Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-01-23
Affairs in England.

Extract from Letter fromL ndon, dated,
Dec l3, 1850, to the National Era.
A dinner was given. last week, by the inhab-
itanls Of Southamptpn, 10 the nle.nter fnr
Montrose," the honest unhlnchn Joseph Hume.
He took occasion, after dinner, to recuptulato
some Of his early history, aud to state MS CON-
victions. arrived at years ago, in reference to e.
conomy and reform.
There is no man in England with such stub
born will, as Joseph Hume Born Of humble
pirentage, by his undaunted courage, he achlev-
ed for himself large fortune and instead OF
deserving his own order, be con'ecraiei his tai
ents and energies to the Cause of the people,
He is by no means a man Of brilliant paris, but
his strong comm N sense al d iron energy ac"
conpllsh more than mere errdtlc genius or tall
ents.
He is the only fhan in Eng and who can bear 10
be laughed a, by tile wis and critics, and yet
preserve his humor lie is perfectly ctse-hlrd'
aned IN this respect; and i is now WILL under-
stood That he Cannot be laughed ont o anything,
for he cares not u fl : for ridcule. SO in tho
house uf commons, Joseph Hume is never cough
ed nor cried down. Years ago the thing was
attempted, but it was soon discovered mt the
member Tor M1ntrdse was not made of common
stuff He ,cou'd be- heald; AMI 'he Hldse
cried him down, h. quietly folded his arms on
breast, always keeping the lrpr until 1t WIS
qnet again. His st ady Scotch economy has
caused mlny of the arstocratlc spen1thriftS in
the House to insult and lidicue him, but all to
no purpose whatever
The dinner at Southlnpton went off happily,
the speeches mlde we're all ref1rlntory. s. Mr..
Iiu ne'S vas, lhnI Ih leIglhy, Of great interest.
Those persons who nave read Chlrles Dick
ems Cd Curiosity Shop" will remember The
ceebrat ID limbs Of the Law" therein j scrlbed
uuoer names Of Mr.. g. Sally Brass, and the
poor little girl whom they aIn'st starved to
death Dick Swivpler's M rchoress." Ma.
ny, without doubt, thought ,he chlrlcters over
dawn; but a case came before the Police Court
at Guildhall, on Monday last, which in its terri
bic truth puts to shame all fictlnn.
A lawyer and his wife, fgoll standing and
wealth, and practicmg in one otthe courts, were
charged with starving al noskto dca'h servant
girl in their employ. the facts cheated from
the witnesses were some of them too horrible To
relate and the Judge rcmirked that he scarce
y felt strength to 60 On much further tnat day
with the sickening details 1t was proved that
the pool grl-thiIe the lawyer and wife were
eating their roast beef and steaks--vas denied
anything but tufe Of bre I'd and some mustard {;
and this diet was continued, day after dty, un-
Ill she got so poor that her bones almost wore
through her skin, and she could scarcely walk.
She was most cruelty betten, and was forced by
her inhuman master g. mistress TO tell every ono
who asked, that she had plenty to eIt and was
happy. The physician who was called to attend
The girl. testified there was no sickness, nothing
W tly " II tfod Ind reduced her to such a
feeble and dangerous state. AT a ce'tam stage
i'll the proceedings, the girl was borne into court
upon pillows and was sworn. She was white
as a corpse, and gave her testimony in whispers,
and when ii was repeated by h. Judge, who
bent his ear down close to her lips, a thrill of
horror ran through the crowd in attendance. 1t
seemed impossible th1t such things could take
place in the heart of London, and in the family
of one whose position was far above d" the COM
mon herd"
In a llttlo While the girl ceased To Whisper