Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

in less than five minutes." Hubert was sentenced to transportation for life, three others to five years' imprisonment, one to three years', and three acquitted.

8.-Riot in the churchyard of Tuam, caused by the Protestant curate attempting to read the English service over the grave of a person said to have died a Roman Catholic.

Riot at Truro, caused by the churchwardens attaching goods belonging to four dissenters in the town who refused payment of church rates.

Hostile meeting at Wormwood Scrubbs between Mr. Rushout, M. P., and Mr. Peter Borthwick. After the second firing, friends present interfered, and the party left the ground. The quarrel originated in observations said to have been made by Mr. Rushout in connexion with Mr. Borthwick's ejection from his seat at Evesham by a Parliamentary Committee.

.-Meeting, presided over by Earl Spencer, held in the Freemasons' Tavern, for the purpose of forming an Agricultural Society, on the plan of the Highland Society of Scotland.

10. The contest for the bitterly-contested seat of Woodstock closed to-day, with a majority of 5 for the Marquis of Blandford over his younger brother, Lord John Churchill.

12. Public dinner given to Sir Robert Peel at Merchant Taylors' Hall, by 300 Conservative Members of the House of Commons. In the course of a lengthy exposition of his policy, Sir Robert said: "My object for some years past has been to lay the foundations of a great party, which, existing in the House of Commons, and deriving its strength from the popular will, should diminish the risk and deaden the shock of collisions between the two deliberative branches of the Legislature."

14.-Lord John Russell explains the Government scheme for settling the Irish Tithe Question. It was proposed to substitute a nominal rent-charge of 70/. for every 100/. of tithe composition; these rent-charges to be made over to the State at the rate of sixteen years' purchase on every 100/. of original tithe composition; the rent-charges to be collected by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and to be applied towards supporting the Irish police, charities, and schools. As a preliminary step to discussing the scheme, Sir T. Acland moved to rescind the resolutions of 7th and 8th April, 1835, providing "That any surplus revenue of the present Church Establishment in Ireland not required for the spiritual care of its members be applied to the moral and religious education of all classes of the people without distinction of religious persuasion, providing for the resumption of such surplus, or of any such part of it as may be required by an increase in the number of members of the Established Church." O'Connell made a speech, listened to with great impatience. "Shall Ireland,"

is

he asked, "be governed by a section ? (Vehement shouts from the Opposition.) I thank you-(noise renewed)-for that shriek. Many a shout of insolent domination— (noise)-despicable and contemptible as it (noise) have I heard against my country." (Uproar continued, during which Mr. O'Connell, with uplifted fist and great violence of manner, uttered several sentences which were inaudible in the gallery. The Speaker was at last obliged to interfere and call the House to order.) "Let them shout. It is a senseless yell. It is the spirit of the party that has placed you there. Ireland will hear your shrieks. (Continued uproar.) Yes; you may want us again. (Roars of laughter.) What would Waterloo have been if we had not been there? (Ministerial cheers, and Opposition laughter.) I ask not that question for your renowned Commander-in-chief, who is himself an Irishman, but for the hardy soldiery of Ireland, who fought the battle for him. ("Question and laughter from the Opposition.) I say again, that is the question. The question is, shall the people of Ireland be amalgamated with the people of England? Refuse to receive us into that amalgamation, and abide the consequences. (Cries of "Hear!" from the Opposition benches.) Sneer at me as you like, but recollect that I speak the voice of millions, who will hear again of the base insult offered to me this evening. (Cheers from the Irish Members, accompanied by an observation from Mr. Grattan, which was not heard in the gallery, but which caused a titter on the Opposition benches.) Why should the son of Grattan -(Here the cheers and laughter drowned the remainder of the sentence.) The English people, too, are auditors of your taunt. You tell us that you can command a majority: I say to you in reply, carry your bribery a little further, and you will really have a majority. ("Question! question !") More extensive bribery than you practised at the last election never yet was practised in this world; and the highest amongst you shrink from its investigation." ("Question! question !") The Government proposal was carried by 317 to 298 votes.

say

[blocks in formation]

he had gone in 1834, as Law Member of Council.

17.-The Queen's birthday celebrated by a Drawing-room of unusual splendour.

- Died at his hotel, in the Rue de Florentin, Paris, in his eighty-fourth year, Prince Talleyrand, statesman and diplomatist. His will forbade his autobiography to be published before 1868.

18.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer introduces the annual Budget. Last year exhibited a deficiency of income amounting to 1,150,000., and an excess in expenditure of 646,000!., caused, as was explained, by extra expense in Canada and interest on West India loan. He now proposed to raise 13,000,000/. on Exchequer Bills for the service of the year 1838.

21.-Reported robbery of 12,000l. in sovereigns, from the residence of T. Rogers, billbroker, Mile End, by thieves, who had apparently secreted themselves in the house. Rogers was afterwards apprehended, and committed on suspicion of attempting to defraud his creditors by reporting the robbery. He was, however, liberated on 26th July.

22.-Government defeated in a thin House by a majority of 3, on Sir Eardley Wilmot's motion that negro apprenticeship should immediately cease. This vote was afterwards reversed.

24. By a majority of 30 in a House of 196, Mr. Cresswell carries his motion for an Address to the Queen, praying that commissioners might be employed to examine the claims of persons for losses on account of book-debts and goods ashore at Copenhagen in 1807, and to examine also the claims of persons who suffered losses through the seizure of ships and cargoes by the Danish Government in the same year.

Launch, at Limehouse, of the steamship British Queen, intended to carry goods and passengers between Liverpool and New York. She was considered the largest vessel in the world, being 275 feet in length, and 40 feet in breadth between the paddle-boxes; tonnage, 1,860 tons.

26.-Eliza Grimwood found murdered in her bedroom, Wellington-terrace, Waterloo-road. She was wounded in several places, but the immediate cause of death was a wound in the neck, extending nearly from ear to ear, and severing the windpipe. Her left thumb was also cut, as if she had struggled with the murderer. The unfortunate woman lived with a person named Hubbard, a bricklayer, separated from his wife, and had been in the habit of taking persons home with her from the theatres. On the Friday night she was said to have met with a person in the Strand, who had the look of a foreigner, and dressed like a gentleman. At the inquest, the person able to speak to Eliza Grimwood's latest movements was a companion named Catherine Edwin, who was with her in the

[ocr errors]

He was

Strand when the foreigner came up. an Italian, but could speak English fluently, and had been acquainted with the deceased for months. He frequented the neighbourhood of the "Spread Eagle," Regent-circus, and wore a ring given him by deceased, bearing the words "Semper fidelis." He also carried a claspknife, with which the wounds might have been inflicted. With this person she entered a cab, and drove home about midnight. He was not afterwards seen, and how or when he left the house was never ascertained. Hubbard slept in an apartment alone, and discovered the body (he said) when going out to work in the morning. He awoke a commercial traveller who slept in the house with another woman, and then alarmed the police. The deceased was about twenty-five years of age, of sober habits, and had saved a little money. At the inquest a verdict of wilful murder was returned against some person cr persons unknown. On the 11th June Hubbard was committed to Horsemonger-lane prison, in consequence of an anonymous letter purporting to come from the person who accompanied Eliza Grimwood home, but no evidence being forthcoming before the magistrate he was discharged, and afterwards went to America. On the 13th June the effects of the murdered woman were sold on the premises, and realized high prices.

28. Riotous proceedings commenced at Boughton, Kent, under the leadership of John Thom, alias Sir William Courtenay, a character who had formerly made himself conspicuous in the neighbourhood of Canterbury. He had been for some time confined in a lunatic asylum, but since his release had been living among the peasantry of Boughton, boasting of his birth, and the great possessions unjustly withheld from him. He also blasphemously styled himself the Saviour of the world. In the character of a political reformer, and under pretence of relieving them from the terrors of the New Poor Law, he gathered a band of nearly 100 ignorant and discontented people, and drew them up near Bossenden farm on the evening of the 30th. On the following morning he deliberately shot a constable named Mears. The county now became alarmed, and a party of military was sent from Canterbury to break up the_gang. On seeing the soldiers advance, Courtenay again deliberately drew his pistol, and shot Lieut. Bennett, of the 45th regiment, who was riding in advance of his party, and fell dead upon the spot. The soldiers then immediately fired, when Courtenay and eight others fell dead, two were mortally wounded, and a number crippled for life. Before the engagement Courtenay administered the Sacrament in a wood, and addressed his followers as their Saviour. At the close of his harangue several of the deluded victims knelt down at his feet and worshipped him. So earnest were they in their belief, that for some time after his death they actually expected him to rise from the dead as he had

promised, and at the burial of the body the officiating clergyman, being apprehensive of a disturbance on this ground, omitted that portion of the service relating to the resurrection of the dead.

28.-The Earl of Durham, family, and suite arrive at Quebec. Next day, having taken the necessary oaths, the Earl issues a proclamation announcing that he had assumed the administration of the Government of Canada; that he would protect and encourage all loyal subjects without regard to party, race, or politics; that he would unsparingly use the power he held, civil and military, to punish the violators of the law; and that he invited the co-operation of the people of British America in the work of constructing a system of government that should protect the rights and interests of all classes.

31.-The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, in the course of a discussion touching the settlement of Mr. Young in Auchterarder, resolved, by a majority of 183 to 142, that it would regard any application to a civil court by its members as a breach of ecclesiastical discipline.

June 3.-Rupture between Great Britain and Persia. For the purpose, apparently, of lessening British influence at Herat, the Ambassador at the Shah's camp was treated with studied disrespect, and some members of the mission directly insulted. To-day Mr. M'Neill addressed a letter to the Foreign Minister at the Persian camp, announcing his intention to depart for the frontier on the following day. "I feel myself called upon," he concluded, "to inform you that, until the reparation and satisfaction I have demanded for the indignities already offered shall have been fully given, the Queen of England cannot receive at her Court any Minister who may be sent thither by the Shah of Persia."

5.-Mr. B. Disraeli writes to the Editor of the Morning Post :-" In opening the case of the petitioners against the return of Mr. Fector for Maidstone on Friday last, Mr. Austin stated, that Mr. Disraeli, at the general election, had entered into engagements with the electors of Maidstone, and made pecuniary promises to them, which he had left unfulfilled.' I should have instantly noticed this assertion of the learned gentleman had not a friend, to whose opinion I was bound to defer, assured me that Mr. Austin, by the custom of his profession, was authorized to make any statement from his brief which he was prepared to substantiate, or attempt to substantiate. The inquiry into the last Maidstone election has now terminated; and I take the earliest opportunity of declaring, and in a manner the most unqualified and unequivocal, that the statement of the learned gentleman is utterly false. There is not the slightest shadow of foundation for it. I myself never, either directly or indirectly, entered into any pecu

niary engagements with, or made any pecuniary promises to, the electors of Maidstone; and therefore I cannot have broken any, or left any unfulfilled. The whole expenses of the contest in question were defrayed by my lamented colleague; and I discharged to him my moiety of those expenses, as is well known to those who are entitled to any knowledge on the subject. Sir, I am informed that it is quite useless, and even unreasonable, in me to expect from Mr. Austin any satisfaction for these impertinent calumnies, because Mr. Austin is a member of an honourable profession, the first principle of whose practice appears to be that they may say anything provided they be paid for it. The privilege of circulating falsehoods with impunity is delicately described as doing your duty towards your client; which appears to be a very different process to doing your duty towards your neighbour. This may be the usage of Mr. Austin's profession, and it may be the custom of society to submit to its practice; but, for my part, it appears to be nothing better than a disgusting and intolerable tyranny; and I for one shall not bow to it in silence. I therefore repeat, that the statement of Mr. Austin was false; and inasmuch as he never attempted to substantiate it, I conclude that it was on his side but the blustering artifice of a rhetorical hireling, availing himself of the vile licence of a loose-tongued lawyer, not only to make a statement which was false, but to make it with a consciousness of its falsehood." (See Nov. 22.)

11. At a banquet given in Manchester to Mr. Fielding, M. P. for Oldham, the Rev. J. R. Stephens thus sought to excite his hearers against the New Poor Law :-"I do think the country needs the stalwart arm, the mighty tongue, and the powerful energetic movements of brave people with arms in their hands, to say, 'We will shed the last drop of our blood on the field rather than submit to that law of devils.' Unless the people of England arm, and use their arms, if needs be, there will be no doubt of the fact, that the New Poor Law Bastiles are intended to be a chain of barracks round the country, each capable of holding from five hundred to a thousand men, and each intended to be garrisoned in part by the regular military, and in part by the Russellite Rural Police."

14.-Riot in the streets of Lisbon while the King with his Court and ecclesiastics were engaged in celebrating the festival of Corpus Christi. Sa da Bandeira was wounded in his carriage. Next day several battalions of the National Guard were disbanded.

16. Duel at Wormwood Scrubbs between Lord Castlereagh and M. de Melcy, husband of Madame Grisi, arising out of a declaration of attachment made to the latter by his lordship. He was slightly wounded by the first shot, after which the parties left the ground mutually satisfied.

19.-In the course of a debate raised by the Marquis of Londonderry regarding the treat

ment of the British Legion in Spain, an altercation causing considerable excitement in the House takes place between the Marquis and Lord Lyndhurst with reference to the phrase "catastrophe" or "dire catastrophe" used by the latter. The noble Marquis vehemently protested against the frequent interruption to which he was subjected.

19.-A British expedition enters the Persian Gulf, and takes undisputed possession of Karrack. The expedition was despatched by Lord Auckland to hold itself in readiness for any service upon which Mr. M'Neill might deem it expedient to employ it upon "with a view to the maintenance of our interests in Persia.”

21.-Fire in the Christian quarter of Cairo, destroying two streets.

23. Twelve coronation peerages gazetted.

24. The Persians make a desperate attack on Herat, but are driven back by the Affghan garrison, aided greatly by the courageous example of young Eldred Pottinger, who had been within the city for weeks as the adviser of Yar Mahomed.

25. Great storm in Lancashire, accompanied by destruction of life and property.

26.-Sir E. Knatchbull obtains the appointment of a select committee to inquire into all the circumstances connected with the discharge of Thom, alias Courtenay, from Kent Lunatic Asylum.

- Lord Auckland involves Great Britain in the politics of Affghanistan, a treaty of alliance and friendship being executed this day between Maharajah Runjeet Singh of Lahore and the exiled ruler of Affghanistan, Shah Soojahool-Moolk, “with the approbation of, and in concert with, the British Government." The main design of the treaty was the destruction of the power of the Barukzye Sirdars, as represented by Dost Mahomed, and the replacing of the old King on the throne. It was also provided that Shah-Soojah's rights over Sindh and Shikarpoor should be arbitrated and adjusted by the British Government.

un

28.-Coronation of Queen Victoria. The morning (Thursday) dawned rather towardly, but cleared up in the forenoon, and continued favourable throughout the day. The procession left Buckingham Palace soon after 10 o'clock, and passed up Constitutionhill, along Piccadilly, St. James's-street, Pall Mall, Charing Cross, and Parliament-street, to Westminster Abbey, which was reached about half-past 11. Her Majesty was received with enthusiasm by the multitude of eager spectators who lined the route. At the west door of the Abbey she was received by the great officers of state, and then proceeded to her robing chamber. At 12 o'clock the grand procession passed up the nave into the choir. As the Queen advanced slowly towards the centre of the choir to the chair of homage, the anthem "I was glad was sung, and the Westminster boys

chanted "Vivat Victoria Regina." On reach ing a chair placed midway between the chair of homage and the altar, the Queen knelt, and repeated her private prayers. The "Re cognition" then took place by the Archbishop of Canterbury: "Sirs, I here present unto you Queen Victoria, the undoubted Queen of this realm; wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage, are you willing to do the same?" The universal acclamation then burst forth, "God save Queen Victoria!" The prescribed prayers, Litany, and Communion Service were then said by the Archbishop; and a sermon, on 2 Chron. xxxiv. 31, preached by the Bishop of London. Then followed the administration of the Oath, the Veni Creator, the Anointing, and the Coronation. The Dean of Westminster took the crown from the altar, and passed it to the Archbishop, who reverently placed it on the Queen's head. From every part of the crowded edifice there then arose the enthusiastic cry, "God save the Queen!" The peers and peeresses put on their coronets, the bishops their caps, and the kings of arms their crowns; trumpets sounded, drums were beat, and the Tower and Park guns fired by signal. The presentation of the Bible, Benediction, and Homage were the next features in the ceremony, after which the Queen received the two sceptres, and an anthem, "This is the day," The Sacrament was then adminis tered, at the conclusion of which her Majesty was invested in her royal robes by the Lord Chamberlain, and proceeded to the west door of the Abbey, wearing her crown, and holding the sceptre with the cross in her right hand and the orb in her left. It was about a quarter to 4 o'clock when the royal procession passed through the nave in the same order in which it had entered. In their return to the Palace the Queen wore her crown, and the royal and noble personages their coronets. Among many foreigners of distinction present, Marshal Soult (French Envoy Extraordinary) was par ticularly noticed and applauded. In the evening the Queen entertained a dinner-party, and witnessed from the Palace the discharge of fireworks in the Green Park. The Duke of Wellington also gave a grand ball at Apsley House. The theatres and nearly all the other places of amusements were, by her Majesty's command, opened gratuitously for the evening. A fair was also commenced in Hyde Park which continued to the end of the week. immense concourse of people which filled London during the day conducted themselves with the greatest order, and no accident of any moment occurred.

was sung.

The

28. During the Coronation rejoicings at Liverpool the first stone of St. George's Hall was laid.

---

Lord Durham calls together his first Special Council, consisting for the most part of members of his own suite, and issues an Ordinance to provide for the security of the Province

[ocr errors]

1838.

be

of Lower Canada." This Ordinance decreed that five of the most prominent rebels who had "acknowledged their participation in high treason, and submitted themselves to the pleasure of her Majesty," and sixteen others, among whom were Papineau and Nelson, who had absconded, were ordered to transported to Bermuda during pleasure. The Ordinance further enacted, "That if any of the above-mentioned who have been so condemned, or against whom warrants have been so issued, shall at any time hereafter, except by permission of the Governor-General of her Majesty's provinces on the continent of North America and High Commissioner for the adjustment of certain important questions depending in the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, or, if there shall be no such GovernorGeneral and High Commissioner, by the permission of the Governor-in-chief, or Governor, or other person administering the government of this province as hereinafter provided, be found at large, or come within the said province, they or he shall in such case be deemed and taken to be guilty of high treason, and shall on conviction of being so found at large or coming within the said province, without such permission as aforesaid, suffer death accordingly."

29.-Died at Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Alexander Jolly, Bishop of Moray, in the eighty-third year of his age and forty-second of his episcopate. During his long life he presented a rare union of simple piety with profound learning.

30.-Musical Festival commenced in Westminster Abbey, where the Coronation decorations were still kept up. The rehearsal was on this day and the performance on July 2.

the

Mrs. Fitzherbert's marriage to Prince Regent. Lord Stourton writes to-day to the editor of the Edinburgh Review:"The ceremony was performed, not out of the kingdom, as you have stated, but in the drawing-room of her house in town, in the presence of an officiating Protestant clergyman, and two of her own nearest relatives. All the parties being now deceased, to ordinary readers this discrepancy will appear of little moment; as the ceremony, wherever it was performed, could confer no legal rights; and no issue followed this union. But when I inform you that, in the one case-that stated in your article-it would have been an invalid marriage as affecting the conscience of Mrs. Fitzherbert in the sight of her own Church; and that, in the other case, it formed a conscientious connexion in the opinion of such portions of Christendom as hold communion with the see of Rome, I am confident you will permit this statement, under my name and responsibility, to appear in your journal. I shall, moreover, add, that the conscientious validity of the contract depended upon the fact that the discipline of the Council of Trent as to marriage has never been received in this country.' (22)

JULY

July 5.-Review of Artillery and Engineers at Woolwich, for the entertainment of distinguished foreigners present at the Coronation.

9.-Review of Cavalry and Infantry in Hyde Park, attended by the Queen, the Duke of Wellington, Marshal Soult, Princes Esterhazy and Schwartzenberg, and other foreigners of distinction.

Died at Dupoorie, East Indies, aged 53, the Right Hon. Sir Robert Grant, Governor of Bombay.

12.-John Rickey, a soldier, tried for shooting Sergeant Hamilton of the 12th Lancers, at Hampton Court. He was found guilty, and sentenced to death, but afterwards received a pardon.

Hostilities break out between France and

Mexico.

13.-Banquet at Guildhall to Ambassadors Extraordinary, and other foreign visitors. The Duke of Wellington and Marshal Soult were toasted together.

17.-The Court of Chancery decided the Leeman baronetcy case, and the immense accompanying fortune, in favour of a poor Nottingham mechanic of that name.

18.-The Rev. Mr. Gathercole convicted at York Assizes of publishing in The Watchman a libel imputing improper practices to nuns at Darlington and Stockton.

19.-Discussion in the House of Commons on the Million Loan (Ireland) Bill and the payment of Irish tithe arrears. In opposition to an amendment proposed by Mr. Hume, Lord John Russell, by a large majority, carried his motion: "That Exchequer Bills, to an amount not exceeding the residue of the sum of one million, remaining unappropriated under an Act of the 3d and 4th of King William the Fourth, chapter 100, and under an Act of the 6th and 7th year of his said Majesty, chapter 108, be issued and applied, together with the instalments paid, or which may be paid, under the first-mentioned Act, to the relief of the owners of compositions for tithes in Ireland, for the years 1836 and 1837 and that the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury be authorized to remit such instal ments in such cases. ""

[blocks in formation]
« VorigeDoorgaan »