Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

his second to state that he regretted the expressions made use of at Canterbury (Oct. 31), which he felt on reflection were unjust towards her Majesty. Mr. Horsman thereupon withdrew his imputations.

5.-Edict of Emperor of China, terminating for ever all trade and intercourse with England.

6.-Inquest held on the body of Mary Davis, the wife of a farmer near Newport, who had committed suicide in consequence of threatening language used by a Chartist who called at her house for signatures to his petition. She was bewildered about the Chartists, she said, a few minutes before she died, and wanted to go out of the way. Verdict, "Temporary insanity."

Died at Bath, in her eighty-eighth year, Madame D'Arblay (Miss Burney), a distinguished authoress of the latter part of last century.

7. In a debate on the Address in the French Chamber of Deputies, M. de Lamartine said, "France ought not to legitimise and make hereditary the dynasty of Mehemet Ali.

Το do so would be to proclaim war for a century against England in the East. That Power would never consent to recognise the existence of a Power which would hold the keys of the Arabian Gulf, and impede her intercourse with India. The system of policy with regard to the East ought to be to partition the lifeless and decaying empire of the Sultan. It was already crumbling to pieces, and every stone that fell from it would cause a shock, and struggle, and disturbance in Europe."

8.-Four lives lost on the ice in St. James's

Park.

9.-Anti-Corn Law banquet at Manchester, held in a pavilion erected for the purpose in Peter-street.

10.-Commencement of Rowland Hill's system of Penny Postage. The number of letters despatched from London was about four times the average quantity, and no less than seven-eighths were prepaid.

[ocr errors]

15. The Chinese Commissioner Lin publishes a letter to the Queen of England, "for the purpose of giving her clear and distinct information." Passing in review the various attempts of the Emperor to repress the opium trade, he concludes by an abstract of the new law about to be put in force. 'Any foreigner bringing opium to the Celestial Land with design to sell the same, the principals shall most assuredly be decapitated and the accessories strangled, and all property found on board the ship shall be confiscated. The space of a year and a half is granted within which if any bringing opium by mistake shall voluntarily deliver the same, he shall be absolved from all consequences of his crime."

16.-Parliament opened by the Queen in

person.

Sentence of death pronounced on Frost, Williams, and Jones. (See Dec. 31.)

17.-Stockdale, the printer, committed to the custody of the Serjeant-at-Arms for contempt of the House and high breach of privilege in raising another action against Messrs. Hansard. (See 12 Nov. 1839.)

21. Sir Fitzroy Kelly presents petitions from the Sheriffs of London, expressive of their sorrow at having incurred the displeasure of the House of Commons in Stockdale's case, and stating that they had acted in the belief that it was their duty to their sovereign and the Court of Queen's Bench, whose sworn servants they The House resolved, by a majority of 101, that they had been guilty of a breach of privilege, and should be committed to the custody of the Serjeant-at-Arms..

were.

24.--The Bishop of Exeter presents a petition to the House of Lords, signed by 4,000 inhabitants of Birmingham, alleging the danger to morals from the spread of the system denominated Socialism, and praying their Lordships to take steps to check the evil.

Lord John Russell submits a proposal to the House to settle 50,000l. per annum on Prince Albert. Reduced on the 27th, in consequence of Mr. Hume's amendment, to 30,000l.

Prince Albert invested with the Order of the Garter at Gotha.

25.-The Serjeant-at-Arms, in return to a writ of Habeas Corpus, appears in the Court of Queen's Bench with the Sheriffs of London in custody. After hearing counsel on both sides, the judges were of opinion that this was a good and sufficient return to the writ, and remanded them to the custody of the Serjeant-at-Arms.

30. Mr. Bullhead, a linendraper, commits suicide by throwing himself from the tower of Glastonbury Church, while in a state of despondency, caused by pecuniary losses.

31.--Conclusion of debate on Sir J. Y. Buller's no-confidence motion. For Ministers, 308; against, 287.

[blocks in formation]

The Emperor's sub-inspector at Canton issues an edict, stating that he had received instructions to seize all the English in Macao, including Captain Elliot and the two interpreters, Gutzlaff and Morrison.

7.-Treaty for the marriage of her Majesty with Prince Albert signed at London.

10.- Marriage of the Queen and Prince Albert.-As soon as daylight broke this morning the metropolis presented all the characteristics that mark the opening of a universal and joyous holiday. Crowds were hastening from all quarters in the direction of Buckingham Palace, or the Chapel Royal, St. James's, where the ceremony was to be performed. At the Palace the Duchess of Kent

and twelve bridesmaids were in attendance on her Majesty at an early hour. Prince Albert and his party left the Palace about a quarter of an hour before her Majesty's departure, 12 o'clock. Her Majesty on arriving at St. James's was conducted to her apartments behind the Throne room, where she remained, attended by her maids of honour and train-bearers, till summoned by the Lord Chamberlain to take her part in the procession. As the bride

groom's procession moved along the colonnade leading to the chapel he was loudly cheered, and appeared delighted with his reception. The royal procession passed along the colonnade a few minutes later, entering the chapel about twenty minutes to 1 o'clock. Her Majesty wore a Honiton lace robe and veil, of the most exquisite workmanship. The only ornament on her head was a wreath of orange-flowers and a small diamond pin, by which the nuptial veil was fastened to her hair. Her train was of white satin, with a deep fringe of lace. Prince Albert met her Majesty on the haut-pas, and conducted her to her seat on the right side of the altar. The ceremony was then proceeded with by the Archbishop of Canterbury. At the conclusion the several members of the Royal Family congratulated her Majesty and the Prince in an unceremonious and cordial manner. The Prince then took her Majesty's hand, and led her out of the chapel, the spectators all standing. On reaching the Throne-room, the marriage register was signed and attested by the Royal Family and officers of state. The Queen and Prince Albert immediately afterwards returned to Buckingham Palace in one carriage, and were welcomed most heartily by the cheers of her subjects. The royal bridal party left in the afternoon for Windsor Castle. The rejoicings throughout the kingdom in connexion with the event were universal and enthusiastic.

13. Ministers defeated by a majority of 10 on Mr. Herries' motion regarding finance.

14. The Court of Session delivers judg ment in the Strathbogie case, extending the interdict, originally granted for two Sundays, to a period unlimited, and sanctioning its effect throughout the entire parishes of the seven suspended ministers.

26. Her Majesty and Prince Albert visit Drury Lane in state, being their first appearance in public since their marriage.

March 3.-Hostile meeting on Wimbledon Common between Louis Napoleon and Count Leon, a reputed son of the Emperor Napoleon. The police interfered, and carried the parties to Bow-street, where they were bound over to keep the peace.

8. The newspapers publish a correspondence between Lady Seymour, the Eglinton Queen of Beauty, and Lady Shuckburgh. Lady Seymour writes to know the character of a servant named Stedman, and whether she was a good plain cook, or not. Lady Shuckburgh replies, that having a professed cook and

housekeeper, she knows nothing about the under-servants. Lady Seymour explains that she understood Stedman, in addition to her other talents, had some practice in cooking for the little Shuckburghs. The housemaid is instructed to answer this note, and say, "Stedman informs me that your ladyship does not keep either a cook or housekeeper, and that you only require a girl who can cook a muttonchop; if so, Stedman, or any other scullion, will be found fully equal to cook for, or manage the establishment of the Queen of Beauty."

9.-Steeplechase at Sheffield, between a hunting-horse and Cootes the celebrated runner; won by the latter.

10.-Dinner to Mr. Byng, in celebration of his services for fifty years as Member of Parliament for the County of Middlesex.

17.-Feargus O'Connor tried at the Yorkshire Assizes for inciting the working classes, through his speeches and writings, to rebellion. Judgment deferred.

Action by Lady Bulwer against the publisher of the Court Journal, for inserting a paragraph to the effect that she had conducted herself in an offensive manner to Mr. Henry Bulwer, at a party in Paris. Damages awarded, 50%.

23.-Fire at Fordington, Dorsetshire, ending in the destruction of fifty-four small houses.

25.-The Anti-Corn Law League assemble at Brown's Hotel, Palace Yard, and pass resolutions designed to secure the abolition of the corn duties.

27.-Lady Bulwer again brings an action against Messrs. Lawson and Thackeray, this time in the Tribunal of Correctional Police, Paris, but is defeated on the plea that her husband was not a consenting party to the proceedings.

31.-Up to this date, the total number of petitions presented against the Corn-laws was 2,141, bearing 980, 352 signatures. In favour of the Corn-laws, 2,886, bearing 138,051 sig

[blocks in formation]

burglary committed on the premises, and found guilty.

The royal assent given to a bill affording summary protection to persons employed in the publication of parliamentary papers.

15. Five footmen in the service of noblemen in London charged at Queen-square with assaulting and threatening a servant in Earl Galloway's employment, because he would not conform to the rules of the footmen's club by paying his "footing " for the use of the room set apart for them at the House of Lords. They were fined 10s. each.

24.-Meeting in the Freemasons' Hall, Earl Stanhope in the chair, to petition Parliament against the continuance of the opium

war.

28. At the meeting of the Synod of Moray, the "moderate" party carried a resolution permitting the seven suspended Strathbogie ministers to vote on making up the poll, and to act and vote on any business taken up by the Synod.

29.-Disturbance in the Italian Operahouse, caused by the non-engagement of Signor Tamburini.

It is reported regarding the wood pavement in the Metropolis that, over the portion laid down in Oxford-street during the last sixteen months, there had travelled 7,000 vehicles and 12,000 horses, with scarcely any appearance of wear or change on the surface.

A gardener, named Smith, attacks three police officers in the prison yard at Huddersfield with a pruning-knife, and inflicts such injuries on Duke, the chief of the force, that he dies in a few hours.

May 1.-A penny postage envelope, designed by W. Mulready, R. A. issued to the public.

6.- The Gresham Committee meet to decide between the plans of Mr. Tite and Mr. Cockerell for the new Royal Exchange. The former chosen by a vote of 13 to 7.

Lord William Russell found murdered in his bedroom, No. 14, Norfolk-street, Parklane. "This morning," said the housemaid, "I rose about half-past six, and went down stairs about a quarter before seven o'clock. I went into the back drawing-room, and there I saw his lordship's writing-desk broken open, and his keys and papers lying on the carpet. I opened the dining-room and found the drawers open, and the candlesticks and several other pieces of plate lying on the floor.

I ran

He

up stairs and told my neighbour servant the cook, with whom I slept, what had happened. I also told the valet, who slept in an adjoining room, and asked him what he had been doing with the silver, for it was lying all about. said he had been doing nothing with it, but he got up and went down stairs, when he declared the place had been robbed. I then said, 'For God's sake go and see where his lordship is.'

He went into his lordship's room, and I followed him, when on opening the shutters we found his lordship in bed murdered. We then ran into the street, and alarmed some of the neighbours. Dr. Elsegood was amongst the first who went into the room afterwards." "I found his lordship in bed in the front room on the second floor, lying on his back, partially towards his right side. A towel was thrown over his face, which I removed. He appeared to have been dead about four hours. On removing the towel I found a wound extending from the left shoulder down to the trachea, four or five inches in depth, and seven inches long. The wound, which had been inflicted by some sharp instrument, must have caused almost immediate death. The deceased could not have inflicted such a wound on himself, and then placed the cloth over his face." In a confession made in prison on the 22d June, the valet Courvoisier described the manner in which the murder was committed, thus :-" As I was coming up stairs from the kitchen, I thought it was all up with me. [Lord William Russell had been complaining of his conduct.] My character was gone, and I thought murdering him was the only way to cover my faults. I went into the dining-room and took a knife from the sideboard. On going up stairs I opened his door and heard him snoring in his sleep. There was a rushlight burning in his room at this time. I went near the bed by the side of the window, and then I murdered him. He just moved his arm a little, and never spoke a word. I took a towel which was on the back of the chair After and wiped my hand and the knife. that I took his key and opened the Russian leather box, and put it in the state in which it was found in the morning. The towel I put over his face, and undressed and went to bed."

Lord Stanley postpones his motion on the Irish Registration Bill, in consequence of the absence of Lord John Russell, caused by the death of Lord William.

In

8.-Workmen searching the house of Lord William Russell find two bank-notes for 10/ and 5, hidden behind the skirting board adjoining the sink in the butler's pantry, and to which Courvoisier only had access. that portion of the house they also ultimately find the missing rings, locket, and gold coins secreted in obscure corners. "The watch and seal were in my jacket pocket which I had on until the Friday morning, and then I undid the ribbon and took the seal off. Having the watch in my pocket, the glass came out; but I did not know what to do with it, as the police were watching me. I dropt some of the pieces of glass about the dining-room, and at different times put the large pieces in my mouth, and afterwards having broken them with my teeth spat them in the fire-place. I afterwards burned the ribbon, and put the watch under the lead in the sink."-Confession. On the

evening of the 10th Courvoisier was taken into custody, and conveyed to Bow-street.

9.-Lord Palmerston writes to Earl Granville at Paris: "Her Majesty's Government having taken into consideration the request made by the Government of France for permission to remove from St. Helena to France the remains of Napoleon Buonaparte, your Excellency is instructed to assure M. Thiers that her Majesty's Government will, with great pleasure, accede to this request."

11. Feargus O'Connor sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment in York Castle, for libel.

12. The Rev. G. Grantham, of Magdalen College, Oxford, killed by falling from the window of his room on the second story of the new buildings.

15.-Motion in the House of Commons, by Mr. T. Duncombe, agreed to, that Stockdale and his attorney be discharged from Newgate.

20.-York Minster narrowly escapes a second destruction by fire. As it was, the belfry, where the flames were first seen, was totally destroyed, and the oak roof of the nave seriously injured.

21.-Opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The first division was on the choice of a moderator, when Dr. Makeller, supported by the non-intrusion party, was carried (in opposition to Dr. Hill, of Dailly, nominated by the retiring moderator), by a majority of 195 to 147.

22.-Public meeting held in Edinburgh in support of the Earl of Aberdeen's bill for removing doubts respecting the allocation and admission of ministers to benefices in Scotland. Resolutions approving of the bill were submitted and carried.

23.-Public meeting held in Edinburgh to express disapproval of the same bill.

25.--At a meeting of the Roman Catholic Institute, in Freemasons' Hall, an encyclical letter from Pope Gregory was read, approving of the design of the institute, "for protecting the followers of our divine faith in freedom and security, and for the publication of works vindicating the spouse of the immaculate Lamb from the calumnies of the heterodox."

26.-The General Assembly mainly engaged in discussing the appeal of the Strathbogie ministers against the legality of the sentence of suspension. Patrick Robertson, advocate, was heard for the ministers, and Dr. Cook submitted a motion, declaring that the decision of the commission exceeded its powers, and ought to be rescinded. A counter-motion, moved by the Procurator, was carried by a majority of 227 to 143.

28.-Captain Otway, of the Life Guards, killed in Hyde Park, by his horse falling back and crushing him.

29.-Confusion and many narrow escapes in Kensington Gardens, caused by the sudden

appearance of a half clad lunatic, on horseback, among the crowd of nobility in their carriages, listening to the band of the 1st Life Guards.

30.-Intelligence reaches England of the suffocation of 600 slaves in the middle passage," and the death of 100 additional in the same vessel during her return to Mozambique for a new cargo.

June 1.-The first public meeting of the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade, and for the civilization of Africa, held in Exeter Hall, presided over by Prince Albert. "I sincerely trust," he said, "that this great country will not relax in its efforts until it has finally and for ever put an end to a state of things so repugnant to the principles of Christianity and to the best feelings of our nature.' Mr. Fowell Buxton, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Ashley, and others, addressed the meeting.

2.-Serjeant Talfourd calls the attention of the House of Commons to the unnecessarily harsh treatment of Vincent and O'Connor in prison. Lord John Russell stated in reply, that certain prison regulations at present in force should be relaxed; but that the facts had been greatly exaggerated.

3.-The fancy "properties" of the Eglinton tournament sold by auction, and purchased, in most instances, by the metropolitan theatres.

7.-Fire in Ivy-lane, Newgate-street, and loss of five lives-Mrs. Price and four children. 9. The Chinese attempt to burn the English shipping at Canton by fire-boats.

10. The newspapers publish the details of an attempt at murder said to have been made by the Swiss governess in the household of the Duke of Argyll. About midnight she was noticed with a knife in her hand making for the duchess's room, and secured mainly through the presence of mind of the youngest Lady Campbell.

Attempt to shoot the Queen and Prince Albert by Edward Oxford, potboy.—About six o'clock this evening the Queen and Prince left Buckingham Palace by the garden gate opening from Constitution-hill. They were seated in a very low German droschky, drawn by four horses with postilions, preceded by two outriders, and followed by two equerries. A number of people, assembled to witness her departure, were ranged in two lines outside the gate. After the carriage had proceeded a short distance up Constitution-hill, so as to be quite clear of the crowd, a young man on the Green Park side of the road presented a pistol, and fired it directly at her Majesty. The Prince, hearing the whistle of the ball, turned his head in the direction of the report, and her Majesty at the same instant rose, but Prince Albert suddenly pulled her down by his side. "The report of the pistol" (says Perks, a witness) "attracted my attention, and I heard a distinct whizzing or buzzing before my eyes, between my face and the carriage. The

(25)

moment he fired the pistol he turned himself round as if to see if any one was behind him. He then set himself back again, drew a second pistol with his left hand from his right breast, presented it across the one he had already fired, which he had in his right hand, and fired again, taking very deliberate aim." Several persons at once rushed upon him. He was then calm and collected, admitted firing the pistols, and went away quietly with two of the police to Queen-square station. He there gave his name as Edward Oxford, 17 years of age.

The Queen, as might be supposed, appeared extremely pale from the alarm, but rising to show that she was unhurt, ordered the postilions to drive to Ingestre House, the residence of the Duchess of Kent, where her Majesty and the Prince remained a short time. On returning by Hyde Park the royal pair were received by a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen, and escorted to Buckingham Palace, which they reached about twenty minutes past seven o'clock. In the evening large numbers of the nobility called at the Palace to offer their congratulations.

11.-On examination before the Privy Council Oxford made the following declaration :-"A great many witnesses against me. Some say I shot with my left, others with my right. They vary as to the distance. After I fired the first pistol Prince Albert got up as if he would jump out of the coach, and sat down again as if he thought better of it. Then I fired the second pistol. This is all I shall say at present." On searching his lodgings a quantity of powder and shot was found, and the rules of a secret society, styled "Young England," prescribing among other things that every member should, when ordered to meet, be armed with a brace of loaded pistols and a sword, and a black crape cap to cover his face. The prisoner was this day committed for trial on the charge of high treason in its most aggravated form-a direct attempt on the life of the Queen. The surmises as to the attempt being part of a wide-spread conspiracy, were not established by the careful inquiries to which the outrage led.

12. At a Court held this afternoon at Buckingham Palace, a joint address from both Houses of Parliament was presented to her Majesty, expressive of indignation at the late attempt against her life, and heartfelt congratulations on her preservation. Her Majesty replied, "I am deeply sensible of the mercy of Divine Providence, to whose continued protection I humbly commend myself, and I trust that under all trials I shall find the same consolation and support which I now derive from the loyal and affectionate attachment of my Parliament and my people." Addresses were also presented by many public bodies throughout the kingdom. Indeed, for some weeks the excitement produced by the outrage absorbed all other topics of public interest.

16. In the debate on the second reading

of the Church of Scotland Benefices Bill, Lord Aberdeen reprobated the conduct of the Assembly, characterised their objection to his bill as monstrous and unheard of, and repelled the charge that it was the prelude to a tyranny designed to unchristianize the parishes of Scotland, and trample on the rights of conscience.

17. The Lord William Bentinck and the Lord Castlereagh, troop-ships, wrecked off Bombay harbour.

18.

On

Commenced in the Central Criminal Court, before Chief Justice Tindal and Baron Parke, the trial of François Benjamin Courvoisier, for the murder of Lord William Russell. Counsel for the prosecution, Messrs. Adolphus, Bodkin, and Chambers; for the prisoner, Mr. Charles Phillips and Mr. Clarkson. The first witness examined was the housemaid, Sarah Mancel, who spoke to the appearance of the house on the morning of the murder, and the conduct of the prisoner when they found their master murdered. the second day an important witness turned up, viz. Charlotte Piolaine, of the Hôtel Dieppe, Leicester-square, who spoke to the fact of the prisoner (formerly a servant there) having left a portion of the missing plate with her, some days before the murder was committed. "He had a paper parcel in his hand, and asked me if I would take care of it until the Tuesday following, when he would call for it. I said, 'Certainly, I would;' and he left it with me and went away. I put the parcel in a closet, locked it up, and never saw the prisoner till this day. I took the parcel out of the closet yesterday for the first time in consequence of a statement read by my cousin out of a French newspaper, to the effect that it was likely, seeing that the prisoner was a foreigner, he might have disposed of the missing plate at some of the foreign hotels in London.' On the following morning the prisoner made a confession of guilt to his counsel, Mr. Phillips; but after consultation with the judges it was considered proper to carry on the original line of defence, particularly as the prisoner himself wished this done. Mr. Phillips continued to discharge his irksome task to the close of the trial, on the third day, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty. "The age of your victim," said Chief Justice Tindal, "his situation of master, had no effect on you. To atone to society, which has received a shock by your crime, and to prevent 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. 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.

It

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.

« VorigeDoorgaan »