1843.] 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE. 149 
House of Correction.—On Monday evening, Mr. Wak- 
ley held an inquest in the House of Correction, adjourned 
for the fourth time, on the body of a prisoner called Doyle. 
It appears that on the 15th ult., Mr. Wakley held two 
inquests in the prison on the bodies of deceased prisoners. 
In the case of the first no suspicion was excited of impro- 
per treatment, and the jury returned a verdict of “ Na- 
tural death.”” With respect to Doyle the inquiry assumed 
an opposite complexion, in consequence of a witness stat- 
ing his belief that Doyle had been neglected (medically) 
in the prison, and made to work in an unfit state. The 
coroner, on the J5th, did not think it right to examine the 
witness at length in the absence of Mr. Wakefield, the 
prison surgeon, and advised the adjournment of the in- 
quiry to the 20th inst., in order that Mr. Wakefield might 
be present, and that Dr. Quain, house-physician of the 
University College Hospital, and Mr. Erasmus Wilson, 
Jecturer on anatomy at the Middlesex Hospital, might ex- 
amine the body. At these adjourned meetings, witnesses 
were examined who proved that the prisoner was suffering 
under a fatal malady, and that he required careful treat- 
ment and a nutritious diet. On Monday, the jury returned 
a verdict that deceased was ill from the 6th Nov. to the 
11th Feb., on which day, for the first time, he was treated 
by the medical officer, adding, ‘‘ that they could not sepa- 
rate without expressing their opinion that the deceased 
had not that proper treatment from the warders and me- 
dical officer that the nature of his case required.” The 
jury desired it to be understood that they exonerated the 
governor of the prison from any blame. Mr. Wakefield 
wished to be informed if the verdict was an imputation 
on his character, and ultimately declared his intention of 
taking the case into the Court of Queen’s Bench to set 
it aside.—Another inquest was held on Wednesday, on a 
deceased prisoner, a market-gardener, called Tickner, who 
had been sentenced to 21 days’ imprisonment for having 
in his possession two heads of seakale, the property of Mr. 
G. Bagley, of Kensington, without being able to give a 
proper account of them. It was proved that he was in 
bad health when admitted, but was immediately sent to the 
treadmill. After a long inquiry the jury returned a ver- 
dict, ‘‘ That deceased died a natural death,” accompanying 
it with an expression of their regret that, considering the 
known condition of deceased on his admission, as the sur- 
geon’s book testified, he was put to labour on the tread- 
wheel, for which labour he was totally unfit; and added 
that they trusted the governor would convey to Mr. Wake- 
field, the surgeon, a statement to this effect. 
The Russia Company.—On Wednesday evening the 
Russia Company gave their annual dioner at the London 
Tavern. Mr. Astell, M.P., in the chair. The chief event 
of the meeting was the speech of Baron Brunow, the 
Russian Ambassador, who adverted to the treaty of com- 
merce lately concluded with this country. When, a few 
years ago, he had first the honour of addressing the Russia 
Company; under circumstances of great difficulty, when 
great anxiety prevailed in the public mind respecting the 
affairs of the Levant, he did not hesitate to tell them, that, 
owing to the good understanding and concert happily esta- 
blished between Great Britain and Russia, he was confident 
the general peace would be maintained. The general peace 
had been maintained, and they continued to enjoy the benefit 
of that state of general tranquillity in which thegreat Powers 
of Europe had a concurrent interest, and which it was 
their mutual desire to consolidate and maintain. In regard 
to the new treaty he might be permitted to add, when he 
remembered that during half a century no commercial 
treaty whatever had existed between Great Britain and 
Russia—when he considered that during that long period 
many conventions had been concluded for the purpose of 
war, and that this was the first for giving 
tricts, 222. Total, 921;%( 422 males, 499 females.) 
Weekly average for the last five years, 903, (461 males, 
442 females,) and for the last five winters, 1004. 
WProbinctal Netvs. 
Carmarthen. — On Monday, the 12th ult., a large 
meeting of the magistrates and farmers of the neighbour~ 
hood was held at St. Clear’s, the scene where'the outrages 
of ‘* Rebecca and her daughters” first broke out, when 
the former addressed the farmers on the folly of their 
proceedings, and pointed out the serious consequences 
likely to result to themselves from persevering in such a 
course, particularly in the increased amount of county 
stock they would have to pay to the police and 
yeomanry. This apparently produced its effect, and about 
50 farmers voluntarily came forward and were sworn as 
special constables to preserve the peace; and the yeo- 
manry were sent home that evening. On the same night, 
however, a mob assembled and destroyed the toll-house 
and gate at Irevaughan, in the county of Pembroke, about 
six miles below St. Clear’s. From information obtained 
by the police, two persons were apprehended on Sunday, 
charged with being principals in this outrage ; and after a 
lengthened examination they have been committed upon 
very clear evidence to take their trials at the next assizes. 
One of the men is a farmer, occupying a farm called 
Liwyndryssi, of the value of near 2007. per annum, and is 
one of the persons who came voluntarily forward and was 
sworn a special constable at St. Clear’s. The outrages 
are spreading, for on Thursday night a toll-bar, with the 
toll-box, was destroyed at a place called Llandarog, on the 
road to Swansea.—The Welsh papers state that Sir John 
Guest and Co. have contracted with the Russian Govern- 
ment, for 45,000 tons of railway iron, and it is not impro- 
bable that this order‘will be doubled. 
Chester.—In reference to last week’s debate on Mr. T. 
Duncombe’s motion for an inquiry into the’ conduct of 
Lord Abinger, during the late special commission, the 
local papers state, that the report of His Lordship’s charge 
was supplied to the Times by the Lord Chief Baron him- 
self. They state that the two reporters sent down by that 
journal, on some alleged cause of deficiency, applied to 
His Lordship to furnish them with a copy of it; but he told 
them that he had no copy, and could not furnish it in any 
other way than by writing the whole from memory. His 
Lordship consented to do this, and after completing his 
task, he is said to have declared, that it was the very last 
time he would ever accede to such a request ; nor would 
he have done so on that occasion, if he had had an idea 
of the time and trouble which the undertaking involved. 
Falmouth.—A rumour is current in this port, that on 
the Ist April the Brazil mail, now conveyed monthly by 
sailing vessels, will be carried by steamers ; and that her 
Majesty’s ship Astrea, and the packets now on their voy- 
ages, as they arrive home, will be forthwith paid off. 
Halifax.—The local papers are filled with details of 
the case of cruelty practised on au orphan child belonging 
to the Halifax Union, which Lord Ashley brought before 
the notice of Parliament on Tuesday. It appears that he 
was apprenticed to a collier at Blackley, near Elland, 
when nine years of age, and was sent daily at six o’clock 
into the pit, where he was cruelly beaten, and allowed 
only three meals of thin water-porridge for his support. 
Latterly he had been confined in a cellar, without even 
straw to lie upon, and with a heavy bag ofiron suspended 
round his neck. The boy, however, escaped, and was 
found by the overseers of Elland in so revolting a state, 
that the magistrates interfered, and after placing him 
under medical treatment in the workhouse, issued a sum- 
mons against the master on the charge of cruelty. 
g 
to the pacific enterprise of navigation and trade, he 
thought he was fully justified in congratulating them— 
which he did from the bottom of his heart—that under the 
auspicious reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria such a 
treaty had been concluded, which he trusted would forma 
new bond of amity between Great Britain and Russia. 
Sir J. L. Lushington, on behalf of the East India Com. 
pany, said it was peculiarly gratifying to hear from the 
representative of his Imperial Majesty that there was felt 
on his part a sincere desire for the maintenance of amity 
between two such great nations, because, from the situa- 
tion he had himself the honour to fill, he might be allowed 
to say the peace, security, and prosperity of our Indian 
Empire mainly depended on the friendship—he hoped it 
would be perpetual—between Russia and Great Britain. 
Marylebone.—On Monday, Dr. Arthur Farre and Mr. 
Hancock, special Poor-law Commissioners, assembled at 
Fladong’s hotel, to investigate the alleged ill-treatment 
and improper management of the pauper children in the 
workhouse of this parish. Some opposition was offered to 
the inquiry on the part of the vestry, on the ground that 
it was illegal, the parish being governed by local acts. 
The Commissioners, however, proceeded to examine wit- 
nesses, who deposed to the general management of the 
infant school, and to its sanatory condition. The evidence 
was given at great length, but most of the facts elicited 
have been already before the public. 
Accidents.—On Monday ‘afternoon, as General Hop- 
kins, of Gloucester-place, was riding on horseback over 
the wood-pavement in Newgate-street, the horse, which 
was valued at 100 guineas, slipped down opposite Christ’s 
Hospital, and dislocated its back. It was got up with dif- 
ficulty, but died Soon afterwards. The General escaped 
without much injury, although several vehicles were pass- 
ing along the street at the time. 
Mortality of the Metropolis—The following is the 
number of deaths registered in the week ending Satur- 
day, Feb. 25 :—West districts, 132 ; North districts, 173 ; 
Central districts, 179; East districts, 215; South dis- 
E 1—A meeting of manufacturers, merchants, 
and woolstaplers, on the subject of the wool duty, was 
held in this town last week. The meeting was unani- 
mous in its condemnation of the tax, and in its determi- 
nation to endeavour to obtain its repeal. As the first 
step towards this object, a memorial to Government was 
adopted, and, after having received the signatures of the 
principal manufacturers, it will be presented to Ministers 
by a deputation appointed for that purpose. 
Lancaster.—The daily papers state that the paragraph 
which has gone the round of the newspapers, stating that 
a man named Holden, recently deceased in this county, 
had confessed before his death to two women, that he was 
one of the perpetrators of the murder at Pendleton in 
1817, is entirely a fabricati such fessi faving 
been made. The constable of the place has made inquiry 
from the ,women referred to, and other parties, and has 
ascertained that there are no grounds for the statement. 
Tanch .—An extraordi meeting of the League 
was held on Friday, to repudiate the charges made in 
Parliament against the League, and particularly against 
Mr. Cobden. The hall, whichis capable of holding 1,000 
ersons, was so full that many hundreds were unable 
to obtain admission; about 600 ladies were in the gal- 
leries. Mr. G. Wilson presided. The following resolu- 
tion was carried unanimously :—‘ That in consequence of 
the attempts to throw odium on the character of Mr. 
Cobden, this meeting feels called upon to express its 
}: f that h hI +] ’s ci 
Corn-Law Repeal, and expressing the hope of the meeting 
that he will persevere in his exértions.—In connection 
with this subject, Mr. Bayley, the dissenting minister of 
Sheffield, has addressed a letter to Mr. Cobden, in refer- 
ence to his speech about 100 persons drawing lots to 
assassinate Sir R. Peel. He states his belief that Mr. 
Cobden was not in the room when the speech was deli- 
vered, and admits that a day or two afterwards Mr.Cobden 
expressed his wish that Mr. Bayley had not related the 
anecdote, whereupon Mr. Bayley said he could vouch 
his authority, and believed it to be true. He had accom- 
panied the recital of it with a protest against all such acts; 
he could produce his informant, although he neither knew 
where the scene occurred nor the persons engaged in it ; 
he regarded the fact “ as a terrible sign of the times, and 
as such only he quotedit.’’ Mr. Bayley has also addressed a 
letter to the Z'imes, denying that the day on which he re- 
lated the anecdote was a Sunday, and stating that he never 
knew the person nor the locality where the drawing of lots 
was proposed. He denies that he ever advocated an ap- 
plication “to the Parliament of force,” declares that he 
accompanied the narration of the anecdote with a strong 
protest, and says—“ If I had concealed the anecdote, and 
evil had been perpetrated, I should have reproached myself 
with not having given warning to Government. I deserve 
thanks for making the anecdote public, and not abuse.’” 
New Romney.—A letter from this place dated February 
26, has appeared in the daily papers, giving an account of 
the wreckers on the Kentish coast during the recent 
storms. The writer states that a schooner from London 
to Ireland went on shore to the east of Dungeness, in the 
gale of Saturday the 18th. The Coast Guard did all in 
their power to save the crew, but owing to the heavy sea 
breaking continually over the vessel, every soul perished. 
The vessel soon broke up, and her cargo, consisting of 
tallow and dye-wood, was washed along the beach. Hun- 
dreds of the inhabitants from the different towns came 
down to the beach ; and notwithstanding the efforts of the 
Coast Guard and agents, they managed to carry off pro- 
perty toalarge amount. Onthe very day of the disaster and 
on the Sunday, tallow was openly sold in Lydd by the 
cwt., for threepence halfpenny and fourpence per pound ; 
and some of the more respectable plunderers bought the 
tallow from the minor thieves, and sent it to Rye and 
other places in waggons and carts. 
Rochester.—On Thursday a case of felony was heard in 
the County-office against two Officers of the 44th and 
another person, who had been apprehended under war- 
rants granted by the county justices. The court was 
inconveniently crowded with civilians and military men. 
The prisoners gave their names as follows: Ensign R. D. 
Chapman, of the 44th Regiment, Ensign J. Le Marchant 
Carey, of the same regiment, and John Foster, landlord 
of the Star Inn, and late a cornet in one of her Majesty’s 
Dragoon Regiments. The warrants charged the two first 
prisoners with having on the 22d ult. killed and stolen 
three fowls, and Jobn Foster with aiding and abetting in 
the felony ; the fowls so carried away being the property 
ofa Mrs. Walker. After witnesses had been examined 
the magistrates ordered the officers to be released, as they 
were, from the evidence adduced, wholly guiltless of the 
charge alleged against them; and they were, therefore, 
honourably acquitted. Their evidence, however, was 
taken against the other prisoner, as the principal in the 
felony, who was committed for trial at the Maidstone 
assizes on the charge of felony, but was admitted to bail. 
&Stockport.—A letter from the Mayor of this town to 
Mr. Cobdenj announcing! that an address had been for- 
warded to him, expressive of the grateful thanks of the 
inhabitants of Stockport for his exertions, in the House of 
Commons, in aid of the manufacturing and general in- 
terests of the country, has been published in the daily 
papers. In acknowledgi this icati Mr. 
Cobden states his reasons for the course pursued by him 
in Parliament. He says that although the Queen’s 
Speech had borne testimony to the sufferings of her 
people, no measures were announced by her responsible ad- 
visers ; and when a motion was brought forward bya mem- 
ber of the Opposition for entering upon the consideration of 
the distress of the country, it was resisted by the Govern- 
ment. “It was under these circumstances, he says, 
“« that I felt it to be my duty to remind the Prime Minis- 
ter of his responsibility to the country and to his 
Sovereign for the consequences which might ensue from 
his policy.’’ He then alludes to the construction {put 
upon his words by Sir Robert Peel, and says that it was 
not till after he had endeavoured to make his first ex- 
planation that he was made aware of the construction 
which had been put upon his words, by some of the Mem- 
bers beside him, He ridicules the absurdity of attempting 
to infer political assassination, a crime unknown in this 
country, from acts such as those which Sir R. Peel had 
endeavoured to connect with his speech on the 17th; and 
with respect to the violence with which he was assailed in 
the House of Commons, he thinks that such violence will 
not be lightly repeated after public opinion has fixed its 
stigma upon the proceeding. 
Tavistock.—On Monday week an attempt was made to 
fullest apy i g on- 
duct in the cause of justice and humanity; and whilst 
tendering to him its sincere thanks for his unwearied la- 
bours and eminent services, this meeting pledges itself to 
give to him and his excellent parliamentary coadjutors its 
best assistance and support, and to persevere in employing 
all just and constitutional means for the total repeal of 
those laws which, limiting the food of the people, are op- 
posed not only to the best interests of our fellow-men, but 
to the benevolent designs of Divine Providence.’’ In 
accordance -with these views, an address to Mr. Cobden 
was adapted, acknowledging’ his services in the cause of 
Mr. Benson, the steward~to the Duke of 
Bedford. He had been confined to his bed for some time 
past, and it was considered necessary that a man-servant 
should sleep in his room. About 6 o'clock on Monday 
morning, the man was crossing the apartment to admi- 
nister some medicine to his master, with a light in his 
hand, when as he passed the window a fowling-piece was 
fired into the room from the yard below. The window 
was shattered and several slugs were found in the walls, 
but the man escaped unhurt. There is no doubt that the 
shot was intended for Mr. Benson, and ‘a reward of 80% 
has heen offered for the apprehension of the offender.’ * 
