aS 
1843.] 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
437 
appointed to inquire into the circumstances of Alderman 
T. Wood’s conuexion with the Talacre Mining Company 
held their final meeting at Guildhall on Saturday evening. 
The proceedings being deliberative, were conducted with 
closed doors, and the result was, that the Committee 
agreed to report to the Court the evidence which had been 
presented to them, together with a statement framed by 
the chairman (Alderman Brown), and designated “ a 
statement of facts.’’? Alderman Wood strongly insisted 
on the propriety of presenting all the evidence to the 
Court ; but protested against the ‘ statement of facts,” 
as partial, imperfect, and incomplete, and calculated to 
leave an unfair and untrue impression on the minds of 
those who had neither leisure nor inclination to go through¢ 
the many matters of detail of which the evidence con- 
sisted. The result of Alderman Wood’s objections was, 
that the Committee agreed to present the whole of the 
evidence to the Court ; but the Committee declined giving 
an opinion upon the inquiry, in consequence of Alderman 
Wood being a magistrate. 
City Improvements.—At a meeting of the Common 
Council on Tuesday, Mr. R. L. Jones presented the 
report of the Select Committee on the proposed improve- 
ments in the City. He submitted a motion declaring that 
the Court agreed with the report, which stated that a 
favourable opportunity existed for drawing the attention 
of the Government and the improvement Commissioners, 
as to the best means to be adopted for securing the 
requisite funds for those purposes, and recommended that 
the Committee should be empowered to confer with them. 
After some discussion, Watli treet and N te-st 
were added to the list of suggested improvements, and the 
motion was adopted. 
Illness of Earl Grey.—The daily papers announce that 
Earl Grey, who is now in his 80th year, is seriously indis- 
osed, It is, however, understood that the illness from 
which the noble Earl is suffering is rather debility conse- 
quent upon advanced age than disease, and is not of 
a character calculated to give grounds for any immediate 
apprehension. One of the consequences of this debility is 
that his Lordship’s sight is seriously affected. 
East-India Company.—The Quarterly Court of Pro- 
prietors was held on Wednesday. The business was 
mostly of a routine character. Mr. Poynder deferred 
till September his motion respecting the Temple of Jug- 
gernaut, but submitted a memorial on the subject from 
the Baptist Missionary Society, praying that the idols of 
India may no longer receive support and honour from the 
public funds. A conversation ensued on the reported 
massacre of Col. Stoddart and Capt. Conolly, but the 
chairman said the Directors had received no information 
except through the newspapers. Major-Gen. Sir J. Bryant 
made a statement, proving that the accounts of cruelties 
said to have been practised by the Indian Army in Affghan- 
istan were entirely without foundation. The chairman con- 
firmed this statement, which was received with applause. 
Institution of Civil Engineers. —The annual con- 
versazione given by Mr. Walker, the president of this 
institution, has been hitherto so fully attended, that, 
willing to afford his guests ample opportunity for examining 
all the works of art and science prepared for their enter- 
tainment, he this year issued invitations for Friday, the 
16th, and Saturday, the 17th inst, On the former even- 
ing about 300 visitors were present, and on the latter 
occasion a large company assembled, comprising many 
distinguished persons in science or the arts, and including 
Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington, &c. &c. 
Wood Pavement.—On Saturday there was a very full 
attendance of the members of the Marylebone Vestry, for 
the purpose of considering a motion for rescinding a 
resolution of the vestry with respect to no more wood 
paving being laid down in the parish for a period of three 
years. Sir P. Laurie presented a petition, signed by 59 
omnibus proprietors and job-masters, against any further 
extension of wood paving, and praying the vestry not to 
disturb the resolution they had come to. Mr. Joseph 
moved that the resolution come to by the vestry on the 
4th of March, declaring its determination not to carry out 
any more wood paving for a period of three years be 
rescinded. The resolution having been seconded, Sir P. 
Laurie said it was outrageous to make such a proposal as 
rescinding a resolution passed three months since. Wood 
paving was a decided failure, and all those who were 
formerly in its favour were now against it. He would 
tell them that all the carriage folks were leaving Regent- 
street, and were going into Bond-strect, on account of the 
danger of the wood paving. Earl Manvers said he was 
formerly in favour of wood paving, but his views were 
changed; and such was the degree of danger he felt con- 
nected with it, that if he voted that day in favour of 
wood paving, and broke his neck in driving over it, 
he believed no conscientious jury sitting on his body 
could return any other verdict than felo dese. After a 
long discussion the question was put, when there ap- 
peared—for rescinding the resolution, 20; against 1,353 
Majority against wood paving, 15. i 
Inquesis.—On Saturday afternoon an inquest was held 
at Woolwich, on the body of Captain Ww. S. Blount, R.N., 
who committed suicide under very distressing circum- 
stances. ‘Two pistols were produced, one of them still 
loaded. Lieutenant Clavel, of the Royal Marines, deposed 
that the deceased was his brother-in-law. He saw him 
for the last time alive at his father’s house in Greenwich 
Hospital on Tuesday evening, when he alluded to a cer- 
tain circumstance which appeared to be affecting his mind. 
He had been acting as Commander of the royal yacht 
Victoria and Albert, and from some cause was informed 
by the Admiralty that he could not have his commission 
laid before her Majesty. He had been to the Admiralty 
that day, and was told so, and during the evening, he said 
that he should demand a Court-Martial or Court of 
Inquiry to clear his character. Witness had heard the 
result of an application to that effect, and the reply was, 
the Board could not grant it. He had no doubt the 
deceased was quite deranged. The evening he spoke of, 
the deceased would not listen to any reason; he walked 
about in a state of the greatest excitement. He had no 
doubt that the disappointment was the exciting cause ; 
deceased had from the first announcement fallen off from 
a stout man to a mere skeleton. Mr. Payne, of Green- 
wich Hospital, said he had known the deceased for 
years, and he had successively held many appointments 
with credit to himself and the Service. He was a most 
amiable and honourable man, greatly attached to his 
family, and a strict observer of his religious duties. He 
was borne on the ship’s book until the vessel was com- 
missioned. Witness had no doubt the imagination that 
his character had been aspersed, had overcome the balance 
of his mind. A more excellent or amiable father, hus- 
band, or man, could be rarely found. The appointment, 
if obtained, would lead to certain promotion, and he would 
not have been chosen at all except for his knowledge of 
steam and his high character, The Jury immediately 
returned a verdict of temporary insanity. 
Mortality of the Metropolis —The number of Deaths 
registered in the week ending Saturday, June 10, was as 
follows :—West districts, 122; North districts, 163 ; 
Central districts, 189; East districts, 199; South dis- 
tricts, 175—Total, 848. Males 417—Females 431. 
Weekly average for the last five years, 903. (461 males, 
442 females); and for the last five springs, 854. 
JProbinetal Netvs. 
Aylesbury.—We lately noticed the erection of a monu- 
ment to John Hampden on Chalworth field, the spot on 
which he received his death wound, June 18, 1643. The 
ceremony of throwing open the monument to the public 
took place on Monday, in the presence of a great con- 
course of spectators. After the ceremony a dinner was 
given near the spot, at which Lord Nugent presided, sup- 
ported by Sir John Easthope, M.P., Mr. Tancred, M.P., 
Rev. Dr. Hampden, Sir S. Hancock, and several members 
of the University of Oxford and gentlemen from the adjacent 
towns. A considerable number of ladies were also present. 
Carmarthen.—The lawless depredators known by the 
name of Rebecca and her Daughters appear to increase in 
power and influence in Carmarthenshire, and if they con- 
tinue in the same ratio as they have done during the last 
few weeks, civil power, as far as local authority goes, will be 
pletely subjugated. Their } dings during the past 
week affords a striking instance of their success in setting 
the civil authority at defiance. On the day following the 
destruction of the Water-street gate at Carmarthen three 
men passed through the aperture where the gate had 
previously been, refusing to pay toll. The toll-collector 
summoned them before the magistrates, to whom they 
said that Rebecca had given them notice not to pay. 
They were fined in the penalty of 40s. each, and costs, 
which not having been paid, a distress warrant against 
their goods was issued. Some bailiffs and constables 
were sent to execute the distress warrant, but the officers 
were summarily ordered by Rebecca’s disciples to return, 
which they readily did. The magistrates, determined to 
enforce tlie law, swore in about thirty pensioners as special 
constables, who, together with a number of policemen, 
bailiffs, &c., proceeded on Monday week to execute the 
warrant. They succeeded in making the distraint with 
little or no molestation, but before they had proceeded 
a quarter ofa mile with their booty, the sound of a trum- 
pet assembled an immense concourse, amounting to several 
hundreds of Rebecca’s Daughters, some of whom had 
their faces blackened. They immediately compelled the 
constable to deliver up the goods, together with all the 
fire-arms and other weapons of defence in their possession. 
They then proceeded to demolish a wall belonging to Mr. 
Davies, of Trawsmwr, a magistrate for the county, who 
had offended them, and they gave the special constables 
and police their choice, either to assist them in demolish- 
the wall, or run the risk of being stripped and sent to town 
naked. The officers made choice of the former alternative, 
and destroyed the wall, upon which Rebecca allowed them 
to go home.—The above accounts, however, are far sur- 
passed by the following particulars of a more recent out- 
rage, in which the rioters were dispersed by the troops. 
At about mid-day on Monday, reports were brought into 
the town by persons from the Pembroke-road, that the 
Rebeccaites were assembling in great uumbers, horse and 
foot, and shortly after they were seen marching in due 
array, headed by Rebecca herself, followed by about 900 
horsemen and 8,000 or 9,000 on foot, marching 14 or 15 
abreast. They entered the town by Sir Thomas Picton’s 
monument; but previous to entering they divided them- 
selves into two bodies, one portion passing down Lammas- 
street, and the other down Water-street, shouting and 
yelling. They carried banners, and were most of them 
armed with a short kind of pike, such as is used by 
miners, and many had fire-arms. The inscriptions on the 
banners were in Welsh; one had “ Liberty of toll,” 
“ Freedom,” ‘ Liberty and better food.”” On arriving at 
the Guildhall-square the two bodies again united, and 
proceeded to the Union workhouse, and immediately 
commenced a fierce attack upon the gates of the outer 
court ; having carried these by storm, they broke into 
the workhouse and demolished the furniture. Whilst 
engaged in this work, a troop of the 14th Dragoons 
opportunely arrived at full gallop from Neath — two of 
their horses dropped dead from fatigue as they entered 
the town. One man was cut down whilst attempting to 
seize the bridle of one of the dragoons. On the appear- 
troop, aided by another which had in the meantime 
arrived, having surrounded the workhouse. About 250 
were captured, together with 60 horses. The magistrates 
committed the greater number to the county gaol the 
same night, to which they were escorted by the military. 
Crewkerne.—A remarkable case of infanticide has just 
come to light in this town. For some time past it has 
been rumoured that a girl named Martha Clark, who lived 
as servant to a Mr. Alven, a person of independent pro- 
perty, and the son of a former banker of the town, had 
given birth to a child, of which he was the father, that he 
acted as accoucheur, and destroyed it. At an adjourned 
inquiry on Thursday week the girl made a full confession, 
from which it appeared that Mr. Alven was the father of 
her child; that he had acted as accoucheur; that he had 
twisted a hayband round the infant’s neck, and then had 
thrown it amongst some reeds; that she had never seen the 
child, but heard it cry; that Mr. Alven had never told 
her what he had done with it, but ber suspicions were 
that he had buried the body in the garden. The magis- 
trates committed both prisoners for trial at the next 
Assizes, Alven as principal and Clarke as accessary after 
the fact. Application was made by Mr. Alven’s solicitors 
to the magistrates to take bail for his appearance, and bail 
toa large amount was offered, but the magistrates refused it. 
Euntingdon.—A public meeting was held on Saturday 
last in this town, in consequence of an invitation from 
Mr. Cobden and the Anti-Corn Law League to the 
farmers and inhabitants of the county, to have an open 
discussion on the causes and remedy of the existing agri- 
cultural distress. The meeting was appointed to take 
place in the large room of the Mechanics’ Institution, but 
in consequence of the numbers brought together by the 
market held on that day, and the strong excitement pre- 
vailing on the subject, the assembly adjourned to the 
common in the neighbourhood of the town. Mr. George 
Rust was called to the chair, and was supported by the 
Earl of Sandwich and the leading landowners and farmers 
in the county. He opened the business of the meeting 
by reading aloud a note from Mr. Cobden, stating that a 
severe cold, which totally precluded the possibility of his 
addressing any public audience, prevented his presence, 
and deputed to Mr. Bright the duties which would other- 
wise have fallen on himself. After the disappointment 
produced by this communication had subsided, and some 
preliminary discussion had taken place as to the person 
who ought first to speak, Mr. Bright addressed the 
meeting at great length. He was followed by Mr. Moore 
on the side of the League, and by Mr. James Rush, Mr. 
Bower, and Mr. Day, in favour of the Corn-laws. A 
motion in favour of protection was carried by a large 
majority. It is stated that about 3,000 persons were on 
the-ground, two-thirds of whom voted for the motion. On 
the previous market-day a meeting of farmers had taken 
place, when a committee was appointed to ascertain the 
feeling of the whole county upon the subject. A form of 
declaration was accordingly drawn up for distribution in 
every parish throughout the county, and in the course of 
a week the names of upwards of 1,100 tenant farmers were 
attached to it, expressing their opinion that, while the 
present charges upon the landed interest remain they 
cannot compete with the foreign grower of corn without 
a protecting duty. This declaration was signed by tenant 
farmers, occupying upwards of 300,000 acres in the county. 
Liverpool.—There is no longer any doubt that the 
frequent fires which have recently occurred in this town, 
were the work of incendiaries. On Tuesday morning a 
piece of cotton and lucifer matches were fouod inside the 
cat-hole of a warehouse, in Dundee-street, and some 
lucifer matches have also been discovered in a warehouse 
in Great Howard-street, in this town, which had evidently 
been placed there with the intention of producing another 
conflagration. Happily, in both instances the attempt 
proved unsuccessful, in consequence of ignition not having 
taken place. Every effort is making by the authorities 
to discover the incendiaries by whom the town is infested, 
but as yet without success. 
Lynn.—On Wednesday the 14th inst., a young man of 
the name of Sangar, a clerk in the Lynn Bank, absconded 
with a large sum of money, the property of the proprietors 
of that establishment. He also contrived to plunder a 
neighbouring banking concern. Upon investigation it 
was ascertained that he must have taken away with him 
between 4,000/. and 5,0002. Intelligence was speedily com- 
municated to the Committee of Bankers in London, and to 
the City Police, who have announced that the greater 
part of the missing property has been recovered. 
Manchester.—The following are said to be the verdicts 
and sentences of the courts-martial held last week, for the 
purpose of trying the soldiers of the 15th Reg., accused of 
improper conduct in connexion with the late attack upon 
the Manchester Police :—Sergeant Nolan, against whom 
there were three charges, was acquitted on the first and 
third, and found “ Guilty” on the second ; and was sen- 
tenced to be reduced to the rank and pay of a private 
soldier. Two privates were found Guilty, and each sen- 
tenced to four months’ imprisonment ; and three Privates 
were acquitted. 
Nolttingham.—On Wednesday the 14th a public dinner 
was given by the Liberal electors of this borough to Mr. 
Gisborne, their new representative. It took place in the 
Exchange Hall, Mr. T. Wakefield in the chair. The room 
was completely filled; and Mr. Gisborne and other gen- 
tlemen addressed the company at great length, on the cir- 
cumstances of the late election. 
