The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-26 00:00:00

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—not as an habitual professiou, but as a citizen's
duty, whenever the signs of the time warn him that
he may have to defend his own hearth from a fo-
reign
invader. Thus have sprung up our Volun-
teers,—not mere raw, undisciplined, unskilful pre-
tenders, like the old city Train Bands ridiculed in
our popular farces, but patiently learning the use
of their weapons ; so that a wasp could not more
safely enter a beehive than an invader could brave
all the stings in the rifles of England. And here
let me pause to de justice to our noble Hertford-
shire countryman, Lord Cowper. Superior to e3l
those allurements which not unnaturally incline-a
young man of his rank and wealth to look upon life
as a child looks upon a holiday, when, while other
folks are at work all around him, he has nothing
to do but to play, this true representative of the
manly, patriotic English aristocracy has devoted
himself heart and soul to show that this shire of
Hertford is not more fertile of barley than it is
fertile of men—men who can defend the soil that
they till and the harvests they reap. But England
has done more than defend her shores. Her moral
influence has been felt in every step that has ad-
vanced the condition of the world. It was my task
when in-office, conjointly with Lord Malmesbury--
thcugh to him belongs the far greater share of the
merit—to aid and to stimulate France in what to
her was a difficult experiment, the substitute of
free labour for negro slavery in her colonial pos-
sessions. Here, what encouraged France? It
was the example of
England. We have
not assisted Italy with our arms, it is true, but
then we have not asked from Italy the cession of
Savoy elhd Nice. And, if the Government of Sar-
dinia should preserve the courage to refuse further
concessions of Italian territory, what can so main-
tain their resolution as the earnest dignity with
which England has already protested against the
terrible doctrine that the recognised boundaries of
European kingdoms are to be altered by secret
compacts and family arrangements? We have
morally opposed ourselves to the domination of
Austria in her old Italian possessions. But when
Austria, dismayed et her own feebleness under
despotic forms of Government, seeks to invigorate
her system by constitutional changes, she looks
neither to Russia nor to France for a model. She
looks to England, and the Constitution she gives is
copied from our own. Thus, wherever we look, not
the arms but the example of England has advanced
the condition of the world. Nor have we arrested
even the progress of an empire which, as its object
is commerce and not conquest, may possibly be more
durable than the empires to which I have before
referred. While France was premeditating the
petty acquisition of Savoy and Nice, which will cost
her treasury more than they can ever give to her
commerce, we have been laying the foundations of
a new- and mighty colony, which every year will
more and more enrich our trade by the wants of its
spreading population, and maintain the rewards of
our agriculture by the influx of gold from the richest
mines which have yet been discovered. Pardon me
if I speak of the colony, it was my duty to advise
my Sovereign to found, with the assent and
the aid of my colleagues in office—l mean British
Columbia. That colony, with its neighbour Van-
couver, taken from the Hudson's Bay Company,
gives to England her only possession on the
Pacific Ocean. But that possession is the key to
the Pacific, and had I still been in office, long be-
fore this, I venture to think, one line of British
settlements would have sprang up to connect the
Pacific with the Atlantic. Quietly, inoffensively,
with no alarm to Europe, no threat to the civilized
laws of nations, England has thus annexed from
the wilderness—annexed to her Crown—a country
larger than England itself, and which before a
quarter of a century is over will add millions to our
national industry in support of the profits of agri
culture, the wages of labour, and the interchange
of commerce. lam not out of place in thus allud-
ing. to that act in my own special administration of
which I am most proud, for it was the choice of the
electors of Hertfordshire that sanctioned my ap-
pointment as a Minister of the Crown ; and if in
future generations my name should be remembered
in connexion with the commencement of a colony,
destined, I believe, to be the wealthiest of all that
now speak our language, it will be as the represen-
tative of this county of Hertford, with which I
identify every public honour that I can achieve by
labour, and to which I gratefully acknowledge
every obligation that man can owe to those who
exaggerate his merits and are lenient to his faults.

I detain you too long. I :now hasten to a close.
Some among you may say, " This is an agricultural
meeting; why does not our member confine himself
to agricultural topics ?" My answer is short.
Simply because every man here can speak on those
subjects better than m 3 self. But when you drink
my health as one of your members, you remind me
that I am sent to Parliament, not as the represen=
tative of shorthorns and long-horns, of turnips
and wheat ; I am the representative of thoughtful
and intelligent men, who expect me when I meet
them to speak of things -which a legislator is
supposed to study, mindful only of the one con-
dition, which I hope-I have not infringed, that he
does not introduce the acerbities of party
into a convivial meeting. But a special object
of these- festivities is, after all, to bring us together
to unite tenant and landlord, to promote frank
discussion, and cement kindly intercourse. And
for this reason I am here to-day, altering the plans
I had formed for the autumn, in order that I might
come among you—not to volunteer lectures on
farming to practical farmers, but to hear with re-
spect all that farmers can say on that subject to me.
I am here as the representative of your interests
and opinions in Parliament, to thank you with
sincere and earnest gratitude for the indulgence you
all, on both sides of party, showed to me when my
strength broke down in my efforts to discharge to
the utmost the duties which I owed to my Sove-
reign and to you ; and to assure you that now, in
recovering my health, .my remembrance of your
kindness will make me still more anxious, to merit
your, trust as long as I remain in your service.
The CriAinmAN (Mr. Puller) also returned thanks.
He alluded tp the scanty legislative measures passed
last session, and said, with reference to reform, that
improvements had been going on so fast since 1830
that no wonder the desire for further alteration
should beconie exhausted at last, and perhaps it was
as well that it should. He did not agree with Sir
E. B. Lytton that it was desirable the United States
should be split up into three or, four republics, and
instanced the South American Republics as an in-
stance of what might ensue if the present North;
American RepubliC baciame divided.
Mr. SMITH, who was received with enthusiastic
cheering, after some introductory observations, said
he looked with hope on the future, seeing the excel-
lent harvest, and if there .was any deficiency in
the yield he believed it would be made up by the
quality. He expressed the gratification he felt at
the establishment of constitutional government
in Austria and Italy, and his sincere regret
at the unfortunate civil war in America. ,He
was sure he would find an echo in their hearts,
when he ventured to express his
harvest time
to Almighty God for the good im
they had just had. Science could do much ; it
could give them reaping and sowing, and plough-
ing and other machines, but it could not give them
the genial and refreshing shower, it could not make
the corn grow, it could not ripen it; and this year
there was .no likelihood of any interruption to the
prevailing peace; and for all these things they had
much to be grateful. He again cordially thanked
them for the honour they had done him. (Cheers.)
Mr. SURTEES proposed "The Health of the
Chairman."

The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the honour
done him, said those occasions were very agreeable,
not only as they brought landlords and tenants
and friends together, but they gave young aspi-
rants to the House of Commons an opportunity of

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Find Peeing if they could
Lnd something sensible to
,he old stagers a chance of
m great public co, s!iops

on which therbOiored rr
them. He disa.greedpn,irelfwitli *ir ti. Lytton
as to the American question, believiag it w4s-,thqt..;..-4
important that the Union should be presetved; to
prevent the spread of slavery, as well as fot .the '
general welfare and prosperity of the country.. jte_D
earnestly hoped the society which had been tits
means of calling them together would long prosper -"
and, as an earnest of their feelings, he called .on
them to give tliree time 3 three for the Herts Agri-
cultural Society,

Three cheers having been given, other toasts fol-
lowed of minor importance, concluding- with "The
Townn, and Trade of Hitchin. " _

EXTRAO RDINAR I' CAST:.

(From the Birmingham _Daily post )
The magistrates sitting at Burstein
pollee -court
on Tuesday (MeArs. T. B. Rose, W.Brownfield,
and G. Alcock) were occupied for a oonsiderabto
time in the investigation of an extraordinary char,E,
of riot, preferred against eight men—Robert
of Mow Cop ; Thomas Hales, of Mow Cop ; George
Machin, of Biddulph ; John Hall, of Mow Cop;
Thomas Hales, of Longton ; Thomas Hales, of
Wolverhampton ; Richard Creswell, of Mow Cop ;
and Joseph Hales, of Mow Cop. Mr. Heaton
appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Stevenson
for the defence. The case excited considerable ,-
public interest, and during the inquiry the court

was crowded.
The facts of the case for the prosecution, as ad-
duced in evidence, may be thus briefly stated. On
the morning of the 9th of September the family of
Mr. Oldacre, a retired solicitor, residing at Norton
Green Hall, a mile or two from Burslem, Stafford-
shire, were surprised by receiving a visit from nine
or ten men, whose object wasevidently not a friendly
on Among these men were the prisoners, with
the exception of Hall and Hales, of Wolverhamp-
ton. They demanded possession of the hall, and
Mr. Oldacre, who is an old gentleman, and who was
dressing when he heard of the strange claim on his -
property, came down stairs and asked the intruders 0
the object of their visit. Hall, of Longton, said
they had come to take possession of the hall.
Mr. Oldacre asked, " How do you make out your
claim ?" A man named Harding, not pre-
sent, thereupon produced a paper, which he said
was a copy of the will of Ann Meir, a former pro—
prietor of the hall. Thomas Hales, of Longton„
then said that he claimed the property as heir-at- .
law of Alfred Hales, and he afterwards said he •
claimed it by an assignment of Thomas Hales, of
Wolverhampton, who -was the real heir of Alfred
Hales. Mr. Oldacre told them they had no claim (
whatever ; if they had they should go to a lawyer
and take proceedings in the regular way. They
replied they had come to take possession, and they
would have possession. Mr. Oldacre replied that
.41
they had no claim, and requested them to leave the
house, but they refused. Thomas Hales, of Mow
Cop, and Richard Hales had got hold of the keys t
of two entrance doors of the hall, and refused to
give them up. The two parish constables of Nor-
ton presently came to the hall, and the men still
refusing to give up the keys, they were taken
away from Thomas Hales, of Mow Cop, who had
got both, and who struggled violently to retain.
possession of them. He also tried to hide one of the'
keys inside his trousers. The men were then put
out, all but two or three who had previously gone
when requested. On the following morning the .-
prisoners returned to the hall with nearly 100 men,
and on their approach all the doors and other en-
trances to the house were secured. Mr. Oldrace
went out to meet them, although very much alarmed, '
and expostulated with them, begging them to act -
like Englishmen, 'and not do. what Englishmen
should be ashamed to do. They again said they had •.
come to take possession of the property ; and Thos.
Hales of Longton, introduced Thos. Hales of Wol-
verhampton, as the real heir of Alfred Hales, a for—
mer owner, and said that he held an assignment of
the property executed by the heir. Thos. Hales, of
Longton, in reply to Mr. Oldacre's further remon-
strance, told him they were not come there to be
talked to, but to take possession of the hall, and
possession they would have. Mr. Oldacre forbade
them to approach the house, whereupon Thomas
Hales, of Longton, called upon the others to burst
open the door, and after a moment's hesitation the
whole body made a rush at the kitchen eoor, and
kicked it violently. The prisoners were ringleaders
in the attack. Not succeeding in opening the door
with kicking and pushing, they got a heavy piece
of wood, and with that forced it open, following
the accomplishment of the feat by a loud cheer.
'They entered the back kitchen, and made for the
inside kitchen door, a very strong old-fashioned
oak and nailed door, and after battering it for
a considerable time, they broke it in two
or three places, and then knocked it down.
This exploit was also followed by a cheer.
A great party rushed into the house, and whilst a
portion made for the apartments, and seized all the
furniture they could lay their hands on, and brought
it to the door, the other portion took it and deposited.
it in the yard. Mr. Oldacre struggled and got into
the house to protect it as well as he could from the
spoliation which was going on; but Hall, who was
stationed at the door to prevent those oustide from
going in, and those inside from going out, pushed
him back and struck him, and immediately another
man struck him—he believed Joseph Hales. At last
Mr. Oldacre got inside and went into his study,
where he found Cress well endeavouring to prevent
his daughter opening the window to let in some
neighbours, who had come to his assistance. Ulti-
mately, after some trouble, a large number of neigh-
bours got in, and the assailants were ejected. Be-
sides the damage done to the doors, the study
window was broken, and other injuries effected.
In cross-examination Mr. Oldacre said that in
1859 he received notice from Thomas Hales, of
Longton, that he claimed the hall, and that he
should take proceedings to recover it. Mr. Webb.
Ward was the attorney who served the notice. Mr_
Oldacre entered an appearance, but he had heard
nothing of the claim since. He had told Hales that;
if he wanted to prosecute the claim he would givi•ct
him £lOO to do it, on condition that if he did not
succeed the £lOO should be returned. Mr. 01.dacm
denied that 100 or 200 " roughs" of Norton came
to his assistance armed with bludgeons, or that he
had concerted to have.a mob present. There were
perhaps 50 persons there, and some others were
from the foundries, but all came voluntarily to
give-him what assistance they could, and no per-
sonal violence was used.

Hannah Mayer, beerseller, Norton-green, •said--t-
On Sept. 19 Robert Hales, Thomas Hales, of Long-
ton, and Thomas Hares, of Mow Cop, ean3.B to her
house and had some ale. While there, Thomas
Hales, of Mow Cop, said they, had been put. out that
day, but they were going to bring a large army the
next day, and they would get possession, or else
take off the roof. She went to the hall the next
morning, while the crowd were in the back yard.
She was knocked down and kicked on the hip by
Thomas -Hales, of Longton. Mr. Olditete was
pushed about a great deal.
Samuel Turner, a farmer, and one of the parisk
constables of Norton, deposed to going to the hall,
and seeing the crowd break open the doors and
hall, and strike Mr. Oldacre on the breast.
When the mob. went into the house and began
to remove the -furniture witness went for assist-
ance, and brought back a number of persons,
whom he charged in "the Queen's name to help to
put down the riot. A party got in. through Abe
windows, and another party advanced
upon• the mob
from the front, and thedafter 'some. trouble the in-
truderswas- lashed
fearfully
wererfllyand he the
aboutaturned
by the out.
Hales, Witnessa
whole scene in the house ss a regular riot.
carpenter,mater gave
Miss Francis Oldacre, daughter to Mr. Olidacre,
corroborated
apveinctosrrillobhoirsaetivve
evidence.
Arrowemith, many of the material
i
At this point an adjournment
of the .case was
asked by Mr. Heaton and g
d.elnoceh.n
rsaorn,tersd.
might r.Hbeaton
asked that the bail of the r prisoners
en-
largedassume od,
bu u account
Mr.
of
Stevenson the
opposedforme
the casee d
applica-
tion, which was refused.
The prisoners were then bound over to appear at
'Hanley on Monday next. •

FEARFUL LOCOMOTIVE EXPLOSION.—SHIELDS,
Sept. 24.—A most fearful locomotive explosion took place
at Stella Gill, a station on the Pontop and Shields (coal)
branch of the North-Eastern Railway, about 14 miles from
this place, at 10 o'clock last night. A locomotive engine/
No. 84, was standing at this station, having attached to it a
train of laden coal-waggons for the Tyne dock. John
Smith, the enginerean, Wm. Hunter, the fireman, and John
Leatham, the guard to the train, had been standing upon
the tender of the engine talking some time, when Latham
went forward to the buffer ends. He had scarcelYlo'.7
standing
about when the engine exploded with 41,5vt'al violence, ITV I'd
on the en •
on the spot ;
self to pieces, and scattering fragments of
tthheawengtaernkifeilllaend. and fireman
machinery in every direction. Several poothrsir
about had narrow escapes ; but the poor
agninfiethweeriewfuearirfesully hurt.
sustained byliaa
were of the most serious character' They were brought
into South Shields express, and the engineman and fireman
were attended to by a medical man. William Hunter, the
fireman,
was quite unconscious this morning, but the
engin
moan was in a more hopeful condition. The coroner
win bold an inquest at Shields probably to-morrow.