E. be Countril.
Mr. John Stewart, one of the Members for Lymington, made a tender of his seat tea his constituents on the 2d instant, in consequence of his inability, from unforseen occurrences, to keep his pledge to re- side among them during the Parliamentary vacations. His constituents, however, instead of accepting his resignation, came to a resolution ap- proving of his conduct in Parliament, and requesting the continuance of his services as their Representative.
There was a numerous meeting of the Whigs and Reformers of Leeds on Monday week, to petition Parliament to establish the vote by ballot. Resolutions declaring the necessity of additional protection to the electors in the exercise of the right of voting, and that the estab- lishment of the ballot could alone afford that protection, were passed, after some slight opposition on the part of some gentlemen, who wished to connect the question with the extension of the suffrage. Mr. Baines and several others declared that it was owing to the practices of the Tory party at the late election that they had become converts to secret voting.
On the 10th instant, the " owners of real property in the borough of Leeds," assembled in public meeting ; and passed some strong reso- lutions against the bill for the General Registry of Deeds. It was also determined that a subscription should be raised to defray the expense of a strenuous opposition to the bill. A similar meeting was held the same day at Huddersfield.
A riot of a serious description occurred at Oldham on Tuesday last. On the Monday previous, two members of a Trades Union, at a meet- ing of their body, were arrested by some Policemen, after a desperate struggle. They were on their road, on Tuesday, to Hollinwood, under custody of two officers, for the purpose of being examined ; when a large crowd attacked the officers, whom they beat severely, and rescued the prisoners. This occurred in front of Bankside-mill, owned by a Mr. Thompson ; who was disliked by the Unionists on account of his employment of knobsticks, or men not belonging to the Union. There is a good deal of discrepancy in the accounts of what followed. But it is certain that the crowd attacked some houses inhabited by the work- men, and then the mill itself; which was defended by the workmen, one of whom shot one of the assailants. A general sack of the mill, and also of Mr. Thompson's house, then ensued. Every thing was destroyed. Mrs. Thompson was allowed to escape. Her husband had gone to Manchester ; an express was sent after him ; and he returned with a troop of soldiers, who dispersed the rioters, and tranquillity was restored. Twelve persons were made prisoners, one of them a woman. The Magistrates were engaged on Wednesday and Thursday in ex- amining the charges against the prisoners. An alibi was made out in favour of one, and he was discharged. The others were committed for trial, and sent off.to Manchester, under the escort of a party of Lancers, on Thursday afternoon. Seven are to be tried at the Assizes, and five at the Sessions. The principal charge against the prisoners was the assault
on the constables. The accounts furnish little information as to whether the,first attack was made on the mill, or by the workmen in it. An in-
quest was to be held yesterday on the body of the man who was shot ; when this point will probably be more fully investigated. All the mills m Oldham and the neighbourhood are stopped. The Unionists, who, it turns out, comprise nearly the whole mechanical population of all trades, have had several very large meetings, conducted peaceably. They de- clare that they will not return to work until their two brothers who were rescued, but who afterwards gave themselves up, are liberated.
Meetings were held last week at Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford, Halifax, and Knaresborough, to petition Parliament to address his Majesty for the remission of the sentence on the Dorchester Unionists.
The distress of the Leeds working classes is represented in the news- papers of that place as being almost unprecedented. It appears, how- ever, by a comparison of the sums paid to the poor at the weekly parish-board, that they are less than were paid at the same period in 1832 and 1833. The Leeds Mercury attributes this to an improved system of management, and the rule of refusing relief to the able- 'bodied except in exchange for work.
The cotton trade in Lancashire is very brisk. The factories are all working full time ; cotton twist is in great demand; hand-loom weavers are very much wanted, but wages are loth.—Leeds Mercury. In consequence of the refusal of some Dissenters at Morley to vote ri rate for the repair of one of the new churches, the Earl of Dartmouth has resumed possession of some land which one of his ancestors gave to the Independents to build a chapel on. The chapel was lately re- paired at the expense of 3001., and the congregation have been in undis- turbed possession since 176.5. The Earl demanded a rent of 50/. a year from them, if they wished to retain the use of it. This the congrega- tion refused. Much excitement against the Church has been the con sequence, and a subscription has been raised for building a new chapel. The Wesleyan Methodists of Birmingham agreed to petition the House of Commons for redress of Dissenting grievances, at a meeting which was numerously attended, and solely by Wesleyans, on Tues- day week.
The parishioners of 'West Derby, at a Vestry meeting on Friday week, refused, by a majority of 5, to vote a church rate for the ensuing year. The Reverend Mr. Blacow, who holds the living, left Liverpool early in the morning, to attend the meeting ; and a very active canvass was made to muster a strong body of supporters of the rate.
Last week, after two days' polling, the Dissenters of Loughborough elected their Churchwarden, in opposition to the person proposed by the Church party, by a majority of 348 to 178. The Dissenters offered to give up their candidate' provided the claim to the church-rates from Dissenters was relinquished ; but these terms were refused.
In consequence of the fees to barristers being greatly reduced in the Crown Court of the county, most of them refused the briefs offered. True it is, that Lord Chief Justice Tindal examined the witnesses himself in two or three cases.—Nottinyhane fltercury.
Mr. Blackburne, Member for Huddersfield, has subscribed fifty pounds towards rebuilding the parish-church of that place.
Previous page
