60 THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Jan. 28, 
to France, to different parts of England, and other places 
—in short, wherever I go. The system they have pursued 
towards me was such that I could go no longer. I believe 
I have been driven into a consumption by them. I believe 
I shall never be the same individual again that I was be- 
fore. Iused to have good health and strength. They 
have accused me of crimes of which I was never guilty. 
They have done everything in their power to harass my 
mind and to persecute me; and, in fact, to murder me. 
That is all I have to say at present, and it can be sup- 
ported by evidence.’”” The prisoner here paused. The 
magistrate then asked, ‘‘Have you anything more to 
say ?’’—Prisoner : ‘‘ Only that they completely disordered 
my mind. I am quite a different man from what I used 
to be before they Pp i 
was then conveyed to Tothill-fields Prison, and from the 
above remarks and other circumstances which have oc- 
curred in the prison, there is little doubt that he intends 
to plead insanity. On Monday, several medical men of 
eminence connected with the various lunatic asylums of 
the Metropolis, amongst whom were Drs. Monro and 
Sutherland, visited the prisoner, for the purpose of ascer- 
taining whether he suffered from aberration of mind. The 
result of their interview was the unanimous conviction 
that the statement of the prisoner was a premeditated 
one, and that there is no mental derangement whatever. 
—The inquest on the body of Mr. Drummond took place 
on Thursday, Mr. Maule, Solicitor to the Treasury, ap- 
pearing on the part of the Crown as prosecutor. The 
evidence consisted in the accounts of the policeman, anda 
man called Hodge, a carpenter, who saw M’Naghten 
fire, and in the testimony of Mr. Guthrie, the surgeon. 
The latter put in a written account of the post mortem 
examination, stating that the ball in its transit passed 
directly through the abdomen, perforating the diaphragm, 
and producing a large effusion of blood ; and that the sur- 
geons considered such a wound to be inevitably fatal. The 
jury returned a verdict of ‘‘ Wilful Murder” against Daniel 
M’Naghten, and the coroner issued his warrant for the 
committal of the prisoner to Newgate. The belief that 
the shot was intended for Sir R. Peel becomes more and 
more general, and would seem to be borne out by the whole 
circumstances of the case. Mr. Drummond was about 
the same stature and stoutness as Sir R. Peel, but had a 
more active and elastic gait. There was no resemblance 
of features ; but he was necessarily a frequent inmate at 
the Premier’s house, and had just parted with Sir Robert’s 
children when he met with his untimely fate. It is said, 
indeed, that Sir R. Peel has now no doubt that Mr. Drum- 
mond received a blow which was intended for him. 
The Wreck of the Conqueror.—The following particu- 
lars have been obtained since our last from the boy 
Abchurch, the only survivor of this melancholy catas- 
x 
o 
letter to the owners, both of which came on shore quite 
dry, although the body of the captain himself has not 
been found. No doubt is entertained at Boulogne, that 
when the captain was thrown on the shore, these things 
were taken out of his pocket by some individuals, who 
afterwards stowed away his body in the sand. It is sup- 
posed that many were not dead when they reached the 
shore, and might have been recovered by proper treat- 
ment. It is admitted that very little assistance was ren- 
dered to any of them, with the exception of the boy 
Abchurch, who was taken to the Lighthouse and properly 
attended to. A strong opinion has long been expressed 
by nautical men with reference to the neglected condition 
of this dangerous coast, which the recent sacrifice of life 
will tend to strengthen ; and it is hoped that the Govern- 
ments of other countries will now interfere, and either 
erect new Lighthouses, or provide life-boats along the 
shore. On Wednesday a meeting of the merchants and 
shipowners of London took place at the Universal Hall 
of Commerce, in Threadneedle-street, for the purpose of 
taking into consideration the most advisable plan of relief 
for the widows and children of the seamen lost by the 
wreck‘of the Reliance and Conqueror in the late gales, 
Sir John Pirie presided, and stated that a concert had 
been proposed as the most eligible mode of raising a fund 
for their relief, and that Mr. Moxhay, the proprietor of 
the Hall of Commerce, had, upon being applied to on the 
subject of lending the building to the purposes of the 
charity, declared that he would, without the charge of one 
farthing, not only dedicate the great room to the accomo-~ 
dation of an audience, but light it up with gas, and fit it 
out with seats at his own expense. On the motion of 
Lord Dudley Stuart, the thanks of the meeting were given 
to Mr. Moxhay, and a committee was appointed to make 
arrangements for the concert without delay. 
Iliness of Sir George Cockburn.—We regret to state 
that Sir George Cockburn, one of the Lords of the 
Admiralty, burst a blood-vessel in the lungs on Saturday, 
and was for some time in a precarious state. On Tuesday, 
however, the hemorrhage had nearly ceased, and the 
bulletins since issued at the Admiralty announce that, 
although still suffering from cough, he is proceeding 
favourably. 
Income Tax in the City.—Our readers are aware of 
the excitement which has prevailed for some time in the 
ward of Tower on the subject of the income-tax, and that 
the dissatisfaction produced by the numerous cases of 
surcharge led to a public meeting and the appointment of 
a committee to inquire into the circumstances. The in- 
habitants of the district were again called together last 
week for the purpose of learning the result of this inves- 
tigation. After a long statement by Mr. Shearman of the 
dings of the i in submitting a memorial 
trophe:—It appears that they saw the French coast on 
Thursday night, having made the Lizard light on Monday. 
The sea was very boisterous on Wednesday and Thursday, 
and the captain did not appear to have much faith in the 
skill of the fisherman, who had been taken on board off 
Torbay, to steer the ship through the Channel. Abchurch 
says the ship struck about ten at night. The captain went 
into the cabin, and informed the ladies and the other 
passengers that they were on the French coast, where no 
boats were likely to put off to their aid, nor any other 
assistance could be afforded, and that they must trust to 
Providence for protection. During the night the men be- 
haved remarkably well, and obeyed every order given by 
the officers with great fortitude. The ship held together 
until nearly five o’clock on Saturday morning, when her 
bottom timbers began to give way. Captain Duggan now 
went down into the cabin and told the ladies that it was 
all over, and that he would see them put into the boat, 
and perhaps they might reach the shore. At this time 
Mrs. Thompson was dressed, and sitting by the side of her 
children’s cot; Miss Turton and the other ladies were 
also dressed. About nine the vessel broke up, and although 
greatly alarmed, the ladies got safely on the deck; and 
Capt. Duggan and Mr. Rogers, the surgeon, handed them 
into the boat, which was suspended from the side of the 
vessel by the “falls.” In consequence of the tackle being 
entangled, the boat could not be lowered in the usual way, 
and the lines being cut, it dropped into the sea. Abchurch 
and another boy were the only sailors in the boat, and the 
former states that the whole of the ladies kept their seats 
firmly, while they endeavoured to pull towards the shore. 
The sea at this time washed the deck of the vessel, and 
the communication between the fore and aft decks was 
almost entirely cut off. The boat had not left the ship 
more than three minutes before it was struck by a wave 
and capsized. The whole of the passengers were thrown 
out, and Abchurch alone, with one of Mrs. Thompson’s 
children, regained the boat. Abchurch recollects nothing 
more after this period, except being again washed into the 
sea, and again reaching the boat. ; In addition to these 
facts, a French gentleman, M. Dupont, who went down to 
the Sands soon after the boat left the ship, has made 
known some facts, which leave little doubt that many of 
the passengers and crew were plundered by the people of 
the coast. The boy Abchurch states that all the passengers 
in the boat were fully dressed, whereas M. Dupont found 
most of them stripped. He also states that when he ar- 
rived on the Sands, he saw Miss Turton expire, and that 
she had evidently been plundered. The body of Captain 
Duggan has not yet been recovered, and there is reason 
to fear that he, like Miss Turton, met with some foul 
treatment, and that his body was afterwards buried in the 
sand, ‘This surmise appears to be strengthened by the 
fact, that some articles which are known to have belonged 
to that gentleman have been recovered from different 
parties. A bill has been recovered for 145/., endorsed by 
Capt. Duggan only the day before the wreck, and also a 
to Government, a Jetter was read from the Chancellor of 
the Exchequer, regretting that any proceedings should have 
taken place in assessing the Tower Ward calculated to give 
rise to complaints on the part of the inhabitants, but stating 
that on reference to the act, imposing the property-tax, 
“he did not find that the Government possesses any power. 
either of themselves, or by direction to the commissioners, 
to quash an assessment made and allowed, as this had 
been, by competent authority. The only mode of relief 
appointed by law for persons aggrieved by an improper 
assessment, is an appeal to the general commissioners.” 
After a long discussion, it was resolved —‘‘ That it is the 
opinion of this meeting, that the duties of Government 
surveyor and local assessor, under the Property and In- 
come-tax Act, are not sufficiently defined ; that an indis- 
tinct combination of duties thrown upon officers appointed 
y, and amenable to, two separate authorities, renders 
such officers virtually irresponsible for their acts; that 
this gives the possession of uncontrolled power, which 
under any ci is objectionable, but which be- 
comes intolerable when exercised by those who are em- 
ployed in carrying out the difficult provisions of the Pro- 
perty and Income-tax Act; that, therefore, according to 
the present construction of this act, there is no clear and 
immejiate remedy for the neglect or misconduct of these 
officers, and acts of injustice and arrogance can thus be 
perpetrated, as in the case of this ward, for which the right 
of appeal affords no adequate redress.” 
Court of Aldermen.—A Committee of the whole Court 
met on Saturday for the purpose of determining whether 
certain documents referred to in the affidavit, but not 
filed in the proceeding in the Court-of Queen’s Bench, 
in the case of Alderman T. Wood, ought to be printed 
with the affidavits. A long discussion took place, in 
which some of the Aldermen expressed an opinion that 
as these documents were referred to in the affidavits of the 
parties, they were necessary to elucidate the matter, and 
ought to be printed. Alderman Musgrove was of opinion 
that the committee ought to be put in possession of all 
papers bearing upon the case, and it was probable that the 
exhibits were referred to in such a manner as to render 
the printing of them indispensable. He believed that 
justice required the printing of the exhibits, and after 
disclaiming all idea of prejudicing Alderman Thomas 
Wood, he submitted an amendment to that effect. The 
resolution of Sir Peter Laurie, “ That the affidavits should 
be printed without the exhibits,” was adopted, six hands 
having been held up for the motion, and three for the 
amendment. Alderman Thomas Wood then announced 
that in the future stages of the case, he should be attended 
by Mr. Laurie, the City pleader, and Mr. Wire as his 
counsel and solicitor. 
City Improvements.—At the meeting of the Court of 
Common Council last week, Mr. R. L. Jones, in bringing 
up a report relative to the new street from Holborn Bridge 
to Clerkenwell, said that if the construction of the new 
street depended upon the corporation alone, it would have 
been accomplished long ago; but without the consent of 
Government, by whom alone the delay was occasioned, 
the very desirable object of the corporation could not be 
effected. He believed that every difficulty would speedily 
be removed, and the moment the sanction of Government 
was obtained, it would be seen that the City authorities 
were not fairly chargeable with neglect or supineness.— 
The report of the Royal Exchange Committee alluded to 
the selection of Mr. Richard Westmacott to execute the 
sculpture for the tympanum of the portico, at an expense 
not exceeding 3,150/., and stated that the committee felt 
gratification at seeing the satisfactory progress which had 
been made in the new building during the last year. 
Metropolitan Charities.—The Quarterly Court of the 
Seamen’s Hospital, established for the relief of sick and dis- 
eased seamen, on board Her Majesty’s ship Dreadnought, 
was held last week. Rear-Admiral Young inthe chair. The 
committee reported that, during the past quarter, 926 in- 
patients had been received into the hospital, of which 
number 704 had been discharged cured, leaving 222 still 
under treatment; 507 out-patients had likewise been re- 
lieved. These operations, however, left the society in debt 
to the amount of 4417. Typhus fever had prevailed to a 
great extent amongst the mariners frequenting the port of 
London. Many of the natives of the South Sea Islands had 
fallen victims to consumption, whilst among the Lascars 
and the natives from the Marquesas islands great mor- 
tality had prevailed. Since the first establishment of the 
institution, in 1821, 43,541 in-patients had been admitted, 
and advice, medicine, and medical stores dispensed to 
16,834 out-patients.—On Monday the annual meeting of 
the London Orphan Asylum took place, when 8 girls and 
17 boys were elected from a list of 135 candidates. The 
Rev. Dr. Read read the report, from which it appeared 
that 54 children had left the asylum during the year, and 
that at the close of the election the number in the insti- 
tution would be 389, for which the size of the building 
as inadequate, ani i regretted that the sub- 
scription for its enlargement, called the Wellington fund, 
had made so little progress, there being two-thirds still 
wanting. The legacies and subscriptions for the year 
ending the 3lst December, amounted to 10,6397. 14. 2d., 
which, after the expenditure, left a balance in hand of 
4501, 8s. 10d. The funded capital was about 46,0002. 
Wood Pavement.—We alluded in our last to the oppo- 
sition shown by the Court of Aldermen to the use of 
wood pavement in the City. On Tuesday, one of the 
Sergeants of Police, who had been appointed to take an 
account of the accidents which occurred in the Poultry, 
attended at Guildhall with his report. It appeared from 
this that the number of horses that fell on the wood pave- 
ment in the Poultry on Friday evening, the 20th, between 5 
and half-past 6, was 5 ; on Saturday, from half-past 9 in the 
morning tothe same hour at night, 3; on Sunday, from 2 
to 8, p.M., 4; on Monday, from 8, A.M., to half-past 7, 
p.M., 7; total, 19 horses. Sir P. Laurie observed, that 
it appeared from this report, that between Friday evening 
and Monday evening, there being no frost in the interval, 
as many as 19 horses had fallen down on that short piece 
of wood pavement. He asked the Sergeant if some acci- 
dent had not happened to one of the mails on that spot? 
The Sergeant said it was the Norwich mail ; it was delayed 
half-an-hour by the circumstance, and all the horses were 
thrown down. When it was raining fast, or when the 
pavement was quite dry, the horses kept their footing ; but 
at other times so great was the danger, that the butchers 
frequently drove down Bucklersbury to avoid the wood 
pavement in the Poultry. Sir P. Laurie said, the dis- 
mounting of the regiment of Life Guards in Argyle-street 
to cross Oxford-street, and remounting as soon as they 
had crossed, was proof of the danger to the most experi- 
enced horsemen. The Animals’ Friend Society, and the 
kindred associations, would do more good by collecting 
facts on the mischief of adopting the wood pavement than 
by hunting after the cases they usually brought before the 
magistrates. A gentleman referred to the danger of 
crossing from Cheapside to St. Paul’s Churchyard ; since 
the east end of the yard had been paved with wood, light 
vehicles now came without noise and in the dark upon the 
persons crossing, Sir P. Laurie said the wood pavement 
could not be used at all upon declivities such as Holborn- 
bridge and Blackfriars bridge. e had no greater pecu- 
niary interest in promoting the use of granite pavement 
than of wooden pavement ; he had no interest in either ; 
and if any accident were to happen to a horse belonging to 
him from travelling over the wood pavement, he would 
bring an action against the parish authorities who caused 
it to be laid down ; for he would maintain that nobody 
had a right to make the public highway impassable. Even 
a shopkeeper, he thought, might sustain an action for the 
damage he sustained by rendering his premises unap- 
proachable with safety by customers who rode on horse- 
back, or who kept valuable carriage-horses. He directed 
the officers to continue to register the accidents. 
The Scottish Monument.—On Saturday the Marylebone 
vestry assembled to take into consideration the commu- 
nication from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests 
in reference to the erection of the column in the Regent- 
circus, alleging that the ground was the freehold property 
of her.Majesty, and announcing that, if the vestry at- 
tempted to carry the resolution into effect, an injunction 
would be issued in the Court of Chancery. Mr. Gomm 
remarked that the vestry had placed themselves in a most 
pitiable situation, When the question was first intro- 
duced, they were told that they had not power to proceed 
with the column, when they observed they did not care 
for legal advice, nor the Attorney-General’s opinion. 
Now they were dumb-founded. The present; result 
was the triumph of common sense, which was not 
a 
a quality, he was very sorry to say, very common in 
