The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-23 00:00:00

NEWrOUNDLAND,

Letters and papers from the colony halve been received to
the 23d of May, The St. John's Public Ledger states that
a most horrible outrage has again been perpetrated there upon
an individual, whose only offence seems to have been that
he was employed in the office of a Protestant newspaper, as
overlooker of the workmen. These midnight legislators, it
will be remembered, some years ago seized upon the pub-
lisher of this paper, Mr. Winton, dragged him into the
woods, and mutilated his person in the most shocking man-
ner. On the night of the 13th February last, his overlooker,
Mr. Lott, was seized in a bye-street at night, whilst return-
ing home from his labour, forcibly conveyed to the secret
den of a party of conspirators, and interrogated, under cir-
cumstances of great intimidation, upon various matters con-
nected with his employer's business. He was blindfolded,
the room to which he was taken was lined with white calico
even to the ceiling, so as to prevent identity, and his exa-
examiners were two men disguised in black gowns.
Their principal object appears to have been to ascertain
the circulation of the paper, the amount of the contribution,
and whether Mr. Winton carried fire-arms on his person, or
kept them in his house. He was told that his master and
others like him would, perhaps, find out that there was a
Riband society in the colony, equally as terrible as ever it
was in Ireland • that Mr. Winton would soon find his house
too hot to hold him ; and that, if he dared to divulge one
word of what had transpired, an unseen and unknown hand
should be in his way. His eyes were then again blindfolded;
he was led forth, and having been conducted a'considerable
distance by a circuitous route, was released, his guard ab-
sconding. He, however, deposed to all the facts before the
magistrates.

In consequence of the deposition of Mr. Lott as to his be-
lief, arising from various circumstances, that the house of
one Delaney, situated about half a mile out of the town, was
that to which he had been blindfolded and led, the house was
examined, but there was no satisfactory evidence that the
suspicions were correct. But Delaney is one of the door-
keepers of the House of Assembly ; and forthwith the As-
sembly affecting to be indignant that the dwelling-house of
one of their servants should be searched, even by the officers
of the peace, under a warrant, appointed a committee of in-
quiry, and at the same time several of the members of the
Assembly, in their places in the house, used the strongest
terms of vituperation and abuse respecting the young man,
whose story they pretented to disbelieve.
The magistrates who had taken their depositions also fell
under their censure, and the house reduced their salaries
£lOO a year each, which sum was, however, subsequently
restored through the apprehension of damaging themselves
with the Home Government.

On the 15th of May, Lott, who had been to Carbonear on
the business of his employer, was returning to St. John's,
via Harbour Grace, when, in precisely the same place where
Mr. Winton was mutilated, he was seized by four men, dis-
guised. and also had his ears cut from his head, and was
otherwise most brutally treated. We take an extract from
his deposition :
He states that he met two women on the road, near a
small house on the left hand side of the road on the top of
Saddle-hill, going towards Carlinear, and in about ten
minutes afterwards, when near the large house in the valley,
which deponent has since heard belongs to David Connors,
two men, disguised with black crape over their faces, ran out
of a thicket of wood on the right hand side of the road, and
immediately afterwards two more men disguised in a similar
way ran out of the woods on the same side of the road, when
one of the two last men said, " Long looked for is come at
last." Deponent, seeing that the said four men were intent
to molest and assault him, drew a sword from a walking-stick
which he had with him, and endeavoured to force a passage
through them towards Harbour Grace, and, raising the
sword, he desired them to keep off, and not to touch him.
Two of them then advanced towards deponent, when depo-
nent struck one of them a blow across his face with the
sword, which cut the said person and caused blood to flow
from his face. The man so cut cried out, "Blood, blood,
you b— !" when another of the said four men struck depo-
nent a violent blow with his fist, which knocked deponent
down, and he was laid hold of by the said four men and
dragged some distance into the woods on the opposite side
of the road. Deponent endeavoured to call out for assist-
ance, when they stuffed his ears and mouth full of earth or
dirt, and one of the said persons kept his hand on depo-
nent's mouth to prevent him speaking. They then took
a large stone and beat deponent with it about his head
until he became quite insensible of what they were doing.
Deponent must have remained in this state for a consider-
able time, when, on the return of his senses, he found him-
self alone, his hands and face covered with blood, and soon
discovered that both his ears had been cut off, and were
bleeding profusely. Deponent then mustered all the strength
he could, and got into the road, endeavouring to proceed to
Harbour Grace, but from weakness and loss of blood soon
fell down. While lying on the road he was overtaken by a
man who had on a short jacket, to whom deponent called as
well as he was able, and begged him to afford deponent as-
sistance. He at first manifested some reluctance, but at
length came and raised deponent up, and led him a few yards
towards Harbour Grace, and then left him, and went down a
road by the side of a fence, on the south side of Carbonear-
road, nearly opposite the house said to belong to Connors.
Deponent at the moment the said man left him met another
person going towards Carbonear, who had on a brown body
coat. None of the said four men had either hats or caps on.
The man whom deponent struck with the sword had an old
body coat very much worn, and deponent is certain the blow
he so gave him has left a mark on his face, and deponent
thinks it is on the right side. This deponent further saith,
that upon leaving Carbonear this day, he had in his trousers
pocket seven dollars, and in his waistcoat pockets six dollars ;
before reaching the Court-house at Harbour Grace, de-
ponent discovered that the seven dollars in his trousers
pockets were missing, and deponent verily believes that the
four men aforesaid robbed him of the said seven dollars.

The Public Ledger, in noticing these monstrous outrages,
says, " His excellency the governor, we observe, has issued
a proclamation, offering a reward of £3OO for the apprehen-
sion of the perpetrators ; but we are mistaken if by far the
better plan would not have been immediately to send round
a sufficient force to scour the country for miles around the
scene of this transaction, leaving not one rood of ground un-
trodden, nor any house unsearched, to which the slightest
suspicion could possibly be attached ; for it will be remem-
bered, that although the sum of £l5OO was offered for the
discovery of the parties guilty of waylaying in the same spot,
and mutilating, Mr. Winton in the same manner just five
years ago, nothing whatever has hitherto transpired to lead
to their conviction !"

St. John's was in an alarming state of excitement owing to
the election, which was going on, of a member of the House
of Assembly, to serve for the district of St. John's, in the
room of Mr. Patrick Morris, promoted to the Legislative
Council. There were two candidates in the field, Mr. Doug-
las and Mr: O'Brien, and although the more respectable por-
tion of the public were really indifferent as to the result, yet
the struggle had created some interest, from the unexpected
coming out of the Romish bishops and the priests supporting
the.cause of Mr. O'Brien, who is a Roman Catholic, against
.that of Mr. Douglas, who is not one ; the more enlightened
of the Roman Catholics taking part with Douglas, and
therefore opposing the priests, whose influence over them
in their secular matters they appear to be determined to
put an end to. But few of the protestants have mixed them-
selves up in the affair. By the latest accounts of the state of
the poll Mr. Douglas was six in advance. The conduct of
the priests on this occasion has been most disgraceful. They
appear to have had no other nor better object than that of
sustaining their influence over the minds of the people upon
matters with which it was unnecessary for them to meddle.
They made their appearance, both upon and in the neigh-
bourhood of the hustings, with whips in their hands, flogging
the refractory into terms of subjection ; and they appear
not only to have banded men together for the purpose of sys-
tematic aggression, but to have incited to bloodshed, if not to
murder itself ! Indeed, the matter had become so serious,
that it was difficult to say what would be the result. Deposi-
tions were taken at the police-office—one from the poll-clerk
himself—all tending to show that there could not by possibi-
lity be anything like freedom in the election, and it was ex-
pected that military protection would be granted.

PARLIAMENTARY REGISTRATION.
CONSERVATIVES !
REMEMBER THE TWENTIETH OF JULY !!

Lord John Russell's tampering with the reform act can
have no effect on the approaching registration. The old sys-
tem will therefore be pursued. Let conservatives bear in
mind that, if we have no election before the 20th of July,
there will be one immediately afterwards ; and should the
whigs dissolve the parliament prior to that date, it is not
improbable that Sir Robert Peel may find it necessary to
follow their example before the registration of 1841. Atten-
tion, therefore, to these requirements is absolutely necessary
to that brilliant success which is awaiting the friends of the
protestant constitution.

The qualification is the occupation of a house, warehouse,
counting house, shop, or other building within the borough,
of the clear annual value of ten pounds, twelve months pre-
vious to the 31st of July.
The occupant must reside within seven miles of the bo-
rough. The rates and taxes due must be paid previous to
the 20th of July, and the occupant must be rated in his own
name.

Joint occupiers are also entitled to be registered, under
the same stipulations, provided also that the share of each oc-
cupant be of the clear yearly value of ten pounds.

COUNTY VOTERS.

Voters who were on the list last year are not required to
make a fresh claim, if they possess the same qualification,
and reside in the same place, as they did when the last regis-
try was made; but if they have changed their place of resi-
dence, or any change has taken place in the nature of the
qualification, it will be necessary for them to send in fresh
claims, and to pay the registration fee in the same manner
as though they had never been registered.
Blank forms of claims may be had on application to the
overseers.
The following is a brief abstract of the qualification for
county voters :
Property qualifying County Voters, if they possess a suffi-
,iyeleanbatlsel
leasehold, or
ANNUITIES—when
ucniNG
reeholpdca
lan
B
copyhold.
CHARGE—of a sum of money upon land, if the owner of
such charge be in the actual occupation of the property
charged.
CommoN7rights of.

LANDS—freehold, leasehold, or copyhold.
plTivssE—s—if o f coal,the act
c tof parliament
ironstone,
&c.n.
for building
which they are declares them to be freehold of the church in
inheritans ce.
RENTS—rent charges, chief rents, fee farm rents, ground
rents. ,
SHARKS—in navigable rivers, canals, &c., if held a
real
property.
TITHES—held by clergymen or laymen.
TOLLS—of markets or fairs.
It is not generally known as it ought to be, that according
to the 26th clause of the reform act, the owners of property,-
acquired by descent, succession, marriage, marriage settle-
ment, devise, promotion to any benefice in the church, or
promotion to any office, are entitled to vote (the same being
claimed before the 20th of July), although the same property
may have come into possession of the parties an hour pre-
vious to the day of registration. The prevailing notion, that
six months' possession is necessary, is altogether erroneous.
For freehold land and buildings, the requisite clear annual
value is forty shillings, with six months' possession previous
to the 31st of July.
For freehold land and buildings for life or lives, as a cor-
poration lease for lives and years, the requisite clear annual
value is ten pounds, with six months' possession, except
when the property is in the actual possession of the owner,
(1)1s
hre i acquiredwassbuyffimciaenrrt.iage settlement, devise, &c., or of which
seized on the ith June, 1832, in which case forty
A house, warehouse, counting-house, or shop, within the
borough, an,dwoi t:hteislixpo,unds annual value, will not give a
county vote to the owner, it in his own occupation.
For copyhold property, the requisite clear annual value is
give ame
neentor assignee bteonFrooporogtuhhn,edwlseillss months' possession. If within the
however small the residue of the an original term of fifty years,
value is ten pounds, with twealv
county
oeu term,monthst t the
possession. requisite
If annualwithio
of a tenrmy.voofte.
theF obrortohuogilL,sweeillonroatssciogonfeeer
twenty years, how-
ever small the residue, and the oeve:lpuieerisoands, &c, at an
within the borough, will not
twelve
el
mreonott,htslipeorsesqeuisssioitne. yearly value fifty pounds, with
give
vote.
Mortgagees in actual possession or receipt of
m o a r
tcgoaugneteys
or
rents and profits to their own use, may register according to
to the nature of the property.
Conservatives ! remember the twentieth of July, and the
calls of your country, religion, and laws ! !

SKETCHER OF TinrglpooL MO ITS VICINITY

'No.
(Written for the Liverpool Standard.)

RUNCORN AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD CONTINUED.--HAL-
TON, HALTON CASTLE, &C.
Halton Castle is the most conspicuous object in the envi-
rons of Runcorn, and lies to the eastward of it, about a mile
and a half distant. The few ruins that remain of this once
stately edifice are situated on the top of a conically shaped
hill, round which, at about half its height, and at the base or
spring of the steeper part of the hill, the village of Halton
forms a circle or belt, chiefly of detached houses, farm-steads
and cottages. From the extensive views which are obtained
from the site of the castle, it is the frequent resort, during
the summer months, of visitors not only from Runcorn, but
from Warrington, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, and other
towns in its neighbourhood.
There are several roads from Runcorn to Halton, but the
most direct is by the lane running from the outskirts of the
town, for some distance close to the Duke of Bridgewater's
canal, leaving the windmill (which is remarkable for two
white and two brown sails) on the right. The visitor will
thence see the castle before him, and may proceed by the
same road to Halton village ; but about three quarters of a
mile further on, near a brook, the pedestrian may strike into
a pleasant and more direct footpath on the right hand. The
Castle-hill is accessible on every side by the several roads
to Halton from Preston Brook, Warrington, Runcorn, Frod-
sham, and Chester, via Rock Savage, &c, The hill slopes
all round up to the village in an easy acclivity, affording pleas-
ing views from every point, after which it rises more abruptly,
and in some parts precipitously. Orchards and gardens in
the village, and steep grassy banks, and trees even to the top
of the hill above it, give it an appearance of verdure and
warmth seldom found on isolated hills of such height in this
country. In this and in other respects Halton Castle greatly
resembles its more northern neighbour, Hoghton Tower,
once also a place of strength and importance, and presenting,
too, an enviable site for the modernized mansion of some
" good old English gentleman," or distinguished family, de-
voted to the enjoyment of refined pleasures, and the hospita-
lities of the " olden times."

HALTON.
The village was once a market town, and was called Haw-ton
(signifying in old English the " town on the hill"), but now
Normanised to Halton. The barony of Halton was given by
Hugh Lupus, nephew of William the Conqueror, and second
Earl of Chester, to Nigel, on condition that he should, ac-
cording to one account, be constable of Chester. Another
account states that he received the barony, in conjunction
with the constableship of Cheshire, on condition that he
should lead the earl's army in the wars in Wales. Nigel had
two sons, one of whom (William) founded the priory at Run-
corn in 1133. There is nothing peculiarly remarkable in the
village itself. It contains good houses, some of them of re-
cent erection, and neat cottages, with thriving gardens. It
is exceedingly clean, and, from its elevated position, airy and
cheerful. The population of the township may he about 2000.
Although there is on parts of the hill a considerable depth of
good soil, the freestone is in others close on the surface, and
I was shewn a house, on the west side, the kitchen, some
back apartments, and the cellars in which are dug out of the
solid rock, and are perfectly dry. There are several inns,
including the Castle Inn, the Norton Arms, and the Elephant
and Castle.
After passing through a portion of the village, the visitor,
by a road or avenue about 300 yards in length, and of great
width, leading to the left, ascends to Halton Castle.
There are several good houses, particularly on the west
side of the avenue, with gardens, shrubberies, and forest trees
of considerable growth. The finest is the parsonage, a good
two story building in the Grecian style with a porch, and
surmounted by a small pediment containing a coat of arms in
the tympanum.
Beside it is a small antique isolated stone building within a
space enclosed by a parapet wall, and having two arched win-
dowsto the road. This is a Public Library, founded in 1733,
and furnished with books, chiefly folios, by the late Sir John
Chesshyre, of Hallwood. Admission may be obtained by
strangers on application to the Rev. R. Tweddell, A.M., at
the parsonage, it being placed under the care of the minister
of the chapel for the time being. Over the door is the fol
lowing Latin inscription :
"Hang BIBLIOTHECAM pro communi LITERATORUM HSU,
sub cura curati Capellae de HALTON, Proventibus ter feliciter
Augmentatee JOH ANNIS CHESSIIYHE miles Serviens D'ni
Regis at Legem. D. D. D. Anno mDCCXXIII."
The visitor may here pass a very agreeable hour amongst
the tomes both in English and in the languages of the ancient
classics bequeathed for the use of posterity, by the benevo-
lent knight of Hallwood.
Behind the library there is a row of Alms Houses, "for
six poor, decayed, and honest old servants," who are ap-
pointed by Sir Richard Brooke, of Norton Priory. These
have trees and gardens in front.
A little further westward, and immediately behind the
Vicarage, stands the chapel of Halton, in a small enclosed
green field or yard, bounded on the west by a precipitous
portion of the hill. It is an old plain stone building with two
long windows at the west end and a small belfry. This is a
Chapel of Ease to Runcorn, but has a separate endowment
granted by the late Sir John Chesshyre, who held the pre-
sentation. From the church-yard a charming and extensive
view is obtained of the country below. On the south, Frod-
sham, surrounded by fine enclosed fields fringed by trees,
and backed by the dark wooded Helsby and Overton hills,
while the Weaver winds its way through the rich low grounds
in front, is here seen to very great advantage. The Mersey
speckled with vessels, and the Lancashire shore equally fill
up the view in front and to the right. There is also a gram-
mar school close by for the children of the parish of Run-
corn.
Returning to the road, and passing the parsonage, the
visitor in ascending passes the Elephant and Castle, a small
but neat inn on the left with a garden behind ; and several
ancient office buildings amongst the trees on the right. A
short walk of about 100 yards brings him to the Castle Inn,
in front of which the avenue widens out into a sort of lawn,
sloping to the east. This was in former times included within
the pleasure grounds of the Castle, and was laid out in ser-
pentine walks. Below the parsonage, too, in the palmy days
of Halton, there stood a cross, which the hand of innovation
has long since removed.

HALTON CASTLE.
The Castle Inn, through which alone the visitor can ar-
rive at the ruins of the ancient edifice, is itself known by the
appellation of Halton Castle, and is situated close to the
principal portion of the ruins, facing the avenue leading from
the village, and on the south side of the table land or somewhat
circular area on the top of the hill, formerly occupied by the
fortress. It is a comparatively modern and plain building,
of two stories, with square projecting wings, in which are
some of the principal rooms. The landlord is Mr. Bolton,
an intelligent man of 68 years of age. The worthy hostess
(who is highly spoken of as a most charitable person) is an
old lady of 78. She has lived here in the same capacity for
44 years, and still moves about attending to the domestic ar-
rangements of the house with the activity of a young women
of twenty. As the inn stands on the site of a portion of the
castle, and a baronial court and court leet are still held within
its walls, it may be proper, before noticing it further, to fur-
nish some historical reminiscenes of the original edifice itself.
The precise date of the foundation of Halton Castle is not
known, all existing records on this point being defective ;
but it is supposed to have been erected soon after the Con-
quest. Although it was a strong military post, but little of
historical event connected with it has been handed down to
posterity. Tradition states that it was, at a very early pe-'
riod, much infested by gangs of robbers, who here secured
themselves after their marauding excursions in the plains be-
low. It is stated, indeed, that in the reign of Edward 11.
these freebooters became so bold as to steal the armour and
accoutrements from the Castle itself. It was a favourite
place of recreation (we also learn from Fowler's Historical
Account of Runcorn, &c.) with the celebrated John of
Gaunt, who therein showed his good taste. In the reign of
Elizabeth it was converted into a prison for popish recusants.
Here, in 1536, the abbot of Norton priory, and three of the
canons, were immured by Sir Piers Dutton, sheriff of
Cheshire, for opposing the king's commissioners. During
the civil wars it fell occasionally into the hands of both par-
ties, and in 1644 the parliament forces held possession. It
subsequently became a prison for debtors, and eventually
fell into its present ruinous condition. A survey was made
of it in the time of Cromwell, at which time it had falleninto
dilapidation. It was then described as consisting of " a gate-
house, with five rooms over; a great hall, with two ranges of
buildings over it containing nine rooms, and a prison for the
Honour of Halton. At this time Colonel Henry Brooke was
the steward." It is now, and has for years been (like the
castles in Wales) the property of the Crown, but is held, by
royal tenure, by the Marquis of Cholmondeley, a homely
gentlemen, who domiciled here for two days, about three
years ago, with the marchioness.
The landlord of the inn has an old print of the castle, as
seen from the ground in front some hundred and odd years
ago. It represents little more than the entrance-gate, and
two adjoining and loftier buildings, of angular form, in a
state of ruin,—the whole being
i what is termed the gate-
house, on the site of which the nn is built. There was a
portcullis, and a drawbridge over the fosse, which last pro-
bably at one time encircled the whole castle. At the
bottom of this print, on one side, is engraved :—" De-
dicated to the most noble, John, Duke of Rutland,
Marquis of Ganby, &c. &c. &c., this prospect is hum-
bly incribed, by S. and W. Buck." On the other side
is the following historical notice :—" This Castle was built
by Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, who gave it, wth ye
Barony, to Nigel, a Norman, on condition that he would be
Constable of Chester. From his posterity it came to ye
Crown, and is a considerable Member of ye Duchy of Lan-
caster, which maintains a large Jurisdiction in ye Country
round it, by ye name of Halton Fee, the Hr of Halton having
a Court of Record, Prison, and many other privileges within
themselves." There was here also some years ago an inte-
resting print of the whole village and castle, taken from an
original painting in 1656, but it is now lost.
Here there are still held four Courts a year, namely, three
Courts Baron, in April, September, and December, and one
Court Leet, held in October. I need scarcely add, that, in
a spot so comparatively secluded the prison is no longer
used ; but that ancient instrument of terror to evil doers in
remote villages—the stocks, is still extant, opposite to the
Public Library before noticed. The present Court Room (in
the inn) is about thirty feet in length, and has an outside
stone stair entrance, with railings, from the front of the
house. Over the chimney-piece is the following inscription,
on an antiquely carved stone, resembling a mural monu-
ment :
" 7th Dec., 1737.—At a Court of Revenue held for the
Duchy of Lancaster, before the Rt. Honble George Earl of
Cholmondeley, Chancellor of ye same Court, it was ordered
by them that 500 lb. be forthwith raised and paid for the re-
building this Court House, Gaol, and Court Yard.
" Commissioners to survey the same.—J. S. Cotton, J.
Lee, N. Legh, R. Leicester, P. Davenport, and W. Tongue,
Esqrs.
" The Honble. James Cholmondeley, Lord of the Manor.
"J. Pickering, Esq., Steward; Wm. Middleton, Deputy."
On the chimney-piece below is added :
" H. Sefton, J. Orme, Undertakers.-10th Nov., 1738,
finished."
There are several good rooms at the inn, and I here found
a number of respectable tradesmen from Manchester, who
had come to spend a few days at the Castle, in place of ex-
posing themselves to the allurements of expense at the races
on Kersal Moor.

There are few emir
a more extensive seri
than from Halton Carl
PRO THE CASTLE.
and undulated country e,
encesM in the north of England whence
the beauties of which .
of delightful views can be obtained
having
n aSt
nibt
reuaeal
nl t
ye
enhanced
variedhn
ina thec eand
by
dymiddlertnhme
aa npotpfileiaa,
appliaandnces
of agriculture and commerce, it presents all that is gratifying
to the eye in wood and water, hill and vale, mansion and.
cottage, peaceful hamlet and disant thriving town. A fine
tbhoewwlihn go
l-eg raereena iws formedithin
th ebehin wallsd
0f the inn, and occupies nearly
the ancient fortress, and
east side, the view is un-
saismiti-panorama.
er passes through
nenatrched doorway at
from its margin, particularly on the
interrupted by the ruins, and for:8
btyhe dilapidatednerthe bowling_ structure,
n
Leav-
ing the inn by an eastern door, the v
a
Rpelacnestasetidoni,natnhdistphaerntceo,f
either end of a portion of the ruins,
there is an alcove fronted by two arches,
garesemna.ll
are various-sized window apertures in the brokenve which there
on the plastered walls and roof, and on the seat and wall. Here
table,
are scratched or cut innumerable names vi
of • •
siters from
towns and places far and near, who have thus vainly 'Sought
a transient reputation. Passing to the eastern margin of
the green, the view southward embraces the Overton hills,
Delamere forest, the country bordered on the valley of the'
Weaver, including Sutton and Aston, Daresbury, and Preston
Brook. Further eastward is a fine wooded country, through
which (though not visible from this point) pssses the Grand
Junction Railway, and the Staffordshire canal. In the back-
ground rise the remoter hills of Cheshire, Alderley Edge
being conspicuous, and farther on, but apparently blended
with them, the loftier mountains of Derbyshire. North
eastward stands Norton Priory, the seat of Sir R. Brooks,

PRIESTS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR CONVERTS.--A respc act-
able correspondent in this neighbourhood has declared his
readiness to restore a girl of the Protestant faith to her eN Te-
sight if her whole family go to mass. The eye is entirt dy
destroyed, and attempt at cure would not be entered upon
by the able and attentive surgeon, G. A. Nixon, Esq.-
Another priest recently made his way into the county pri-
son to render sane a lunatic ; but his success was something
more than equivocal, for be next day knocked down his.
keepers.—Fermanagh Reporter.
SUNDAY DINNERS.—We have been strong, but, we hope,.
consistent advocates for preserving the sanctity of the Sab-
bath-day ; and while enforcing th• necessity of public-houses.
being closed, and Sabbath trading discouraged, have always.
pointedly condemned the pernicious practice which prevails,.
in what is termed high life, of giving " Sunday dinners."
Each of the great political par ties in the State are equally
chargeable with this wanton and unnecessary desecration of
a day which was hallowed at the creation of the world by the
Deity himself. The mechanic or tradesman, who passes six
days in the week in incessant toil, may urge with a show of
plausibility that to him the Sabbath should be reserved for
recreation and enjoyment ; but what excuse can possibly
avail the leaders of fashion or Ministers of State, for picking
out the seventh day whereon to give their sumptuous banquets,
and feast their friends and retainers ? Do they once consider
the evil effects of this practice, or reflect how ma ny thousands
will justify a habitual disregard of the holine: s of this day
by their example ? If they have lost all feeling in this mat-
ter themselves, let them at least respect the s entiments of
the nation, and listen to the dictates of policy or shame.—
Britannia.