Mar. 16,] 



THE NEWSPAPER. 



English colonies, even Botany Bay, had a domestic legis- 

 lature—all, except Ireland ; and yet no one saw that they 

 were separated. I want for Ireland that the law passed 

 there should be passed upon the same principle as in 

 England. Such was the opinion of the wise and good, 

 and such I hope it ever will be. Let them do justice 

 to Ireland. Let those in both countries who desire to 

 adhere to the law, who desire to have it cheap and intelli- 

 gible, and to be administered with economy— let those 

 who desire to see the progress of national reform— let 

 them do all in their power to do justice to Ireland. By 

 adopting that course they might be sure they would find 

 ia Ireland grateful hearts to assist them, and they would 

 establish a real union — a union more valuable by a 

 domestic legislature, and by a complete combination of a 

 free, happy, and loyal people." Mr. O'Connell sat down 

 amidst great applause, which lasted for several minutes. 

 After the cheering had subsided several other toasts were 

 given from the chair, or proposed by different members of 

 the company. Among them were those of " The People," 

 proposed by the Earl of Shrewsbury, and "The 78 Peers 

 who supported Lord Normanby's motion ; and the 227 

 Members of the House of Commons who supported Lord 

 John Russell's motion." When this toast had been 

 responded to, the chairman said, among many other 

 letters of apology for non-attendance on the part of Peers 

 and Members of Parliament, he might specify two in par- 

 ticular — one from the Earl of Radnor, the other from Lord 

 Kinnaird. He also took occasion to say, that among the 

 majority against Lord Normanby's motion, were the names 

 of Lord Ellenborough, in India ; of Lord Saltoun, in 

 China; and of Lord Tweeddale, in Madras — whilst Lord 

 Sidmouth had opposed the just rights of Ireland even from 

 his coffin. Lord Camoys, the Hon. II. F. Berkeley, M. P., 

 Mr. Gisborne, Mr. M. J. O'Connell, Sergeant Murphy, 

 and others subsequently addressed the company in support 

 of the toasts of "Justice to Ireland," "Trial by Jury, 

 without fraud or suspicion of fraud," u The Press of Great 

 Britain and Ireland," and other matters connected with 

 Irish politics. The company separated about midnight. 



London and Westminster Bank. — The annual meeting 

 of the shareholders in this bank took place last week, Mr. 

 P. M. Stewart, M.P., in the chair. The report, which 

 was unanimously adopted, stated that the net profits of 

 the past year, after defraying all the current expenses, 

 paying the income-tax, and making provision for all bad 

 and doubtful debts, amounted to 51,6*96/. 5s. Id. Out of 

 these profits the directors had paid last September a divi- 

 dend at the rate of G per cent, per annum for the half- 

 year ending the 30th June, and they now declared a divi- 

 dend at the same rate for the half-year ending the 31st 

 December. After the payment of these dividends, 

 amounting together to 48,000/., there would remain from 

 the profits of the year a surplus of 3G9G/. 55. Id., which, 

 added to the reserve fund, made the present amount, 

 66,822/. 16*. to 



Victoria Park. — The Ministerial papers state that 

 notwithstanding the anticipations of the inhabitants of 

 the eastern division of the metropolis that the operations 

 for the formation of the park would commence early in 

 the present spring, the Crown has given permission to the 

 market-gardeners to continue in occupation and plant their 

 lands, which were lately purchased, for six months. 

 Within any portion of this time, however, they are to 

 give up possession to the Crown on a fortnight's notice to 

 remove the stock. 



University College Dinner. — This annual festival was 

 held at the Freemasons' Tavern on Tuesday week. A 

 large party sat down to dinner, including several Members 

 of Parliament and representatives of the several learned 

 professions who had been educated at the college. Mr. 

 Mitchell, M.P., was in the chair. After the usual loyal 

 toasts had been drunk, " Prosperity to University Col- 

 lege" was proposed and received with much applause. 

 During the evening several speeches were made by Messrs. 

 Christie, M.P., Monckton Milnes, M.P., Greenhough, 

 Power, G. Y. Lee, Potter, &c. 



City Antiquities. — In Friday-street, Cheapside, a short 

 time ago, stood the house occupied by Sir Christopher 

 Wren, during the erection of St. Paul's, and which ad- 

 joined the church of St. Matthew, Friday-street. In the 

 course of pulling down the building, which was sold a fe»w 

 weeks since, and is now nearly levelled with the ground, 

 several silver and copper coins were found in the joists of 

 the flooring by the workmen. The silver coins were of 

 the reign of Elizabeth, and the copper coins of an earlier 

 period. The foundation walls are of extraordinary thick- 

 ness. A portion of them formed part of the Saracen's 

 Head, which is also taken down. — While making excava- 

 tions for a sewer in Duke-street, Houndsditch, a few days 

 ago, the workmen discovered the foundation of the ancient 

 Roman-wall, which was known to have passed near this 

 spot from the Minories to London-wall. It was found at 

 about eight feet from the surface, and was between four 

 and five feet in width. Many of the houses in Bevis- 

 marks, adjoining Duke-street, are built upon this wall. It 

 was observed that outside the wall, where it abuts upon 

 Houndsditch, there was a depth of made earth of about 

 14 or 15 feet, showing that the spot had been filled up at 

 some early period, while within the wall the native earth 

 was at a depth of between two and three feet, below which 

 is a bed^of sand. At the depth where it is necessary to 

 build the sewer, water is abundant. 



Thames Tunnel. — The annual meeting of the pro- 

 prietors of the Tunnel was held last week. Mr. 13. 

 Hawes, M.P. in the chair. The report stated that the 

 tunnel had, as expected at the last annual meeting, been 

 opened on the 25th March, and had since been honoured 

 by a visit from her Majesty, Prince Albert, and many 

 distinguished noblemen, foreigners, and scientific men, 



all of whom had expressed their admiration of the work, the 

 Since the tunnel had been opened for passengers upwards 



[1844. 



the principal agriculturists of Northumberland ~Tt 

 Ragland on Friday, Mr. Walbridge of Lanthewv in tk» 



olF two millions of persons had passed through it. In the at- 

 mosphere of the tunnel there was very little difference from 

 that above. The directors had reduced the expenses, and 

 the total savings contemplated would be about 985/. per 

 annum. Upon analysation, it was found that the water 

 now in the tunnel was solely from land-springs, which in 

 Sir I. Brunei's opinion would soon be dried up. The 

 stalls for the sale of fancy goods under the Thames, had 

 realised last year 470/., and on the anniversary of the 

 opening of the tunnel it is intended to have a fancy fair. 

 The tolls received during the year at one penny each 

 passenger amounts to 8478/. 2s. Sd. In a report to the 

 directors made by Sir I. Brunei, dated the 12th ult., he 

 says : — "The tunnel is now viewed by the public with as 

 little idea of danger, and with as little regard to the state 

 of the tide, or any other of the circumstances which 

 formerly were supposed likely to affect it, as any of the 

 bridges are; and the works are in an excellent state." 

 The carriage-way descents, as stated in the last report, 

 are now alone wanting to complete the work as originally 

 intended, but the directors consider it advisable to collect 

 further information respecting the exact cost of forming 

 the carriage-way descents, and also as to the probable 

 returns for an outlay for a carriage approach, supposing 

 the money should be available, in order to enable the 

 proprietors to form a correct judgment as tojfte expe- 

 diency of carrying the plan into execution. 



Pentonville Prison. — In a return moved for by Mr. T. 

 S. Duncombe, M.P., relative to the new " model prison" 

 at Pentonville, it appears that the total number of pri- 

 soners received into the prison since its opening amounts 

 to 537 ; that 26 convicts have been removed from the 

 prison — viz., 19 for illness and infirmities, 3 for insanity, 

 3 for incorrigible characters, and one, who was a man of 

 education, and an army agent (convicted of stealing silver 

 spoons from a club to which he belonged), because it was 

 thought that he would not be benefited by learning a 

 trade, has been sent to Van Diemen's Land with other 

 convicts. The number of convicts pardoned on medical 

 grounds amounts to 5 ; one received a free pardon, inde- 

 pendently of medical grounds. The number of deaths 

 has been 2. Thus the total number now confined in the 

 model prison amounts to 503. 



Fires. — We stated last week that an attempt was made 

 to set fire to the extensive premises of Messrs. Grissell 

 and Peto,of the York-road, Lambeth, on Friday se'nnight, 

 which fortunately was discovered. Another attempt was 

 made on last Friday night, and near the same spot. The 

 firemen were soon in attendance, and the damage only 

 amounted to about 20/. The firm have determined in 

 future to have a night fireman, so as, if possible, to pro- 

 tect their property from the incendiary. 



Robbery. — On Thursday last the following robbery was 

 committed in the Drawing- office of the Bank of England : 

 —A gentleman was in the act of paying money to one of 

 the receivers, having previously placed his pocket-book 

 on the counter ; while so engaged, some thief contrived 

 to purloin the pocket-book, which contained a Bank of 

 England note for 50/., one for 10/., one for 5/., and 

 21. 17 s. 6d. in gold and silver, being in all 07/. 17s. 0d., 

 with the whole of which he got clear off. 



Mortality of the Metropolis. — The following is the 

 number of Deaths registered in the week ending Mar. 2. 

 —West Districts 154; Northern, 194; Central, 218; 

 Eastern, 213; Southern, 246; Total, 1055; Weekly 

 average for the last five years, 916. 



Agricultural Meetings. — The following meetings have 

 been reported since our last. On Friday, at Shap, West- 

 moreland, Sir Geo. Musgrave, Bart., in the chair, sup- 

 ported by a large number of the landowners and farmers 

 of that county. — On Tuesday, at Faringdon, Mr. Free- 

 man, of East Coxwell, a farmer, in the chair, supported 

 by Mr. Mills Goodlake, Mr. J. J. Allnatt, Lord Barring- 

 ton, Mr. Pusey, and other agriculturists of Berkshire. — 

 On Friday, the lstinst. at Aberdeen, Mr. Grant, convener 

 of the county, in the chair, supported by the principal 

 land-owners, farmers, &c, of the district, at which it was 

 agreed to convene another meeting on the 15th. — On 

 Tuesday last, at Reading, Mr. W. Mount, President of 

 the Berkshire Association, in the chair, supported by the 

 members for the town and county, and about 300 magis- 

 trates and farmers. — On Thursday, at Ripon, the Mayor 

 in the chair, supported by the principal landowners and 



agriculturists of the neighbourhood At Bridgewater, 



last week, Mr. Hancock, of Halse, in the chair, supported 

 by Sir A. Hood, Bart., the Mayor of the town, and about 

 300 landowners and farmers ; at which arrangements were 

 made for sending petitions to the Legislature from every 

 parish in Somerset, praying for a continuance of adequate 

 protection to British Agriculture, with the view of ex- 

 pressing the real sentiments of the agriculturists, "in 

 answer to the misrepresentations conveyed to Parliament 

 and the public by the pretended county petition of the 

 Anti-Corn-Law League." — A meeting was held at Lin- 

 coln, on Tuesday, the Hon. A. L. Melville in the chair, 

 supported by Earl Brownlow, Sir. J. Trollope, Mr. Chris- 

 topher, and other landowners, to consider the propriety of 

 forming a county society, but no resolution was come to 

 upon the subject ; and, ultimately, it was agreed that the 

 meeting should be adjourned to the Thursday in April 

 fair-week, to give time for the London Society to prepare 

 and publish thtir plans. Meetings in opposition to the 

 League were held on Wednesday at Morpeth, Mr. Lang- 

 land in the chair, supported by Sir C. M. Monck, Bart., 

 Hon. H. T. Liddell, M.P., Sir E. Blackett, Bart., and 



chair, supported by Sir D. Mackworth, Bart., Mr. Van* 

 han of Courtfield, Mr. S. Bosanquet, Mr. Fothergill and 

 numerous other land-owners of Monmouthshire. ' 



Ambleside.— On Thursday, the 7th inst., a commission 

 under the seal of the Bishop of Chester, was held in this 

 town, for the purpose of investigating a charge made 

 against the Rev. W. Sewell, incumbent of Troutbeck, « f 

 drunkenness, intemperance, intoxication, scandal, and 

 other evil report." The commissioners appointed by the 

 Bishop were, the Archdeacon of Manchester, the Rev. G 

 Park, of Hawkshead, and the Rev. R. P. Graves, of Win! 

 dermere. The investigation, which was undertaken at 

 the instance of Benson Harrison, Esq., of Greenbank, a 

 magistrate for the county, excited a great deal of interest 

 throughout the Lake district, and the room was densely 

 crowded during the proceedings. Three witnesses were 

 examined on behalf of the prosecution, and nine on the 

 part of the defendant. After duly considering the evi- 

 dence on both sides, the commission decided that there 

 were no grounds whatever for the charge, and that it was 

 unnecessary to proceed further with the inquiry. 



Bradford.— On Saturday last, the boiler in Mason's 

 Mill in this town, suddenly exploded while the hands were 

 assembling for their morning work. The end of the 

 building was torn down by the explosion, four children 

 were killed, and several others severely injured. 



Birmingham. — Rather an unusual circumstance in con- 

 nexion with the bankruptcy case of Mr. Smallwood, the 

 banker, was elicited at the audit meeting in the Birming- 

 ham Court, on Friday last. It appears that after paying 

 all the creditors who have proved the full amount of their 

 claims (20s. in the pound), the residue was handed over 



to the bankrupt. 



Brighton.— Capt. Pechell, M.P. for this town, has ad. 

 dressed the following letter to the High-Constable, in 

 reference to a statement in the Times that the Pavilion 

 was likely to be sold : — " Dear Sir, — My attention having 

 been drawn to a paragraph in the Times newspaper, stat- 

 ing 'That in consequence of a residence in the Isle of 

 Wight having been engaged for her Majesty, during her 

 excursions in the Royal yacht, a bill would be brought 

 into Parliament to enable the Government to dispose of 

 the Pavilion at Brighton,' I am happy to inform you that, 

 having made the necessary inquiries, I am enabled to say 

 there is no truth whatever in the statement as regards the 

 Royal residence in your town. — I am, &c, S. R. Pechell. 

 On Wednesday night, Mr. Solomon, Chief Officer of 

 Police in this town, was murdered by a prisoner who had 

 been brought to the office on a charge of felony. The 

 prisoner it appears is called John Lawrence, and is of a 

 respectable family at Tunbridge Wells, and the son-in-law 

 of a farmer at Speldhurst. He had contracted low habits 

 and had been given into custody for stealing a piece of 

 carpet from a draper in St. James's-street, when he struck 

 the chief-officer on the head with a poker. Mr. Solomon 

 lingered till Thursday, when he expired. The prisoner 

 has been committed for trial. 



Cambridge. — A meeting was held in this town a few 

 days since, to hear Dr. Candlish advocate the cause of the 

 Free Church of Scotland. Considerable opposition was 

 shown to the object of the meeting, and the demonstration 

 proved a failure. 



Devonport. — On Saturday morning the brig Theresa, 

 of this place, which was discharging coals at the wharf 

 near the Arsenal, took fire, and was so much injured as to 

 be past repair, the vessel having been inj udiciously scuttled 

 at low water, so that the water from the engines ran out 

 as soon as it reached the hold. A lad was burned to 

 death in the steerage, and another — the son of Mr. Phil- 

 lips, of Newport, formerly collector of customs in Corn- 

 wall—was so much injured that he died in a few hours. 



i \Manchester Considerable interest has been created 



in the commercial circles by the sudden distraint made 

 upon the Messrs. Fielden for about 300/. Income-tax, 

 alleged to be due from the firm. It appears that^ Messrs. 

 Fielden returned their income-tax papers " ml ; & ut l 

 commissioners not being satisfied with the return, assess 

 them in about 300/. The hon. member for Oldham, 



the senior partner of the concern, appealed ag* 1 * 1 *' , g 

 decision of the commissioners, and upon oath at iiocu 

 confirmed the correctness of the return. He was 

 told that the matter should be further considered, ana ^ 

 when he was wanted again he would be sent for. t 



the matter rested till last week, when, to the Mtonisnpc 

 of his brothers, sheriff's officers walked into ih * lT ZZ iise'. 

 Todmorden, and took possession of the whole pre u - 

 This proceeding created considerable excitement in 

 morden, and might have been the cause of se :rious ^c iu 

 quences. Messrs. Fieldens are so respected by tnei ^ 

 workmen and their neighbours generally, that n ^ 

 officers persisted in their determination to retain p^^^ 

 sion, even their influence might not have been ^ 



to protect them. Finding the feeling that preva. ^ 

 Todmorden, the officers gave up possesion an ^ 

 straight off to Manchester, and took P° sseSsl0D Mr# T. 

 warehouse. Immediately on their aPP* aranc * hoU id be 

 Fielden gave orders that no more business su rf 



transacted until the affair was settled, and witn .* i ^ 

 carrying out these orders refused to allow any & ldeB 

 pass either in or out of the premises. Mr. . ^ 



adhered to his previous resolution, and was detenn ^ 



to pay the tax ; and the officers, by orders ot ine 

 sioners, issued an advertisement in the local pipe™. t0 

 Monday last sold a large quantity of goods sumu 

 make up the amount of the assessment. , jj n j. 



Oxford.— The attention of the authorities or i ^ 

 versity has been directed recently to certain irr # S ^ tff0 







in 



the conduct of some of the junior members J 



