classes of society, would be best removed by
meetings of that description, in which they all met
on a level, all uttering the same sentiments, and met
together as friends and neighbours, anxious only to
promote each other's comfort, social enjoyment, and
religious improvement. His chief desire in address-
ing them was to express the gratification he had
felt at being present on that occasion, and the deep
interest he should always feel in their welfare ; and
he hoped that was not the last occasion on which he
should have the pleasure of addressing them. (The
hon. baronet resumed his seat amid loud cheers.)

ENFORCEMENT OF ENGLISH,FRENCH,
AND SPANISH CLAIMS ON 41.EXICO.

It is stated that the conditions of a treaty between
the Queen of Ergland, the Emperor of the French,
and the Queen of Spain are in course of arrange-
ment for an immediate intervention, by the com-
bined forces of the three Sovereigns, in the affairs
of Mexico. The intention of the allies is to send a
combined naval force into the Gulf of Mexico.
This force will blockade, and will, we apprehend,
temporarily occupy, the principal ports upon the
Gulf, such as Vera Cruz, Tampico, and one or two
others. By these means the allies will bring the
Mexican Government to an immediate acquiescence
in their terms. The plan on which they have
agreed for the satisfaction of the outstanding claims
is this :—The allied Powers will sequestrate the
customs revenues of the ports in question. —7-11-Tei
will charge their consuls, or some other autho-
rities, jointly to collect these revenues at the
different ports ; and these consuls, acting together,
will form a sort of international commission, con-
stituted for the purpose at each port. No ship
will be able either to enter or clear at the ports of
Vera Cruz, Tampico, Sze.,k without the authority of
these consuls, who will exact—and not only exact,
but themselves also receive—the customs dues on
such entrances and clearances. They will, we
presume, observe the existing customs duties re-
cognised by Mexican laws, and will throw the
proceeds into a common treasury of their own at
each port. They then intend to retain a given
proportion of these proceeds for their respective
nations, and to pay over a portion to the Mexican
Government. We believe that the allies will retain
about 50 per cent. of these, and will pay over 50 per
cent. to Mexico. Their respective consuls, after
paying over to the Mexican Government its share
of the proceeds, quarter by quarter, will divide the
balance or other half rateably between the three
countries. This arrangement will be permanent,
or will endure at least until all claims shall have
been discharged. A ship of war or two in the road-
steads of each of these ports will meanwhile secure
the maintenance of authority of the allied consuls.
Much of this arrangement of course presumes the
capitulation of the Mexican Government. But if
that Government should attempt to hold out, -this
(which would otherwise have been done by arrange..
ment with the Mexican authorities) will be done by
means of a blockade. As soon as the arrangement,
can be made with the Mexican Government there
will no longer be need of an effective blockade, for•
the authority of the consuls would spring from a
treaty with Mexico herself.
It is not thought that it will be necessary for
ourselves to send any additional force into that
quarter of the world. We have already on the
West Indian and North American station 26 ves-
sels of war, mounting 500 guns, and carrying 6,500
men.--31orrang Post.

TRAGICAL ()CCURRENCE, NEAR NEW-
CA TL E- UNDER- L Y ME.

Excitement of the most painful character was
aroused on Monday morning last, in the neighbour-
hood of Newcastle-under-Lyme, by the rumour that
an elderly man, named Johnson, an Irishman, who
keeps a beerhouse, known as the Mile House, half
way between Newcastle and the village ot Ches-
terton, had, in a paroxysm of rage, killed a young
man, named Richard Pickstock, the previous even-
ing ; and this feeling became the more intense
when it was known that in the blindness of fury
the unhappy man had caused the death of an un-
offending youth. The particulars of this sad oc-
currence are in substance as follow :—Johnson„
amonat other children, has a daughter, about 15
years of age, who has been keeping company with
a youth, named Cooper, and this, it would seem, in
opposition to the wishes of her father, who is stated.
to be when excited a man of ungovernable temper. On Sunday night, somPafter divine service, at which the two had attended. Cooper and his sweetheart
reached the girl's home, near which they stood for
a short time in conversition. Close by were the
deceased and a companion or two, Waiting for
Cooper, but taking no part in the
young couple's
tete-a tete. Johnson, who was in his own house
vyn
di toho
rhs his fist,c o 0
paetr t hoen s at
hmi es
when his 'daughter came up, was seen to go to
ttoepeorr,dearnidngstrtihkee
ghiirml
ran off; the father passing into the house.
Almost immediately,
whoout,
landad
also
stfollowedstarted
ePdioe however, he again came
nk ssteoeci !Ku andthe
attackhis ccomn
Cooper.
One of these, a yo ouch g
u named Proctor, was a little
in advance ot pig named
and was endeavouring to
quicken the pace of the latter, who, nevertheless,
went leisurely along, knowing that he had given:
no offence. Shortly, Proctor turned round and saw
Johnson come up with his companion, whom he
heard cry : " Don't hit me; I know nothin about
it." At the exclamation, Proctor saw the angry
father raise a billet of wood and strike Pickstock
to the ground. On seeing this savage attack,.
Proctor took to his heels, and ran until h procured
assistance. On returning, Pickstock was found
on his legs, and staggering wildly about
in his attempts to proceed towards home. He was
assisted fur a little way, but, becoming rapidly
worse, he teas at last obliged to be carried to his.,
lodgings at Chesterton. Messengers were sent in
every direction for medical help, hut some delay
occurred before it was available. In the meantime
Pickstook became worse, and died at five o'clock
on Monday morning, He was a joiner, and about
19 years old. His parents, we believe, reside
‘licidlewich. On Monday morning Johnson was
taken before the magistrates at Hanley, and re-
manded until the issue of the Coroner's inquiry,
which was opened last evening.