The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-17 00:00:00

COLLIERS AND IRON-MINERS
STRIKE.

We regret that we cannot announce any impror-
meat in the condition of the districts around Airdrie,
Coatbr:dge, and Holytown. The determination to
continue the strike seems as strong as ever, though
individuals, here and there, have returned to their
work, and others have shown a disposition to follow
their example. Such cases are, however, but rare,
and can scarcely be said to affect the dispute, or the
condition of the district. The plundering of the
potatoe fields is as much the vogue as ever, and is by
no means to be wondered at, seeing that the turn-
outs are almost wholly destitute of any other means
of providing for themselves or their families. In the
meantime, the authorities are taking such measures
as lie in their power for the preservation of the peace.
We understand that a few of the masters have now
offered 4s. a-day, but the workers refuse to return to
their employment unless these terms are offered in all
the districts.

The great extent to which potatoe stealing has .Pro-
ceeded need not be matter of surprise, when we have
been informed that the men on strike and their de-
pendents (perhaps 30,000 persons) live almost exclu-
sively upon the potatoe fields, and look to them as the
means of continuing their struggle with their employ-
ers. The miners and colliers, it is true, deny that
they patronise. or have anything to do, with the po-
tatoe lifting; but one fact is worth many unsupported
assertions. On the night before last, the police were
in quest of a prisoner at Coatbridge, and searched no
fewer tlmmu 254 houses, cottages, or lodgings, and only
six men were found in all of them. That they were
providing for their families at the time is little liable
to question, although few honest men will approve of
the mode.—Glasgow Arguß.

ASSIZE IN
NORTHERN CIRCUIT—York, August 15.
The assizes for this county commenced here to -day.
Their Lordships proceeded to business a little after
twelve o'clock. On the civil side the entry is not
yet completed. The calendar i heavy, there being
no fewer than 137 prisoners, a large proportion of
whom stand charged with offences of the more serious
class.- There are two cases of murder, one of man-
slaughter, one of arso:), ten cases of rape, thirteen of
robbery, and seventeen of burglary. A few unim-
portant eases taken before Mr. Baron .Mule were dis-
posed of to-day.

• OXFORD- ClRCUlT—Gluucester, August 15.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice EnsliTNE.)
This morning havin,, been fixed by his Lordship
for the trial of the charges of blasphemy (two of
which we regret to say appear in the calendar for this
county) Adams, the vendor of au infamous athelstical
periodical, was placed at the bar, indicted for vending
a copy of the work, which was given in evidence, and
which contained the most profane and impious in-
:intitions against the Christian religion, the Holy
Scriptures, and against our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Mfr. Alexander appeared on behalf of the Crown,
and having proved the case against the prisoner, his
Counsel, Mr. Thomson, addressed the .Tury for him,
after which, without a moment's hesitation, they re-
turned a verdict of guilty, the foreman expressing the
horror and disgust which he and the other gentlemen
with him in the box felt at the disclosures they had
heard.

h is Loansnir deferred passing sentence.
Upon the name of the next prisoner being called, a
miserable-looking lad of the name of Hollyoak, was
seen making his way to the bar, dragging in with
him a heavy chest of books, which he deposited with
much parade upon a table, and then requested his.
Lordship's permission to challenge the Jury, which
the Learned Judge granted upon condition that he
alleged any good reason for his objections. Although
his objections were perfectly frivolous, his Lordship, in
compliance with the wish of the prisoner, directed one
of the Jurors to withdraw, whom he accused of being
prejudiced against him, and another was sworn in his,
place. The trial then proceeded, and
Mr. Alexander stated the grounds' upon ml-gleh
the prosecution was founded, which-- statement was
fully corroborated by the testimony of a respectable
witness, the only one called by the Learned Counsel,
in consequence of the prisoner rendering any further
proof unnecessary by his cross-examination. lie
Stated that he was a printer at Cheltenham ; that he
attended a lecture at the Mechanics' Institution there
on the 24th of May last; that there were about
one hundred men and women there ; that over the
door of the meeting was a placard headed " Home
Colonization—Emigration superseded—No Poor-
laws," On entering the room, he heard a lecture
delivered by the prisoner upon Socialism and other
similar absurdities ; and at the close of the lecti:gro
he beard a man, whose name he did not know, put
a question to the prisoner in the following terms,
and who, addressing the lecturer, said, "
ou have
been speaking of our duty to our fellow men,*hut you
have said nothing of 'our duty toWarda'God." The
prisoner said in. reply, " I am of no Tellgion at all.- I"
do not believe in a God. The peciple of this country
are two poor to have any religion," and then proceeded
to make the further remarks which formed the sub-
ject of the indictment, and which were of a most
blasphemous nature. • This witness was cross-exa-
mined by the prisoner for upwards of an hour, in a
manner which afforded an illustration of the oldadage
that he who conducts his own case has generally a,
fool for his client, as every answer elicited by the'
prisoner tended more and more to establish his guilt.
At the close of the case for the Crown, the prisoner
addressed the Jury in an incoherent discourse.
At nine o'clock, P.M., the prisoner had not brought
his tissue of absurdity to a close, and his discourse,at
the hour we were compelled to close our dispatch,
still appeared as if it might lie continued in the. same.
strain for some-hours,to come.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.--:-Devizes. August 15.
The business of this county began this morning at
eleven o'clock. On thekhil side there are eighteen
causes entered for trial,: of which four are special
juries. The calendar contains the names of ilbout,
seventy prisoners. Eight or nine trifling cases were
gone through in the Crown Court.

POLICE INTEI.LIGENCE.
IVANDSWORTII.
CHARGE OF BIGAMY AGAINST A CLEAGTMA.N...—.-
The Rev. Stephen Aldluntee, late evenirag preacher at
All Hallows, Lombard-street, City, was brought
before Mr. Pavnter for re-examination, upon a charge
of intermarrying with Heplizibah Roberts, his 61.4
wife, Frances Aldhouse, being still alive.
The priSoner was first charged at this Court nn the
James s,
and 3d inst., and on that occasion certificates, being the
actual copies of parish register entries, were given in,
proving that, in the first instance, a marriage had
been solemnized between Stephen Aldhouse and
Frances Moss, otherwise Montague, in St.
Leonards, Shoreditch, and in the second, that . n
Reverend Stephen Aldhouse clerk of the holy
orders, and widower, and Heph'zibcalleßloebehenNr‘t.teistiyi:so,iinfdottwhhee,
the father of the
had Leon marTriheed
saetcoSnt(.l
year 1838.
prisoner were proved by Mr. Jones,
ensuedd. between
second wife. Correspondzicfee,
and Mr. Aldhouse wast
Mrs. Roberts, the second
presumptive proo. fof the firs
produced, to afford ti•
which e
took
ke the marriage_
At the second examination,
wife's ' existence prior to aniilS
Bth instant, Mr. John A.. cold proved the firsts
Miss Misi Oxley, a lady residing Homerton, proved 07e
existence of the first wife three years since.
rable
day' the
the
furthercase
length, and into
.as as
Adjourned
j ocurnonse,i(:tir,
until
Tuesday next, when edepositions will be formally
taken, and the .
prisoner will be fully' covnaitted fortrial.