Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

the recurrence of it, you must suffer an ignominious death. What may have been your precise or actual motive it is impossible to state. I fear it has been the lust of filthy lucre. It has been demonstrated in this instance by the providence of God, in no ordinary manner, that the crime committed in darkness should be brought to light." The prisoner was sentenced to be executed on the 6th of July. He looked very pale, but in other respects betrayed little emotion.

18.-Edward Oxford writes from the prison of Newgate, to Mr. Pelham, his solicitor: "Have the goodness to write to Lord Normanby, and ask him to let me have some books to read; such as 'Jack the Giant-Killer,' Jack and the Bean-stalk," 'Jack and his Eleven Wives,' 'My Little Tom Thumb,' 'The Arabian Nights' Entertainment,' and all such books from such celebrated authors. And ask him, as a prisoner of war, whether I may not be allowed on a parole of honour? and on what grounds, ask him, does he detain one of her Majesty's subjects?"

20. Severe strictures passed on the Tory press for affecting to believe that the attempt of Oxford was a mere Whig trick to secure the Ministry in office.

21.-General thanksgiving for her Majesty's recent escape.

24. Sir J. J. Gordon Bremer issues a notice declaring the river and harbour of Canton in a state of siege.

25. Mr. Fitzroy Kelly obtains leave to introduce a bill abolishing the punishment of death in all cases except murder and treason.

29.-Tried at Durham Sessions, Robert Taylor, under twenty years of age, charged with six acts of bigamy, and obtaining money under the pretence of being heir to large properties. Two cases were proved against him, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for two years and a half.

Experiments with Glegg and Samuda's atmospheric railway at Wormwood Scrubbs.

Died at Viterbo, near Rome, aged 65, Lucien Buonaparte, Prince of Canino, brother of Napoleon I.

30. The Canada Government Bill read a second time in the House of Lords to-day; but the Duke of Wellington warned the Government of opposition in Committee, on the ground that the present was not the time, nor the measure before the House the method, of permanently settling the Canadian differences.

July 2.-O'Connell's motion, that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Registration of Irish Voters to make provision for defining the qualification entitling persons in Ireland to register, rejected by 311 to 162

votes.

5.-The Island of Chusan captured by the British force, under the command of Brigadier

[blocks in formation]

Lord Stanley intimates his abandonment of the Irish Registration Bill, which had undergone the ordeal of ten divisions in the House, and been successful in nine.

8. The trial of Edward Oxford, for high treason, commenced at the Central Criminal Court, before Lord Denman, Baron Alderson, and Mr. Justice Patteson. Parties were admitted by ticket to the body of the Court, and on and around the bench several members of the aristocracy were accommodated with seats. When Oxford was brought into Court he advanced with a smile to the bar, cast his eyes quickly around, and then commenced playing in a listless manner with the herbs strewn in front of the dock. The Attorney-General

His

stated the case for the Crown, which was based mainly on his statements and confession. (See June 10, 11.) For the defence, the plea of insanity was set up by prisoner's counsel, Mr. Sidney Taylor, and it was sought to be established in evidence that the fact was well known to his relatives and acquaintance. grandfather had been repeatedly confined in a lunatic asylum, and his father was subject to fits of mental aberration. So far as connexion with any secret society was concerned, the Crown had not been able to establish one single circumstance even of suspicion, and it was now urged in defence that the regulations and threatening letters found in the prisoner's possession had all been written by himself, while labouring under the delusions to which he was subject. Chief Justice Denman charged the jury on the 10th. On the subject of insanity he said: "If they thought the prisoner was at the time labouring under any delusion which prevented him from judging of the effects of the act he had committed, they could not find him guilty. He might be labouring, perhaps, under a delusion which affected every part of his conduct, and was not directed to one object alone. that were the case, and if the disease affected him at the time the act was committed, then he could not be held accountable for it. One cannot say what a person labouring under such a delusion may do; and the motive, in that case, would not be apparent. With regard to the motive, a love of notoriety had been suggested; but might this absurd sort of love of notoriety not as well have been gratified by firing pistols unloaded as loaded? And if they were unloaded, there could not be an offence. But although he laboured under a delusion, if he fired the loaded pistols at the Queen know. ing the result which would follow his conduct, although forced by his morbid desire for notoriety to the act, he would be responsible

If

for his conduct, and liable to criminal punishment.... It is for you to determine whether the prisoner did fire the pistols, or either of them, at her Majesty, and whether the pistols, both or either of them, were loaded with a bullet. Supposing, gentlemen, that you should come to a satisfactory conclusion that the pistols, or one of them, were levelled at her Majesty, and that they or either of them were loaded, then the defence which has been set up raises the further inquiry whether, at the time the prisoner committed the act, he was responsible for it.' The jury then retired to consult, and having been absent about three-quarters of an hour, they returned the following special verdict: "We find the prisoner, Edward Oxford, guilty of discharging the contents of two pistols, but whether or not they were loaded with ball has not been satisfactorily proved to us; he being of unsound state of mind at the time.' Some discussion then took place on a motion by the Attorney-General for confining the prisoner under the 40th Geo. III., during her Majesty's pleasure; which was resisted by Mr. Taylor, on the ground that the jury had acquitted the prisoner of the offence with which he was charged by negativing the fact that the pistols were loaded with bullets. The jury again retired, and were absent nearly an hour, when they returned with a verdict of "Guilty, prisoner being at the time insane." Mr. Baron Alderson: "Then you find the prisoner guilty but for his insanity?" The Foreman : We do, my Lord." Lord Denman: "The Court asked you this question, Do you acquit the prisoner on the ground of insanity?" The Foreman: "Yes, my Lord, that is our intention." Lord Denman: "Then the verdict will stand thus, Not guilty, on the ground of insanity.' The Attorney-General: "That being the case, I have now humbly to move your Lordships, on behalf of the Crown, that the prisoner at the bar, Edward Oxford, be confined in strict custody during her Majesty's pleasure." Lord Denman: "That is a matter of course." The prisoner, who had remained unmoved during the whole of this argument, walked briskly from the bar, apparently glad that the trial was over.

[ocr errors]

8. A formal union completed between the Synod of Ulster and the Secession Synod, numbering together about 700,000 Presby

lerians.

Lord Aberdeen withdraws his Scotch Beacfices Bill.

11.-Lord Keane entertained by the East India Company at the London Tavern. In the course of the evening, the President of the Board of Control (Sir J. C. Hobhouse) announced that within these last few weeks, the Government of India "had been enabled to make an addition to its territory, the vast consequences of which could scarcely be imagined in the wildest dreams of fancy, and which for centuries would be of advantage to the empire." It was not generally understood whether allu

sion was made to acquisitions in China or Aff ghanistan.

13. The Canada Government Bill read a third time in the House of Lords, the most important of the alterations made in committee relating to the extension of time for proclaiming the Act. The amendments were afterwards accepted by the Commons, and the Bill received the Royal Assent.

A Royal Message read in the House of Lords, recommending the introduction of a Regency Bill to the attention of their lordships. In compliance therewith, a bill was introduced by the Lord Chancellor, constituting Prince Albert sole regent in the event of her Majesty's demise before her offspring attained legal age.

Crowded meeting of the Loyal National Association of Ireland held in Dublin, when O'Connell delivered a speech, promising Repeal within a year.

14. Mr. Hume's motion for an address to the Queen praying for the opening of the British Museum and National Galleries on Sundays, rejected by 82 to 44 votes.

15.-Convention signed at London between the Courts of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, on the one part, and the Ottoman Porte on the other, for the pacification of the Levant. To the surprise of many, France was not included in the alliance. The terms annexed to the Convention were, that Mehemet Ali should within ten days accept from the Sultan the administration of the Pashalic of Egypt, with the command of the fortress of St. Jean d'Acre, and pay an annual tribute corresponding to the extent of territory placed under his protectorate. The fifth condition prescribed that all the treaties and all the laws of the Ottoman Empire should be applicable to Egypt and the Pashalic of Acre, but the Sultan consents "that, on condition of the regular payment of tribute above-mentioned, Mehemet Ali and his descendants shall levy imposts in the name of the Sultan, and as the delegate of his Highness, in the provinces of which the administration is to be to him confided. It is further understood, that, on the condition of receiving the above taxes and imposts, Mehemet Ali and his descendants shall provide for all expenses of the civil and military administration of said provinces.' The terms were rejected by Mehemet Ali, and warlike proceedings at once took place along the Syrian coast. Lord Palmerston, in a note to M. Guizot, thus alludes to the withdrawal of France as a party to the Convention: "The Four Powers, in signing this Convention, could not but feel the greatest regret to find themselves thus momentarily separated from France in an affair so essentially European; but this regret is dininished by the reiterated declarations which the French Government has made to them that it has nothing to object to the arrangements which the Four Powers desire to make Mehemet Ali accept, provided Mehemet Ali consents to

[ocr errors]

them; that in no case will France oppose the measures which the Four Courts, in concert with the Sultan, might judge necessary to obtain the assent of the Pasha of Egpyt; and that the only motive which has prevented France from uniting with the other Powers on this occasion is derived from considerations of various kinds, which rendered it impossible for the French Government to take a part in coercive measures against Mehemet Ali. The Four Courts entertain, then, the well-grounded hope that their separation from France on this subject will be only of short duration, and will not in any manner interfere with the relations of sincere friendship which they so earnestly desire to preserve with France; and moreover, that they anxiously address themselves to the French Government in order to obtain its moral support, notwithstanding they cannot hope for its material co-operation.'

20. The Chancellor of the Exchequer carries a resolution making the duty payable on sugar manufactured within this country from any material whatever, the same as that on sugar extracted from beetroot.

The line of the Great Western Railway further opened from Steventon to the Faringdon Road, a distance of sixty-three miles from London.

21. On the occasion of the second reading of the Regency Bill, the Duke of Sussex took occasion to allude to his own relation to the Queen, not because he was ambitious of being included in the Regency, but because he thought the position of the Royal Family should not be altogether overlooked.

22.-The Morning Chronicle announces that the Rev. Connop Thirlwall, D.D., has been appointed Bishop of St. David's.

23.-Royal Assent given to the Protestant Episcopal Church Bill, permitting clergymen of that communion in Scotland to officiate in England under certain conditions.

24.-Discussion in the House of Commons on the case of John Thorogood, confined in Chelmsford jail for refusing to pay 5s. 6d. as church rates.

[blocks in formation]

countrymen would be relieved." A few weeks later:-"If the British Government would only play the grand game-help Russia cordially to all she has a right to expect-shake hands with Persia get her all possible amends from the Oosbegs, and secure her such a frontier as would both keep these savages and man-stealers in wholesome check, and take away her pretext for pushing herself and letting herself be pushed on to the Oxus-force the Bokhara Ameer to be just to us, the Affghans and the other Oosbegs states, and his own kingdom.... The necessity of them will be seen, and we shall play the noble part that the first Christian nation of the world ought to fill."

28. The column of July inaugurated at Paris.

Died at Cowes, aged 48, John George Lambton, first Earl of Durham. He had been in failing health almost since his return from America in 1839.

29. Ovation in Manchester to the Glasgow cotton-spinners on their return from transportation.

31.-Action commenced at Lewes Assizes by Captain Richard Heaviside against Dr. Lardner, for compensation for the seduction of his wife. In summing up, Baron Gurney said one point urged in favour of the defendant was, that he was chastised by the plaintiff; and if he had put the defendant's life in danger, it would certainly go in mitigation of damages; but under the peculiar circumstances he would leave that entirely to the jury. They must not estimate the damages by the pecuniary resources of the defendant, but by the injury the plaintiff had sustained. He had lost an affectionate wife, and his children were deprived of the instruction and example of a mother. Damages, 8,000l.

In explanation of the differences presently existing between the Ottoman Court and Mehemet Ali, the latter despatches a circular to all the Pashas of the empire, intimating, that, Khosreff Pasha's intrigues were the cause of his troops being attacked by the Sultan's; that, on learning the accession of Abdul Medjid, he (Mehemet) had ordered Ibrahim not to follow up his advantages; that on learning that Khosreff was appointed Vizier, he (Mehemet) felt convinced the ascendency of that minister must be destructive to the empire; that Ahmet Capitan Pasha had formed the same opinion, and acted upon it by keeping his fleet out of the power of Khosreff, and uniting it with the fleet of Alexandria, in order that the conjoined fleets might be in a condition to serve the sovereign and the nation. The circular adds, that Mehemet Ali had received the Capitan Pasha with distinction; had written to Khosreff Pasha, urging him to tender his resignation to the Sultan; and had at the same time addressed letters to the mother and aunt of the Sultan, the Sceich-ul-Islam and Habil Pasha, conjuring them to co operate for the removal of

Khosreff from the administration in order to save the country. A few days afterwards, six of Mehemet's couriers, with the above letter in their possession, were seized and detained at Salonica.

em

August 4.-Lord Ashley carries a motion for in address to the Crown concerning the employment of the children of the poorer classes in mines and factories; "and to collect information as to the ages at which they are ployed, the number of hours they are engaged in work, the time allowed each day for meals, and as to the actual state, condition, and treatment of such children, and as to the effects of such employment both with regard to their morals and their bodily health."

6. At a forenoon meeting at Tuam, O'Connell describes Lords Lyndhurst and Stanley as the greatest traitors in the Queen's dominions: and in the evening, after dinner, thus alluded to the honour reserved for himself: "Oh, it will be a glorious day when the Repeal comes ! A column commemorative of that proud event --that glorious triumph-shall be erected on that spot where stands at present that monument to bigotry and intolerance, the statue of King William. Perhaps its summit will be adorned by a figure which has become familiar to you." At Dublin, he said: "The overwhelming kindness of my countrymen sometimes now gives me the name of the Liberator: I have never taken it, or written it; I have scarcely allowed my pride to encourage it; but if I live to repeal the Union-if I live to see the emancipated Irish people assembled in College Green, to witness the opening of the new Parliament-and if I hear the shout of joy which will arise from them when they get their own, for it is no more, and when they see the procession coming to the House--if I live to see that day, then let one word be written on my tomb, and let that word be 'The Liberator.'"

The Canada Clergy Reserve Bill read a third time in the House of Lords.

Louis Napoleon's attempt on Boulogne. This morning, about 4 o'clock, the City of Edinburgh steamer from the Thames arrived off Boulogne, with Prince Louis Napoleon, ffty-eight followers, eight horses, and two carriages. On landing, the party immediately proceeded to the barracks, where, having secured the sentinel, the Prince made overtures to the soldiers, and offered them a considerable increase of pay. This, however, had no effect, and he then went through the town, distributing proclamations to the citizens and soldiers. Few joined them; and very soon

the National Guard were assembled, and the party driven to the sands. Here some of them attempted to regain the steamer, but the boat upsetting they were precipitated into the water, when the National Guard fired and killed several, Some were drowned; and Prince Louis himself was picked up half a mile

out, and carried to the guard-house, along with General Montholon and Colonel Vaudrey. The whole of the survivors were arrested during the day, and the steamer taken possession of till it could be ascertained whether the owners were aware of the purpose for which she was chartered. A London morning paper, speaking of the attempt, says, "The maniac Louis Napoleon is said to be in the present instance nothing but an unfortunate instrument in the hands of certain Stock Exchange adventurers."

7.-Act of Parliament passed prohibiting the use of climbing-boys as chimney-sweeps.

In the case of the College of Glasgow v. the Faculty of Physicians the House of Lords decide that the latter could grant degrees in surgery without the interference of the Senatus The Irish Corporation Bill passed by the House of Commons, the amendments moved in the Upper House by Lord Lyndhurst being reluctantly assented to by Govern

ment.

Accident near the Howden Station of the Hull and Selby Railway, caused by the accidental fall of a huge iron casting from one of the trucks. Five passengers were killed. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of accidental death, but laid a deodand of 500/. on the engine and carriages.

8. Mr. Coppock, Secretary to the Reform Club, tried and acquitted at Shrewsbury Assizes, for bribing a voter named Cook at the Ludlow election in 1839.

11. Parliament closed by the Queen in person. Prince Albert was seated near the Throne, and among the courtly circle surrounding her Majesty were the King and Queen of the Belgians. The most important sentences in the Address made reference to the negotiations engaged in for the pacification of the Levant, and the reparation which had been demanded from the Chinese for indig nities.

Mr. P. Thomson, Governor-General of the Canadas, gazetted a Baron with the title of Baron Sydenham of Sydenham and Toronto.

12.-The seven suspended ministers of the Strathbogie Presbytery declining to appear before the Commission of the General Assembly, a committee of that body was appointed by a majority of 114, to prepare a libel against them.

-Sir W. Macnaghten advises Lord Auckland to annex Herat and claim a right of passage through the Punjaub. "A vigorous policy,' he wrote, "is now that which ought to be pursued."

13. Riots at Calne, Wilts, arising out of the opposition of the poorer classes in the district to the new constabulary force. One special constable killed, others injured, and several houses sacked.

15. The foundation-stone of the Scott monument, at Edinburgh, laid with masonic honours by Sir James Forrest, Grand Master, and provost of the city. The inscription on a plate inserted in the stone recorded that the admirable writings of Sir Walter Scott " were allowed to have given more delight, and suggested better feeling, to a larger class of readers in every rank of society, than those of any other author, with the exception of Shakspeare alone, and were therefore thought likely to be remembered long after this act of gratitude on the part of the first generation of his admirers should be forgotten." Addresses

were delivered by the Grand Master and Sir William Rae.

17.-The King of the French visits Boulogne to thank and reward the inhabitants of that town for their loyalty on the late attempt of Louis Napoleon to disturb the peace of the country. A heavy sea preventing him from landing at the port, he proceeded after some delay to Calais, and then by land to meet the Boulonnais.

19. The steamer Ontario, afterwards named the Lord Sydenham, navigated down the rapids between Prescott and Montreal.

24. A man named Moore executed at Waterford, for the murder of Edward Casheen at Lismore. On the scaffold he was permitted to make a declaration of innocence, and ask the prayers of the spectators. While the people were kneeling a priest in attendance came to the front of the drop, and declared his belief in the truth of the statement made by the criminal.

25. Festivities at Antwerp, on the occasion of unveiling the model of a statue to be erected to the painter Rubens, a native of the city.

27.-Attempted murder of William Mackreth, in a bedroom of the Angel Inn, Ludlow. There was a severe wound in the throat, but not sufficient to cause death. It was generally believed the criminal in this instance had made a mistake, the intended victim being one Ludlow, a Birmingham cattle-dealer.

Died at Donare, county of Kildare, Mrs. Martha Rorke, reported to be 133 years of age.

28.-Presentation of the freedom of the City of London to Prince Albert. "I shall always," said the Prince in reply, "remember with pride and satisfaction the day on which I became your fellow-citizen, and it is especially gratifying to me as marking your loyalty and affection to the Queen." A banquet took place afterwards, at which, however, the Prince was not present.

[blocks in formation]

29.-Rev. Hugh Stowell tried at I iverpool, for a libel on a Catholic clergyman in Manchester, who had, he declared, subjected one of his people to the indignity of walking on his hands and knees two hours a day for nine days, as a penance for sin. Verdict for the plaintiff, damages 40s. This judgment was reversed after a re-hearing before Lord Chief Justice in the Court of Queen's Bench, Nov. 27, 1841. The plaintiff was also condemned in costs.

30.-Collision on the river Lea between two small boats. They were both upset, and ten out of thirteen passengers drowned.

31.-Bath and Bristol Railway opened.

September 3.-Came on at Tulle the trial of Madame Laffarge, charged with murdering her husband, by administering poison to him at various times in cake and fowl. On the 9th, chemists reported that no arsenic could be found in the remains; but on the 14th, Orfila and others stated that the poison was found in every part of the body submitted to them. The jury found her guilty with extenuating circumstances, and she was sentenced to hard labour for life, with exposure in the pillory.

5.-Mehemet Ali refuses the terms of the Convention of July 15.

[ocr errors]

Envoy Macnaghten writes from Cabul to Lord Auckland: "We have just heard that the whole country between this and the Oxus is up in favour of Dost Mahomed Khan. Our troops have retired upon Bameean, and if the enemy attack them in that position, I should have little fear of the result. The Kohistan is also ready to rise." A week later, he reported that one entire company of Captain Hopkins' corps, with its arms and accou trements, had gone over to the Dost.

7. The bombardment of Beyrout commenced by the allied fleet.

10.-Riots in Paris, caused by disorderly assemblies of workmen called together to put down the system of "middle-men, " which had greatly aggravated the recent reduction in wages.

11.-Prince Albert introduced and sworn of her Majesty's Privy Council.

12. The French Moniteur publishes an ordinance for the fortification of Paris.

Duel on Wimbledon Common between Lord Cardigan and Lieut. Tuckett, in consequence of the Earl obtaining information that Lieut. Tuckett was the author of certain letters in the newspapers reflecting, as his lordship supposed, on his character as an officer and a gentleman. The first shot was ineffectual on both sides. Mr. Tuckett received his adversary's second ball in the back part of the lower ribs. The ball was extracted, and no fatal result followed. The miller of Wimbledon, with his wife and son, witnessed the duel from his mill, and being a constable, took the parties

« VorigeDoorgaan »