The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-06-11 00:00:00

AN AMERICAN'S OPINION ON THE COURT
OUTRAGE IN ENGLAND.

(From the New York Gazette,-May 18.)
The case of Lady Flora Hastings is of a character to enlist
the feelings and call forth the indignation of every man who
claims to bear the impress of manhood upon his brow, or to
cherish its impulses in his bosom. If he BE a man, he can-
not fail to feel, and feel deeply upon an occasion of this sort,
whether he chance to live on one side or the other of the
Atlantic. The case calls not merely upon the countrymen
of the injured lady, but it calls upon civilized society—upon
the friends of woman in every quarter of the globe where
cultivation has superseded savagism ! We appeal to our
own lovely country in every rank an condition of life—we
call upon every man possessing mind enough to appreciate
the purity of female character, whether high or lowly in its
social position, to join us in the indignation due to so profli-
gate desecration of all that belongs to decency as is exhibited
in the case to which the following article alludes. We
receive it from a source which entitles it to the highest
respect, and we publish it with the highest pleasure—not
because it comes from so respectable a quarter, but because
it so fully speaks the feelings produced in our own mind by
a perusal of the accounts in the English papers of this most
barbarous—most disgraceful proceeding. The atrocity of
that proceeding has never been exceeded, and we agree
entirely with the writer in the belief, that neither Greece nor
Rome in the palmiest days of the vice that disgraced them,
never presented so glaring an example of unmitigated mer-
cilessness towards the gentler sex. That such a villany—it is
not necessary that we know of to mince the phraseology—that
such a scene of unmanly villany could have occurred in the
court of the young and- lovely sovereign of England, passes
our comprehension. We would not have believed it possi-
ble. We are not Englishmen but Americans, and of course
have no other right than the right which manhood carries
with it in all countries and on all occasions, to remark upon
such a subject. Lady Flora Hastings, as a member of the
high and ancient aristocracy of England, is certainly none the
less entitled to our sympathies—republicans as we are—from
the circumstance of elevated birth ; but it is not because she
springs from two of the most honorable and ancient families
in the land of our forefathers, that we speak as we do of the
injuries to which she has been doomed. If she were the low-
liest maiden in our land---lif she were the virtuous daughter
of the veriest plebian in the country, we would speak with the
indignation which we speak and express on this occasion.
The elevation of the sufferer only makes her case the more
conspicuous,—none the more atrocious—unless it be more
atrocious to see a prime minister of Great Britain,—very far
himself from having preserved immaculacy of character—
sanctioning such a course of cruelty upon a woman of unsul-
lied innocence. We do not see that the Queen is much to
blame in the case. Indeed, it argues very much in her fav-
vor that she is so'sensitive to the character of her court ; but
it is difficult to find decorous language strong enough to ex-
press the proper feeling for the malignant parasites who poi-
soned the Royal ear and caused such irreparable injustice to
an injured—deeply injured lady. The heart sickens over
such a scene. It is impossible to contemplate with compla-
cency, so sad, so brutal a desecration of the chivalry of senti-
ment, of feeling and of action that we had thought still
governed the world—at least the civilised and educated sec-
tions of it. It is idle—altogether idle—and cruel because it
is idle, to talk about " reparation " in such a case. The in-
jury is beyond the reach even of Royal reparation. No hu-
man means can restore the Lady Flora's feelings to the point
where the spoiler found them.

A gentleman, the college companion, we understand, and
intimate friend of the Marquis of Hastings, passed through
this city a few days ago, and happening to meet with a news-
paper in which was a paragraph entitled " A second Queen
Bess," he expressed great pain and displeasure at the manner
in which the Marquis of Hastings' name was introduced, and
communicated to a friend the wish to effect a contradiction
of the statement that his lordship was a party to the outrage
against his sister, by acceding to the proposition of Sir James
Clarke, the court physician, that the Lady Flora Hastings
should be submitted to the medical examination which it ap-
pears took place, in order to prove (what was never doubted
before) that her unsullied reputation rendered such an out-
rage as preposterously absurd as it was criminally indefensible.
We have great satisfaction in avowing our regret thatany
part of our press should have given pain to the friends of the
Marquis, or be injurious to a member of the Hastings'. fa-
mily—and we readily disclaim all idea of attributing such a
measure to any brother or gentleman, or to the Marquis of
Hastings, who is represented to be a man of highly honour-
able mind, utterly incapable of lending his sanction or toler-
ance to such an enormity, not only when directed against his
own sister, but to any person of the meanest character or
condition—to any woman whatsoever. We certainly never
before had the misfortune to hear of so infamous' a device to
destroy the honour and peace of any virtuous or innocent
women, nor to clear or stigmatize the fame of an accused one,
by means scarcely more destructive to the- reputation of her
adversaries than derogatory to the defenders who could sug-
gest such an unjustifiable method, and one so repugnant to
every feeling of reverence for the sacredness of virgin purity
—a sentiment which has hitherto reigned an unbroken law in
every civilized nation upon the globe ; of every religion and
of every age, without exception of time, place or circum-
stance. We concur, therefore, thoroughly in the sentiments
of repugnance in which every virtuous mind must participate,
whether interested personally for the Marquis of Hastings or
for the glory of the reigning dynasty of Great Britain ; and
we willingly take the most immediate method of clearing up
any mistake to which our press may undesignedly have
contributed.

In this country—where the honour of our wives and daugh-
ters is cherished as the basis of all moral principle—ln this
country, where every man considers himself brother and
protector to female innocence, and guardian to every virtuous
woman, the safety of whose honour is in his care—where any
violation of that holy trust is almost unheard of, and where
any such delinquency would degrade him for ever in society,
not only from all honour as a gentleman but all dignity as a
man—we can readily believe that every Englishman, whether
friend or not to Lord Hastings, recoils at the idea of such a
degrading charge being affixed to his name. We have satis-
faction therefore in saying that we have sought for informa-
tion expressly to correct any mis-statement. The following
are the particulars we have collected in private letters from
persons of reputation addressed to those on whose word also
we may place reliance.

atrocious circumstances until after they had taken place. He
was ill with the influenza in the country, at his castle of Don-
nington, in Leicestershire, one hundred and thirty miles dis-
tant from London. The affair in its explosion was extremely
sudden, and the whole transaction occupied not much more
than twent-four hours. What the secret machinations may
have been which preceded and led to it, are still in the dark.
Sir James Clark, who now figures as the perpetrator of the
whole mischief, because his instigators do not yet appear,
was the confidential physician to the two illustrious ladies
whose untainted names ought never to have been even
approximated to such transactions, much less intermingled
with them. That he should have been consulted also by the
Lady Flora Hastings is alone a convincing proof that her
ladyship could have nothing to conceal. From this state of
security she was disturbed by the physician in question, Sir
James Clarke, entering her apartment one ' morning in the
palace, and communicating to her ladyship his daring and
shameless design of becoming her calumniator and public
accuser. He then menaced her with the declared indigna-
tion of the whole court if she did not consent either to make
confession that should accord with his purposes, or permit
this most nefarious and unprecedented method of establish-
ing her innocence. Lady Flora Hastings naturally resented
the insult, and resisted the menace which was immediately
carried into effect by messages of authority carried to the
Duchess of Kent by the same Sir James Clarke, from the
other illustrious lady, wronged and outraged, if possible,
still more than Lady Flora Hastings, in being thus rendered
the unconscious instrument of actions too atrociously bad in
their nature and tendency, to have had it possible that any
one should have dared to approach perfect purity with the
full communication—thus using the most august name and
sacred authority to sanction the perpetration of what could
not be fully comprehended by innocence, modesty, and in-
experience.
The message of authority thus surreptitiously obtained,
and in profanation of a name so sacred, was a repetition of
the proposals of Sir James Clarke, and a prohibition to Lady
Flora Hastings to re-appear in the presence of the sovereign
under any other than the stated conditions. The agony of
the injured lady may be well imagined. The court of the
royal mother stigmatized by this systematic defamation of
herself. Trembling for the life even of her own mother, the
dowager Marchioness of Hasting, residing in declining health
at Loudown Castle, Ayrshire in Scotland—a lady whose lofty
sense of moral dignity is only to be equalled by the mildness
of her domestic virtues—who shares with the Duchess of
Kent every sentiment of material tenderness in affectionate
reciprocity, and in devoted loyalty to the crown and to the
august lady upon whose head it is placed. Thus harrassed
and appalled by the complicated calamities which the case
involve, and with the ignorance of the capabilities of crime
which innocence must always retain. Lady Flora by her per-
suasions and entreaties overcame the scruples and repugnance
of the Duchess of Kent to this act of self-sacrifice on her
part, and she obtained her reluctant consent to this abhor-
rent measure, in the vain idea of convincing, or appeasing
her enemies, and thereby preventing that publicity, the shock
of which would plunge her own family in anguish and afflic-
tion, and cast disgrace upon the whole court. Those, how-
ever, who undertook this work of darkness and malignity of
course secured publicity of all that could be degrading, to fill
the press with contradictory statements ; tending to involve
the whole in a cloud of doubt and obscurity.
The plain statement of facts published in consequence of
Mr. Hamilton Fitzgerald, uncle to Lady Flora, and referred
to afterwards in confirmation, by the Marquis of Hastings in
a letter to Lord Melbourne, authenticated the above men-
tioned circumstances, which are still further confirmed by
private intelligence.
The two ladies of the court whose names are prominent in
this ever to be lamented transaction, are, Lady Portman and
the Marchioness of Tavistock ; of the former lady, nothing
has come to our knowledge to authorize a comment, but of the
Marchioness of Tavistock, we can affirm upon the authority
of friends to the Russell family, and that of Stanhope, that
her ladyship's reputation was unsullied, and entirely without
blot or suspicion, until this most flagrant and calamitous
affair.

We understand by the latest arrivals that the greatest ex-
citement prevails in England upon the subject, and especially
among the middling classes, and probably at this moment
the only person who is in ignorance of the real circumstances
of the event, and of the frightful character in which they ap-
pear before the world is the reigning Princess, whose autho-
rity has been so shamefully abused by this invisible agency of
treachery and deception.
We sincerely hope that the authors and their motives will
be detected and brought to light, and that this disgusting
precedent may never be followed by a similar event, but stand
for ever as it now does, alone in it its iniquity.

CONGLETON VIADUCT.—A few days since, Mr. Buck, the
head engineer to the Manchester and Birmingham Railway
Company, was engaged for some time in superintending the
progress of the works at Congleton, and in directing the pre-
paratory arrangement for the foundation of the piers of the
great viaduct, &c. From what passed at the meeting at
Manchester last week, it appears that the height of this glo-
rious structure is to be reduced 20 feet, which, with the ad-
dition of thirteen feet to the viaduct at Stockport, will so far
alter the line as to effect a saving to the company of about
£BO,OOO. We were happy to hear Mr. Chappell announce to
the above-mentioned meeting, on behalf of the Directors,
that they were determined to apply again to parliament for
the " Extension Line," even if it were thrown out this season,
and that they were determined to have " the bill, the whole
bill, and nothing but the bill."—Stockport Advertiser.

A. CHARTIST'S MODE OF PAYING HIS RENT.—The fol-
lowing way of paying off arrears of rent to a landlord, occur-
red not far from New Mills, a few days ago. One of these
worthy professors called upon his landlord respecting the pay-
ment of his rent, and addressed him as follows : " Now
George, thou knowest I cannot pay thy rent At present. Thou
must wait until something can be done with those great
lords and gentlemen. I see no other chance of paying thy
rent, than letting us have our charter, annual parliaments,
vote by ballot, no property qualification, &c. &c., being once
passed, 1 could pay thy rent, and any body else ; but if the
people cannot have their demands, then they will take things
into their own hands, and pay their own road as they go on."
Whether the worthy landlord intends to wait until his tenant
can pay him rent by their schemes, we have not been particu-
larly informed ; but perhaps, by consulting Mr. Murphy's
almanack, Feargus O'Connor, or her Majesty's printers, the
landlord may get such assurances as may induce him to in-
dulge his tenant until the chartists can have a parliament of
their own, and her Majesty an honest set of ladies of the bed-
chamber. As to her Majesty's ministers, neither 'chartists
nor any body else have any hopes from them. Their day is
quite over.—lbid.

LIVERPOOL MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

LECTURES ON ELECTRICITY.

On Wednesday evening Mr. Addams delivered the seventh
lecture of his course.

We cannot explain why steel should retain the magnetism
communicated to it and iron should not, or why iron, whilst
in communication with the voltaic battery, accumulates more
than steel. A simple mode of making small magnets, is by
driving the steel needle to be magnetised along the surface of
a bar magnet, but for thick bars this does not answer. Large
bars are, therefore, magnetised by driving over them, on both
sides, a powerful horse-shoe magnet. Two bars are laid in a
wooden frame, and connected at each end by two pieces of
iron ; the horse-shoe magnet is then placed upon the surface
and rubbed upon it a number of times, care being taken to
advance the same pole with which you set out. In this way
the greatest amount of magnetism can be communicated to
bars without weakening the power of the horse-shoe magnet
employed for that purpose, provided care be taken in attach-
ing the keeper to it prior to detaching it from the bars, other-
wise a considerable loss would take place. Cast steel is
superior to all other kinds of steel for retaining magnetism.
The bar ought to be, likewise, tempered hard throughout,
for, when differently tempered, it will retain but a small
portion of magnetism, although in the first instance it will
receive a large one. The Rev. Mr. Scoresby recommends
the use of several magnetic needles in the construction of
the mariner's compass, each to be separated by a piece of
mica or caelbound. He took twenty-four pieces of watch-
spring, and constructed thereby a needle infinitely more sen-
sitive than those commonly used. The lecturer here showed
the effect of sending electricity through a globe-curved wire.
When the electricity entered at the equator and went out at
the poles, a magnetic needle brought over the globe exhibited
the same amount of dip which the mariner's compass gene-
rally exhibits in different latitudes. No doubt the irregular
distribution of land and water, as well as the existence of
high mountains, causes some variation in the currency around
the surface of the globe, and explains those variations of the
dip which we find in different parts of the globe in the same
latitude.

The heat of the sun is no doubt greatly influential in elec-
trical operations, for we can get rid of bar magnetism by
putting the bar into the fire. Heat mostly destroys magnetism
by giving to the crystals their natural form, which is adverse
to magnetism. When iron is heated to a light red, it pos-
sesses much greater power of defecting the magnetic needle
than in any other state, and cast iron much more so than
malleable iron. This is accounted for by supposing that the
electric currents can circulate with greater ease when the
iron is in this condition. A crystal of tourmalite when en-
tirely heated will exhibit no sign of electricity, but if one
end only be heated, that is the end which has three faces, we
shall find that it will exhibit polarity. Dr. Leebeck of Ber-
lin has proved that if a piece of metal be heated at one end
and cooled at the other, a current of electricity will circulate
from one end to the other. if bismuth and, antimony are
united together by solder, in a square, and one of the joints
heated, a powerful current of electrity will be caused to run
round them. The effect is rendred more powerful when one
of the angles of union is cooled by means of ice, whilst the
other is heated by a lamp. About three months ago a very
interesting discovery was made of the effect of electricity in
producing cold and heat. If antimony and bismuth be con-
nected, and the electricity of a voltaic battery passed through
them, a thermometer will be reduced 3 deg. at the antimony,
and elevated 12 deg. at the bismuth end.
Thermo electricity has been used for the decomposition of
various salts, and it has also been applied in the production
of motion.

ECCLESIASTICAL AND UNIVERSITY
INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD.-JUNE 6.

A congregation was this day holden for granting degrees,
&c., when the following were conferred :
BACHELORS OF MEDICINE.—Robert Jackson, All Souls
College; W. Greenhill, Trinity Coll.
MASTERS OF ARTS.—Edward Meyrick, Queen's Coll. ;
Rev. John H. Hotham, Magdalen Coll.; Rev. Thomas
Matthews, Trinity Coll. ; W. Fox, Wadham Coll. ; Rev.
H. H. Bastard, Wadham Coll. ; W. F. Croome, Wadham
Coll. ; John Stewart, Worcester Coll. ; Rev. W. A. Street,
Pembroke Coll. ; Hon. Allied W. Bagot, Christ Church
Coll. ; Rev. Richard Panting, Christ Church Coll. • Rev.
Lewis Gilbertson, Jesus Coll. ; Francis Goddard, Coll.
Coll. ; Benjamin L. Watson, St. Mary Hall ; Rev. J.
Lowe, Lincoln Coll. ; Joshua Dix, All Souls Coll. ; Rev. G.
L. Cartwright, Exeter Coll. LC. Bradley, Worcester GO.
BACHELORS OF ARTS.—Philip P. Myddleton, Queen's
College ; W. R. Graham, - Queen's Coll. ; Henry Monro,
Oriel Coll. ; John Lander, Pembroke Coll. ; W. 0. Ham-
mond, Balliol Coll. ; W. T. Mitford, Oriel Coll. ; H. G. M.
Pretyman, Oriel Coll. ; Frederick C. Gaussen, Christ
Church ; Francis J. Marx, Christ Church ; John M. Miles,
Christ Church ; Robert C. Price, Christ Church ; E. Wood-
land, Magdalen Hall.
Mr. Michell, Fellow of Lincoln College, was yesterday
elected Professor of Logic. The numbers were :
M. Michell
Mr. Sewell
Mr. Lancaster
Mr. Wall

RATHER NETTLED.—On Saturday evening last, Mr. John
Roscoe, of Bolton, was on his way home from Blackrod, and
had filled the pockets of his swinger jacket with nettles as a
present for his wife. On coming down Deansgate one of
the new police saw him, and thinking from the bulky appear-
ance of his coat, that he had something which he ought not
to have, collared him, and took him into the shop of Mr.
Thomas Black, shoemaker. The policeman insisted upon
knowing what his pockets contained, Mr. Roscoe refused
to give any information upon the subject, when at length the
policeman commenced a search, by diving rather precipitately
into the pockets, but the nettles were too warm for him, and
his fingers being blistered, the police-officer, looking rather
" blue,, ' (the colour of his uniform) walked off.—Bolton
Chronicle.

SINGULAR BEING.-At a place commonly called the
World's End, near Keighley, Yorkshire, resides a man named
William Sharpe, who will attain the age of 62 years in Janu-
ary next, who has kept his bed for a period of about thirty
years, though neither lame nor sick. The cause of his first
taking to bed is said to be from his father having at two
different times taken from him three guineas, which he had
saved (gold being at that time very valuable), and on the
second three guineas being taken from him, he declared he
would never work any more, and took to his bed, which he
has never since left. He has his meals regularly four times a
day, seldom refusing anything that is brought him—never
speaks, but generally lies rolled up in bed like a hedgehog,
from which he is removed once a month, in order that clean
sheets may be laid on the bed, &c. His beard is grisly, his
hair silvery white, and most enormous teeth project from his
lips. It is said that at his father's death, he became entitled
to considerable property, but is prevented enjoying it by his
determined perseverence in this most singular resolution.—
Manchester Advertiser.

CAUTION TO PROTESTANT PARENTS.—We feel it a duty
we owe to Protestant parents, to warn them against the
treacherous designs of a number of Jesuits, who are employed
in various parts of the town in persuading the poorer class
of Protestants to send their children to Popish schools, where
their young and susceptible minds are poisoned by the in-
fusion of the rank and pernicious dogmas of that blasphemous
heresy, and are taught, not only to despise the Catholic
principles, which their forefathers so nobly fought to secure
for them, but to prosecute even their nearest relatives, and
dearest friends. Every artifice which even Popery is capable
of concocting, is resorted to for the accomplishment of this
infamous fraud, and whilst we assure our readers of the au-
thenticity of this statement, we request them to be on their
guard against this soul-destroying gang. Another trap which
the same parties have just set to catch the unwary and unsus-
pecting Protestant, is, to get up a discussion between two
Papists, (one of them professing to be a Protestant,) and by
the grossest misrepresentation of Protestant doctrine, as well
as the concealing of the more hideous and diabolical feapres
of Popery, to mislead and ensnare their prey. We trust
that those whose business it is to watch the interests of the
Catholic Church of England will be more on the alert, and
detect and bring these apostates to the light.—Man. Courier.
SEIZURE or WooL.—James Clegg, formerly a manufac-
turer residing at Thread-mill, in Crompton, but now of Li-
verpool, was, on Monday, charged with having in his pos-
session about a hundred weight of wool, of which he could
give no satisfactory account. Mr. Whitworth, the inspector,
said he found it behind the Grey Mare, Rochdale, on the
Monday previous ;it was a mixture of different wools. He
believed the defendant Clegg was not a manufacturer of
wools, but was a dealer in old ropes, and such articles. On
questioning him, he produced an invoice of the wool from
one McCoy, a dealer in marine stores at Liverpool, but that
was not satisfactory. Clegg handed the invoice to the magis-
trates ; also one from a person named Flynn to McCoy. He
said the inspector at Liverpool had seen the wool, and had
passed it ; he would have brought McCoy and Flynn, but
had not time to procure their attendance. The magistrates
asked who Flynn was ? and Clegg said he was a person keep-
ing a warehouse at Liverpool; their names were Anthony
McCoy and Patrick Flynn ; and the price was sixpence a
pound. Mr. Chadwick said it was as much as the wool was
worth. The inspector (Mr. Whitworth) said he believed the
parties were not duly entitled to dispose of the wool. Clegg
said, they refused to come with him unless he gave them £5
or £6, as their time was an object with them. Flynn, he
said, was a general dealer in marine, stores. Mr. Whitworth
said he had many complaints of the old store dealers in Liver-
pool ; they had known them have wool hid under their piles
of old rope. Clegg said the court might deal with the case
as seemed best to them*; he would not incur any expense,
and they might commit him at once if they thought proper.
He undertook, however, to appear again next Monday, and
to produce McCoy and Flynn, if possible. The magistrates
said they could not assist him ; they could not compel their
attendance, and if a satisfactory account were not given of
the wool, he would be liable to a fine of £2O. Clegg then
left the court; the wool, in two old 'cotton bags, remaining
for the adjourned inquiry.—Manchester Courier.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—THILEE LIVES LOST.—On
Thursday last, the 30th ult. a coble, belonging to the salmon
fishing station of Messrs. Hogarth, adjacent to Whitehills,
left the harbour at Blackpots, about 11 o'clock forenoon, for
the purpose of bringing on shore their bag-net, which, owing
to the violence of the surf, was apparently driving among the
rocks, where it would have been soon torn to pieces. The
coble was manned by four men, Charles Maclean, James
Robertson, and two lads from Bosemarkie, near Cromarty,
who, proceeding towards the net, the boat swung round
broadside on to the wave, and was struck by a heavy sea,
and three men precipitated into the water. One of them
regained the boat, which had (relieved of the men) again
righted, but full of water. This young man being an excel-
lent swimmer, rashly resolved, by the assistance of the boat,
to clear himself of the incumbrance of his clothes, and swim
on shore, which, having partly effected, the boat being then
sunk to the gunwales, he left her to make the attempt; but
the tide then running strong, and the surf very violent, he
was soon exhausted, and with much difficult he reached the
rocks, where he was dashed by a tremendous wave upon the
very first rock he reached, and killed on the spot ; his body
has not yet been recovered. The two others, for a very brief
space, were seen struggling violently in the surf, but soon
disappeared. One of them kept hold of the boat and drifted
with her on the shore, but so exhausted, that up to this day
(Monday) his recovery is doubtful. The two bodies re-
covered were decently interred in the churchyard of Boyndie.
Charles Maclean and James Robertson have left widows and
families, in poor circumstances, to deplore their sudden and
I'htleTirtnfOffeWhirefis%'?Nattitefrtg Paitra-to
str,Vg;aategia
to the spot, boldly facing the raging surf, to afford assistance,
so far as practicable ; but we are sorry to say the fate of the
unfortunate sufferers was sealed before their arrival.—Aber-
deen Journal.

VESSELS ENTERED FOR LOADING.

(SINCE OUR LAST PUBLICATION.)

EAST INDIES.

Patriot Queen, W Hoodless, 547 Calcutta, T& J Brocklebank
Otterspool, J Scales, 401 Calcutta, Taylor & Co or W N Moore
Jessie Logan, J Major, 855 Calcutta, J Logan

WEST INDIES AND MADEIRA.