gbe Vrobinrts.

Bolton election took place on Tuesday. Two candidates were nomi- nated; Mr. Stephen Blair, a Peel Conservative, and Mr. Joseph Barker, a Chartist Dissenting minister: but neither candidate was present. In the words of an orator of the occasion, "one they's took t'pris'n; an' fother we deant know whether he's drownt or alive." It seems that Mr. Bar- ker is one of the forty-six persons whom the Manchester Magistrates have indicted for treasonable conspiracy, and that he was arrested on a bench warrant on Monday night, and borne off to Manchester. Mr. Blair stated by letter, that he was sojourning in some part of the county whence he could not escape by reason of floods and impassable roads. The show of hands was ten to one in favour of Mr. Barker; but on the demand of a poll, Mr. Barker's nominators withdrew his name; and Mr. Blair was declared to be duly elected.

The Cutler's Feast, a banquet annually given by the cutlers of Hallam- shire, was held in Cutler's Hall, Sheffield, on the 7th instant; the Master Cutler elect presiding, and some 210 guests being present. The company included several noblemen, and the speeches took an interesting turn: Peers discoursed in favour of more union of classes, and proffered more frater- nity with the ranks below them.

The Earl of Yarborough pitched the key— "In those countries where there are not the same facilities nor apparently the seine wish for intercommunication of opinions between the middle and the upper classes of society, we find what has been the result; whereas in this country, we are proud to think, that though there may be distinction in rank, yet while those who are moving in the middle rank are glad to show their respect to those who have been placed above them, those who are placed above them, on the other hand, I hope, are not insensible to the necessity, and I may say their sense of duty, to give every opportunity to Englishmen generally, to let them know their opinions freely. They do this respectfully, and I hope they are met generally in the man- ner in which respectful conduct should be met: and unless there were that inter- change of cpinion, I do not see that the upper classes could demand, nor should they receive, the attachment of those below them. If this were not so, it would be impossible that all classes in this country could have that mutual confidence which is necessary for the welfare of all. I state this as my,opinion, and as a reason why I am gratified in being able to attend such a meeting as this, where I have already formed many friendships; and let me add the hope that those friend- ships will increase in this town, and that I shall learn more of a corporation that is able to give an entertainment such as this is, and that is able to do so as the result of industry."

Lord Edward Howard followed in the same vein; first interjecting a word of Free-trade doctrine, and a hope that the worst distresses of the times have past- " Gentlemen, there is no doubt that there now is, and always will be where there are many ranks and many classes, a disposition amongst some members of them not to work together for the common good. That bemg so, it remains for other classes, as far as possible, by kindly feeling—by the promotion of all those kindly sentiments which ought to'prevail among us—by setting good examples—by con. ferring benefits wherever they can be conferred—and by general kindness, and by ways that I need not suggest to you—to endeavour to correct that disposition." The Duke of Newcastle's health was drunk and acknowledged; and in return the Duke proposed the Master Cutler; who in replying forgot his proposer, and went beyond Lord Edward Howard for " free " doctrines; making practical but technical reference to the local trade. Mr. Parker, one of the Members for Sheffield, approached politics, with an allusion to the unparalleled length of the Parliamentary session. Mr. Ward, the other Member, gave some Parliamentary account of himself, and' touched more directly on a political topic. His health was drank more cordially than he expected, and he was proportionately grateful at all that occurred. Among other topics, Mr. Ward referred with entire

accordance to opinions (not reported) expressed by the Master Cutler regarding our Navy, and the expense of defences— He was afraid of trenching on the privilege of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Auckland, the only civilian in the country- to whom the privilege belonged of returning thanks for the Navy; but he would take occasion to say how deeply gratifying it was to him, after the struggles of the past session, to listen to the words of the Master Cutler, and to hear them responded to as they had been by that large assembly,—to hear that gentleman say that it was not policy on the part of a great commercial country to throw away its great means of self-defence, and to trust to the mere lottery of events that security which it ought to owe to the consciousness of its own intrinsic force. (Cheers.) Peace why, the great desire of all of them was for peace; and the best security for peace was to show that we have the power to repel those who dare to trench upon us. (Loud cheers.) The privileges of a British citizen ought to be such, that wherever he chooses to invest his capital, there ought he to find the flag of his country floating over him as a barrier against oppression. (Cheers.) * * • • No government was ever able to give greater proof of its desire to combine effici- ency in the public service and economy in the expenditure than this Government would be able to give, when it should have completed those great works which were left traced out for it by its predecessors. The manner in which the com- pany then assembled had thought proper to welcome that sentiment when it was expressed by the Master Cutler, was quite cheering to Mr. Ward, after the many symptoms of disapprobation and discontent that had been manifested in Parlia- ment. With regard to the course that he had taken in respect to that subject, Mr. Ward said, he could conscientiously assert that he believed he had not given a single vote that he would not have given if he had been merely Member for Sheffield and entirely unconnected with the Administration.

He also preached comfort on the prospects of the times. "With plenty at home and that prospect of peace abroad with which Providence had blessed us, depend upon it, there would be an opening in the channels of commerce." In conclusion, he turned to the standard topic, the stability of our own institutions, amid the fall of thrones in neighbouring kingdoms; mentioning the singular incident which has lately occurred- " Namely, that on the recent occasion of the prorogation of the House of Lords by the Queen, there was a most extraordinary combination of individuals, consist- ing of Louis Blanc and M. Guizot, sitting together on the same bench. One of these was a man who in the space of three short months had been raised to poem, and again brought down. Both had taken refuge here, and had been thrown into juxtaposition under that real, solid, substantial English liberty, which is our pride and our boast."

Lord Wharncliffe, Sir Thomas White, and Sir Arnold Knight, were also present, and made speeches. About eleven o'clock, the guests joined the "Mistress Cutler" and her lady friends in the coffeeroom, and the party broke up soon after.

The whole of the political agitators who have been arrested at Bradford, and been confined under remand during the last fortnight, were committed on the 8th instant for trial at York Assizes.

The cost of staves for the special constables in Liverpool, during the late anticipated disturbances, exceeded 6401.

The mortality at the port of Whitehaven, being at the rate of forty-twol in every thousand, (taking the population at 11,850, according to the census of 1841,) the inhabitants determined last week to present a memo- rial to Lord Morpeth, calling for the interposition of the Commissioners- appointed to give effect to the provisions of the new Sanatory Act. The inhabitants are looking forward with interest to the anticipated official visit of the Government Inspector.—Dally News.

We understand that the Government has at length been induced to take up the question of a general enactment for the regulation of the common strays and pastures belonging to freemen and burgesses in the various cities and boroughs in the kingdom. A bill for this object was prepared by Mr. Leeman, of York, after communication with the authorities of other towns, and was some time ago submitted by him to the consideration of Lord Mor- peth; who has lately replied with the following letter. "Office of Woods, &c., August 25, 1848.

"Dear Sir—The pressure of other business has prevented my giving that at- tention to the details of your Freemen's Pastures Bill which would justify me in bringing it forward during the present session. The general features of the mea- sure, however, have undergone consideration, and have my approval; and I shall hope to be prepared to introduce a bill in the next session, with such modifications as I may deem necessary. "Your faithful servant, MORPETIE" We understand that the bill as proposed by Mr. Leeman is intended not only to regulate the management and stocking of lands belonging to freemen, but comprises extensive powers of exchange, lease, and sale, with powers of purchase on the part of the town-councils of cities and boroughs for the general benefit of the inhabitants; and that the provisions of the bill are not to be compulsorily brought into operation, but to be exercised only in such towns as the freemen and burgesses shall desire it.—Yorkshire Gazette.

The Liverpool Albion has published the following letter from honest but unliterary Jotham Bragdon, "late chief mate of the Ocean Monarch."'

"Liverpool. September 10, 1848.

"Being about to leave Liverpool I take this opportunity to express my deep sense of gratitude to the inhabitants of Liverpool and its vicinity, also to the captains and officers of several ships in port, for their unbounded kindness' to me since my escape from the ill-fated ship Ocean Monarch. While on board of the steam-frigate Alfonso I received every attention; and on my arrival on shore the hand of friendship was offered by all; not the band alone, but my friends contributed to my every want, which enables me to leave Li- verpool in far more comfortable circumstances than I had hoped; a kind- ness I can never forget, and for which I shall feel under the greatest of obliga- tions as long as my life is spared. May God bless them, as man never use, be, he ever so wealthy and liberal. I would aleo acknowledge the receipt of a medal from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, as an expression of their opi- nion of my conduct during that trying scene, and also to encourage me and others to do what is really our duty,—that is, to save life and relieve suffering whenever it is in our power, for which they have my sincere thanks, and may God blots them in their labour of love while on earth they live (but may a like scene never come before them again), and, when done with time, may they receive their re- ward iu that bright world above, where shipwreck and suffering_ never enter; which is the humble prayer of JOTLIAM BRAGDON." Numbers of the bodies of the wrecked passengers of the Ocean Monarch are daily cast on the Lancashire and Cheshire shore; a strong Westerly wind having blown for several days. Some of the bodies appear to be those of persons in the middle claim of life. One is that of "a portly lady about thirty years of age, of middle stature, with auburn hair," and on whose hand was a wedding-ring and.a gold hoop stamped with the initials "J. C." Another is that of a slender female, about thirty-four years of age, wearing a wedding-ring marked "0. W." Thie poor creature died in the agony of premature labour. On another body were found things marked with the name of " Elizabeth Steele."

The inquest at Birmingham on Colonel Baird was resumed on Saturday. The evidence of passengers as to the speed of the express-train was very contradic- tory. The Reverend George YarnoId Osborne said he did not notice any accelera- tion of the train after leaving Wolverhampton: it might have been forty-five miles an hoar. Mr. Powell agreed in this view. But Mr. Last and Mr. Percival thought the speed had been increased before the accident: Mr. Last's impression was that the speed was gradually increased, reaching its maximum the moment before the disaster. Mr. Francis Trevethick, locomotive superintendent of the Northern division of the line, explained that the pilot-engine that ran into the debris was under his control: he went out on it to observe the working, not as a pilot engine bound to take extra caution; his speed was thirty-five miles an hour; lie was not aware of the accident till his own engine turned over in consequence of the rails' having been torn up. From an inspection of the place after the acci- dent, he thought it had been caused by the last carriage of the train getting off the rail. At the conclusion of Mr. Trevethick's evidence, the Jury proceeded by a special train to the scene of the accident. On their return, the inquiry was adjourned till Tuesday.

On that day, the evidence was again contradictory. Gibbon, the fireman of the train, said the steam was turned off at Newton Bridge station, as is customary on approaching curves. The speed then was about forty miles. He examined the locomotive at Wolverhampton, and there was nothing amiss. He had known engines with a broken spring go safely at a rate of thirty-five miles an hoar. Mr. Trevet hick was reexamined. He had tried experiments with the Scottish Cen- tral Railway carriage; and he found that with forty-three hundredweight, the estimated weight of fifteen passengers and their luggage placed on the car- riage, one wheel was pressed against the bottom of the vehicle, though a place had been cut for it to work; there were marks of wheels on the floor which ap- peared to have been recently made; motion would increase the pressure on the wheels. Mr. Parry, a passenger, thought the speed was sixty miles: there was a great oscillation. Holland, the guard, said the rate was forty to forty-five miles: he felt "a drag" on the train, and he applied the brake; the engine was not off the line then. Captain Symonds, of the Railway Board, did not think a carriage getting off the rails would throw an engine off: he thought the wheels of the car- nage would have broken through the floor before the vehicle could have been thrown off the rail; but from the train's having been so broken up, the cause of the accident must be quite conjectural.

Matthews, the driver of the train, declared that his speed was not excessive. After the Coroner had summed up, the Jury retired; they deliberated for an hour and a half, and then returned this verdict—" Accidental death, in consequence of the faulty construction of a carriage belonging to the Scottish Central Railway Company."

A woman has been killed at Stitcbford, a station a few miles South of Bir- mingham. She was waiting with a boy, her son, for the up-train to go to Lon- don, and was told that the down-train was due; hearing a train approach, she -thought it was the up-train, and darted out of the station to ran across the line; but it was the down-express; the engine of which struck her, and she was killed on the spot.

About fifteen miles South of Berwick, on the evening of Monday week, one of the carriages of an express-train took fire, apparently from a cinder thrown upon the roof. When the flames burst oat, the passengers were in imminent danger; but by waving hats from the windows they attracted the attention of the engine- driver; the train was stopped, and the fire put out with water from the tender.

At the Liverpool Police-office, last week, a curious case of felony was investi- gated. Charles Chubb junior, the Registrar for Great Howard Street district, was charged with having made fraudulent entries in his registry, of imaginary births, &c., with the object of obtaining fees. The Inspector noticed that there was u large number of entries for such a district; and at first he imagined he had lighted on a curious statistical truth. Seven cases were brought before the Ma- gistrate; in each of them the accused had either forged signatures or marks of Imaginary persons. He was committed for trial.

A young lady named Stephens, from Bristol, has been killed by a fall from a cliff near Dover. She hired a donkey at St. Margaret's, and rode along the top of the cliffs towards Dover; alighting at the Comb ill Coast Guard station, she asked one of the guard if she might safely descend to the beach, and the man told her she might by a zigzag path which he pointed out- Near this zigzag was an almost perpendicular slip used for drawing up manure. Some time after, another Coast Guard man found Miss Stephens's corpse on the beach, immediately under the slip: it is supposed that she had mistaken the slip for the path mentioned by the guard, and had attempted to descend by it. The cliff at this spot is two hundred feet high.

George Warmington, the keeper of a boarding-school at Wednesbary, in Octo- ber lent year succeeded in getting discounted divers bills of exchange, pur- porting to be accepted by the parents of pupils; on the maturity of the first, he removed his goods and decamped; and the bills turned oat to be forged. Warming- ton has just been captured, at Coventry. He was brought before the Birming- ham Magistrates on Monday; when evidence was heard, and he was committed on two charges of forgery.

At Liverpool, on Monday, Robert Johnson Sharpe, a cattle-dealer, was killed by an accident resulting from his own mischievous perversity. Driving his own ahandry, he upset a cart, and was himself thrown into the road and wounded on the head. A neighbour offered Sharpe a ride, as his own vehicle was broken; and Sharpe took a seat near his friend. Presently coming near a third driven vehicle, he said, "Let's take his wheel off"; and before his friend could prevent the action, he seized a rein and drew the horse out of its course. A collision ensued, Sharpe was again thrown into the road, and taken up insensible: in a short time he was dead.

The darkest suspicions are afloat, that the hundred of Tendering in Essex, the scene of May's crime and the residence of Mrs. Southgate, has witnessed a fright- ful succession of poisonings: it is surmised that many husbands have been mur- dered by their wives, while numbers of children have been destroyed. A great many bodies are to be disinterred to undergo a chemical examination.

Harriet Kitchener, wife of a toll-collector near Filkins in Oxfordshire, died from swallowing arsenic. At the inquest, it was not certain whether the woman had taken it accidentally or not; but it came out that the poison was sold to a child by a wormui who keeps a "general shop" at Filkins, and that another child had been supplied with precipitate of mercury.

Mary Ballman, a lunatic, of generally quiet demeanour, has murdered Susan Bennett, an idiot girl, in a lunatic asylum at Woodbridge. The Woman WEIS placed in an exercising-yard with the girl, and was left for a few minutes only; in that time she strangled her companion, by twisting an apron-string round her throat. Though it was proved that Bullman had avowed the deed, and had added, '1 was determined not to leave her till she was dead," and that she had threatened to nerve her guard in the same way, menacing her with the apron- string, the Jury considered her irresponsible, and returned a verdict simply stating the facts.

On Thursday sennight, six convicts escaped from the York hulk at Goaport: after or during prayers, they got into a boat belonging to the ship, and steered up the harbour; the boat was found near Portchester Castle, about three miles from the dockyard.