gbe iprobintes. •

A numerous meeting of Hertfordshire tenant-farmers was hold at St. Albans, on Wednesday, "for the purpose of entertaining Mr. John Horn- castle, of Gammon's Farm at a public dinner, and presenting him With a testimonial of the admira;ion with which they regard the independent and truly English spirit in which he expressed his opposition to the very strin- gent preservation of game within the last few years adopted by his landlord, the Earl of Essex." A hundred and twenty gentlemen sat down to dinner; Mr. C. H. Latimore took the head of the table; and Mr. Bright, M.P., was present by special invitation. The Chairman stated Mr. Ilonicastle's rase—

In 1831, Mr. Iforneastle became 'The occupier of Gammon's Farm, under the late Earl of Essex. The farm, which contained 250 acres, and the game on it, was moderately preserved; the tenant being allowed for his own amusement to keep greyhounds, and also permitted to have the privilege of ferreting and shooting rabbits. When the present Earl succeeded to the property, in 1839, orders were given for a strict preservation of the game. In 1840, Mr. Horneastle found the increase of game so injurious, that with some other tenants who were similarly situated, he caused a survey to be made; and he found the injury to himself in that year to equal 631. 10s. After some squabbling, Lord Essex agreed to allow 401. remuneration; but declared that if the claim were renewed, the rent would be raised. In 1844, the mischief became intolerable, and a new survey ascer- tained the loss to be 711. 102. on forty acres only. A correspondence between the Earl and his tenant ensued, and it was carried on in the papers. The Earl of Essex admitted the mischief that was likely to arise from a very stringent preservation of game; but the defence which his Lordship set up was, that the preservation of game on his estates was not so strict as to cause any mischief to the farmers. That was however, answered by Mr. llorncastle ; who clearly proved that the preservation of the game on the estates of the Earl of Essex was of that strict nature which was calculated to cause loss to the farmer. The result of the correspondence was that Mr. Homeastle had notice to quit his farm.

Mr. Latimore declared that the tenant-farmers did not at all wish to put an end to field-sports; and that they would themselves be willing, without spies or gamekeepers, to maintain a sufficient supply of game for their landlords, including the now expiring race of foxes. Having mentioned some other instances of mischief done by excessively-preserved game he concluded his speech by presenting a testimonial to Mr. Honicastle, lulnd- somely framed, and expressing approbation of his conduct: it was signed by 316 persons, of whom 241 were tenant-farmers occupying 65,000 acres of land. The testimonial was accompanied by a purse of sixty guineas, as a present for Mr. Horncastle's youngest son, and by the toast of "Mr. John Horncastle." Mr. Horncastle returned thanks, in a brief speech, distinguished by forbearance towards his antagonist in the controversy. Among the subsequent toasts were given the names of Mr. Bright and Mr. Cobden; and Mr. Bright made a speech.

The Gloucester Journal announces that the late High Sheriff of the county, Mr. Joseph Yorke, of Forthampton Court, near Tewkesbury, has abandoned game-preserving and broken up his staff of keepers.

A requisition is actually determined on to invite three eminent renting- farmers to stand as candidates for the next Parliamentary election. The farmers of Devon are determined to have men who pay rent to look after their interest in the House of Commons. We do not anticipate much imme- diate success from such a step; but it will teach the aristocracy a lesson, and open the eyes of the tenant-farmers to their power, if they choose to act in conceit —Western Times. (Exeter.) The proceedings at the meeting of Mr. Gardner's factory-hands have created, as we expected, a lively interest not only throughout the whole of the manufacturing community but among members of the Legislature. We also hear that Mr. Horner, the Inspector of Factories for this district, is about to visit Preston, to inquire into the circumstances; so that it is probable an official statement of the results of this important experiment will be laid before Government. We understand that Messrs. llorrocks, Jacson and Co., of this town, are about to reduce the hours of labour in their rill to eleven daily, as Mr. Gardner has done; and we believe some others of our influential manufacturers will speedily follow in this march of improvement.—Preston Chronicle.

Messrs. Ainscow and Tomlinson, machine-makers of Preston have, in compliance with the request of their workmen, granted them half-an-hour in each day as tea-time, for five days in the week; a privilege of which they were deprived during the late depression.—Preston Guardian.

Two hundred members of the Manchester Operative Conservative Asso- ciation dined at the Corn Exchange on Tuesday. The Association was broken up on Sir Robert Peel's accession to office, as no longer needed: it has now been reformed, as no longer needless. The meeting was distin- guished by the influential persons who were not there—that is, by the num- ber of excuses sent. Among the absent was Mr. Ferrand ; who promised to come if he could, on condition that the dinner was "intended to sup port sound principles, not to support a faction"—

' The Operative Conservative Associations were of immense influence in placing the present Government in power; and they fought under the banner of 'the Altar, the Throne, and the Cottage.' Sir R. Peel intends, in this present session, to throw down the altar of our faith, on which the throne has been erected; and ever since his accession to office he has supported with all his influence the Poor-law Com- missioners in their desolating warfare against the poor man's cottage." Lord John Manners, however, intimated that he withheld not only his

presence but his concurrence— "London, 11th March 1845. "Sir—In answer to your flattering invitation for the 25th instant, I beg leave to inform you, that my engagements during Easter recess would prevent me having the honour to accept it, did I fully and heartily concur in the objects of your proposed meeting; but I will frankly own to you, that I feel no affection or regard for that abstract something or nothing called 'Conservatism,' and could not, therefore, even were I otherwise able to, take a part in the festival. In these days, more distinctive principles and more decided acts are, in my opinion, re- quired than Conservatism affords, or is likely to afford. I would rather hear a body of right-principled Englishmen, such as will be assembled on the 25th in- stant, assert, for instance, their determination to maintain the integrity of the Welch Episcopate than the institutions of the country'—which may mean institu- tions of any sort. I know the frank and honest character of the Manchester men too well to fear that you or they will resent this brief expression of my convictions on this subject, however they may dissent from them. "With a hearty. wish that old Tory principles and sympatnies may once more strike a deep root into the English soil, I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

"To Mr. James English.' Joins Munesas."

The vicarage of Ware, which has long been disturbed by religious dis- sensions, has become vacant by the death of the Reverend H. Coddington, M. A. The reverend gentleman was also Vicar of Thundridge, which is contiguous to Ware. Both benefices are in the gift of Trinity College, Cambridge.—Times.

At Exeter, on Saturday, Miss Hillyard Cummins, the daughter of a gentleman living at Tavistock, recovered damages from Lieutenant Henry Willesiord, of the Sixty-fourth Regiment of Foot. The pair had formed an attachment very early in life; but the connexion was broken off, at the desire of Mr. Willesford's father. They met again, and the gentleman renewed his snit; but subsequently he again withdrew, apparently because he discovered his means to be much less than he had supposed—a hundred odd pounds a year besides his pay. The Jury awarded 7001. damages. Five men were convicted at Kingston Assizes, on Tuesday, for poaching it Wonersh: they used no violence to a gamekeeper whom they met, and cense quently the Judge was lenient in his sentences. Three men have been found guilty of arson, at the Cambridge Assizes; and a boy fourteen years old only _escaped by a flaw in the indictment. In both cases agricultural produce was fired.

At Leicester, on Tuesday, a number of Rersons were tried for a riot in forcibly entering Lord liarborough s park, and fighting his people, in an attempt to make a survey for the proposed Syston and Peterborough Railway. They were found guilty of an assault, fined a shilling each, and ordered to be imprisoned for one month.

John Raisin, a young man, has been tried at Leicester, for attempting to murder a young woman to whom he was engaged to be married. One night, when they had quarrelled at a public-house, he struck her, followed her into the street, and slightly wounded her in the throat with a knife. Some men interfered, and the woman ran away; Raisin followed, and stabbed her in the left shoulder, inflict- ing a very severe wound; and when she was taken into a house he again struck her, and pulled her out of a chair. Raisin was found guilty of cutting and wounding, but acquitted of the intent to minder; and he was ordered to be trans- ported for fifteen years.

At Coventry, on Wednesday, Susanna Jarvis, a girl thirteen years old, was tried for the murder of an infant which she was employed to nurse, some time since. The baby was killed by a thrust from a carving-knife, and the girl said a strange man had entered the house and murdered the infant. As it was proved that a man was seen to leave the house about the time, the prisoner was acquitted.

John Tawell was executed at eight o'clock yesterday morning, Wore the front of Aylesbury Gaol, in the presence of a great crowd, assembled from the surround- ing district and from London. The revolting ceremony was conducted with less than the usual ostentation; newspaper-reporters being (very properly) excluded from the prison. At five o'clock in the morning, Tawell handed to the Ordinary of the Gaol a confession, which he had written a few days ago: he acknowe ledged that he did poison Sarah Hart, and that he had also attempted it in Sep- tember last; and he averred that he was actuated by no pecuniary motive, but by the dread lest his past connexion with the woman should come to the knowledge of his wife. He requested that copies of his confession might not be published, but only the substance. His demeanour to the last was tolerably calm, though not hardened.

A memorial was presented to Sir James Graham, on Monday last, which had been signed by four hundred respectable inhabitants of Aylesbury, praying for a commutation of the sentence on Tawell. Sir James replied, that he could per- ceive no sufficient reason to interfere with the course of law.

Contradiction has been given to several reports and hints injurious to the con- vict—such as the one that Tawell's partner in New South Wales had died sud- denly,. and that his wife's death was also sudden. "He never had a partner of any kind, nor did he ever come into possession of property through the sudden death of another person. His first wife was five months on a bed of sickness; daring which time she was attended by Dr. Elliotson and other medical gentle- men, and she died of a pulmonary complaint. His eldest son was laid up five months, and his second son nine months, with a similar complaint, of which they both died, the former at Totteridge."

The report that the Magistrates deliberated for two days on the costume in which Tawell should die is also contradicted. "The facts are these, that the Visiting Magistrates met on Tuesday the 18th instant, and immediately and unanimously determined that the unfortunate culprit should have every indul- gence granted to him for his short remaining period of life, and that he should not be compelled to wear the prison-dress; and hence the misrepresentation of a dress to be hanged in."

Thomas Jennings, a gamekeeper of Thatcham, who poisoned a little boy, his son, was hanged for the crime at Reeding, on Saturday. He made no confession.

Joseph Hawkesley, a farmer of Whittington, near Chesterfield, was committed for trial the other day for murdering Mrs. Green, his mother-in-law, to whom he was in arrear with his rent. In the evening he hanged himself with his neck- cloth to a hinge of his prison-cell at Chesterfield.

Three men have been killed, and six others dresdfiillymaugled, at an iron-mine near Pontypool, through the breaking of a chain by which they were descending the shaft: they were precipitated to the bottom, and three tons weight of the chain fell upon them. A verdict of "Accidental death" has been returned by a Co- roner's Jury.

An accident similar to one which occurred lately at Liverpool happened at Monk's Ferry Tunnel, in Birkenhead, last Saturday. A train from Chester was not sufficiently retarded indescending the inclined plane through the tunnel, and it dashed with great violence against the buffers placed at the termination of the line. Though the passengers were much shaken, none were dangerously hurt: one lady, however, had two front-teeth broken by her chin striking against the fore. head of another lady.

The Shin•boree Journal relates a ease of gross superstition at Weymouth. A fellow named Stone, having had a quarrel with his mother-in-law, not only beat and kicked her, but drew a prickly thorn across her face till it was covered with blood. His defence for this refinement of brutality was, that his mother-in-law had bewitched him, and that the only way of breaking her spell over him was by drawing blood from her person.

Thomas Evans has been elected Governor of Carmarthen Workhouse. Evans was last year taken prisoner among a party of other Rebeccaites for an attack on this very workhouse; and, strange to say, he is now duly installed master of it. It is expected the Poor-law Commissioners will interfere.—Bristol Times.

Van Amburgh's stud, with his elephant, lions, and other animals' have been sold by auction, at the Roman Amphitheatre, in Manchester. An African lion brought 3501., another lion 3101., the elephant 7501., and a very fine giraffe 4001.