The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-09-13 00:00:00

(ANOTHER ACCOUNT.)

Yesterday morning, at a quarter-past 10 o'clock, a young
person, aged 23, named Margaret Mayes, daughter of a master
baker carrying on business at No. 3, Hemming's-row, Cha-
ring-cross, committed suicide by throwing herself off the top
of the Monument. About 20 minutes before the time just
mentioned, she accosted Thomas Jenkins, the person who
admits visiters, on the payment of 6d. each, to inspect and
ascend the Monument. She inquired if two ladies and a
gentlemani ad not been there, describing their persons, and
being answered in the negative, she expressed her surprise
at their absence, adding that she and the persons inquired
after had just arrived from Gravesend by a steamer, with the
view of seeing London from the Monument. She then asked
permission'to sit within side the railings that encircle the
base of the Monument, adding that she was sure her party
would arrive in a short time.. The keeper, Jenkins, com-
plied with her request, and she sat down on a stone slab in-
side the railing gates. She then entered freely into conver-
sation with Jenkins, and among other remarks observed
that the morning was rather cloudy, and she hoped that it
would clear up, so as-to enable her to have an advantageous
prospect. Her manner was apparently perfectly calm and
collected. After the lapse of about 20 minutes she rose up,
s lying she would not wait any longer, but would ascend the
Monument without her party. After paying the accustomed
fee and ascending a few steps, she turned back and said to
Jenkins, " If they come tell them to come up to me, but if
they decline ascending detain them till I come down." Af-
ter this she ascended, and nothing more was seen or heard of
hoe until elia had committed the extraordinary and fatal act.
On inspecting the terrace at the summit of the giant column,
her bonnet, shawl, veil, waist-band and gloves were found ly-
ing on it. A piece of spun rope, about half an inch in
diameter and about ten feet in length, was found tied to
the top rail of the iron palisade that encircles the ter-
race. There was a loop at the bottom of this rope some-
what in the shape of a stirrup-iron, which served her as
a ladder to climb over the iron palisade and get on to the pro-
jecting cornice that runs around outside it, It is conjec-
tured that when she got upon the cornice she allowed herself
to drop backwards, without making a spring. This conjec-
ture is founded on the fact, that her body fell within the
railings at the base of the pillar. The body was seen in its
descent by several persons, who say that it did not strike
against any of the upper part of the pillar, and that the first
obstruction it met with was from a bird-cage hanging on the
right side of the door of the stone steps by which she bad as-
cended. She then fell on an iron bar which runs as a
support from the side of the door to the iron palings, which
was very much bent by the concussion. Her left arm, near
the shoulder, came in contact with the bar, and was so vio.-,
lently severed that the part cut off flew over the iron railings
several yards into the square. After striking against the iron
bar, the body fell so heavily on a tub containing a lilac plant,
that it broke it in pieces, as well as several flower-pots placed
on the right-hand side of the door. Of course not a sign of
life, except some contractions of the muscles of the legs and
arms, was discernable in the body when it was picked up. A
shell was procured by city constable Bradley, No, 6, and
conveyed by him and Jenkins to the dead house under Lon-
don-bridge. In a short time two surgeons arrived, whdexa-
mined the body, and found, besides the injury to the left arm
already mentioned, that the spine and both thighs were
broken in several places. Neither the head nor face pre-
sented any exterior marks of injury. The unfortunate young
person's dress was a black silk one, white silk stockings, and

japanned shoes. A wedding ring was on the middle finger
of her left hand. In figure she was above the ordinary height,
her features were regular, and altogether she must have been
a fine and handsome woman. The police circulated a de-
scription of her person, but no clue to her identity was dis-
covered until about seven o'clock in the evening, when the
lord mayor, on visiting the Monument for the second time,
was told that a gentleman had a communication to make to
him. The Communication was to the effect that the unhappy
girl was the daughter of Mr. Mayes, of Hemming's-row, that
she had quitted her home at an early hour in the morning,
and had left a letter behind stating that her family shoulu
never see her again.

WATERFORD ELECTION. —Mr. Wyse was returned last
Friday without opposition.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—In this quarter, it
has rained almost without intermission since Tuesday, and
during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the rain was accom-
panied by high winds. On Saturday particularly, during one
of the heaviest showers that fell this year, it blew like a
whirlwind, twisting the corn round, and in several places da-
maging it, we fear irreparably. As to harvest operations,
they have made little progress. We have had some cutting.
but not much, and it is for the greater part .confined to land
adjacent to the coast. The Oats and Barley are very green.
In some places they have sprouted, and in others, especially
mountain districts, they are so backward that it is thought
that, even with fine weather from this out, they will not be
fit for the sickle before December. There is a great deal of
hay still uncut, and much of that which is in cock might as
well have been left standing so thoroughly is it saturated.
During the latter part of yesterday the weather cleared, and
up to two o'clock this morning it has continued fine.— Cork
Cunstil u lion- of Tuesday.
MELANCHOLY -ACCIDENT.—At Herne Bay, on Saturday,
three persons met their death by the upsetting. of a boat, in
which they were sailing for pleasure. The sufferers were
Miss Wade, Miss Fielder, and Mr. Binks. It appeared that
with a youth, brother of Miss Wade, they had taken a boat
and been to Reculve, having on board a boatman named
Presley, and were returning to Herne Bay, with close reefed
mainsail and foresail set, when the foresheet broke adrift,
and Presley made fast the mainsheet, whilst he got an oar
to prevent the boat from coming up in the wind ; but the
boat upset on her larboard side, and all on board were pre-
cipitated into the water. They had just been passed by a
Margate boat, in which were some ladies and gentlemen, and
a boatman named Hammond Maxted, who, looking back,
missed the boat in which the deceased were, and believing
some accident had occurred, put his boat about and made for
the place where he lad last seen her, and soon perceived the
hands of a person held up out of the water, who, on being
taken on board, proved to be the man Presley, much ex-
hausted. He directed Maxted to the spot where the other
sufferers were, and he first saw the young lad, whom he took
on board, and whose life was thus saved. He next caught
the clothes of Miss Wade, which tore asunder and the boat
passed her ; but he immediately saw Miss Fielder, whom he
succeeded in getting on board, as, also, subsequently, Miss
Wade and Mr. Binks, all of whom he believed to be alive at
the time ; but they almost instantly expired.
A TANTALISING SITUATION.—Many of Shecoast blockade
seamen in Sussex lost their lives by walking over the cliffs
during dark or foggy nights ; and upon one occasion two of
their bodies were discovered dreadfully mangled within a few
yards of each other, having been precipitated from a height
of at least three hundred feet. The circumstance of their
being killed nearly at the same spot, and at about the same
moment, gave rise to an opinion that they bad been thrown
over by the smugglers. Be this as it might, some time after
an officer, much disliked for his activity, having fallen into
an ambuscade of smugglers, they seized, blindfolded him,
and tied his feet together, crying, " Throw him over the
cliff !—throw him over the cliff!' Disregarding his entreaties
for mercy, they bore him to the edge, and pushing him
gradually over, feet foremost, till his arms and chin only re-
mained above the brink, to which lie clung by digging his
finger-nails into the grass, and in this cruel position they
left him. He remained thus for above an hour, in agonies
of terror, screaming for help, and straining every sinew to
maintain his old, till at length the blood seemed to "staduate
in his arms; his strength failed—his brain reeled at the
thought of the depth beneath, and he was upon the point of
letting go in dispair when, as a last effort, he released one
hand, tore the bandage from his eyes, turned his head with
horror, and beheld the bottom within a yard of his feed—
the smugglers having selected a hollow chalk-pit for their
purpose, upon the brink of which he had been so tormentingly
suspended.—United Service Journal.

AWFUL EXPLOSION OF THE DARTFORD
POWDER MILLS-FIVE LIVES, LOST.

On Monday morning, a few. minutes after ten o'clock, an
awful explosion took place on the above premises, which
threw down and scattered the corning house. the whole of
the implements and materials contained therein, in every di-
rection, and we regret to add, five fellow creatures' lives have

been sacrificed in the tremendous shock which spread

throughout the town of Dartford_and its vicinity, and which
was distinctly felt 'and the explosion heard at Maidstone, a
oiscance of 20 miles. Most of the sufferers, if not ail of

them, have left wives and families to deplore their loss.
is at all times difficult to arrive at the particulars in explo-
sions of this nature, as the persons employed on the premises,
and who might possibly know the immediate cause, arc ge-
nerally the sufferers, which has been the case on this occasion.
The names of the unfortunate men are, John Bush, aged 58;
Thomas Pescott, 27 ; John Honess, 40 ; Henry Fawn, 39 ;
Joseph Brown, 28 years old. An inquisition was taken on
the premises, before C. J. Carttar and a highly-respectable'
jury. on Tuesday. The first wins( ss called was
Mr. Robert Wilks, a partner in the firm of Pigou and
Wilks, who deposed that he knew the whole of the deceased.
They had all been workmen on their premises, and were per-
fectly steady, sober men. He had-been in the corning house
about a quarter before ten o'clock, when all the deceased
were employed, with the exception of Pescott, who was in a
boat in the canal, it being his duty to convey the powder from
the corning house to the house where the next process takes
place, and which is on all occasions moved front place to place
with caution to prevent accident and danger by avoiding fric-
tion. However, there is every reason to believe that. he must
have subsequently gone into the corning house, from the po-
sition in-which his body was found. The corning boos, wes
completely surrounded by a mound of earth at least In
high, and a great number of trees. The body of Pescott
blown over the mound into the ditch, or canal, on the oppo-
site side. The explosion took place about 10 minutes after
10 o'clock, anchas soon as his alarm had abated the deceased
Pescott was found as described, having lost his right leg,
which had been severed from the body close up by the fork
cf the thigh, and his left arm from its socket. Witten first
lo .nd he was alive and sensible, and said-to witness, " For
God's sake, do something for tine." Although in his senses,
he did not appear to be aware that he had lost-either of his
limbs ; and for 10 minutes spoke rationally to the persons
about him, and said, " In five minutes more I should have
been away from the building." After •the lapse of that
time his sufferings commenced, -and se excruciating were
they that the poor fellow asked than to dash his brains
out to stop his agony ; and in about two minutes a
war's he ceased to exist. The body of John Bush was
long time before it was found, as it hatifillen into the canal,
which was drained for the purpose.of discovering it. It was
shockingly mutilated. He had been employed in the mil!s
nearly 30 years, and was the foreman of the works. - Joseph
Brown was found on the mound or embankment with the loss
of head and bands, dreadfully triscoloured.. John Honess
was a man of .1-6 stone Weießt ; ht was tErOwn over the em-
.bankment, and upwards of 100 pi-dims the other side of it.
His right, arm had been blown, off,-and was found about 30
yards to the left of the body. Henry Fawn was a Ismail
lighter man than lioness ; lie., ehis . found in a meadow, up-
wards of 120 yards.overthe embank-merit, where he appeared
to have fallen, his 'clothes singing theegrass, and he had af-
terwards rebounded at least 25 feet further, where similar
marks of fire were made on the turf; his 'body being nearly
severed in two across the abdomen. Mr.-Hurst and 111 r.
Fisher, surgeons, were immediately—sent for, who promptly
attended, but they could not be of the least eervice to the
sufferers. Witdess then stated that the men "were in the
habit of taking breakfast previcrusly to coming to work at seven
o'clock in the morning ; that the .v )sole of 'them -were re-
markably steady, and had been re lone time-employed at the
works. The buildings had recentlysbeen put in thorough re
pair, and they had only repoarmenced work in them on. Sa-
turday last. The ppivder; in:iti: corning state,. is not inure
dangerous than at any other period its Proce,e of ifianufae-
tuna still it is equally combustible. Every precaution had
been taken to prevent accident,lont-he could nertell hew the
explosion took place. There vas, hesbelieved, from 600 to
70011 as. weight of powder in the house. After they had een to
the bodies and limbs of the deceased, he went into the mea-
dow, wherein two thoroughbred bdy fillies 'had been turned,
near to the corning house ;'tlitik;rnoSl forltinatell acre close
under the embankment, or they 'must :Irave .been killed. On
witness going down to theme -he -saw both the hoeses lying
down, and he thought they were.dead; add they were then,
to his utter surpris'e, of a gray colour. - Afters some time, he
again went towards them, and called to therm They both
got up, and-were completely covered over with a sweat mid
white lather. On havink fajteil into the stable and
dressed dowa by the groom, they re-assumed their natural
colour, and appeared .resteritay as lively nod well as usual.
There was not a Vestige of the:, corning, house to be seen, it
had been so completely raied. The trees surrounding the
building were greatly injured-, some of them being destroyed
by losing their branches, and other's blown down. . •
William Benning, one of-the labourees of Messrs. Pigott and
Co. was about 20 rods froth •the cotning.house when it blew
up. He corroborated Mr. Wilks,s testimony in every partic-
ular, except that, in his opinion, there were at least 1,30..11bs
of powder which blew arts. Every precttneon had been taken
to prevent accident.
The Coroner shortly summed hp, -and the jury, after a
slight consultation, returned a verdict, "That the
-deceased
had come by their death in consequence 'of the exPlosion of
a gunpowder corning Mill, which belonged to Messrs. Pigou
and Wilks, situated in the parish of Wilmington, Kent."
This serious catastrophe has creased a great gloomO among
the inhabitants of Dartford and Wilmington, 'especially
among the working classes, whose sympathy for thealistressed
relations is intense, especially as it is known that their
widows and children are left in a destitute condition, as the
unfortunate sullerers•only received*l4s, or 15s. a week in the
above dangerous employment. ,

A LIGHT BOAT.—A Yankee in New Orleans Las built a
steam-boat with so small a draft that she will run anywhere
if it be moist. •

A Calais paper says that tWenty,cests of gold, containing
three millions sterling, hate lately passed, coming from
England,.and addressed to M. Rothschild.' •
The French journals,,.one, and all, express displeasure at
the manner in which Lord..Eroughain lauded the Duke of
Wellington at the Dover banquet [No wonder'.]

On Assumption-day, the beautiful Aiecha, who formed
part of the. harem of Achmet Bey, at Coustaniinople, was
baptized by the Bishop of. Algiers; and named Mari.

THE H.k.n.vEsT.—On Thtkriday and-Saturday last, a con-
siderable-Tall Orrain- tool: thiS • district. Since
Saturday, however, the weather. has been favourable ; and
much corn has been stacked and housed in this vicinity.—
Salopian Journal. . , -
A LITTLE ECONOMICAL.—A • person residing not a bun..
Aired miles from the May Pole, at Broseley, not wishing to
purchase straw, at its present -price, to thatch his. hay-rick,
wisely had his wheat-reaped as early' as possible, and directly
after cut off the heads, which wer..e.:strewed on the ground
to dry, whilst the straw was instantly used as a preservation
of the former crop.—SalGpian Journal. •
FRIGHTFUL AND FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.-011 Fri-
day the following dreadful accident occurred on the London
and Birmingham railway :—lnspector Watts, stationed at
WoolvertOn, On the above line, was crossing the road at the
time the first train from London • came up, when, before he
-could get outof the way, he was .knocked down, and, falling
under the engine, that and the whole of the carriages passed
over him, whe.reby he was literally cut in two, both legs being
Separated from the trunk. His head also was- frightfully shat-
tered, and no doubt death was instantaneous. The body
awaits a -coroner's inquest. The deceased was formerly
sergeant in the metropolitan ie otee farce, and had only re-
cently obtained the situation of inspector in the company's
service. He was about-33 years of age, bore an excellent
character, and his left a widow and family to deplore his
terrible fate.

Tan WOOL TRADE.—Accordir, to the accounts from the
•
northern parts of Germany, the quantities of wool purchased
at the late fairs in those parts for English account were very
considerable, .and those brought from the agricultural dis-
tricts for sale, of all qualities; much exceeded the production
of-former years. Tile surplits stocks would have been greatly
superior this year in consequence; but for the continued
activity of the woollen manufacture, both on the continent
and in this country. The competition amongst buyers, thus
sustained by the demand, had op •rated to prevent a larger
reduction in the prices of wools than from 5 to 10 per cent.
The extraordinary profits -realised .by the
.wool-growers had
had the natural effect of stimulating them to apply all their
means towards the increased' growth of the ai-tele and the
multiplication of their flocks, so that ie quantities produced
in the next and succeeding. years may be-expected to be still
more heavy. than those of the-present season.- An apprehen-
sion appeared to be entertained in .some quarters that the
remunerating value of the produce thus so largely increasing
would haidly be maintaik.ed with new and extraordinary
channels of consumption.' Silesia alone possessed stock
equal to 3,000;00 or.sheep, or tenfold the nuuiber existing
there 20 years ago. •
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC. NAVIGATION.—Mr. Faraday re-
cently received a letter from M. R. "Jacobi,. dated St. Peters-
burgh; on'the application ofelectro-niaguetisiii to navigation;
and Mr. Faraday has caused it t0,13e inserted.in- the London
and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine' for, the current
month. The following is.a short extract from this...curious
paper:'-" In the applications of electro-magnetism 'to the
inovetnent of machines, the -most- important obstacle always
has been, the embarassment and_ difficult manipulation of
the battery. This obstacle exists n 9 lonjer.- -.Paring the
autumn of 1838, and at a season (in-183) already too advan-
ced, I made, 'as yoU will have' learned.by. t4e .6"ozeites, the
first experiments in navigation on.the Nevaiwithu ten-bared
shallop, furnished with paddle-wheels, Which were put in
motion by an electro-magnetic machine,. Although we voy-
aged during entire days, • and usually with 10 or 12 persons
on board, I was not well satisfied with this first trial, for
there Were so many faults of construction, and want of in-
sulation in the machines and. battery, which could not be re-
..

.paired on the spot, that -I was terribly annoyed. those
repairs-and important changes being accomplished, the ex-
periments will shortly he. recommenced. • The experience of
the past year, combined With.the recent improvements of the
battery,
.give as the result, Witt to produce the force of one
horse (steam-engine estimation),•- it will require 'a battery of
20 square feet of platina distributed in it convenient manner,
but I hope that eight to ten square feet will produce the ef-
fect. If HEAVEN
preserves- my. health, 'which is a little af-
fected by continual labour, I hope that by next Midsummer
I shall have equipped'atir electro-magnetic VESSEL of from
40 to 50 horse-pOwer !"
REPRESENTATION OeSOUTH. CHESHIRE.—Our radical
friends have lately been suffering considerable alarm at the
very idea of Mr. Tollemache offering'himself as a candidate
to represent South Cheshire in parliament, on loyal and con-
stitutional groundS, in conjunctionwith our valuable and much
est 'erred representative Sir'• Philip Egerton ; and they have
seise 1 upon a rumour, riginating, as we learn, with the Man-
ca,ster Times, as a.pretext for a well known Chester radical,
under the feigned signature Of " An Old Whig," to pour
forth through the coluinns.Of our contemporary,.a disgusting
and fulsome, but stillmost piteous'appeal to Mr. Tollemache,
in the vain hope of winning him over to the rapidly decreas-
ing ranks of radicalism. Wehave• called this rumour a pre-
text and we believe it to be a vhak invention of the " Old
Whig" and his radical friends lodrag--Mr. Tollemache before
the public, in the expectation of elicitinr, from him some as-
surance that so disastrous a calamity as that' gentleman's op-
position should not be inflicted upon their party. -It is not,
however, to thegood and kindly feelings of Mr Tollemache
alone that the appeal is made, but the -" Old Whig," unable
wholly to conceal the cloven foot, artfully contrives to intro-
duce a threat, that shouldMr Tolleinache be induced to come
forward upon constitutional principles at the next electior
it must necessarily be in opposition to Mr. G. Wilbrahe
and that he would be found an'awkward customer to 1
Of this contemptible threat, the poll book for the last
at once disposes ; for by reference to its pages it will be seen
Sir Philip Eegrton outnumbered Mr -G. Wilbraham by a
• large majority of Votes-- 'majority that, were Sir Philip
Egerton and Mr. Tollemache to 'stand on the same' interest,
would be increased ten-fold. It is not our place to premise,
what part Mr Tollenfache may take in local- politics at the
next election, and we will not follow the supplicating strain of
" The Old Whig," so insulting to common sense, by entreat-
ing and beseeching Mr.:Tolleinachelo adopt- our party as his
own. But we much mistake the pi ineiples that actuate that
gentleman, both in. public and private life, if when the con-
test does come; he be not found advocating and actively sun-
porting those men and those Measures only, whose object is
the maintenance of our established church—the-prothotion of
sound scriptural education atflongst Our youth—equal justice
to agriculturalist and to the manufacturer—a stable and ettici-
ent government at home--Land though last not least the re-es-
tablishment of the national honer and dignity of old Eng-
land, latterly, alas ! su fallen and neglected.—Chester
Courant. •

Vettrp,

HYMN FOR HARVEST TIME.

EV CHARLES WAIST THOMPSON.
'Neath summer's bright and glorious sky,
While proudly waves the golden grain,
And throagh the falling fields of rye,

Come on the joyous reaper train-11
While nature smiles, and hill and plain
Are tranquil as the sleeping sea,
And peace and plenty brightly reign
By nonirstead, hearth, and fcrest tree—
God of the season, unto thee we raise
Cur hands_ and hearts in melody and praise !
There is a sweet breath from the hills,
The incense from thr mountain air, •
Which from a thousand flowers distils
Its odour delicate and rare—
We feel its balni—we see it there
Among the bending wheat blades move,
Wigging their tops in dalliance Mr,
As if its very life were love—
God of the harvest, whence its breezes blow,
Receive the humble thanks thy creatures owe !

Onr loaded wain comes winding home,
Then let tts rest beneath the shade
Of this old oak, our verdant dome,
And %Patch the evening shadow fade—
O'er tnottnt and meadow, lawn aad glade,
They spread their deep'ning tints of grey,
'Till all the scene their hues pervade,

And twilight gbrice melt away—
God of the world, who round thy curtain throws,
Thanks for the time of quiet and repose !
How still is nature all around !

No tong is sung, no voice is heard,
Save here and there a marmuring sound,
As if some ricstless sleeper stirred :
The grasshopper, night's clam'rous bird,
Chirps gay,-but all is hushed beside—
And silence is the soothing word,

Whose spell diffuses far and wide—
God of the aniverst, by night and day,
We bleu thee for the efts we ne'er can pay !

CONTEMPORARY PRESS.

THE NEW 'COLONIAL MINISTER.
(Pros, tke Spectator.)
Why it happened is of little consequence now,
but there can be iso dual/ / that Lord Normanby was
expected tie cut a figute as Colonial Minister. Ap-
pointed to the officeott ers time when the politics of a
colony seemed likely to affect very materially those of
the mother-country, and succeeding one who had been
removed for notorious incapacity, Lord Normanby ap-
peared to have been selected as the fittest man of his
party to deal with the colonial exigencies of the mo-
ment, and to peoride permanent remedies for the evils
which had grown out of 4 long course of neglect and
mismanagement. It was imagined that those who ap-
pointed him knew him to possess the requisite quali-
ties, and therefore that he possessed them. Seldom
has a: public expectation been more thoroughly disap-
pointed. As Oslonial Minister, Lord Normanby has
done nothing, waggreted nothing, projected nothing.
lie ham reaped no harreat, though a rich one bad been
prepared for hint by Lord Durham's mission, and has
sown no seeds in the Wide wilderness which he found
open to impreveenent. He has exhibited neither genius,
nor sagacity, nor resolution, nor readiness, nor even
common diligence. The multitudinous business of the
office was never more in arrear, never in a worse mess
than at the present time. Lord Normanby " broke
down" within about a week of his appointment. It is
well known that he had intended to remove Mr. Ste-
then, the over-secretary of many nominal chiefs; but
just as this popular purpose was on the point of exe-
cution, out came Sir Francis Head's narrative, in which
Mr. Stephen Was abused as a republican, and soforth ;
when torsi Normanby changed his mind, for fear of
its being said that he hard been influenced by Sir Fran-
cis Head ; and therefore, Mr. Stephen remained. From
that moment, note who were acquainted with the facts
had any hope of Lord Normanby. The expectations
which they expressed at the time, he has perfectly ful-
filled. brief career has been distinguished from
that of the poorest of his predecessors by nothing but
some theatrical flourishes, which now seem ridiculous
to those who remember them. His first despatch—a
very 'silly, sentimental sort of letter to some West In-
dia governor, about the negroes—he published in the
London newepaperey apropos de bottes, under the title
of "Lord Normanby's First Despatch." He stuck up
a notice in the office, to the effect that, during certain
hours of certain days every week, he would receive all
comers without introduction. It was given out at the
time, that Lord Normanby would show the office how
to do business—that he was to be the most accessible
of ministers—that he would learn and judge for him-.
self, and many more fine things of the same sort.
Now, what was the result of this coup de theatre ?
Why, that the ministers soon grew sick of thus show-
ing off his accessibility, and ended by being as difficult
of access as any of his predecessors, not to say more
so. The old messengers used to hold up their hands
and groan at the scene which grew out of his lordship's
"public days ;" as others would have done had they
„known all that the court Circular did not tell about
"interviews with the Marquis of Normanby." He is
gone, however, and we have only to write his epitaph.
He left the Canadas as he found them, a prey to every
evil resulting fm misrule. He attempted, but hap-
pily failed, to destroy the most ancient of the colonial
conetitutions,"by substituting a despotism for the re-
presentative government of Jamaica. He advertised
his first despatch, and made a mere show of extraordi-
nary accessibility, Any thing else ?—Yes, he did what
in him lay to prevent an important addition to the co-
lonial empire of England, which he might easily have
had the honour of founding.
What can have induced Lord John Russell to take
the colonial seals, is a question that puzzles the best in-

formed. The appointi-nent is of inferior rank, relates
to subjects of which the late Home Secretary knows
- -little, and about which one so steeped in home politics
as the Jesder of the House of Commons, must almost
necessarily care less. The duties of the office, if but
decently performed, are exceedingly laborious; and it
has never been held of late years without loss of re-
putation. The risk of damage from holding it is
,peculiarly great just now, when the gross incapacity of
two- or three colonial minieters in succession has pro-
duced somethinte like a general rebellion in our cob)-
.
niel empire. IN e never heard that Lord John Russell
had a taste for fishing in troubled waters. What then
can have been his motive for changing places with
Lord Normanby
This question receives numerous answers, which, in
the absence of reliable information, we shall repeat be-
fore we express our own opinion.
There are not wanting persons.who say, that the ar-
.rangement is merely .provisional ; that Lord John will
soon refire, having been induced to keep the place
warm for another, not yet persuaded to join the go-
vernment; and that nothing important, therefore, will
result from this appointment.
Others assert that the government has at length re-
solved npon settling the Canada question at least; and
that the leader of the House of Commons takes the
Colonial goals for that purpose only, under the idea
that by uniting the character of Colonial Minister to
that of the leader of the House of Commons, he will
adopt the best means of carrying early next session a
measure for the permanent government of Canada.
This is a pleasant speculation, and so reasonable. in
many respects that one might hope it to be well
founded, if it were not contradicted by Mr. Thomson's
appointment. Lord John is a person of no mean abi-
lities : but if he settle the Canada question here while
Mr. Thomson is reviving there the embers of univer-
sal strife, he has a far greater capacity than his warm-
est admirers suppose.
A third set of speculators on Lord John's appoint-
ment—wary old hacks of the party now in power—
smile at. the notion of attributing this change of places
to any very definite object. The government, say they,
knew that it could not meet Parliament again without
putting on the appearaace at least of some novelty or
freshness • so it made a 'move-amongst its members, as
ene shuffles the cards for ,a change of luck; and the
result is, that while Lord Normanby finds himself in
Lord John Russell's place. Lord John Russell finds .
himself in Lord NOrmauby's. By the same sort of
• accident Mr. Thomson is despatched to Canada. But
Lord Melbourne deliberately laughs in his sleeve.—
This version of the story will have many believers, un-
til something happen to disprove it.