Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-03-26
EVENING STAR.
A Newell Affair.
From the London News, March III

From the London News, March III
Soon after midnight on Monday . syssial
ssptional errand. More than hundred skilled
workmen and laborere, mars hailed by gtugers.
contractors and agents, took their seat in IL In
orderly ashton, but with mysterious aud de-
termined air, az il some more than usually
weghty business were on hand One carriage
was devoted 10 stout tools and implements,
and the train, thus freightea, reached Tring 90
yesterday morning. A procession was formed
Al the station-each man shouldering a crow
bar or other implement-and a compact pba-
lanx, one hundred and twenty strosg, marched
out, two and two, into the moonlight A walk
of three miles brought them to the side OF Berk-
hampstead Common, nearest 10 Ashridgepark
the seat Of Earl Brow nlow; ard the objects OF
me eIPedinon were then first made known to
the rank and file.
The greater portion of this common occupy.
ing space some two miles in length and from
hreSquarters OF mile to a mile and half
broad, was Inclosed fortnight ago by Earl
Brownlow; and we learn that Mr. Augustus
Smith, of the Scilly Islands, as the owner of
an estate near, and therefore as a commoner,
acting IN concert with his neighbors. had de-
termined TO test his lordships right 10 this
course in very practical way. The whole OF
tne IRON railing, consisting Of stout"upright It's,
nye feet high, and with broad metal bands at
close intervals between each, were TO be thrown
down before daylight, Mr.. Smith and the COM
moners taking all responsibility, chartering lie
train and engaging the men. These last were
told off in detachments, a dozen strong; the
substantial joints OF the ratings were first
1oosed by hammers and chissels, and the crow
bars did the rest. Before six O'Clock yesterday
morning the W hole of the inclosure was leveied
to the ground; each stout upright having the
metal bands, it tributaries, first neatly folded
round Ii, and then laid upon the turf il had
recently served to close in.
1t was O'Clock before the alarm was given;
and by the time Mr.. Paxton. the late Sir Jos
PaIton's brother, and Earl Brownlow's stew
ard appeared upon the scene, Berkhamp-
stead Common was enclosed no longer. 1t
was too late TO do more than protest against the
alleged trespass; and this was energetically
done. Meanwhile the news spread, aud the
inhabitants of the adjacent village and district
hocked upon the scene. In carriages, gigs.
dog carts and on foot, gentry, shopkeepers,
busbandmen, women and children, at once
tested the reality of what they saw by stroIling
over snd squatting on the Common, and cut
ting and taking away morsels of gorss, to
prove, as they said, esthe place was their own
again" The cost of the three miles of iron
railing removed is said to have been more than
thousand pounds; and that of its removal
must have been considerable. Whatever may
be the result of this daring return to what is
called 'iold constitutional form" and however
lt may be viewed by the legal authorities be-
fore whom IL will be speedily brought, it must
be regarded as one of the most decided and
vigorous protests against alleged usurpation
which have occurred in our prosaie, peaceful
and order-loying times.