The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-14 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE FORGERIES BY AN

INSURANCE AGENT;

Yesterday a case of a most extraordinary descrip-
tion was investigated before the magistrates at the
Manchester City Police-court, and no doubt it will
excite as much surprise as sorrow amongst the
public when they learn that a gentleman of hitherto
supposed unblemished character, Mr. Edward
Williamson, agent for the Royal Exchange Fire
and Life Insurance Office, will be charged with
having committed a series of forgeries to a large
amount. From what we have been able to glean
from various sources, it appears that Mr. Willia-
mson will be charged with having obtained money
from the principal office in London by representing,
through forged documents, that losses had been
caused by fire on the premises of persons insured in
the office, when in point of fact no such fires had
taken place. He will also be charged with having
increased the amount of bona fide claims made by
insurers who had incurred losses by fire, and he will
be charged with forging signatures endorsed on bills
which he had been ordered to draw to pay some of
the fictitious claims which he had made. We believ.e
we shall be found pretty correct in stating that the
amount which the Royal Exchange Office has been
defrauded out of by this system will be very large
fact that within the last four months fictitious
claims have been made and paid by the office to the
extent of near £3,000. How long this system of
fraud has been carried on of course we are unable at
present to say ; but we know that it was discovered
by the merest accident. A few days ago a gentle-
man from Manchester, whilst in London, called at
the Royal Exchange-office to ask the directors to
appoint a friend of his a second agent for Manches-
ter, alleging that all the other offices had two
agents, whilst the Royal Exchange had only one
in Manchester. The manager, or one of the direc-
tors, replied that they should do no such thing, see-
ing that with one agency fires so often occurred in
that city. At the same, time, he pointed to claims
then lying before him from Mr. Williamson for
something like £7OO, in corroboration of what he
had stated. The gentleman expressed his astonish-
ment at what had been stated, looked at the claims,
and declared, from his own knowledge, that those
fires had never taken place. The manager was
equally taken aback, and could not believe his ears,
inasmuch as he had unbounded confidence in Mr.
Williamson, whose father had been the agent in
Manchester for 45 years. The son, Edward Wil-
liamson, was partner with his father some years be-
fore his decease, and we believe the agency had been
in the hands of the father and son for the last 60
years. In consequence of what transpired in the in-
terview we have alluded to, one of the directors of
the Royal Exchange-office, and the solicitor to the
company went to Manchester, on Tuesday, to investi-
gate the matter, and in the course of a short time
they obtained such information as to satisfy them
that the statement made to them in London was but
too true. Yesterday a warrant was applied for and
granted for Mr. Williamson's apprehension on the
charge of forgery. The warrant, we believe, was
placed in the hands of Superintendent Maybury and
Inspector Buckley for execution, and yesterday
they proceeded to Greenfield House, Bowden, where
Mr. Williamson resides, to apprehend him. At
first they did not find him at home, but at five
o'clock, on returning, they found him in. The
officers showed him the warrant, and told him the
charge upon which he was to be arrested, to which
he replied that he was very sorry that it was so;
that he had been a great fool, and it served him
right ; but that he had property that would five
times cover the amount he was charged with hav-
ing dishonestly obtained. Mr. Williamson was
then taken into custody, and brought in a cab to
the detective office, Manchester. Besides being the
owner of considerable property at Bowden, Mr.
Williamson has a shooting-seat near Stafford, where
Mrs. Williamson and her family are at present
staying. Owing to this fact the family Na ere
spared the pain of seeing Mr. Williamson appre-
hended, and there can be no doubt but that the
affliction which has overtaken them will awaken

that sympathy on their behalf which is but a poor
consolation in such circumstances as those in which
they are placed.

THE BUILDERS' STRIKE.—The masons' commit-
tee
tothyoessteerpdraevly announced,yioreupsortedthata hadnothe accededrpl to theeyer,in termsadd it
ofion
the men—Mr. Crabb, of Gravel-lane Southwark.
THE NIGHTINGALE SLAVE-SHIP.—We have made
full inquiries and find that the ship Nightingale, of Boston,
U.S.A., 810 tons, commanded by her owner, Frederick
Bowen, arrived at Liverpool from New York on the 6th of
October last. On the 24th of November she cleared out for
St. Thomas, West Indies, and on the 14 of December sailed
from the Mersey with the following cargo, which is valued
at £l,27o—viz., 17 bales and 25 cases of cotton goods, 135
bundles of shooks, 6 casks of hoops, 300 boxes of herrings,
20 casks of thread, 14 casks of rice, 25 barrels of beans, 400
ith barrels and 500 barrels of gunpowder, 40 cases, 92 bales,
3 casks, and 31 puns, of earthenware, cotton goods, and
hardware; 12 sheets of iron, two small iron guns, and two
small swivel-guns. Of course the clearance for St. Thomas
was
aruse
deceive the
theCus weiotodmesst,bauttionof th
haveeshipheard w
thatas
before
ethe
perfectly well known to, and was freely talked of among, a
certaino class of people. The Nightingale was found off
Cn gou or Kinsembo, on the Aftican coast, with 960 slaves
leaving todce
out of 1,600 which she had taken on board.
The United
States frigate Saratoga sent her
boats alongside during the
night, captured the ship, and sent her in charge of a prize
• •
crew to laberia,—.Ltverpo‘ Post,

Of all the Returns that Toad the tables of public
men, and ultimately " wrap up" sugar and tea,
none are so popular as the Decennial Census. As
a race we assign a high place to the command to
increase and multiply and replenish the earth. We
consider it our vocation to people the wilderness.
Then, how rapidly does Time take with us elders
this gigantic stride from 1851 to 1861! In how
many respects is this year different from that, and
this decennial period from that which preceded it !
During the last ten years we, who were told to
expect the Millenium, have had two great wars,
which, though distant, drained our armies, and spent
in the work of death what would otherwise have
gone to the common stock of peace and plenty at
home. We have had an unexampled emigration,
and vast cities have risen up in the antipodes,
peopled by men and women who would other-
wise have pressed on the common resources of
home. How does all this work? Then we look
around, and see in France the phenomenon of a
populati▪
on which hardly increases, and which
allows itself to be as much attached to the soil as
our Saxon " villeins," or the serfs recently eman-
cipated
by Russia. The United States, which but
the other day all confidently expected to reach a
hundred millions in half a century more, have sud-
denly broken up, and are now preparing to show
by mutual extermination how it was the human
race was so many ages at a standstill. So, how
are we doing, and what addition have we made to
our family ? The greatest fact of the Census is
that the population of England and Wales is not
increasing qUite so fast as it has done—in fact,
that the ratio of increase is steadily decreasing.
This does not signify very much, nor is the fact one
to be alarmed at. An increase at home of only
2,176,576 is not one to be ashamed of, for it is about
150,000 more than the increase in the preceding
period ; but, as the population is much greater, the
increase ought to have been more, and no doubt
would have been but for the causes alluded to. The
decrease in the ratio of increase is curiously uniform.
In that marvellous decennial period between 1811
and 1821, which included the general peace, the re-
turn of our armies and navies, the remission of war
taxes, and what may be called the revival of the
arts and sciences, the increase was 16 per cent. In
the successive periods, down to that ending last
Easter-day, the increases have been respectively 15,
14, 13, and 12 per cent. The above ratios of in-
crease are easy to remember ; so also, for the pre-
sent, is the fact that the population of England and
Wales and the smaller islands is, in round numbers,
20 millions,---viz., 20,205,504 ; the fact that, inclu-
sive of army, navy, and merchant seamen abroad,
the population of England and Wales, without the
smaller isles, is 20,223,746; the fact that the popu-
lation has more than doubled since we were pre-
paring against an invasion in 1 801 ; and the fact
that the number of the inhabited houses, which
nearly doubled in the first 40 years of the century,
is now 3,745,463, against 1,575,923 in 1801.
The most curious results of the Census are those
which can only be thoroughly appreciated by the
residents in the counties and towns; but they will
often surprise. Taking the counties alphabetically,
we may venture to ask why Bedfordshire, with a
population of 136,265, should have increased by
10,787, when Berks, with 176,103 has only increased
6,050 ? Is it that the one is less attractive, or that
there is more of that freedom, enterprise, and per-
sonal ability which prompt the young and strong
to seek their fortunes elsewhere ? That Bucking-
hamshire, with nearly as large a population, should
only have increased by 2,874, and that Cambridge-
shire, with a population as large, should exhibit a
decrease of 9,455, is very intelligible. Cheshire
shares the fortunes of its neighbour across the
Mersey, and its increase of 49,428 in about half-a-
million brings it up very nearly to the general rate
of English increase. Cornwall, in spite of its
mines, has only increased 13,765 in a population of
369,323. Cumberland seems to exhibit the usual
moderate increase of a thriving agricultural county
which is about half the general ratio of increase for
all England. Derbyshire rises above the general
average, its increase being 43,293 in a population of
339,377. Devonshire, with a population nearly
twice as large, hasincreased not half as much—viz.,
17,433. Poor Dorset has not done so much amiss,
having actually made 4,444 in a population of
188,651. Durham is the first county in the list
where we come to one of those grand figures which
swell the result and countervail against the lower
rates we have hitherto been dealing with. On its
population of 509,018 the increase is 118,021,
which is more than twice the average rate, and
itself the population of a small county. Coal, it
is evident, is the flame of life in this
country, the vestal fire which burns for ages,
and the luminary at whose exhaustion it may
be truly said that "England's sun has set
for ever." Essex :has a good neighbour in the
metropolis, and rises nearly to the average rate of
increase. Gloucestershire does not find the Severn
so prolific as the Thames, for its ratio of increase is
only about half the average rate. Herefordshire has
done pretty well as an agricultural county ; Herts
not so well, and Huntingdonshire, the first small
county in this list, has almost stood still. In Kent,
again, we come. within the metropolitan influence.
Smoke and dirt breed fast, and whatever shortens
life, in this country at least, is sure to create
"masses." In a population of 733,675 the increase
is 117,909—n0t quite so much as in Durham, with
two-thi▪
rds of the population. Lancashire is the
leviathan which has evidently absorbed the natural
increase of many smaller counties. In a population
of 2,428,744 the increase is there 397,508,—a popu-
lade's) nearly as large as that of Essex or Lincoln,
and larger than that of Cornwall. Leicestershire,
notwithstanding its manufacturing towns, seems
9s
e9d,
here to take rank with the slowly-increasing
7agri-
cultural counties, its increase being only 7,094 in
23,402. Lincoln, w
still, its increase being about hundredth of that
figure. Middlesex has increased, ihn 4c
rlela
expected, though not quite so mahsaos n
e almost
mig h t stood
have
ave
much in proportion
as Durham or Lancashire. In 2,205,771 its increase
is 319,195. Monmouth passes the general average
—that is 17.252 in 174,670. Norfolk with a popu-
lation of 435,422, has actually decreased 7,292,
and, consequently, must have sent nearly 50,000 of
its natural increase to more thriving regions. In
Northamptonshire the rate of increase is about
two-thi▪
rds of the general average, and would
probably have been less but for the ironstone
lately worked there. Northumberland considerably
exceeds the average ; Nottinghamshire falls consi-
derably short of it, though it is not easy to say why
it has only increased 23,357, against the 43,293 of
its sister county. Oxfordshire is content to stand
still. Rutland, with only 21,859, has managed to
lose 1,124. Shropshire, which has ironworks, shows
less than half the average rate of increase. Somer..
setshire stands at 444,725, its increase being just
about the odd figures under a thousand. Hants
nearly doubles the general rate of increase, showing
76,125 in 481,495. Staffordshire has increased
137,898 in a population of 746,584. Suffolk has de-
creased like its neighbour, only not so much. Surrey
grows with London. It has increased 147,603 in a
population of 830,685. Sussex shows about two-
thirds of the general average: Warwickshire consi-
derably exceeds it. Westrnorelan i almost stands
still. 'Wilts has decreased 4, . 78. Worcester keeps
the general average. In Yorkshire the North and
West Ridings increase much above the general ave-
rave, the East Riding as much below it. The census
for the Welsh counties is of much the same charac-
ter, the most noticeable increase being that of Gla-
morganshire, which is 85,902 in a population of
317,751. In every instance, it is necessary to ex-
plain,we have given. the
population at the late
census, so that the increase in every case must be
deducted to give the population upon which the
increase has been made. These figures, it is almost
needless to observe, tell only one tale, and that
is one of a very unpoetical, or at least unpastoral
character. It is work that makes man. He is a
child of toil. He earns his bread by the sweat of
his brow, and by the same process of labour, if
haply the means and the opportunity can be found,
he increases his race, builds cities, and peoples lands.
There is nothing here to make us regret the great
changes which have thrown individual men more
on their own resources than in the days of our
forefathers, and which have told every industry and
every interest to take care of itself. That is what
every Englishman must do, high and low, and is
now doing, and we have no wish to see a return to
any older system.—Times.

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT ON A RAILWAY.—The
tramroad between Carnarvon and the Nantile slate quar-
ries is also employed for the conveyance of passengers, the
carriages being drawn by horses. On Tuesday, as the train
leaving Nantile at 11 5 a.m. was about two miles from Car-
narvon, drawn by two horses, the first carriage got off the
rail at a sharp turning, which was also, unfortunately, at
the top of an embankment ten yards high; the whole train
was precipitated down the declivity, dragging the pair of
horses after it. Unhappily, Mrs. Rowlands, the wife of
Mr. Richard Rowlands, Bank Quay, Carnarvon, was found
dead among the debris. Another lady had her arm frac-
tured, and one or two others were slightly injured.

lustily. At
tDaamlyeeistiantghinomGealawgaayino,n aA,nd is
ionda y
heg crowingave
a funny account of his interview with Lord Palmer-
ston, which scarcely admits of abridgment :
" At a Meeting of the trades of Galway this day
the Rev. Mr. Daly gave an account of his mission
to London on the subject of the packet station. In
reference to his interview with Lord Palmerston
the rev. gentleman said he went with a written let-
ter in his hand to the residence of the Premier of
England, was admitted, and inquired for his lord-
ship, as he expected he would be at home, having
official advice of his intended visit. But, to tell the
truth, and not to draw any conclusion, the servants
in the hall told him that his lordship had gone out.
He expressed his surprise, and left a letter for his
lordship in these terms The Rev. Peter Daly
presents his respects to Lord Palmerston, and re-
quests an interview of five minutes with his lord-
ship upon the question of the Galway contract.'
He left that letter with his visiting card, and said,
as his lordship was not then at home, he would
call again. To shorten details, he did call again,
and before he did he went to see Mr. Gregory, who
advised him to call again. He accordingly called
at 2 o'clock, inquired for his lordship, and received
the same answer, that he had not returned. "That
was perfectly true ; but the reason was, his lord-
ship had not gone out at all. (Laughter.) He (Father
Daly) expressed his doubts that his lordship was
out, and told the servant that it was very possible
he would call again. (Cheers.) He did call again,
at 5 o'clock, and saw his lordship's horse saddled at
the door, and was admitted at the very moment
that his lordship was very anxious to take an airing,
because it was very long for an elderly gentleman
of his kind to be closeted up to that hour of the
day. (Laughter and cheers.) Lord Palmerston
received him very courteously, shook hands with
him, and said,—' How do you do, Mr. Daly ?' and
considering his courtesy, he thought he might be'on
very familiar terms with his lordship. He (Father
Daly) said he had been there at 1 o'clock, and that
he understood from Mr. Brand, Secretary of the
Treasury, that his lordship should meet him, but
he was told he was out. His lordship said, have
not been out all day." His reply was, Well, my
lord, it is not my fault to detain you now from your
ride, for your servants told me you were out.
Well,' said he, ' I was not out all day. So I
thought, my lord,' said I—(loud laughter)—but I
could not intrude myself on your servants ; how-
ever, I have come, trusting you will give me a short
interview on the subject of the Galway packet sta-
tion and the subsidy. I come here at the request
of the people of Galway, and I hope you will tell
me if it is the intention of your Ministry to aside
by the letter of the Postmaster-General, annulling
the contract that was honourably entered into be
tween Ireland and the Government of England.'
Oh,' said he, "'your company have broken the con-
tract." My lord,' I said—and I said the truth, and
the Irish members afterwards "admitted I said the
truth—' I don't advocate the company—l don't
come here to defend their acts or deeds, I
am not at all disposed to be their advocate, or to
hide their mismanagement; there is no person more
sensible of their demerits than I am, but the ques-
tion is not between the Atlantic Company and the
Government you preside over, but between Ireland
and the Government of England. It is to that
alone I direct myself, and I don't speak on behalf
of any company or any private individual, although
I deplore that if this step is persevered in by the
English Ministry, it will be the ruin of thousands
of poor people who, from a feeling of patriotism and
love of country, put the whole savings of their lives
into the company." Well,' said he, the act of the
Postmaster-General is the act of the Government,
and we do not dissever ourselves from the Post-
master General." Well,' said I, .6 would you say
that it is the intention of the Government to perse-
vere in that resolution ?" Oh,' said he,' why do
you ask me that question ?' I answered Because,
my lord, I mean to bring a deputation of Irish
members, and as many more as I can collect, to pre-
sent the memorial from the people of Galway, and
to represent the wishes of Ireland." Are you the
ambassador of Ireland ?' said he. (Laughter.)
Undoubtedly he said that with a very benignant
smile, and I endeavoured to return the smile with
my own ugly grimace. (Laughter.) ' But,' I said,
with the humility that ought to become a priest,
' I would not assume the position of ambassador
from Ireland, but I tell you candidly I speak the
mind of Ireland. (Cheers.) May I then hope, my
lord, you will receive the deputation on Monday on
this subject with me ?" Why Monday ?' said he.
6 Oh,' said I, I would not have time to-day or to-
morrow to make up the deputation, for many of the
Irish members are not yet come over.' But,' said
my lord, would not any other day after Monday
be as good ? There is a very serious question to
come on Monday; why do you choose that day ?'
Oh,' my lord,' I replied, 'it is precisely on that
account I choose Monday.' (Cheers.) The truth
was that on this occasion the trial of Irish interests
was to be settled and determined. (Hear.) By that
I meant no unconstitutional pressure on the Minis-
try, but I meant that the Irish members should act,
or, as the term now is, take action' for the benefit
of the country, and when Lord Palmerston asked
what course of action they would take, I said, I
am not prepared to tell you what course of action
they will take, because they are not come from Ire-
land in sufficient number ; but I will tell you what
I think they ought to do, and what their course of
action ought to be—to secure the interests of their
own country before those of any other. (Loud and
prolonged cheering.) Father Daly then reviewed
his exertions to get together a phalanx' of mem-
bers ; 75 Irish members, he said, stuck together
like a wall, and made the Ministers of England
shake and totter on their benches. Some people had
said Father Daly had a fight with Lord Palmerston.
Now, that was a falsehood, for they closed their in-
terview as they began it—with a shake of the
hand. (Cheers.) Lord Palmerston had thought fit
to make their private conversation public. He
(Father Daly) would do the same. Lord Palmerston
said, I think it is desirable there should be quick
communication established between the west coast
of Ireland and America, and I think Galway is that
point. (Cheers.) His conversation with Lord Pal-
merston had created a vast deal of jocularity, and
an immensity of interest in the public mind of Eng-
land, but in reality it was of more interest that at
first might appear. It was made by Lord Palmer-
ston himself a matter of political advantage to his
party, for it must have been Lord Palmerston who
informed Lord J. Russell that there was an attempt
by Father Daly to coerce the Ministry of England.
However, he (Father Daly) was there to proclaim
that Lord Palmerston's account was a perversion
and a wilful misrepresentation of the conversation
that took place between them. The best proof of
it was that in reference to it Lord Brougham sug-
gested that he should be summoned to the bar of
the House of Lords, and on reading his lordship's
speech he (Father Daly) at once wrote a letter to
his lordship, requesting that he might be sum-
moned to the bars of both Houses of Parliament,
when he would prove that the sense given to the
conversation by Lord Palmerston was untrue, un-
founded, and groundless. Father Daly passed a
high enlogium or. the members fcr the town and
county of Galway for their exertions in the cause
of the packet station, and concluded by calling on
all to unite for the great object they had in view."

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