113robintes.

Lord Howiek has addressed a circular to each of the electors who voted for him at the late election, thanking the whole number for their kindness. The circumstances under which his opponents have suc- ceeded, he says, justify the belief that the great body of the electors is not unfavourable to his political opinions or public conduct, and he therefore looks forward to the time when he shall be able to renew the struggle with a more favourable result.

The Honourable Captain Maurice Berkeley has published an address of thanks to the electors of Gloucester, dated on board of her Majesty's ship Thunderer, off Gibraltar, in which he declares, that on " the all- engrossing subject of the Corn-laws he shall give his most cordial sup- port to her Majesty's present Ministers." His creed, he says, is " Live and let live "—" Do unto others as you would they should do unto you." It is a healthy sign when this golden rule is introduced into the addresses of legislators as the basis of their claims to confidence. Our late candidate Mr. Hardy set the example of departing a little from the beaten track, to found his political creed upon this noble maxim.— Worcester Chronicle.

At Walsall, on Wednesday week, about one hundred and fifty electors gave a dinner to Mr. Scott, the new Member for the borough. The events of the late election, especially of the election in the borough, Were the subjects of remark. Mr. Scott deplored the fact that so few of the manufacturing towns had emulated the example of Walsall. He charged a clergyman of the Church, a Mr. Fisk, with twice abusing him in the pulpit ; and he turned from the contemplation of the fierce ecclesiastic to that of a sort of Parliamentary millennium— sriti

Was it for 31inisters to uphold monopoly ? Then let the people follow them, and they soon must fall into one common ruin. He would have them, then, support the first of all religious tenets—" Do to all men as you would have them do to you." This was not a religious maxim only, but a political one; and if that maxim were upheld, they need not then he there; the franchise would be exercised conscientiously, and they would obtain good measures from the spontaneous will of the Parliament. In his opinion, the interests of each class merited an equal regard; and the rules supposed to actuate individuals in the domestic circle ought to be extended to classes and society at large. As for himself, he really could not understand a system founded on principles that supposed one class should be supported to the disadvantage of another ; every individual and every class should derive an equal benefit from the Legislature. On this principle, the strife of Fifties must cease ; men would be comparatively contented—they would live free men, and happily would they die. He, and afterwards Mr. Kettle, the chairman, alluded to a system of wholesale law proceedings with which they accused their opponents of harassing the Liberal electors. Mr. Scott gave an example— An individual was canvassed at that period by the friends of the Tory can- didate: they told him his vote was good ; while at the same time they had in their pockets an indictment of that same man for voting against them at the previous election. He again voted against them, and the indictment was served.

Mr. Kettle stated the case of a person who was indebted to two others : the two creditors employed an attorney to institute proceedings against him ; and all three, the two creditors and the attorney, met at the house of the debtor-elector one day to canvass his vote. Mr. Kettle had been advised to institute counter-proceedings of the same kind; but he would not degrade himself by adopting that mode of warfare. He pointed out, however, an ingenious mode of punishing electioneering delinquents— It would be well that every man against whom these vexatious proceedings had been instituted, should, as a friend of his in Wolverhampton, whose goods were on the point of seizure for church-rates, threatened to do, plant in front of his house a stone, inscribed, " — was indicted for voting at — election: Mr. —, prosecutor ; Mr. —, solicitor."

The Conservatives of Reading celebrated their success at the late election by giving a dinner to their Representatives, Mr. Charles Russell and Lord Chelsea, in the Town-hall, on Wednesday. Mr. Rickford, the Mayor, was appointed president. At four o'clock, more than six hundred respectable inhabitants of the borough and its neighbourhood sat down to table. Of the number were, Sir Claudius Hunter, the Honourable General Broderick, the Honourable F. Cadogan, and Mr. H. Clive. Mr. Russell explained why their success at the late election was greater than that of the opposite party the time before— It had been said that the return of Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, in 1835, had afforded an instance of a more complete triumph. Unquestionably, that was a triumph of which he had personally every reason to he proud; but it was strictly a personal triumph, and not at all political. They were justly proud of their gifted and distinguished townsman : he was the schoolfellow of many of them, and the friend of most. His personal character stood extremely high, and of his politics not much was known. But what was the number of voters who returned him—little more than 300—compared with that hotly of 576 Conservative electors who had returned Mr. Russell and his noble colleague to serve as their representatives in Parliament ? He repeated, that their triumph was unexampled in the recollection of the oldest inhabitant of the borough.

He spoke of the use which the lAlligs made of the Queen's name— They had been absolutely taunted with thwarting the Royal wishes, and opposing objects upon which she had set her heart. But the policy was not hers; it was that of the men whom she happened to find in office when she ascended the throne, and in whom she reposed that confidence which was na- tural in woman. No one could appreciate more largely, no one could respect more deeply than he did, the feelings of natural regard which her Majesty bad gratuitously extended to these Ministers of the first years of her reign. But when the injudicious protection of these Ministers would exhibit her to the country as the leader of a political party instead of a just and impartial arbitress, and a kind and beneficent mistress to all classes of her subjects, had they any doubt that the statements put forth by these persons were utterly spurious, and fabricated by themselves?

The Tories of North Staffordshire gave a public dinner on Friday-, at the Queen's Hotel, Burton-upon-Trent, to the Members for the divi- sion. A numerous party of the gentry and freeholders assembled. Mr. C. Arkwright presided at the principal table, supported by Mr. D. Watts Russell, M.P., Sir Francis Burdett, M.P., Mr. Adderley, M.P., Mr. C. R. Colvile, M.P., Sir Nigel Gresley, and Mr. W. Worthington.

A "grand Conservative festival" was given at Bury, on Friday, to Mr. Henry Hardman, the late Conservative candidate for the borough. There being no room in Bury large enough to accommodate the num- bers who assembled, the dinner took place in the upper story of Mr. Charles Openshaw's manufactory, which was thrown into one room, and splendidly decorated for the occasion. Upwards of six hundred gentlemen sat down to dinner. The chair was taken by Mr. James Openshaw ; and near him were the Honourable R. B. Wilbraham, M.P., Mr. John Roby of Rochdale, and Mr. James Lord, Mayor of Wigan.

During last week Lord Ashley has been making a kind of tour—it is not called of agitation, but of investigation in the manufacturing dis- tricts of Yorkshire and Lancashire, for the purpose of ascertaining the wishes of the population of that quarter. At a meeting in Leeds on the 5th, the following resolutions were carried- " That it is the opinion of this meeting, that a Ten Hours Factory Bill would be advantageous to both the employer and the employed." " That it is the opinion of this meeting that no child under twelve years of age ought to be admitted to work in any factory." " That this meeting is of opinion that no woman ought to be employed in any factory after marriage." " That this meeting is of opinion that all dangerous machinery should be boxed off, to prevent the misfortunes which so frequently occur from its un- guarded state."

" That the thanks of this meeting be given to Lord Ashley for his kind attention to the interests of the labouring-classes, and for his great exertions in endeavouring to obtain a Ten Hours Factory Bill."

Similar resolutions, almost word for word, were carried at a meeting in Huddersfield on the previous day. At the Leeds meeting, in return- ing thanks for the last, Lord Ashley argued in support of a bill in ae-

eorclance with the resolutions, which he intends to bring before Parlia- ment. His arguments nearly followed the course of the resolutions— He contended that what would benefit the mass would never be detrimental to individuals; and no man would deny that twelve hours of uninterrupted labour would tend to lower and degrade the physical condition of the species, to say nothing of the moral effects which must be produced upon females by plunging into a vortex where they learned nothing but vice, by being compelled to spend the best portions of their lives from twelve years of age to twenty- six in a manner which totally unfitted them for maternal duties, and for all the moat interesting tics of nature. Children, in their earlier years, were but too frequently left to the care of hirelings, in many cases little better than themselves. He bad been told of an instance where a mother, shortly after her confinement, bad been carried to the mill, where, in order to find support for herself and tier family, she was doomed to toil twelve hours a day in an up- right position, which she had not strength to support ; whilst her child was de- prived of its natural protector, and of her who alone could administer to its wants ; and, after being dandled for hours in the arms of its idle father—ne- cessarily but not wilfully idle—was carried to the mill to receive from her that support which she would gladly give it if she could. The Ten Hours Bill would, if it accomplished nothing else, give the mother two hours more for her duties at home. The present system reversed the order of Providence—it turned man to woman, and woman to man ; it placed them in the way to pro- duce an offspring, but neglected to provide the means for bringing them up. With respect to religious and moral education, what that was useful could the children be taught either in the way of domestic duties or otherwise, while they were confined as at present ? He had learned recently, in a Sunday school, while inquiring as to the absence of the scholars in the forenoon, that several of the girls were kept away by their mothers in order that they might learn to cook. It was unnatural that children should be deprived of receiving their early lessons from their mothers In Lancashire, parents were maintained in idleness by the earnings of their children ; a reversal of the order of nature, by which they were taught that it was the duty of parents to lay up for the children, and not the children for the parents. From the official returns laid before Parliament of the number of deaths in the manufacturing districts, it was shown that as many died under twenty years of age as under forty in any other part of the country. With regard to accidents in mills, he mentioned the case of a young woman at Stockport, twenty years of age, who was caught by the machinery in a mill in which she worked. and after being whirled round was dashed to the ground, with her ankles dislocated and her thighs broken. He would not say all that be bad heard about her employer, though it might be well enough known ; but this he would state—her wages were due on the Wednesday, and the accident happened on Tuesday : it might be supposed that he paid her her wages, and several weeks in advance, to support her under her distressing circumstances ; but did be do so ?—no, he calculated what the time would come to from the period of the accident to that of her wages being due, and deducted eighteenpence from her earnings! Lord Ashley instituted a prosecution against the factory-owner, and he had the pleasure of recovering for that poor girl 1001. damages; besides which, the man, who refused four shillings to boa his machinery off, had all the expenses on both sides to pay, amounting in all to nearly 600/. It was now proposed that it should be directed by law that all macliinery should be fenced or boxed off, or raised so as to prevent njury.

At the Wesleyan Conference, at Manchester, on Wednesday week, a letter from the Reverend Mr. Hodgson, a member of the Established Church, recommending a union between the Wesleyans and the Church, was discussed at great length. The discussion was renewed on the following day ; when it was resolved that a reply should be sent to Mr. Hodgson, simply thanking him for his kind motives in writing the letter, and expressing a desire that greater unanimity of feeling may obtain among all religious denominations. The Conference have also decided that no preacher shall wear a silk-gown without the express permission of the Conference ; and two clergymen were reproved for having worn the gown in the pulpit.

A half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the Grand Junction Railway was held on Friday, at the Cotton Sales-room, Liverpool. The report read proclaims the Company to be advancing with surprising prosperity. The half-year's receipt had advanced to 208,509/. ; while the expenditure during that time had been 93,9201. The net receipts with former balances would afford a dividend of 51. 10s., without touch- ing the reserve fund of 10,570/. It was stated in a paper read by the Chairman, that the total expense of the Grand Junction line of road (78 miles) had been 1,644,435/., or 21,0821. per mile. The purchase- money of the Warrington and New ton liue (4i-' miles) had been 65,9631, or 13,7811. per mile ; and the price of the Chester and Crew line (21 miles) had been 270,115/, or 12,8631. per mile. The stock of engines, carriages, and implements, was 253,2061. The whole line (1031 miles long) and the works had therefore cost 2,233,230!., or 21,5251. per mile. The capital was 2,203,300/., and the value of the land unsold about 30,0001.; the total expenditure had therefore been less than their grand fund by 2701. He recommended a reduction of the passengers' fares from station to station. There was an increase of 50 per cent. on the receipts during the week of the great agricultural meeting.

On the Chester and North Wales Circuit, last Friday, Charles Old- ham was tried for wilfully giving false answers to the questions put to him when tendering his -vote at the late election for North Cheshire. Oldham tendered his vote for Egerton and Legh as a registered free- holder of houses at Green Mount : he was questioned in the usual way at the time by the agent of the Liberal candidate, Mr. E. J. Stanley ; and his answers were such that he was permitted to vote as a bond fide freeholder in the receipt of rents and profits of his property. it was now shown, however, that he had become a bankrupt soon after the year 1839 ; and that at the time of the election he was, although in oc- cupation of the freeholds for which he qualified, only the agent for his assignees and the receiver of their rents and profits. He was found guilty, and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment.

Seven men. Acton, Lees, Edwardes, Spink, Gregory, Egerton, and Goldstraw, were then tried for election-riots and assaults at Congle- ton, on the 13th July last. Congleton was a polling-place for the first time at the last election. The polling- hooch, which was in the market- place, was opened at nine in the morning; and it was directly filled by a body of persons eho prevented the access of their opponents. Sir Robert Heathcote led up an infirm old man to the booth, but he was refused admittance, and attacked by the crowd. The old man was trampled down and run over, while Sir Robert's head was cut open, and he was beaten away from the booth. Some special constables were sworn in, but they also were stoned and beaten oft A Mr. Chadwick,

on going up to vote, was beaten, stripped of his clothes, and pelted with rotten eggs; the crowd groaning " Tory, Tory!" as he made his escape. Two hundred special constables were then sworn in, and the Riot Act was read, placards announcing the latter fact being posted on the walls; after which the prisoners were apprehended at different times, as having been among the most active of the rioters. The Yeomanry were also called out, but not brought into the town. All the prisoners were found guilty, and sentenced to three months imprisonment; the punishment in the case of Lees being aggravated by the addition of hard labour, as he was proved to have assaulted one of the constables.

At the Chester Assizes, one Byrne was convicted of taking part in an attack on a coachful of Tory voters at Nantwich, during the election, and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. Byrne was identified by three women named Dodds. On Saturday, those women returned to their home in Welch Row, a poor part of Nantwich ; and they have since been the object of constant attacks. On Tuesday, the riot alarmed the rest of the town : the house of Cooper, another witness against Byrne, was attacked ; one man was seriously wounded with a brickbat, and the Police were obliged to interfere. The Chief Constable was violently assaulted; his hat, which was cut through with some sharp instrument, alone saved him from the effects of a blow with a brickbat, and his hands were severely bitten. The office of the Clerk to the Magistrates was damaged; and an attempt was made to fire the house of one Moulton. The interference of the Police was effectual in miti- gating the disturbance ; but the alarm did not at once subside.

At the Carlisle Assizes, on the 5th August, John Kirkpatrick was tried for the murder of Thomas Jardine, a Police-officer, during the late election-riots there. James Jackson was also tried as an accomplice. The proof of the blow given by Kirkpatrick was direct, and the surgeon showed that this blow was the cause of death. Jackson in no way struck the deceased, but he was among the riotous crowd at the time, and was present and active in the commotion which produced Jardine's death. Lord Denman directed the Jury, that if Kirkpatrick was really the murderer, and Jackson was an aider towards that common purpose, they would find him guilty of murder also. But if Kirkpatrick bad only been guilty of manslaughter, Jackson must be acquitted. The Jury convicted Kirkpatrick of manslaughter only : he was sentenced to fifteen years' transportation. Jackson was of course set free.

William Major, an old man almost in a state of second childhood, who was convicted at Exeter Assizes of an attempt to poison his son-in-law, and sentenced to death, has had his life spared, in accordance with Baron Rolfe's recommendation.

The execution of Burlinson, Gill, and Nuttall, for the murder of Mr. Cocker, an innkeeper at Knaresborough, took place at York, on Saturday last. The prisoners have been penitent ever since their con- viction. Burlinson and Gill were agonized and convulsed in death; Nuttall seemed to be gone as soon as the bolt was withdrawn.

A dreadful explosion of inflammable gas took place in Thornley Colliery, Sunderland, at about a quarter past four o'clock on Friday morning. Thornley is an important colliery, which has been in opera- tion about six years ; and this, it is said, is the first " serious " explosion which has occurred. The population, according to the recent census, is about 2,700, chiefly colliers' families. The greater number of the workmen had just left the pit, some persons being left to attend to the ventilation. It is supposed that the explosion was caused by the care- lessness of a boy, Robert Gardener, aged nine, who had the manage- ment of a trap-door by which the ventilation was regulated. A man and eight boys, of ages from nine to eighteen, were killed ; and three persons were seriously injured. Twelve others who were in the same part of the pit escaped unhurt. Two horses perished. The people in the pit did not use Davy lamps, but candles. At an inquest which was held on Saturday, more than one witness said that the accident might have occurred with Davy lamps : although they are safe, yet that ad- vantage is in part counterbalanced by the greater carelessness of the men in using them. The Jury returned a general verdict describing the case, and attributing the deaths to accident.

On Monday morning last, an appalling accident took place at Mold Green, near Huddersfield, by the bursting of a steam-boiler on the premises of Messrs. Samuel and William Dowse, silk and cotton doublers ; which scalded and otherwise injured six females who were standing by, so that three have died, and the lives of one or two others are in great jeopardy. The accident occurred a little before six in the morning, just when the children begin to assemble for work ; and had it been a little later, in all probability the sacrifice of life would have been great. The boiler was of eighteen or twenty-horse power, and was set in the open yard and walled round. The bursting was without no- tice, accompanied by an awful noise, shaking the dwellings around, filling the air with dense smoke of steam and fire, hurling bricks fifty or sixty yards, and dashing the six unhappy girls to the ground, scalded and nearly lifeless. Three of them were precipitated into the reservoir close at hand, but were saved from drowning by the crowd that imme- diately assembled. Every attention was instantly afforded, and all means of relief were tried to save the unhappy sufferers ; but in a few hours Sarah Doulas, aged twelve, expired ; on Tuesday night, Sarah Broadley, a fine girl of sixteen, was relieved from her intense suffer- ings ; and on Thursday morning, Emma Boothroyd, aged fourteen, died. The excitement was great, and thousands went to view the scene of death. On Wednesday, a Coroner's inquest was held on the bodies ; when several persons were examined, and the result of the whole jus- tified the Jury in coming to the unanimous verdict of " Accidental Death," without any deodand. Some idea may be formed of the awful effect of this explosion, wheu it is known that the boiler, weighing about five tons, was completely upset, the south end turned to the north,. and the iron plates torn asunder for several yards.—Leeds Mercury.