The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-26 00:00:00

rriE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORN I Net, OCToBER

THE BIRKENHEAD DOCKS.
The ceremonial of laying the foundation-stone of
this great undertaking took place on Tuesday, and
was rendered as imposing as the vast importance of
the occasion justified. The day proved one of the
most brilliant of autumnal days, and was a general
holiday to all classes. Business was laid aside. The
hundreds of labourers and mechanics employed in the
various departments of the harbour and docks, and
also of the private buildings, were not merely per-
mitted to cease from toil, but were paid for their day's
time ; arrangements were also made for enabling
them to partake of the general hilarity.
The dawn of morning was hailed by the firing o
cannon and the ringing of bells. Flags were seen
hoisted on every point. Liverpool and its environs,
on the Lancashire side, and every city, town, and vil-
lage on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, poured forth
their gladdened population to witness the inspiring
scene, and to partake of the widely-spread means of
enjoyment. The poor inhabitants were supplied,
from a fund subscribed, with bread and meat of ex-
cellent quality, and in large proportions—the bread
in loaves, and the meat in pieces of from four to eight
pounds, according to the number of their families.
From an early hour in the morning the Liverpool
and Birkenhead steamers, decorated with streamers,
were employed in conveying the anxiously-expectant
multitudes to the scene of hilarity ; the railway trains
also, at reduced fares, contributed to swell the con-
stantly-increasing masses. It was computed that not
fewer than sixty thousand visitants were congregated
on the occasion. These spread themselves in direction, and and imparted to the scene
variety of extreme interest.
At half-past elev—
Town-hall— . the procession started from the
to
...
—an insignificant building, which is about
.0 deprived of its municipal character, and to be
succeeded by another, more suited to the magnificent
town, which is rapidly rising into existence.
Having performed the appointed circuit of peram-
bulation, the precession arrived at the site of the new
harbour. The arrangements made for this, the most
impressive part of the ceremony, were distinguished
by great taste and considerable regard for the conve-
nience of the gentlemen to whom platform-tickets
had been issued. Platforms were erected round the
site, on the shore, a short distance to the northward
of the upper side of the Woodside Ferryslip, and on
a scale which accommodated, without inconvenient
pressure, the invited guests, and those who took part
in the ceremonial. At about two o'clock the proces-
sion reached the site of the new harbour. On pre-
senting the trowel, a very chaste and classic implement,
to Sir Philip Egerton, M.P. for the southern division
of Cheshire, who had undertaken to officiate on the
occasion, Mr. Randell, the engineer, delivered a short
but appropriate address to Sir Philip Egerton. The
Hon. Baronet descended from the platform, and
having completOd the process of laying the stone, and
prayer having been offered by the Rev. Mr. Gardner,
Sir Philip Egeiton hdOeS'sed the Company in an elo-
quent speech, wh li wait in several parts loudly cheered.
Having made some appropriate introductory observa-
tions, the Hon. Baronet took a rapid but very inte-
resting retrospect of the. history of Birkenhead. In
the time of his venerated gran4father, and only fifty
years since, it did not Confain more than three
houses ; in 1801 these had increased only to seven ;
and at intervals of ten years, until 1831, its progress
was scarcely perceptible. n 1841 it began to give
some signs of decided progress ; and now it presented
the scene they then witnessed. The town having lines
of streets, amounting to thirty miles in extent ; a har-
bour and docks in course of formation which would
far exceed, in their means of accommodation, any now
in existence in any part of the kingdom ; and these so
aided by the remarkable facilities which nature has
afforded, that the amount of outlay, though large,
would be comparatively small. The lion. Baronet
then proceeded to indulge in predictions of Birken-
head's future greatness, and presented a sketch which
not merely derived probability, but became certainty,
from the knowledge of what had been already realised.
The Hon. Baronet concluded a very interesting ad-
dress by a fervent wish, which was responded to by
the cheers of the assembled thousands of spectators,
that the most sanguine hopes of the projectors might
be realised.

-.ery
liveliness and

Thus terminated this interesting and impressive
ceremonial. The workmen were subsequently re-
galed with substantial fare ; their wives and children
were also provided with abundant means of suitable
enjoyment at the expense of their employers. The
dinner to the company, for which extraordinary pre-
parations had been made, and for the ball and supper
afterwards, will bear comparison with anything ever
exhibited on any public occasion.
Accommodation had been made for 550 gentlemen,
of whom nearly 200 were specially invited guests;
the latter were seated at semicircular tables in imme-
diate proximity to the chairman (Mr. Laird) and to
the deputy-chairman (Mr. W. Jackson) Over the
head of the chairman was placed a splendid portrait
of his son, painted by Illidge, and a most impressive
likeness. On no occasion could the splendid picture
have been exhibited with greater effect than on a day
which was commemorative of the successful exertions
of Mr. Laird, jun. By him the stupendous , under-
taking was projected; and to him, in conjunction
with the Messrs. Jackson, and two or three other
gentlemen, the success of the plan may be mainly
attributed.

Among the noblemen and gentlemen who accepted
invitations for the dinner, and some of whom were at
the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone, were the
following :—Sir Philip Egerton, M.P., Tatton Eger-
ton, Esq., M.P.; J. J. Tollemache, Esq., M.P., and
Cornwall Legh, Esq., M.P., the four county Mem-
bers ; Lord Bateman, the Hon. E. J. Stanley, Sir
William Massey Stanley Bart., of Hooton Hall, and
party ; John Stanley, Esq., of Hooton ; the Hon.
Lloyd Kenyon; J. Bailey, Esq., M.P. for Hereford-
shire; William Ewart, Esq., M.P.; Thomas Thornely,
Esq., M.P.; W. R. Collett, Esq., M.P.; William En-
twisle, Esq., M.P.; Jos. Brotherton, Esq., M.P.; Peter
Greenall, Esq., Al .P.; Thos. Grimsditch, Esq., M.P. ;
Sir Edward Cust, Bart.
The dining-room and ball-room were most taste-
fully fitted up and arranged. They were formed of
the railway carriage booths, but had been enclosed,
floored, and hung with the most graceful ornaments.
The dining-room was about 140 feet in length by 40
in width, and of ample height. The coujicrced on
entering was extremely imposing. Thp walls were
covered with crimson, yellow, and blue drapery. The
recesses were decorated with evergreens and large
ornamental flowers, and the whole of the principals
and framework of the roof were similarly adorned, so
as to resemble a shrubbery that had taken leave of its
parent earth, and mounted into mid-air.' From the
beams were suspended handsome richly-gilt gas chan-
deliers, as central lights. There were four rows of
tables, the two outer ones united at top and bottom
by being continued in the form of a semi circle.
The ball-room was about the same size, but much
more richly embellished. The reception-room and
retiring-room were decorated in a style which created
wonder that, in such a place, so much could have been
accomplished. The Countess of Essex, Lady Grey
Egerton, Lady Amelia Cecil, the Hon. Mrs. E. J.
Stanley, and many other ladies of high rank, were
among the ladies patronesses of the ball. A supper
and ball afterwards took place at the Town-hall,
given by Mr. W. Jackson to the clerks and other
official gentlemen in the employ of the Commissioners,
who, with their friends, thus participated in the
hilarity of the evening, as they had previously done
in the preceding enjoyment of the day.

The Liverpool Mercury of Friday published a
double sheet, giving very ample details of the ceremonies
which took place at laying the foundation-stone of the
Birkenhead Docks, full reports of the speeches made at
the dinner, an interesting historical account of Birken-
head, and a beautifully finished plan of the Liverpool
and Birkenhead Docks. We rejoice to see a Contempo-
rary displaying such spirit and enterprise. This journal,
at the same time, de►otes five columns and a half to the
proceedings which took place at the meeting of the Li-
verpool Agricultural. Society, at which Lord Stanley
presided.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT ♦T THE HOUSES OF PAR-
LIAMENT.—On Thursday, an accident of a very singular
character, though fortunately not attended with any dan-
gerous results, happened to a man named William Mor-
gan, residing at No. 1, Paris-street, Lambeth, one of the
masons employed at the New Houses of Parliament. It
appears that some part of the work is, of necessity,' per-
formed by gaslight, and while Morgan was removing a
heavy stone, it slipped over the jet of the burner, and the
flame for some seconds was forced into his eye before he
could relieve himself from the load. lie was taken to
Westminster Hospital, and the eye, which had been much
burnt, was dressed, and in the course of the day he was
able to proceed home. It is fortunate the eyesight was
not wholly destroyed.
THE LONG VACATlON.—Thursday the " long va-
cation" of the present year ceased, and the offices of the
several Courts resumed their activity—their " wonted
activity" is quite another question. It is considered in
the profession that the late alterations in actions under
20/. must abridge the common law business. From the
10th of August to the 24th of October, there is a legal
cessation of business, further than the issuing of the writ
and proceeding to trial in cases prepared before the first
mentioned day. Term begins to• morrow (Saturday)
wt e

THE MAILS.--SOUTHAMPTON, OCT. 24.—The
ental Company's steam-ship the Tagus left the docks
this day, for Gibraltar carrying out the Peninsula an 4
Mediterranean mails, also 30 passengers, and full cargo
This will be the first voyage the Tagus has made since'
her refitment. The brig Dart, Captain Newton, left the.
docks at two o'clock, on her first outward trip, fox
Madeira, carrying out a number of ship letters and pas-i
sengers, several of whom arrived by railway, leaving
London at eleven o'clock—thus in little better than five',
hours they will have passed the Needles,' and be fairly!
out to sea. qlicrDart is an excellent sailing vessel, and,
fitted up with .every convenience, and is quite new,
having only been launched on this clay twelvemonths.
She will return 'here with a fruit cargo in About three'
weeki. The Braganza steamer will leave.the docks to-4morrow, with above 350 tons of bale goods, for Con-
k
stantinople, .; andsome excursion passengers.

RAILWAYS IN IRELAND.
(From Ilerapath's Railway Magazine of 12th inst.)
The rage for railways is now extending itself in
full force to Ireland ; and perhaps there is no country
on the face of the globe in greater want of them, or
which would derive greater national benefits by.their
introduction, than the sister kingdom. The unfortu-
nate turmoils whith she has for so long a period
sufftrcd, could not, we think, receive a more effective
check than by the establishment of a well-selected
system of railways ; for by this, it is not only our
opinion, but that of others competent to judge—an
opinion, too, daily gaining ground—that the commer-
cial condition of the country would become so mate-
riall y improved, as to raise it above the poverty stricken
state that now feeds " agitation."
Whether in a national point of' view, or as a pri-
vate speculation for profit, we wish success to rail-
ways in Ireland. It is, therefore, with pain that we
notice dissensions amongst parties engaged to carry
out a valuable line of railway, where it is one of the
first principles of success that unanimity should exist.
Our readers are aware that a line has been proposed
known as the Great 'Western Railway in Ireland, to
unite Dublin with Mullingar and Athlone, setting
out from Liman cr some other point on the Cashel
line. Sir John Macneill was appointed engineer, and
we believe a highly respectable body of gentlemen
constituted the direction, in turt-lielan6e of this
object a projeot hat since been set on foot, by a sepa-
rate et".tpany to extend that line from Athlone to
cal

; thus completing the chain of communica

tion from. Dublin to Galway, the value of which needs
no eomment. Unhappily, however, dissension seems
to have lately arisen in the directorate of the former
Company, and hence if we are well informed the re•
cent appearance of a rival scheme, with the title of
" Irish Great Western" also to connect Dublin
with Galway. Sir John Macneill appeared here
too as the engineer circumstance that must
have greatly astounded his friends, knowing that
his :services were already engaged on the other side,
as no doubt it did him, but which that gentleman has
since repudiated by public advertisement, together
with another highly respectable individual, whose
name was likewise printed in the prospectus of the
new project. It has been asked of us, and not being
enabled to answer, we now beg to inquire of the
promoters of the rival Irish Great Western, and we do
so, holding them guiltless until convicted—whether
it is true that the names of Lord Castlemaine, Mr.
John Campbell, and Mr. Blake are also placed in
their prospectus without the authority of those
parties ? And whether it is the case that the whole
differences that have arisen, the primary cause of a
rival project being set on foot, are to be imputed to
the disappointed wishes of one of their body, who
being on the Committee of the Great Western desired
to have amongst them a sharebroker, and also other
particular friends nominated as Parliamentary agents,
and because these were not, and, perhaps conscien-
tiously, could not be complied with, threatened the
present rival project, in which the names that were
rejected in the other appear?
We ask whether these circumstances are true ?

And, if so, whethei the individual alluded to as the
cause is one who signs an M.P. to his name, which
may mean either Member of Parliament, Master of
Pranks, Methodist Parson, Mar-Plot, &c., who will
as inevitably mar the plot in which he is now con-
cerned, as he has attempted to do that in which he

was formerly a Director. We regret exceedingly
the appearance of the new Company—if by the name
of Company that can be termed which boasts no
better constitution than the Great Western at present
possesses—instituted by parties whose duty one would
have expected it was to act as friends, not foes. We
have, therefore, made inquiries, the details of which

it would be indiscreet to publish, and we must
confess, if the statements furnished to us are not
gross fabrications, the result is anything but favour-
able to the conduct of the rival projectors. Pre-
judiced to neither side, we are open to conviction
by either. We wish to see nothing done but what is
right, and the promoters of an honest project prosper
in their undertaking. Arrangements, we are in-
formed, are now being made by the Dublin, Mullin-
gar, and Athlone Company (the bona fide Sir John
Macneill's) to purchase the Royal Canal, which will
be of mutual advantage to both railway and canal ;
saving to the former considerable expense in the con-
struction of the line, and to the latter protection from
certain future depreciation. On Tuesday last the
Directors of the Canal had an interview with Lord
Eliot, in order to ascertain if Government, who have
a power of control, will assent to a sale of it ; and on
Wednesday a deputation of the Railway Directors
were to have had an audience with Lord Eliot, for a
like purpose. We have not yet learned the result ;
but as the matter is one of mutual benefit, there can
be little doubt that an arrangement will be effected.
DUBLIN AND GALWAY RAILWAY.
DISCLAIMER.—The name of Andrew 11. Lynch,
Esq., was inserted without his authority or knowledge
in the prospectus lately published by the Company
calling itself the " Irish Great Western Railway
Company," with which that gentleman disclaims hav-
ing any connexion. Mr. Lynch is a member of the
Provisional Committee of the Galway and Athlone
Railway Junction Company.

TO TILE EDITOR OF " APATII'S RAILWAY JOURNAL."
Sir,—l have seen in the public newspapers the
prospectus of a line of railway from Dublin to Gal-
way in which I am stated to be the engineer. Whilst
I acknowledge the respectability of the names at-
tached to it, I beg to say I bare never been consulted
about it, nor can I have any connection with the
transaction, being already engaged for the Dublin,
Mullingar, and Athlone line.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

-ACNE
28, Rutland-square, DublinJOH Oct.ON t. 1, 1844.111.

HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE CITY.—WO cannot
answer the inquiries of several correspondents, if there
be any truth in the rumour that her Majesty intends to
return from the ceremony of opening the Royal Ex-
change, on Monday-next, by the City-road and New-
road to Paddington, on her way to Windsor; but if such
be the royal intention, we think the public ought to be
infurmed of it,i n order to prevent disappointment to all
parties, and the delay of business incidental to the ex-
pectation of the return of the procession by the same
line as it proceeded to its interesting and memorable
object.—Morning Advertiser. [We agree with our Con-
temporary, that some announcement on the subject ought
to be made. We should imagine, however, as her Ma-
jesty is to dine at Windsor, that there will be no return
procession, but that her Majesty will proceed in her pri•
vete carriage to the Paddington terminus, via the City-
road, as soon as the ceremony shall be over.—ED. Sun.]
THE KING OF SAxONY AND THE JEW JEWELLER.
—The Allgemeine Zeitung contains a contradiction of the
report which has been circulated in various German as
well as English newspapers, relative to a deception said
to have been practised upon the King of Saxony, by a
jeweller of whom he made extensive purchases, upon his
Majesty's visit to this country. It is stated that the pa-
ragraph in question was originated by a tradesman who
entertained feelings of jealousy towards the person of
whom his Majesty obtained the jewels. The contradic-
tion has been published under the authority of the
Master of the Household to the King of Saxony.
NOVEL AND DELICATE SURGICAL OPERATION.—
An operation of a most interesting nature was performed
at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, on the 12th of this month,
by Mr. Skey, one of the surgeons of that institution.
This operation, which excited a good deal of public in-
terest, was conducted in the most skilful manner in the
medical
attendants of Messrs. Pasquier and Fauquier, the
attendants on the King of the French, and a number of
amateurs from Windsor, who were anxious to witness it,
Mr. Guthrie, the medical officers of the institution, and
a large assemblage of pupils. A soMier of the name of
Wright, in the 2d Queen's Regiment, received a ball in
the knee at the storming of Ghuzneo in the year 1839,
which laid him up for many months, and deprived him
of the use of his leg. The long-continued pain arising
from this injury was so severe that his general health
was rapidly sinking, and in this state, after having tried
various other hospitals for relief, he applied to Mr. Skey
to amputate his leg. That gentleman, upon examining
the joint, finding an abscess on the outer condyle of the
thigh- bone, came to the conclusion that the ball was
lodged in the bone, and that by the following operation
the leg might be spared. After laying open the abscess,
he dug a hole into the bone by means of a trephine,
upon the withdrawal of which the ball was discovered at
the bottom. He then loosened it by means of a screw,
and having isolated it with a gouge, he succeeded in
drawing it forth by means of a strong bone forceps. The
operation did not occupy more than ten minutes in its
performance ; at the conclusion of which he was warmly
greeted by his colleagues, and highly complimented by
the French surgeons.
CASII-BOX FOR THE KING OF ASHANTEE.—We
on Thursday saw, at Messrs. Chubb and Sons, of St. Paul's-
churchyard, a very elegant cash-box, which they have
just completed for the King of Ashantee. It is made of
solid silver, and weighs two hundred and seventy-six
ounces, the size being seventeen inches long, twelve
inches wide, and seven inches deep. The ornaments and
chasing, consisting chiefly of lions , tigers', and elephants'
heads, designed by Mr. T. Sharp, are of the richest de-
scription ; and the box which is intended to hold his
Majesty's
.gold-dust, is secured by one of the detector
locks, having a massive gold key.
WOOTTON BASSETT.—THE Fox, THE GOOSE, AND
THE GANDER.—On Wednesday morning last (the door
having been left open through the negligence of the boy)
a goose walked out earlier than usual from her roost, on
the farm occupied by Mr. James Archer, and was in-
stantly pounced on by a fox, which, with his usual sa-
gacity, seized it by the neck, and throwing it over his
back, was making off, when the gander very courageously
issued forth in defence of his lady-love, and with great
gallantry attacked Reynard with his beak and wings,
keeping up a running fight the distance of a long field,
and eventually caused the depredator to drop his Michael-
mas dish, which his epicurean appetite led him to seek
at this season of the year. On a boy belonging to the
farm coming up, the fox limpingly deCamped, showing
evident symptoms of having been severely beaten.—
Should Mr. Horloek hunt this neighbourhood, he will
not only find amusement, but confer a benefit on the
dairymen, who are much annoyed by the frequent visits
of these vermin.— Devizes Gazette.
The Coblentz mail was robbed about ten days ago
by a band of robbers, who got off with a booty of 25,0001,

THE POOR-LAW COMMISSIONEVS
AND THE BRAI)FIELD UNION.
'We have already drawn the attention of our
readers to the cruel, unjust, and tyrannical conduct
of the Poor-law Commissioners, as now being pur-
sued towards the Guardians of the Bradfield Union,
and the master of that workhouse, whose appoint-
ment the " Despots" at Somerset-house refuse to
sanction, on the pretext of " insolvency" and " inex-
perience," both of which grounds have been proved
to be most shamefully futile and unreasonable.
In reference to this case, we have much pleasure in
recording the proceedings of the Board of Guardians
of the parish of Chelsea (now in the third year of its
happy deliverance from the Kensington Union, a con-
nexion equally destructive to the interests of the
Chelsea rate-payers as of those of their poor.)
On Wednesday, the 16th instant, the Board of
Guardians of this parish was specially summoned to
consider a motion, of which due notice had been
given by the Chairman (Mr. J. B. Ryder) for con-
sidering a communication lately received from the
Bradfield Union, on the subject of the dispute now
pending between the Poor-law Commissioners and
that Board in reference to Mr. Brangwin's appoint-
ment,-
Mr. Rvista, after extended details, showing the
oppressive conduct of the Commissioners„ moved the
following memorial—a few more such, and, we
should think, these gentlemen will find that,
for once, at all events, they will have to " knock
under" :
"To the Right 11/Incurable Sir James Graham,
Bart., M.P., her Majesty's Principal Secretary of
State for the Home Department,
" The Memorial of the Board of Guardians of the
parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, in the county of Mid-
dlesex,
" Sheweth,—That the duties of Guardians of the
Poor are both laborious and responsible, in the dis-
charge of which Guardians ought not to be subjected
to vexatious obstruction or interference.
" That the Parliament has invested the Poor-law
Commissioners with great and extraordinary powers,
your memorialists are aware, but they are equally
sure that the Legislature never conferred those powers
for the purpose of working injustice and tyranny,
which appears to have been grossly the case in the
instance which your memorialists now beg most
anxiously to draw your attention to.
" The case is that of the Bradfield Union, in the
counties of Berks, Oxon, and Hants, recently (offi-
cially), laid before -your memorialists, and in which
your memorialists believe there is great reason for
complaint.
"Among other important duties the Board of
Guardians of that Union have recently had to per-
form was, that of electing a master to the Bradfield
workhouse, to which office they elected twice, unani-
mously, Mr. Francis Brangwin, which appointment
the Poor-law Commissioners have thought proper,
without assigning any public grounds, to refuse to
sanction, or even to grant, as requested by the Guar-
dians, an interview, which might have resulted in
some satisfactory arrangements.
" That, from information conveyed to your memo-
rialists, they have reason to believe that the Poor-
law Commissioners, in not sanctioning Mr. Brang-
win's appointment on account of insolvency' and
inexperience,' as they allege, have been influenced
by private communications, inasmuch as Mr. Brang-
win has paid 15s. in the pound, besides all law ex-
penses attending the settlement of his affairs ; has
been for several years an active and zealous Guar-
dian ; bears an unimpeachable character; and pos-
sesses, among others, a high testimonial from the
Rev. William Bishop, the Rector of his parish, who
states that he has known Mr. Brangwin for a period
of twenty years.
" That the Poor-law Commissioners have further
harassed the Guardians by threatening legal pro-
ceedings against them in the Court of Queen's Bench,
if they do not forthwith comply with the orders issued
far the dismissal of the master, and the election of
another, which appears, from the representations of
the Guardians, to be wholly unnecessary.
" That your memorialists consider that these pro-
ceedings, on the part of the Poor-law Commissioners,
are odious and tyrannical, and calculated only to hurt
the feelings of upright and independent men ; deprive
them of all interest and satisfaction they may feel in
the discharge of their duties, and cause them to throw
up, in disgust, a guardianship, which a confiding
constituency has placed in their hands.
" That the conduct of the Poor-law Commissioners
in rejecting Mr. Brangwin, appears to your memo-
rialists cruel and unjust; tending, as it must, to de-
stroy the character of a worthy man, and thus crush
him in his efforts to obtain an honest and respectable
livelihood.
" That your memorialists are of opinion that the
Guardians of the Bradfield Union, in resisting, as they
have done, this arbitrary interference of the Poor-law
Commissioners, and in disregarding their legal threats,
are highly to be commended; are worthy of the con-
stituencies which returned them, and deserve the sym-
pathy and support of this Board, and of every Board
of Guardians in the kingdom.
" Under these circumstances, your memorialists
humbly pray that you, as the head of that department
of her Majesty's Government which can take cogni-
zance of such matters, will render the Board of Guar-
dians of the Bradfield Union that assistance and re-
dress which their case seems so loudly to call for.
"And your memorialists will ever pray, &c.''
Mr. MURRAY seconded it.
Messrs. Chambers, Hall, Edwell, and Greenway,
spoke warmly in favour of Mr. Ryder's motion.
The CHAIRMAN, pro teen (Mr. Caleb Collier), then
proceeded to put it to the vote, when it was agreed to
unanimously, and a copy ordered to be forwarded to
the Bradfield Board of Guardians.
On Wednesday last (the usual weekly meeting
day), the following letter from the Home-office was
read at the Chelsea Board :
" Whitehall, October 19, 1844.
" Sir,—l am directed by Secretary Sir James
Graham to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 18th instant, forwarding, by desire of the Guar-
dians of St. Luke, Chelsea, a memorial agreed to al
their meeting on Wednesday last, the 16th.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" G-. M. PHILLIPS.
" Mr. T. M. Loveland, Clerk to the Board
of Guardians, St, Luke, Chelsea."

THE DESPERATE OUTRAGE AND
BURGLARY AT MANCETTER.
(FURTHER PARTICULARS.)
On Saturday night last, between the hours of twelve
and one o'clock, the dwelling-house of Mr. Thomas
Worthington, at Mancetter, near Atherstone, 'Warwick-
shire, was broken into by a gang of ruffians, wearing
black masks, and their persons otherwise disguised by
black linen, which they wore over their clothes. The
house is in a very lonely spot, and a considerable dis-
tance from any other dwelling. It seems the burglars
commenced their operations by cutting a hole in the
front door, the noise of which disturbed Miss Worthing-
ton, who opened a window and inquired what they
wanted, on which the burglars said the cows had escaped
from the close ; but Mr. Worthington, who had now
joined his niece, seeing the desperate looking gang of
five or six fellows he bad to deal with, ordered them to
be off about their business, or he would shoot them. Of
this the burglars took no notice, but continued their ope-
rations against the door, and at last succeeded in making
an opening. The inmates, consisting of Mr. Worthing-
ton, a niece, a grandniece, and a servant lad and maid,
were by this time fully prepared, and Mr. Worthington,
who is in his 89th year, placed himself at the door, and
with a drawn sword cut and stabbed at the fellows through
the hole they had made, and kept them at bay for a con-
siderable time. Finding they could not obtain admit-
tance this way, the burglars battered the door to pieces;
but while they were doing so, Miss Worthington brought
her uncle his fowling-piece, which was loaded with swan
shot, and desired him to shoot the villians, and seeing
that his aged hands shook so that he could not take
an aim, this heroic lady actually pointed and held the
gun, while her uncle fired. This did not deter the
burglars, but, finding the inmates so resolved, they, all
the while uttering the most horrid oaths and impreca-
tions, next tore up the stones with which the front of
the house was paved, and threw them at the old gen-
tleman and his neice, who still kept their places in the
hall, defending the entrance of the house from the
robbers ; when, at length, after half an hour's fighting,
and no assistance appearing, and Mr. Worthington being
wounded in the temple and in various parts of the body,
his niece, who stood firmly by his side during the con-
flict,' parleyed with the robbers, and asked whether
they wanted their lives, when one of them, who
acted as spokesman, said, all they wanted was money,
and they did not want to hurt them. The lady then
said, if they would promise not to hurt her uncle, no
further resistance should be made, which the robbers pro-
mised; but the old gentleman still continued resolute, aad
stood at the door with his sword, threatening to cut down
the first who approached, the blood all the while pouring
down from the wound in the temple he had received,.
when the niece, fearing he would bleed 'to death, threw
herself upon him, and took away his sword, which was
covered with the blood of the burglars, on which four of
them made their way into the house, and after making
the servant lad give up all his money, they next took
from Miss Eliza Worthington, a grandniece of Mr. Worth-
ington, ayoung lady about fifteen years old, all the money
she had, threatening to hang her if she did not keep
quiet. They then forced the niece to show them where
the money was kept, which they took, as well as some
fire-arms ; and after threatening the inmates, if they
made any noise about the robbery or took any steps to
discover the robbers, they would come again some night,
and burn the house and murder all the inmates, they
took their departure, and as yet, we regret to say, no
traces have been obtained of them. We are. tmiaPPY.Y3'
say that neither Mr. Worthington nor any of taly
are seriously injured,
and trust that justice wll b not e
long in overtaking
the ruffians, for whose apprehension
a reward of iooi. has been offered.

Rabbits are easily taken alive by soaking their fa-
vourite food, parsley, in strong rum or brandy. A simi-
lar method is employed in catching small birds with
steeped seed. They, like rabbits, are so intoxicated with
the :spirit, that there is no difficulty in obtaining as
many as you wish.