The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-11-05 00:00:00

THE TOWER OF LONDON-DESTRUCTIVE

COURT CIRCULAR.--TrfuncDAY

CONFLAGRATION

(ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.)

(From the Times of Tuesday.)

!c on horseback,

The painful excitement and deep sympathy which this
event, announced in the columns of our journal of yesterday,
had created in the public mind, was throughout the whole of
yesterday on the increase.

His loyal Highness Prince Albert, attended.by Colonel
Weld and Captain F. Seymour, rode out on horseback yes-
terday forenoon.

Prom an early hour in the morning, and indeed through-
out the whole of Sunday night, Tower-hill and all the ave-
nues leading thereto presented a most lively appearance. As
night came on and gradually darkened, the outlines of th
shell of that once magnificent building, the Armoury, toge
ther with the Bowyer-tower, the new store-house, &c., be
came distinctly visible from the lurid glare of light playing
upon the ruins, and produced from the immense pile of burn
ing rubbish still smouldering and at times bursting forth is
violent flames from within.
The interior of the Tower during the night presented
truly singular and picturesque appearance. Groups of sol,
diery, in their sombre gray coats, exhausted by their almos
superhuman exertions throughout the previous night an(
day, were to be seen reclining on blankets on various part:
of the parade fronting the scene of devastation, under tent:
composed of the same materials erected on halberds, &c.,
to protect them from the rain. Several engines belonging tc
the fire brigade, as also those of the County, West of Eng-
land, the Custom-house, those belonging to the Tower, and
others, were also stationed, together with the firemen, in
such positions as to be ready in case of a fresh outbreak be-
yond the building were the fire was still confined.
As morning approached, the fire in the body of the build-
ing at intervals burst out in large masses of flame, and it
was only 1) the continual streams of water poured upon
them that they could be at all kept under. At intervals,
also, large masses of the heavy stone coping, with which the
top of the building was ornamented, kept falling from its
tottering walls, and several times it was feared that the
beautiful basso relievo, forming the pediment over the grand
entrance, executed by Gibbons, would also become detached
before measures could be taken to preserve it. The face of
the building is much disfigured by large streams of molten
lead which had run down the walls from. the roof during the
tire. The number of windows on this side the building is
48, and through the apertures a very fair view of the whole
interior of the Grand Amoury presents itself..
Looking upward as far as the eye can reach, it meets with
nothing but the tottering remains of the walls on the other
side. Towards the centre, however, a far more interesting
object meets the view. Opposite the grand entrance is to be
distinguished the remains of " the grand staircase," which
was considered one of the most magnificent in Europe. In
order to convey an adequate idea of what this staircase was,
and what, alas ! it is, it may be wellto give the following de-
scription, furnished to the reporter by one of the principal
warders of the Tower :—The staircase consisted of a splendid
trophy. consisting of arms and weapons, ancient and modern,
comprising nearly 200 varieties, and nearly all differing in
form or pattern. In the centre was a half column, support-
ing a marble bust of his late Majesty King William IV., ex-
ecuted by Joseph, which was presented by his majesty, and
placed there on the occasion of his majesty's visit to the
Tower with Queen Adelaide, on the sth of August, 1830.
The mass, forming a splendid trophy, was placed within a
recess on the landing, on a platform supported by eight
brass six pounder guns, which served as pillars, and which
were taken at Waterloo. In the centre of the platform was
an inscription announcing the visit of King William and
Queen Adelaide, and upon a tablet placed between two
guns the following :—" The kettle-drums in this trophy
were taken at Blenheim, on the 2d of August, 1704, by
the British troops under the command of John Duke of
Marlborough. The guns were taken at Waterloo, on the
18th of June, 1815, by the British troops underthe command
of Arthur Duke of Wellington." Upon the walls at the
sides were two large stars formed of swords and their brass
scabbards, bayonets, and pistols. The one 'representing the
star of the order of the Knights of the Garter, and the other
of the Bath. Also two figures in gilt suits of armour ion
ornamented pedestals. The rails of the stairs and the cor-
nice at the ceiling were ornamented with architectural figures,
curiously formed with arms. Below, upon pedestals, existed
two very striking groups ; one representing a knight in gilt
armour preparing for action, attended by his squire, in the
act of buckling on his spurs, and a pikeman with his 18-feet
pike; the other group was a knight in a hannsome suit of
bright armour, of the time of Elizabeth, in action, having
seized a banner of the enemy, waving his followers on. On
each side of the entrance-door was a knight in a gilt suit of
armour, and over the door was placed the Ordnance arms in
white marble, and opposite two beautiful brackets, upon
which stood the figures of two other knights in gilt armour.
The whole of this superb staircase is, with the exception of
the eight brass cannon taken at Waterloo, a mass of rubbish;
they, as if in defiance of the devouring element, still raise
their mouths amidst the ruins, and retain their position on
the platform. The only other relics of England's glory to
be seen from the grand entrance, rearing their heads amidst
the ruins, is the large anchor taken at Camperdown, and the
huge mortar employed at the siege of Namur, in 1695, by
William 111., forming part of the naval and military trophies
on either side of the grand entrance.
As we stated in our journal yesterday, his Grace the Duke
of 'Wellington received intimation of the terrible occurrence
at four o'clock on Sunday morning. His grace at once for-
warded information of the occurrence to her majesty and his
Royal Highness Prince Albert. Her majesty, it is said, ex-
pressed her deep regret at so severe a loss to the nation, and
being anxious to obtain every authentic particular respecting
the calamity, a messenger was despatched to the lord
chamberlain, who, at her majesty's desire, visited the Tower
on Sunday for the purpose of collecting information. After
visiting the ruins, and having an interview with Major El-
rington, the officer in command of the Tower, his lordship
returned to the palace to lay the matter fully before the
Queen

The royal dinner party at Buckingham Palace last evening
included the Earl of Liverpool amd the Earl of Fingal!.
The band of the Coldstream Guards attended at Bucking-
ham Palace during the evening.

The follow bulletin of the health of her Majesty the
Queen Dowaglif was received in town yesterday :
"The Queen Dowager has been much disturbed by cough
during the night ; but her Majesty is not worse this morning.
" WILLIAM FREDERICK CHAMBERS.
" DAVID DAVIES.
Sudbury-hall, Nov. 2."

- Her ROyal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester gave a
dejewee yesterday afternoon to the Royal family, at Glou-
cester-house, in honour of the birth-day of the Princess
Sophia. There were present their Royal Highnesses the
Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Princesses
Augusta and Mary of Cambridge, and Prince George of
Cambridge; and also his Serene Highness Prince Ernest of
Hesse Philippstbal

His Royai Highness Prince George of Cambridge arrived
at his residence in St. James's Palace, on Tuesday evening,
from Dublin.

The Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by the Prin-
cesses Augusta and Mary of Cambridge, returned to Kew
yesterday afternoon.

- Mr. Murchison, President of the Geological Society,
charged with despatches from the Hon. J. D. Bloomfield,
at St. Petersburgh, to the Earl of Aberdeen, reached town
last night, after an absence of seven months, during which he
has visited many distant parts of the Russian empire.
Mr. C. Franks, chairman of the South Sea Company, had
an interview with the Chancellor of he Exchequer yester-
day, at his official residence in Downing-street.
Lord Ellenborough had an interview with Sir R. Peel, at
his official residence in ?owning-street, on Tuesday.
Sir R. Keane had an interview with Lord Stanley yester-
day, at the Colonial-office.
Lord Burghersh had an interview with the Earl of Aber-
deen yesterday, at the Foreign-office.

ENTERTAINMENT TO LORD ELLENBOROUGH

On Wednesday evening the directors of the East India
Company gave one of the most splendid dinners that has
taken place for many years past, to celebrate the inaugur-
ation of Lord Ellenborough as Governor-General of her ma-
jesty's dominions in the East Indies. It was a recherche
entertainment, and was given at the London Tavern, and did
credit to the proprietors.
There was nothing wantinc, to render this inauguratior
dinner the roost costly and splendid of any that has occurret
,ince Lord William Bentinek was appointed to the high and
mportant office Lord Ellenborough is destined to fill.
There were present at the dinner the following noblemen
and gentlemen :
The chair was occupied by George Lyall, Esq. ; on his
right sat Lord Ellenborough, the new governor-general, the
Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Lincoln, the Earl De la
Warr, Earl Rossyln, Sir Robert Peel, and Mr. Goulburn.
On the left of the chair were General Sir James Law Lush-
ington, (the deputy chairman of the East India Company,)
Lord \Vharncliffe, the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of
Haddingtou, the Earl of Jersey, Lord Hill, and Lord Fitz-
gerald. Besides these there were numbers of the nobility
present. After the usual loyal toasts, the chairman gave the
health of Lord Ellenborough, with the warmest wishes for
his prosperity.
Lord ELLENBOROUGII assured the company that he fell
most deeply the importance of the trust which had been de.
legated to him ; but at the same time he expressed his grati-
fication in acknowledging his thanks to those who had thought
him worthy of the high appointment. He felt confident that
this partiality was in some degree owing to the opinion en-
tertained of him by those conversant with the affairs of India,
that he had endeavoured to promote the prosperity of that
country—not that there was any personal feeling in the
question. His object would be to give confidence and
strength to the government of that country. He should fail
in the great objects he had in view if he had not the confi-
dence of those who had delegated him to the trust. The noble
lord alluded to the connection which he had had with the
India Board, under the governments of the Duke of Welling-
ton and Sir Robert Peel, as shewing the confidence they had
in him in being delegated to the high duties he had to per-
form. He knew too well the great difficulties of the situa-
tion in which he had been placed ; and if he effected one-
tenth of the great objects he had in view, he should be well
pleased. His qualificationsfor the office might be judged by
the fact of his desire to obtain an intimate knowledge of the
affairs of India ; and having had the confidence of the noble
duke (Wellington), he hoped that the interests of India, as
well as of this country, would be advanced by his exertions.
He felt he had to succeed a nobleman of great ability, and
united as he had been with Lord Auckland, and knowing the
great ability of the noble lord, he felt he had much to do in
conducting with honour the affairs of India. To terminate
the war with China beneficial to the honour of the country,
and to produce tranquillity on both banks of the Indus, re-
quired a skill of no ordinary kind. In a word, his object
would be to give peace to Asia, to give tranquillity to that
country, without which the influence of this country was
valueless ; to promote a liberal and honest government, to
augment the happiness of the natives, to impart what we
know gradually and cautiously, having regard to the preju-
dices of the natives, and to elevate the character of that
mighty people. (Loud cheers.) Feeling that it would be
his first duty to promote the interests of the people of India,
as it would be to the interests of England, it would be his
duty to improve the resources of the country. as affording
the best means of obtaining remittances to England. By
this means the trade of both countries would be improved.
He had the most unbounded confidence in the army, in its
discipline, and the power of the government to command a
willing obedience on the part of a grateful people. Deeply
impressed with the importance of the duties he had to fulfil,
he hoped that he should execute them so as to produce good
to England as well as to India. Not having made one single
promise in assuming the office of Governor-General, he was
determined that the government of India should not be the
government of a party. He was anxious that he should be
able to do something for the goo& of the natives, and for his
own undaunted country. (Cheers.)
Mr. Lyall, after a few comments, next propsed " Thu
Health of Sir Robert Peel and her Majesty's Ministers.'
The toast was received with the most enthusiastic applause.
Sia Robert Peel rose and said, it was his duty, on the part
of the members of her Majesty's Government, to return their
warmest thanks for the compliment which they had been
pleased to pay to them—a compliment which might be ex-
pected on ordinary occasions, it being in conformity with
general usage ; but on the present occasion it was enhanced
by the manner in which their names had been received.
It must be satisfactory to the Ministers of the Crown
to be complimented in a company, when so many were
present who had distinguished themselves in a military
and civil service in this and another country with which
the proceedings of that day were so intimately connected.
Yielding to none in his anxious desire for the prosperity
of India, it must be highly satisfactory to receive such
marks of esteem and confidence from those deeply inter-
ested in the affairs of India. Upon a mutual confidence be-
tween the authorities and this country and those of India,
must, in a great measure, depend the successful administra-
tion of affairs in the latter. As his (Sir R. Peel's) name had
been mentioned by the hon. chairman, he might say that,
although he had not been brought into immediate connection
to any extent with those connected with Indian affairs, still
he had felt the warmest interest upon the subject. He should
have been wanting in his duty if he had not required the as-
sistance of his noble friend (Lord Ellenborough) to undertake
the high and important office to which he had been delegated.
(Loud cheers,) After an acquaintance of 15 years, unche-
quered by a single misunderstanding or dispute—knowing
his high integrity, his strict honour, his great ability, his in-
defatigable industry and powers of expression, of which the
company had had a specimen that night, he (Sir R. Peel)
should be wanting in his duty to the country if he had not
selected him to undertake the high office to which he had been
appointed. When he asked himself the question if the East
India Company would accept him, or that the crown would
refuse the appointment, he felt confident that that great
man (pointing to the Duke of Wellington) would not with-
hold his consent. When he (Sir R, peel) recollected the
knowledge of Indian affairs which the Roble lord had, and
stimulated as he was to promote the welfare of that country ;
knowing, too, the deep interest he took in advancing the in-
terests of the natives, founded, not on the narrow, edge of
the sword, but upon the broad basis of general good, though
it deprived him (Sir R. Peel) of a valuable friend, yet he had
considered it a paramount duty to ask him to accept the ap-
pointment. (Loud cheers.) He (Sir R. Peel) breathed but
the wishes of all with whom lie was connected that his noble
friend might return to his native land, after having success-
fully executed the duties of his high appointment, in health
and prosperity, to receive from a grateful people those marks
of approbation which are accorded to those who honestly
perform their public duty. (Loud cheers.)
The Chairman then rose to propose " the Health of the
Duke of Wellington."
Drank amidst great acclamation, with three times three.
The Duke of WELLINGTON returned thanks for the ho-
nour done him. It was, said his grace, my anxious desire
to attend upon the occasion of this festival to my noble
friend, and I felt much gratified by the invitation. Having
myself served the East India Company when I was a
younger man, I have ever since felt the most lively anxiety
to promote the advantage of that excellent body, which I so
long had the honour of serving. Gentlemen, I must say
I have occasion to congratulate you on this appointment,
for not only is my noble friend known among the great
statesmen of this country, by his admitted sense of integrity,
zeal, and ability, but by his long and able administration of
the office of first commissioner for the affairs of India, and
the evidence he has given of having devoted all his talent to
the grand object of making himself master of all the details
of those affairs. My noble friend, therefore, unites all the
advantages of a distinguished statesman with the know-
ledge and experience that might be expected to result only
from a long residence. He lass gained at home a knowledge
which other men could only have obtained from lengthened
personal experience in the country itself. Gentlemen, I say
that the confidence of the Court of Directors could not have
been placed in a person better qualified, and I fully concur
with her Majesty's Government in the wisdom of her choice,
for all must be satisfied that it is the wish of my noble friend
to further the welfare, contentment, and happiness of the
people, over whom he is to preside. My noble friend has
stated likewise that it is his anxious desire to co-operate
with the Court of Directors in promoting peace, commerce,
and the arts, and which I certainly hope and trust he will do.
I also hope that my noble friend may have the power to put
at rest that great question which has been in a state of un-
certainty in the north-west of India, as well as in Central
Asia, and thus give security to the possessions under your
superintendence and government, and enable you to apply
your great resources to promote still further the happiness
and prosperity of India. I feel great pleasure in acknowledg-
ing the compliment paid to me. (The noble duke sat down
amidst loud cheers.)
The band played " See the conquering hero comes."
Several other toasts were then given, and at the termination
of Lord Fitzgerald's speech, the Duke of Wellington quitted
the room, passing through the long range of visitors with a
dignified or familiar bow to each, and with a tolerably firm
step, which left, however, the recollection of the duke's
emphatic words strong in the memory of his hearers, " when
I was a younger man." The cheering continued during the
whole of his grace's progress through the long range of
apartments, and was responded to by the multitude as-
sembled without

At an early hour yesterday morning, Major Hall and Lieut.
Gould, of the Royal Engineers, arrived at the Tower, under
orders for the purpose of surveying the state of the ruins of
the Grand Armoury, the walls of which, more particularly
that portion near the Jewel Office, and where the unfortu-
nate fireman, Richard Wivel, was killed, they pronounced in
a most dangerous condition. No doubt could exist of this
fact, for it hung frightfully over the Terrace at the east end,
and threatened destruction to the residence of Mr. Forman,
M.P., at the corner. The whole building is pronounced in
danger, and Colonel Eden, the commander of the troops,
has issued orders that no person shall be permitted to go
within fifty yards of any part of it, which order throughout
the day was rigidly enforced by the sentinels and police on
duty. A strong guard was also stationed at each end of the
Sally-port steps, situate on the east side of the Armoury,
and near the Jewel Tower, in order to prevent any one passing.
After Major Hall had bad an interview with the governor,
preparations were commenced for shoring the walls, and
large pieces of timber were procured, and by five o'clock last
evening the walls on the west wing were made safe.
Respecting the first discovery of the fire, and tha exact
position of the tower in which it originated, many statements
have gone forth ; but, from inquiries instituted yesterday,
they have been found to be erroneous. The following may
be relied upon as accurate :—At about twenty-five minutes
after ten o'clock on Saturday night, one of the sentinels on
duty at the Royal Mint observed a light in the Round or
Bowyer Tower, of which from that spot a most commanding
view is obtained. Thinking this was not right, he called the
porter of the Royal Mint lodge out to look at it, saying at
the time that a light in that tower was most unusual. The
porter replied that he'had often seen it, and again went into
his lodge. A few mnt* after a shout was heard proceeding
from some person on Tower-hill, alarming the sentry on the
batteries facing Postern-row that a portion of the Tower was
on fire, and for him to give the alarm to the guard-house.
This person subsequently proved to be Sergeant Edwards,
of the Ist Battalion of Fusilier Guards, and his statement,
furnished to our reporter by Captain Delme Davis, to whom
he made it, is highly important.
Edwards states that while he was in the Nag's Head pub-
lic house, in Postern-row, he perceived, to his great surprise,
a light through one of the windows, just above the bomb-
proof part of the Bowyer Tower. He went out and crossed
to the railings at the top of the moat by which the Tower is
surrounded, and watched the light for a minute or two. At
first it appeared but little larger than the glimmer of a candle,
but it suddenly increased to such an extent that no doubt was
left upon his mind that the place was on fire. He at once
hailed the sentry stationed on the Curtain Battery, situate
immediately under the Bower Tower. The sentry recog-
nised the sergeant's voice, and having answered, he was
desired to alarm the garrison, for the place was on
fire, which he did by instantly firing his musket. Ed-
wards himself immediately made the best of his way to the
western portion of the fortress, and, on gaining an entrance,
found the troops turning out, and the garrison alarmed by
the rolling of drums and sounding of bugles in every quarter.
When he reached the guard-house, under the White Tower,
facing the green, he informed the captain, and called upon
Nash, the sergeant of the night guard, to follow him. The
only approaches to the Bowyer Tower were through the
basement of Armoury, one to a private staircase, eastward
of the Grand Stairs, which not only led to the Tower, but
also to the roof of the Armoury. They made their way to
this entrance, but unfortunately the keys were not immedi-
ately procurable. Finding this was the case, they proceeded
to the western extremity of the building, and through a nar-
row passage, only sufficiently wide to admit one person at a
time; admission being gained to it near the north-eastern
angle of SL Peter's Church. On getting to the end of the
passage, they ascended a flight of steps, which led to a kind
of terrace or wall beyond the north side of the Armoury,
and twenty feet above the roof of the Old Mill Barracks,
which it overlooked. This terrace led to that part of the
Bowyer Tower called the Round Table, to which there wen
two entrances. On reaching it he informed Nash that it wm
in that building he had seen the fire ; but they cotild then
see nothing of it, although it smelt strong. Having broken
open the entrance, the place was discovered in perfect dark-
ness, but full of smoke. They descended to the door
beneath, and on bursting that open also, a mass of flame
rushed out upon them. They at once effected their escape,
and before they had retraced their steps into the centre of
the Tower, the Bowyer Tower was blazing to the very roof.
He believes at the time he first burst open the door that, had
there been an engine and plenty of water on the spot, the
calamity might have been prevented

[The London papers of yesterday add nothing of impor-
tance to the intelligence given above. The investigation
into all the circumstances connected with the calamity is
going on, and will not be completed for several days. It is
strictly private. On Wednesday the Duke of Wellington
visited the ruins, and was much struck with the stupendous
scene of desolation, and the awful havoc which the confla-
gration had occasioned. His grace was tremendously cheered
on leaving the Tower. The Brick Tower which is wholly
destroyed, was the next turret on the east of the Bowyer
Tower, and derived its name from the upper story, which
was of brick. This upper story was erected either in the
reign of Edward IV. or Richard III.; the basement story,
however, is of far greater antiquity, and is said to have
been the prison of the unfortunate Lady Jane Grey, as was
the Bowyer Tower, the place of confinement of her hus-
band, Lord Dudley, prior to his execution.]

A FORTUNATE REPORTER.—A Yankee editor, giving a
descripion of the bursting of a cannon by which several per-
sons were badly wounded, says—" Our reporter, who had
his hand blown off. was fortunately on the spot, and has nar-
rated to us the full particulars of the catastrophe."—Evening
paper.

NATURE OF SODA.—An intelligent correspondent, who
very appropriately subscribes himself " A Friend to Improve-
ments, ' has sent us the following interesting communication,
which we beg to recommend to the attention of our agricul-
tural readers :—" in these times, when nitrate of soda has
become a fashionable article for manure (there may be
fashions in manure as well as any other article, particularly
when newly introduced), it may be of some use to the farmer
to know what is good and pure from what is adulterated or
originally impure. The nitrate of soda, is so like coarse
ground dirty salt (common salt, or chloride of soda), that it
may be and is often mixed with it. The price of the common
salt at present is not above one-tenth of the price of the
nitrate of soda; and if it answers for manure, the farmer
need not throw away his money upon a mixture containing,
perhaps, one-fourth of common salt, or more. Fortunately
there is a very simple mode of testing the nitrate—not a
regular analyzation requiring some chemical knowledge, but
one that must prove the presence of common salt at once ;
and that is, to throw a small quantity of the nitre into the
fire, and if it contains salt it will produce a crackling noise;
if it is pure it will burn very rapidly with a sort of hissing
noise, and no crackling at all. Every one knows the noise
produced by throwing common salt on a fire, and if the nitre
be pure no such noise should be heard ; and in proportion to
the quantity of common salt so will the noise be greater or
less.—Aberdeen Herald.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert took an airing yesterday
afternoon, attended by the Maids of Honour i❑ Waiting, in
and four. 'Colonels Arbuthnot and Wyld were in

ZC'be Eiberpont &tanZiarii.

FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 5, 18

The spirit to which Radicalism has to attribute

complete overthrow which it has sustained in this
quarter, is, we are happy to observe, not confined to
it. The sweeping out of Radicals at the various mu-
nicipal elections throughout the country has been tre-
mendous; Radicalism is everywhere a declining cause;
Conservatism rides the winning horse in almost every
A London contemporary, in commenting on
.s gratifying state of things, attributes the change,
ut we,think incorrectly, to the influence of Sir Robert
Peel's government. It strikes us that Sir Robert
Peel's government has had very little to say to it; the
influential cause dates much further back than the very
recent period when Sir
.Robert Peel became invested
with the seals of office. The movement would have
taken place whether Sir Robert Peel were in or out of
office : and it is one of incomparably greater value and
moment, because it has not arisen from any temporary
excitement or the agency of any merely personal
power. The short of the matter is, Radicalism is a
worn out thing, and the desire to put it by as a cast-off
garment is nearly universal. The feeling has been long
gathering, and it obtains relief by exploding not only
at a parliamentary, but a municipal election, and upon
every occasion where it may legitimately show itself.
If the movement had been brought about by the influ-
ence of a ministerial admiration of the talents of any
individual, however eminent, or any adventitious cir-
cumstance, we could neither congratulate ourselves on
the purity of its character nor speculate upon its per-
manence. The country rejoices at being delivered
from the reign of Radicalism, and in the accession to
power of Sir Robert Peel ; but the new ministry has
been too short a time in office to have acquired any in-
fluence on its own account, much less an influence so
widely ramified and so deeply penetrating as to have
induced that happy revolution in the leading authority
of the municipal corporations which we have just wit-
nessed. So far from seeking prematurely to acquire an
influence of this sort, Sir Robert Peel, with a disinte-
rested forbearance which does him infinite honour, ri-
gidly abstained from the use or sanction of any one
expression which could by any means be construed
into a promise of great things to be achieved under his
administration. His object has evidently been to curb
and restrain extravagant hopes, rather than to raise or
flatter them. With the Conservatives he had no need
to use such dangerous expedients ; with others who
are accustomed to deal in them, not more for the de.
ception of others than of themselves, he might have
been more successful. But Sir Robert Peel is the
chosen of a principle—the minister of confidence ;
and he has used none of the commonplace arts of men
who seek to gain a hasty popularity to improve his po-
sition. His is the popularity which follows good. deeds,
not that which is sought by the promise of them. We
conclude then that the cheering result to which we
have been alluding has been brought about, not by the
exercise of any ministerial influence upon the bur/ ess
constituency, but by the same cause which brought
about the glorious majority of 91 at the parliamentary
election—namely, the growing disgust at Radicalii tm,
and the 'steady progress of Conservative opinion
throughout the kingdom.
There is a particular cause of congratulation on t he
score of the late municipal returns : it furnishes tl ie
most satisfactory answer to a favourite dogma of tl se
late movement party, that Conservatism was somethin g
which could not endure the air of town, and could onl)r
flourish among the chopsticks of rural districts. There,
The Board of Customs have
gibe is no reply to this absurd objection like a practical one;.
ice from the United States shall venadmitted at ld . t per qr. directions tha rough Conservatism, it seems, can accustom itself to a town.
duty, subject to future confirmation by parliament. life, and does raise its head among the oppidan consti-
It is remarkable that no animal poison has effect upon the tuency, notwithstanding all the facilities which the town:
hedge-hog.
furnishes to free-trade lecturers, anti-corn-law.factory_.
The Earl of Home died at Hersell-hall, the family seat,
yesterday week. men, dissenting preachers, and all other the pretended'
At the Central Criminal Court, London, on Thursday, introducers of new eras, march of intellect, and other.
Robert Blakesley was convicted of the wilful murder of James
Burdon, a publican in Eastcheap, 'whom he charged with advantages which our ignorant world has hitherto ob-
illegally detaining his wife, and sentence of death was passed stinately rejected. One fact such as this is, in truth,
upon him.
SHOCKING DEATH OF TWO LADIES.-- The Montreal well worth an hundred arguments.
Herald announces that the wife of M. Narcisse Benoit, far. We acknowledge that there was something rather
mer, near Three Rivers, Lower Canada and her sister, Mrs.
M'Donald, went, attended by the husband of the former, to startling, on a superficial view of the case, in the cir-
see a mill at Rouville Mountain when, melancholy to relate, cumstance that Conservatism flourished most in the
both sisters got entangled in the machinery, and were crushed country—Radicaiism in the town. Many causes might:
inches. be assigned for this. Many of our towns, it is know
to atoms, being drawn through a space not more than three
known,

[stance,