886 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
[Dec. 16, 
of Crendon in the chair, After the usual loyal and local 
toasts the Duke of Buckingham said the chairman had 
asked him to give the toast which stood next on the list, 
atoast which it was at all times grateful to him to propose, 
and which on the present occasion was doubly gratifying, 
—‘‘ Prosperity to the British Farmer.’? In that room 
and in the county of Buckingham they had frequent op- 
portunities of drinking that toast and of hearing speeches 
upon that most important topic—the state of the agri- 
culture of the country; but if ever there was a time which 
more than another demanded the steady support of those 
who had been returned to Parliament by the agriculturists 
for the express purpose of supporting British agriculture 
and the British farmer it was the present. And he could 
heartily say that he wished the speeches which he had 
heard made by many for whom he had great respect had 
been carried out to their full extent and that those gentle- 
men had not detracted from the value of their speeches by 
contrary votes. To the British farmer this country owed a 
vast debt of gratitude for the manner in which for many years 
past he had laboured hard in cultivating the soil of this 
country and for the indomitable spirit which he had evinced 
in times of difficulty and danger. It would be presumptuous 
in him to say more on this subject, inasmuch as he had so 
often and so repeatedly stated the opinions and feelings 
which he entertained, and which had never undergone the 
slightest change. He could but again express his convic- 
tion, that if the agriculture of this country was not sup- 
ported the farmer could not compete with the foreigner, 
and whenever that occurred they might depend upon it 
the well-being of the land would be utterly. destroyed. 
Unchanged in those opinions, which he had recorded alike 
in that country in his former place in the House’of 
Commons, and in his place in the House of Peers, he 
stood there now ouly to repeat them word for word, and 
to call on the members for that county steadily to perform 
the duty to which they devoted themselves on the hust- 
which he gave her. She saw Mr. Banks on the following 
morning; but instead of his relieving her he went to 
find her husband, and subsequently left word that de- 
ceased was to go before the board on the following Friday, 
but before that time arrived she died. The inquiry was 
adjourned to trace if deceased delivered to the relieving 
officer the letter given her by Mr. Pritchard, in which the 
necessity for her immediate relief was stated. Various 
acts of inhumanity were deposed to on the part of the 
husband, and it having been proved that her death was 
accelerated by neglect and exposure to cold consequent 
on the treatment she had received, the question arose 
whether the responsibility lay with the officer who had 
not relieved her or the husband who had neglected her. 
There being no distinct evidence that the relieving officer 
received the letter alluded to, the responsibility fell upon 
the husband who was bound to maintain her. After a 
protracted investigation the jury ultimately returned a 
verdict of ‘‘ Manslaughter’? against George Plummer 
the husband, and the coroner made out his committal to 
Maidstone gaol. 
Gravesend.—An inquest has been held here on the body 
of George Grey, ayoung man who was killed ina pugilistic 
fight at Tilbury Fort last week. The Coroner said it was 
to be regretted that the evidence was not sufficient to throw 
light on the names of the whole of the parties connected 
with this disgraceful transaction. The medical testimony 
went clearly to show that the deceased had died from vio- 
lence and injuries he had received, and it was also as clearly 
proved by the witness Davies, who had been admitted as 
evidence, that such injuries were inflicted a short time 
previously in a conflict with Henry Ball. ‘The actual 
origin of the fight was left in mystery, but it was shown 
that the seconds were fighting men, who although they 
had escaped for the present could not, inasmuch as they 
were well known to the police, long evade the law. The 
Jury returned a verdict against Henry Ball as principal of 
Oa aha s 
ings. He solemnly called on the rep of the 
agricultural interest throughout all parts of the United 
Kingdom to come forward now and steadily to maintain 
the opinions which they had broached at the hustings, and 
by their votes record their firm adherence to the cause of 
the British farmer. The Noble Duke again repeated the 
satisfaction which it gave him to propose “The health of 
the British farmer,’’ whose value and the sterling honesty 
of whose heart he most fully appreciated. He called on 
them to rise and drink with hearty cheers ‘‘ The health of 
the British Farmer, and may he overcome the difficulties 
which now threaten him.’? Mr, Stone, a farmer, returned 
thanks with much spirit ; and several other toasts of local 
interest were proposed before the close of the meeting. 
Bristol.—The local papers state in reference to the 
death of Mr. Mountjoy of this town, whose body was 
exhumed last week as stated in our last, that onthe 
post mortem examination a corroded pin was found in the 
part of the body that was diseased, and in the absence of 
poison the cause of death is attributed to the swallowing 
of this pin. 
Carmarthen.—The Special Commissioners: have re- 
cently obtained the opinion of the law-officers of the 
Crown on a practice affecting the administration of the 
seni 
i fg in the first degree, and a verdict of 
“Manslaughter” in the second degree against John 
rady, Tucker Smith, James Knowlton, and other per- 
sons to the Jurors unknown, acting as seconds, time- 
keeper and bottle-holder at the fight. The Coroner then 
committed Henry Ball to Maidstone Gaol to take his trial. 
The other parties have not yet been apprehended. 
Huddersfield.—The first meeting in Yorkshire, in con- 
nexion with the efforts of the Anti-Corn Law League in 
favour of free trade and the destruction of the Corn-law 
was held at the Philosophical Hall on Thursday week. 
Mr. Cobden, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Moore addressed the 
meeting, and resolutions in favour of free trade were 
unanimously passed. At the close the chairman an- 
nounced the total amount of subscriptions to be upwards 
of 1322/., being nearly double the sum realised last year. 
Ilford.—At a meeting of the parishioners last week to 
consider the correspondence between the Bishop of London 
and the Vicar, the following resolution was proposed and 
adopted unanimously :—‘‘ That this meeting acquiescing 
in the opposition which has been raised to the introduc- 
tion of the weekly offertory and the other changes in the 
manner of performing Divine service in this parish, do 
request the churchwardens to represent to the Vicar our 
i on the subject, and our earnest desire that he 
turnpike laws which has prevailed to-a i extent 
in Carmarthenshire, and has been the subject of much 
complaint on the part of the poorer classes of farmers. It 
frequently occurs that the farmer, having carried his pro- 
duce to a town or market, and paid toll at the gates, 
returns on the same day, carrying home in his cart some 
articles or goods for a friend or neighbour, which he 
conveys either gratuitously or in consideration of some 
small payment for his trouble. It has. been a common 
practice with certain toll-collectors to charge carts thus 
repassing on the same day with a second toll, applying to 
such cases a clause contained in most local acts, which 
renders stage carriages and vehicles carrying passengers 
or goods for pay, hire, or reward, liable to toll for every 
time of repassing. The Commissioners, considering that 
the practice in question proceeded upon a misapplication 
of this clause, and that the additional toll was legally 
chargeable only on vehicles of the nature of stage-coaches, 
carriers’ carts, and such as regularly ply for hire between 
certain places, referred the point to the Attorney and 
Solicitor-General, who have given their opinion that in 
these cases a second toll cannot be legally demanded. 
| Derby.—We copy the following paragraph from ‘the 
Derby Reporter :—‘ There is no part of the princely and 
munificent generosity of the Duke of Devonshire that will 
give more general pleasure than his Grace’s direction to 
gratify the public to the utmost extent consistent with the 
comfort and enjoyment of the Royal party, We have 
great pleasure in stating that this liberty was not abused, 
except in one instance. A small brown crystal is missing 
from the conservatory. . We understand it is a rare 
specimen, and cannot be long concealed if exposed for 
sale. We trust for the honour of the county that this 
crystal will be forthwith restored to the place from whence 
it was taken, and that it may not be said the Noble 
Duke’s munificence is shamefully abused. We hope it is 
a thoughtless act of some person, who as soon as he 
knows the value attached to it will restore it immediately.” 
Footscray. — On Wednesday the coroner and jury 
jmpanelled to investigate the death of Maria Plummer, 
re-assembled for the fourth time at Sidcup to prosecute 
the inquiry. Our readers will remember that the de- 
ceased, who was separated from her husband, a gardener 
in the service of Lord Bexley, and who agreed to allow 
her 2s. 6d. per week, had in consequence of his neglect 
to do so been rendered houseless and destitute. In this 
state she wandered about, and but two days before her 
death applied to Mr. Pritchard, surgeon, of Sidcup, for a 
letter to Mr.Banks, relieving overseer of the Bromley union, 
will meet the wishes of his parishioners in discontinuing 
the weekly offertory, and returning to our former simple 
mode of worship. 
Kirkdale.—¥ive poachers have been committed for trial 
on the charge of having been concerned in the murder of 
the Earl of Derby’s gamekeeper at Knowsley on the 10th 
ult. They have been committed on the evidence of an 
accomplice, who gave a detailed account of the manner in 
which the five prisoners, himself, and four others who 
have not yet been arrested, journeyed to Knowsley on the 
night of the fatal occurrence, and of the way in which the 
murder was committed. 
Lancaster.—On Thursday week a gang of poachers, 
nearly twenty in number, entered the preserves of Thos. 
Aspinall, Esq., in Little Mitton Wood, in this county, 
and were in pursuit of game when they were surprised by 
the keepers. A struggle ensued, and one of the poachers 
fired at John Schofield, one of the gamekeepers, and 
wounded him dangerously. Whilst the gamekeeper lay 
upon the ground, shot and disabled, he was beaten with 
bludgeons until he ceased to show signs of life. The 
poachers afterwards escaped. Mr. Aspinall has offered a 
reward of 100/. for the conviction of the offenders. 
Leeds.—A meeting in favour of the Anti-Corn-Law 
League was held in this town on Wednesday, Mr. H. 
Stansfield in the chair, About 800 persons were present. 
The meeting was addressed by Messrs. Cobden, Bright, 
Moore, Fox, and Ashworth, and the sum of 2,100/. was 
collected for the League Fund. 
Leicester.—A meeting was held in this city on the 80th 
ult., to consider the propriety of establishing a dissenting 
college in the Midland Counties for the instruction of 
young men designed both for spiritual and secular pur- 
poses, against whom the universities of this country are 
closed. Another feature is the founding of a class 
especially designed for the service of Christian missions, 
to the members of which it is proposed to communicate 
such a knowledge of medicine and simple surgery as may 
qualify them to attend to the physical interest of those 
among whom they may labour, and at the same time to 
afford such a knowledge of science in general as may enable 
them to promote the secular and commercial as well as 
the spiritual interests of the people they may visit. Lei- 
cester has been named as the seat of the projected college. 
Liverpool.—The subscription in favour of the League 
Fund is making rapid progress in this town. The total 
subscriptions up to Saturday night amounted to 5,095/.12s. 
A meeting was held a few days since in the Amphi- 
theatre, 1 Mr. Thorneley, 
M.P., in the chair, for the put- 
pose of raising subscriptions on behalf of the Fund, 
and of hearing Messrs. Cobden and Bright on the subject 
of free-trade. At the close of the meeting subscriptions 
were collected, and no less than 4,100/. were raised in the 
course of the evening, being nearly double the whole 
amount of last year’s subscription, which extended over @ 
month or six weeks. Before the close of the subscription, 
it is believed that not less than 7,000/. will be raised in 
this town. 
Newport.—The last accounts from the penal colonies 
state that Geach the solicitor and step-son of John Frost, 
who was about two years since transported for 20 years 
for forgery, has been after working 20 months upon the 
roads allowed a ‘! ticket of leave,’ aud hired as a free 
servant to his wife, who followed him out. Frost, who is 
released from the penal gang and is ina situation as clerk, 
bas sent a letter to Mrs. Frost and his daughters desiring 
them to go out also, in the hope that Mrs. Frost will be 
allowed to hire him as a free servant. The Governor 
having informed Frost, Williams, and Jones, that the 
Home Office has finally determined never to allow them 
to return to their native land, they have resigned them- 
selves to their fate, with a determination to secure to 
themselves kind treatment by their future good conduct. 
—The letter which Mrs. Frost has received from her 
husband ‘states that he and Williams have been brought 
back from the penal settlement whither they had been 
sent for having attempted to make their escape. Frost 
is comfortably situated as a clerk. Williams still wears 
the log on his leg, and Jones continues to hold the situa- 
tion he obtained shortly after his arrival in the colony. 
Oxford.—The Rev. G. W. Hall, D.D., Master of Pem- 
broke College and Prebendary of Gloucester, died at his 
lodgings at the college on the 10th inst. He had been 
head of his college 34 years, having been elected in 1809. 
—The members of the university who protested against 
the validity of the degree conferred upon Mr. Everett the 
American Minister in June last have submitted all the 
facts of the case to counsel in order to ascertain the 
legality of the degree. Mr. Fitzroy Kelly, Q.C., Mr. 
James R. Hope and Mr. Edward Badeley on perusing 
this case have given the following opinion :—‘* We are 
clearly of opinion that, under the circumstances stated, 
the grant of the degree in question was invalid. It was 
the duty of the Vice-Chancellor as the presiding officer of 
the convocation to take care that the proceedings were 
conducted with such regularity and order, as would have 
afforded those persons who were entitled to vote the op- 
portunity of expressing their opinions and giving their 
votes in the usual manner. ‘The scrutiny which was de- 
manded ought to have been allowed, and if the noise was 
so great as to prevent the demand from being heard, we 
think that the Vice-Chancellor should have adjourned the 
meeting, or have adopted such other measures as were 
necessary to stop the confusion and enable him to know 
what was passing. As the irregularity of these proceed- 
ings was inconsistent alike with the general rules which 
are applicable to the meetings of all corporate bodies, and 
with the statutes and customs of the University which 
regulate the meetings of Convocation, we are of opinion 
that the decree is a nullity and that Mr. Everett cannot 
lawfully assume the rank of Doctor of Civil Law of the 
University of Oxford,” 
Portsmouth.—On Monday the 44th Regiment, which 
is now doing garrison duty at Gosport, was presented with 
new colours by Lady Pakenham the wife of the Major- 
General commanding the district. The ceremony of 
consecrating the colours was performed by Archdeacon 
Wilberforce, who made an impressive address to the ré- 
giment and concluded with an appropriate prayer. Imme- 
diately after the consecration of the colours, Lady Paken- 
ham presented them to the Ensigns who had been selected 
to receive them, addressing the regiment on their late 
history in Afghanistan. Sir Hercules Pakenham then 
addressed the troops stating that the attention of the 
whole army is fixed upon them ; that the Commander-in- 
Chief expects that by the combined action of all ranks 
they will establish a high regimental character, be distin- 
guished for unanimity in promoting the welfare of the 
corps, for accuracy in the performance of all duties, and 
for that general regularity of conduct that reflects credit 
on and imparts comfort to all well-organised regiments, 
and that when the service of the country again calls the 
44th to the field he was satisfied the Gallant Fours will 
be found second to none in the career of glory. 
Salford,—A young man named Joseph Taylor, 23 
years of age, whose mother resides at Prestwich, was 
brought up last week on a charge of having robbed his 
mother of 20/, ; but the theft could not be clearly brought 
home to him, The prosecutor however, his eldest bro- 
ther, stated that he had a much more serious charge 
against him, namely, that of having poisoned his father, 4 
farmer at Prestwich, in April 1840; and with having 
about six weeks after that time attempted to poison the 
whole family. Evidence was adduced to prove that the 
prisoner attempted on several occasions to accomplis 
this purpose by mixing acetate of lead with the food eaten 
by the family, and he was ultimately committed to take 
his trial on the capital charge. 
‘Stockport.—A man named George Fox a bailiff attached 
to. the Stockport Court of Requests has been appre- 
hended and committed to take his trial on a charge of 
having murdered his wife on Friday week in this town, 
He had absconded immediately after the death of his 
wife, but was arrested by the police at Maple Bridge. . 
Windsor.—One of the severest runs ever known with 
the Royal Stag Hounds took place on Monday; the fixture 
having been appointed at Winkfield-row about three or 
consisted 
four miles from the kennel at Ascot, ‘The field 
