The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-24 00:00:00

SOCIALISTS.-RIOTS AT WHITE•

HAVEN.
Whitehaven was last week the scene of a most dis-
graceful riot : disgraceful, as showing at what a low ebb
morality is there, and indicating that the shameful spirit
which gave rise to the No Poppery Riots in 1780, fanned,
into a flame by the fanatic Lord George Gordon, is not
yet extinct.
It appears that the opinions of Robert Owen have
lately found their way into Whitehaven, and have been
eagerly adopted there by some unthinking men. A
carpenter of the name of Thompson seems to have been
the first person who openly avowed himself a supporter
of Socialism. He was in the course of time joined by
others, of both sexes, and in accordance with the so
called principles to which they had become converts,
weekly meetings and festivities were held, and lectures
delivered. But a Methodist parson, named Salt, confi-
dent, it would appear, of his powers of annihilation,
volunteered to give the people of Whitehaven an ex-
position of the doctrines of Socialism, and to de-
molish them, in a series of philippics, delivered in
his own chapel. As might be expected, instead of
having the effect of staying the progress of the
principles the Reverend Gentleman wished to de-
nounce, they acted as a stimulus to their advance-
ment, and numbers of persons who scarcely knew the
meaning of the word Socialism, flocked round Mr. Thomp-
son, and became his sworn companions in principle. They
had now gained notoriety, and resolved on opening a
" Hall of Science" in Michael-street, and a Mr. Bu-
chanan was engaged to deliver a lecture on the occa-
sion. Sunday week was fixed for that purpose, but in
consequence of the lecturer not arriving the opening
of the hall was postponed till the following Monday
evening. Whilst preparations were being made for
the occasion, some females, who are said by the
Whitehaven papers to have been insulted by a
Socialist, collected round the door, and began to
create a disturbance by shouting and yelling at those
inside, who were fitting up the room. The crowd ga-
thered in numbers, each moment growing more cla-
morous, and uttering threats against those within the
room. At length the doors were burst open, and after
wreaking their vengeance upon every article within their
reach—demolishing forms, phrenological busts, and fur-
niture—the crowd commenced a furious attack upon the
Socialists themselves, who received very rough treatment
at their hands. Thompson was especially marked by the
infuriated mob. He was savagely beaten ; his clothes
were torn from his back, and but for the interference
of the police he would have been killed. Buchanan at-
tempted with several others to fly, but was not allowed
to escape without a cruel beating. Many others were
attacked, and few escaped without experiencing some
bodily injury.
The crowd having acquired fresh courage from the
eclat with which their morning's performances had been
received, assembled again about seven o'clock in the
evening, " with the avowed purpose of destroying the
houses in which the leaders of the (Socialist) party were
known to reside." They were not long in repeating
their work of destruction. The shop of Mr. Moore, in
the Market-place, was attacked, and the windows all
smashed. A pig-stye belonging to Thompson, was next
visited ; its straw roof was torn off, heaped against his
house, and set on fire.
On Wednesday night they again turned out in front
of the shop of a Mr. W. Wilson, printer, in King-street,
who was known to them as the printer of some pamph-
lets published by the Socialists in reply to the anathemas
of the Methodist parson. The crowd, among whom were
several women, contented themselves, at first, with yell-
ing at the inmates of the house; but finally growing
tired of shouting, they supplied themselves with stones,
and broke nearly all the windows of the house.
With the attack upon Wilson's house the riot appears
to have ended. A more wanton or disgraceful outrage it
s difficult to imagine.

A FACETIOUS WITNESS.—In a trial at eur
Quarter Sessions, for stealing a watch from the bed-room
of Mr. George Poynter, at Willingham, the following
conversation took place, on cross-examination, between
the prosecutor and Mr. Byles, Counsel for the prisoner :
—Mr. Byles—Where do you live ? Mr. Poynter—At
Willingham ; but lam not a Willingham man. What
are you ? An engineer ; I was apprenticed to Henry
Maudeslay, partner to Sir Isambert Brunel, of Thames
Tunnel notoriety. Well, what else are you ? Why, I
am a gunsmith, locksmith, and bellhanger, iron-arm,
and lathe-maker, edge-tool-maker, watch and clock
maker and repairer, mathematical instrument maker,
weighing-machine, scale, and steelyard maker, knife
maker and grinder, publican and licensed victualler, and
an old man-of-war's man, and was engaged in the glo-
rious action between the Shannon and the Chesapeake.
In fact, lam half-brother to Caleb Quotem. Are you
not a conjurer as well ? 0 yes, that I am ; Monsieur
Testot was a fool to me ; and if you are willing I will
show you one or two tricks. What can you do ? Well,
if you will allow me, and not consider I am insulting,
I will tell you. Oh, certainly, go on ! Then, if you
will just take off your wig, and get the gentleman next
you to grease your head, I will swallow you whole, and
then you will be no more trouble to yourself nor any
one else—(Loud laughter, in which the Court and the
Learned Counsel joined.) Mr. Byles—You may stand
down, Sir.—Cambridge Independent.

THE ANTI-CORN-LAW BAZAARP--Since our
last, every thing has been progressing in connection with
the approaching bazaar ; and we recollect no former one
ever exciting that universal and absorbing interest which
this appears to do, amongst the fair and gentle " opera-
tives" who are working for it in every part of the king-
dom. Every possible species of needlework—more even
than are treated of by the Countess of Wilton in her book
—knitting, netting, lace-making, embroidery, &c., are in
requisition for the contribution of articles of costume, use,
and ornament. Committees and sub-committees, some
of ladies, others of gentlemen, are meeting ; honorary
and assistant secretaries have their time fully occupied in
writing to various quarters, and in acknowledging the
receipt of donations in money, and contributions in kind,
from all parts of the kingdom. Authors, publishers, and
booksellers are contributing copies of their works ;
poets are writing verses, in celebration of the occasion ;
and one poetical " Invitation to the Bazaar" is to be set
to music. Bazaar quadrilles, waltzes, &c., are in prepa-
ration; and in every department of literature, science,
and th arts, the contributions promise to be both " rich
and rare." Nor is there any lack of that species of con-
tribution which is always acceptable, and which can al-
ways command prompt disposal—we mean hard cash, of
which at least 2001. has been already received by, or
notified to, the Committee. Thus every thing is going
on with a spirit which promises to make the Manchester
Theatre Royal, during the bazaar week, one of the most
dazzling and profusely crammed temples and marts of
fancy ever witnessed either by oriental or occidental
eyes.—Manchester Guardian.
THE QUEEN DOWAGER.—The inquiries of
the nobility and gentry at Marlborough House, since the
arrival of the Queen Dowager in town, have been very
numerous. The answer was that her Majesty did not
feel any ill effects from her journey on Friday, and was
going on most favourably.
MARYLEBONE VESTRY...--011 Saturday Mr.
Flood read a communication received from the Earl of
Lincoln, with regard to the rights of the Crown, as pa-
trons of the parish, to appoint to the office of clerk and
sexton of the entire parish. The letter set forth that,
under the 46th section of the Act, the late Government
were perfectly right in appointing the Rev. F. Brathwaite
to do the office of Clerk aad Sexton by himself or deputy,
and the present Government not only felt bound to con-
firm that decision, but refused to make a separate ap-
pointment to the Chapel and Cemetery of St. John's
Wood. The Report of the Committee on the subject
was then brought up. It regretted the course pursued
by Government, and recommended that, as the office
of clerk and [sexton of St. John's Wood had been per-
mitted to lapse, the salary of 301. a-year paid to Mr. Em-
peror, should be discontinued by the Vestry. Mr. Jo-
seph moved the adoption of the Report, leaving out the
last sentence. Mr. Flood here read a memorial from
Mr. Emperor, who in it stated that he had been clerk
and sexton of St. John's Wood for twenty-seven years ;
and a letter received by Mr. Emperor from the late Duke
of Portland, the then patron, confirming his appoint-
ment, dependent on his good behaviour. Mr. Joseph
contended that what had been done by the then patron
was binding on the Crown, although it had given
40,000/. for thepatronage. He considered Mr. pmperor
to have a life-interest in the situation, and said, if the
vestry acted so unjustly to an old servant, it would: be a
stepping-stone for the Rev. F. Brathwaite to eject him
altogether. Mr. Gomm moved as an amendment the
adoption of the entire Report. He said the office had
lapsed, and that Mr. Emperor now filled it without any
legal appointment. The Committee felt that they had
no right to give 301. a-year for an office which did not
exist. The original proposition was carried with but
two dissentients.

DISCOVERY OF A BODY.—On Saturday morn-
ing police constable 136 D, who had been for some time
previously assisted by others in the using of drags, drew
out of the Junction Canal the body of a young man,
named Smith, footman to Mr. Budd, 15, Norfolk-cres-
cent, Edgware-road, The deceased was missed on Thurs-
day night last, and it is supposed that as he was proceed-
ing along the towing-path, to Kensall-green, where
his wife and family resided, he accidentally slipped into
the water.
NATIONAL ANTI-CORN-LAW CONFERENCE.
—We call attention to the great movement which
is now making. We trust our fellow-citizens will
do their best to give a warm welcome to the de-
puties from the provinces, and to prove to them
that the metropolis responds to the enthusiasm of the
country. Arrangements, we hope, will be made, by the
City repealers, to accommodate the deputies during their
stay, in their own houses, as was done at Manchester.
On Thursday an inquest was held before Mr.
Carter, at the Marquis of Granby, Red-hill, on view of
the body of Mr. John Jupp, aged 52 years. It appears
from the evidence that the deceased was for many years
officer to the Sheriff for Surrey, and until within a few
weeks since the landlord of the Great Crown Inn, Rei-
gate. On Sunday afternoon last, the unfortunate man
ran down the embankment on the London and Brighton
Railway, at Red-hill, directly in front of the five o clock
up-train, and was in an instant killed. Various rumours
are given for the commission of the rash act, but pecu-
niary embarrassment is senposed to be the causeof it.
The Jury returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity."
A CASE or PRESUMPTION —During an ar-
gument of Counsel, in a case heard on Saturday before
Vice-Chancellor Wigram, with respect to presumption, his
Honour said that the following was the strongest case ho
had ever met with :—A man was tried before Lord Ken-
yon, under an indictment under the Game-laws, for
shooting a bird. It was proved that the man fired, and
that the bird fell and was picked up by the prisoneK The
Jury returned a verdict of not guilty. When asked for
their reason, they said they presumed that the bird had
died of fright, there being no evidence that there was
any shot in the gun.