The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-08-15 00:00:00

THE LI/ERPOOL STANDARD.

enteral liftiatllann.

Prince Albert has consented to lay the foundation stone
of the docks at Grimsby, in October.
A vessel arrived in the Thames, from Dublin, has
brought 360 railway shovels, as a portion of her car o.
Is
land
and Tuesday a sand-barge sunk between Cardigan
and Mount ;it was loaded with sand. The two men on
board, father aad son, were drowned.
Among the articles for sale at a recent Wesleyan bazaar
at Beverly, Yorkshire, was a fine sheep, which was con-
tributed by a farmer, and which readily found a purchaser.
On Saturday a labouring man named Fell, killed him-
self at Barrow, in Low Furness,by incautiously drinking
a quantity of cold water whilst in a state of perspiration.
The riotings among the English and Irish labourers at
Doncaster were renewed last week, and were only quelled
by the interference of the military. The leaders in the
disturbances have been arrested and punished.
A respectable widow lady named Corbett, living near
Stratford, died on Monday through grief, occasioned by
the unexpected absence of her two boys, who, however,
were brought home to her before her death.
The John 0' Groat Journal states that a short time ago
a gentleman residing near Dingwell, on opening a bag of
guano, discovered amongst the manure the body of a pen-
guin, perfectly entire.
It appears, from a return just made to Parliament, that
the declared value of British machinery and millwork, ex-
ported from the United Kingdom in the year ended on the
sth of January last, was 1,263,015.
At Monmouth, on Wednesday, Mathias Kelly, private
in the 14th regiment, was convicted of the wilful murder
of his mistress, Agnes Hill, at Newport, on the 26th of
May last, by shooting her, and sentenced to death.
The Smoke Prohibition Bill, which stood for a second
reading in the House of Commons, on Wednesday, was
withdrawn, Lord Morpeth expressing a hope that some
measure would be brought forward early next session.
THE TRAGEDY AT PENRITH.—Joseph Todd was tried
before Mr. Justice Cresswell, at Carlisle, on Wednesday
last, for the murder of Joseph Jackson, at Penrith, on the
28th ult. The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
An early rising club has been established at Farringdon,
in Berkshire, and the members have regularly assembled
thrice a-week during the present summer, at an early hour
of the morning, for the purpose of amusing themselves by
playing cricket before breakfast.
With a view of putting a stop to the nefarious practices
of a set of scamps, a plan is in agitation for registering
every picture that may be painted. The registry being
effected by the artist, the forgery of the registrations
mark would be felony.
Mr. Charles Griffin, the writer of the pamphlet on
the Stoneleigh Abbey case has been held to bail for
a libel on Lord Leigh. At Coventry Assizes, on Wed-
nesday, Mr. Robert Astill, printer, was committed in
default of bail for publishing a handbill containing a
libel on his lordship.
PRESENT TO MDILE. JENNY LIND.—On Friday,
very massive silver salver was presented to Mdlle. Jenny
Lind by the committee of the Hospital for Consumption,
as an expression of gratitude for her having given a con-
cert for the benefit of the institution, by which nearly
£lBOO was realised.
The last new scheme of Mr. Feargus O'Connor is a
grand sweep of 10,000 members at is. each, for four free-
hold houses, with votes. The prospectus announces that
democratical associations are formed in districts to issue
shares—all moneys received to be paid into the National
Labour Bank. .
FORTUNATE NEWSMAN.—A carrier of the Bristol
Mercury has recently had the good luck to obtain pos-
session of family property to the extent of about £l2OO.
An advertisement of ' next of kin" met his eyes some
seven years since, which induced him to institute inquiries,
and subsequently led to the commencement of a legal
suit.

At the Warwick Assizes, on Monday, eleven Irishmen
and two Irishwomen were tried for a riot and savage as-
sault on the police in the execution of their duty, at Bir-
mingham, on the 18th of June. Two were acquitted and
eleven were convicted. Of the latter, two were sentenced
to three months' imprisonment, and the remainder to six
months' imprisonment.
A singular fire occurred on the premises of Mr. T. Hird,
Tottenham-court-road, London, on Tuesday. Through
beating, sorrig Indian wool, a particle ignited by being
beat upwards to the gas, and the spark having com-
municated with the bulk of the material, the whole was
ahnost lfistantaneously in flames, and several hundred
weight consumed;i%,
A mail-guard, of the name of Taylor, on the Caledonian
Railway, thought on Thursday, after the train had left
Edinburgh, that the couplings of some of the carriages
were not properly attached, and in his anxiety that all
should be correct, got down from his seat for the purpose
of examining them, when unfortunately he slipped over
betwixt the carriages, and was killed on the spot.
EFFECTS OF DRUNKENNESS:OD Thursday, a fellow
in Stourbridge, having drunk himself into a state of ine-
briety and spent all the money he had about him, has-
tened home. and, seizing his wife's boots and a loaf that
had been purchased for his children's dinner, went and
hawked them at the various shops, and offered the loaf,
which cost 9d., for 7d., with the avowed purpose of spend-
ing the money in the intoxicating draught.
STEAM CONVEYANCE TO AUSTRALIA.—The communi-
cation between this country and Australia will now be
reduced to a period of about two months. The govern-
ment have entered into a contract with the India and
Australian Mail Packet Company for this purpose. The
Oriental Company convey out to Singapore in forty-two
days, and the Australian Company from Singapore to
Sydney in twenty-five days. The growing value of our
A H.trsP.. *Ma .fta-a-os.ftoo..a.t. cb -row,
important one.
EXPENDITURE OCCASIONED BY CHARTlsm.—Among
the items of expenditure, occasioned by the Chartist folly,
is to be reckoned the support of the families of the Char-
tist convicts. According to the British Banner, Jones
has a wife and three children ; Sharp, a wife and two
children ; and Williams, a wife and two children ; all of
whom are in the greatest distress; their only hope being
the workhouse, unless Chartist patriotism should (which
is very unlikely, seeing it could not maintain itself) raise
a fund for their support.
An elderly gentleman named Mr. John Lambert, of
Hull, arrived at Bridlington station on Wednesday, by
the evening train, which had so nearly stopped that the
rate of motion was almost nothing, when Mr. Lambert
attempted to alight. He had placed one foot on the plat-
form, had the other on the step of the carriage, and with
one hand held the handle of the same vehicle, when by
the almost expended momentum of the train he was
thrown backward, and fell between the platform and the
wheels of the carriage, which proceeded only about three
yards, and then stopped. He only lingered about an
hour. _ _ _

FIRST TRIAL OF BARON VON RATHEN'S LOCOMOTIVE
CARRIAGE BY COMPRESSED-AIR ON COMMON ROADS.
—We are informed, that a first and successful trial of this
carriage was made on Wednesday. The carriage which
is about 3 tons weight, travelled from Putney College to
Wandsworth (about one mile), from beginning to end,
with a uniform and regular speed of about eight miles per
hour; and there is no doubt that it would have continued
to run for 10 or 12 miles, as was originally intended, but
for an unfortunate accident in charging the reservoir (a
combination of cylindrical tubes), to a too high degree of
pressure in the course of the test, by which the greater
part of those tubes were impaired.
SINGULAR AND SPEEDY RECOVERY OF PROPERTY.—
A few weeks back a fisherman, whilst traversing the river
near Peterborough in his boat, hooked up a bundle, tied
in a coarse towel, with three large stones attached to it.
On opening the parcel it was found to contain mortgage
deeds to the amount of £2,000, as well as other securities.
Enquiry was made, and the owner was found to be a
curate near Ely, who had been travelling the day before
the discovery, to., Peterborough and lost his trunk, in
which were the documents found by the fisherman. It is
believed that the trunk was stolen, and that the thief
finding the deeds of no use to him, had thrown them into
the river.

ATTEMPT TO MURDER A POLlCEMAN.—Yesterday week
a violent attack was made upon a police sergeant, at Bristol.
A warrant had been issued for the apprehension of a man
named Stallard, who had stolen some iron. When the
constable (Whitby) went to the house of Stallard's father,
in St. Philip's district, he found the offender, and desired
him to surrender, which he refused to do, and was seized
by the officer. A struggle ensued between them, and the
prisoner's father, brother, and others came up and attacked
him. One of them wrested his staff from him and struck
him with it across the face, breaking a tooth. One of the
assailants finally struck the constable a heavy blow with a
stone which rendered him insensible. He was conveyed
to the Infirmary, and being dangerously ill, his depositions
were taken. The principal offenders are in custody.
WHIRLWIND AND WATERSPOUT.—On Thursday week,
a whirlwind and waterspout did considerable mischief on
the Brighton race-course. Several booths were blown
down and three men considerably injured, and an immense
quantity of glass, crockery, and other moveables were
destroyed. The following is an extract from a letter re-
ceived in this town from a gentleman at Brighton :
" On Thursday the Brighton race-course was visited
with a waterspout and whirlwind, which carried away a
dozen booths, washing me in its course down a delve.
Four persons were so seriously hurt that they had to be
carried to the hospital, and eight or ten were more or less
injured."
An action for seduction was tried at the Guildford
assizes, on Tuesday. The plaintiff was Anne Brown, who
pleaded the loss of the services of her niece, Mary Brown,
the female seduced, and the defendant was a Mr. Joshua
Yardley. The plaintiff was in a humble station, her niece
living with her as a servant. The defendant was the son
of a highly respectable and wealthy gentleman in the
county of Berks. The seduction, it appeared, had been
effected under a promise of marriage, which was broken
unceremoniously after the birth of a child, the result of
the intercourse. Damages of £2OO were only given, the
circumstances which seemed to weigh with the jury being
that the defendant was only nineteen years of age at the
time he accomplished his purpose, the female being nearly
thirty, and that his friends had prohibited marriage with
her.
THE TRON TRADE.—The iron trade generally about
Dudley, and the adjustment of wages to the price of iron
particularly, are progressing satisfactorily. It will be
recollected that in consequence of the reduction of the
price of iron proposed at the preliminary meeting held at
Stewponey, a reduction of the wages of the men to the
amount of 20 per cent. was deemed necessary. In many
instances this reduction was acceded to, in others it was
opposed ; but we are happy to state that a mutual consi-
deration for each other's interests appears now to be the
governing motive by which a great portion of both masters
and men are influenced. In the district south of Dad-
ley it: is agreed that, in consequence of the improved
state of the iron trade, the reduction of wages shall be
only 8, instead of 20 per cent. At the collieries.tbe price
of coal has been reduced to the iron works I. per ton,
and 6d. for slack. These reductions, bowevor, are made
only to the iron works.

George Chilton, Esq., Q.C., a leader of the South
Wales Circuit, has presented the handsome sum of twenty-
five guineas to the funds of the Carmarthenshire Infir-
mary. We understand this is a portion of the £5OO
received by the learned counsel as damages from the
Croydon Railway Company, for having falsely imprisoned
him, the whole of which Mr. Chilton has divided amongst
various charitable institutions. _ _ _

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.—On Monday, three re.
spectable youths at Bath got possession of a pistol from a
garret in the house of the father of one of them, and
knowing it was loaded, snapped it off several times with-
out discharging it. They then went to get the flint fas-
tened on, and, whilst playing with it as before, the pistol
went off, and the contents lodged in the head of an infant
sitting Lear, who died next day. The jury brought in a
verdict of " Death by misadventure," but the coroner
severely reprobated the practice of persons allowing loaded
firearms to be within the reach of children.

MALICIOUS PROCEEDING.—RecentIy the remains of
Miss Mary Sandell, of Cheddar, Somerset, were disinter-
red, and an inquest held upon them, at the instance of
Mr. John Sandell and Mr. Edmund Sandell, her brothers,
who openly asserted that their sister had been poisoned
by her nephews, Mr. Albert and Mr. Caleb Hill. She
had left her money to them, which gave rise to this im-
putation upon them. Mr. Herapath, however, to whom
the viscera and intestines were submitted for inspection,
declared that there was no trace of poison, and the jury
returned a verdict of " Natural Death," accompanying
their verdict with an expression of indignation at the
conduct of the parties who had instituted the proceedings
without the slightest foundation for so acting.
PARRICIDE.—On Saturday a young man, named John
Parker, was committed to the Castle, at Lincoln, to take
his trial at the ensuing assizes, on a charge of having
murdered his father. On the 19th ultimo, the deceased
was found dead in his house, with a gun-shot wound in
his body, sufficient to cause death. Circumstances arose
which led to suspicion falling upon the prisoner; but at
the inquest, held the following day, the jury, after a
lengthened inquiry, came to the conclusion that there was
not sufficient evidence to justify them in returning a ver-
dict of guilty against the prisoner, and he was conse-
quently discharged. The inhabitants not being satisfied,
a further investigation was made, which resulted in the
committal of the prisoner.
IMPORTANT SALE OF HUNTERS.—On Thursday, Aug.
3d, a most valuable stud of hunters was disposed of by
public auction, sst Bretherton's Repository, Pershore-
street, Birmingham. A great number of noblemen and
gentlemen from various parts of the country were present.
The premises in Pershore-street, now occupied by Mr.
Bretherton, are seuwid tu none in the kingao,..., 12... g re-
plete with every convenience as a repository, in an excel-
lent situation, and bidding fair to be the principal mart
for the sale of horses in this country. The following were
the principal sales. The Duke, 175 guineas • Goliah, 330
guineas ; Caledonia, 180 guineas ; The Friar, guineas ;
Baron, 155 guineas ; Fox, 150 guineas ; Neddy, 170 gui-
neas ; Milkman, 125 guineas •, Bendigo, 360 guineas ;
Storm, 180 guineas; Lady Parker, 90 guineas; Billy, 95
guineas ; Jimmy, 215 guineas ; Rose Bud, 60 guineas.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, C.B.—This distin-
guished officer and novelist expired at his seat, Langham,
county Norfolk, on Wednesday, the 9th instant, after a
long and painful illness, caused by the bursting of a
succession of blood-vessels, in the 56th year of his age.
Captain Marryat was second son of the late Joseph Mar-
ryat, Esq., of Wimbledon House, Surrey, and married
Catherine, only daughter of the late Sir Stephen Shairp,
Bart., N. 8., by whom he leaves a family of six children.
When at Hastings, in the month of February last, Capt.
Marryat read the account of the total loss of Her Majesty's
ship Avenger, in which his eldest son perished. For some
time it was feared the shock would have been fatal. Capt.
Marryat's talents as a writer are too well known, and his
services as an officer have been too lately laid before the
public to require any further comment.
COLONISATION SOCIETY.—On Thursday, a meeting,
attended by several noblemen and persons of influence,
wrs held at Brighton, for the purpose of disseminating the
views of the Society for the Promotion of Colonisation.
Some Chartists were also present. The High Constable
was called to the chair. The first resolution, moved by
the Hon. F. Scott, was as follows :—" That, considering
the distressed condition of a large number of the labouring
population of the United Kingdom, and the extensive and
remunerative field which our colonial possessions present
for their employment and relief, it is the opinion of this
meeting that immediate steps are expedient, with a view to
nn organised and well-regulated system of emigration."
The resolution was seconded by Earl Nelson, in a long
and excellent speech, in which the noble earl was greatly
applauded. At an early part of the meeting one of the
Chartists called out, " I suppose you want to transport
us." " Certainly," replied Mr. Scott, "we want to
transport you with a change from poverty in England to
plenty in Australia."
' THREE PERSONS SHOT.—On yesterday week the town
of Dundee and its neighbourhood were thrown into excite-
ment by a report (which proved to be true) to the effect
that a man and two women had that morning been shot,
by an inhabitant of the place, and that the women were
dead. The name of the man is Whitcross, a weaver. It
appeared that he and two women had been drinking to-
gether at Lochee, and at a very early hour in the
morning, and when on their way back to Dundee,
the woman entered a potato field, belonging to a
man named Elder, and pulled up two or three shaws,
which Whitcross observing told them to desist. As he was
speaking a gun was fired, and one of the women cried out
that she was shot. She ran some distance but soon after
expired. Whitcross was also wounded, and fainted. He
is still in a precarious state. The other woman was
slightly wounded. It appeared that Elder bad had his
garden robbed. kpro• we,m, Etna hau
threatened to shoot the first person he found attempting
to steal. On being apprehended he confesses the act. He
is 65 years of age, is possessed of a good deal of property,
and is much respected in Lochee.
A LUCKY EMIGRANT.—About sixteen years ago, a
young man, named J. B. Graham, came down from Lon-
don to Sheffield, as an upholsterer, with Mr. Eadon, of
the latter town. Soon after he was induced to emigrate
to Australia, where, step by step, he advanced, and about
four years ago a scheme was set on foot for working a rich
copper mine that had been discovered about 100 miles
from Adelaide. Mr. Graham had information on the sub!,
ject which gave him confidence enough to embark in it all
the money he could raise. He took a considerable num-
ber of shares of £5 each, and now owns about one-sixth
of the whole concern. This is the Burra Burra Copper
Mine, where much of the ore yields from 60 to 70 per
cent. of copper. It is already an extensive and most pro-
fitable undertaking, and is likely to be for many years to
come increasingly advantageous. It is worked by several
hundred Cornish miners, and preparations are in progress
for smelting ore on the spot. This will render available a
great quantity of less productive ore, which would be worth
about £lO per ton in England, but on account of the cost
of the carriage, is comparatively worthless there. Mr.
Graham's shares already produce him about £16,000
a-year. He is now on a visit to England, and has this
week been in Sheffield, where he has received the hearty
congratulations of his old friends on the brilliant success
which has attended his industry and enterprise at the
Antipodes.
TRADE RETURNS.—The trade and navigation accounts
for the six months ending the sth of July, were presented
to Parliament on Thursday. So far as regards the import
trade, and the consumption of all the great articles of
commerce, which mainly contribute to the revenue, or to
the comforts of the people, the accounts continue to show
very good results. In the last month embraced in the
tables, there continues to be an increase of consumption.
Tea, coffee, tobacco, spirits, and sugar maintain the high
rates of consumption of last year ; and tea, in particular,
shows a considerable increase. The exports of the coun-
try continue to show, however, the same very great falling
off that they have done in former months—so far as value
is concerned. The comparison of the last month, ending
the sth of July, is thus :

EXPORTS
1846
1847
1848....
And for the six months ending the same day, the amounts
are :

- -
1846
1847 25,394,243
1848 21,571,939
When speaking of the last returns of a similar kind—allu-
sion was made to the fact, that whereas the returns in
question represent the actual value at the time of ship-
ment, they must necessarily be acted upon materially by
change of circumstances from time to time. It is certain,
therefore, that with the present very low prices of commo-
dities, and especially of manufactured articles, the quan-
tity shipped will not be diminished in anything like the
same proportion as the reduced value would indicate ; and
this is more apparent from the fact, that with the excep-
tion of seven articles, all those in the list show a reduction
in the amount of value exported.

MR. BURGE, LATE COMMISSIONER OF BANKRUPTCY•
—On Tuesday last, in the County Court at York, an ap-
plication was made by Mr. William Burge, who was re-
cently one of the Commissioners of the Leeds District
Court of Bankruptcy, for an interim order for his dis-
charge from prison under the provisions of the sth and 6th
Victoria, chap. 116, and 7th and Bth Victoria, chap, 96.
The insolvent was supported in his application by Mr.
Blanshard, barrister, and opposed by Mr. J. H. Hill, who
was instructed on behalf of several detaining creditors.
The case was argued at erect length on both sides, Mr.
Blanshard contending that the Court was bound, under
the provisions of the statutes, to grant the protection
asked for, and to discharge the insolvent from gaol, he
having been confined in York Castle for nearly 18 months.
Mr. Hill, on the other hand, contended that the Court
had a discretionary power to receive evidence on behalf of
the detaining creditors, tending to show that the insolvent
had contracted debts by fraud, and without having, at the
time of becoming indebted, reasonable assurance of being
able to pay his debts. The judge (Mr. Robert Wharton)
decided that it was competent to examine witnesses in op-
position to the insolvent's application. Mr. John Sang-
ster, solicitor, was then examined as to the circumstances
under which the debts in Leeds had been contracted.
Other witnesses were in attendance for the same purpose,
but, without hearing them, his Honour decided that the
conduct of the insolvent had not entitled him to an inter-
im order for his discharge from prison, and appointed the
15th of September for his first examination. By the sche-
dule filed in court it appeared that the insolvent's debts
and liabilities were upwards of £40,000, whilst the assets
available to the creditors do not exceed £5O. Mr. Burge
formerly held an appointment as agent for Jamaica for
which service he received a salary of £l,OOO per annum ;
and his salary as Commissioner of Bankruptcy was £l,BOO
per annum. The former appointment ceased shortly
after his coming to. Leeds in the early part of 1846, and
that circumstance is assigned as one reason of his being
unable to meet his engagements. He was at one period a
member, of the House of Commons, and up to the time of
hisarrest, at the suit of a creditor in London, he held a
Recordership..

A RIVAL TO Tom THUMB.—The American Museum
names another pigmy of the Yankey market, in Major
Little-Finger,—an abortion, considerably less than Tom,
handsome, and wittier, and accomplished beyond com-
pare—the very perfection of the Lilliputian order. Of
course, he will seek fame and riches in Cockaigne,—the
most gullable market in the world for everything inimi-
tably great or prodigiously little, whether in songsters or
savages, pipers or pigmies.
WRITTEN V. EXTEMPORE SERMONS.—The Wesleyan
ministers seem to be very much divided as to the propriety
of preaching from written discourses. At the Conference,
the Rev. J. W. Thomas said that the growing practice of
reading lectures instead of preaching sermons, was one of
which he (Mr. T.) had expressed his jealousy. No one
more highly appreciated the importance of diligence in
composition ; no one more highly estimated the liberty of
the pulpit than lie did. But the practice of reading ser-
mons might with more propriety be called the bondage of
the pulpit. He feared that the custom, if it became pre-
valent in high places, would find imitators. The Rev.
James Kepdall, on the other hand, said that he was glad
to find the practice of reading sermons becoming more
common. He himself, on a week night, occasionally de-
livered a lecture instead of a sermon, and the congregation
was increased thereby.
FALSE CHARACTERS TO SERVANTS.—Last week a
young woman was charged before the Cheltenham Magis-
trates with having obtained a situation by means of a false
character. She applied for a situation on the 26th of
April, at Marl-hill, near Cheltenham, the residence of
L. Griffiths, Esq., magistrate, representing herself as
having left the service of " Mrs. Gregory, of Frocester-
hall, near Stroud," and referred to that lady for a cha-
racter. A letter was written, and in due course an answer
was returned, giving a very good account of the prisoner's
conduct. Prisoner was engaged. A few days ago Mr.
Griffiths received his original letter, returned through the
Dead Letter Office, the address of " Mr. Gregory, Fro-
cester-hall," being reported as " not known." The
prisoner acknowledged she had herself written the letter
purporting to be Mrs. Gregory's. The Bench fined the
prisoner in the sum of £2O, and in default of payment
sentenced her to six months' imprisonment.
THE ETON COLLEGE SWIMMING SCHOOL GAMES.—
An excellent law has for some time been enforced at Eton
College, which requires that every boy shall pass the
" swimming test" before he is allowed to enter a boat on
the Thames. He is required to jump from the bank into
deep water, to swim well fifty yards, and then to swim
back to the place from whence he started. To encourage
the practice of diving, as the most ready way of saving
life, in case of sudden accident upon the water, as well as
to give contiocuu. I..zart
instituted under the superintendence of a committee.
The swimming school games took place at Athens, on
the Thames, about a mile above Windsor-bridge, in the
presence of the committee, nearly the whole of the Eton
masters, and a large assemblage of spectators. Since the
establishment of the swimming school, which was founded
by the Bishop of New Zealand in 1836, sixteen hundred
and forty-four boys have passed the swimming test. One
hundred and five have passed during the present summer.
PRECAUTION IN CASE OF FIRES TO AGRICULTURAL
PROPERTY.—The extent of damage to agricultural pro-
perty, in individual cases, is almost in every instance
greatly increased through the prevailing practice of con-
centrating the whole produce of the farm in one stackyard,
or upon one spot, and that frequently in the midst of, or
contiguous to, a mass of thatched buildings, thus render-
ing the destruction of the whole almost inevitable. It
would be exceedingly desirable that persons having large
quantities of hay and corn should divide their stacks as
much as poss ble, and take care that no stack should be
so near a building as to communicate a fire from the one
co the other. We are aware that in many instances where
the premises are confined such a course is not practicable,
but these more frequently occur where the amount of pro-
duce is small. Where the bulk of produce is large, and
consequently the premises extensive, the precaution we
recommend can easily be taken. Being now on the eve
of harvest,lwe venture to make this suggestion as worthy of
consideration.

SHAMEFUL CRUELTY.—At Warwick assizes, George
Wheatcroft was acquitted, and Ann Wheatcroft was found
guilty and sentenced to fifteen years' transportation, for
the manslaughter of German Wheatcroft, aged 8 years.
This case exhibited one of the most detestable and inhu-
man instances of barbarity upon record. The unfortunate
deceased was, it appears, a son of the male prisoner by
his former wife, upon whose death he cohabited with the
female prisoner, lodging at that time in Edgbaston, near
Birmingham, but soon after removing to some low court
in the borough. The witnesses for the prosecution could
not say that the father of the boy bad ever been seen by
them to beat deceased unfairly, but as against the female
prisoner it was proved that her inhuman feeling against
the helpless child exhibited itself by confining him for as
much as three days successively without food, with his
hands and feet corded together, and by beating him when
perfectly naked in a most savage manner with a cane.
The effect of a long continuance of such horrible conduct
was the death of the unhappy object of this wretched
woman's hatred on the 25th of April last, and the public
exposure of her brutality.
FEARFUL MURDERS.—On Tuesday, James Grout, a
labourer, living at Grays, Essex, went to his work, leav-
ing at home his wife and three children—John, aged 6;
Mary Anne, aged 4 ; and James, 2 years. Soon after,
John ran out of the house, exclaiming that his mother
had murdered his brother and sister. A neighbour ran
into the cottage, and, on entering the bedroom upstairs,
found the woman with a bill in her hand covered with
blood, standing at the foot of the bed, and the bodies of
the two children in a dreadfully mangled state, one on
tk,e hod tb ntiac.r ne the finer. The bead of the little
girl was nearly severed from the booty. Inc mother said,
' I have done it myself, I have nobody to blame but my-
' self." The wretched woman was immediately given into
custody, and stated to the constable that she had intended
to murder the elder boy also,' had he not escaped from
her, and then to have destroyed herself. She appears to
be about 40 years old, and has a ghastly expression of
countenance. The poor woman is no doubt in an un-
sound state of mind ; about a fortnight before she at-
tempted suicide, and was only prevented through the
rope breaking which she had attached to a hook in the
kitchen for the purpose of destroying herself.
M. ROGER.—The Athenceum, in noticing the debut of
this celebrated tenor, on the London boards, who is to
appear with Jenny Lind at the approaching grand concert
at the Collegiate Institution, says,—" Tenors of his class
are not so numerous that the coming of a new one can be
briefly passed over. We have, again and again, from
Paris, done honour to the jeune premier of the Oplra
Comique as an excellent singer of sentimental music, and
an actor no less excellent for finish and intelligence. So
highly indeed have we always valued him in his own spe-
cialty as to regard with hesitation any meditated change
of occupation ; being slow to see what is certain and perfect
risked by an artist in the attempt to make his own
fresh fields and pastures new. _ _

The event, however, so far as the success of the Edgardo
establishes the fact, justifies the determination of the
French tenor to be more daring than his " cautioners."
Like most educated voices, M. Rogers's does not lose
penetrating power by being produced in a larger arena
than its old home. It has an evenness and a compass
( being capable of the upper B flat in chest notes) which
render it sufficient for almost any part of the tenor's re-
pertory ; add to this, pliancy such as only comes of careful
study, and attractiveness of quality when the tone is not
forced. A little practice on the Italian stage will convince
M. Roger that he can move his audience at will without
exaggerating his effects and perilling his organ; since as
Lucia proceeded it became obvious that the singer was
becoming more and more at ease, and in proportion sing-
ing with his natural force. M. Roger delivered his recita-
tive like a true dramatic artist. He showed, too, a fine
discrimination of character meriting recognition. In his
version of the part there was as much of passionate long-
hoarded affection as of hate and rage. The famous Male-
diction was delivered as from a heart itself breaking under
the ' mountain of the curse' launched against the false
one. More raging Ravenswoods there have been by the
dozen ; but we do not recollect one in whom the passion
has been so deep. Altogether, M. Rogers's acting was
fine after its French manner. M. Rogers is precisely one
of the artists who can best bear the most searching criti-
cism. Moreover, while he stands before the public of an
Italian opera under peril of comparison, it is fit that it
should be made with full and fair knowledge."
A MYSTERY STRANGELY SOLVED.—The other week
we related the facts of a case in which two men had been
apprehended at Hessle for having in their possession var-
ious articles of clothing, known to be those of a young
man who some time ago was staying at Leeds. This case
has been before the Sculcoates bench of magistrates for
four successive weeks. On Tuesday last, Bateman and
Bunting, the two men who had been detained in cus-
tody. were discharged. It appears that Jonas Edward
Iredale, who represented himself as a clerk to Mr. Led-
gard, of Mirfield, the solicitor who prosecuted M'Cabe
and Reid for the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Wraith and
their servant maid, had lodged at a public-house in Leeds
for about twenty-six weeks. where he represented himself
as having business to do at Dewsbury once a week, for
which he received £1 per day. His appearance and man-
ner being respectable, he became the acknowledged suitor
of one of the daughters of the landlord. At the second
trial of M'Cabe and Reid, he gave evidence against them.
They were convicted. His connection with Mr. Ledgard
immediately ceased, and he went to the north, still con-
tinuing his correspondence with the landlord's daughter,
which suddenly ceased on the 7th July. From subse-
quent inquiries, it appeared that he had left Durham
shortly after writing to Miss —, and had not afterwards
been heard of, until, on the 17th, the prisoners were ap-
prehended at Hessle with a large portion of his wearing
apparel in their possession. It was, of course, supposed
that he had been murdered, and that these men in
probability knew more of his death than they would tell.
The facts, as ultimately elicited, are that Iredale never
was clerk to Mr. Ledgard, but being in York Castle dur-
ing the first imprisonment of M'Cabe and Reid, he was
at the same assizes indicted for forgery, but the bill was
ignored. When M`Cabe and Reid were acquitted, he
went to Mr. Ledgard, and told him that he had in prison
overheard a conversation between M'Cabe and Reid,
which went to prove their guilt. Upon this information
they were re-taken, and again committed. Iredale repre-
sented himself as being upon the point of proceeding to
America. To secure his attendance at the trial, he was
allowed £1 per week to live upon until the assizes. This
he received at Dewsbury, and the receiving of it was his
only business there. Of course his connexion with Mr.
Ledgard ceased at the trial, but he represented himself to
the young lady as having obtained employment which
yielded him £3 per day. At the time when he suddenly
disappeared, he fell in with Bateman, and proposed to him.'
to go and break into the country house of a banker, ngt
far from Newcastle. Iredale, who had left his carpet-liag
in care of Bateman, actually got into the house. Bateman's
heart failed him, and he ran away, took the carpet-bag,
and came down to Hull in a steamer, on board of which
he met with Bunting. The suitor, the supposed lawyer's
clerk, and the man supposed to be murdered, is then at
large, and is declared to be a burglar.—Hull Advertiser.

The John Bull announces the demise of a new publica-
tion entitled " Politics for the People," after three
months' trial, the principal contributors having been :
" The erudite and thoughtful Maurice, of King's College ;
Chenevix Trench, his friend; Kingsley, the sweet singer
of the Maid's Tragedy ; S. G. 0., the eloquent defender
of the claims of the poor in the columns of the Times;
Connington, the accomplished and deeply-reflective au-
thor of ' Essays in the intervals of business ;' Bellenden
Kerr, Doctor Guy, of sanitary renown, and one whose
name we know not if we are at liberty to mention, al-
though the students of logic, glancing to the Episcopal
bench, will have no difficulty in guessing it."
THE BALLOON RACE FROM CREMORNE.—After a most
interesting and exciting aereal contest, the adventurous
voyagers, Lieutenant Gale and Mr. Gypson, with their
companions, in the Royal Cremorne and Royal Albert
balloons, effected a safe descent within a short distance of
each other. the former in Wansted-park, the seat of the
Earl of Mornington, and the latter at Andry Hatch, near
Romford, about 16 miles from town. The start took
place from the gardens at about half-past seven o'clock on
Wednesday, and a more beautiful ascent has seldom or
never been witnessed. The wind was blowing from the
south-west, and the balloons consequently took a north-
easterly direction. Mr. Gypson at first attained the great-
est altitude (about a mile and a half), but the lieutenant
subsequently soared higher. Over the Strand, St. Paul's,
and Cheapside, the balloons were stationary for some time,
and it was only on descending into an under current that
they bore away from the city into the suburban districts
in the east. In the neighbourhoood of the Victoria Park
the Royal Albert was lowered to within 1,500 yards of the
earth. Here some thousands of persons had assembled to
receive Mr. Gypson and his companions, but that gentle-
man would not hazard a descent amongst such a crowd,
and, throwing out ballast, rapidly ascended, till he at-
tained an immense altitute, where he and his friends be-
came exceedingly cold, even to a shivering sensation, and
as their breath passed from them it was as plainly seen as
if it had been the month of December. They then com-
menced their final descent, and landed at the place above
mentioned at about half-past eight o'clock. Mr. Gypson
arrived in town at about half-past one o'clock on the fol-
lowing morning. The lieutenant who was the first to de-
scend, estimates that, at one period, he attained an alti-
tude of at least two miles and a half. The parties from
each of the cars frequently exchanged friendly salutes, and
distinctly heard the echo of their voices.

ENLIGHTENED JURIES.-At the Oxford Assizes, last
week, the first case in the list was an action for goods sold
and delivered, as to which there was no defence. At the
close of the case his lordship briefly stated the facts, and
directed the inn, to find for the plaintiff' ThPy
anti hesitated! tor some time, till at length his lordship
told them again, the plaintiff's case was proved, and the
defendant did not appear to offer any resistance, and there-
fore they ought to find for the plaintiff, when they, with
some reluctance, returned a verdict accordingly. The
second case was on a promissory note. There was no
defence, and they were again told to find for the plaintiff;
however, they hesitated, and when at length they were
pressed for a decision the foreman turned round and
created some merriment in court by saying, " The jury
gives it in, he must pay £23 2s. 4d, ' This happened to
be the amount claimed. The next case was an action of
ejectment. The counsel for the plaintiff, Mr. Whately
and Mr. Phipson, having closed their case, Mr. Sergeant
Talfourd, who had watched the case for the defendants,
admitted that the plaintiff's case was fully made out, and
that he had no answer to it. His lordship thereupon
summed up, telling them to find for the plaintiff ; they
deliberates. for a quarter of an hour, and then, on being
told if they had any difficulty they might retire, and
hearing the officer sworn to "them safely guard and keep
without meat, drink, or fire" (for the term, as they pro-
bably thought, of their natural lives), the foreman came to
their rescue by saying, "The jury agrees, that it should
be left to three referees, because we knows nothing about
it." Baron Platt : Gentlemen, you have no iiliwer to
refer it. You must decide it yourselves. They again de-
liberated for a few minutes, and at last resolved the diffi-
culty, the foreman enunciating as the result of their
cogitations, "The puny, my lord, recovers his property."
This was accepted as a verdict for the plaintiff, and they
were allowed to retire from the box to make room for
twelve others.

MISERIES OF THE POOR LAW.—The guardians of the
unions would in many instances be more lenient to the
poor but for the restrictions placed on them. The laws
of the Medes and Persians tie their hands. The man with
seven children and 93. a-week must drag them ell into the
union workhouse, to the perdition of both body and soul.
The board may not give him a few shillings to tide hull
over a temporary embarrassment to fit his child out for
service. A poor woman receives an order for the work-
house ten miles off, and the relieving officer gives her half
a loaf that she faint not by the way. It is contrary to
the law. A man leaves the workhouse with a dozen miles
before him before he can get under cover, with the more
distant and precarious prospect of a meal. The gover-
nor gives him a viaticum in the shape of a loaf. It is un-
lawful. The invalid mother of a large family can no
longer look after her children, and they are running wild.
For a week or two the guardians make an allowance for a
nurse. It must not be. A friendless girl, who has been
servant of all-work on short commons and no wages,
loses her place, and seeks for a little help. In order to spare
her the contamination of the women's ward she is allowed
a few shillings. Wrong again. Others are ju-t strong
enough, or wise enough, or respectable enough to get on
with an occasional lift. Lifts are specially prohibited.
The bit of mutton given once in a way to the squalid
stonebreaker, night's food and lodging ordered for the
vagrant who was thought to have the fever, and therefore
not admitted in the workhouse, and all sorts of casual aid
over 11111.1 WAY
receives a hint from the Commission that the board is in
open rebellion, and to make an example strikes out every
one of these items. Somebody, of course, must pay for
them. The relieving officer cannot, so it falls on the
purses of one or two liberal guardians. The present bill,
by way of sop, provides for the payment, under certain
conditions, of the items hitherto disallowed ; but,it is
system, not this or that particular payment, we are con-
cerned with.—Times.

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.—At Cardigan
Assizes, Miss Mary Saunders, daughter of the late Rev.
J. Saunders, Vicar of Llantrissent and Llanhowell, ob-
tained a verdict of £lOO damages against the Rev. P. B.
Harries, Rector of the parish of Corby, near Rockingham,
for a breach of promise of marriage, contracted under the
following circumstances :—The defendant, being impaired
in health, had been residing at Aberystwith for the last
ten years. For the same reason the plaintiff repaired to
the town last summer, in company with two female
friends, one of whom, named Miss Jones, Mr. Harries
stopped in the street, and asked for an introduction to the
plaintiff, as he had been struck by her appearance. This
was refused, and he then wrote a note to the lady her-
self, who was, however, still coy, and took no notice of it;
but the defendant still persevered, and made daily visits
till he was accepted, having, after several rebuffs, made a
formal proposal in a very business-like love-letter, lauding
the lady's charms, and stating the income of the love-sick
swain in pretty nearly the same sentence. Still the mar-
riage day was postponed at the request of the intended
bride, the defendant having been a widower little more
than a twelvemonth, when, after the most urgent pressing,
the sth of April was fixed for the ceremony, and all things
placed in a state of forwardness. But on the 26th of Fe-
bruary, the defendant's love grew suddenly cold, and on
that morning he called at Miss Saunder's lodgings, and
brought with him an anonymous letter, which, he said,
charged the plaintiff with being in debt, that she was a
drunkard, and that she was old and ugly, and acting on
that letter, without any inquiry, he rushed out of the
room, snatching with unmanly grasp some presents he
gave her, consisting of a gold watch, and a thermometer,
and which he put in his pocket, and then made his exit.
The evidence bore out the statement of the counsel, and
but little was elicited in cross-examination. The witnesses
denied that the lady was a drunkard, but one admitted she
was in the habit of taking a little brandy and water after
dinner. Another stated that the defendant had told him
that he broke off the match because he thought the lady
was rich, but found out on the contrary she was much in
debt. For the defence it was urged that the defendant
was eccentric, and afflicted with the St. Vitus's dance.
The jury, after twenty minutes' consultation returned the
above verdict. The damages were originally laid at
£l,OOO.
TERRIBLE FIRES AND Loss OF LlFE.—Monday night
the metropolis was visited by two dreadful fires, which in
a very short period laid in ruins a vast amount of valuable
property, and deprived one person of life. The first broke
out upon the premises belonging to Mr. Loton, a Berlin
wool-dealer, situate in Albany-street, Regent's Park,
next door to the Windsor Castle Tavern. The second
disaster occurred upon premises belonging to the Rev.
Dr. Dale, in Amen-corner, Paternoster-row. The cir-
cumstances connected with the first fire were of a very
distressing character. It appears that shortly after the
shop was closed the inhabitants were aroused from their
slumbers by a noise resembling the discharge of a piece
of ordnance, and at the same time the greater portion of
Mr. Loton's premises which were four stories high, were
blown into the street, the floorings and roof were rifted
into the air, the brick wall was demolished and sent flying
in sundry directions, breaking in the shop-fronts of at
least a dozen houses on the opposite side of the street,
seriously injuring a great number in Ernest-street, forcing
in the windows of the Windsor Castle Tavern ; and at
the same moment, as if by magic, the whole of Mr.
Loton's premises remaining burst forth into a general
blaze. Notwithstanding the exertions of the firemen,
however, the flames continued to progress most fearfully,
and it was not until nearly one o'clock in the morning—
three hours after the outbreak—that they were entirely
extinguished. The origin of this calamity is not precisely
known, but the prevailing opinion is that it was caused by
an escape of gas. Three persons were in Mr. Loton's
house, when the explosion occurred ; one, a young girl,
about 16 years of age, a servant in the establishment, was
blown through the shop-front on to the opposite side of
the street ; she was found dreadfully mangled, her head
being shattered and her face burnt ; she was forthwith
removed to the police-station, where she was seen by a
surgeon, who at once pronounced life extinct. Two other
persons, a man and a woman, were also forced by the
power of the explosion into the street, and were so seri-
ously injured as to be obliged to be removed to the hos-
pital. The number of persons who have suffered by this
disastrous event cannot be less than 20.—The second fire
broke out shortly after 12 at night in the upper part of
Dr. Dale's residence. It was first seen by a gentleman
named Stiff, who forthwith gave the necessary alarm to
the police. The flames at that period appeared to be
legging on the second floor, but shortly afterwards they
penetrated the third floor, and bursting through the win-
dows they illuminated the city for some distance. For-
tunately, the whole of the inmates succeeded in effecting
a safe retreat from the blazing premises, although there
was some difficulty in removing a lady ho had recently
been confined. The firemen were enabled to get the
flames subdued by half-past one o'clock, but not until a
serious amount of property was destroyed. How the
calamity took place is unknown.